Dimension XPS D300 / Wont recognize more RAM / Won't allow BIOS Flash!

Question

Hi,

I have a XPS D300 which works o.k.

In order to imrove it's performance I would like to add 128MB RAM chips and it will not recognize any I have tried (over 4 different sticks all PC133 128MB RAM - all known working good in another machine). In order to rule it out, I set out to update the BIOS.

Downloaded the BIOS flash utility "XPSD_A09.EXE". Expanded it on the hard drive. Ran the utility to write a floppy. Rebooted on this BIOS Flash floppy, utility runs. On next reboot the BIOS has not changed (Startup and Setup screens).

I have tried another download of the BIOS flash.
I have tried another floppy.

Any thoughts on solving what plagues this machine is appreciated.

Thanks,

Joel

volcano11 · Answer

I know PC100 RAM will work on the XPS-D series, but I'm not sure about PC133. For PC100 to work you need to have BIOS A09. There are some readme files that come with the BIOS upgrade package that should have been expanded on put on the floppy disk. Did you read those files - they contain critical information, but I have not looked at them for a long time.

Steve

BigBrother · Answer

joeldd,

Your XPS D system will not support 133 MHZ RAM. Your system will support up to 384 MB of 66MHZ RAM. Check system specs at this link:

http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dalex/Specs.htm

You will see this note:

"The Dell Dimension XPS Dxxx requires memory manufactured to Intel's PC-66 SDRAM specification 1.0."

You can purchase appropriate RAM for your system from www.crucial.com. Check this link:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BDimension+XPS+Series&mfr=Dell&cat=RAM&model=Dimension+XPS+D+Series&submit=Go

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

No, it can use PC100 - see the following: http://www.roberthancock.com/dell/xpsdproc.htm   Steve

BigBrother · Answer

Steve, Thank you for this additional information. Steve

joeldd · Answer

Thanks to everyone. You all have replied so quickly.

1) Some of my RAM must be either PC100 or PC66 and that is why it works. It makes perfect sense that the PC133 does not work.

2) I have re-read the readmes and info on the BIOS flash. When I boot the BIOS Flash disk I created, it goes through the right steps and screens. When it completes I reboot and I still have A04 (not A09). I would like to update the BIOS anyway. Any thoughts on ways to "force feed" this motherboard the BIOS are appreciated.

Thanks again to all,

Joel

Majestic · Answer

Joel

Chances are the BIOS upgrade was already successful, but the BIOS screen hasn't updated the version number listed on it. Try clearing the NVRAM which will force a fresh inventory of all devices and information that the BIOS uses. The link below is for a Dell Knowledge Base article on How To Clear The NVRAM and pay particular note to the part about resetting the processor speed after the procedure is done.

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?dn=1023538#Section2

joeldd · Answer

Thanks to everyone for all their help.

This one is closed now!

I was able to flash the BIOS successfully when I swapped floppy drives.
I guess the old one was getting sloppy.
Now the machine recognizes all it's RAM (it appears at PC100).

All is well with my retro box.

Thanks again to all for the help,

Joel

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Dimension XPS D300 / Wont recognize more RAM / Won't allow BIOS Flash!

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