[Voy06]

Hi, I am wanting to increase the performance of my laptop (HP550 Windows Vista) . It is currently running 1gb of ram and I want to upgrade to the max 4gb. The memory installed in the laptop now is 1gb DDR2 SDRAM, SODIMM memory slots. I have bought 2 2gb DDR2 memory sticks.

When I startup the laptop after installing the new memory sticks I get a blue screen stating windows fails to start-up. If I take out the new sticks and put back in the original 1gb stick windows loads up fine.

As far as I know I have bought the correct type or ram so just want your advice really why is this happening what can I do etc.

When I started the laptop after installing the new ram I was given 3 options, Save changes, ignore changes and Computer set-up. I chose save changes, is that correct?

Any help appreciated.

[EndlessWaves]

Originally Posted by Voy06

When I started the laptop after installing the new ram I was given 3 options, Save changes, ignore changes and Computer set-up. I chose save changes, is that correct?

That sounds like some sort of HP or security authentication thing, I don't think it'll have anything to do with the blue screens.

Initial failure rate for many computer components is rather high (one or two per hundred) so it may just be a dud RAM stick. Try the laptop with one ram stick in and then the other and see if either of the new sticks work alone. If one works fine then it's likely to be a fault in the other stick rather than the wrong sort of ram.

[Voy06]

Originally Posted by EndlessWaves

That sounds like some sort of HP or security authentication thing, I don't think it'll have anything to do with the blue screens.

Initial failure rate for many computer components is rather high (one or two per hundred) so it may just be a dud RAM stick. Try the laptop with one ram stick in and then the other and see if either of the new sticks work alone. If one works fine then it's likely to be a fault in the other stick rather than the wrong sort of ram.

I did try with one new stick in with the original stick but everytime I put in a new stick no matter what the combination Windows fails to start-up.

[EndlessWaves]

It sounds like you might have got the wrong sort then, do the two sets of memory have the same speed and voltage?

[MarkE19]

What is the max RAM the motherboard/BIOS is compatible with?
Just because you can buy 2Gb SODIMM's doesn't mean they will work with your laptop. Or you may need to update the BIOS before it can use the new SODIMM's.
I had a quick look on Crucial Memory but couldn't find an HP 550 so there is probably a longer product ID that you need to find the correct details.
If it is the F550EN then its specs state the max RAM is 2Gb - Product Specifications Compaq Presario F550EN Notebook PC - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English)

Mark.

[Voy06]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

What is the max RAM the motherboard/BIOS is compatible with?
Just because you can buy 2Gb SODIMM's doesn't mean they will work with your laptop. Or you may need to update the BIOS before it can use the new SODIMM's.
I had a quick look on Crucial Memory but couldn't find an HP 550 so there is probably a longer product ID that you need to find the correct details.
If it is the F550EN then its specs state the max RAM is 2Gb - Product Specifications Compaq Presario F550EN Notebook PC - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English)

Mark.

Thanks for the replys. The MAX ram it can take is 4gb. It looks to be a defective stick. One 2gb stick works fine now along with the original 1gb so I will send it back and get a replacement. Currently got 3gb of memory now so happy days but would prefer 4gb.