I installed a brand new RAM into my notebook. Now the notebook will not boot up and beeps when I turn it on.
I have a Toshiba satellite A55-s306, and I bought new RAM for it just recently. It’s a 512MB memory stick, and I know it’s the correct type of RAM because I checked about a dozen sites and they all recommended me the same one. The problem is no matter what slot I try to install it into, with or without the original RAM in the computer, when I try to boot the computer up it beeps rather loudly, and nothing happens. The screen stays black. I’ve had some computer savvy friends- those who have constructed computers before- look at it and they can get the computer to start trying to boot up, but then it stops. I was wondering what this could be indicating? Is it possible that the new RAM I received a static shock, and that’s why it’s not working? The computer works fine as soon as I take the new RAM out. Nobody I know can explain this and I’ve looked everywhere for an explanation online and I can’t seem to find it.
Usually a notebook beeps on startup when it cannot detect any memory or installed memory module is bad. It looks like your new RAM stick is bad and you should replace it. Is it possible that you buy a new memory module and it comes bad? Yes, it is, I’ve seen it a few times before. If the notebook boots fine with the old memory in both slots and it fails to boot with the new memory in both slots, then nothing else could be wrong but the new RAM.
Here’s some information for people who has Toshiba Satellite A55-S306 notebook.
According to the Toshiba specification, the maximum amount of RAM you can install into this machine is 1GB in both slots (slotA+slotB). So if you already have 512MB installed into the slot A, you can install 256MB or 512MB (but not 1GB module) into the slot B. The memory type is PC2700 DDR333. Both memory slots are accessible from the bottom of the notebook if you remove the RAM cover, as it shown on the step 2 of this disassembly guide. This disassembly guide is for Tecra A2 notebook, but it would be exactly the same for Satellite A55.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:06 am
I have a A105-s101 I tried to upgrade my memory but slot A will not accept the new memory card. I first replace both slot with 1 GB memory cards but the computer would not start just beep and blink. Replaced the manufacture 256 chip and computer started and read 1.9 Gb so slot B read the second chip. now that I verified that the 1 GB card was good I put it is slot A and got the same result beeping and blinking. so will only work with original 256 card. is there something else I can do to upgrade both slots?
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 am
re system beeping after installation of new memory and failures to recognize higher capacity memory modules.
although it can be an indication of defective memory, it is more likely an incompatibility issue. a lot of laptops are kind of fussy about the memory modules they will recognize properly. frequently older p3 laptops will only recognize low density high capacity modules. low density 256 and 512mb modules will usually have 16 chips (8 per side) rather than the more typical 4 per side.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
re toshiba a55 sudden shutdown after brief period.
could be a cooling issue. listen for your cpu fan, try blowing a little compressed air into the heatsink on the side to make sure your heatsink fan assembly is not clogged. a lot of these toshiba’s have air intakes on the bottom which are easily obscured if you are trying to operate them on something other than a hard flat surface. poor air flow can cause excess heat which can lead to premature motherboard component failure. hopefully it is just a cpu fan issue.
January 1st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Have a Toshiba A55 Laptop. All of a sudden when starting up computer one day. It started dying each time keyboard was pressed. Did factory format and restore and it continues to die, then restart, die then restart. Sometimes when keyboard is pressed and somtimes on it’s own. Computer is usually running solidly as restore disk is running then dies during setup. Screen comes up each time computer restarts stating that windows could not load correctly and gives me an option to load in “safe” mode but will usually load anyway. Dies in safe mode also. What do I do with this laptop? This computer worked flawlessly until yesterday.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:41 am
Hi, I have a toshiba Satellite A215-S7422 with 1GB RAM, i try to upgrade to 2GB, 1GB slot A + 1GB slot B, the BIOS recognize both, but when start windows vista, it crashed or just reboot my laptop, I test the modules, and I see that two modules = windows fail, 1 module = windows works fine, I test all modules in all slots, and no matter what slot or module is used, everything work fine with just one module, combined my laptop crashed
November 16th, 2007 at 12:09 am
Sony Vaio pcg-frv37. Were 2 modules x 256 Mb, I changed them to 2 modules x 512 Mb, Kingston model kvr400×64sc3a/512. Notebook still reports 512 mb total memory (including reserved for video). Both memory slots work, when I remove any of memory modules, notebook report 256 Mb. Cpuz program reports 1024 Mb! The only thing I can think of is that these modules have CL=3 (Column Address Strobe Latency), and Sony upgrade instructions require module with CL=2.5
November 13th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Eric,
Not sure if I understand your question correctly.
If you have two 256MB RAM modules installed into the laptop and it appears as 448MB but not 512MB, most likely your laptop has shared video RAM and missing 64MB are used for the video purposes.
If you replaced both 256MB memory modules with 512MB modules and it still appears as 448MB, there could be a few different reasons:
1. One of the memory modules is bad and the laptop doesn’t see the defective module.
2. One of the memory slots on the motherboard is bad and the laptop is using only one module instead of two.
3. One of the modules is not seated properly, try reseating both of them.
4. Contacts inside one of the memory slots got oxidized. Try reconnecting the same module a few times, it will clean contacts.
5. It’s possible that you have to upgrade the laptop BIOS to the latest version.
6. It’s possible that RAM is not compatible with your laptop, try different modules from a different manufacturer. It’s not likely but possible.
November 13th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
oh, and NO, it will only use it at the SHOWN level – sorry i didnt include that earlier. sony tech support was of ZERO help. they had nothing i asked for (i wanted to reflash the bios – i couldnt with a manual file…. etc)
November 13th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
well, i had 2 g-skill ramchips (bought new) – which first worked and i went from running @ 768 (256 vid shared & 768 for main memory – was testing something) to 256 with 256 video shared (machine was a dog). when i put in a kingston, the ram went up, so, the chips i bought worked for a little, then stopped registering as 512 and went to 256. in another machine, they are still 512. in the sony, 256 per chip irrelivant of which location or which chip.
try a kingston. just one – its 40$ – bet it registers as 512.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Have a PCG-K33 VAIO and cannot get the 2x ddr 512 to show, still says 448. I had 2x 256mb ddrs in before and it still said 448. Told Sony about it when I got my laptop and they gave me some half assed explanation to get me off the phone. Even if your system does not recognize the new RAM, will it still work? (will it work with what the rams specs are and not what it says in the bios?)
September 5th, 2007 at 5:11 am
hello all – i have a sony pcg-k33 – went thru the ram upgrade. i put in 2×512 meg gskill ram chips – it detected fine for a month or so.. then BAM, it went to 448 meg of ram. after tests, its not the chips, its something on the motherboard. i have tested the chips i had in it as well as the gskill ram chips, and found no difference in which slot, let alone which chip. also, as the ram cound is in blue (not black) its nothing that can be edited. acc’d to sony, the motherboard is at issue, even though they cant even get me that far in troubleshooting – resetting bios does NOT fix the issue. PHBSYS-00798007-US is the current file of bios i am on now. i had flashed the bios PRIOR to getting the 2 ram chips, and it DID register them correctly originally. just wanted to let you all know what i know. good luck!
July 21st, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Chris,
You’ll find Toshiba laptop disassembly guides at http://www.irisvista.com
July 21st, 2007 at 2:40 am
Hi All,
I am trying to upgrade an EI Systems laptop with more RAM. Can anyone tell me where the slots are for this?
Its an Ei Systems 4416
July 20th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I have a similar problem with my Toshiba A105-S2712. I messed up my hard drive and now I need to know how to replace it. Can anyone give me an explniation on how to remove the hard drive? I’ve looked all over and I cannot find a tutorial anywhere.
Thanks in advance Chris
May 20th, 2007 at 1:42 am
Howdy all…
Got a problem with a laptop i bought (acer travelmate 347t). It comes on intermittantly. It boots normally although the screen only sometimes comes on, its not the LCD itself because i try and plug an external monitor in and i get nothingness out of that too. I’m thinking possibly the ram could be at fault. Tested the hard drive and it’s certainly not that. Could the ram be causing my problem?
Cheers!
March 11th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
flabio,
Updating the BIOS is not difficult. You just download the latest version from the Toshiba website and run it right from Windows. Make sure the laptop is connected to AC power while you are upgrading the BIOS.
March 6th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Yes, the same memory. somebody told me that I have to upgrade the BIOS. Is it esay to do?
March 5th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
flabio,
Not sure what’s going on. Are you using the same memory type (DDR2 PC2-4200 533MHz)?
March 4th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Hi,
I have just upgraded the ram in an Ei System laptop from 256mb to 1Gb. It only has 1 slot and I have used Corsair memory to the same spec. I downloaded some XP updates and upon the automatic restart the computer will not restart I just have a dead screen and the machine beeps. If I take out the new ram and replace the old ram it starts fine. I then switch off change the ram again and it works fine. I thought I had a bad ram chip so I sent it back and got a replacement however the problem still persists. Have you any ideas that my fix the problem.
Thanks in advance, regards.
Michael
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I have a Toshiba A105 s2712 with a RAM of 512 mb. I tried to add 1 Gb (4 differents incluiding Kingston) but it is not recognised. It happened if I try without the 512mb too. Do you now what happen?
February 13th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
dan,
do you think upgrading the main memory somehow damaged the laptop? What kind of mistake you made? You cannot disable onboard memory, if it’s bad you’ll have to replace the motherboard.
February 13th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I have the same problem with A Sony VAIO PCG-FRV37 running XP Home edition with SP2. I originally had two 256MB Modules installed. The OS and BIOS informed me that I had 448MB of memory and 64MB of Video memory available for use. I replaced the memory with two identical 512MB Modules. Both the OS and the BIOS indicate that I still only have 448MB/64MB of regular and video RAM avaiable for use. I changed the size of the video RAM in the BIOS to 128MB. The BIOS and OS both reported 384MB/128MB of regular and video RAM. Ichanged the video RAM to 32MB and the OS and BIOS reported 480MB/32MB. I reset to the default video RAM (64MB) and booted with just one 512MB module. The OS and BIOS reported 192MB/64MB. I tried this in both memory slots and got the same results. The Sony website states that the OS will not report all of the RAM, but I’m missing half of my memory! Any help?
February 12th, 2007 at 2:02 am
Hi,
Assuming since you haven’t answered either Symon or myself on the M300 issue that the mboard is indeed toast?
February 8th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Ellerton,
A few months ago I received an e-mail from a guy who was experiencing exactly the same problem with his notebook. One of the memory modules suddenly “disappeared” and wasn’t detected by the BIOS. He fixed the problem after he cleaned contacts inside the memory slot with an alcohol wipe. Maybe this method will work for you too.
February 7th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Hello,
I have a Toshiba Satellite A25. My computer has been slow lately, and upon examining my computer with CPU-Z, it said I had only 1 256 MB card in one slot, and the other slot was empty. So I ordered a 512 mb chip from Crucial and went to install it.
Once I opened things up, I found that in fact I had two 256 mb cards already installed — the computer wasn’t seeing one of them. So I go ahead and replace one of the 256 MB cards (the one in Slot A) with the 512. I boot back up, and the system is seeing slot B with the original 256mb that I did not touch, but Slot A that I put the 512mb in was “empty” according to the “System”. So I shut down, switch the chips, boot back up, and then it shows Slot A as empty again, and slot B with the 512 MB chip.
Thus, Slot A does not seem to be working. Any idea why this might be happening?
Thank you.
January 1st, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I got the same problem with an M300, if you know the answer let me know! bv
December 8th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Hi lf. I made the mistake of trying to upgrade an old Compaq M300 with some memory. Infineon 256mb pc133. Unfortunately, now it doesn’t do much of anything. The led’s light, but no POST msgs, nothing. Tried swapping battery, pwr supply, HD, out memory, other memory… nothing.
Putting my post here, because it sounds like the 64mb onboard memory is toast. Question is, is there any way of disabling the onboard memory (through jumper settings, other..?), and revive this thing, or is replacing hte motherboard the only route?
December 5th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
I have the same Sony PCG-K33 Notebook and am having the same problem! I just installed 2 512 chips and it only detects them as 256. I tried it with just one stick and the laptop only registered 256 total ram. I installed Corsair 512 chips SO-DIMM 333. Could there be a problem with this laptop?
November 25th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Terry,
According to the laptop specification Sony PCG-K33 should accept up to 1GB (slotA+slotB) so 512MB+512MB should work just fine. The standard memory is PC2100 but you shouldn’t see any problem with PC2700 because it will slow down and run at PC2100 speed.
I guess you bought mislabeled memory modules. Can you see on the memory module itself if it’s labeled as 512MB or it appears only on the memory case? May be they put a wrong module into the case? It could be the manufacturer’s mistake and they labeled 256MB modules as 512MB.
I don’t think that there is something wrong with your laptop. Just in case check if there is a BIOS update with some kind of weird fix for this problem.
November 24th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
laptop memory upgrade issues, 512 shows 256.
I have a sony viao. pcg k33 I replaced the 2 256 pc2100 with e 512 pc2700s. It has a 1 gig max. The “geek” guys at best buy said it should no be a proplem. I ran “everrest” and both slotts show 256 instead of 512 for each slot.
What is the prople? Any ideas?
Thanks Terry