I currrently have two 512 chips in my laptop. I purchased two 1gb chips and installed them. the computer would not boot. I took out the two 1gb and put the 512's back and it works. so, i'm guessing that I was installing them correctly.

is there a time period that I should wait, or should it boot quickly.

i did get a series of three beeps one of the times i attempted to boot.

Any help is appreciated.

I currrently have two 512 chips in my laptop. I purchased two 1gb chips and installed them. the computer would not boot. I took out the two 1gb and put the 512's back and it works. so, i'm guessing that I was installing them correctly.

is there a time period that I should wait, or should it boot quickly.

i did get a series of three beeps one of the times i attempted to boot.

Any help is appreciated.

and there lies the answer.
check the requirements for the memory and make sure you have the right type.
the three beeps is the puters way of telling you that it is not finding any memory when it triest to boot.

and there lies the answer.
check the requirements for the memory and make sure you have the right type.
the three beeps is the puters way of telling you that it is not finding any memory when it triest to boot.

I purchased it from compgeeks.com after I thought I did a search to find out what kind I needed. do you know how I can find out what kind I need/

Thanks for you help

I purchased it from compgeeks.com after I thought I did a search to find out what kind I needed. do you know how I can find out what kind I need/

Thanks for you help
What is the make and model of the puter in question?
do a search on that and see if the manufacture posts the information.

What is the make and model of the puter in question?
do a search on that and see if the manufacture posts the information.

It is an HP Pavilion.

It is an HP Pavilion.
ok, so does your specific unit require DDR, DDR2 or SDRAM?
and how old is it? will the board even recognize memory at that level or is it limited to 512?

ok, so does your specific unit require DDR, DDR2 or SDRAM?
and how old is it? will the board even recognize memory at that level or is it limited to 512?

It's is less than a year old.

I found a web site that does a system check. and it looks like I bought DDR2 when I should have DDR.

It's is less than a year old.

I found a web site that does a system check. and it looks like I bought DDR2 when I should have DDR.
well that would certainly be an issue.

Try Crucial.com good place to use if you don't know what kind of memory you need.
Will give you type and largest allowed total and per chip.

Try Crucial.com good place to use if you don't know what kind of memory you need.
Will give you type and largest allowed total and per chip.

I am so confused now!!!! I went to crucial.com, scanned my system, and it told me to buy exaclty what I bought. The only thing it didn't specify was pin numbers. I was under the impression that laptops were 200 pin. Anybobdy know wanything about that?

Laptops typically use a smaller module like a SODIM... it is more compact.

Besides being an HP Pavillion, what is the exact model? Like mine is a Dell XPS 1710...

Also, what kind of memory did you buy? Give us the specs/manufacturer/part number - whatever you have.

It is quite possible you bought the correct memory, but your laptop cannot support more than 1GB - a lot of cheaper laptops do this, but answer the above and we can let you know.

Laptops typically use a smaller module like a SODIM... it is more compact.

Besides being an HP Pavillion, what is the exact model? Like mine is a Dell XPS 1710...

Also, what kind of memory did you buy? Give us the specs/manufacturer/part number - whatever you have.

It is quite possible you bought the correct memory, but your laptop cannot support more than 1GB - a lot of cheaper laptops do this, but answer the above and we can let you know.


My model is DV8333.
I purchased Rambo 1GB DDR2 PC2-5300 200 pin SODIMM Major/3rd
I am certain that my laptop is upgradable to 2GB with two 1GB chips.

My model is DV8333.
I purchased Rambo 1GB DDR2 PC2-5300 200 pin SODIMM Major/3rd
I am certain that my laptop is upgradable to 2GB with two 1GB chips.

What you bought looks to be right... and you are right - your laptops max is 2GB. This is what i would do;

Insert one of the 512 SODIMS in one of the slots...
Insert one of the 1GB SODIMS in the other slot...

Turn the computer on - does it boot and show 1.5GB? If not - possibly a bad 1GB SODIM...

Turn the computer off and swap the 1GB SODIMS with the other new one...

Turn the computer on - does it boot and show 1.5GB? If not - that 1GB SODIM is bad...

You might have a bad module (quite possible)...

All this is doing is isolating which SODIM module is bad - maybe. I am trying to see if your laptop can mix memory sizes and I am seeing nothing that says you cannot do so. You will not hurt anything - the worst that will happen is that it will not boot at all.

Try the above to see if you can isolate the problem a bit further.

Laptops typically use a smaller module like a SODIM... it is more compact.

Besides being an HP Pavillion, what is the exact model? Like mine is a Dell XPS 1710...

Also, what kind of memory did you buy? Give us the specs/manufacturer/part number - whatever you have.

It is quite possible you bought the correct memory, but your laptop cannot support more than 1GB - a lot of cheaper laptops do this, but answer the above and we can let you know.

I too am an M1710 owner. I just upgraded to 4GB of memory. This baby SCREAMS! :lmao:

I too am an M1710 owner. I just upgraded to 4GB of memory. This baby SCREAMS! :lmao:

Oh yeah - it rocks!

What you bought looks to be right... and you are right - your laptops max is 2GB. This is what i would do;

Insert one of the 512 SODIMS in one of the slots...
Insert one of the 1GB SODIMS in the other slot...

Turn the computer on - does it boot and show 1.5GB? If not - possibly a bad 1GB SODIM...

Turn the computer off and swap the 1GB SODIMS with the other new one...

Turn the computer on - does it boot and show 1.5GB? If not - that 1GB SODIM is bad...

You might have a bad module (quite possible)...

All this is doing is isolating which SODIM module is bad - maybe. I am trying to see if your laptop can mix memory sizes and I am seeing nothing that says you cannot do so. You will not hurt anything - the worst that will happen is that it will not boot at all.

Try the above to see if you can isolate the problem a bit further.


Any luck or progress?

Insert Ginkgo-Biloba tablet in mouth... swallow.

I too am an M1710 owner. I just upgraded to 4GB of memory. This baby SCREAMS! :lmao:

maybe with Vista that should be "Moves along efficiently" lol

maybe with Vista that should be "Moves along efficiently" lol

Nope, no Vista here. Running XP on this one. I had Vista upgrade but got rid of it. I was tired of waiting on things to run. Not to mention, I have way too many gadgets and software that did not like Vista. So, I wiped it out and put XP back on it. Much better, and like I said, with 4GB it screams! :lmao:

Better have a 64bit OS for that 4 gig ;)

Better have a 64bit OS for that 4 gig ;)

huh? why?? Is there something I should know?? :eyebrow:

Well you're really only able to use 3gb for 32 bit flavors of windows. They use the upper 1gb (3-4) address space for devices and special OS hooks.. (video memory map, DMA direct memory access for drives, pci, etc) Although it is physically there, it will remain unallocated. 3gb is plenty for this generation of computers.

Well you're really only able to use 3gb for 32 bit flavors of windows. They use the upper 1gb (3-4) address space for devices and special OS hooks.. (video memory map, DMA direct memory access for drives, pci, etc) Although it is physically there, it will remain unallocated. 3gb is plenty for this generation of computers.

:smack: Now I have to spend money and get 64 bit XP, if there is such an animal. Have not ever looked. Hubby is NOT going to be happy with you! :lmao:

:smack: Now I have to spend money and get 64 bit XP, if there is such an animal. Have not ever looked. Hubby is NOT going to be happy with you! :lmao:

I'd just go with less RAM instead of buying/installing a new OS. 64-bit processing is relatively new, so don't sweat it...

I've used the 64 bit oses and although for some things they are good. You're better off with a 3gb xp than an 64 bit vista. IMO.

I've used the 64 bit oses and although for some things they are good. You're better off with a 3gb xp than an 64 bit vista. IMO.


Yeah, I always listen to my man Mighty Mouse! He's my hero! :biggrin:

I didn't buy it, I couldn't see spending 300.00 on a new OS when this one is just fine! :lmao:

Yeah, I always listen to my man Mighty Mouse! He's my hero! :biggrin:

I didn't buy it, I couldn't see spending 300.00 on a new OS when this one is just fine! :lmao:

:high5:

I've used the 64 bit oses and although for some things they are good. You're better off with a 3gb xp than an 64 bit vista. IMO.

No, Your better off with 2 gig running in dual channel.

Dont waste your money on tons of RAM and a 64bit OS because it wont help anything.

No, Your better off with 2 gig running in dual channel.

Dont waste your money on tons of RAM and a 64bit OS because it wont help anything.

I Agree with the later comment. However, 2 2gig sticks on a 32 bit os will still run in dual channel mode. Each stick will just access 1.5 gigs each.

On the recent intel chipsets, you can run dual channel with a 1 and 2 gig stick set in what is called an asymmetric ram array. The dual channel access will only run on the overlapping sizes. (I.E. for a 1 and 2 gig stick set, the first 2 gigs will run in dual channel mode while the high 2-3gb area will run in single channel mode.) In this case, I would think, 2 gigs would be preferable for most applications.

2 1 gig sticks is better for the wallet though.

Im sorry I meant 2 gig total. (2-1gig chips)

I think unless you REALLY need it 2 gig is enough for anyone right about now.

Memory is CHEAP! Put it in... I remember a few years ago saying "4 MB of memory - I will NEVER use that much" - I am sure olders members can attest to even less!

64-bit O/S - if you have an application written to take advantage of the 64-bit it will SCREAM! We have machines running MatLab 64-bit and they smoke the other 32-bit flavors...\

If it was a toss-up between the two - go with the memory, not a lot of software for the consumer supports 64-bit...

If you have the money you might as well do it... my laptop and workstation has 4GB and I use it.

Like I said it all depends on if you would use it or not. Like me ive never maxxed out my 2 gig with anything so im ok for now but if I needed it I would most certainly have 4 gig.

Memory isnt cheap if you get some with great timings :) heck it was about 200 for 2gig of my ram that I have now