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Cant detect new memory

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by marcillus

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I'm running a Win 98SE on an Athlon 800mhz. I recently installed (2)256 and (1) 128 memory upgrades totaslling to 640. But my computer can only detect 384, meaning, the computer only reads 128 of (1) 256. How come? Pls help

10 replies

by wim

Your system probably detects 2x 128 + 1x 128.
With some systems, the system only detects 1/2 of the simm, you could try a bios update but it's not sure that it would help. consult your verdors manual to check if your memory is compatible...

To test it, put only 1x256 in your pc and check if 128 or 256 is detected.

If 128, see above
If 256, try 2x256 and see if the other 256 in not broken or it is the combination with the 128...

hope this helps

by cg it

Windows 9X [includes ME]has a memory limit, or rather an addressing problem reading and writing to & from memory at or above 512 [though it's not widely advertised by Microsoft]. optimum memory for a Windows 9X operating system is 384 MB.

Your not the only one who's asked this type of question on Techrepublic as many have wondered why when installing the max that their board can handle, find Windows 9X will only "see" 384 MB. W2K and XP do not have "addressing" limit and can handle up to 4GB.

by cg it

though this "Q" article doesn't give to much usable information, it does provide insite on why mem above 512 MB isn't addressable correctly in W9X [& ME] Q25912. Go to Microsoft's Technet to view the article. Also of note is Q251814 [How to increase the memory capability of W9X operating system{s}. Again not much help but....

by thechas

Without knowing the make and model of your motherboard and RAM modules, it is hard to give a definitive answer.

1. Some of the newest SDRAM DIMMs will not work correctly in mother-boards that are more than 1 year old. (design not purchase)

2. Some motherboards have memory size limits.
I believe that at least 1 of my Slot A motherboards is limited to 128MB per DIMM slot.

3. If the DIMMs are not from the same mfg, they may not function together.

Also, I recommend against installing more than 384MB on a W98 system anyhow.
As DR states, there is a W9X bug that can cause your system to not even boot with more than 511MB of RAM.
Also, you likely won't find the article with the Q number, as Microsoft just changed all the prefix letters for Knowledge Base articles.
For the US, the Q is now en-us in front of the article number.

I have read test reports where W98 had maximum performance with 196MB of RAM.

Chas

by jedurham36

I have several machines that have a limit on how much RAM can be "seen" by the BIOS. It would be ineffective (and a waste of money) to put any more RAM in it than what the BIOS can access. It sounds like your BIOS can only access 384M of ram. I really don't think that you will get it to recognize any more than that, regardless of how much, or what type of RAM you use.

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