XPS 8940, problems, sent back twice

This is a community support forum ... users helping users. We can't really help with Dell Warranty issues.

Personally, I would not worry until maybe you find out it's still not working properly. Then, you can work with them more. I would expect it to be fixed this time, right?

If you need help updating the BIOS or some tips on the best way to re-load Windows, drivers, and Apps ... in the best way possible to prevent any further problems due to software ... or to at least get off on a better footing this time ... well, we could help with some of that if needed.

Might help us help you, if you could tell us exactly what some of those BSODs said...

Do you know what version of BIOS is running on this motherboard? A replacement board might have a different version and you may still have to update to the latest one yourself...

SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION, FLTMGR.SYS, CRITICAL PROCESS DIED, NTFS.SYS, MEMORY MANAGEMENT... The BIOS was updated to the newest one before i had these problems 

FLTMGR.SYS

The BSOD might be indicating a problem with the boot drive.

Since you've sent it back again, it's too late to run chkdsk c: /r and sfc /scannow as recommended at the link I posted. Somebody should do that to test the boot drive (C:) after they swap the motherboard. Both commands are run in a CMD prompt window (Run as administrator) in either Win 10 or 11.

Well they know all the Blue screen errors i had, the technicians are supposedly the experts.  All that should be double checked before returned.  The motherboard also has that big chip on it which is the 250gb HD.  Don't really care for that.. I had the XPS 8930 model before this one, never had any problems, it had a digital HD... Pc will be back today, we will see.

You mean it has a 250 GB SSD.  Still might be a problem.

They typically only swap parts, they don't do much actual testing. New motherboard boots OK 1x  -great- ship it back. 

Pc was working ok, it only has a 8 gb memory stick in it.. I have a Crucial 16 gb i installed.  Thirty minutes later i got a Blue screeen error code about the memory management ?? what gives

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@ThomasL67 wrote:

Pc was working ok, it only has a 8 gb memory stick in it.. I have a Crucial 16 gb i installed.  Thirty minutes later i got a Blue screeen error code about the memory management ?? what gives

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If the computer is stable and works properly with the Dell-supplied pre-installed memory, then the motherboard is likely good.

If the computer BSoD or works improperly with customer-installed after-market memory, the memory is likely incompable. Most Dell and Alienware computers are fairly finicky and particular about memory DIMMs. So are HP's, Apple-Mac's and really any nice computer now-days.

@ThomasL67  To add to what @Tesla1856 said...

1. Was your 16 GB module specifically recommended by Crucial for the XPS 8940?
   
   
2. Are you using Crucial 16 GB RAM module together with Dell OEM module (24 GB total) or did you replace the OEM module with Crucial 16 GB module (16 GB total)?
   
   
3. If you're using them together (24 GB total), exactly which module is in which RAM slot, counting from the CPU?

I did a Crucial can of system, it recommended the memory stick i bout.  I took out the samsung stick which at the time was working ok.  I installed the Crucial memory by it self.  I got the Blue screen within an hour of that.

Maybe its the Crucial brand

@ThomasL67 

Hmm, I thought ALL 8940's has at a minimum 16GB installed? You had only 8GB's?

I got Crucial RAM and  had no problems.  Even worked with my 16GB Dell RAM.

What are the slots are the DIMM's in?

There are black and white retaining clips, you can't use the same ones for both of those DIMM's.

@ThomasL67  You still didn't tell us what slot the 16 GB module is in.

Double-check that the one you actually got is listed as compatible with the XPS 8940.

And If PC fails with only the 16 GB Crucial module installed, I'd contact Crucial because it may be a bum module. And they should replace it under their warranty.

I had put the 16gb module in the #1 slot. Was only memory that was in there when i got the Blue screen

@ThomasL67  That may be part of your problem...

The first RAM module installed should always go in 2nd slot (DIMM1) from CPU, not in 1st slot (DIMM3). So put 16 GB Crucial in 2nd slot, with no other module installed, and give that a try before doing anything else.

If that works ok, and you want to add the Dell OEM module as a second module,  you will have to test a little. The second module installed would normally go in 4th slot from CPU (DIMM2) when both modules are identical. 

Mixing mismatched modules, like yours, in 2nd and 4th slots may also cause problems. So if problems occur, leave the module in 2nd slot and put the other module in 1st slot (DIMM3) from CPU and see if that works.