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    Upgrading Acer Aspire 1313 memory

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Adam K, Sep 27, 2008.

  1. Adam K

    Adam K Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have an Aspire 1313LC, about five or six years old, and recently decided to upgrade the memory. The manual said it would take up to 2GB, so I tracked down two 1GB DDR1 RAMs from Novatech. Installing them was easy, but one problem -- the laptop insists that there's only 992MB in there. Granted, it's better than the 256 that was in there before and it does seem to make a difference, but it's a far cry from the 2 GB that I paid for. Still, I've tried switching the DDRs around, and as far as I can tell they both work, as do both the slots. So...what's the deal? Was the manual wrong? Can it actually only take 1GB?
     
    Adam K, Sep 27, 2008
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  2. jisaac

    jisaac Notebook Deity

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    how much ram is recognised with just 1 1gb ddr ram put in?? If it recognises 512mb, it means your laptop can only recognise 1gb of ram with 512mb per slot
     
    jisaac, Sep 27, 2008
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  3. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    EDIT: 2GB is the max. 266MHz DDR

    How much does the BIOS show up with ?
     
    Andy, Sep 27, 2008
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  4. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    try installing one memory card at a time. If the system only picks up 512mb of memory with a single 1gb card installed, than the Bios is limiting teh system to 1gb maximum of memory.

    Try going to Acer' website, and download the latest Bios for your laptop. Try updating teh Bios to the latest revision, and that should allow your sytem to recognize all 2gb of memory.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Sep 27, 2008
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  5. dingbat

    dingbat Notebook Evangelist

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    Put in just 1 of the rams and boot up .. what does the machine show now ?

    do this for both the ram sticks, and on two slots individually. then report here..
     
    dingbat, Sep 27, 2008
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  6. Adam K

    Adam K Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I did that when I first installed. Took them out one at a time and switched the slots -- it always shows 992MB, singly or with both in there. I found this out by going into My Computer/System Information -- I've no idea how to check what the BIOS says. Similarly, I have no idea how to update the BIOS, so any hints on that would be appreciated. Hey, I'm amazed I put the RAM in without blowing the ****ed thing up!
     
    Adam K, Sep 28, 2008
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  7. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    First check the current BIOS version either in the BIOS, or in CPU-Z > Mainboard Page.

    Download v.3a25 from here. You'll need a Floppy Drive to flash the BIOS. (I think there was some guide to make a bootable flash drive for BIOS flashes. Check/Search in the Acer forum)

    From Acer:

     
    Andy, Sep 28, 2008
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  8. Adam K

    Adam K Notebook Enthusiast

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    Sorry, I don't know where the Mainboard page is or how to access the BIOS
    Why a floppy drive? Would a memory stick do? And, sorry to be ignorant, but what do you mean "flash the BIOS"?
     
    Adam K, Sep 28, 2008
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  9. Adam K

    Adam K Notebook Enthusiast

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    Okay, hang on, I got it -- rebooted the machine and hit F2, just gorgot to make a note of it-- it said something like 1092 RAM, so it looks like it's only reading 1 of them. So, would updating the BIOS help? Is there an idiot's guide to this because you surely know I am one, and have no idea even what a bootable disc is or a 1.BAT file is.
     
    Adam K, Sep 28, 2008
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  10. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Its actually reading both the modules. A single module gives a reading of 1024MB or less.

    Well, if not flashing the BIOS first. You could download Memtest86+ and test each module for errors individually (about 4 hours). This would let you know if the modules are themselves bad or not.

    You can check out this thread, and make some sense out of it. I don't know if it will actually work for you. Your notebook is quite old, and maybe not compatible with the new WinFlash method. Taking risks with the BIOS is a no-no since it can brick the MoBo. A USB Floppy Drive would be best to flash the BIOS, if you have an out-dated BIOS version, which probably might be the cause of this memory recognition issue.
    .
    .
     
    Andy, Sep 28, 2008
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  11. Adam K

    Adam K Notebook Enthusiast

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    "Step 1: create a bootable disk.
    Step 2: decompress the ZIP file to this bootable disk
    Step 3: insert the bootable disk into your system, then boot.
    Step 4: execute 1.BAT file "


    Well, did all of the above, with one small exception: how do you do number 4? I've tried typing "1.exe", "1.BAT.exe" at the A prompt, all with no luck.

    What's the magic word? You may have guessed by now that I am not the most IT-proficient person, but it really shouldn't be this complicated.

    Can someone give me the link to the Acer forum? I can't seem to find that, no matter how hard I Google.

    thanks,

    Adam K
     
    Adam K, Oct 5, 2008
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  12. Ayle

    Ayle Trailblazer

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    Your are not supposed the type 1.bat.exe just 1.bat .
     
    Ayle, Oct 5, 2008
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  13. Adam K

    Adam K Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well, it's taken me a while, but I finally summoned up courage to give it a go, typed in "1.BAT" at the A prompt and...nothing. "Bad command or file name"

    So, once more: anyone got any suggestions?

    Thanking in advance,

    AdamK
     
    Adam K, Oct 19, 2008
    #13