Toshiba Laptop Win10 Not accepting new ram?

Lionhart27 · 21 Jun 2017 at 13:37

Toshiba Laptop model Satellite A660-149 with Win 10 Home ver. 1511 build. 10586.713. Bios ver. 1.10. I purchased Kingston HyperX 8GB kit (2x4GB) DDR3L-1600 CL9 modules from OC UK. Upgrade from original 4GB ram. The bios recognises the ram, but Win10 will not start? I get Win10 warning screen 'Preparing Automatic Repair' then another screen 'PC Run Into Problems, needs to Reset' It does not reset, but the Laptop turns off. I have re-installed the ram carefully but same problem. I reinstalled the old 4GB ram and Win10 starts OK. This ram was recommended by OC UK.

Lionhart27 · 22 Jun 2017 at 10:18

I went to Toshiba's UK website and downloaded the latest Bios and followed the instruction CAREFULLY it said it would make a backup of the old bios, after the process it would re-start the PC. It NEVER re-started, and NOW the Laptop will NOT even turn on!!! I am just as annoyed with OC UK as THEY recommended the HyperX ram modules and to perform the Bios upgrade. So what do I do now, the laptop is now dead!!!!!

this_is_gav · 22 Jun 2017 at 12:30

OcUK are not to blame if a BIOS update has failed - that's down to either you downloading the wrong BIOS file, Toshiba for uploading the wrong one (unlikely, but possible) or the update failing for some reason (most likely).

Toshiba Satellites are terrible, terrible laptops in my experience and are only bought for one reason - a cheap as possible gaming laptop. Every single one I have seen has failed within a few years of being bought (normally before their 2nd birthday). Other's experiences may well vary, but I can't run from them fast enough.

Lionhart27 · 26 Jun 2017 at 20:40

The Laptop now runs OK, and updated the bios to 2.20 (latest), but Win10 still does nor recognise the memory, and tried just one 4GB module installed. I will be contacting Kingston about this, and also posting on the memory forum.

tropicola · 27 Jun 2017 at 13:05

Had a similar issues with Toshiba laptop for a friend... The ram dispite saying it will work never did but works fine in my dell...

Silly question but have you got 64bit or 32bit? 32bit only recognises max 3.2gb of ram

Lionhart27 · 27 Jun 2017 at 13:20

this_is_gav said:
OcUK are not to blame if a BIOS update has failed - that's down to either you downloading the wrong BIOS file, Toshiba for uploading the wrong one (unlikely, but possible) or the update failing for some reason (most likely).

Toshiba Satellites are terrible, terrible laptops in my experience and are only bought for one reason - a cheap as possible gaming laptop. Every single one I have seen has failed within a few years of being bought (normally before their 2nd birthday). Other's experiences may well vary, but I can't run from them fast enough.

OC UK ARE to blame because I have been informed by Kingston that this ram is NOT compatible. They do not supply ANY ram that is compatible with this Toshiba Laptop.

this_is_gav · 27 Jun 2017 at 13:29

Lionhart27 said:
OC UK ARE to blame because I have been informed by Kingston that this ram is NOT compatible. They do supply ANY ram that is compatible with this Toshiba Laptop.

I said OcUK weren't to be blame for the failed BIOS upgrade, as you suggested in your second post. I never mentioned your RAM compatibility issues.

Lionhart27 · 27 Jun 2017 at 20:39

this_is_gav said:
I said OcUK weren't to be blame for the failed BIOS upgrade, as you suggested in your second post. I never mentioned your RAM compatibility issues.

Let me explain. BEFORE I purchased the memory, I contacted OC UK and they recommended this Kingston HyperX ram for my Laptop, and I gave them the model number. I understood that I may need to update the bios, which I did. The bios DID recognise the ram, but WIN 10 would not start and would NOT perform a recovery, it just kept shutting down automatically. I contacted Kingston and they said the RAM was NOT compatible for that laptop! I then contacted OC UK, and they said if the ram was showing in the bios and the Win10 recovery screen appeared, then the ram MUST be working and IS compatible? So who is right, Kingston or OC UK? Anyway, OC UK said they would have to charge me if the ram was returned and found NOT faulty, plus I would have to pay the delivery charge. I am almost sure the issue is with WIN 10, and I need to get a recovery, that boots from a USB stick, or perform a fresh install of WIN 10 and see what happens. A simple memory upgrade that turns into another WIN 10 nightmare!

this_is_gav · 27 Jun 2017 at 21:36

Can you make a backup of your current Windows 10 install (Macrium Reflect free can do this, either live in Windows or through a bootable USB stick (use the Macrium install to do this), then try the clean install, obviously with the RAM installed before the reinstall? Then worst case scenario is that the RAM still doesn't work with the new install and you have to recover from the backup you made.

I have to say if the RAM is showing the BIOS then I'd be very surprised if it doesn't work in Windows. Perhaps give memtest a go - if it doesn't pick up any errors then chances the RAM is compatible.

I pressume that Kingston's compatibility list comes down to whether they've tested the RAM with certain series of motherboards as they can't possibly test every combination of motherboard/processor/BIOS revision etc.