RAM issues.

[stevo1210]

My friend has a computer that I am trying to diagnose at the moment. I had a look at it the other day and the PC had a virus. Now that issue is solved. Now the RAM amount isn't being read properly. He has 1x 1GB DDRII stick made by Apacer.

The motherboard is an Asus P5-VD2-X bundled with a 3.4 Intel P4 CPU and an Asus 8500GT graphics card. I checked out the PSU the other day and I've confirmed that it is a high quality iExtreme series PSU made by Cooler Master.

Only trouble is that the PC only reports the amount of RAM being 128MB. He reseated the RAM and it now registers 256MB. I am having trouble trying to understand how a 1GB stick has become 256MB?.
The other day when I was alerted about the computer. It would only emit one long beep and two short beeps. When I popped over to have a look at it, the PC worked perfectly, but now the memory amount is reported wrongly.

I presume that there is a problem with the RAM and it needs to be replaced?

Thanks.

[Newbie2]

Re: RAM issues.

Try another DDR2 RAM module and see if the problem still occurs.

[zandrax]

Re: RAM issues.

Make sure ram are in memory qvl: it's not necessary but a tested module which shares its chips with your friend's Apacers is a 90% claim of compatibility.
Clean ram slots: they may be dirty or oxided. Clean ram contacts as well with a spray deoxidiser or a vinyl rubber.
If it still doesn't work, then try another module as Newbie2 suggests.

Zandrax

[stevo1210]

Re: RAM issues.

I told my friend to reseat his RAM stick and showed him this page with Zandrax's post on cleaning the RAM stick and guess what? The PC now registers 1GB of RAM.

Problem solved!!!!.

Thanks.

[zandrax]

Re: RAM issues.

Problem solved!!!!.

Thanks.

Glad to be helpful sometimes.

Zandrax