Question

Trying to replace bad RAM on my Dell Vostro 400 -- supposed to be 4Gb, system now says 1Gb -- what gives?

Asked by: stevenjs

Hi,
I have a Dell Vostro 400 and some of the RAM went bad. I ran a memtest and found the card or chipset (one of the four 1 Gb RAM cards) that had problems. I went to www.crucial.com and selected Dell as the manufacturer, Vostro as the product line, and 400 mini tower as the model. Their system says that

1GB  240-pin DIMM
Module Size: 1GB
Package: 240-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR2 PC2-5300

is the correct RAM card or chipset for my computer. However, getting it into the slot the old one came from has proved most challenging. In the end, I had to move one of the other Dell RAM cards over to the vacant slot and put the new one in at the end. The new one is different in size (height) and has far fewer of the little black squares (RAM chips? -- I know nothing about these things) which makes me wonder whether crucial.com sent me the right chip. It is also very different from the one in the picture on their site when I made the selection. I can't see any marking on the new RAM which indicates whether it is 1Gb.

In any event, memtest no longer shows RAM errors, but neither did show errors after I'd removed the bad RAM and run the test on the remaining RAM. And when I look at the system via Windows XP interface, it shows only 1 Gb RAM. Shouldn't it show 4 Gb? Did I not install the RAM correctly (it was a nasty, frustrating job to get them in, really a bitch) ?

I am a hardware ignoramus so I need an expert who can talk plain English.

Thanks.

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Asked On
2009-09-16 at 04:51:11ID24735952
Tags

Dell

,

Vostro 400

,

rerplacing RAM

,

installing RAM

,

RAM

Topics

Computer Memory (RAM)

,

Personal Computers

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
22

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Answers

 

by: cedlinxPosted on 2009-09-16 at 05:48:29ID: 25344983

>>Shouldn't it show 4 Gb?

It should show 4GB if the new RAM is ok and properly installed. Otherwise, it should atleast show 3GB.. So I would suggest you remove ALL 4 RAMs and reinstall them. You may install the old 3 and check your windows to see if it shows 3GB. Then install the 4th RAM again.

Depending on the actual architecture of your board, the RAM is likely to have a slit either midway or more to one end than the other. To correctly install your RAM you have to ensure that this slit corresponds to a "break" or bridge or demarcation in the memory slot. If it fits in one slot then it should fit in the others as well. So ensure that you actually installed it in A MEMORY SLOT and not somewhere else. If if wouldn't fit in ALL 4 slots then call your vendor or take it back and buy the correct RAM.

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-09-16 at 05:49:20ID: 25344993

It may be a high-density version of the RAM, and Crucial usually is very good at matching RAM (they guarantee it will work, or you can return it or exchange it).  Check in the BIOS if you are seeing all 4GB; that will be your indicator if the RAM is compatible.  32-bit Windows will usually show somewhere around 2.7GB to 3.5GB for a fully populated 4GB system, but 1GB is definitely strange.  You may want to try combinations in pairs to see if you get a situation where only 1GB is showing.

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-16 at 07:32:13ID: 25345981

cedlinx: The new one is in the same set of slots the old one came out of.

Callandor: You seem to have more on the ball in this. How does one "Check in the BIOS" to see if it says 4GB ? Two of the RAM cards I did not touch, so even if the new one and the existing good one I re-situated in a different slot are not in right, windows should still say more than 1 Gb, right?

Also, they have these tab things at the end that hold the RAM cards in, they do not fit snugly in and of themselves. Even the two I didn't remove are not snug but rely on these tab things. I always thought these things had to be snug fitting to make contact in the slot. No?

I may not be able to try any re-fitting of these things until the weekend. though I can try the bios thing (once that's explained) tonight. I had no idea this was such a project, or I'd have schlepped the box down to a PC shop. I'll attach a copy of the Dell manual for this when I'm home and can do so.

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-09-16 at 10:37:35ID: 25348028

>How does one "Check in the BIOS" to see if it says 4GB ?

When the system is first powered on, it will display an option to hit a certain key to get into the BIOS - this can be F2 or DEL or another key. You have to do this before the Windows logo shows up. Once in the BIOS, you can choose the option to display basic options, and it should tell you how much RAM you have. If it was working before, you may not have inserted the RAM all the way, because the tabs usually click into place (and they should all line up with the same position when the tabs are closed and there is no RAM installed). The RAM can only be installed correctly one way, with the notch lining up - do not force it if it isn't lined up.

>Two of the RAM cards I did not touch, so even if the new one and the existing good one I re-situated in a different slot are not in right, windows should still say more than 1 Gb, right?

Right.  If the RAM Is incorrect for your machine or wasn't installed correctly, it may be interfering with the other RAM.  Remove it and see what the system reports.

 

by: FlooringProPosted on 2009-09-16 at 13:32:43ID: 25349812

Just to touch on Callandors comment, wouldn't the RAM have to be installed in pairs?

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-09-16 at 14:22:56ID: 25350333

>Just to touch on Callandors comment, wouldn't the RAM have to be installed in pairs?

That is desirable, if dual channel operation is what you want, but it is not mandatory.

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-16 at 16:16:47ID: 25351284

This is supposed to be a "quad" type computer, and yes, I want it back to its original condition.

What does that mean, "install in pairs?" I have to get two new cards, not one? This is really getting ugly.

Attached is the user guide, which does have some gibberish about pairs, which I do not understand.

  • eom.pdf
    • 5.0 MB

    Dell Vostro 400 User Manual

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-16 at 16:17:46ID: 25351292

The bios, by the way, says 1Gb.

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-09-16 at 18:40:32ID: 25352159

If the BIOS says 1GB, then you really only have 1GB available.  You will have to take out one RAM module at a time to see which one is preventing the other RAM from being seen,  Once you isolate it, remove it and try the other three.

>What does that mean, "install in pairs?" I have to get two new cards, not one? This is really getting ugly.

For best performance, it says install memory in matched pairs.  It will still work adequately if you don't.

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-17 at 10:27:46ID: 25358735

What does that mean, "install in pairs?"  I don't get the meaning of this phrase.

I'm not interested in "adequately." As said, I want the thing as it should be, originally was.

"You will have to take out one RAM module at a time to see which one is preventing the other RAM from being seen,  Once you isolate it, remove it and try the other three."

Can you describe what that means, or how exactly I'd go about it? Are you saying put all four in any which way regardless of the slot? Then remove one and run bios again to see if it "sees" the other three? And if it doesn't "see" the other three, put the one I took out back and take out another one, run bios again? And so on until bios "sees" three? What does one then conclude about the one removed that allows bios to "see" the other three? What about "the pairs" thing?

I'm afraid you are not making a lot of sense. I really need to restore the machine to its original capacity. It is "adequate" now with 1Gb. I don't want it "adequate" with 3Gb. I want all four working. I just paid for a new card that is supposed to work.

 

by: FlooringProPosted on 2009-09-17 at 11:11:15ID: 25359156

stevenjs

I'm probably at fault for confusing the situation, my apologies.  I was under the impression that memory had to be installed in pairs, in order for it to function at all.  This, apparently, is not the case.  With regards to the memory isolation, your process would resemble this:

1. Remove all your RAM sticks, with the exception of one.  Paying no mind to what slot they are installed in.

2. Re-boot the computer and check to see that the BIOS recognizes it correctly.  

3. If it does, then add another stick of RAM.

4. Wash rinse repeat, until you find the stick of RAM that is preventing the others from operating normally.

I hope this clears up some of the confusion.

 

by: FlooringProPosted on 2009-09-17 at 11:25:04ID: 25359288

In order to have the memory operating in dual channel, the RAM stick would need to be installed in pairs.  Meaning simply, that all your ram should be the same speed (In your case the operating speed of the ram is DDR2 PC2-5300) and hold the same capacity (1GB/stick, or 2GB/stick etc..).  Then the RAM should be installed in pairs.  For example:

Slot 1 - DDR2 PC2-5300

Slot 3 - DDR2 PC2-5300

Both Slot 2 and 4 would be treated the same way.   By doing this you enable the dual channel feature of the RAM.  Which, in turn, increases the efficiency of the RAM.  Thus making it faster.  How much faster?  That isnt something i know.

Note that 32bit systems will only see 3.7GB's, or so, of total ram.  Irregardless of how much you have installed.  In order to get above that barrier, you would need to have a 64bit system.

I truly hope i'm explaining this the right way.  I'm by no means a master of computer hardware, but i like to think that i know a bit.

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-17 at 14:47:21ID: 25361409

Many thanks, FlooringPro, for the clarifications.

Well, the folks at crucial.com should have sent me a card of the same speed, right? Or how would I confirm that? Here is a link to their selection page for the Dell Vostro 400:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Vostro%20400%20Mini%20Tower&pl=Dell&cat=RAM

What they sent does not resemble what is shown in the picture, but the picture definitely resembles the ones that came with the computer. Did they send the wrong chip? How would I determine that?

There are some chicken scratchings on their card but nothing is spelled out clearly the way they are on the other cards. Also, there are far fewer "little black squares" (chips?) on the crucial card compared with the ones that came with the computer, though all four are 1 Gb each.

I'm going to give them a call when I have the damn thing in hand and ask.

 

by: FlooringProPosted on 2009-09-17 at 15:13:00ID: 25361573

Well, the folks at crucial.com should have sent me a card of the same speed, right?  Yes, crucial is pretty good about getting it right the first time.  Although we all know mistakes happen.

Or how would I confirm that? Check the product packaging for the specifics of the RAM stick they sent.

Reviewing the link you sent, it would appear that DDR2-5300 and/or DDR2-6400 1GB can be used in your 400.

Did they send the wrong chip? How would I determine that?  Check the packaging.

 

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-19 at 14:42:37ID: 25374827

The "product packaging" is a plastic wrap without a stitch of printing on it.

FlooringPro, you said:
4. Wash rinse repeat, until you find the stick of RAM that is preventing the others from operating normally

THEN WHAT???

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-19 at 15:12:33ID: 25374943

I have MemTest-86 disc. Will that help?

I can't do your 4 steps with each card, they are just too hard to get out and put back in.

Right now, after fidgeting some more with the cards, Bios says 3072Mb, Windows says 3.0Gb - nowhere near the 3.7 you mention. I'm still screwed out of a Gb.

I think I'm just going to have to call their tech support early monday morning and give them hell.

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-19 at 15:32:54ID: 25375016

okay, after some additional fidgeting with those damn cards, bios now says 4 and windows 3.25. I guess that's that.

what a nasty bitch these cards are. what idiots designed them?

none of you solved the problem, thanks for trying though. I'll divvy up the points on effort.

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-19 at 15:38:43ID: 31629379

these damn cards are EXTREMELY fussy how they are installed. apparently a micron's difference will make or break its operation. whoever designed this junk??!

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-09-19 at 15:44:11ID: 25375056

Well, we can't install the RAM for you; you have to do that.

And this is what I said: "If the RAM Is incorrect for your machine or wasn't installed correctly, it may be interfering with the other RAM."

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-19 at 16:11:53ID: 25375151

no, you can't, but an email from crucial support told me to sock them in until the end snaps snapped of themselves, which is what did it, though not without repeated attempts after the snaps had snapped shut, including one card I had never touched.

the snap detail did it, not "wasn't installed correctly." sorry.

 

by: CallandorPosted on 2009-09-19 at 20:16:09ID: 25375762

You don't seem to read everything presented to you, or choose to ignore it or quickly forget it -

"If it was working before, you may not have inserted the RAM all the way, because the tabs usually click into place (and they should all line up with the same position when the tabs are closed and there is no RAM installed)."

There's enough detail there even for a novice to figure out.  But maybe you don't think we should be given credit where credit is due?  A C grade?

 

by: stevenjsPosted on 2009-09-19 at 20:20:32ID: 25375772

okay, grant you that.

still, the pushing and fidgeting was past the pale of anything reasonable. this is apalling design. i am a usability expert. that's what i do for a living. the person who designed this should be taken out and shot.

sorry if I underestimated the unreasonable.

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