Dell D420 - faulty internal RAM?? Only 55 MB of 500 usable

Either the slot where the 1GB is inserted is broken or you have an incompatible 1GB memory stick.

Hello,

Thanks for your response.

However, I don't think that would be the case as the problem still persists with the 1 GB stick removed and only using the internal 500 MB.

Thanks

WHERE are you seeing 55MB useable?

Post a screenshot. If there was only 55MB useable, you wouldn't be able to run Windows.

As I said in my original post, I am seeing the 55 MB in the BIOS. I can't run Windows.

You have no choice but to locate and reseat that 500MB memory module. If that doesn't work, you either have a bad module or a bad socket.

I don't know how I can do that as it is internal memory which I believe is soldered to the motherboard; I don't even know where it is located. If it is possible though to reseat it I'm happy to try, if you can give me directions on how to do so.

The base RAM isn't a module - it's soldered to the system board. 

It isn't possible to remove the memory.  if it has failed, you will need to replace the mainboard - which includes the processor.

http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=category&id=140&subid=140&refine=motherboard

Thanks for your response.

I am not going to change the main board; it isn't worth it for this laptop: there isn't any other solution is there?

Thanks

Normally you'd ignore that bad module and be fine with using the RAM in the socket on the bottom of the laptop, but since you say that putting a RAM module in there does no good, then you have no other options.

A used D420 motherboard is about $25 on eBay.

I wonder if there might be a way to "turn off" the built-in RAM module so that the system only recognizes the one on the bottom?
 Might it be possible to do so from the BIOS?

You may well be able to buy a motherboard for $25 in the US but in Australia where I am, I can't get one for under $30 (obviously that's not heaps more but I would also need to buy a hard drive caddy for the laptop, and since there aren't ant of them in Australia I have to buy one form the UK which will set me back another $30 ... I think $60 is too much for me to spend on it.

Thanks

I think the bad 500 MB of RAM (or its socket) is what's causing the problem. Perhaps that is the "primary" RAM or something, making it so that if it is bad, the system can't "get past" it to the other 1GB.

There is not such thing as "primary" RAM or something or whatever you think there could be.

Do you know if there is a  way of disabling one memory socket?

No, I don't, but you are always welcome to read the Owner's Manual for the laptop.

I wonder if there might be a way to "turn off" the built-in RAM module so that the system only recognizes the one on the bottom?  Might it be possible to do so from the BIOS?

Why? You write that even with the additional 1GB module, the BIOS still doesn't see it which may mean that that socket is bad.

OKay thank you for your help.

By the way - I'm not sure if this changes anything - but the exact error it gives me is:

"The amount of system memory has changed.

If you did not change your memory ...

To resolve this issue, try to reseat the memory.

Memory read/write failure at 0200E7F0, read EF00EF88 expecting EF00EF00

To resolve this issue, try to reseat the memory.

Decreasing the available memory."

It then promtps me to press F1 to continue, F2 to go to BIOS or F5 to run diagnostics. I'm going to run diagnostics and see what it gives me,