Yes!
I am not kidding! After lots of trials and errors I managed to see "grub menu" and even start "booting"... seeing it freezing after some sec's.
As I have written:
I manage to get 3GB (working stable) but it won't work with 4GB. I am no expert so I have no explanation.
I have tried all possible combinations with the 2 original Samsung 1GB SODIMMs and the brand new MDT 2GB SODIMMs.
Are there information somewhere about compatibility between RAM vs BIOS?
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hey guys...
i have a little problem...
My notebook is the Samsung P400. CPU-Z and the samsungpages says that notebook is the same as the R20. Now, I would like to update my Bios. Currently version is 07SP. When I want to install the 14SH or 15SH the programm says, my bios is newer then the others. Date from the 07SP is 04/01/08.
What can I do?
The versions they list here:
http://www.samsungpc.com/products/r20/r20_bios.htm
fixes many problems I have with my notebook -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
It is interesting that Samsung have two BIOS series for what are very similar computers. The main download site lists 07SP (dated 24 Feb = today!) for the P400 which SamsungPC indicates the same BIOS works for both.
I think xxSP is a different series to xxSH so 07SP is most likely equivalent to 15SH. Samsung released a lot of BIOS updates in early January, which I think were to provide Penryn support.
Do you have any specific problems which you think might be fixed by a BIOS update?
John -
I noticed that too, John, but I tried downloading and installing 07SP but it didn't work - it told me it wasn't the right version, or something along those lines.
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for example "Fix Touchpad and Keyboard response issues after Standby/Resume" is one fix and "Fix for system hang when battery capacity is low"
and the "new" 07SP from 24 Feb has also the january date. This flash worked fine. -
Code:% cat /boot/config | grep 4G CONFIG_HIGHMEM4G=y
config should be substituted with your actual kernel configuration file. If CONFIG_HIGHMEM4G equals 'n' I suggest that you recompile your kernel and turn this feature on, i.e. set to 'y'. Then try to boot the system with your 2 MDT RAM modules again and see what happens. -
Hi there!
I just ordered a new keyboard for the R20 and was wondering if anyone knows somekind of howto for replacing it?
Would be great!
Thanks -
I have 4GB installed in my R20
At 1st i thought the Ram was faulty
I put the original 2 512MB sticks in and disabled the samsung splash screen so i could see the post check.
i Then put the 4GB ram in and booted. The system counts the 1st 3GB at a normal speed, but slows down considerably for the last 1GB.
This caused me to think the ram was faulty when it froze on the samsung boot screen and would not go into the bios menu.
Disable the splash screen and see what the system is doing is my advise.
By the way i am using the 14SH bios
Dual booting Vista & OS X86 10.4.10
4GB RAM
250GB HDD
Has any body tried the new 15SH bios
i would love an option to skip th ram check in the bios like a quick boot -
Try to make sure you're not carrying an electrostatic charge - if you have (and know how to use) an ESD wrist strap/grounding mat/table, well, use them
If not, at least touch a bare metal chassis part (e.g. the unpainted back wall, or the power supply case) of another computer that's plugged in.
Peek into the gap between the lowest row of keys and the chassis, and you'll see three "notches" - one at the Ctrl/Win keys, one at the space bar, one at the cursor down key.
Push in each notch towards you/the front of the case with a small flat head screw driver and the metal back plate of the keyboard should pop up a bit.
*Carefully* lift it up - it's still connected to the mainboard with a short flat ribbon cable. Flip up the latch of the mainboard connector with the tip of the screw driver and the cable can be pulled out. Do not touch anything else in there.
Grab the new keyboard, make sure the cable is bent the same way as on the old one, insert cable in connector, close latch, put the top of the keyboard where it belongs, then push down the the bottom/front part until you hear the notches snap back. -
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John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
John
PS: The attached photo is of the keyboard removed but not disconnected.Attached Files:
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I was thinking of replacing the HDD that came with the r20, is this a difficult process? Any recomendations?
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John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
To change the HDD, remove power and battery, turn computer over and remove the two screws holding the cover marked "HDD". Then gently prise/pull up the left end of the HDD until it is sufficiently clear of the bay to allow you to slide the HDD leftwards off its connector. Then transfer the metal plate to the new HDD and slide it onto the connector, etc.
Unless you want to do a complete reinstallation of the operating system, it is best to clone the existing HDD. Buy an external 2.5" HDD USB-SATA enclosure (it will also provide a home for your old HDD) then put the new HDD into the enclosure; get the trial version of Acronis TrueImage or MigrateEasy and create a bootable CD; plug the enclosure into the R20, boot off the CD and then select the clone option.
Once the HDD is cloned, put the new one from the enclosure into the computer.
As for which HDD, 250GB 5400rpm units have good pricing. Possible sources are Komplett, Overclockers, ebuyer. Here's a suitable enclosure.
JohnAttached Files:
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Thank you nebelwand and john, worked flawlessly!
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Sorry for missing that step.
I probably should put those screws back in on mine...Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015 -
I upgraded and it works
i forget the options but its something like display configuration and another option
ill check and post back in a bit but its good idea to upgrade if yiur sick of waiting 5 mins for ll your ram to be counted
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You will aslo need a copy of the windows vista install disk (not the one that came with your computer) to enable the cloned drive to boot. As you will get a winload.exe error on start up and you need the install disk to repair.
If you want a fresh install then you should be fine.
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John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
John -
Acronis True image
but i did clone to a bigger hard drive and resize the partitions using acronis disk director.
So maybe the resizing caused the issue i had. -
OK, an update on the problems I was having...
My battery is currently at about 95% wear (only get about 5 mins from it), but I phoned Samsung the other day (great customer service) and they're sending me a new one.
The RAM I bought (Crucial 2x1GB PC2-5300) still isn't working. I waited until Vista SP1 was released until I tried it again, but when I tried it I got more BSoDs than usual - and it wouldn't actually hibernate or shut down without giving me one.
Any idea what would be causing this? I'll be running memtest today to see if that can find any problems, but for the record Vista's Memory Diagnostics Tool didn't find anything wrong.
If all else fails, my brother has offered to buy the RAM off me - he tried it in his laptop (running XP) and it worked absolutely fine. Obviously I'd prefer to get it working on my laptop, though - I would have to buy more if I sold this kit to my brother, and I would be wary about the same thing happening... -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Good news about the replacement battery.
I'm puzzled about the RAM. Did you try running a Linux live CD on the R20. If this also crashes then we know that it's nothing to do with Vista. The Ubuntu live CD includes memtest as one of the boot options.
You could use CPU-Z to check the RAM timings. Use one new + one old module and report the numbers for each module listed on CPU-Z's SPD page plus the timings given on the memory page. I believe the R20 uses a 533MHz memory bus (CPU-Z reports it as 266, but the DDR-2 means multiply by 2) but 667MHz RAM should work fine at 533MHz.
John -
I just tried putting a new one in with an old one...
(When I mention the top RAM module, I mean the one nearest the battery, and when I mention the bottom module, I mean the one closest to the headphones + mic ports.)
I tried a new one in the top module and an old one in the bottom module - however it didn't boot at all (just stayed as a black screen when I pressed the power button). I then tried swapping them around (same RAM, different modules) and it seems to be working fine - although I've only been using it for about 10 minutes...
Here are the readings from CPU-Z -
Memory
-------
Size: 1536 MBytes
DRAM Frequency: 333.3 MHz
FSBRAM: asynch.
CL: 5.0 clocks
tRCD: 5 clocks
tRP: 5 clocks
tRAS: 15 clocks
tRC: 20 clocks
CR: 1T
SPD - Slot 1
---
Size: 1024 MBytes
Max. Bandwidth: PC2-5300 (333 MHz)
Manufacturer: Micron Technology
Frequency: 200 MHz / 266 MHz / 333 MHz
CAS# Latency: 3.0 / 4.0 / 5.0
RAS# to CAS#: 3 / 4 / 5
RAS# Precharge: 3 / 4 / 5
tRAS: 9 / 12 / 15
tRC: 12 / 16 / 20
Voltage: 1.8 V / 1.8 V / 1.8 V
SPD - Slot 2
---
Size: 512 MBytes
Max. Bandwidth: PC2-5300 (333 MHz)
Manufacturer: Samsung
Frequency: 200 MHz / 266 MHz / 333 MHz
CAS# Latency: 3.0 / 4.0 / 5.0
RAS# to CAS#: 3 / 4 / 5
RAS# Precharge: 3 / 4 / 5
tRAS: 8 / 11 / 13
tRC: 11 / 15 / 18
Voltage: 1.8 V / 1.8 V / 1.8 V
That's way too technical for me... any ideas?
(EDIT: Spoke too soon - I got a BSoD and had trouble booting again. I have now swapped the new bit of RAM with the other bit of new RAM to see if that's the problem.) -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Thanks for the CPU-Z results. They are much as I expected and contain no surprises or clues. The Samsung module has a slightly faster Tras timing but the system is running at the slowest common speed.
I recall that, when testing different RAM in the R20, one of the RAM combinations I tried wouldn't boot until I changed over the slots. You've seen the same problem so there's something not quite right in the way the R20 detects the RAM.
John -
Do you think buying different RAM would help at all? According to some customer reviews for eBuyer's Extra Value RAM, the modules they received were actually Samsung ones.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/12391...offset=0&review_type=both&review_order_by=SRF
And what about this kit... is says it's PC2-5400 instead of PC2-5300...?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142450
So far the current setup (one new in the bottom module and one old in the top) seems to be OK - I've not had any BSoDs since I changed swapped the new bit with the other new one.
It wouldn't boot when I just started it up, but I switched it off and back on and it was fine. Although I've got a feeling that might have been something to do with the battery because I didn't have the AC cable plugged in the first time I started it. -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Maybe you do have one bad module and should try to get it replaced. You could try again with the other 1GB module (in the bottom slot) + 512MB of old RAM and see if that works or BSODs. I suspect that the evidence that one module causes BSOD and the other does not will be enough to trigger a replacement. Only when you have got another 1GB module can you see whether 2GB works OK. It should.
There's also no certainty which other RAM will work better. I tried a range of modules and combinations when I was testing the R20. Some of the modules were Samsung (borrowed from my X60plus) but I successfully ran the R20 with a 2GB Transcend module.
John -
I'm beginning to think it's a bad module - but then I wonder why it would work in XP and not Vista...?
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John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Maybe Vista is faster at finding any bad RAM because the SuperFetch will use any spare memory as a cache. If the module is bad then XP would find the problem only when it needed to use the bad bit of RAM.
John -
Just got a few BSoDs with this module too.
I think it's clashing with the ATI graphics card/driver - some of the BSoDs show an ATI file as starting the problem.
Oh well - I guess I'll just try to buy some new stuff.
Thanks for your help, John. -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Interesting about the possible connection with the IGP. Did you try changing the graphics RAM allocation in the BIOS? It may be automatically increasing with the extra RAM but then trips up. Try fixing the graphics RAM allocation at whatever the value is with 1GB total RAM.
You could also try the latest ATI drivers. Samsung tend to be a bit tardy in updating their driver collection. Sometimes they put new dates on old drivers just to increase the confusion.
John -
I kept meaning to try the BIOS thing but I forgot all about it.
I must have changed it to 256MB when I first put the new RAM in, so I tried putting it back to 128MB and it seems to be running fine with the new RAM right now. Although once when I put the new RAM in, it ran fine for a couple of days and then I started getting BSoDs again - so I'm not quite out of the woods yet...
I've tried changing the ATI drivers a few times, and that didn't work.
Got my new battery from UPS today - just going to try it and see how it is... -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Thanks for the update.
So it is possible that you have found some memory bug which arises when the graphics RAM is set to 256MB. Do I understand correctly that you are now running 128MB graphics RAM and 2GB total RAM?
John -
Yep, that's right - still haven't had any problems so far.
I'm tempted to try setting it to 'Auto', but I daren't.
(Battery is perfect too - so great to be able to move around the house without bringing the plug with me... got nearly 2 hours off it earlier - very pleased.
Also, I noticed the date on the UPS package was 20th March, which means I would've received it on Friday, had it not been Good Friday - which would've been 3 days after I phoned. Can't fault Samsung's customer service on this occasion!) -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
It would be useful to know whether you get BSODs with the GPU RAM allocation on auto (see how much RAM gets allocated out of 2GB). I'll alter Samsung support to this bug.
John -
Guess who spoke too soon!
Just got a BSoD...
When it restarted, it didn't restart normally - it came up with a black screen with "ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 for Samsung/Hainan2" appearing at the top. I then restarted it a few times (I had to - no blue screens, but it froze a few times), and now I'm back to normal again.
Although I'll be waiting for my next blue screen... and when I get it, my old RAM shall be going back in, unfortunately. -
Hi,
I've had the R20 for about half a year now without problems. But my main workhorse computer has died unexpectedly so I've decided to upgrade the RAM on the R20 and use more heavily it in the interim.
I bought a Kensington 667 DDR2 2Gb and 1Gb module.
When I install both, it refuses to boot up.
When I swap slots, only HALF the Samsung splash screen appears and it hangs.
When I remove one module (leaving one in, either one), it boots without problem.
If I leave the 2Gb module in with one of my old 512meg, it hangs on half a Samsung splash screen.
So basically the only combos that I can get working are:
512 + 512
1 gig alone
2 gig alone.
Is there a step I'm missing? I've racked my brains but can't get 2 + 1 (or 2+ ANYTHING) working.
Thanks! -
Oh yes, I'm running XP Pro on an R20 T2450 Core Duo 2.0Ghz.
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Sorry I meant KINGSTON not Kensington! And I'm running on BIOS 15SH.
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John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Did you try the RAM combinations both ways round. eg 2GB in slot 1 + 512MB in slot 2, then vice-versa?
Months back I tried different RAM combinations in the R20 and, on one occasion, I found that it was sensitive to which module was in which slot.
One suggestion is that, with a working combination of RAM in the machine, you set the BIOS to give all the boot-up info, not the quick boot. Then you should see the BIOS checking the new RAM. Does it stop at a certain point? Or maybe it is going very slowly and looks as if it is hanging.
The other possible variable is the graphics RAM combination. Try both the automatic and manual settings (say 128MB).
John -
Thanks for the tips, John. I've made some progress but still without a 100% success.
As you suggested, I set the BIOS to give all the boot up info. Here's what happened:
1 GB + 512= Success! The memory creeps up slooowly, but it did finally complete its boot.
2 GB + 1 GB = THe memory creeped up slowly, but finally made it. Once it started initializing all the other drivers, etc, it froze after MOUSE INITIALIZED. The next line is usually "Kernal Library Version 03.05.00.03", but it never appeared.
2 GB + 512 = THe memory creeped up again and made it. BUt once it started intializing the rest, it froze after displaing "StrongROM Version :03.30 Build-P". Usually the Pheonix Bios stat screen would appear after this line.
It seems like it's any combination with the 2GB stick that the Bios doesn't like, even though the 2GB works fine by itself. What I don'[t understand is why it chooses to freeze at different points of the BIOS boot depending on the combination of 2GB + 'x'. At this point it's getting a little beyond my technical scope.
Any ideas? -
I just tried a frew other things:
2GB + 1GB = It froze at the same "StrongROM Version" line as the 2+512 combination, so at least it's being consistent about not working!
Changing the graphics RAM to 128 produced the same results.
On the 2+1 combo, I tried hitting F2 to get into the BIOS before it could freeze. However, it froze on "Entering Setup..". -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Thanks for the update. It's very useful to be able to see what is happening.
Did you try different settings for the graphics RAM allocation? If on automatic try setting it to 128MB. Or if on manual then try automatic. Some of the code for the integrated graphics is in the BIOS.
When I previously tried to get the Samsung support people interested in this problem they wanted much more info in order to be able to replicate the problem. It is possible that this problem has crept in with one of the BIOS updates. I did my tests in mid-2007.
I therefore suggest that while we continue to try to discuss / understand / hopefully solve the problem here, you also gather the evidence and then send it to the Samsung support people via email - there's a link to a message box on their FAQ pages. One thing you could request is an older BIOS with instructions on how to do the downgrade. They normally respond within 24 hours.
John -
Thanks again, John.
Yes, I tried setting a different memory allocation for graphics RAM, still with the same results as detailed before.
I've sent an email to the link you gave me and will report back on any findings. I've also got the local Samsung technical help centre working on it and when/if they call me back I'll give a full report.
Has anyone on this board successfully installed both a 2gb and a 1gb module together? I'm starting to think that the R20 just can't handle anything above 2GBs.
Also, a related question: now that I'm running on a single 2GB stick, am I not utilizing the dual core to its max potential since one of the slots sits empty? Would it be better to run 1 + 1? -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Last year I tested 2GB + 512MB (PC5300) in the R20. Sisoftware Sandra gave a memory bandwidth result of about 3100 and PCMark05's score was 3572. The corresponding results for 1 x 2GB (PC5300) were 2900 and 3375 and for 2 x 1GB (PC4200) were 2930 and 3562. I can't remember which I didn't test 2Gb + 1GB but it's not in my results table.
Let's see what explanation Samsung support can offer. Did you send them the full details of the modules? (Use CPU-Z to get the SPD data).
John -
Here's the reply from Samsung email support:
"In regards to your enquiry, it would seem from the detailed
troubleshooting you have conducted that the problem lies with the 2GB
module, I would say your next step would be to try a different 2GB
module from a different manufacterer as it may be a compatibility issue
with the 2GB module. Should you continue to experience this issue then
please feel free to call our IT Helpdesk on 0870 726 7864 quoting your
customer reference number."
Shouldn't Kingston memory be pretty standard in regards to compatibility all around the board? -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Sometimes I wonder if the Samsung support people are a little dense! They certainly try to blame something else (last year I had a Samsung HM250JI HDD which wouldn't work properly in my X60plus). Support used the "compatibility" excuse when, in reality, there was a bug in the HDD's firmware which they eventually fixed (but only after I had RMA'd the HDD).
If I understand correctly, your R20 is running happily with the single 2GB stick, which suggests no compatibility problem. You could, for good measure, run Memtest86 (create a bootable CD from an ISO file or its on the Ubuntu Linux CD as a boot option) just to confirm that the RAM is OK. Start the R20 with the 1GB module and also test it.
You have then demonstrated that each module is compatible with the R20 and that the RAM is OK. Send that info back to Samsung support by email with the module data from CPU-Z and a clear description of what you have done.
I still think it would be useful to try an older BIOS, if you can extract one from the support people plus instructions on the downgrade.
John -
Wifi Trouble
Hi. 6 months into my new R20 and I'm having wifi trouble. It was fine until this weekend when I can still connect to my wireless router (BT Home Hub) but the speed is painfully slow (if it even chooses to download simple web pages such as the BBC homepage) and often drops out all together leaving me with only a Local network connection.
It does not seem to be a problem with the router as my housemate still gets great wifi and bandwidth on his mac book, plus it's all fine when wired (as I am now) so it must be a problem with the R20. I have upgraded the wifi driver but with no sucsess.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, any soloutions?
Ta
RM -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
We need to be determine whether this is a hardware or a software problem. I would expect the hardware to either work or not work. There's the slight possibility of a broken or disconnected antenna wire within the R20. Which wireless card do you have? Atheros?
Does the wireless driver / software report the signal strength and connection speed it is using? What speed does Speedtest.net measure? Does the speed get better if you put the R20 next to the Router?
Can you also try a different channel on the router? You may be picking up interference from another router on the same channel which is confusing your computer. Can you also find another router to check how that performs.
Has Vista's power management decided to reduce the power for the wireless card?
You can also check / adjust the properties of the wireless card in Device Manager. It's worthwhile going through the list. If in doubt use the default values.
Hope something helps - please give feedback, good or bad.
John -
I've starting having another strange occurance:
My R20 has occasionally suddenly rebooted itself, without warning, when I leave it alone for a few minutes!
I suspect it's a symptom of this 2Gig RAM module I've got installed, but before I do any experimenting, has anyone else experienced this or knows of any virus I should be on the hunt for? I've got Zonealarm installed with scan regularly scheduled every week, so I think I'm virus free. -
John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator
Is the restart in Windows or is there any BSOD or just the computer restart? You might be able to get a clue from the event viewer (My Computer > Manage > Event Viewer) and looking at the time when this happens.
John -
I just caught it in the act. The blue memory dump screem flashed briefly and then it reset itself! Symptom of RAM issues?
Samsung R20 notebook (14" widescreen)
Discussion in 'Samsung' started by John Ratsey, Feb 16, 2007.