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XP doesn't support 4 GB RAM!
A friend on mine recently ordered -- on my advice -- a Vostro 400 tweaked to its highest settings with Windows XP Home, a quad core processor and 4 GM RAM. Fresh out of the box, it started up with the BSOD. After hours spent with tech support, we finally got a tech to the site with a new hard drive and video card. After installing them, he experienced exactly the same problem. He tried several things and finally called his tech support. I won't go into the gruesome details, but after trying to see if there was a bad memory stick, he discovered the problem only occured when all 4 sticks were in. After discussing this with the phone tech, I heard him say "Oh, I remember reading about that." Then he explained that 32 bit Windows XP will not handle 4GB memory, but that the 64 bit version will. We decided to keep the system with just 3 GB RAM in it.
My question is: Why does someone ordering this configuration not trigger and "incombatibility problem" response??
sugarbear18
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Posted March 18th, 2008 23:00
It won`t recognise the 4 gig. If the computer is having a problem with the ram you could very well get the BSOD. When you removed the stick of ram, did it solve the problem?
Dell Dimension 9100
XP Pro, SP 3
Intel Pent. 4 CPU, 3.00 GHZ.
2 GIG.Ram DDR2, 533
160 GIG HD
AtI Radeon X600k, 256 MB.
Tomorrow will be a new day.sugarbear18
6 Operator
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Posted March 19th, 2008 02:00
Let me make a further suggestion. Buy a copy of XP Pro quickly. Microsoft will not support XP home after next January. XP Pro will be supported until 2014. Being this is a Vostro for business, are you sure it is XP home. Check it out before buying XP Pro.
Dell Dimension 9100
XP Pro, SP 3
Intel Pent. 4 CPU, 3.00 GHZ.
2 GIG.Ram DDR2, 533
160 GIG HD
AtI Radeon X600k, 256 MB.
Tomorrow will be a new day.basalone - apparently you have a bad stick of ram on your hands. as noted, a 32 bit OS will not reconcile 4gb of ram. it will show 3gb and change. however, having more than 3gb should NOT cause a bsod.
i recommend you identify the bad stick by swapping/process of elimination and contact dell to have it replaced.
sugarbear18
6 Operator
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Posted March 19th, 2008 14:00
bweed6, this is the third pc I have seen do this, None of the sticks are bad. For some strange reason the fourth stick installed is causing the system failure. It dosen`t matter which stick you remove either. I have also considered it could be a bad socket the ram sets in. But move the sticks around and the socket is good. Also the sticks have to be installed in pairs, so it shouldn`t be reading the ram correctly with an empty socket.sugarbear18
6 Operator
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Posted March 19th, 2008 21:00
It`s very strange bweed6. I have seen two different Inspirons, new from the factory that have done the same thing. I don`t see how you can get BSOD either. All 4 sticks of ram are good, the sockets are good. For some unknown reason, if you remove any one stick the pc is fine. Put the fourth one in and you get BSOD. Some thing impossible is happening. All I know is if you get this problem, remove one stick and you are back in business.
sugarbear18
6 Operator
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2275 Posts
517
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Posted March 18th, 2008 22:00
It`s capable of holding 4 gig of ram. That dosen`t mean it is all used. At best you can use 3 1/2 gig. It`s not right, but that is the way it is in 32 bit.
Dell Dimension 9100
XP Pro, SP 3
Intel Pent. 4 CPU, 3.00 GHZ.
2 GIG.Ram DDR2, 533
160 GIG HD
AtI Radeon X600k, 256 MB.
Tomorrow will be a new day.