If the system has 2 memory modules, then try the system using each one at a time.

You know its a very good possibiltiy that the memory is failing.Prior to the blue screens I was getting a little message that says something about the program would close due to something at somthing address at something .. a little small message and I would just press ok and it would go away.

 

The odd thing is that the blue screens dont happen that often and never with the same message except with the physcial dump of memory ..thats consistant but maybe you are right..can memory go bad.. just out of the blue..or could be be more related to hard drive..the diags code i get on the short test says something about the ide at 0 or something like that..and everytime that I run diags at boot it comes up with this error.I found it on several pages here and everybody talked of hard drive failure.. Could it be the harddrive and the memory going at the same time? Thanks for youu suggestions and Ill check it out.. Michael

Diagnostics are great, but alternating memory modules if a LOT faster

 

I've also see a lot of RAM pass diags but not load Windows XP

 

Since almost every Dell has at least 2 RAM modules, I skip the diags and go to the module swap

 

I doubt you have a hdd problem.