Does XP autodetect more memory?

[John Wilkinson]

I recently tried to increase the ram on my laptop. The bios detected the
increased memory OK, but XP would not restart ... flashing (I believe) a
message about a page default. The error message would appear very briefly,
then immediately attempt a reboot. Even safe mode would not work.

My question is "will XP autodetect more memory without any special process?"
If so, maybe this is a hardware problem with the new memory. If not, how do
I tell XP to accept the new memory configuration?

Thanks for any help offered.

[Ron Martell]

"John Wilkinson" > wrote:

>I recently tried to increase the ram on my laptop. The bios detected the
>increased memory OK, but XP would not restart ... flashing (I believe) a
>message about a page default. The error message would appear very briefly,
>then immediately attempt a reboot. Even safe mode would not work.
>
>My question is "will XP autodetect more memory without any special process?"
>If so, maybe this is a hardware problem with the new memory. If not, how do
>I tell XP to accept the new memory configuration?
>
>Thanks for any help offered.
>

The first thing to do is to remove the new memory and see if the
laptop will then start up okay.

It sounds like you may have purchased RAM that is not compatible with
your laptop. Laptops tend to use custom designed components, even
RAM.

The best bets for adding RAM are:
1. RAM purchased from the laptop maker and which is designated for
your specific model.
2. RAM purchased from Crucial (www.crucial.com) or from Kingston
(www.kingston.com) and again that is designated as being for your
specific laptop make and model.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Ray Taylor]

Windows will automatically detect and use the ram upon booting up the
computer.
Try each ram card individually and booting the computer to see which card
may be causing the problem. There is a chance you may have given the ram a
static shock which to us would not be felt, to the chips it can be fatal.
Or you purchased faulty ram.

Ray Taylor




"John Wilkinson" > wrote in message
...
> I recently tried to increase the ram on my laptop. The bios detected the
> increased memory OK, but XP would not restart ... flashing (I believe) a
> message about a page default. The error message would appear very briefly,
> then immediately attempt a reboot. Even safe mode would not work.
>
> My question is "will XP autodetect more memory without any special
process?"
> If so, maybe this is a hardware problem with the new memory. If not, how
do
> I tell XP to accept the new memory configuration?
>
> Thanks for any help offered.
>
>
>

[Walter Alcaraz]

Yes. I recently increased my laptop's memory from 256 MB to 512 MB and both
the laptop and Win XP detected the increase and work fine with it.

The key is to make sure you purchase the proper memory type. Brand doesn't
matter too much. I am using a second generic memory module with my original
memory module just fine.

Most newer laptops use PC2100 DDR RAM --or-- PC2700 DDR RAM for the fastest
ones.

You might have purchased a memory module that is of different type than the
one already in the laptop. Unlike desktop PCs, both modules must of the same
type, not necessarily brand.

So, mixing PC133 with PC2100 causes problems. So will mixing PC2100 DDR and
PC2700 DDR. They run at different FSB speeds so the laptop may try to run
both at the same speed (usually the faster one). This causes the PC2100 to
try to run at PC2700 speed. It may POST fine and detect properly, but WinXP
will get page faults and maybe even the dreaded BSoD due to slower memory
trying to run at the faster rate. Also, even if the laptop runs both at
PC2100 speed, some PC2700 modules are funny and cause memory timing issues
when run at a speed different than what they were rated for, even if it is
slower.

Make a point of getting memory that is of the same type (and size).

I recommend, if you are planning on going from 256 to 512 MB, go with 2 x 256
MB PC2100 DDR (or whatever speed your laptop uses).

To go from 512 MB to 1024 MB, use 2 x 512 MB PC2100 DDR (or whatever speed
your laptop uses).

See how both memory modules are same memory size and speed?


"John Wilkinson" > wrote in message
...
> I recently tried to increase the ram on my laptop. The bios detected the
> increased memory OK, but XP would not restart ... flashing (I believe) a
> message about a page default. The error message would appear very briefly,
> then immediately attempt a reboot. Even safe mode would not work.
>
> My question is "will XP autodetect more memory without any special process?"
> If so, maybe this is a hardware problem with the new memory. If not, how do
> I tell XP to accept the new memory configuration?
>
> Thanks for any help offered.
>
>
>

[Donald Link]

You do not tell xp how to accept memory if you computer will not reconize or
work with it. Sometimes the memory is mismatched in density, speed, or
simply the worng type. Sounds like your bios is counting the memory but xp
is encountering a problem loading code into memory due to some mechanical
problem and not software. Memeory in a laptop is even more critical that it
is matching.



"John Wilkinson" > wrote in message
...
> I recently tried to increase the ram on my laptop. The bios detected the
> increased memory OK, but XP would not restart ... flashing (I believe) a
> message about a page default. The error message would appear very briefly,
> then immediately attempt a reboot. Even safe mode would not work.
>
> My question is "will XP autodetect more memory without any special
process?"
> If so, maybe this is a hardware problem with the new memory. If not, how
do
> I tell XP to accept the new memory configuration?
>
> Thanks for any help offered.
>
>
>