You will have to settle with 384 MB RAM.
(256 MB stixk for your system is ~ $50)

Thank you Can you explain where is the 384MB limitation comes from?

It's a motherboard thing. It just can't handle more than 256 MB in expansion slot. If there were fix for that (downgrading, if I may add) limit it would come in a form of bios upgrade. The upgrades offered on compaq site do not mention anything about memory capacity.

Only advice I can give you is don't use xp but win98. It's less memory-consuming system.

P.S. Post exact model (ex: 700a) for there are many presario 700 submodels. Maybe I was looking up the wrong one.

Hi, i own a "Presario 700" (just 700) and now has 768 Mb, the one that is the soldered on Motherboard 256 MB + a 512 MB upgrade that i have installed. and runs windows XP(sp2) and Linux Mandrake 10.2 with no problem.

Sometimes you have to use the right Memory, this machine has PC-133 Infineon memory installed, so try to get one from same brand, if not, i suggest using Kingston Memory configurator, it tells you the exact model and amount of memory from this brand, that you machine support
ex:
http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/conf...submit1=Search

as Chaky said, there are many submodels from 700 model, so try to be accurate on this.

my machine still some times slow, may be because the HD is only 4200 RPM PATA, against my Desktop Machine wich has a 10,000 RPM SATA HD and 2 Gb of RAM so when i use this Presario Laptop feel slower.

Jose

He's correct I have a 700 compaq (722US Version) and just installed a 512MB stick of Ram in it and seems to be running great. I am Running XP home w/ SP2 and everything seems fine. My only question is can I change my interal 128MB to 256MB instead? I would rather be running 768MB instead of 640MB. Thanks

If yours is like mine,the 128MB that came with the system is soldered to the motherboard.
at least yours works,Mine been giving me trouble,&I have been running test on my 128MB onboard ram,& it is bad. I don't know what I am gonna do?(Even if it can be replaced

You may be able to add RAM beyond the recommended amount, but it will make you computer run slower...if it works at all. Machine as old as you people are talking about are picky about what RAM they will run on which become another consideration.

For those of you in doubt here is a little lite reading to enhance your understanding.

Dear Jose

I like to know how exactly did for your upgrade,, becuase my Presario 700 is pretty pretty slow,,, on XP

could you tell me details for upgrade,, how did you replace the on board RAM?

please replay back to schun3@netzero.com

thanks

Hi, the RAM soldered on the motherboard, cannot be replaced, Since is soldered, what i did is, replace the 128 Extra that had on the RAM socket, for a brand new 512 MB Kingston module, and then upgraded to 640 MB, i was wrong on my last post, i said i had 768. but this machine has 256 MB from factory 128 Soldered and 128 replaceable

Jose