Thinkpads Forum

I have an i1500 which runs Win 2K with 64MB of RAM.

It boots real slow

I've tried adding extra RAM of various sizes - 32MB , 64MB , 128MB etc which work OK in my various other TP's - 600E, 570E , T21 etc - basically either PC66, PC100 or PC133 SODIMM types.

However , none of the RAM is accepted by the i1500 - sometimes it boots up but the extra RAM is not recognised. Other times , the i1500 fails to boot .

I think the i1500 might use slightly different RAM? I checked out a few sellers and I've not seen the i1500 mentioned in the same lists as the 600E/570E etc. Is this the case??

Thanks

I've just tried some recently acquired 256MB of "real" IBM RAM and it worked!!!!

I used 256MB PC100 CL3 3.3v FRU:33L2878 33L3869 38L2983

Its odd that all the other RAM failed to work - I think the RAM from my 570E is also real IBM stuff - maybe its PC66

The i1500 now has 320MB of RAM and is "flying"

What's your exact model TYPE (i.e., 26xx-xxx)? The i1500 series appears to require either PC66 or PC100 modules. Given that TYPE number, the tiwbook (the IBM document which describes the major specifications of the iSeries) will tell you the memory speed requirements.

However, like most of the other tabook files which describe SDRAM-based Thinkpads, it does not specify what CAS latency is required. PC66 is probably CL2, while PC100 is probably CL3.

However, being of that age, the i1500 may also require "low density" memory. That means each individual part on the module needs to be 16MB or smaller. For a 256MB module, that's a total of 16 parts. A 128MB module requires at minimum, 8 parts; a 64MB needs at least 4 parts and 32MB at least two parts.

g8tzl wrote:I used 256MB PC100 CL3 3.3v FRU:33L2878 33L3869 38L2983

Are you sure about those FRUs? None of them make any sense. Maybe you have a 33L3069 or 33L3070? Those are PC100 256MB low density modules. The 570E requires these PC100 sticks.

Hi Ray,

The exact model of my i1500 is 2651

Looks like the RAM which works IS low density - there are 16 modules.

You are correct with the FRU's - its difficult to differentiate between "zeros" and "eights"

The RAM has an IBM logo and the exact details are as follows - as best as I can read using a magnifying glass

IBM P/N z W/C S/N :38L2983 Z FAKWY 3CN057
256 MB PC100 CL3 3.3v SN (32Mx64)
(4L) Origin US OPT:33L3069 FRU 33L3070
MIC 2003-12-22

I now have another Problem

Having got the i1500 running fast , I decided to update the Win 2000 OS. I initially started with updating IE5 to IE6 but this failed to install some "components". I then downloaded all the other updates - Win 2K SP4 , security updates etc. Again they failed to install - but were successfilly downloaded.

After some experimentation , I decided to use the recovery disks and start again !!!- I am doing this now - I am on dial-up so it takes hours and hours - an overnight job.

BUT , any thoughts as to what went wrong?? I was unable to access the "Install/Delete Programs" section (I wanted to try and delete IE6). IE6 did run but I could not actually open my Hotmail emails - it just said Javascript on the bottom toolbar - which I have been seeing a lot recently on my other TP's. Maybe it was a registry problem??

Cheers

Here is how I install Windows 2000

1. Make sure you have SP4 downloaded and stored on an accessible media.
2. Do a fresh install of windows 2000
3. Apply Windows 2000 Service pack 4
4. Install Anti Virus software - I am using AVG (it is free)
5. Go Online
6. Update AVG
7. Go to Windows Update
8. After having selected either "Express" or "Custom" in Windows Update there will be a warning about IE.
Ignore that warning. (This is where things often go wrong)
9. Install all selectable updates. You will have to reboot afterwards.
10. Go back to Windows Update and install all selectable updates - keep doing this until there are no updates left.

After having installed some of the updates from Windows Update, IE6 will show up as a selectable item within Windows Update.
This is where you will be updating IE.
Do not waste your time on upgrading IE separately. Let Windows Update bring you the latest version.

I do recommend you to keep the machine away from the internet until SP4 has been applied.

Taking the path of upgrading from an earlier version of windows will be different, but I am convinced that you will have to
apply SP4 and a bunch of other updates before thinking of upgrading IE.

SMA - thanks for the Win 2K install proceedure. I did the install slightly differently but basically the same. I only saw your posting afterwards

I think the "Windows Update" process gets confused with early versions of Win 2k. The 1st time I ran "Windows Update" , I got the usual site - and all the problems. The 2nd time I ran Windows Update , I got the Win 2K Server page!! The 3rd time , I got the "Windows Download" site - I think this is basically the same as "Windows Update" but you have to select downloads manually.

The other big problem was that my dial-up connection kept dropping out. Eventually I found out that "Auto-disconnect" was activated by default which disconnected me from the internet when there was no keyboard activity for 20 minutes. A box pops up and gives you 30 seconds to click on "Cancel" - if you miss the box , then you have no idea why you have disconnected!!!!!

Anyway , this is what I did:

1. Fresh install of Win 2K
2. Loaded "old" version of Zonealarm from disk. The latest version will not install on an early version of Win 2k - it said the installer program was out of date.
3. Install AVG from disk - again said that MIGHT not install due to old version , but it did install OK [oldapps.com is a great source of old applications ]
4. Installed SP4 from Windows Download site [ie. NOT via Windows Update]
5. Installed IE6 from Windows Download site
6. Used "Windows Update" and installed rest of updates

Apart from the "Auto-disconnect" issue after 20 minutes of no keyboard activity [you would think "auto-disconnect" would be an option NOT a default setting!!!!!!!], install went OK

Cheers