See if you can help with either of my two current computer issues…
My mom’s computer was being way to slow, so I told her she needed more RAM (there was only 256 and she’s running Win XP pro). Currently she has two sticks of 128mb. Her old HP Pavilion only has 2 RAM slots.
I researched what RAM to get, and got two sticks of Kingston 256MB PC100 SDRAM Memory off ebay. Installing both sticks at once first, the computer would not boot up. It would cycle between the black screen where you select “start windows normally”, “start windows in safe mode”, etc, and the HP INVENT blue screen. No matter what option was entered on the black screen it would just cycle. In BIOS setup both sticks were found, it said the total RAM was 512.
Then I put one old stick in, and kept one of the new ones. Comp started fine, and in Computer properties it lists 384 mb of RAM. Swapping the new stick out for the other new one yields the same results. So both sticks seem to work fine. I’m pretty sure I remember reading in the manual that the computer supports 512 total RAM, so I can’t figure out what else would be a problem.
What things should I try?
This isn’t a problem, it’s just a call for ideas. I’m going back to college in a week and a half, and the duplex I’m living in with 5 other people need’s a router. Our friends in the upstair’s duplex already have a wireless connection, so we were thinking upgrade their bandwidth, then bridge the connections with a second router downstairs. Then we’ll all split the cost with them. Is this hard to do?
Anyone have a recommendation on an awesome wireless router? We can split the cost between 6 people, so we can get something good. I want a solid connection!
Anyone that knows anything about this, please let me know what you think!
41 dollars? sheesh…I oughta sell some of the old ram I have laying around!
when you run the computer, with 384mb ram in it, right click the taskbar, and select “task manager”, then click on the “performance” tab. how much memory is it actually using?
I’ve never bridged a wireless connection, so no help there, but don’t get a linksys! I used to think they were a pretty solid company, but when I got one for free from a friend, I’ve had all kinds of problems with it. Just about any high-end router you get will be able to bridge a connection.
As for bandwith, about the highest commercial bandwith you can get is 10 MBps, and about the slowest router you can get is 54 MBPS, so a “high bandwidth” router is kinda pointless, IMHO. The only thing a more expensive router has is range, and I haven’t really tried any of those expensive models.
My Linksys is fine. It replaced my older D-link model that suddenly died one day. The Linksys, like probably many other products on the market, ignores Macs. Networking standards apply the same to Windows & Mac machines, but software that comes with many products does not. No “EZ setup” or whatever software for that one, but it works with my Mac fine.
Everything I’ve read about current wireless products says to ignore the “pre-N” and “draft-N” products. You pay more for about the same speed. And usually there’s no speed increase unless you have matching network or wireless cards at the opposite end. 802.11g is what you want currently.
If you jump through all the necessary hoops (always a pain), you can get my router from Buy.com for $39.99: http://tinyurl.com/ookk3
Sorry, I don’t know what’s up with the RAM. Are you sure the new stuff is the same type as the old? Sounds like that machine is pretty old…
Do a test for a program called Memtest86, it’s a free download, you burn the image to a cd, boot off it, and it will do hardcore RAM tests. Also works on a “floppy” disk (you know, those things from like, the '90s?).
Router-wise, I like Netgear, I’ve got 2 of them and they work really well. One thing to keep in mind is that depending on what the building is made of, you might not get a good signal between floors. You might want to borrow a router (or keep the receipt) and test it… If everyone can’t get a good signal, then there’s no point doing it. Also make sure no one has a 2.4ghz cordless phone, turn one of those on and the network will drop faster than a fast dropping thing.
Check out the user manual for the motherboard in your mom’s computer. Most manuals have a list of “approved” or “tested” or “certified” models of RAM. Only buy and install that kind of RAM in the computer. And it’s a good idea to install RAM in pairs… if you swap out one SIMM / DIMM, swap out the other with an identical model.
