Thinkpad 600X 2645-9FU Memory Upgrade Problem

[lgonzo99]

Hi, I have a 600X (2645-9FU) Thinkpad and I purchased some memory for it. The Memory Part Number is: 33L3069 (256MB PC100 CL3 NP SDRAM SODIMM). According to IBM, this is the maximum chip you can put in your laptop per memory bank. I bought two of them, totaling to 512MB of memory, in addition to the 64MB on-board memory that the 600X already comes with. Here is my problem, I added the memory and turned on the computer. I noticed at the top left hand corner of the screen that it said 589824 KB installed and it ran just fine. I also right clicked "My Computer" icon, and went to properties and saw that it recognized all the memory. On the following day, when I tried to turn on my machine I noticed that at the top left side of the screen it only said there was 064960 KB of memory installed. I let the machine boot normally and enter windows' desktop. I right clicked on "My Computer" icon again and went to properties and noticed that it said there was only 64960 KB of memory. Which obviously is incorrect because I also have two 256MB sticks in the laptop as well in addition to the 64MB that the 600X comes with. So, I shut off the system and rebooted and pressed "F1" to enter easy setup menu. While in the "Easy-Setup" menu, I clicked on "Config" and then clicked on "Memory" and realized the following: Installed 589824 KB, Usabe: 064960 KB. Why would the computer recognize that there is 589824 KB of ram installed, but only allow me to use 064960 KB of RAM? Has anyone experienced this before? If so, how do I go about this problem? Also, how can I load computer defaults in the easy-setup menu? The easy set-up menu for the 600X is a bit different than the easy-setup menu for the 600 and the 600E machines. Please help. Thank you.

[G-Man]

Hi, I have a 600X (2645-9FU) Thinkpad and I purchased some memory for it. The Memory Part Number is: 33L3069 (256MB PC100 CL3 NP SDRAM SODIMM). According to IBM, this is the maximum chip you can put in your laptop per memory bank. I bought two of them, totaling to 512MB of memory, in addition to the 64MB on-board memory that the 600X already comes with. Here is my problem, I added the memory and turned on the computer. I noticed at the top left hand corner of the screen that it said 589824 KB installed and it ran just fine. I also right clicked "My Computer" icon, and went to properties and saw that it recognized all the memory. On the following day, when I tried to turn on my machine I noticed that at the top left side of the screen it only said there was 064960 KB of memory installed. I let the machine boot normally and enter windows' desktop. I right clicked on "My Computer" icon again and went to properties and noticed that it said there was only 64960 KB of memory. Which obviously is incorrect because I also have two 256MB sticks in the laptop as well in addition to the 64MB that the 600X comes with. So, I shut off the system and rebooted and pressed "F1" to enter easy setup menu. While in the "Easy-Setup" menu, I clicked on "Config" and then clicked on "Memory" and realized the following: Installed 589824 KB, Usabe: 064960 KB. Why would the computer recognize that there is 589824 KB of ram installed, but only allow me to use 064960 KB of RAM? Has anyone experienced this before? If so, how do I go about this problem? Also, how can I load computer defaults in the easy-setup menu? The easy set-up menu for the 600X is a bit different than the easy-setup menu for the 600 and the 600E machines. Please help. Thank you.

Interesting. Did you get any error code under the total amount of memory count? Make sure you installed the memories properly (I’m sure by now you removed and reinstalled them several times). Also you need to create a new hibernation file:

1. Power off the TP.
2. Remove the memory you added.
3. Power on the TP, and disable hibernation mode.
4. Power off.
5. Add new memory. Power on.
6. Enable hibernation mode.

What happens if you remove the 64Mb stick and leave the two 256Mb sticks? Does the system recognize them?

Regards,
G-Man

[lgonzo99]

Interesting. Did you get any error code under the total amount of memory count? Make sure you installed the memories properly (I’m sure by now you removed and reinstalled them several times). Also you need to create a new hibernation file:

1. Power off the TP.
2. Remove the memory you added.
3. Power on the TP, and disable hibernation mode.
4. Power off.
5. Add new memory. Power on.
6. Enable hibernation mode.

What happens if you remove the 64Mb stick and leave the two 256Mb sticks? Does the system recognize them?

Regards,
G-Man[/quote]



Hi, Thanks for helping out. Actually, I'm not running a hibernation file on my machine. I'm running Windows 2000 Professional. But should I still try those steps above anyway? Just in case?
Also, I called the store where I bought my laptop and one of the techs there told me he has experienced the same problem before and he's found two (2) solutions that work: 1) Remove the battery pack, and also remove the CMOS battery for about 15 minutes. If that doesn't work step two: 2) Reinstall the operating system. Well, unfortunately, I tried both options and neither worked. Removing the CMOS battery seems to be logical that it would work, I wasn't too sure about reinstalling the operating syste, but I tried it anyway but was unsuccessful in correcting my problem. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but, I put Knoppix (a flavor of Linux that is CD-Bootable and doesn't install linux on your hard drive, it just runs off of your CD and loads itself up im memory) and my computer was running great for about 30 minutes, then it froze so I turned it off and went to sleep. The following day when I tried to turn on the system is when I noticed that the computer was only reporting 64MB of memory instead of the 64MB + the additional 2 sticks of 256MB I had installed. When I called the company that I bought the PC from, they did tell me that they had that same problem before which makes me think my problem has no direct connection to my computer freezing up while runnin Knoppix ( www.knoppix.com ). I thought I'd say that though just in case anyone out there might think that has anything to do with my computer not letting me use the entire memory. But I still don't get it, Like I said in my initial posting, the computer see's the whole memory installed, but the "Usable" amount is only 64MB, that's what kills me. Which means there is nothing wrong with the memory because it is detected, and there is obviously nothing wrong with the computer because it is seeing it, and the memory is obvously seated properly otherwise it wouldn't detect it, but yet, it says that only 64MB is usable. (Where my gun when I really need it!! ) Any further help will be most appreciated. Thank you.

[G-Man]

I'm just guessing, but might be a BIOS problem. Do you have the latest BIOS installed? http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4HVUYL This is the non-diskette version. Just give it a try, and see what happens.

[lgonzo99]

I'm just guessing, but might be a BIOS problem. Do you have the latest BIOS installed? http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4HVUYL This is the non-diskette version. Just give it a try, and see what happens.

When I bought my computer it already came with the lates BIOS version installed. But just to make sure I re-flashed it and it still didn't do anything. I don't get it. I even called IBM Technical Support but they didn't know what to tell me. The only think IBM Technical Support suggested was for me to send the laptop in to have it checked. My laptop is out of warranty however, so it will be quite costly to send it to have it seen by IBM. If it comes down to it, I guess I will have to do that but I'm trying to find some other alternative before I have to start thinking of going that route. Thanks.

[JHEM]

Just a WAG here, but for the sake of trying everything, how many memory chips do the sticks you received from IBM have per side?

I've gotten misidentified memory from IBM on more than one occasion. It's pretty rare, but it does happen.

Regards,

James

[lgonzo99]

Just a WAG here, but for the sake of trying everything, how many memory chips do the sticks you received from IBM have per side?

I've gotten misidentified memory from IBM on more than one occasion. It's pretty rare, but it does happen.

Regards,

James

Hi, it has 8 chips per side. And it says "256MB PC100 CL3 3.3V S N (32Mx64) (4L) 33L3069" right on the memory.
My computer recogzined the memory initially, but for some reason, after it frozne when I ran Knoppix it hasn't been able to use the entire memory that I installed. Although it sees that the memory is installed, the "Usable" size is only 64MB. Thanks.

[JHEM]

One more thing to try, if you haven't already done so.

Turn off the unit and remove the added memory. BOOT into EZSetup and initialize the unit. This will return everything to it's default state.

Save all your settings and exit from EZSetup, then sutdown the unit. Re-install ONE STICK of the new memory and reboot. See if the memory is correctly identified on BOOT as well as in your OS.

Shutdown again and replace the installed stick with the other new one and repeat. If everything checks OK, shutdown again and reboot with both sticks installed.

Let us know what the outcome is.

Regards,

James

[lgonzo99]

One more thing to try, if you haven't already done so.

Turn off the unit and remove the added memory. BOOT into EZSetup and initialize the unit. This will return everything to it's default state.

Save all your settings and exit from EZSetup, then sutdown the unit. Re-install ONE STICK of the new memory and reboot. See if the memory is correctly identified on BOOT as well as in your OS.

Shutdown again and replace the installed stick with the other new one and repeat. If everything checks OK, shutdown again and reboot with both sticks installed.

Let us know what the outcome is.

Regards,

James

Hello. I had tried that already but it doesn't hurt to try again so I did. But, unfortunately, no success. I even tried flashing the BIOS with an older BIOS version, and then upgrading it back to the new version (just out of despiration) but it didn't help either. I called IBM once again, and they think there is something wrong with the motherboard, because the mother sees that total amount of memory installed, but the usable amount is only 64MB. IBM Tech Support made me go through some steps in trying to make my machine use all the momory but they too had no success. I haven't a clue what I did (if it even was my fault) to cause this. Like I said, the machine used the total memory for a few times, then when it froze when I was using Knoppix, it never used the total memory again. Do you guys think that the fact that it froze when I was running Knoppix (Linux) may have caused this condition? Don't know what else to do at this point. Not even IBM gives me any type of hope that this issue can be resolved without replacing the BIOS. Do you guys recommend for me to send it to IBM to have the Motherboard replaced? Thanks.

[G-Man]

I wouldn't send it to IBM for replacing the system board, since it will cost you nearly twice as much as buying a used one (a complete, working TP 600X) on Ebay. However, you can try to send them to take a look at it. It'll still cost you a little, but at least they can say something, and hopefully will find the problem.

Regards,
G-Man

[lgonzo99]

I wouldn't send it to IBM for replacing the system board, since it will cost you nearly twice as much as buying a used one (a complete, working TP 600X) on Ebay. However, you can try to send them to take a look at it. It'll still cost you a little, but at least they can say something, and hopefully will find the problem.

Regards,
G-Man

Good Idea. What I did was I went to the "Warranty Status" page on IBM's website and it detected my Thinkpad model and searial number and indicated that it was out of warranty. But it also gave me a link to upgrade to a Post Warranty program that costs $119.00 for 3 year on-site repairs. There are different plans, ranging from 2, 3, 4 or 5 years of coverage, but I chose the 3 year on-site plan. Price isn't too bad, so I went ahead and upgraded to that service plan. I will then send it to IBM to get it fixed. If I find out from IBM what the problem was I'll make sure to post it up on this site so that it will hopefully help someone else that experiences the same problem.

By the way, I was told that it might be the memory that's gone bad as well. Since I don't have any more memory that is compatible with my 600X, I have no way of testing that out. None of my friends have IBM memory that is compatible with mine as most of them have the newer laptos. So, I hope that's the case but I won't know until I send it to IBM.

[lgonzo99]

I wouldn't send it to IBM for replacing the system board, since it will cost you nearly twice as much as buying a used one (a complete, working TP 600X) on Ebay. However, you can try to send them to take a look at it. It'll still cost you a little, but at least they can say something, and hopefully will find the problem.

Regards,
G-Man

Good Idea. What I did was I went to the "Warranty Status" page on IBM's website and it detected my Thinkpad model and searial number and indicated that it was out of warranty. But it also gave me a link to upgrade to a Post Warranty program that costs $119.00 for 3 year on-site repairs. There are different plans, ranging from 2, 3, 4 or 5 years of coverage, but I chose the 3 year on-site plan. Price isn't too bad, so I went ahead and upgraded to that service plan. I will then send it to IBM to get it fixed. If I find out from IBM what the problem was I'll make sure to post it up on this site so that it will hopefully help someone else that experiences the same problem.

By the way, I was told that it might be the memory that's gone bad as well. Since I don't have any more memory that is compatible with my 600X, I have no way of testing that out. None of my friends have IBM memory that is compatible with mine as most of them have the newer laptos. So, I hope that's the case but I won't know until I send it to IBM.

Okay. My Laptop is Fixed!!! Here is what I did. In calling IBM and doing soime troubleshooting over the phone, they cloncluded that it was either the memory or the systemboard that was bad. And because it would cost me about $450.00 to replace the systemboard because I didn't have warranty, I went ahead and added a year worth of warranty for the laptop for only $200.00 ($204.00 with taxes). After adding the warranty to my thinkpad I called IBM once again and told them about the problem. After some usual over-the-phone diagnostics they decided for me to send the laptop to IBM techs. The very next day I get a box to ship my laptop to them. I shipped the Laptop the same day I got the box. Then 2 days later I get my laptop with a new systemboard!! So, I paid half the price for a new systemboard by just adding the IBM Warranty upgrade. Even if you laptop is out of warranty, you can add warranty for one year for $204.00. This is worth doing when you know the repairs are more than the cost of the warranty itself. Plus, you're entitled to call IBM and ask for the Thinkpad Recovery CD's that came with your laptop, For Free!! I bought my laptop used from a Canadian outfit and it did not come with the recovery CDs. Now because I added the warranty, I got it for free. I'm a happy camper now. Thanks to all who read and/or responded to my questions.