HP 8440P EliteBook Expansion Memory Not Working

GreenCard79

Commendable
May 23, 2016
4
0
1,520
I recently bought a second-hand HP 8440P. It comes with 4GB of RAM, and has one spare slot for another 4GB of RAM. I then bought another 4GB of RAM, but after installing it, the laptop doesn't seem to be able to start up properly (Windows 7 just hangs at the "Starting Windows" screen).

I have tried testing the memory via the HP system diagnostics menu, but the laptop either shuts off completely (or restarts) when progress reaches around 30%, or it just kicks me back to the system diagnostic menu. I have also tried a "startup test", which does manage to complete properly, but gives me a "software error" message when it performs the memory test. Interestingly enough, when I look at the memory information (also via the system diagnostics menu), the memory shows up there with all information present and correct, so I assume the memory bay itself is working correctly.

This is the memory I bought: http://www.ebuyer.com/737970-kingston-4gb-1333mhz-204-pin-cl9-ddr3-sodimm-non-ecc-unbuffered-1-5v-memory-kcp313ss8-4

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

GreenCard79

Commendable
May 23, 2016
4
0
1,520


The memory in the link is 100 % compatible spec. Have you tried installing only the new 4 GB RAM? [/quotemsg]

I haven't tried that yet. I spoke to someone at eBuyer last night to explain the problem to them, and the guy was fairly confident that the memory is faulty and is sending out a replacement. If I have the same problem with the replacement, I will try what you've suggested and report back. Many thanks for the reply.
 

GreenCard79

Commendable
May 23, 2016
4
0
1,520
I received my replacement RAM, only to find that I'm still having the same problem with it. I tried installing only the new RAM (in the slot underneath the keyboard), but now Windows gives me a BSOD during the "Starting Windows" screen, saying "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL". I did attempt a memory test, but as before it just crashes or restarts.

I've been reading up on a few threads here in the forums. One of them suggested running something called "MemTest" on startup via CD, which I did try, but the laptop just restarts itself during the first pass of the memory test (and obviously just loops over and over until I remove the CD). I noticed on the Microsoft forums a thread in which someone had a similar problem and was asked to provide an error log. I've tried to find an error log, following each method shown, but my Win7 doesn't seem to be producing them.

I'm beginning to lose hope! I will keep digging and poking around, but any help or ideas would be massively appreciated.