BIOS UPDATE

[maxed-out]

Hi,

I am thinking of updating the BIOS on my HP pc. I want to see if I can get the memory up to 4gb (currently on 2gb) so that I can upgrade to win 7 64. Currently on win xp 32.

Is there a risk of really cocking things up here?

Cheers
mo

[mixture]

A BIOS update won't do anything about max RAM limits ?

I don't want to discourage you from doing BIOS updates, because they are good things to do. But the amount of RAM you can stick in a box is a hardware limitation, not a software one.

[Saab Dastard]

But the amount of RAM you can stick in a box is a hardware limitation, not a software one.

I have to disagree, mixture. I've several times come across a BIOS upgrade allowing increased overall memory capacity by introducing firmware support for higher capacity RAM modules. Obviously it won't increase the number of slots.

maxed-out, unless the BIOS upgrade release notes specifically state that support for larger memory modules is part of the update, then just doing it in hope is likely to be fruitless.

There's always a risk to updating the BIOS, but unless you've got a dodgy electricity supply it's minimal, providing you follow the instructions carefully.

SD

[tow1709]

Max


My Compaq (actually an HP) SR1519UK ran Windows 7 64 bit quite happily in 2GB of RAM. It originally came supplied with 32 bit XP although capable of 64 bit.


I put an extra 2GB in to bring it up to 4, and to be honest didn't notice much if any difference in performance.


Others more expert than I can perhaps explain why the machine can still only see just over 3 of these 4 GB. I was (too late ) told it would have been more cost effective just to put one extra 1GB stick in.

[Saab Dastard]

the machine can still only see just over 3 of these 4 GB

You sure you installed Win 7 64-bit? Both 32 and 64 bit versions come on the same DVD. The 32-bit version of Win 7 has the same memory restrictions as 32-bit XP.

Does the BIOS report 4GB? If so, then most likely you have 32-bit Win 7. If no, then possibly the system can only address 3GB (unlikely, but not impossible).

SD

[maxed-out]

Thanks guys.

I'll just follow the instructions from the HP site for the bios update. Don't really know where to look up if the bios update will allow for further RAM.

I have edited this post as I have been trying for 2 hours to go through the HP bios update process and the blinking wesite won't recognise my PC model number, name or anything. Really frustrating. Glad I havn't bought win7 yet!

mo

[tow1709]

Again, others please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you can install and use Win 7 for up to 30 days without a product key.


If you have enough physical HDD space you could make yourself a new partition, borrow a disk from a friend and install W7 in the new partition, and see how you go with the existing RAM and BIOS.


You may find you don't need to do anything with these if you are happy with the performance you get.


tow