Having a weird problem with an older laptop.

[SantiClaws]

I have an older laptop (HP Pavilion ze4900) which I use for surfing while sitting on the couch. It's been dropped a couple of times, so the screen is going out periodically. I picked up a slightly newer model, HP ze5300, which had no HDD or wireless card or memory. I put the HDD, memory and wireless network card and memory into the new laptop, it won't POST with 1GB of memory. It POSTs and works just fine with two 256MB modules of memory, but won't POST with two 512MB of memory, or with one 512MB memory module. Both the 256MB modules and the 512MB modules are PC2700 DDR333. The 512MB modules are Corsair and I know they work just fine in the ze4900. Both the ze4900 and the ze5300 specs say that they both recognize 512MB memory modules and take up to 1GB of memory. I haven't tried to flash BIOS (can't find a floppy!) but it should not need a flash, it is supposed to support 1GB with the current BIOS.

Any other ideas?

 

[SantiClaws]

Flashed BIOS - no joy. Tried putting a 256mb module in together with a 512, it only recognizes the 256 mod/ule, whether it is in slot 1 or 2. I'm mystified and have no idea what to try next.

 

[Smoove910]

sure sounds like your Corsair 512mb sticks are not compatible with the ZE5300. I've heard about those older Corsair sticks not being compatible in certain applications.

Maybe try posing the same question on the Corsair forums and see what they say?

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/index.php

 

[SantiClaws]

Tried the Corsair forum without much help. I got two Samsung PC2100 512MB modules and tried those. It posts with one 512MB PC2100 module and one 256MB PC2100 module ((regardless of which module you put into slot 1 or slot 2), but will not post with two 512MB modules. I'm flummoxed.

 

[Bubbaleone]

In the HP ze5300 service manual it states: "Two slots for PC2100 DDR-266 SDRAM modules. Up to 1 GB (1024 MB) SDRAM using 512 MB modules." And you state: "Both the 256MB modules and the 512MB modules are PC2700 DDR333". I think even though it's stepping down the DDR 333 to 266 MHz and able to boot a single 512 MB stick in that configuration, it won't handle it with more than one stick installed.

I had a Compaq Presario 2500 (same as the ze5300) that did the same thing with anything other than HP 512MB DDR 266 SODIMMs. The Presario would run 1GB of HP RAM just fine, but nothing else. So if your Samsung DDR 266 will boot at 768MB, but not at 1024, your ze5300 is probably as finicky about memory timings as my Presario 2500 was.

 

[SantiClaws]

Note mypost from today - I tried two pc2100 512MB modules. No luck.

 

[Bubbaleone]

I did notice; which his why I said if your Samsung DDR 266 (PC2100) would boot at 768 but not 1024, it's probably due the memory timing not being the same as the original HP DDR 266.