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    Crazy E420s ? on memory

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by sgmco, Sep 17, 2011.

  1. sgmco

    sgmco Notebook Enthusiast

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    So I just got 8GB of memory to replace with the 4GB my E420s came with. I popped open the keyboard and found 1 2GB memory stick, but not the other. But one of my new 4GB in, rebooted and as I thought bios shows 6GB. Where the heck is the other 2 GB? It is not located under the 2 I already replaced.

    What the heck?
     
    sgmco, Sep 17, 2011
    #1
  2. madik

    madik Notebook Enthusiast

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    User guide nothing? There should be a section in it how to upgrade memory.
     
    madik, Sep 17, 2011
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  3. sgmco

    sgmco Notebook Enthusiast

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    Of course. I am following the user upgrade manual and it states replaced SODIMM. Singular, not plural. Very strange really. LT registers 6GB so like I said the other 2 is floating around somewhere!!!

    The question is, where?
     
    sgmco, Sep 17, 2011
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  4. 6eSamsung

    6eSamsung Notebook Guru

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    In the past, upon encountering the same issue on a machine for which Crucial.com's memory scanner said there were two memory slots... Crucial told me the other slot was probably on the other side of the mainboard (ie under keyboard).

    Hopefully someone with an e420s can come in here and let you know where to look... if all else fails call Lenovo.
     
    6eSamsung, Sep 17, 2011
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  5. sgmco

    sgmco Notebook Enthusiast

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    The one I replaced is under the keyboard. Lenovo doesn't know where it is either. : )
     
    sgmco, Sep 17, 2011
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  6. 6eSamsung

    6eSamsung Notebook Guru

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    Well perhaps saying "under the keyboard" was unclear as technically all the internals are under the keyboard. What I meant to say, is Crucial has informed me that many manufacturer's put one Dimm on one side of the motherboard and the other on the opposite side of the motherboard.

    I would highly doubt that the system has memory embedded in the motherboard as it does not make much sense and you clearly know there is another stick in there as it is reported by the system as 6GB. Keep trying, it is somewhere. I did have a peek at the manual and you are right that it is not very helpful in locating the second slot.
     
    6eSamsung, Sep 18, 2011
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  7. sgmco

    sgmco Notebook Enthusiast

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    At this point hope Lenovo will get back to me regarding where the other DIMM is and easiest way to get to it. The laptop itself doesn't seem self explanatory on how to get the bottom shell off. I could always use a hammer and pry bar, but for some reason don't think it will go back together very well after that.
     
    sgmco, Sep 18, 2011
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  8. batman350z

    batman350z Newbie

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    batman350z, Sep 19, 2011
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  9. sgmco

    sgmco Notebook Enthusiast

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    sgmco, Sep 19, 2011
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  10. corpses3

    corpses3 Notebook Consultant

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    Just replaced the HDD of a E420s, one screw only, pretty fancy.

    The HDD is 7mm as expected.

    Good to know about the memory slots OP.
     
    corpses3, Sep 24, 2011
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  11. Glasskin

    Glasskin Newbie

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    Hi sgmco - I tried to install 2 DIMMs yesterday but bailed out when I got to the point where it appeared that I needed to dismantle the heatsink / fan assembly to release the motherboard. I wasn't keen on exposing the thermal paste (I don't know if there's any effect in doing so, and it was getting really late so didn't want to have to clean contacts / reapply paste). I might have another go if you could confirm that's what you needed to do. The maintenance manual is pretty poor - contradictory and plain wrong in places.

    Did you have to detatch the heatsink assembly from the mobo?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    Glasskin, Dec 6, 2011
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  12. sgmco

    sgmco Notebook Enthusiast

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    Glasskin -

    No need to dismantle the heatsink/fan assembly. I did remove the assembly but did not remove it from the proc. If you wiggle it around a bit you'll find it should come loose as one piece if my memory serves me correctly.

    Hope that helps.

    SGM
     
    sgmco, Dec 6, 2011
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  13. Glasskin

    Glasskin Newbie

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    Thanks for the quick response SGM.

    Can I make sure I understand you correctly? Do you mean that you didn't take the heatsink off the motherboard, that the mobo and heatsink (incl fan) came off as one piece after a bit of wiggling? I really struggled last night: seemed as if the motherboard was loose but needed to move to the left before lifting (if the LCD panel mounts are at the top) but the fan couldn't move left, only up.

    Sorry my first post wasn't clear: re-reading it, it sounds like I'm saying the heatsink comes apart, rather than what I wanted to say: that I thought I needed to detatch the heatsink from the mobo to get the latter out.

    However, you've said you didn't remove the assembly from the processor so I reckon you do mean the mobo & sink came away as one piece...
     
    Glasskin, Dec 6, 2011
    #13
  14. sgmco

    sgmco Notebook Enthusiast

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    Correct. I did not take the heat sink off the motherboard.
     
    sgmco, Dec 6, 2011
    #14