).I have finally solved the problem and can report that I now have 384Mb Ram.
For those that have a similar problem, this is what the problem is from someone who has finally solved it, when HP (the new owners of Compaq) were unable to advise.
Apparently, some recent Compaq PC's have a limit on the size chip they can read (NOT THE WHOLE STRIP - JUST THE INDIVIDUAL CHIPS ON THE STRIP).
The limit would appear to be 16 Mb per individual chip.
A single sided Ram strip (PC133) of 128 MB has 8 chips, each with 16 mb. It can read these and there is no prob.
I bought a single sided 256mb strip (the original 64mb strip was single sided) ages ago and the PC would just not register it at all (any of it), because each of the 8 chips was 32mb each.
Finally after much discussion, detective work, and suggestions from numerous people (thanks to all, regardless of the outcome), I got hold of an 'old stlye' double sided 256 Mb strip (They are rare but not impossible to get, but a bit dearer than the new 'single sided' ones - mine cost $144 Aust. which is about $95 US).
As this strip has 16 chips, each with only 16 Mb, my PC will read it and I now have 1 x 128 mb and 1 x 256 mb strips.
This of course means that, apart from what some may say, your Compaq (or possibly other PC) can have up to 512 mb RAM with just the two slots to put the strips in.
Hope this is of some help to someone who has this headache. If you hear about this kind of thing refer them to this post. I can guarantee that it is all 'gospel'. (At least on my useless Pressario it is).............lol
