Can't find all memory

Using applications, configuring, problems
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strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

Can't find all memory

#1 Post by strixx »

Hi, I have a problem. I have just upgraded my old laptop with a 256MB SODIMM, but in Puppy it still says that I ony have 64MB.
If I enter BIOS it says 319MB, and if I use a memorytesting rpogram it finds all memory if I force it to probe the amount. And the memory pass 1,5 hour stresstest.
If I in the memorytesting program chooses BIOS-amount of memory it only fins 64MB.

As I understand BIOS finds all memory but doesn't properly tells the OS the correct amount. GRUB can´t find it either.

What to do? Can I force Puppy to probe the amount and use it all?

I am at the moment trying to find a update for the BIOS without any luck. Its a Phoenix BIOS 4.0 Release 6.0, BIOS version 0F0B.

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Burn_IT
Posts: 3650
Joined: Sat 12 Aug 2006, 19:25
Location: Tamworth UK

#2 Post by Burn_IT »

Try http://www.memtest86.com/ and see whether it sees it.

What are the details of your machine??
"Just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush" - T Pratchett

Bruce B

#3 Post by Bruce B »

I don't know how you are measuring total RAM, but the
command below will tell you how much Linux sees.

< /proc/meminfo head -n 1

I'd hope to know what the command produces, if you don't mind.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#4 Post by strixx »

Burn_IT wrote:Try http://www.memtest86.com/ and see whether it sees it.

What are the details of your machine??
It is Memtest86 that I used to test the memory with. Memory is OK. But to find all memory I have to chose (c)Config, (3) Memory, and (3) Probe otherwise it only finds 64MB, that is waht is built in.

Details:
Compaq Presario 1685
64MB built in RAM, 256MB Extended RAM
BIOS: Phoenix BIOS 4.0 Release 6.0, BIOS version 0F0B
OS: Puppy Linux 4.1.2
Proc.: AMD K6

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#5 Post by strixx »

Bruce B wrote:I don't know how you are measuring total RAM, but the
command below will tell you how much Linux sees.

< /proc/meminfo head -n 1

I'd hope to know what the command produces, if you don't mind.
meminfo is a 0 byte file. I have tried to exekute the kommand, but I either gets meminfo dosn't exists or access denied.

Now I use HardInfo 20071031 to se how much memory I have.

Bruce B

#6 Post by Bruce B »

Hardinfo displays verbatim /proc/meminfo with slightly different formatting. meminfo is always a zero byte file.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#7 Post by strixx »

Does anyone know what to do?

(BUMP)

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sikpuppy
Posts: 415
Joined: Sun 29 Mar 2009, 05:54

#8 Post by sikpuppy »

strixx wrote:Does anyone know what to do?

(BUMP)
I went to the HP site http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/soft ... duct=95227

There is some diagnostic and other software, but the only BIOS update appears to be for a battery/keyboard glitch. However, since that is the only BIOS update on the page maybe it will fix your problem.

I note the memory is only upgradable to 192Mb http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... 27&lang=en and also that Compaqs of that vintage were notorious for not liking any other accesory other than a Compaq one :P In this case the memory should be 128Mb or less, 100Mhz speed at the most. Faster or larger memory might not work properly, regardless of the BIOS saying it detects it.

I suggest maybe taking the memory back and getting a smaller chip. It might then work.
ASUS A1000, 800Mhz PIII Coppermine!, 192Mb RAM, 10Gb IBM Travelstar HDD, Build date August 2001.

Bruce B

#9 Post by Bruce B »

strixx wrote:
Bruce B wrote:I don't know how you are measuring total RAM, but the
command below will tell you how much Linux sees.

< /proc/meminfo head -n 1

I'd hope to know what the command produces, if you don't mind.
meminfo is a 0 byte file. I have tried to exekute the
kommand, but I either gets meminfo dosn't exists or
access denied.

Now I use HardInfo 20071031 to se how much memory I
have.
The command works. It works every time. Fine use
Hardinfo and get the same information a little slower
maybe.

The question is still the same and unanswered,
irrespective of your method.

If you don't want to answer questions, I can't do anything
about that, except point it out.

If I didn't think I could help, I'd not have involved myself.
Bump as you please. I'm not going to pull teeth to get an
answer. I think you just got rid of a pretty good technician.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#10 Post by strixx »

sikpuppy wrote:[I note the memory is only upgradable to 192Mb http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... 27&lang=en and also that Compaqs of that vintage were notorious for not liking any other accesory other than a Compaq one :P In this case the memory should be 128Mb or less, 100Mhz speed at the most. Faster or larger memory might not work properly, regardless of the BIOS saying it detects it.
The memory is a left over from a friend. It's PC133, but I never before heard that it could be a problem with a faster memory.
I have lost the manual but I have also read that maximum was 192Mb, but I read on another page that it was possible.

And since BIOS does the count up for all the memory, and MemTest86 tells me everything is OK, I thought it was OK, and something was wrong in Linux.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#11 Post by strixx »

Bruce B wrote:The question is still the same and unanswered,
irrespective of your method.
If you don't want to answer questions, I can't do anything
about that, except point it out.
I'm sorry I thougt you sade that HardInfo gave the same answere, and the answere is 64MB. :oops:

I now think the the command you ask me to run first will give more information, so will try agian, I must be doing something wrong... :cry:

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#12 Post by strixx »

Bruce B wrote: < /proc/meminfo head -n 1
Got it working now... :oops: Don´t know why I wasn't able to execute it the last time, probably I was misstyping something... :oops:

Answere is: MemTotal: 60800 kB

Bruce B

#13 Post by Bruce B »

I suspected a low level problem. But wanted to make
sure. Now I'm sure.

A genuine Compaq is way different and that's what you
have.

Sometimes they come with factory base ram which is not
in the ram slots. In this case you might have 8MB or 16MB
with no RAM chips inserted.

I would open the case

I would go into the setup and see if there is something like
a fast or slow boot option. The slow boot option if it
exists would likely slowly count RAM 3 times over.

If it is there, set it that way. But I can't say if the option
even exists.

If parity checking exists, don't even mess with it.

Considering Compaq you could have compatibility issues.

Size issues. But some times size issues are workable. If
only 64 is supported a 128 might work at 64

Ground yourself and touch the metal frame of your
grounded computer to discharge all static electricity from
you body, in order that your fingers do not damage the
chips.

Now begins a procedure. After the video card displays it's
message on the monitor, the ram count starts. Position
yourself to be able to reset the computer and watch the
monitor at the same time.

Trial and error. Start with zero chips installed if the
Compaq has built in RAM. Watch the count.

Then install a chip, watch the count.

Remove the chip and install the other, watch the count.

If you have two. Then you know what each one does
individually. Next is the combinations.

On older computers, which chips goes in what slot often
matters. Try the combinations and watch the ram count
displayed.

No results guaranteed, outcome unknown, until you
systematically try your combinations.

Wishing the best.

Report back.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#14 Post by strixx »

Bruce B wrote:I would go into the setup and see if there is something like a fast or slow boot option. The slow boot option if it exists would likely slowly count RAM 3 times over.
I can't change allmost anything in BIOS!! Only time/date, com/lpt, ACPI, Large Disk Mode, Password and Boot order. Thats all. I have never seen a BIOS with so little configuration possibilities.
I have missplaced the manual so I don't know if there is a way to access some kind of hidden menus?
Bruce B wrote:Now begins a procedure. After the video card displays it's message on the monitor, the ram count starts. Position yourself to be able to reset the computer and watch the monitor at the same time.

Trial and error. Start with zero chips installed if the
Compaq has built in RAM. Watch the count.

Then install a chip, watch the count.

Remove the chip and install the other, watch the count.

If you have two. Then you know what each one does
individually. Next is the combinations.

On older computers, which chips goes in what slot often
matters. Try the combinations and watch the ram count
displayed.

No results guaranteed, outcome unknown, until you
systematically try your combinations.

Wishing the best.

Report back.
I don't know if I have understod you correct. You want me to find the built in RAM and remove it, and restart to see what happens?

The first thing that BIOS tells me is RAM size, after telling me version number of BIOS. Videcard info comes later!

I will now try open it up and do some trial and error search. But I don´t understand why you think the problem is there. When the 256MB is inserted BIOS reports it to me, MemTest86 allso finds it and tests it whitout any errors if I tell it to probe memory size.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#15 Post by strixx »

OK, here is the result:

I removed the original 64MB and inserted the 256MB. BIOS told me 256MB, but Grub started and told me 0kB RAM.

I removed both, but forgot to look for wath BIOS sad, Grub says 0kB.

Only original 64Mb, BIOS says 64Mb and Grub/Linux tells me 64MB ( or 60800 kB wich not i 64MB)

Another strange thing is that if i boot DSL instead it tells me something like 62000kB.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#16 Post by strixx »

After a tip in a Swedish Ubuntu forum about trying *BSD to see if it's a kernel bug I googled the problem again.
I then found the following:
http://www.geocities.com/rlcomp_1999/me ... ml#METHOD2
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions ... ram-31594/

So now I know this is a common problem with Compaq! :cry:

I have tried add the mem option to the kernel command in Grub, but I then got:

Code: Select all

BUG: int 6: CR2 00000000
So that didn't work.

I have also red the Grub manual and ther is a command called "uppermem". The manual sas that GRUBs BIOS probe can pick up all memory of all new machins the auther ever heard of, but this is an old machine! And Grub only repports 64Mb!
Well the command worked for Grub, and after telling Grub ther is 319Mb it reports back there is 319MB, but when I boot it's back to normal!

To morrow i will borrow a 128Mb modul from a friend to see if there is any diffrense.

strixx
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 22:39

#17 Post by strixx »

Found a thread on http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php? ... ram&page=4 where there is a guy having the same (i think) problem as I.

The funny thing is that when i run dmidecode I get the following answere:

Code: Select all

Handle 0x0005, DMI type 5, 20 bytes
Memory Controller Information
   Error Detecting Method: None
   Error Correcting Capabilities:
      None
   Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
   Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
   Maximum Memory Module Size: 256 MB
   Maximum Total Memory Size: 512 MB
   Supported Speeds:
      70 ns
      60 ns
   Supported Memory Types:
      FPM
      EDO
      DIMM
      SDRAM
   Memory Module Voltage: 3.3 V
   Associated Memory Slots: 2
      0x0000
      0x0001
   Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities:
      Unknown

Handle 0x0006, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
   Socket Designation: Socket 0
   Bank Connections: 0 1
   Current Speed: 60 ns
   Type: DIMM SDRAM
   Installed Size: 64 MB (Single-bank Connection)
   Enabled Size: 64 MB (Single-bank Connection)
   Error Status: OK

Handle 0x0007, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
   Socket Designation: Socket 1
   Bank Connections: 2 3
   Current Speed: 60 ns
   Type: DIMM SDRAM
   Installed Size: 256 MB (Single-bank Connection)
   Enabled Size: 256 MB (Single-bank Connection)
and if I understands the other thread this means that BIOS repports correct to Linux...

Why, why, why.... It hurts!!

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