Entire amount of memory not recognized

[delynn10]

I have a Compaq Presario2100US laptop (Win XP, Serv. Pack 2) 1.6MHZ. It had 1 stick of PC2100 256MB memory. I ran a scan on the crucial website that showed a max allowable amount of memory of 1GB. I purchased a stick of PC2700 512MB of memory and installed in the open slot. The computer only read the new memory as 256MB. I tried taking out the old memory, but that didn't help. I also looked in the bios, but there isn't a memory setting that can be adjusted.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[kitty500cat]

Hello and welcome to TechSpot.

Depending on how long ago you bought your new memory, you may be able to RMA it for a new stick. It could also have to do with the fact that you have two different speeds of RAM.

Regards

 

[joked u 2]

look on the side pf the memory module. look the the numbers 256 or 512 on the sticker. sometimes it will be part of a bigger longer jumble of numbers and letters. you may have got jipped out of the 512 stick

 

[delynn10]

Everything looks in order. It was definitely a 512MB module with a crucial label bought from tigerdirect.

 

[captaincranky]

Compacs, they're infamous

Compac computers are nororius for requiring "branded" memory modules. Some mother boards will compensate for different speed RAM. (I'm tyiping this on such a machine (Intel 915GAG Mobo). I can't hurt to try the 512 in the 256's original slot by itself . Can't hurt and it will tell you if the BIOS is capable of recognizing and/or downclocking the PC2700 DIMM.

 

[delynn10]

I already tried that, but didn't have any luck. Sounds like I wasted some $ buying the 512MB module.

 

[Tedster]

read the installing ram guide in the guides forum