T21 ram upgrade snags windows XP to repair mode.. Ideas?

[echoridge]

Hi.. I am new here.
System has one 128MB stick on one bank. When I add another 128MB to the other bank, Bios sees 256MB, but windows wont boot and wants a r > or system boot. I don't have any disks or CD's. Is there any other solution.
My other T21 never had no problem when I went from 256MB to 512MB

I am not up on windows!!

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Not quite sure from your description of your problem... Is it that Windows is asking you to "re-activate" your installation? I have seen this happen with a fresh install from an off-the-shelf XP CD when increasing memory. I had to call in to MS and go through their procedure to re-enter a new license key. I believe this is known as WPA, Windows Product Activation. It's my understanding that simply adding memory is NOT supposed to trigger a re-activation, but it did happen. Same thing for a copy of Adobe Creative Suite that was already installed. Somehow it too noticed the change in the system configuration and wanted me to re-register.

If this is not the case and you are getting some error messages then please give an example of what you are seeing.

[tfflivemb2]

it could be a problem with one of the sticks of ram. I had a problem similar to this with a Compaq M300, when I inserted a high density stick, instead of a low density stick.