HKSubaru

had to upgrade pc ram on someone's computer.

it had 128 and she bought 256, whilst going to system on control panel it says 256. Is this what happens to RAM? or is it supposed to add on with the 128 so you get 128+256??

ozzy

Forget Windows and make sure the RAM is registered in the PC's BIOS first. Either watch while the PC boots (you should see it count the physical memory) or go into the PC's BIOS setup program (F2, DEL or some key stroke) and see how much RAM is reported.

Some motherboards are fussy on the way the slots are populated by different size RAM. Try changing the order i.e. 256Mb in slot 0 and the original 128Mb in slot 1.

Stefan

HKSubaru

thanks mate...had trouble loading up first! then kept wanting to go to bios but wouldn't let me... dodgy computer!! thought you might have to register it.

ozzy

You shouldn't need to register it (haven't seen that on any clone PC). If it's something like a Compaq, IBM or Dell, then when you add RAM the POST will report extra memory and you need to go into the BIOS program and just save the new details.

Any other PC running a taiwanese motherboard (Asus, Abit, Gigabyte, etc..) you just need to make sure it's the right stuff and in the correct slot (check the manufacturers website for the model details).

Should be nothing more too it than that.

Stefan

super_si

Weird thing ive got with RD, is the 2 empty slots needed Dummy memory in, well ram like in appeared just to complete the Circuit

Si

towzer

depending on what chipset (eg intel 440BX et) you have could determine whether you are able to use all the available memory, effectively if the chipset can only address 256MB in total you'll never be able to access more than 256MB. There was a 128MB limit on the original chipset that supported the Pentium MMX class machines but I don't remember anything with a 256MB limit.

If it's a Compaq PC let me know and I'll find out whether it's ever going to support more than 256MB memory.

Phil