Exxos STE RAM Upgrade - machine sees only 2 mb

[sandord]

I got my STE RAM upgrade from Exxos store. It consists of 4 SIMM boards.

I installed it but my STE says it's got only 2 MB instead of four.

I did clean the SIMM pins with 97% alcohol. I couldn't really clean the sockets though as there were no IPA wipes included (contrary to what the store says) and my cotton buds don't fit into the sockets. I uses canned air to blow any loose dirt or residue out of the sockets.

Is this a typical thing, the machine ignoring half of the RAM due to bad connections or could there be something else going on?

[sandord]

I tried just 2 SIMMS in slot 1+3 and that worked the same way as with 4 SIMMS: 2 MB.

Just 2 SIMMS in slot 2+4 got me flashing vertical bars and no boot. I'm not sure if that configuration is supposed to normally work though.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the TOS 2.06 boot screen takes quite a long time before it starts the memory test (11 seconds). Is that normal?

[exxos]

When you say working in slot 1&3, have you tried both pairs that way ?

Normally its either older Simms damaging the sockets, or can be if to heavy handed with my Simms you can bend them and break them.

[sandord]

When you say working in slot 1&3, have you tried both pairs that way ?

Normally its either older Simms damaging the sockets, or can be if to heavy handed with my Simms you can bend them and break them.

I've just narrowed it down to a single SIMM. I can put 2 of the other 3 SIMMS in an arbitrary combination into slot 1 and 3 and it'll work just fine.

If I put this specific SIMM in any slot, it won't work. Either the screen goes weird or half of the RAM isn't detected if a configuration of 4 SIMMS is used.

[exxos]

Odd :( can you return the suspect simm to me so I can take a look at it ?

[sandord]

Odd :( can you return the suspect simm to me so I can take a look at it ?

Sure. I couldn't find anything mentioning return policy or RMA so how does this work?

[exxos]

Sure. I couldn't find anything mentioning return policy or RMA so how does this work?

I will PM my address to send.

[sandord]

I got a replacement SIMM from Exxos yesterday and the STE is running fine with 4 mb now.

[exxos]

I forgot to say I looked at your returned one. It looks like the solder has "ripped" on one end of the simm.. the boards are a bit fragile (bendy) so that can happen if not careful when inserting them.

[sandord]

I forgot to say I looked at your returned one. It looks like the solder has "ripped" on one end of the simm.. the boards are a bit fragile (bendy) so that can happen if not careful when inserting them.

I've been as careful as possible because I constantly kept thinking about not shattering the slots which I suspect to have become brittle over time.

But I can't say for sure I didn't do something wrong of course.