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July 3rd, 2013 08:00
M4300 won't start with RAM installed
I bought the laptop second-hand on ebay and it came with XP installed but I decided to do a format and clean installation of my own. After a few weeks however, when I turn my laptop on, the caps-lock light blinks about 40 times with no display at all. I replaced the battery with a new one, no change. I replaced the RAM, no change. If I turn the laptop on without the RAM, I at least see the DELL splash screen, although it takes much longer to fill the white gauge bar up than it previously had, and Windows XP actually loads. So it turns out I have a 2GB DIMM in the 2nd RAM slot under the keyboard. What I do not understand is why the laptop was previously working fine with both RAM modules but now refuses to do anything unless I keep one RAM module out, and why the DELL gauge is now slower.
[EDIT]
After rebooting, the gauge bar now fills up quickly like it used to. The RAM module I replaced was 2GB, as was the replacement. So when I first had the laptop, it had 4GB installed and was behaving as expected, loading XP just fine (yes, I know it can't see all 4GB but that's an OS issue, not a hardware issue). Still can't use both DIMMS though.
DELL-Kiran K
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July 3rd, 2013 22:00
Hi Jez2k,
Dell Precision M4300 has two user-accessible SODIMM sockets and it supports 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM only. So please check if you are using the same.
If the memory modules you have is of same configuration then try using one RAM at a time in the memory slots, also try interchanging the memory modules. This is done to check if either one of the modules or both RAMs are faulty or it is the memory slot which is bad.
Do reply with your answer.
Jez2k
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July 4th, 2013 07:00
Thanks for the reply. The laptop was working fine with both modules installed, until I removed the one from the bottom (I was curious to see what type and size it was). Now the laptop only works with the one module under the keyboard - this proves that the top module and its slot is ok. The bottom slot on the underside seems to be the problem, because the laptop no longer works if I put any module in there in addition to the top module. I have tried replacing the bottom module with a third one I bought, but the same problem occurs. So it cannot be the modules, it has to be the bottom slot.
DELL-Kiran K
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July 5th, 2013 00:00
Hi Jez2k,
Request you to try using the old RAM modules in the bottom slot and check if it works. If it doesn’t work then there is a possibility that the bottom memory slot might have failed so either the slot or the motherboard might have to be replaced. You may use the below link and check warranty status:
http://dell.to/12Bz4Il
If the computer is in warranty do send me the system service tag via private message. I will check and see what can be done.
If the computer is out of warranty, you may contact the out of warranty repairs team on 18002884410 (U.S only).
To send a private message, click on my user name and select start conversation.
Jez2k
3 Posts
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July 6th, 2013 00:00
No modues work in the bottom slot - that is the reason I came here in the first place.
I bought it 2nd-hand on ebay. A service repair would not be worth it. I would rather buy an XPS M1730 instead.
DELL-Kiran K
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July 8th, 2013 02:00
Hi Jez2k,
Thank you for performing the above steps. The above test results indicate the bottom slot is failed. The computer seems to be out of warranty I suggest you to contact the out of warranty team and check for the options available.
DELL-Kiran K
6 Operator
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2K Posts
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July 10th, 2013 21:00
Hi Jez2k,
You may contact the out of warranty repairs team on 18002884410 (U.S. only).