Nic-93 wrote:

Hey everyone. The computer I recently got has apparently a little problem with extended ram memory. It makes the loading screen freeze and hard drive activity stop when I run it in regular condition but in safe mode the computer boots up fine. It could only really hold on 2x ram sticks, what could be the cause of that? If i take the ram stick out the computer runs fine again. It's a Zenith data system ( z-station lx 3 ) Pentium desktop model with Windows 95 as default, but can work with Windows NT too. To make the situation clear, it does get past the BIOS screen which is weird.

Have you tested the RAM sticks individually? If one of them works alone but not the other, then one of the RAM sticks is bad.

If the computer only doesn't work when both of them are installed, then they are probably mismatched somehow – probably in terms of either speed or parity. Or there could just be something wrong with that particular RAM socket on the motherboard. There's not really much you can do about it.

Its been sitting in the basement of a ex workshop and only 1 ram stick has been in it since the year the machine where bought, but im pretty sure you might be correct on not the right type of ram sticks are the cause, majority of mine are useally 512 stick's.

Nic-93 wrote:

It's been sitting in the basement of a ex workshop and only 1 ram stick has been in it since the year the machine was bought, but I'm pretty sure you might be correct on not the right type of ram sticks being the cause. The majority of mine are usually 512 sticks.

So you're using 512 MB SDRAM modules? Those will only work with certain early Pentium 4 motherboards. The best way to make sure would be to check the motherboard manual.

Oh, yes, most of them are sdram type memory, they wont work with a pentiun 233 mmx type?

Like I said, it depends on the motherboard.

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_c … entium_chipsets , only the 430NX and 430HX chipsets even supported 512 MB, and those both predated the Pentium MMX.

The motherboard is one of those all build in one type boards with pentium, ill try and open the pc at sometime.

it was a regulare 512 memory stick on it.

512 MB is overkill for a machine like that. Get some smaller modules for it, like 32 or 64MB.

like 128?

Even 128MB might be too large, depending on how new the chipset is.

mr_bigmouth_502 wrote:

Even 128MB might be too large, depending on how new the chipset is.

When I tried a single sided 128 MB stick in a Pentium II, I had to update the BIOS to even get the stick recognised. Although the system is stable with it, the memory isn't counted during POST despite the option being enabled in the BIOS. So 128 Mb is not so likely to work, unless it's an older module. Then it may work.

Well, i know its a phoenix bios system that ,uch. and this 128 was good enough for it to run.

The max supported on this particular system is 256 mb ram. I suggest downgrading this first before trying anything else whicwould be a format for sector damage.

Actually, when i swapped the drive since it was a quantum fireball, and that particulare version of windows, i could well go pass the 2 megabyte ram memory problem, and after all, since its windows 95 its getting wavetable sound, and 3dfx, and such stuff needs alot of good memory, could it be possibel that this version of windows 95 was memory locked? to only accept 512 and to bypass that id need to change drive.

Now i have this weird annoying problem wich causes windows 95 to hang on boot, its either after i installed internet explore 5 and directx, the system completely hangs up on the logo.

Nic-93 wrote:

Actually, when i swapped the drive since it was a quantum fireball, and that particulare version of windows, i could well go pass the 2 megabyte ram memory problem, and after all, since its windows 95 its getting wavetable sound, and 3dfx, and such stuff needs alot of good memory, could it be possibel that this version of windows 95 was memory locked? to only accept 512 and to bypass that id need to change drive.

Windows 95 has a maximum memmory support of 512 MB like windows 98 (/SE) however RAM is limited not only by that but also possibly the Mobo and the chipset. The mobo might not support the ram properly making the whole system unstable, as mentioned before check your mobo manual for more information, then the chipset also possibly limits your ram where only the 430 HX supported 512 Mb ram and was able to utilize this aswell (TX and VX both only utilize up to 64 Mb and have a max of 128 and 256 Mb). Do remember that most late 486 didn't have more then 16 Mb (this was already alot) and most pentiums had 32 upto 64 Mb but that was rare already. going higher was just not supported at that time.

This is confuseing... i think its directx causeing windows 95 to hang up.

Nic-93 wrote:

This is confuseing... i think its directx causeing windows 95 to hang up.

Several people have told you otherwise now. Why don't you put in less RAM and see if that solves the problem?

Nic-93 wrote:

I could well go pass the 2 megabyte ram memory problem

I have no idea what you are referring to.

and after all, since its windows 95 its getting wavetable sound, and 3dfx, and such stuff needs alot of good memory

No, pretty much nothing for Win9x ever required that much RAM. (Nothing that didn't run much better in XP, anyway.)

Alright, alright, alright, sheesh, ill give it less memory, but it wont be my fault when i experince a game someday that requires more memory.