[karinio]

I have a HP pavillion laptop with Windows XP SP2. I had 256K and 512K RAM. I bought a kingston 1G RAM and replaced the 256K. When I turn on the laptop I get the following options:
1) Safe mode (OR safe mode with Networking OR safe mode with command prompt)
2) Last known good configuration (your most recent settings that worked
3) Start windows normally
whatever I try, Windows try to start and they just hang…
In the setup I can see that there is 1408Mb memory which sounds right.
I formatted the hard disk and installed XP again and the PC worked BUT next time I tried to turn it on, I went back to the same problem. I have tried to use one memory slot at a time and putting each time one of the three memories that I have. The problem remains but at the setup, I always get the corresponding RAM. That makes me believe that there is no problem with any of my three memories. I also did a hard disk test (called Drive Fitness Test) and it was succesful which should mean that my hard disk has not problem either.
Any idea how to make it work?

[Everway9]

Does your system boot into safe mode at all?

[RogueSpear00]

I would do a memory test to rule out memory. Could be corrupted memory, weird things happen...

[D X Mage]

Some older laptops don't recognize so-dimms bigger than 512mb. What is the model number of the laptop?

[karinio]

The system will not boot at safe mode at all.
Could you recommend a memory test? Is Windows Memory diagnostic test Ok (http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp)?
The laptop is HP pavillion zv5000 and the memory should fit and should be the right one since I found it from both kingston website to suit this PC and from other websites.

[Everway9]

You could try it but the system may not even boot that.

[RogueSpear00]

www.memtest86.com

Have to burn it as a bootable CD, boot to it and run tests.

[karinio]

I did the memory test and it was successful! What could I do next?

[markomus]

Check compatibility. Some venders are really picky about which brand of memory you put in "their" computers.

[Everway9]

Does your system still boot with the memory you had before you bought the new stuff?

[karinio]

No it will not boot with any of the old memories either.
The memory I bought was the one given by Kingston website. Also at the setup it can 'recognize' it and it will count it in the total RAM. Could that be the case if ti was not compatible? If yes how can I check the memory compatibility?

[Everway9]

Three things.

1. I do not think that your laptop is compatable with 1GB sticks of RAM.

2. If your laptop will not boot with one of your original sticks then maybe the Kingston stuff has somehow damaged your laptop. (I cannot understand why that might have happened though ?????)

3. Where are the RAM slots located on your laptop?

[Everway9]

Also make sure the RAM is DDR333

[RogueSpear00]

Look on the bottom of your laptop, is there a specific model it gives? zv5000 is the general series if I'm not mistaken.

[Everway9]

Originally Posted by RogueSpear00

Look on the bottom of your laptop, is there a specific model it gives? zv5000 is the general series if I'm not mistaken.

Yep. Correct. Look for the P/N (product number) something like DV525P.