Korean Job Discussion Forums

lotuseater · Joined: 22 Jan 2007

I am looking to get a ram upgrade on a Toshiba Satellite A 100, it currently had or well has is more correct I guess 768 MB of Ram and I was looking to go to two or four GB depending on the max I was able to put in in. I was checking the make of the ram cards to see what I would need and to check prices in Korea in the most stupid way I could think of, by opening the internals and having a look for myself. The computer was on at the time. I gently touched one of the ram cards (forgive me if I am using the wrong terminology here) and the bloody thing popped out on me. I quickly shut off the computer, had to do an manual shut down as windows was seemingly frozen. When I turned on the computer nothing worked anymore just a blank black screen and the cooling fan working. I (thankfully) tried to mess with the ram card again and miss inserted the 256 MB card, I didn't know I did at the time but the computer fired up just fine this time.

However when the card is inserted properly the computer will not work. I tried inserting the A card into the B slot to see if it was just the card but the working card does not work in the B slot. It works fine in the A slot.
Also the 256 MB card that I pulled hot will not work in the A slot either.

Just wondering if someone could shed some light on how badly I have managed to bugger things up here. Thankfully the computer still works on one card but I guess the Ram update is out of the question.

Is the card slot totally fried, is there any way to fix it??? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

And calling me a dumb ass won't help I already figured that much out. ;

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I suspect you just fried the RAM.

Generally RAM only works if its in the right slots in the right order.

For example, with one (working) RAM module installed in slot A the computer should work.

With one (working) RAM module in B and nothing (or something fried) in A it might not work.

But, for a better opinion, wait for one of the ubergeeks to post.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Well, now that it's buggered, you have the perfect excuse to go through with the upgrade!

RAM is really cheap right now so I would just get the latest, fastest RAM. Your laptop can support up to 4GB's. But you could do very well with 2X1gb sticks.

tractor · Joined: 26 Jan 2008

ram is very sensitive to static electricity. did you touch a grounded metal object to DISCHARGE yourself before handling the ram?

lotuseater · Joined: 22 Jan 2007

Speaking of the maximum are you sure about that, I am having a hell of a time finding the specks for this computer as it was purchased in Thailand. The full model number from the computer is Toshiba Satalite A100 PSAA4L I would love to put 4GB in it if one of the slots is not totally fried.

I want to do this as the computer can be really slow sometimes. Specifically after running photoshop. Strange thing is that not usually during the photoshop session, just after it shuts down things slow down considerably, will getting a boost of Ram help with this? And when I say considerably I mean a full 60 seconds to switch from a firefox window to a msn messenger window, is that normal or should I be looking at something more drastic than ram?

Oh and any more advice on the ram is greatly appreciate.

lotuseater · Joined: 22 Jan 2007

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Try to match your laptop with one of these.....

http://www.toshiba-asia.com/notebooks/viewByModel.jsp?modelID=1112

Then we can confirm if 2GB or 4GB is your max.

lotuseater · Joined: 22 Jan 2007

Does not match any of those though the body looks the same, however mine is white.

1.66 GHZ
60GB hard drive
Duo core.
So it is not like any of the ones shown but very close.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

If you can't be sure it'll take 4gb then go for the 2gb. Even 2gb of faster RAM will be a huge improvement over the old stuff.

tractor · Joined: 26 Jan 2008

lotuseater · Joined: 22 Jan 2007

Thanks for the help there guys. I was playing with the ram a little more trying to run different combos in the A and B slots and I got them both to work again. It seems that the problem was not with a fried ram or a fried ram slot but with my Ram being somewhat finicky to mount, it was not getting properly inserted even though it sure seemed to the eye that everything was good to go.

Guess I didn't really learn my lesson about playing with the internals of my computer after all. However this time I made damn sure not to do it when it was hot.

Cheers guys. Thanks for all the advice.