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Memory upgrade aborted
I attempted to upgrade the RAM in my Inspiron 8600 laptop from 512MB to 1GB. First I upgraded the BIOS. Then I replaced the two 256MB modules with the one 1GB memory module in the DIMM A slot as directed. When I restarted the computer it recognized the change in memory and I followed the on screen directions to click F1 and the computer finished booting up. But after that there were all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems: Microsoft Outlook couldn't find its data file even if I scrolled to it; there were problems connecting to the internet; iTunes wouldn't connect to my iPhone; the computer couldn't read from a DVD disk. There were also occasional fatal system crashes. After a couple of those I reinstalled the old memory and everything went back to normal. Has anyone ever encountered something like this? Is it possible for me to upgrade to 1GB or should I just give up and return the new memory to Dell?
Thereal-dbk4297
4 Apprentice
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3351 Posts
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Posted December 21st, 2008 07:00
Hello,
I must agree with the first reply. The wrong memory cause cause all kinds of problems.
:emotion-55: I suggest that you remove the new memory ASAP, before your data becomes corrupt. I also suggest reading the memory pages at my web site to see why Dell computers require model specific memory.
Thereal-dbk4297
4 Apprentice
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3351 Posts
279
1
Posted December 21st, 2008 13:00
The memory I ordered was supposedly specific for my model. I ordered it through Dell's website by choosing my model first and then choosing from the accessories they offered for it. Thanks for your response.
Hello again,
Certainly would not be the first, or even the 100th time I have seen customers post here that Dell sent memory that would not work in their computer. :emotion-41:
:emotion-55: Return it and buy from Crucial. That way you know the memory will work the first time. And about 1/3 less than Dell in most cases. :emotion-21:
pcgeek11
2 Intern
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1874 Posts
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Posted December 21st, 2008 06:00
It sounds like you bought faulty RAM.
Reinstall the 1 GB Ram and then run the Dell diagnostics ( by booting from the Dignostics partition or the " Drivers and dignostics CD ) on the memory and see if you get errors on the ram...
pcgeek11