T60p Memory Problem

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mjk · #1 Post by **mjk** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:04 am

I have recently acquired a T60p which came with 1Gb memory. When I try to add a second 1Gb memory card, the system produces 4 short beeps and then hangs even before it gets into the BIOS screen.

Altogether I have tried 5 different 1Gb memory cards, and while they will all run quite happily on their own (and in either memory slot), as soon as I put in a second card the system fails to boot.

As fate would have it, there is no 4 beep code listed in the hardware maintenance manual.

Anyone had this problem, and if so, anyone have a solution?

TPA · #2 Post by **TPA** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:08 am

Kinda sounds like your memory modules are having difficulty working together in dual channel mode. Were any of the 5 you tried certified for thinkpad? Just a thought.

mjk · #3 Post by **mjk** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:17 am

2 of them are Lenovo provided modules.! One came with the T60p, and the other is from an X60 Tablet, which ostensibly has the same memory specification.

After searching some other threads, I've ordered up a couple of Samsung modules as they seem to be the ones that people have had most success with. I'll report back if that works. If not, I;m going to be running several auctions on eBay!!

brentpresley · #4 Post by **brentpresley** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:32 pm

Make sure your BIOS is up to date, and then retry.

SOMETIMES there are improvements for memory timings added to BIOS releases. Don't know if this is the case here, but it is worth a shot.

mjk · #5 Post by **mjk** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:53 pm

First thing I checked. It is right up to date.

kkposh · #6 Post by **kkposh** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:30 pm

Have you checked your memory card slot?

mjk · #7 Post by **mjk** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:17 am

Yes. Any of the cards works on its own in either slot. It is just when a second card is inserted that things go pear shaped. If the Samsung approach doesn't work, then I guess the next thing to try will be a single 2Gb card.

Of course, this is all vaguely surreal. My first PC had 8Mb of memory and ran pretty much the same software, at least from a functional point of view, as it does today. No matter how much they "improve" excel, they don't seem to be able to make 2 plus 2 equal any more than 4!

mjk · #8 Post by **mjk** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:30 am

Well, after much experimentation with 1/2Gb, 1Gb, and 2Gb memory cards, it seems that my system will with any size card in either slot, but will completely fail to boot with any combination of 2 cards installed. So, it seems that it isn't related to the amount of memory present, but simply dependent on the number of cards installed! Weird!

At least I managed to solve my upgrade problem with a single 2Gb card, although I effectively seem to be barred from getting any further. So I'm happy for the moment as Vista was definitely not very happy to be running dual-core with only one Gb of memory. It was maxing out almost continually during boot and quite often during operation. Seem like a minimum of 1Gb per core is a good rule of thumb!

jjesusfreak01 · #9 Post by **jjesusfreak01** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:39 am

mjk wrote:Well, after much experimentation with 1/2Gb, 1Gb, and 2Gb memory cards, it seems that my system will with any size card in either slot, but will completely fail to boot with any combination of 2 cards installed. So, it seems that it isn't related to the amount of memory present, but simply dependent on the number of cards installed! Weird!

At least I managed to solve my upgrade problem with a single 2Gb card, although I effectively seem to be barred from getting any further. So I'm happy for the moment as Vista was definitely not very happy to be running dual-core with only one Gb of memory. It was maxing out almost continually during boot and quite often during operation. Seem like a minimum of 1Gb per core is a good rule of thumb!

Take a look at this thread. You may have a defective memory module from Lenovo, which they might replace for you, but dont get your hopes up.[/url]

mjk · #10 Post by **mjk** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:41 am

Thanks for that pointer. Unfortunately I don't think that is my problem.

1. ANY of the memory modules works fine on its own, and in either memory slot. This is a mix of 1 Lenovo, 2, PQI, 1 Micron, and 5 Samsung modules. It is only when I install 2 modules that everything stops.

2. With 2 modules installed, the system never boots. It doesn't even reach the BIOS splash screen. Sometime it produces 4 short beeps, which is a code not documented in the HMM. Can't even get far enough to run the memory test!

It is very strange as all the modules are apparently fine, and both slots are apparently fine, provided I only use one at a time. The closest I've ever seen to these symptoms is some sort of problem whereby the power drain of 2 modules cause some voltage to droop out of limits. However, that might be contradicted by the fact that both 0.5Gb and 2Gb cards work, which might also be expected to vary the power requirements in a similar manner.

I'm just relieved that the 2Gb module works, so the system is now usable. I bought the system from thinkpad_factory on eBay and transatlantic warranty arguments are not fun things to start. They don't seem to be very responsive to e-mail, and their rma mail address bounces!

T60p Memory Problem

T60p Memory Problem

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