What is the make and model of the A205 motherboard???

I have a Toshiba A205-S5804 and I upgrade my RAM with two (2) sticks of GEIL each 2GB DDR2 667MHz PC2-5300. I originally had a two (2) sticks of 512MB. When I have all 4GB in, when I start the computer is stalls at the Toshiba screen before it gets to Windows OS.

I also did some tests with only having one module in. When I have the module only in the lower bay, computer starts up just fine. When I have the module only in the upper module, computer will not even power up, it briefly flashes the lights, makes a noise like it is trying to start the hard drive and dies.

Also computer will start with one stick of the 2GB and one stick of 512MB, but will not do it with two 2GB sticks, total of 4GB. Can anyone help? Trying to see if perhaps it is RAM, if I just need to return the GEIL modules and get a different brand or different modules from same manufacturer.

My particular model is a new production and has a 965 chipset, I ran an Intel chipset identifier and it confirmed it is a 965 chipset and can see all 4GB, only limitation is by 32bit windows, which I am switching to 64bit as soon as I get the DVD from Microsoft.

GEIL each 2GB DDR2 667MHz PC2-5300. I originally had a two (2) sticks of 512MB. When I have all 4GB in, when I start the computer is stalls at the Toshiba screen before it gets to Windows OS.

I also did some tests with only having one module in. When I have the module only in the lower bay, computer starts up just fine. When I have the module only in the upper module, computer will not even power up, it briefly flashes the lights, makes a noise like it is trying to start the hard drive and dies.

Also computer will start with one stick of the 2GB and one stick of 512MB, but will not do it with two 2GB sticks, total of 4GB. Can anyone help? Trying to see if perhaps it is RAM, if I just need to return the GEIL modules and get a different brand or different modules from same manufacturer.

So I got the Kingston KTT memory, 2x2GB and it still did not help. Hangs in BIOS screen. After talking to Toshiba tech support, apparently they put limits on the BIOS/chipset, they modify Intel's stuff from what I was told. I have a 965 chipset based on the Intel chipset identifier and there for should handle 4GB. So question is, dose anyone know of a mod for the BIOS or at least motherboard brand and model number so I can get the BIOS from manufacturer directly. I tried looking for it in my laptop through motherboard identifier software but no luck. Almost like Toshiba is hiding it on purpose.

 

hmm im not sure if the ram sticks are at fault or its just that the a205 do not support ram over 3gb (some pcs dont). If its the ram at fault then i guess you can always check with memtest 86. If your hardware dont support 4gb then i dunno...

 

The A205 supports 4GB of ram. The speed of the RAM you got is correct so that should not be an issue. It is possible that you just need to updated the bios. Toshiba has alot of isues with bios updates.

There are NO BIOS updates from the board manufacture. In fact they have very little to do with the BIOS. Toshiba designs the specs for the board and the board manufacture just builds it to spec. The manufacture for A205 motherboard is HannStar. In short, there are no BIOS updates other than the ones from Toshiba.

Your laptop is under warranty so send it it to Toshiba for repair. They will fix the systemboard for free.

 

do you happen to know what kind of motherboard the x205-s9800 has? im curious because ever since i've upgraded to 4gb corsair ddr2 667mhz, i've gotten the blue screen of death system crash whenever i try to use a program like utorrent, azureus, bitlord....it was fine before i upgraded from the 2gb that came with it.

running vista ultimate x64 btw.

 

MaxxxRacer,

Sending the laptop to Toshiba for repair would be futile as when talking to them on the phone, they told me that the computer was designed for 2GB max and they will not honer the warranty if it was caused by going outside of there recommended specs. But I do agree with you that it is BIOS. Toshiba is doing something on that model to restrict people from taking advantage of its full capability's as it is their lower model. In fact when flashing my BIOS with the latest update from the Toshiba US website, it only caused my Wi-Fi to stop working. It only got fixed by flashing my BIOS with an update for an equivalent model from the Australian Toshiba site. I now have a 1.90 version, but no help with RAM.

 

Geil ram is not compatable with all toshiba laptops. I upgraded from 2 gigs to 4 gigs using Kingston Value Ram and have had no problems at all since I use Win xp home sp2 (32 bit) It only shows up as 3.27 gig but that is normal for a 32 bit operating system. I own an A215-S7462.

 

I have a 64 bit Vista now and no help.

 

Reading into it more, the version of the A205 you have is different than the one I have. I have the 945 express chipset whereas you have the GL960 (according to Toshibas documents). The wierd part is that I have the S4577 which you would think is a lower end model... I think the difference is that you have the higher end video chip whereas the 945 has the older anemic gfx chipset.

I still believe it to be a BIOS issue, but it is not one that will ever be fixed. I am going to have to say that this is a bit more complicated than Toshiba simply enabling 4GB, otherwise they would have it enabled in the intial release BIOS.

I am going to have to guess that the 965 chipset (according to what you say it is the 965P) has trouble with its memory controller when you attempt to run 4GB in a dual channel configuration. The 965 chipset was never inteded for laptops so this may have something to do with it. The 945 chipset on the other hand was largely in part purpose built for laptops with the realization that 64bit vista was around the corner and 4GB is something that is going to be requested by customers.

I appologize for not having looked into this further in the first place. I assumed that the different versions of the A205 used the same Northbridge. Clearly I was wrong.