Win98se: New RAM Detection Problem

[Rhetorik]

I recently installed some new RAM using a single stick of 256mb (want to use the older 128mb stick also if possible).

For reference, this is what HP says about the RAM in Pavillions model 8770c:

Component Attributes

RAM (standard) 128 megabytes (MB)

Maximum 512 MB (2 x 256 MB DIMM)

Speed 100 MHz synchronous

Sockets Three 168-pin DIMMs

Size 32, 64, 128, and 256 MB DIMMs

Free DIMM Sockets 1

Pairs Required No

Type Supported SDRAM, 100 MHz, Intel PC SDRAM unbuffered DIMM
specification, revision 1.0 compliant

and this is what I bought:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-132&depa=0

Installed the RAM fine, system recognizes the 256mb (bios confirmed) but Windows still reads 128mb. I'm wondering if this autodetection thing matters for Windows since the system confirmed it. I haven't noticed a huge jump in performance, in windows either.

I have:
- Tried "Add Hardware" in Control Options
- Switched the RAM in the DIMM slots
- Tried adding the older stick of 128mb as well (384mb confirmed in BIOS)
- Ran MEMTEST32; detected all the ram + no errors

This is baffling to me. I've never encounted this problem where Windows does not detect the new RAM. Is this a RAM compatability problem with Windows, system (shouldn't be, I don't think), or something else?

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

Heh, this seems dumb because they say upgrading your RAM is one of the easiest upgrades you can do, and yet, something went wrong over here.

 

[Samm]

Has you system got an integrated graphics card? If so, check in the bios to see if the system has assigned half of your memory to the video card.

 

[Rhetorik]

No, it's not integrated.

It's an older nVidia TNT2 Vanta.

 

[Samm]

If an older version of himem.sys is being used, you may get a problem like the one you are describing.
Open config.sys & see if it contains the line :
device=c:\himem.sys

It should be using c:\windows\himem.sys

 

[Rhetorik]

Thanks for your further reply, just did that. It says that it's using that .sys file and it says

/testmem: off

right after it.

 

[Samm]

Check out the link below from Microsoft knowledge base:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;146912

 

[Rhetorik]

Samm, I must thank you. Durr, I didn't even check Microsofts Knowledge base....

I deleted "maxphyspage" from system.ini

I must remember: CHECK THE KNOWLEDGE BASE!!

 

[Samm]

You're welcome.
Microsoft's testing department may be somewhere between s**t and non-existent but at least their wbbsite has it's uses!