Laptop RAM Upgrade

bluewire

I have bought some RAM to upgrade my laptop from 1gb to 2gb but am having problems after I have installed it.

I get the expected msg on start to say that the RAM has changed and to press F1 to continue or F2 for config.

I hit F1 and the laptop loads up normally to the screen where you choose the log in but when I get to the window desktop the laptop comes to a halt with no responce (well if it does respond it takes an age)

Have I done something wrong in the instilation? I ordered from a website that confirmed that the RAM was compatable.Should I have selected F2 and if I do what will I need to do?

Laptop is a Dell Inspiron 6000 and the RAM that I got was:
<http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=19E1DA81A5CA7304&gt;
Thanks

prowla

If you got it from Crucial (and entered the information correctly), then it should be the right memory.
I'm not sure of your particular model, but is the original memory removable? If so, have you tried removing the original memory and just trying it with the new one?
It is probably the case that the first memory slot has to be occupied, and on some systems the biggest memory has to be in the first slot.

prowla

Ah - I just looked at your link, and it is 2 x 1GB units, so you will have removed the original ones (I guess they were 2x500MB?), and so the question of old/new compatibility shouldn't be relevant.

bluewire

Yes I have taken all of the old ram out and added in two new 1gb sticks.

Any other ideas?

bluewire

bumped still looking for help

Money_Grabber13579

Did the person delete their post on the memtest? I was almost certain it was there when I last looked.

macman

Firstly, put the original RAM back in and see if the problem goes away. If NOT, then it is something else coincidental and not memory related.
Then put the new RAM in, but start with one stick only (in the first slot). If OK, add the 2nd stick. If not OK, replace with second stick in first slot. If OK, add 1st stick. That way, if one stick is faulty you can isolate it. Most unlikely both are faulty unless you have ordered the wrong items.
If still no solution, call Crucial. Their tech support and CS is really excellent. If it's faulty, Crucial will replace it without hesitation.

bluewire

When the original RAM is back evertything is fine (I am on the laptop now with the old RAM)

I have then replaced one stick and so have 1.5gb in and got through and so thought to replace the 2nd stick and this now started (if not a little slower than befor)

When I have checked the system spec via the control pannel I have the following:
Before
Processor 1.70GHz
1.70GHz, 0.99GB of RAM

After
Processor 1.70GHz
449MHz, 1.99GB of RAM

So I now have more RAM showing but the 1.70GHz on the second line has now dropped to 449MHz.

Does anyone know why and how to resolve this?

Thanks

macman

bluewire wrote: »

When the original RAM is back evertything is fine (I am on the laptop now with the old RAM)

I have then replaced one stick and so have 1.5gb in and got through and so thought to replace the 2nd stick and this now started (if not a little slower than befor)

When I have checked the system spec via the control pannel I have the following:
Before
Processor 1.70GHz
1.70GHz, 0.99GB of RAM

After
Processor 1.70GHz
449MHz, 1.99GB of RAM

So I now have more RAM showing but the 1.70GHz on the second line has now dropped to 449MHz.

Does anyone know why and how to resolve this?

Thanks

That is the processor speed and not related to the RAM.
You need to try each new stick of RAM independently (none of the old RAM in) to establish which one is faulty.

bluewire

but why would the processor speed now be lower?

Sorry.

macman

I don't know. But I think you need to address one issue at a time and not get side tracked. If it won't boot properly with one or the other of the new RAM chips installed, then there is a fault. If you can establish that one RAM stick is faulty, you can talk to Crucial and raise that issue. As I said, their tech support is first rate.