Memory now not recognised

[WBH1138]

Hi

I have an Acer laptop that had 2 512Mb memory sticks, which I replaced with 2 1Gb sticks.

After the laptop came back from Acer (repair for screen cable that was reseated) it would only recognise 1Gb memory.

I've swapped the sticks over to see if one of the sticks or ports is failing but whatever I do I only ever get 1GB of RAM.

Acer won't help as they say they didn't touch anything to do with the memory and the memory is from a third party.

I've had the memory replaced but I still get the same.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance

 

[SimonDavies]

Does the motherboard actually support greater than 1gb of ram?

I had issues with my wifes laptop in that I put ram into it but found out that the laptop didn't support that particular chip maker (it would freeze after 20 seconds whether it was in the BIOS or with the OS loaded. I swapped it over for another brand and it worked just fine.

SimonD.

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[WBH1138]

Hi

yes it was fine before it went back to Acer.

Wayne

 

[SimonDavies]

OK, what happens if you take the dimms out and try using one dimm in both slots (ie you use the same dimm in both slots, then try the other dimm in both slots), does the machine boot up? Does it boot up with a mix of 1gb and 512mb dimms?

SimonD.

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[WBH1138]

I'm not sure about using them individually but I have tried swapping the 1Gb sticks around and I still only get 1Gb

 

[cdogg]

It doesn't make any sense to me. You've tried two different sets of 1GB sticks, but neither set has worked. That would lead me to believe that either something is wrong with the DIMM slot, or the memory is not 100% compatible with the motherboard (which is a common issue especially when trying to run in dual-channel). Make sure the sticks are identical if that's the case.

It also wouldn't hurt to try each stick individually as Simon suggested just as a test. Don't forget to try resetting the BIOS to its default settings.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[WBH1138]

Sorry if I have put it across incorrectly.

The initial 2 1GB sticks worked fine. After it came back from Acer (who claim to have done nothing but reseat the cable for the screen) only 1GB stick worked. I had the memory replaced by the company who supplied it and again only 1GB ever shows. It doesn't matter which memory stick goes in which slot. I only ever get 1GB of RAM.
It's as though there's a setting limiting the amount of RAM (?) but I've looked at the BIOS settings and can't see anything (obvious).

Thanks

 

[SimonDavies]

Please list the exact model of the laptop.

SimonD.

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[theo1881]

have you tried the sticks individually.

Laters, phat, headshape

 

[deenap]

are both memory modules of the same make and MHZ rating?
acer must have messed up somewhere, as your 2 modules are working and both memory slots are operational...

 

[WBH1138]

The laptop is an Acer 5612Z.

It came with 2 512Mb memory sticks.

I bought 2 1Gb sticks from Crucial. Which they later replaced after the laptop came back from Acer, so I assume they are a matched pair like the first.

As you say Deenap, both modules work in either slot so I'm thinking Acer's repair dept. have done something.

thanks

 

[cdogg]

Do you still have the original 512MB sticks? It would be interesting to see if both of them are recognized. If they aren't, then there's a good chance one of your DIMM slots have failed.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[WBH1138]

I'm pretty sure I have tried the 2 512Mb sticks and they both worked.

But again - I've tried swapping the 2 1Gb sticks around in the slots and only ever 1Gb

 

[cdogg]

WBH1138,
When Acer did the repair, it's possible they had to take both sticks out and put them back in. In the process of doing so, one could have been damaged by a static discharge. That is highly unlikely but possible nevertheless. Acer told you the repair shouldn't involve touching the memory which might in fact be true, but that doesn't mean the tech who worked on the laptop didn't.

You later said that Crucial replaced the memory after the Acer repair. Even if that is the case, the tests below are still important to try. Throughout this thread, it seems there are a lot of "I think" and "pretty sure" comments, but we need you to be 100% sure of the following:


1) Reset the BIOS settings to their default. Leaving both 1GB sticks installed, see if this makes any difference.

2) Test each 1GB stick individually in the first DIMM slot. Having both modules installed as you've mentioned above is not a good test and doesn't rule anything out.

3) If both 1GB sticks work individually, then go back to the 512MB sticks to see if the laptop will recognize 1GB when both are installed.


Let us know what you find!

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[cdogg]

I just thought of something else too. When Acer had the laptop, it is possible they flashed your BIOS to the latest revision. In doing so, this could have caused an incompatibility with the memory you are using from Crucial.

That is a long shot that shows we're obviously reaching for straws at this point, but that is also why #3 above is an important test. It will verify that both DIMM slots are working properly.

 

[WBH1138]

OK, thanks

I will try those things