I have purchased 2 Satellite 2805's reciently. Both used. One is a S603
the other an S503. Both have the same problem. The external RAM is not
recognized. The RAM chips work fine in a 2805 S401 I also have. They fail
to work in either of the other two computers. Is there something wrong with
that series of Satellites? (I can't seem to find anything about it on the
Toshiba sites.) Anyone here know if this is a frequent and known problem
with the manufacturer's equipment?

Thanks, Rich

Richard Johnson <richj@remove.this.tairedd.com> wrote:
: I have purchased 2 Satellite 2805's reciently. Both used. One is a S603
: the other an S503. Both have the same problem. The external RAM is not
: recognized. The RAM chips work fine in a 2805 S401 I also have. They fail
: to work in either of the other two computers. Is there something wrong with
: that series of Satellites? (I can't seem to find anything about it on the
: Toshiba sites.) Anyone here know if this is a frequent and known problem
: with the manufacturer's equipment?

What was the state of the two used computers when you bought them?
Working at all? Did you install this RAM that is now unrecognized or
was there RAM already in place?

Perhaps this laptop has RAM timings that can be set in the BIOS or by
a jumper, and the current setting is not right for the RAM? Just
guessing.

Andrew
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There is no significant difference in any of the 2805's (I have several
of them, including an S503). It sounds to me like the 2805's that you
bought are bad, but before you give up, I'd try some additional PC100
SDRAM modules. I have expansion modules in the 2805-S503 with no
problems. Generally, the 2805's are superb laptops, the best models of
their era (Pentium III), and the 503 and 603 were the last and highest
performance variants (900MHz and 1GHz Pentium 3's, both with 100 MHz FSB).


Richard Johnson wrote:

Barry:

I have tried both a known good 256 and 128 RAM modules in the computers. I
bought one from eBay just last week, and the other a few months back. I
have taken the known good 256 module from my existing s401 unit and
installed it in the s503 and it is not recognized. I have taken a 128 Meg
RAM and installed it in the s401, where it was recognized, and installed it
in the s603 and it was no go. Both machines had RAM modules installed when
they came, but were advertised with the base 128 or 256 only. I don't think
either person knew enough to know that the modules were installed but not
recognized.

I am aware of how sturdy the 2800 series is, that is why I bought them. (I
also prefer the eraser head type interface for the mouse control. That is
why I did not go for a new machine.) I guess I will open them up further to
take a look at the motherboard and see if there is anything obvious that
might be causing the issue.

Rich
"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:42ED7756.5060600@neo.rr.com...

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:54:31 -0700, "Richard Johnson"
<richj@remove.this.tairedd.com> wrote:


I've had problems with older Toshibas and incompatible ram. If you
need more ram for them, I'd suggest buying the proper spec of Kingston
ram. I never had any luck with other brands, even Kingston's valueram
wouldn't work.

There is nothing that you are going to be able to do by taking the
machine apart, and it sounds like the motherboards are bad. I'd examine
the memory sockets VERY carefully and see if there is a mechanical
problem that you can resolve.


Richard Johnson wrote:

While that can be an issue (esp. with 256 meg modules), he has multiple
pieces of memory that works fine in one 2805 but not in another 2805.
They all use the same chipset, to basic memory module incompatability is
not likely to be the problem.


Chris Hill wrote: