Memory Errors after Bios Update

Question

I have a CP 166ST that I upgraded to a 266mhz Pentium II that has 64megs of RAM. I am running Win 98SE. I did the procedure that I read here in the forums and everything went pretty good. But when I rebooted after the LCP a12 upgrade. The screen shows :

Latitude Cpi D266ST

Bios Revision A08

Then the little blue progress bar gets about half way and I get the error:

"Memory write/read failure at 02000000, read EF00700 expecting EF00EF00

Decreasing available memory"

Now it only reads 32megs of RAM. I've taken out the 2 memory modules and put back in and I still get this message every time I boot up. Can someone enlighten me on what's going on? I read where I can put 256megs of RAM now with the bios upgrade. Could it be looking for a different type of memory?

Thanks

leduke30 · Answer

Did you use the LCP_A12, or the LCPI-A12 BIOS Flash File? You should have used the latter and they are not the same. Try a reflash with the latter file. I took a look at the diskette made from the LCP_A12 File and it also has LCPI_A08 and even CPIA_A09 biosflash files on it to boot. Download the LCPI_A12 File and be sure you type the right executable for it when you reflash, as I believe it also has the LCP_A16 on the same diskette and you do not want that. Message Edited by leduke30 on 01-04-2004 11:58 PM

leduke30 · Answer

When you Flash with the TR4 Bios, and then change the processor to a Pentium II or Celeron. it becomes a CPi no matter what it says on the case/lid. So you need to flash with the CPi BIOS and the A12 version is a good one. The memory read error and modem problems may be a result of flashing with the wrong BIOS. Incidentally, I have converted 4 CPs to CPis with processor speeds ranging from 266mhz to a 466mhz Celeron. You are also right that the Max RAM in these conversions is 256mb because I sold one to a friend of mine so equipped.

dirkdiggler66 · Answer

Thanks for the reply. I used the LCP_A12. I used this because it was a CP 166 before the flash. I'll download the LCPI-A12 bios to see if it will work. Also just to update you, what I did was take out 1 memory module (trial and error) to see if that was causing the error. When I took out the module that is closer to the CD rom and battery, it seemed to make the error go away. Also, when I had both memory modules in place, my pcmcia card (modem) would not work. Both slots. Now that I have only 1 memory mod in, the pcmcia slot now recognizes the modem. But I will let you know what happens.

Thanks again

Gil

dirkdiggler66 · Answer

I did flash with LCPI-A12. The 1st time it gave me a write error, so I re flashed again, and this time it looks like it took it. Unfortunately, I still have the problem of the 1 memory slot showing the same error if I have a module inserted. If I take it out, the computer boots up normal. As soon as I put it back in and reboot, the same error comes up and the computer doesn't see it anyways. I'm stumped. I'm wondering if it something happened when I was taking the laptop apart to put the Pentium II in?. By the way, if I leave out the one memory module, the pcmcia slots recognizes the cards. If I put the memory module and let the computer boot to Windows with the memory errors, Windows does not recognize it. I had Windows 98SE installed when I did the 1st bios upgrade and it recognized the pcmcia's. I then upgraded to Win ME, (I know nobody has anything good to say about ME but it does have System Restore), thats when the problems with the pcmcia started. Any thoughts toward this will be great.

Thanks Gil

leduke30 · Answer

Well, I tried W-Me twice and both times it gave me so many problems, that I resold the CDs both times. W98SE is a good OS, and so is W2k if you have at least 128mb RAM in your CPi. Check around the Slot, in it and the connections for possible metallic debris or bent connector contacts also. Other folks have had slots go bad and made do with one, but in the CPi that means buying an expensive 128mb module. Message Edited by leduke30 on 01-05-2004 10:38 PM

dirkdiggler66 · Answer

Yes, that is what I'm going to do today. I'm going to take it apart again and see if something didn't seat right or is crimped. I have XP Pro that I'm going to install. I looking at some 64mb memory modules on eBay to see if I can atleast get it to 128megs of RAM. Also leduke30, can I change the screen to a 13.3 from the 12.1 it has? I see listing of just the LCD and the bezel each. It seems to be a little cheaper than people selling the whole LCD.

Thanks again

leduke30 · Answer

The Motherboards or Video Daughter boards seem to be different on these 2 submodels  and are not compatible with the other's LCD. Yes, I have had both pass through my hands.

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Memory Errors after Bios Update

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