RAM Woes

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 3:09 pm

Right her's the deal, I recently got 1 gig RAM (512 x 2). I put it in and started it up, it can go fine for a while but then the dreaded blue screen will come up. I updated the BIOS and changed the virtual memory thingy and still all is not well. I think it comes up less often since I did the BIOS and virtual memory thing but it still comes up.

Any ideas as to whats going on?

The specs are Dell 4600, previously 256 RAM (pc2700 DDR), 2.8 Ghz

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:06 pm

Run this, see if it spits any errors at you:
http://www.memtest86.com/

Also in the BIOS, try setting your memory clock speed to the next lowest setting, see if that works.

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:19 pm

How do you get into the BIOS to change the clock speed?

And also that download in the link is being a bit stubborn, says its not suitable for Windows.

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:46 pm

Cicero wrote: How do you get into the BIOS to change the clock speed?

Usually you just jam the DEL button while the computer is loading.
Once in there, be carefull what you change and double check everything: There's three different types of clock speeds, one for CPU, one for FSB and one for the RAM. Just look for anything regarding RAM speed and slow it down a bit.

As for the memtest:
http://www.memtest86.com/#download0

Download the ISO image, burn it onto a CD and see if your computer will boot to it.

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The Gheyness · Post by **The Gheyness** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:38 pm

On a Dell computer, he's not likely to be able to change any speed settings for memory or anything.

OEM's = </3

Did you get the same type of memory as you had before? As in, is this 2x512 pair PC2700 and the same brand?

If the memtest still doesn't work for you, Dell has their own 32-bit diagnostics...

*scrounges around for link*

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/...=en&s=dhs&cs=19

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sintekk · Post by **sintekk** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:59 pm

Legend wrote: On a Dell computer, he's not likely to be able to change any speed settings for memory

I suppose, but if they let you flash upgrade the bios, usually they let you putz around with the settings, but as I've never diagnosed a dell PC specifically before, I dunno.

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 6:46 pm

With some OEMs it's a horror to get in the bios the screen that tells you comes on for like a milisecond and I've seen some where it's like CTRL+ALT+F8+DEL It's rediculous. Hopefully it won't be the case for you.

But the problem does sound like bad ram.

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 6:59 pm

Legend wrote: Did you get the same type of memory as you had before? As in, is this 2x512 pair PC2700 and the same brand?
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/...=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Its not the same brand but its all the same numbers as it, its just bigger.

I'll try out all those tomorrow when I have more time but if there is a problem then I hope it is just bad ram so I could just ship it back to them.

I know a fella that sent his ram back 3 times because he never de staticified (is that a word) himself and it got ruined a couple of times.
I'll ring them again tomorrow aswell. In the mean time I have taken it out because there was a couple of times where I couldnt even boot up properly.

Thanks for all you suggestions by the way.

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Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 1:09 pm

I think I got it sorted now. The memory test wouldnt work because 3 files were missing, but I can get them again I just havent tried very hard yet.

I think one of the sticks of RAM wasnt working right because the computer wouldnt even boot up with it in, so the other one works grand and I'll send the dodgy one back and get a replacement.

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