I would like to install the maximum memory in a Toshiba 2800-S201
notebook PC. The memory expansion slot is currently empty, and the
manufacturer's documentation indicates this slot will accept up to a
256MB card.

I tried a generic 144 pin SO-DIMM, 256MB, PC-133, CL-3 card, and there
was no problem installing it in the expansion slot. However, the PC
would not enter the boot sequence with the new card installed. It is
not clear to me if the new card is incompatible or if it is simply
defective.

The Toshiba documentation indicates the PC uses a "proprietary" PC-100
memory card.  I checked the web sites of Crucial, Kingston and Simple,
and each implied that a proprietary card is needed.  However, for
other PC configurations, these same web sites indicated a proprietary
card is required, when I am 100% certain that a generic card will work just
as well. My suspicion is that some memory vendors may be taking
advantage of consumers' confusion to promote an unnecessarily higher
priced product.

So here's my question: I would like to get a definitive answer about
whether I can use a generic memory card in this PC, or whether it
truly requires a proprietary card. If I can use a generic card (256MB,
144 pin SO-DIMM), then (a) can I use PC-133 or must I use PC-100 and
(b) does it matter whether I use CL-2 or CL-3 (I understand that CL-2
is generally faster).

If you can also point me to any impartial and authoritative web
references about upgrading notebook PC memory, that would be great.
I'm generally comfortable tinkering with PC hardware (memory, hard
drives etc.), but this one has me stumped, so I'm hoping an expert can
help me out.

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 02 Aug 2003 00:19 PDT

From my experience with desktops, PC-133 SDRAM works well with PC-100
slots. The other way round will burn the RAM module. I assume it works
the same way with laptops.
Perhaps the Toshiba notebook was configured to accept only RAM modules
of a certain brand. That can be done by the manufacturer. Can you
borrow a RAM module of the brand for your notebook, and see if it has
the same problem? Or you could try another brand.
Or try cleaning the slot where you put in the RAM. It's probably just
dirty. That sometimes stops RAM from working.
Maybe you also have to configure something in the BIOS first.

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Clarification of Question by imagine-ga on 02 Aug 2003 12:20 PDT

I just tried cleaning both the memory expansion slot and the card
contacts, but the problem remained. I installed, retested and removed
the new memory card several times to be sure.

The Toshiba documentation indicates that any expansion memory card
will be autodetected, and I did not find any BIOS settings regarding
memory. Unfortunately I do not have access to a proprietary memory
card to test the system.

Also, a part of my original question was not phrased properly. The PC
will *enter* the boot sequence, but will not *complete* it. I ran
step-by step confirmation during startup, the system successfully
processed several of the startup files, but choked on the file named
CSHOOK.VXD.

As before, all problems were resolved when I removed the new card.

I would definately not go with pc-133, 100 only.  Try www.tomshardware.com.