New to board and some questions please.

[Roberteyewhy]

Hello to everyone. Just joined this board.

My friend just purchased a 600e 2645-5BU. It came with 2x64 modules. I purchased 1 of these http://cgi.ebay.com/256MB-PC100-SODIMM- ... 1|294%3A50.

What is the max RAM that can be installed on this model?

Also, when I go into the BIOS and do a systems check, for the system board I get this error message.

DEV 001
ERR 91
FRU 3610

I believe that FRU 36 means a bad battery (laptop came with a dead battery) and the 10 means system board. If this is correct then how long before the mobo goes bad or can I just ignore it?

When I check the Memory, it goes for about 5-10 seconds and just freezes and I have to do a hard shutdown. What does that mean?

Every other component returns an OK.

Latest BIOS INET36WW 11/20/99 installed (Thanks to hjanzen for explaining how to do an update with a bad battery).

Any help appreciated!

Thanks,
Robert

PS He is a newbie to a computer so he will only be doing the net and email. I gave him Office 2003 just in case. Will just install either free AVAST or AVIRA, Firefox w/No Script and Windows Firewall turned on but nothing else. Installed Win XP Pro but maybe should have installed W2k Pro.

[virge]

The 600E machines should be able to hold 2 256MB modules.

Have you tried to boot the laptop without the extra memory installed (both slots empty) and with the battery removed? That would narrow down or get rid of the problem. A search on this forum seems to suggest that the FRU3610 error may be related to the dead battery.

[Roberteyewhy]

Thanks virge.

Didn't think to try that. All system checks are OK.

Reseated the 2 modules and tested OK. It just takes a longer time to go through the testing process for the Memory check than I thought.

Maybe will get another module after the first one arrives and works.

If he wants too, I will get another battery off ebay.

Think he got a decent deal for this laptop at $200 with a DVD drive and 130mbs ram even with the dead battery?

Thanks,
Robert

[rkawakami]

Sorry to say that $200 for a 600E system, not already fully populated with 2x256MB modules and with only a DVD drive (not a CDRW), seems kind of high to me. But knowing how expensive things are there in paradise, then I guess it's all relative. If you have a floppy drive for that system (Ultrabayslim form-factor), then when you get the new memory module(s), test them using memtest86+:

http://www.memtest.org/

If I remember right, I had some troubles before getting a 600E to boot a CD containing that diagnostic, that's why I suggested a floppy. This program is designed to run some memory patterns and provides good feedback as to the running status (elapsed timer so you know that the system is doing something) and reporting of failures. That can be a great help if the module is defective since the seller will have access to the same diagnostic program (but most likely not the same hardware).

[Roberteyewhy]

That's what I thought, Ray. Also, remember the battery was DOA too. Plus, no OS disk.

On the plus side, it's an IBM. I have a T61p.

I have a USB 2.0 floppy drive and will test when the module arrives. I build my own so am familiar with memtest.

By the way, what is the PCMCIA slot? 16bits, 32bits or both?

Mahalo,
Robert

[SMA]

Sure enough, the error codes mentioned just means dead battery - proven right again.

And yes, the memory tests does takes its time to complete, a common mistake to think that the machine has frozen.

No matter its configuration, $200 seems too much for a 600e.

The PCMCIA slot supports cardbus cards. That is 32 bits, and backwards compatible.

[Roberteyewhy]

Thanks everyone for your quick and helpful replies.

I'm good to go!:)

Aloha,
Robert

[Roberteyewhy]

Update!

1-256 RAM module came today. Installed and no problems.

Thanks to this board for the info.

Do not think I will be getting another module as the HDD and CPU are the bottelnecks. Plus, he will only be doing the Net, email and maybe Word. Put in an old Belkin
G Network card and he is good to go.

Robert