Dimension 2400 Memory Upgrade/Graphics Problem

Question

I'm having a problem with Windows 98 freezing and graphics properites not working after upgrading RAM on a bual boot 98/XP Dimension 2400 system.  The problem is detailed in this thread from the Dimension discussion board:   http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_upghw&message.id=83848   No answers from there yet, so it was suggested to take the discussion here to see if anyone has any thoughts.

jackshack · Answer

Will the computer work properly using only the new memory installed in the first memory slot?  If it does, add the old memory in the second slot and try it.

louchem · Answer

The only configuration that works is with the original 256mb stick in by itself.  Even just putting the Crucial 512mb stick in by itself, I get the same error.  I've tried all kinds of different configurations and nothing else works without giving me the graphics error.  Luckily, if I go back to my original configuration with only the original 256mb stick everything reverts back to working properly.  So, I can at least still use Windows 98 for now and what I do with it does not really need the increased memory.  But, I'd really like to have the extra memory for my Windows XP applications.

jackshack · Answer

Are you using a video driver from the Intel site?  If so, which one?

louchem · Answer

I am using the last Intel driver for the 82845G Graphics Controller: version 13.6.1

I made sure I had the latest driver by downloading from the Intel site last week. I've even tried reverting back to an earlier version, but no luck.

jackshack · Answer

Looking at the Intel site, I've come across some info that suggests that the driver may be fully compatible only with Win 98SE; is that what you are using?  I am referring to the following for version 13.6.1:   http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-009479.htm   See the notes at the bottom of the page.   There is also a reference that says you require Direct x 7.0 or later:   http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel845g/sb/cs-009082.htm?iid=graphics+845main& Message Edited by JackShack on 05-02-200612:13 PM

louchem · Answer

Yes, I am using Windows 98SE.

jackshack · Answer

The only other thing I can think of that you might try is to install a chip set driver. Using one from Intel may be a bit risky since the Dell boards are often slightly different from Intel boards even though based on the same chip set. The current one is only rated for Win XP, Win 2K, and Win Server 2003, but there is an archived version that will load with Win 98SE here:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=816&OSFullName=Windows*+98+SE&lang=eng&strOSs=18&submit=Go%21

You can try the first one if you wish, but it has only been tested with NT type OS's despite what the note says. Use the version from May, 2002. If that doesn't do it, I'm at a loss. You could also try other memory; Dell's are notoriously finicky about the memory they will accept and perhaps the Win 98 load makes it even more so. Since you have one that works, it is obviously possible.

Another thought is that the D2400 with a Celeron is supposed to have a 400 MHz front side bus so using PC 2700 is overkill. Maybe it would be happier with PC 2100. Unfortunately I'm only guessing now. I wish you the best of luck.

Jack

louchem · Answer

Thanks for the help.  If I install a new chipset driver from Intel, can I revert back to the original one if it cripples my system?  And, this should only affect the Windows 98 environment, correct?   I've learned that Dells are finicky about RAM, and that is why I went out and picked up the Crucial memory that is specifically supposed to work with my system.   Another thought I had (and maybe this is introducing too many problems) was if I installed a PCI video card and turned off the integrated graphics on the Intel board.  Here the graphics would be separate from system RAM and maybe wouldn't cause an error.  I'm grasping here as well...I just can't figure out what is up.

jackshack · Answer

Yes, the chipset driver should only affect the Win 98 since that will be the system when you install it. I don't think that the chipset driver is something that can be uninstalled, however. To get rid of it you need to re-install Win 98.

So far as disabling the onboard graphics, there is no way to turn it off completely. The D2400 has no jumpers to disable the hardware, and the only bios setting you have for video is onboard or automatic. The idea is for the bios to automatically select a PCI card if it is present. If you tour the board looking for posts about adding a video card to the D2400 you will see that it doesn't always go smoothly.

jackshack · Answer

I don't know if Win 98SE disks are universally the same, but mine allows me to repair damaged files as an alternative to a full re-installation.  The problem with doing this is that it does not touch the registry or any files that don't belong to Windows 98SE.  If your difficulty is due to a setting rather than corrupted software this will not help, and it will only address Windows files.  The chipset driver will still be present, and any settings that point to it will still be in the registry.   You may need to re-install both OS's.  Each install makes its own modifications to the MBR and Win XP was the last to do so in a dual boot configuration.  If you re-install Win 98SE, it will re-write its MBR info, probably destroying the info for Win XP in the process.  The good news in this is at least you won't need to re-install Win 98SE twice, just re-install Win XP for a dual boot as you did the first time.

louchem · Answer

Okay, thanks for the advice.

If I do try and load the new chipset and it doesn't go well, can I reinstall Windows 98 on top of the previous install? In other words, would I have to reformat my hard drive and reinstall both OS or can I just stick in the Windows 98 disk and say "repair"?

Thanks for the help so far.

louchem · Answer

Hmm...okay, I'm not sure I am ready to take such drastic measures just yet on a solution that we're not even sure would make any difference.

Here's another question...is there a way in Windows 98 to disable one of the RAM slots so the OS only uses one RAM mod? In other words, trick Windows 98 into only seeing the original RAM and thus booting normally. That way the RAM would still be available to Windows XP when I boot up to that OS. I'm grasping at straws and my techinal knowledge is pretty limited. :smileyindifferent:

jackshack · Answer

It would be a nice trick, but no, there is no switch that will allow this. It does occur to me, however, that since you are experiencing a configuration problem, maybe if you reset the NVRAM it will help. On a D2400 you do this by shutting down, unplugging from the power strip, removing the lithium coin cell that is on approximately the opposite corner of the main board from the CPU, push in the power button for a count of ten (still unplugged), re-inserting the coin cell, put the cover back on, plug in and restart. This lets the computer redetect all its devices and might help. I would think that this is ok since your Win XP configuration sees everything ok, but we're grasping at straws.

Something about the memory is not making Win 98 happy; the timing, the latency, or whatever, but it would be expensive to try a batch of memory boards one at a time until you found one that worked. Since it works ok with Win XP I doubt Crucial would exchange it at no charge, though you could try.

Message Edited by JackShack on 05-03-200609:39 PM

louchem · Answer

Okay, thanks for all your suggestions.  I will think a little more and probably try something further this weekend.

Windows General

Dimension 2400 Memory Upgrade/Graphics Problem

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