Memory/Virtual Memory problem

[dslovett]

Not certain if this is an OS problem or not, but here goes>

I've got an HP Pavilion 6460 (Celeron 400 w/ originally 96MB) running 98 SE (yes, I know this stuff is old, but bear with me). Ran ok for what it was up until about a year ago when I left for a mobilization with the Army (thanks, Osama). While in the service I picked up a new laptop, and came home with a networking plan.

Part of the plan was to do a memory upgrade on this machine to make it the file server/print server/machine for the kids. I bought 256MB, replaced the 32 MB module with the 256, and thought I'd be rockin' - WRONG! The thing just crawls! the hard drive is always working (accessing virtual memory?) and 98 SE says system resources is at 48% right after startup - which by the way takes forever. When I check, 98 SE says I have 326 MB of memory available, but it's not acting like it.

Here's the kicker - I just went into the BIOS setup for kicks, and the BIOS says I only have 64 MB installed - which is what the machine is acting like! So, somewhere, something's not allowing all that new memory to be used. Any help out there? I'm dying!

Thanks!

[Cricket]

With name brand store bought computers, you can't always use generic RAM...it may require RAM designed to work with the motherboard. Or the RAM you got just isn't compatible with that system.

Cricket

[Panama Red]

I've had good luck buying ram for name brand computers from Crucial.com. They guarantee it will work and you can buy direct from them. Here's a link to your system

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...6460&submit=Go

[dslovett]

OK, that's what I was afraid of.

Just to be sure, though - Windows does recognize the installed RAM and when the BIOS does the RAM check at startup it does also. It's just when I go into BIOS setup that it only shows 64MB, along with the other symptoms described above. I just want to make sure I've got the problem diagnosed properly before I purchase any more RAM.

Also, when I access the site above it listed both PC 100 RAM and PC 133 RAM as options for my machine - is this right? I always thought I'd need one or the other.

[Redo40]

The later makes of that model had pc 133 in it, but you can run either one...the computer will just run at pc 100 speed if that is what the original ram is.

[ROYP123]

Your problem is that you put in a module of 256 and the max size your computer will take is 128. You can use two pieces of 128 max. The specs from HP say that the MOB uses 66 mhz Ram. Some of those MOBs can use the PC 133 or PC100, but some can not. Your computer recognizes the 64 mg Ram that is in one slot, but can not read the 256 module, since it maxes at the 128 module.
see the HP specs:
http://h20015.www2.hp.com/hub_search...6&cc=us#P9_147
HTH