Memory Upgade not being recognized

[Dodgeboy2]

I have a gateway laptop that has three memory slots. I had three 32MB chips which gave me 96MB of memory. I purchased two 128MB chips for the computer and inserted them into the computer. Then I checked the properties and it told me that I only had 192MB of memory instead of the 256MB I should have.
I check each new memory chip in each of the three slots and both chips worked in one slot which read them as 129Mb chips. The other two slots gave me a reading of 64MB.
I contracted Gateway and they told me to change the limited memory setting in my configuation utility to 384MB and reboot the system. Nothing changed, Any help as to what I need to do to get this computer to recognize these new memory chips?
I'm running Windows 98SE if that has any thing to do with this problem.

[eweo]

The only thing I could think of is a limitation on how much ram the laptop is capable of holding. Most laptops are limited in how much they can recognize. When you talked to their tech support did they mention that? If they said you could change the size limitation did they say you had to upgrade the bios or do anything other than change the settings? You might have had a new person or someone who just forgot that maybe your particular laptop has that restriction which might be unchangeable. I would suggest calling them back and asking another person or find a web site that will give you detailed specifications on your laptop.

[Dodgeboy2]

According to Gateway there should be no problem with upgrading the memory to 256MB.
They asked me to check my BIOS and see what it was detecting and it showed me the 192MB.
The last thing they told me was I should bring the laptop in for them to check it out that the reformat my system. Short of doing that I want to see if there is someone out there that might be able to tell me something that might help.

[eweo]

I seriously doubt that they would have to reformat the system. Look for a bios upgrade available online. Search for anything on your particular make and model and look specifically for a bios or cmos upgrade.

[wllwnn]

Well if its free to bring it in under warrenty then thats what id do.

This way you somehow mess the system up and can rip them for a new Laptop if they screw yours;)

[w1che]

I'm thinking this ... Some computers you have to have memory in all the slots and you have a limit as to how much you can have in each slot.

Leave your 128meg in slot one & install 32meg of your old memory in each of the other two slots. If it reads that right it more than likely would see a 128 in the first slot and a 64 in each of the other slots.. Like some one said above if you knew the specs on your MB it should tell you that.. My 2c worth...

[Alfons]

You could probably use a new BIOS flash and if Gateway is offering to do this for free, then I'd take them up on it just in case the flash doesn't work then it's their liability. Some BIOS / CMOS configurations hold a value that tells the system how much memory your computer has above the first Meg. If this space is size limited, then your computer will only see memory up to a maximum and the rest is ignored (doesn't exist as far as the computer is concerned). If this is the case, a BIOS upgrade would be in order if the upgrade addressed the max memory issue.

[Dodgeboy2]

I can put both 128MB chips in along with a 32MB chip to fill all three slott but instead of 288MB I only get 244MB.
And no Gateway will not do this for free since the computer is out of warantee.

Where do I start looking for a BIOS upgrade?
Under the Gateway site?

[eweo]

you can look at their site first. I would suggest searching for an upgrade by going www.google.com and searching for "bios upgrade your laptop make and model #" replace "your laptop make and model #" with what yours actually is. You may want to try different variations on the search criteria. If there is a bios (cmos) upgrade you will find it

[Dodgeboy2]

I checked with Gateway and I have the most current BIOS for the modle I have. I'll check online like you said.