Thinkpads Forum

I just got a 600X from eBay. It seemed to be pretty normal until I went into the BIOS. It said that about 448MB was installed and about 384MB was usable. A 64MB difference?!?

So I removed the 128MB module and the 256MB module and turned the machine on. It emitted a LOUD long beep and just sat there.

Right now it's running memtest86, which recognizes only 384MB.

Any tips as to what might be wrong and how you dealt with the issue would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks,
Chris

Try removing all external memory and see if the computer turns on with only the internal memory and then do a test. If that works, then I'd guess it's either the slot or the memory that you're installing. If the computer gets errors with only the internal memory installed, then you've probably got trouble with the internal memory.

What is "external memory"?

If you read my post, you'll see that I removed all the memory, and that's when I got the very loud beep.

And if there is trouble with the internal memory, I'm guessing the reasonable solution is to buy a new system board, right?

I mean, it hardly seems worthwhile for me to sit hunched over a system board for hours on end while I desolder the memory chips and solder new ones in; and I could make a mistake and destroy the board... or I could spend some bucks and buy a replacement board, if I can find one, or I could just live with it.

If you've (meaing anyone) had a machine with bad memory, have you found that other problems start to appear with the system board?

Sorry, misread part. When I say external, I menat the memory that's not slodiered on. It does look like a problem with the on board memory. The replacement boards cost an arm and leg and desoldering the chips is time consuming and very risky so I'd say live with the problm or sell the computer.