If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Computer freezes with more RAM added
This is a saga! I have a Sony Vaio PCG-FX215 notebook computer that came
with 128mb of RAM. The machine came with Windows ME, but a year ago, I reformatted the HD and installed XP Pro. A month ago, I ordered another 128mb module from Kingston Technology. (By the way, Sony recommends them, and Crucial Technology to customers who want to buy more RAM). The computer has two slots, and a limit of 256mb. Anyway....with the 2nd module added, the computer runs for random periods of time, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes a couple of hours, and then freezes in the middle of whatever I'm doing. No blue screen, no error messages. It just stops responding completely. Not funny. Kingston apparently saw this as a challenge - they were terrific in terms of trying various different modules, and finally sending me a single 256mb module to try. That didn't work, either. Other things we tried: - All Sony drivers (including BIOS) were updated to the ones specified as compatible with WinXP. (Machine froze) - Old & new modules were swapped between the two slots, in case position was important. (Machine froze) - Two identical Kingston 128mb modules were tried, in case there was a mismatch with the original Sony module. (Machine froze) - Ran one Kingston 128mb module at a time. Machine did NOT freeze. - Ran one Kingston 256mb module with other slot empty. (Machine froze) Finally, Kingston gave up. I just received a 256mb chip from Crucial Technology. Same problem. The machine doesn't seem to like running with 256mb of RAM. Is there anything I can tweak in WinXP to deal with this, or does it seem more like a hardware issue? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
maybe its time to talk to sony? or get a decent laptop like an ibm thinkpad
;O) "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... This is a saga! I have a Sony Vaio PCG-FX215 notebook computer that came with 128mb of RAM. The machine came with Windows ME, but a year ago, I reformatted the HD and installed XP Pro. A month ago, I ordered another 128mb module from Kingston Technology. (By the way, Sony recommends them, and Crucial Technology to customers who want to buy more RAM). The computer has two slots, and a limit of 256mb. Anyway....with the 2nd module added, the computer runs for random periods of time, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes a couple of hours, and then freezes in the middle of whatever I'm doing. No blue screen, no error messages. It just stops responding completely. Not funny. Kingston apparently saw this as a challenge - they were terrific in terms of trying various different modules, and finally sending me a single 256mb module to try. That didn't work, either. Other things we tried: - All Sony drivers (including BIOS) were updated to the ones specified as compatible with WinXP. (Machine froze) - Old & new modules were swapped between the two slots, in case position was important. (Machine froze) - Two identical Kingston 128mb modules were tried, in case there was a mismatch with the original Sony module. (Machine froze) - Ran one Kingston 128mb module at a time. Machine did NOT freeze. - Ran one Kingston 256mb module with other slot empty. (Machine froze) Finally, Kingston gave up. I just received a 256mb chip from Crucial Technology. Same problem. The machine doesn't seem to like running with 256mb of RAM. Is there anything I can tweak in WinXP to deal with this, or does it seem more like a hardware issue? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Does the bios on your notebook allow you to increase the voltage? If so,
check out the operating voltage of your RAM (i.e. 2.5-2.8v). Increase the DDR voltage in increments until the system stabilizes. I had the exact problem with 2 X 512MB sticks of Mushkin PC3500. Either one ran fine, but both would lock up or reboot. Increasing the voltage from 2.5 to 2.7 cured the problem completely. Statement of the obvious: Do not exceed the max operating voltage of the RAM. Good Luck, Fitz |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Sony had no clue, and buying a new machine is not an option at the moment.
"tjones" wrote in message ... maybe its time to talk to sony? or get a decent laptop like an ibm thinkpad ;O) "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... This is a saga! I have a Sony Vaio PCG-FX215 notebook computer that came with 128mb of RAM. The machine came with Windows ME, but a year ago, I reformatted the HD and installed XP Pro. A month ago, I ordered another 128mb module from Kingston Technology. (By the way, Sony recommends them, and Crucial Technology to customers who want to buy more RAM). The computer has two slots, and a limit of 256mb. Anyway....with the 2nd module added, the computer runs for random periods of time, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes a couple of hours, and then freezes in the middle of whatever I'm doing. No blue screen, no error messages. It just stops responding completely. Not funny. Kingston apparently saw this as a challenge - they were terrific in terms of trying various different modules, and finally sending me a single 256mb module to try. That didn't work, either. Other things we tried: - All Sony drivers (including BIOS) were updated to the ones specified as compatible with WinXP. (Machine froze) - Old & new modules were swapped between the two slots, in case position was important. (Machine froze) - Two identical Kingston 128mb modules were tried, in case there was a mismatch with the original Sony module. (Machine froze) - Ran one Kingston 128mb module at a time. Machine did NOT freeze. - Ran one Kingston 256mb module with other slot empty. (Machine froze) Finally, Kingston gave up. I just received a 256mb chip from Crucial Technology. Same problem. The machine doesn't seem to like running with 256mb of RAM. Is there anything I can tweak in WinXP to deal with this, or does it seem more like a hardware issue? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 21:34:39 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote:
This is a saga! I have a Sony Vaio PCG-FX215 notebook computer that came with 128mb of RAM. The machine came with Windows ME, but a year ago, I reformatted the HD and installed XP Pro. A month ago, I ordered another 128mb module from Kingston Technology. (By the way, Sony recommends them, and Crucial Technology to customers who want to buy more RAM). The computer has two slots, and a limit of 256mb. Anyway....with the 2nd module added, the computer runs for random periods of time, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes a couple of hours, and then freezes in the middle of whatever I'm doing. No blue screen, no error messages. It just stops responding completely. Not funny. Kingston apparently saw this as a challenge - they were terrific in terms of trying various different modules, and finally sending me a single 256mb module to try. That didn't work, either. Other things we tried: - All Sony drivers (including BIOS) were updated to the ones specified as compatible with WinXP. (Machine froze) - Old & new modules were swapped between the two slots, in case position was important. (Machine froze) - Two identical Kingston 128mb modules were tried, in case there was a mismatch with the original Sony module. (Machine froze) - Ran one Kingston 128mb module at a time. Machine did NOT freeze. - Ran one Kingston 256mb module with other slot empty. (Machine froze) Finally, Kingston gave up. I just received a 256mb chip from Crucial Technology. Same problem. The machine doesn't seem to like running with 256mb of RAM. Is there anything I can tweak in WinXP to deal with this, or does it seem more like a hardware issue? Have you run Memtest86 on the machine? Your problem is either the CPU, the brdige chip or XP. If Memtest86 passes then the finger points to XP, if it fails Memtest86 then you have a problem with either the bridge chip or your CPU. In either case there isn't anything that you can do about it in a laptop. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Fitz" wrote in message ... Does the bios on your notebook allow you to increase the voltage? If so, check out the operating voltage of your RAM (i.e. 2.5-2.8v). Increase the DDR voltage in increments until the system stabilizes. I had the exact problem with 2 X 512MB sticks of Mushkin PC3500. Either one ran fine, but both would lock up or reboot. Increasing the voltage from 2.5 to 2.7 cured the problem completely. Statement of the obvious: Do not exceed the max operating voltage of the RAM. Good Luck, Fitz Thanks, Fitz, but no such option in my BIOS settings. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"General Schvantzkoph" wrote in message news On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 21:34:39 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote: This is a saga! I have a Sony Vaio PCG-FX215 notebook computer that came with 128mb of RAM. The machine came with Windows ME, but a year ago, I reformatted the HD and installed XP Pro. A month ago, I ordered another 128mb module from Kingston Technology. (By the way, Sony recommends them, and Crucial Technology to customers who want to buy more RAM). The computer has two slots, and a limit of 256mb. Anyway....with the 2nd module added, the computer runs for random periods of time, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes a couple of hours, and then freezes in the middle of whatever I'm doing. No blue screen, no error messages. It just stops responding completely. Not funny. Kingston apparently saw this as a challenge - they were terrific in terms of trying various different modules, and finally sending me a single 256mb module to try. That didn't work, either. Other things we tried: - All Sony drivers (including BIOS) were updated to the ones specified as compatible with WinXP. (Machine froze) - Old & new modules were swapped between the two slots, in case position was important. (Machine froze) - Two identical Kingston 128mb modules were tried, in case there was a mismatch with the original Sony module. (Machine froze) - Ran one Kingston 128mb module at a time. Machine did NOT freeze. - Ran one Kingston 256mb module with other slot empty. (Machine froze) Finally, Kingston gave up. I just received a 256mb chip from Crucial Technology. Same problem. The machine doesn't seem to like running with 256mb of RAM. Is there anything I can tweak in WinXP to deal with this, or does it seem more like a hardware issue? Have you run Memtest86 on the machine? Your problem is either the CPU, the brdige chip or XP. If Memtest86 passes then the finger points to XP, if it fails Memtest86 then you have a problem with either the bridge chip or your CPU. In either case there isn't anything that you can do about it in a laptop. Ran Memtest (for about 12 hours). Passed. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 12:44:26 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote:
"General Schvantzkoph" wrote in message news On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 21:34:39 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote: This is a saga! I have a Sony Vaio PCG-FX215 notebook computer that came with 128mb of RAM. The machine came with Windows ME, but a year ago, I reformatted the HD and installed XP Pro. A month ago, I ordered another 128mb module from Kingston Technology. (By the way, Sony recommends them, and Crucial Technology to customers who want to buy more RAM). The computer has two slots, and a limit of 256mb. Anyway....with the 2nd module added, the computer runs for random periods of time, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes a couple of hours, and then freezes in the middle of whatever I'm doing. No blue screen, no error messages. It just stops responding completely. Not funny. Kingston apparently saw this as a challenge - they were terrific in terms of trying various different modules, and finally sending me a single 256mb module to try. That didn't work, either. Other things we tried: - All Sony drivers (including BIOS) were updated to the ones specified as compatible with WinXP. (Machine froze) - Old & new modules were swapped between the two slots, in case position was important. (Machine froze) - Two identical Kingston 128mb modules were tried, in case there was a mismatch with the original Sony module. (Machine froze) - Ran one Kingston 128mb module at a time. Machine did NOT freeze. - Ran one Kingston 256mb module with other slot empty. (Machine froze) Finally, Kingston gave up. I just received a 256mb chip from Crucial Technology. Same problem. The machine doesn't seem to like running with 256mb of RAM. Is there anything I can tweak in WinXP to deal with this, or does it seem more like a hardware issue? Have you run Memtest86 on the machine? Your problem is either the CPU, the brdige chip or XP. If Memtest86 passes then the finger points to XP, if it fails Memtest86 then you have a problem with either the bridge chip or your CPU. In either case there isn't anything that you can do about it in a laptop. Ran Memtest (for about 12 hours). Passed. Have you checked to see if there is an update available for your BIOS? If Memtest ran for 12 hours without a failure then it looks like your problem is software related. I'd update the BIOS if you can. If that doesn't fix it I'd do a clean install of XP or replace XP with Linux. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"General Schvantzkoph" wrote in message news On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 12:44:26 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote: "General Schvantzkoph" wrote in message news On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 21:34:39 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote: This is a saga! I have a Sony Vaio PCG-FX215 notebook computer that came with 128mb of RAM. The machine came with Windows ME, but a year ago, I reformatted the HD and installed XP Pro. A month ago, I ordered another 128mb module from Kingston Technology. (By the way, Sony recommends them, and Crucial Technology to customers who want to buy more RAM). The computer has two slots, and a limit of 256mb. Anyway....with the 2nd module added, the computer runs for random periods of time, sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes a couple of hours, and then freezes in the middle of whatever I'm doing. No blue screen, no error messages. It just stops responding completely. Not funny. Kingston apparently saw this as a challenge - they were terrific in terms of trying various different modules, and finally sending me a single 256mb module to try. That didn't work, either. Other things we tried: - All Sony drivers (including BIOS) were updated to the ones specified as compatible with WinXP. (Machine froze) - Old & new modules were swapped between the two slots, in case position was important. (Machine froze) - Two identical Kingston 128mb modules were tried, in case there was a mismatch with the original Sony module. (Machine froze) - Ran one Kingston 128mb module at a time. Machine did NOT freeze. - Ran one Kingston 256mb module with other slot empty. (Machine froze) Finally, Kingston gave up. I just received a 256mb chip from Crucial Technology. Same problem. The machine doesn't seem to like running with 256mb of RAM. Is there anything I can tweak in WinXP to deal with this, or does it seem more like a hardware issue? Have you run Memtest86 on the machine? Your problem is either the CPU, the brdige chip or XP. If Memtest86 passes then the finger points to XP, if it fails Memtest86 then you have a problem with either the bridge chip or your CPU. In either case there isn't anything that you can do about it in a laptop. Ran Memtest (for about 12 hours). Passed. Have you checked to see if there is an update available for your BIOS? If Memtest ran for 12 hours without a failure then it looks like your problem is software related. I'd update the BIOS if you can. If that doesn't fix it I'd do a clean install of XP or replace XP with Linux. I have the latest BIOS update from Sony, intended for this computer, running XP. Now, however, I'm dangerously tempted to search for something better at the AMD web site, using the chipset info revealed by Memtest during its test. On the OTHER hand (and there's always another hand), the machine is running flawlessly today.....so far. I made just ONE change with the current module - something that did NOT make any difference with the Kingston units: Moved the module to the other slot. I'm going to continue looking for solutions, in case this fails. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Doug Kanter:
On the OTHER hand (and there's always another hand), the machine is running flawlessly today.....so far. I made just ONE change with the current module - something that did NOT make any difference with the Kingston units: Moved the module to the other slot. I'm going to continue looking for solutions, in case this fails. Just my opinion but I think you have a hardware problem, if still under warranty, contact Sony and bug them to fix it. -- Mac Cool |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
XP Pro Freezes at start up? | Christo | General | 2 | September 26th 04 07:06 PM |
Off Topic - Lou Costello buys a computer | :J:W:B: | General | 0 | September 1st 04 03:37 PM |
Hewlett-Packard & Circuit City | Richard E Sgrignoli | General | 2 | March 17th 04 10:42 AM |
Silent Computer - Advice | David Taylor | General | 49 | October 7th 03 11:26 AM |
computer freezes when booting | Dan Chirica | General | 1 | July 6th 03 07:01 PM |