Computer running but not booting

Yes. Up to 2GB officially, 4GB unofficially.

Hello, and thanks for using FixYa.

If the 2nd slot is not in the bottom of the laptop, then you will find it from under the keyboard.

According to HP specifications of the laptop the memory is Upgradeable to 2048-MB maximum (1024-MB SODIMM in slots 1 and 2) So yes the laptop does have two memory slots. It will be under the keyboard.

Please let me know if you require further assistance or if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Ekse

Your laptop has two memory slots. One of the memory slots (external) can be easily accessed if you remove the cover on the bottom of the laptop.

The second (internal) memory slot is located under the keyboard.

Keyboard removal procedure:
1. Unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
2. Remove two screws securing the keyboard on the bottom of the laptop. These screws are marked with a small keyboard symbol.
3. Release 4 keyboard retention tabs located on the left side from f1, f5, f9 and delete keys.
4. Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.
5. Unlock the keyboard cable connector on the motherboard.
6. Remove and replace the keyboard.

Hope this helps. Thank you for using FixYa.

I also have a ZT 1170 and it began to do the same thing. It was a bad solder joint in the RAM slot connector in the bottom of the laptop. It would intermittently cause the laptop to hang on bootup, or to randomly lockup.
This laptop has two slots for RAM. One is underneath the laptop behind a small access door, and the other is under the keyboard and requires removal of the keyboard to access it.
To find out if your laptop problem is due to the same issue, open the bottom access panel and remove the bottom RAM memory card. Try booting it up. It should still be able to run, although more slowly due to having less RAM. If it starts up, you are closer to isolating the problem.

In my case, I initially thought I had a defective RAM card, so I purchased another 256Mbyte card for the laptop (mine came with two 256Mb cards), but the new card had the same problem. Then I discovered that pressing down on the RAM card would momentarily fix the problem, which clued me in on it being a bad connection. It seems that heat under the laptop causes some of the solder connections between the memory slot connector and the main PC board to develop hairline cracks. I was able to find the cracked joint and resolder it, but you almost need a microscope to do it. Depending on how much installed memory you need, you could simply leave the one slot empty, and buy a larger RAM card to stick into the other slot (under the keyboard). This laptop can accept a maximum of 512Mbyte card in each slot, for a total of 1024Mbytes.

Hi,

if you only have 1 slot, on the underside of the laptop.
it,s most likely, if there are any more slots, they,ll be under the Keyboard.
This will possibly be, where the 512 mb is now, although some laptops do have on-board memory chips from 256-512mb. ( try under the Keyboard )

Mike @ compurepair.