RAM not installed on XP/BIOS, but visible in MSINFO32/BELARC

Is your memory not fully recognized? (Intel VX chipset Memory recognition)
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JRR
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Hi all
I've just added a 1GB card to my EiSystem MID2020 MD42414 (seems to be rebadged Medion). This already has 256MB in built, of which 16MB is currently allocated within the BIOS to the onboard video adapter. So, prior to adding the new 1GB memory, I could see the following:

Total as reported by BIOS : 256MB
Total as reported from My Computer -> Properties : 240MB
Total Physical memory as reported by MSINFO32: 256MB

All OK so far. So I added the 1GB memory. BIOS and "My Computer" don't see it. However, MSINFO32 now reports 1280MB total physical memory, and BELARC reports:
240 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'DRAM Slot 0' has 256 MB
Slot 'DRAM Slot 1' has 1024 MB
Slot 'DRAM Slot 2' is Empty

Other useful info is as follows:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
System Model MID2020
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2799 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Insyde Software Version 4.00, 02/04/2001
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Total Physical Memory 1,280.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 63.95 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 513.50 MB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
BIOS: Insyde Software Version 4.00 04/02/2001

Memory module details as follows:
DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • UNBUFFERED • NON-ECC • DDR333 • 2.5V • 128Meg x 64

I've also updated the BIOS with the following BIOS Update: MID 2020 01.06.2004 - Version: M1.08, but that doesn't seem to have helped.

Anyone any ideas on what is wrong and how to fix?

Thanks
James
Last edited by JRR on Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
KURIAKI
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MID 2020 can manage 1GB RAM maximum, but you need 2x512MB modules.
More than 100,000 BIOS strings in my database just now!
http:/ /www.kuriaki.has.it/
http:/ /www.supportbios.info
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Saludos desde Cancun, Mexico
KURIAKI
JRR
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Excellent. All sorted - thanks
Muttley
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JRR wrote:Excellent. All sorted - thanks
Hi,

My brother in-law has one of these laptops, so the other day when I was sorting his wifi connection out I thought it was running painfully slow as there was only 25mb of ram in it So, to help him out (well he is family) I want to get some more RAM.

I found out that the maximum RAM was 1GB, but then when I ran diagnostic software it reported there were 3 slots, 1 taken up with the 256mb and 2 slots empty - so I thought 'd take out the 256 and replace it with a 512 and add and extra 512 into the other slots.

When I opened the back up I could only see 1 slot (which was empty).

So looking at your earlier post I'm guessing that the 256 is inbuilt - so how did you get up to the 1GB of RAM?
MaxMad
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I have the same problems as described in the first post, what was the solution?

And where is the second RAM slot?

-MaxMad
Muttley
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MaxMad wrote:
And where is the second RAM slot?

-MaxMad
1 slot is on the bottom of the laptop (there is an access cover to get to it) and the 2nd one you have to remove the keyboard to get it.
MaxMad
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Thanks Muttley!

Do you know if the keyboard pries off, or is it attched with screws?

-MaxMad
Muttley
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MaxMad wrote:Thanks Muttley!

Do you know if the keyboard pries off, or is it attched with screws?

-MaxMad
It is attached with screws, but you can only get to them if you remove the cover where the on/off button and the lights are.

I found to remove the cover I had to push down and to the left from the right hand side - the cover the comes away to reveal the screws for the keyboard.
MaxMad
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Brilliant!

I have two 1-gig chips since the Crucial.com/uk website told me this will work.

I first installed a 1GB chip in slot 0 beneath the keyboard, and got 1GB Memory.
When I installed the second 1GB chip in the slot un the underside, I still just got 1GB.

I have since checked some other memory retailers, and they say 1 GB max for the MID2020, so it seems I may have to return one of the chips.

-MaxMad
Muttley
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MaxMad wrote:Brilliant!

I have since checked some other memory retailers, and they say 1 GB max for the MID2020, so it seems I may have to return one of the chips.

-MaxMad
Yes http://www.memoryx.net/ said that it was a max of 1gb (I thought it had to be with 2x 512mb - but maybe this was entered onto their site before 1gb was readily available).

The second post in this thread also says that it should be no more than 1gb (and suggests 2x512mb too).

Well at least you now know where the 2 slots are - it seemed such a strange design to me having them in those two places, when it looks as if there would be enough room on the bottom of the laptop to have two chips there.
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