Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Message

carlisle_united · #1 Post by **carlisle_united** » Thu May 07, 2009 12:36 pm

Hi everyone, I just installed 2gb RAM in my thikpad R32.
But i started to give me trubble. It wont start, it starta if I
Start it with either of the ram sticks alone but with both, no luck.

Has this something to to with the BIOS? Or is it just cranky?
Thanks.

vanaya · #2 Post by **vanaya** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:22 pm

Just to clarify, You can boot with 1 stick in either slot?

carlisle_united · #3 Post by **carlisle_united** » Thu May 07, 2009 2:13 pm

Yes that is correct. Both stick works in either of the slots. It just when both are inserted at the same time it don't work.

I got it to work one time but that was after about 5-6 restarts. But now it wont work.

#4 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu May 07, 2009 4:12 pm

Isn't the R32 a modified T30?
They are known for finicky RAM slots.
Try putting some pressure on the RAM stick nearest you (when you face the LCD, then start it up.
If it works, you need to resolder the RAM contacts on the motherboard.
Before you go that far, run Memtest first from here: http://memtest.org/
Test the sticks individually in both slots, and together in both slots (and switch them as well).

carlisle_united · #5 Post by **carlisle_united** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:09 am

Oh...
I got it to work... Don't know how, don't know why.

I updated the BIOS to the latest one (from 2.15 to 2.16) and turned on Memory check (or what ever it's called) in the BIOS.
Now it boots with 2Gb of RAM and works like a charm.

And Windows 7 actule runs quite smooth on it.

If I only would get the Hotkeys to work... Oh well, had the same problem in Vista since the drivers dont work for anything else than XP.
But I can live with it.

vanaya · #6 Post by **vanaya** » Fri May 08, 2009 10:53 am

Maybe dirty contacts? Glad to see it is working for you. As far as the Hotkey features, did you run the setup exe file from where the download unpacked the files. When downloading files from lenovo, there is a two step process.

carlisle_united · #7 Post by **carlisle_united** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:55 am

vanaya wrote:Maybe dirty contacts? Glad to see it is working for you. As far as the Hotkey features, did you run the setup exe file from where the download unpacked the files. When downloading files from lenovo, there is a two step process.

Jepp I installed everything. The On screen text comes up but nothing happens.
But I'm pretty sure it's because the drivers are for XP and not Win 7/Vista.

Wiking · #8 Post by **Wiking** » Sat May 09, 2009 9:19 am

I thought that R32 has a limitation of 1GB DDR Ram.
How can I bypass this limit ?
Does Windows 7 run good on R32 with only 16MB video card ?

carlisle_united · #9 Post by **carlisle_united** » Sat May 09, 2009 1:01 pm

No special bypass... I just put in 2 PC2700 1Gb Ram sticks updated the BIOS and turned on extended memory check in BIOS.

It Runs quite well, tons better then with Vista but ofcorse alittle more slugish then with XP.
But still, I like Win 7 and with 2Gb RAM it work for everything I use it for.

Wiking · #10 Post by **Wiking** » Sun May 10, 2009 5:23 am

I have the latest Bios. I know that I can only PC2100 sticks put in or am I wrong ?
So, with more then 1GB DDR Ram I can run Win7 without any problems ?

#11 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun May 10, 2009 5:56 am

PC2700 modules are backwards compatible with PC2100, and are usually easier to find AND cheaper.
They will still only run at PC2100 speed, but that's OK.

carlisle_united · #12 Post by **carlisle_united** » Sun May 10, 2009 6:25 am

Wiking wrote:I have the latest Bios. I know that I can only PC2100 sticks put in or am I wrong ?
So, with more then 1GB DDR Ram I can run Win7 without any problems ?

Without problems.... well some glitches you have to accept. It is still an old computer running an new OS.
But it works acceptable, it works good enough that I can use it as my main computer when im photographing.

Oh... You will offcorse never get the fancy aero theme...

Wiking · #13 Post by **Wiking** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:40 am

thank you. Now it is a time to find DDR sticks...

Wiking · #14 Post by **Wiking** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:57 am

Sorry that I update so late but only now I managed to check if PC2700 sticks good for R32.
At first I enabled extended memory test in BIOS. The Bios is already updated to the latest version.
Next I put the PC2700 512MB 333Mhz stick as main stick and in the second slot I put the old PC2100 512MB 266Mhz stick. It didn't worked at all. I saw only black screen.
Then I replaced the sticks. I put the old one as main and the PC2700 in second slot.
It work great.

Sadly, I don't have 1GB sticks to check if I can use more then 1GB limit of memory. You all said that yes so I must check it because I really need more perfomance from my R32.

Everest shows that the limit is 1GB of memory. Are you sure that I can use more ? Can I put 2 sticks of 1GB PC2700 into it without any PC2100 Stick or I must have at least one PC2100 Stick ?

Thank you

#15 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:02 pm

Yes, you can put 2x 1GB RAM in there, either PC2100/DDR266 or PC2700/DDR333 (but not PC3200/DDR400 !).
PC2700 will run at PC2100 speed.
You can mix PC2100/PC2700, but don't have to.

Wiking · #16 Post by **Wiking** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:29 pm

I tried to use only PC2700 but it not worked. I recieve black screen only.

#17 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:07 pm

I suggest you PM carlisle_united and ask him what brand/type RAM he uses in his R32.
His signature claims he has 2GB.
The R32 is basically a remodelled T30, for which there is also an official 1GB RAM limit.
Yet nearly everybody is running T30s with 2x 1GB.

carlisle_united · #18 Post by **carlisle_united** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:43 am

Hi
I will check what RAM the R32 has the next time I'm at my father since he has taken over it.

But it runns on 2gb thats for sure and I bought the RAM sticks quite cheap som im pretty sure they are PC2700.

But I will check and confirm...

But all I did was turning on extended memory check and it... worked.

#19 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:04 am

One more thought: since a lot of T30s develop the RAM slot problem, the R32 board may have the same issues!
Check the T23/T30 forum.

Wiking · #20 Post by **Wiking** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:37 am

I turned extended memory test but it worked only when I put PC2700 Stick and also PC2100 stick.

#21 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 4:55 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:Yes, you can put 2x 1GB RAM in there, either PC2100/DDR266 or PC2700/DDR333 (but not PC3200/DDR400 !).

Wiking · #22 Post by **Wiking** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:59 pm

I don't even have PC3200/DDR400 sticks.

Wiking · #23 Post by **Wiking** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:42 am

Is nobody had this problem before ?

#24 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:41 am

You have either a bad RAM module or a bad RAM slot.
Run Memtest86, first on each module, in each slot, then both modules together, and swap the modules after the first run.

Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Re: Thinkpad R32 starts acting up.

Who is online