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Name: TK
Hi all... been awhile since I was here last.
Anyway... I just upgraded my Laptop from 512MB RAM to 2GB RAM (the max for this laptop).
After the upgrade WinXP is now slow on loading. The "Windows bootup" screen appears and loads like normal, but then hangs after that (at a black screen) before the "Welcome" screen for nearly 20x-40x longer than before.
Before the Welcome screen would appear within 3secs of the "boot screen", but now I'm in the order of 60-120secs.
I assume it's a Windows problem... the BIOS sees my RAM and once Windows loads it can see it as well... also, Once loaded Windows is running abit faster with the 2GB vs the 512.
Here are my specs:
HP Pavilion zx5000
WinXP Pro SP2 with all updates.
Radeon Mobile 9600 with 64MB Video RAM (not shared)
Now has 2GB main RAM.
My BIOS is at the latest version.
Thanks for any help,
TK.
Well... the boot hang seems to have been fixed after a reinstall of WinXP... huh.
so it's a Windows problem... I assume something to do with the registry or the way Windows uses RAM...
This is still a problem as I've only switch HDDs and installed a fresh copy of WinXP... so still looking for a "real" solution.
thanks,
TK.
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TK, a couple of thoughts to check out (both SWAGs).
Maybe the period of time being spent checking memory (POST) takes longer because of the larger size memory?
Maybe you have some new 'musts' in the startup menu that need to be edited? Many software writers seem to think their masterpiece is critical (memory too?).
HTH.
Ed in Texas.
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check your event log for starters.
Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'
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Thanks for the ideas...
What I find odd is that I can put the 512MB sticks back in and Windows loads fast again.. but with 2GB it slows back down. I'm not changing any software, just the amount of RAM... and in fact going with faster RAM sticks (512=pc2700 -- 2GB=PC3200).
Here's a (I hope) better break down of when the "delay" occurs.
BIOS/Post = Normal speed
"Loading WinXP screen" = Normal speed
--black screen delay = 2secs with 512MB, 120secs with 2GB--
"Welcome screen" = normal speed
WindowsXP = runs better with 2GB (as it should).
thanks again for the help,
TK.
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Oh and here's the break down of RAM.
PC2700-256MB x2 = 512MB = Generic that was pre-installed in laptop
PC3200-1GB x2 = 2GB = Matched pair from Crucial.
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also, do keep in mind when changing the size of memory, windows will alter the swap file if left to default (having 2 GB of memory, the swap file size will increase to 3 GB min. - 6 GB max. which is absolutely unnecessary ... minimize the swapfile usage by setting it to 100-200 MB, look up some tweaks regarding pagefile.sys)
Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'
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This might be a shot in the dark... but have you checked your pagefile size? I actualy had mine set to high and it actualy cost me alot of speed. maybe your system is setting it to high /low and slowing it down.
I wouldn't place any money on that bet though.
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Could be swap/page file related...
I only have about 3GB free on my HDD... and of course my "fresh install" of WinXP on the other drive has over 100GB free.
I'll try adjusting the file size and remove some extra "stuff" from the other HDD and see if having 10GB or more free will help.
thanks... didn't think of that,
TK.
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you will not gain performance when disabling paging altogether, but 200 MB swapfile size is absolutely sufficient with 2 GB of memory.
Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'
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Another thought on this. Have you tried to boot with one of the modules at a time. It is possible that one of them could be bad. The fact that the system works with the original memory and not with the new ones leads the suspicion that something is wrong with the new memory, also the system is designed to use PC2700/DDR333, why the choice to go higher? Some laptops are tempermental with changes in speed.
Richard
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and of course the no harm in testing even new ram modules with memtest86 :-)
Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'
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