Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: substrate001 on March 22, 2010, 06:31:59 PM

Title: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: substrate001 on March 22, 2010, 06:31:59 PM
Hi:

1st: I've Googled
2nd: I've  searched this fine forum & Gateway's (free) support
3rd: I'm not getting anywhere beneficial

I have a gateway mt3418 laptop that has 2 memory slots (not dual channel) and is supposed 2 be able to use 2x1gb sticks. It boots fine with 1 stick of basically any size, but won't boot if you add the second stick. This happens even with a brand new matched kit from Crucial where both modules are tested good (memtest 86 passed by both, boots fine with either stick by itself, etc) Does anyone know of a possible BIOS update or similar, or is the 2nd ram slot bad? I sincerely hope not, as this will be the 2nd time a Gateway product failed to meet it's published performance for me. TIA, Everyone ;-)

BTW: This behavior is pre-OS. I have the original factory Vista install w/all updates and am dual--booting Ubuntu 9.10 for months now, so this is an issue with harware or BIOS, presumably :-(, as every thing is OK with just 1 stick of RAM.
Title: Re: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: Computer_Commando on March 22, 2010, 06:57:59 PM
...It boots fine with 1 stick of basically any size, but won't boot if you add the second stick...
Does it start to boot Windows or never gets that far?  Can you enter the BIOS with 2 sticks installed?
Title: Re: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: substrate001 on March 22, 2010, 09:35:56 PM
Hi:

No, it never even gets to the BIOS w/ 2 sticks.  It just sits there with a black screen, flashing the hdd l.e.d. three times in a row, over and over. I've also tried it with a known good stick in the 2nd slot only, which is supposed to work. It won't boot that way either, so it seems that 2nd slot is bad. What I was hoping for was some kind of BIOS switch or maybe update I could do to enable the second slot.  Thanks for thinking it over, it's got me stumped.
Title: Re: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: patio on March 23, 2010, 06:47:58 AM
It certainly does sound like the 2nd slot is shot...espeecially if it won't work with just the RAM in there.
Title: Re: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: substrate001 on March 23, 2010, 10:13:47 AM
Thanks for the replies, folks. It seems my 3 year extended warranty just ran out, negating any chance for warranty, so I'll try 1 stick of 2gb in the 1st slot. I'm not sure if it'll address 2 gigs in the 1st slot, but I'll give it a try!
Title: Re: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: patio on March 23, 2010, 10:23:29 AM
If it just ran out then bombard them with every day correspondence...
But keep all messages nice...and neat.
I have had success with manuf. using this approach.

Best of Luck.

You get more flies with honey.
Title: Re: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: substrate001 on March 23, 2010, 11:09:49 AM
Thanks, patio. You're right about being nice; it costs nothing, makes your life calmer and longer. I'll go ahead and start a correspondence and see what develops. Thanks again, J.
Title: Re: Gateway MT3418 memory upgrade...
Post by: patio on March 23, 2010, 12:45:12 PM
I've had 2 HDD's replaced by WD that were over 6 months out of warranty...
Persistence is key # 1
Being nice about it is key # 2