Added 2GB Memory to Dimension E520 and It Will Not Boot Into Windows

Try removing the original memory and installing your new 1 GB modules into the slots from which you removed the original memory.  Do Not put the original memory back into the computer until you have run it a while.  Do you get the same symptoms?

My E520 developed this symptom about four months ago; took me a while to find that one of the original modules had an intermittent problem.

Whoops, that should have said "hardware problem" comment on the memory test.  That must be a big clue!

Thanks for the suggestion.  I was planning to do a bunch of memory switching because of the "hardware comment" comment on the memory test.  I was going to try one new memory stick at a time to see if maybe one of the new ones was bad, but I hadn't considered that perhaps one of the old ones might be defective.  Actually, that might explain why the computer hangs up periodically for about 35 seconds and then continues.  I had attributed that to lack of memory, but I suppose it could be defective memory.  But the memory test passes when the original memory is the only memory installed and did not when the new memory was installed.  So, I was thinking that maybe one of the new memory sticks was not fully installed or was defective.  I reinstalled them yesterday (after updating most of the Dell recommended drivers) and still have the problem.  So, the next step was to check operation with various memory combinations.  I'm glad to hear that your problem was fixed, so that offers me some hope.  Since this computer is one I use in my church library, I have to work in stages while still getting some work done.  Again, thanks for the suggestion. Chuck

My E520 developed the problem while only the original memory was installed.  I performed the memory test as well, which passed every time I ran it.  I knew something was wrong, though, so I took out one module and ran the machine for a while to see if Windows would fail.  It did, on the second module, so I replaced both.  I never did get the memory test to show anything.

You should try installing whichever memory you want into the first paired slots; this should be slot 1 and slot 3.  See the section on installing memory in this excerpt from the E520 Service Manual:  E520 Service Manual - Removing and Installing Parts.  Once you have the memory installed, remove the CMOS back-up cell from the motherboard for about five minutes.  While you still have everything unplugged and the cell is out, push the power button and hold it in for about fifteen seconds to discharge the capacitors and ensure that the CMOS memory has no power.  This will reset the CMOS and cause the computer to re-inventory its devices.  If things are still functional this action should bring it back to life.

After installing and removing things repeatedly it is possible for the stored configuration to get out of sync with the actual configuration of the computer.  Resetting the CMOS sometimes remedies this situation.  Don't forget to watch out for static electricity while working on your computer.  Static can permanently disable it.  Before touching anything in the computer you should make contact with the metal can of the power supply and repeat that action frequently to make sure you don't build up a static charge.

Your suggestion makes sense.  I just reread the section of the Owners Manual that you referenced.  Apparently, I forgot this instruction:  "Be sure to install a single memory module in DIMM connector 1, the connector closest to the processor, before you install modules in the other connectors."  I know that I didn't always do this, so your suggestion that the computer was confused is probably correct.  I cannot locate a "CMOS Backup Cell" on the diagram of the inside of the computer.  I'm assuming that this is the battery shown as item 6.  Before I remove anything else, can you confirm that.  Thanks.

Yes, you've found it.  Most of Dell's manuals give a procedure for replacing that battery, but I don't see it on the page in the link I gave you.  It isn't too difficult, however.  If you look at the holder you will see a protrusion from the generally round shape.  In that protrusion you should see a bit of metal that is part of the spring contacts that holds the battery in place.  That bit of spring must be pushed away from the battery to release it from its holder.  I generally do this by flipping the computer to face the main board toward my table and pushing the clip away from the battery using my fingernail.  Done this way the battery falls out of the holder and doesn't fall into something to cause trouble.  Dell's instructions mention that you can use a tool to assist you in this process, but the tool must be non-conductive to avoid shorting out the battery and possibly causing it to vent.

Once you have accomplished the objective of resetting the CMOS memory you can simply place the battery in the holder and gently press to allow the retaining clip to snap into place.  Before doing that make sure you have the battery correctly oriented; the polarity marking on the battery, a big "+" symbol usually, should be facing you as you click it into place.

I had a similar memory problem with my 2350 ... removing the CMOS battery (as in Jack's advice) fixed it. Now the 2350 runs Windows 7 like a champ, with all 2gb recognized.

I tried the battery removal this afternoon several times with different  combinations of memory in slots 1 & 2 (Dimm 1 & Dimm 3) and all still have the same result.  The memory is recognized in the setup mode, but when the computer tryies to start windows in any mode, it goes to a blue screen with Stop  code 0X000000F4 (0X00000003 and three others that seem to change each time it tries to start)  Blue screen doesn't stay on the screen long enough to read it.  Is there anything else to try before I take it to a local computer shop or to the dump?  Thanks.

Will it run with just the 2gb?

I am beginning to wonder if you have a problem unrelated to memory.  Find the first memory slot and put a memory module into it, leaving all the rest empty.  When you start the computer press F12 while the Dell logo is being displayed and select Diagnostics, or if that doesn't show, select Utility Partition and then Diagnostics.  See if they will run and if so, what errors pop up.

Another thing to check is to watch the lighted numbers on the front panel.  Do any of them stay lit?

I meant to ask if it made any difference which memory was in the white sockets DIMM 1 and DIMM3?  Should the faster memory be installed there?  If we ever get this working, I think i'll buy another pair of 1 GB modules so that I get the benefit of the faster speed.  

Presently the computer delivers a blue screen for each attempt.  On the screen that offers different startup modes, the first suggestion is to run the installation disk and choose repair.  However, only one person in our church is the official computer "expert" and he controls all of the software, and I have had trouble getting him to help with this problem.  Another friend more knowledgeable than I, looked at the results of several startup attempts today and has concluded that the bios cannot find the boot partition and says that we need to repair using the installation disk.  There is some question about the current bios.  Before I started this memory installation, I tried to update the bios and other drivers  since this had been a hand-me-down donation to our church library and apparently had never had driver updates.  I was going to give you all of the applicable numbers, but I left them with the computer.  One question was about the message that displays when the computer starts:  It says that the RAID Bios  is controlling, and the setup has the RAID function active even though there is only one HD installed.  I wonder if the new bios version 2.4.0 could be non-compatible.  It was suggested that I monitor the lights on the computer front.  Three remain on when the computer cannot start (1, 2, and 3).  I tried F12 and ran the HD Diagnostic which said that it passed.  I then tried "Utility Partition" and this was unavailable.  My friend looked at the Events Log in Setup and seemed to think that the computer could not find the boot sector.  Does any of this shed any new light on the subject?    Thanks.

I'd suggest not mixing memory ... and if it won't boot even with matched memory, then the problem is elsewhere.