I have a Sony Vaio model PCG-993L (PCG-FX340) laptop that comes with
128Mb RAM default.
I had upgraded to 256 Mb by adding another 128Mb into the remaining RAM slot.
The laptop was working fine with the 256Mb.
I faced an issue with the power connecter necessitating opening the
laptop and soldering the same. After this process, the laptop has been
misbehaving. Intermittently, the laptop comes on with the 256Mb,
however, shutting down just about when Windows XP Home (preinstalled)
completes loading-up. Once it does this the laptop stops coming on
with 256Mb. When I remove the 128Mb chip it works fine. The minute I
add the 128Mb, display stops coming on. I have alternated the RAM
chips, same symptoms. I have also done a thorough RAM test, no issues
with the RAM chips. I have changed the RAM chips to fresh ones, same
symptoms.
The laptop is using BIOS version R0230U0. |
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
16 Sep 2005 18:50 PDT
jones...
Is the full amount of RAM being recognized by the BIOS?
You should get a brief confirmation screen before Windows
boots, indicating how much RAM the BIOS sees.
If the BIOS doesn't recognize it, Windows won't either.
If the BIOS acknowledges it, then it's a Windows issue.
In some BIOSs, it's possible to disable some of the RAM,
so you might want to check and make sure that's not the
case here.
How many slots do you have for RAM? Just two? If you have
more than two, try a different slot configuration, such
as using slots 1 & 3, instead of 1 & 2.
Let me know where this takes you...
sublime1-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
jones007-ga
on
16 Sep 2005 23:32 PDT
Like I mentioned, intermittently (that I have not been able to
duplicate, 'coz I don't know the reason why) the BIOS recognises 256
MB and Windows does start to load-up. I have also done a thorough RAM
check (under DOS) when it occasionally detected the 256MB in BIOS,
without any reports of errors on RAM. However, just about when Windows
XP Home finishes booting up, in the instance that the 256MB is in and
detected by the BIOS, the machine crashes and subsequently display
does not come on till I remove 128 MB. And, when I mention display
does not come on I mean I cannot get into BIOS either for the same
reason.
The reason why I included the BIOS version in my initial submission of
the issue was to convey the possibility of the 'disable RAM' feature.
Someone I spoke to also suggested 'reset' the RAM variable. Could not
find such an option.
No luck with multiple slots. Just two slots (the reason for the laptop
model number). Also, I also tried buying one 256MB RAM chip. Not
easily possible as SDRAM is almost out or very expensive for the same
reason.
Where it takes me, nowhere; apologies. As above.
|
