IFL90 Will NOT Boot with 2 x 2Gb Sticks of RAM???

EDIT: Issue Resolved
Solution: Update BIOS to 1.10 from 1.07.

Hi everybody! Although I hate being the one who just takes help (don't believe I ever gave any on this forum yet), I have a slight problem:

Received an IFL90 today; put 2 x 2Gb G. Skill 667 RAM found here:

Laptop would NOT boot with both sticks installed; laptop works fine (so far, just installing Vista...ya, I know...but I wanted 64-bit for the purpose of using 4Gb of RAM!!!) with just ONE stick installed.

My thoughts: Outdated BIOS??? Yet shipped last month? I really don't know.

I appreciate any insight! Thanks for looking.

EDIT: BTW, I had to take off the heatspreaders when I realized it wouldn't boot with just one stick.

 

Have you tried to boot with both sticks installed individually and see if it works? It might help you narrow down the fact that one of the sticks might be bad.

 

Yes, I did - should've posted that earlier, sorry.

 

And it works with both stick individually? Did you try them in each slot?

 

yeah. i think maybe a faulty slot?

 

Put simply, I tried both sticks individually in different slots; maybe not each stick in each slot separately, but individually enough to conclude that both sticks AND both slots allowed for bootup.

I guess to be more thorough I should run Memtest86 on each stick...gotta go find those CD-Rs... (I'm packing for college right now...)

EDIT: Just switched the slot of my current RAM stick and no crashes as of yet (meaning, I booted up and am typing on Vista right now...) Working on that .ISO file for Memtest86 right now; gotta find Nero or something. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.

 

When you boot into BIOS does the 'puter see both mem sticks?

 

Clarification: PC will NOT boot with both RAM sticks. I don't even get anything on the screen.

PC boots just fine with one stick of EITHER RAM installed. Now performing Memtests and will report results later.

I am now using the "other" RAM stick that I will refer to as "B." (This RAM stick was NOT in the PC for the installation of Vista and installation of drivers, etc.). RAM stick "A" was used for the installation of Vista, drivers, and general use like surfing the web for a couple of hours in all.

Memtest v3.3 is checking RAM "B" right now in slot "2." Will report back once Memtest completes a full pass with selection of "Test All Memory" or whatever option that is... and then I will test "B" in slot "1."

 

RAM "B" finished without problems in slot "2." Will now test RAM "B" in slot "1." If I happen to receive NO errors, then what???

 

Then try both sticks while knocking the RAM speed down in the BIOS (if possible).

Or maybe it's just some weird incompatibility with running paired 2GB G.Skill sticks.

 

Then I think you take advantage of the support that came with your machine.

 

As far as I can tell, BIOS 1.07 has nothing that can address RAM speed, timings, or anything for that matter....

Anyhow, RAM stick "B" works just fine and BOTH RAM slots are ok. Now testing RAM stick "A."

This would really suck if it were an incompatibility issue with two 2Gb sticks....

IF ANYONE HAS 4Gb of RAM INSTALLED ON THEIR IFL90, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT BRAND AND SPEED THEY ARE??? THANKS.

 

I think I found my problem:

I need to update to 110 BIOS:

"Fix system will hang on boot (black screen) when attached 4G RAM"

 

update the bios already? the pc is 1 month old...

 

Thats not uncommon with a new machine. We should be thankful they're updating the bios.

 

Tell me about it; I just spent so much time trying to figure it out when all I needed was a BIOS flash... and DAMN - BIOSs for notebooks are hard to come by!!!

BTW, I'm running 1.10 (came with 1.07) and it booted!!! Now I just gotta run some tests (but I'll most likely get some zzz's...). Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

Good to know your issue was resolved.

 

PCKid777:

Where'd you download the BIOS update? And how's it running with the 4GB of RAM? Any before/after gaming benchmarks?

 

As far as benchmarks, I didn't run any as I am leaving for a program at my university tomorrow and moving into Berkeley...so only enough time to get this built.

As far as the BIOS goes, I found it here You'll have to click the "Compal Notebook" picture and select the "IFL90" in the upper left-hand corner of the next Compal image.

And oh, as far as performance from moving to 2GB to 4Gb, I haven't noticed that much of an improvement with basic tasks lke IE7 and what not. And like I said, can't really comment on games and what not... But I'll be able to install some benchmarks later this weekend, perhaps.

 

hello!

I'm currently having the same problem as threadstarter here, I can't seem to install the 1.10 bios, and I have bought 4GB of ram.

Could someone please tell me how to install the 1.10 bios? Because I'm running 64bit Vista and the .exe that came with the bios does not work.

I can't get any of the bios flashing utilities on the compal page to work either.

Can someone please tell me a little bit more in detail how to flash?

 

I would like to know as well, having 64bit Vista, though only have 2GB in for now. I'm gonna guess we have to make a boot-cd (FreeDOS or similar) to do this...

 

TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP FLASHING THE BIOS TO 1.10

Here is what I did:

1) Download this utility to make a boot disk on a FLASH DRIVE. I used a similar tool; don't know why this is such a big file but ANY bootable flash drive is usable.

2) Download the 1.10 BIOS here

3) Extract the 110 BIOS files to your bootable flash drive.

4) Boot from the flash drive. (MAKE SURE YOU ENTER YOUR BIOS AND SET THE FLASH DRIVE AS THE PRIMARY BOOT DEVICE FIRST)

5) Type: "PHLASH16.exe" and hit "Enter" OR just "BIOS"

IF YOU RUN INTO AN ERROR MESSAGE REGARDING A MISSING .WPH FILE, YOU WILL HAVE TO ACCESS THE BOOTABLE FLASH DRIVE AND RENAME THE .WPH FILE TO "BIOS.WPH" (I think). GOOD LUCK!

 

How do you make a boot-cd? Do you have a link to the "recipie"?

 

I had an easy time flashing the Compal - other than a file that was named wrong, the flash utility automatically unpacked and flashed the BIOS without much of my input.

As far as flashing the IFL90, as long as you can get a boot disk and the BIOS files together, you should not have a problem.

FYI, flashing my desktop was much harder. Flashing a BIOS is only slightly more complicated than installing your favorite game or iTunes IMO...you just have to know the name of the BIOS file on the drive to tell the program what to load as the new BIOS.

 

So you didn't use HP drive key boot utility? If you could please explain a little more detailed about what program you used and how to create a boot drive.

I'm trying to wrap my head around the HP program but I don't get it. It wants to make a boot from a .iso file, but there isn't any .iso files, there are .rom & .wph

edit: Ok so I've managed to make a bootable device, but what the heck do I write in DOS? I've copied all the bios files to the root of the USB stick.

 

Have u tried booting from it? I omitted one step, SORRY.... type in PHLASH16.exe (or whatever the .exe file is).

 

I followed this guide (to make a bootable disk of my 256mb USB Flash MP3 player):
http://www.thepcspy.com/articles/hardware/bootable_usb_flash_drive

And then I downloaded the bios from the link threadstarter so gracefully supplied , unpacked the bios files (all except the text/word files) right on to the USB flash (make sure there the files are not in a folder on the USB stick, but are the first thing u see when u open the USB stick from My Computer). When they are copied to your USB flash thingy, make copies of the files (on the USB thing) so that u have 2x the files you unpacked from the rar file containing the bios files.

Then rename them so that you have 8 files, like this:


Then when u boot, make sure that u press F12 as soon as the bios logo screen appears, then choose "USB Drive" from the list that appears (there should be 4 alternatives: HD: -"HD brandname", "cd-rom, LAN & USB. If u don't see the USB on that list try to reboot and press F12 again, if it's not there then, try tinkering a little with boot options in bios.

And I didn't have to type "PHLASH16.EXE" in DOS, I had to type "bios" and then the update started. I had v1.07 before I upgraded to v1.10.

Hope this helps.

 

Sorry; the F12 boot thing was implied....dang, i hate how i miss stuff like that.

 

Im having problems... I have got the flash program to start but when I get into the program I get an error: "Can't flash when Memory Manager is running e.g. HIMEM"

 

So I decided to look if there's a USB boot option in my IFL90, and I can't seem to find one -- HDD, Optical, FDD, and LAN are the only choices. Then I booted again with the details showing, and my BIOS is already at 1.10 -- another nice touch from powernotebooks.com!

Of course, now it means any future upgrades of the BIOS will have to be done from a CD anyways. Do any of you guys who flashed to 110 still have any USB boot options?

 

Make your USB boot thingy look like this: (these are all the same files, just rename them the same way I did)

http://www.diskusjon.no/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=167383

I've updated the "guide" I made a few posts over this one.

 

My sincere apologies to those who are having issues with updating the BIOS; I could NOT find the right link for the program I used so I will post what somene else on this forum posted to me:

"you have to unpacked this file and than
burn them on bootable cd (you can use for example nero burning rom)

after burning you have to boot from this cd
(press f12 when system is booting)

after that you have to write:

cd 'x':

Press 'Enter' and type: 'IFL001100.bat'"

I HOPE THAT WORKS...ARGGHH... Sorry if I don't reply for awhile; at a program at my university.... Try to find a program online that will make a boot disk on a flash drive IF THAT DOES NOT WORK...

 

Hey roy_nor; sorry I haven't been great at input for this forum. If possible, maybe you can make a revised guide and post it???

 

Been working on this for hours and it worked.. thank you so much

 

Oh crap.. now my windows does not start...

The new bios for compal ifl90 is installed, new logo start... windows vista load bar fades in... bar moves and blue screen flashes and comp restarts. After the restart it asks me how I want to start windows (safe mode, safe mode with networking, normal mode, etc.) No matter which mode I select, WINDOWS FAILS TO START!!!

Help me please

 

I hope you have your Windows Installation disk; just pop that in, and before being prompted to install Windows, LOOK TO THE LOWER LEFT OF THE SCREEN AND CHOOSE the "REPAIR" option. Then click on the option regarding startup repair or something. I had the same issue; I guess it had to do with the BIOS update...

 

Didnt work, I did do a repair and it still does the samething. Is there a way at least to get my files backed up? At that point I dont care if I lose vista

Update: I am using Partition Magic atm, seeing if I can create a partition and install xp on it

 

It said Windows Cannot Repair This Computer Automatically.. well that sucks

 

What do you mean? I had to do 2 or 3 repairs before mine would boot. Does Windows now say that it can't repair any files at all AFTER a successful repair???

GL with Partition Magic; sorry to hear about the unsuccessful update...there should be a warning for any future IFL90/Sager 2090 buyer to make sure about their BIOS update beforehand.

 

Tried Windows Vista Repair Startup many times, keep getting that it can't repair it automatically. I'm going out right now and buying a hard drive enclosure. Gonna transfer files to my external using my gf's lappy and then reformat and install windows. This is a bummer... I all out hate Vista now.

 

Wow...that really bites.... luck of the draw perhaps? What version of Vista were you running? I have 64-bit Ultimate and I was relieved when it could do an automatic repair. From what version did you update your BIOS? I think I upgraded mine in 2 stages (I first found like 1.07 and flashed it to no success). I then flashed to 1.10. If anything, I think the problem is linked to Vista (installation of components) AND the BIOS update itself (lack of Vista support). I hope that all works out for you.

 

Okay, I just read a reply from FadetoBlack on another thread that says that vista has a bug with running 4gb of RAM and there actually is a patch to that bug?

Not that it really matters (actually it does because I would rather have vista) Is it still possible to have vista running on my machine? That is installed vista with 2gb RAM and installing the patch, then placing the 4gb of ram inside it?

By the way PCKidd777, I was using Vista Ultamite as well except 32-bit. Im a bit cautious about 64-bit only because I heard too many programs dont work on it (such as iTunes and that is a must for me). Maybe you can provide an arguement otherwise or a first hand experience/review on vista 64bit? Thanks in advanced

 

Although I don't use iTunes, I did happen to install it once and it installed without issues. However, if you want the greatest compatibility, I would lean more towards the 32-bit.

Biggest Issue(s):
1) Avermedia Digital USB Tuner crashes the system. I believe this was because I had Media Center running in the background (WITHOUT my knowledge)
2) I've had a couple device power failures --> BSODs; I think they are related to the drivers for the GPU. I've downloaded about 5 diff versions from laptopvideo2go.com and no luck fixing them yet.... (I conclude this based off a warning error saying that the Nvidia drivers were at fault for Windows slowly entering sleep and off previous gaming experiences).

3) Ya, there is a limitation on some programs. I used Rhapsody, and can't anymore.... Also, I haven't been able to use Zonealarm (although the free Avast antivirus works.

If you want stability...then probably go 32-bit. If you can get a retail copy of Vista WITH both discs, that would be the best bet so you can upgrade down the road once 64-bit becomes more prevalent...

My Recommendation: Unless you really want to use all 4Gb of RAM, stick with 32-bit and upgrade later.... for now, I'm dealing with the bugs. (In regards to that 4Gb bug, I believe it's already patched).

 

SBHawk, you need to go into BIOS. Go to the Advanced menu, look for AHCI Configuration and set that to Disabled.
That will make your Vista boot again

This setting is automatically Enabled when you flash the BIOS. Unless the setting was originally Enabled when you first installed Vista it will make Vista Blue screen when enabled.

 

Hotdog.. that wouldve helped a month ago. Dang I really wish i didn't uninstall vista

thank u