Installed Memory not available in 600X

[ping_it]

Problem with Installed Memory on a 600X (2645-4EU) System will not recognize installed memory. (Two 128 Mb PC-100 Cards) Only sees 64Mb Base memory. Worked last week. Turned on system yesterday and only base memory displayed. BIOS shows: 320Mb Installed - 64Mb Available. Initialize the BIOS in "Config" No Joy!

Swapped memory cards in their sockets. No Joy there either!

Tried using only one RAM card in either socket. That didn't work either!

System will boot the OS (XP / SP2) but with only 64Mb RAM it "crawls"

Suggestions or solutions?

Thanks

[whizkid]

Wow, that's just wacky. 320 installed, 64 available? Crazy.

I think my next step would be to try a hard reset with the reset button near the power switch.

Then I would try the memory in another machine (but I have another 600X in the house; you may have to find a friend with a compatible machine).

Then I would try other memory in my machine.

Hmmm. Try a Knoppix CD? Run Memtest86?

Remove the CMOS battery, all devices and try to turn it on several times to remove all remaining charge and try it again.

Since the BIOS "sees" all 320MB available, it seems very strange that it won't use it.

Have you tried the hardware maintenance manual?

[warwound]

I've got a very simialr (but sporadic) problem with my 600E - you might want to take a look at my post '600E Memory Disappears'.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=11475

I'm still pondering a solution to my problem - it's been ok for a while but then just when i thought it'd magically fixed itself...
It happened again and not all my memory was available.

warwound.

[ping_it]

Tried the suggested solutions provided. Still "No Joy"

Found this post

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=26459fu

Guess that is the "solution"

Thanks for the assistance.

[whizkid]

That sounds about right. A hardware malfunction could explain it.

eBay has parts machines, and just parts like a system board. Make sure you get the RIGHT 600X system board if you go that way.

There's one board that came with the 450- and 500-MHz CPUs that does not have SpeedStep, and the one that came with the 650MHz CPUs that does have it.

Since yours came with the slower CPU, either should work, and if you get the SpeedStep version, it can use CPUs up to 850MHz.

Another option is to sell YOUR machine for parts and you'll be well along towards buying a newer ThinkPad.