Silly question maybe...but ....help

[Professor Brensec]

I see on the following page that I have 190 MB Ram listed, but it only lists 23 mb being available!

My RAM is made up of two chip strips 1 x 64 (original) and 1 x 128 (added).

Does this mean I'm only getting 23 mb's to use.

I have noticed that at some point a while ago my P.C. slowed down on CFS2, but I thought it was all the extra missions and planes etc I had added (100's).

But on a P.C. at work which has only 128 mb RAM, CFS2 seems to run fast all night.

Here's the Info page in question:

[darkhorse]

It shows that you 64 MB of ram available.  That is because Windows and other running programs (Virus programs, games, etc.) are using 128 MB already.  You can free up extra Ram by opening the Task manager with ctrl+alt+delete and closing down some processes.  I know you have to leave the explorer.exe file open, and other files that could vary system to system.  When you shut one down and don't know exactly what it is, then play around with things like search the web, play a game, write a text document.  See if there is any problems incured by closing a process.  Worse case scenerio is you will have to restart the computer if something goes wrong.   Your 190 MB of RAM is there, just most of it is being used already.  If you have the mony, I'd at least replace the  64 MB chip with another 128.  Also, you can go to www.crucial.com and find out what the maximum your system can hold should you want to go even higher.

[Professor Brensec]

Thanks. What you have said makes sense. That's why I asked this question. The info page clearly states that there is only "23 mb Available".

Problem is this - I am already running "selective start-up" and am only using the bearest minimum of programs running in the background (I even have McAfee Virus off during Simming).

The "Performance" section (as you can see below says that I have far more available of my RAM than 23 mb expressed as a %).

I suspect something is wrong, and my system is only "using 64, even tho' it's recognising 190" (Is this possible), as I feel my P.C. did slow down quite a bit at some point a couple of months ago.

Thanks for your help and suggestions, I think I'll have to go a little further into it.

P.S. Is it necessary to "activate" RAM in some systems after it is installed? Maybe it's something like that.

Here's the "performance" page (taken while I was on the net so it's a bit lower than usual at 79%. I can normally get 90% on start up).

Thanks alot.

[darkhorse]

you don't have to "activate" the ram.  When it is installed, the computer automatically sees it, otherwise it would still show you only having 64 MB even after adding the 128 MB chip.   I just remembered something...What type ram did you use.  I'm assuming SDRAM because you said yours only had 64 MB new.  For the new RAM, was it PC-100, or PC-133?  If you had PC-133 and added a -100 chip to that, then I think the old chip will only run at the -100 speed (100 MHz).  The memory is only as fast as the slowest chip.

[Professor Brensec]

I don't know what sort of RAM it is but both chips are PC133's definitely.
I tried to get another 128mb chip for this thing when it slowed down, plus I Knew I would definitely need as much RAM as I could get for CFS3.
I was told by 2 Computer shops that Compaq had used "old" Ram in even their newer packages and that these chips were no longer available (2nd hand would be my best bet).
I don't understand fully about this "old" and "new" RAM.
They also mentioned something about "single and double sided RAM"?

I've had a shocking time just trying to get someone to explain to me why I can't get another 128mb chip like the one I added 12 months ago. At least I'd have 256 mb if I could get one.
I tried putting in a "new" type chip, which looks exactly the same and fits and everything, but the system doesn't recognise it.
I think maybe it's time to leave this thing for the Mrs (she originally bought it for her college work etc). I just started using it for simming but it's just not set up for it and I've found that Compaq are (or were) the worst people to buy from as they were bad systems for many reasons.

Thanks for all your help, anyway.
If you do understand this old and new crap, I would like to know what it all means.  ;D

[darkhorse]

I'm not sure of the old/new types of ram other than SD was the old standard, and DDR is the current standard (Double Data Rate RAM- faster speed rating).  Maybe the computer shops were referring to this.  I'm not sure.  If it is  PC-133 SDRAM, you shouldn't have a problem with it.  How much did you pay for the ram, original price, i.e. paid $50, but with $30 mail in rebate type thing.  The reason I ask is that places like pricewatch have dirt cheap ram. 256 MB for less than $20 for example.  I guess those dirt cheap ram chips are usually high density which isn't as compatible with most systems, where as low density that runs around $40-50 will work on most everything.  There is also other factors that can play in to that, and the crucial website has a lot of good info on the different specs of a ram chip.  It could be that something in those chips you bought is not compatible with your computer even though it is supoosidly the sam type of ram.  At worst, you could have also been at the physical limit of the computer.  Mine will only handle up to 512 MB of SD ram, and yours could be lower.  Again, crucial might be able to show you.  I don't work for crucial, and I'm not saying to buy from there or not.  But I'm saying they have some good info on there to help steer you in the right direction.


P.S. How do you enter selective startup?  I've been wanting to go through that to see if I can free up any more of my measily 128MB of ram.

[IVANOW]

[Professor Brensec]

Thanks to both you guys, for your time and trouble.

First, to change startup go to "Start" and hit "Run", type in "msconfig" and select "startup". You will get a list of boxes to tick or un-tick for programs you want to have on automatically when the P.C. is turned on. I have only
"DXM6patch, CMEsys, and System tray activated as I'm told these have to be left on (do they?). Then restart.
I also have Virus off during Simming.

As for the RAM chip business. The P.C. was bought with a single 64mb strip. I then bought a 128mb strip and added it to the 2nd location (there are only 2). The P.C. immediately reconfigured itself to read 190mb in all the right places and it seemed I could play CFS2 all day long at medium settings without a problem (with the above "selective startup").
I noticed about 3 or 4 months ago CFS2 was getting slow and I was about to try CFS3 anyway so a couple of months ago I went to a different shop to get a 256mb or at least another 128mb to replace the original 64mb, and use with the 128mb I had already installed, so I would have 384mb or at least 256mb.
I got a 256mb SDRAM chip that looked exactly the same as the 128 (and 64) that I was using. I installed it expecting to get 384mb (128 + 256) but the system told me there was only 128mb. I tried the 256mb on it's own and it didn't work. I put the 64mb and original 128mb back in and it returned to 190mb (where does the 2mb go?). Anyway, I took it back and said it didn't work, so the bloke in the shop installed it in front of me into P.C. on display and it worked. He said there may be a RAM limit, so I got a 128 (so I could have at least 256mb). I installed that and it didn't work, even on it's own without the 64mb, so it wasn't a limit problem. (256mb was Aust$75 and the 128mb was $55).
I went back to the shop where I bought the original 128mb that I added 12 months before and he said that I was unlucky because Compaq, even in their newer packages (mine is not even 2 years old), they used "old style RAM" and the strips are not made anymore. He said I might get a 128mb (as high as old styles go) second hand. (So this means the most RAM I can ever have in this thing is 256mb if I can find one).
This is why I need to know what it's all about, so I know what to ask for and know what I'm buying to fit my P.C.

The P.C seems to have gotten even slower recently, so I think I need to take it to a repairer because I think something must be inherently wrong, regardless of the things I've mentioned above. Maybe that's when I'll find out what's going on, as a repairer should know about it and be able to explain it to me.

Now you know the whole story, the chips are both 133's, I have added chips of different and the same size (even single, they don't work), it's proven not to be a limit issue and the above indicates how it all came about.

Thanks for all your help. If I do learn what is going on (especially this "old and new" style RAM, I'll post about it so someone else will know. Thanks again.  ;D

[darkhorse]

well, here is what was selected in my start up file:

hpsysdrv
kbd (I can run fine without this one, but the volume meter doesn't show on screen when it goes up or down)
RECGAURD
RUNDLL32
igfxtray
hkcmd
ps2 (for the mouse and Keyboard I'm sure)
hpztsb04
ActiveMenu
evntsvc
upd (can disable and run fine but usually doesn't offer much mem savings)
WkDetect
FWlink

There are a few others that I took care of, or know I needed to keep running.  But of the ones I listed, are there any that can be unchecked and run fine on XP?  I don't really expect an answer because it seems every computer has a different set of programs, but I figured what the heck.

[Professor Brensec]

[quote]well, here is what was selected in my start up file:

hpsysdrv
kbd (I can run fine without this one, but the volume meter doesn't show on screen when it goes up or down)
RECGAURD
RUNDLL32
igfxtray
hkcmd
ps2 (for the mouse and Keyboard I'm sure)
hpztsb04
ActiveMenu
evntsvc
upd (can disable and run fine but usually doesn't offer much mem savings)
WkDetect
FWlink

There are a few others that I took care of, or know I needed to keep running.

[Professor Brensec]

For anyone who is interested.
Although I sometimes get to thinking that I must be the only person to try and increase the RAM on a Compaq Pressario.................lol

I finally got hold of someone (Computer store) who was able to explain what and why with regard to the RAM update problems I've been having.

I'm told that the "old/new style" RAM issue has do do with single and double sided Strips.
Double sided is the OLD, Single sided is the NEW.

Compaq (in order to use up stocks of motherboards and RAM components, often fitted old type boards and the RAM setup to suit in newer machines (less than 2 years old).

Old style chips are still made but are very hard to come by, and this bloke said whenever he gets some they go straight out. He even has a waiting list, so I've put my name down. You can get up to 256 strips but they are rare. The 128's are more easily got.

The OLD and NEW strips look exactly the same. Don't ask me why.
/

[WebbPA]

Check this page:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist ... sklist.htm

It will give you some idea what these startup progs do and which ones you can do without.

[congo]

Hey Brensec!

You still foolin' around with that Compaq?

[Professor Brensec]

Yeah, I know Congo. It's been time to upgrade ever since the Mrs bought the bloody thing.
As soon as I started Simming, I found that out.
But, Alas, the funds are not there at this time. Maybe shortly.

One interesting thing though. You say I have a DX 6 patch in startup. I see it and don't have it on. I have DX 9 installed with the latest driver, so I don't know why it's there.
Where is this DX 6 thing located and how would I get rid of it? Thanks.  

[congo]

Brensec, quoting you above:

First, to change startup go to "Start" and hit "Run", type in "msconfig" and select "startup". You will get a list of boxes to tick or un-tick for programs you want to have on automatically when the P.C. is turned on. I have only
"DXM6patch, CMEsys, and System tray activated as I'm told these have to be left on (do they?). Then restart.


DXM6patch looks like a directX 6 patch to me......  ;D

But if your system burns ........ well......  ::)