I'm not sure if anyone can help me with this but I'll give it a shot...

A few days ago I formatted my computer, hard drive wiped clean.

Today, I noticed and removed the blaster worm virus from my computer. This was after I noticed a significant slowdown. I checked and found that my computer was only reading 128 mb of ram, but I had 256.

I bought 256 more today, took out the old RAM and reinserted both. Old ram in slot 1, new ram in slot 2. In theory I should have 512. In actuality, I have 384.

I have three slots on my motherboard and so I took the old RAM out of slot one and put it in slot 3 (for science!). Computer read 256 megs of RAM. I returned it to slot 1 and I've got 384 again.

What exactly is the problem here? Is it a software or hardware problem? If it's hardware, does it seems like a RAM problem or a motherboard problem?

Any insight is appreciated. Thanks.

What about new ram on slot one and old ram on slot two?
I don't know if there's a problem with your motherboard, but I would bet that your old ram has a trouble.

Could be a problem with one of the slot or the ram, is that stick of 256 double sided? what brand and type is it?

My question to you here would be: "What OS are you using?"

I would simply ask this as Windows9* always had a problem with inserting new RAM for multiple reasons.

[This just applies to win9*/Me, However you might check other OS's]
Firstly Win98SE will handle properly up to 512Mb (with WinMe pulling 768mb and the newer windows dealing with over 1000Mb)

Secondly Windows when installed has a variable within it's configuration that "Marks" the upperlimit of your RAM (Well it limits your "Pages", since RAM is split into pages).

You will need to use a text editor on the SYSTEM.INI file, and look for the following entry (or an approximation thereof)


[386Enh]

MaxPhysPage=5FFF


All you will have to do is place a ; before that entry to "null" that entry (this allows you to read what was written there and convert it back if you need to debug)

Ergo:

[386Enh]

; MaxPhysPage=5FFF


Then a reboot of your system should clean up the RAM problem.

Stryderunknown,

Thanks for that bit of info. I doubt it will apply to me because I'm using windows XP Pro but I'll give it a shot nonetheless.

I've already determined that it isn't a problem with my motherboard. I put the new RAM in the first slot and it read 256 just fine. Currently the two sticks are reversed and I'm still getting 384.

Originally posted by WellCookedFetus
Could be a problem with one of the slot or the ram, is that stick of 256 double sided? what brand and type is it?

Yes, the old RAM looks two-sided. Unfortunately it doesn't say what brand it is, it's just the stuff that came in my computer when I bought it. In any event, it's definitely not the same brand as my new RAM but I doubt that would have anything to do with it since it broke before I bought the new stick.

This happened to me, 512 went down to 394 or something. I first of all thought that a chip had fried, but apparently it was only the seating on the MB. I took both out, cleaned them and put them both back into their original slots and it worked again - what it was I know not.

Be gentle. I almost pushed the MB against the casing when I tired to reinsert them. Fatal!

It all started, when I was on the pc, with a "noise" from within then the memory dropped.

ok first clean the ram chips dust can cause you to lose some or all of the conection between the motherboard and the ram chip if this is the case cleaning should help.

if this does not work then something is wrong with the that slot on your motherboard and the only thing to do about that is to replace it of corse you could try cleaning it to but be carefull that might mess up the motherboard even more

do as SonOfBOB says.

Originally posted by SonOfBOB
ok first clean the ram chips dust can cause you to lose some or all of the conection between the motherboard and the ram chip if this is the case cleaning should help.

if this does not work then something is wrong with the that slot on your motherboard and the only thing to do about that is to replace it of corse you could try cleaning it to but be carefull that might mess up the motherboard even more

One small thing I might add, make sure that the pc is off, the rocker switch (if any) is off, on the back, and/or disconnect the power lead.

i'm not much of a computer person so please go easy on me. i just put in a new stick of ram in addition to the 64 on my mom's pc. centon memorypower 128 mb. it still says 64 mb. help! i had a wrist band clipped to the case the whole time.

I am not too sure but I think that they have to pair off, eg: 2 x 64mb, or 2 x 128 etc etc. So you either need another 128 to match yours or go down to 2 x 64mb. Personally go for 2 x 128; they are not expensive at all. I am on 2 x 256mb = 512mb - windows sings on it!

:( i had heard that but the dude at the store said to get this.

hang slack a bit, I am sure an expert will fall into here.....

Btw, it's not just dust that can get on RAM or Boards.

If you use a screw driver on your casing screws or even the internal ones, small metal fragments can be torn off the screws (sometimes causing the screw to no longer be screwable)

Those metal fragments can land on the boards and cause shorts.

There is also the potential for error caused by RAM type.

Namely your old one might be ECC (Error correcting) and the new one might be NON-ECC, this would cause a conflict.
Some BIOS allow you to use either setting, but they can't be paired together (e.g: you can use ECC in slot 1 and NON-ECC in slot 2).

You could potentially try switching the positions of the first slot one to the second and vice versa, if your system doesn't boot (or hangs) then you've likely got the wrong type of RAM.

I don't think the RAM speed (100 or 133)would be a problem here as that would likely cause it to hang rather than just a singular block not work.

see! told ya!:D