Adding RAM - the very basics

G

Guest

I have a Compaq nx6325 notebook. I wanted to add RAM to speed it up a little
and because I've read that adding RAM can prolong the life of your computer.
I have a 40G hard drive and 512MB of RAM.

I bought a stick of RAM from a internet store that has a good reputation,
and I used their memory compatibility wizard.

When I got the RAM, it had a sticker directly on it. I didn't even know if
I was supposed to take the sticker off or leave it on, so I inserted it into
my computer with the sticker on. My computer didn't respond at all, so I
took the sticker off and reinserted it. When I turned my computer on this
time, it started revving like a car revs. I closed my notebook to see if it
would go into hibernation, and it just kept revving. Finally, I had to use
the power button to turn my computer off and remove the memory stick. When I
restarted it, it was fine.

I got no help from the internet store nor from the manufacturer (couldn't
reach them - their phone line was always busy and they didn't respond to my
e-mail). So I'm hoping someone can help me here.

Did I do something wrong, or was it a bad stick of memory, or...?
Thanks.
 
J

JS

Unless the sticker in some way covered the contacts I doubt that was the
problem, more than likely you may not have fully inserted the memory the
first time you tried. As to prolonging the life, false assumption, some
applications may work a little faster (Photo software as an example with
more than 512MB of ram) but otherwise 512MB of ram (which I assume is what
you had before adding the extra memory) is more than enough for XP.

If you think the memory may be defective or marginal then try the utility
mentioned below:
Memtest86+, this runs from a boot disk and should eliminate or
confirm if your ram is bad.
Let it run for as long as you can, 2,4,6,8 or more hours, if no errors by
then your ram is OK.
See: http://www.memtest.org/

JS
 
D

db

sounds like bad ram
or incompatible ram.

what does your laptop
manual or notebook say
about the motherboards
memory requirements?

I have a Compaq nx6325 notebook. I wanted to add RAM to speed it up a little
and because I've read that adding RAM can prolong the life of your computer.
I have a 40G hard drive and 512MB of RAM.

I bought a stick of RAM from a internet store that has a good reputation,
and I used their memory compatibility wizard.

When I got the RAM, it had a sticker directly on it. I didn't even know if
I was supposed to take the sticker off or leave it on, so I inserted it into
my computer with the sticker on. My computer didn't respond at all, so I
took the sticker off and reinserted it. When I turned my computer on this
time, it started revving like a car revs. I closed my notebook to see if it
would go into hibernation, and it just kept revving. Finally, I had to use
the power button to turn my computer off and remove the memory stick. When I
restarted it, it was fine.

I got no help from the internet store nor from the manufacturer (couldn't
reach them - their phone line was always busy and they didn't respond to my
e-mail). So I'm hoping someone can help me here.

Did I do something wrong, or was it a bad stick of memory, or...?
Thanks.
 
G

Guest

Good question. My manual is all online, and I can't find this info. HP Help
recommended SO-DIMM 667MHz DDR2 PC2-5300 SDRAM, but it costs a lot to get it
from them, so I went through someone else and got memory meeting these specs.
This is a pretty new computer for me, and I was not happy when my computer
started revving and wouldn't turn on.

By the way, does the label come off when you insert it into the computer or
not?
 
G

Guest

I already returned the memory. I'll have to file this away for use next time.
Thanks
 
D

db

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/321957-321957-64295-321838-89315-1849082.html

Memory
Memory
512 MB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Memory slots
2 SODIMM slots


http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...=101&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=1849082#4

according to the above, it seems
that your motherboard
can have 2 ram chips

i couldn't find anything
regarding the combinations.
so it's likely that it
can be any combination up to 4 gigs.

amd processors are pretty good
and though i am not a fan of comcrap,
it seems you got a nifty notebook.

it's likely that the memory gets configured
via the bios.

also, have you check out
to see if there are updates for your bios
at the amd website?


notebook memory is costly because
it is in high demand.

maybe a faster processor
Good question. My manual is all online, and I can't find this info. HP Help
recommended SO-DIMM 667MHz DDR2 PC2-5300 SDRAM, but it costs a lot to get it
from them, so I went through someone else and got memory meeting these specs.
This is a pretty new computer for me, and I was not happy when my computer
started revving and wouldn't turn on.

By the way, does the label come off when you insert it into the computer or
not?
 
G

Guest

It's interesting (and confusing) - I went to the original internet store and
used their compatibility wizard to look for Kingston memory which would fit
my computer. Then I went to the Kingston website you recommended and typed
in the part number I had gotten from the internet store, but Kingston did not
bring up my computer as a compatible match. The Kingston website recommended
a different memory board.
 
G

Guest

A lot of that's over the head of someone who (still) doesn't know whether to
take the sticker off the memory or not, but I appreciate the links and I
think it's a nifty notebook, too. I think you are right - it was
incompatible or bad ram. I'll probably try another stick of ram from a
different source.
Thanks to all.
 
D

db

you're welcome.

A lot of that's over the head of someone who (still) doesn't know whether to
take the sticker off the memory or not, but I appreciate the links and I
think it's a nifty notebook, too. I think you are right - it was
incompatible or bad ram. I'll probably try another stick of ram from a
different source.
Thanks to all.
 
G

Guest

Thank you again for the links. I would never have thought of looking at the
HP website for information on my very old HP LaserJet if it hadn't been for
your link to the user manuals. My printer has been printing stray toner for
quite a while, and I've tried without success to clean it. But I went to
that website and found a cleaning utility, which I downloaded for free - just
ran it - and the stray toner is gone! I thought I might have to shell out a
bundle for a repair job. Thank you very much.
 
D

db

you're welcome.

Thank you again for the links. I would never have thought of looking at the
HP website for information on my very old HP LaserJet if it hadn't been for
your link to the user manuals. My printer has been printing stray toner for
quite a while, and I've tried without success to clean it. But I went to
that website and found a cleaning utility, which I downloaded for free - just
ran it - and the stray toner is gone! I thought I might have to shell out a
bundle for a repair job. Thank you very much.
 

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