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MS Office Programs Shut Down After RAM Upgrade
I upgraded the RAM from 2 sticks of 256MB PC2700 to two sticks of 1GB PC2700. Specifications on the machine say that 2GB should work. The machine is noticeably faster and everything works OK except MS Office programs. If I open Word or Excel or Publisher, the program opens and then just closes down. No error message is generated they just shut down. It doesn't matter if I open an existing file or just start the application. If I open an existing file, I see the file open and then the application closes.
Reinstalled the old RAM and everything works fine just very much slower. There is no shutdown problem with Office applications I tried individual 1GB sticks one at a time and still get the shutdown of the Office programs. I replaced the RAM with 2 different 1GB sticks (PC2700) with same shutdown issue. This is MS Office Small Business 2000, Windows XP with SP3. I tried running Word in Safemode (winword.exe /safe) with the same result.
Just to try to narrow down the problem, I did a System File Checker (SFC /Scannow) and it ran without asking for the disk. I also tested the hard drive and it has no errors (HD Tune & Chkdsk).
I don't know what to do next. Everything works but the MS Office applications.
Reinstalled the old RAM and everything works fine just very much slower. There is no shutdown problem with Office applications I tried individual 1GB sticks one at a time and still get the shutdown of the Office programs. I replaced the RAM with 2 different 1GB sticks (PC2700) with same shutdown issue. This is MS Office Small Business 2000, Windows XP with SP3. I tried running Word in Safemode (winword.exe /safe) with the same result.
Just to try to narrow down the problem, I did a System File Checker (SFC /Scannow) and it ran without asking for the disk. I also tested the hard drive and it has no errors (HD Tune & Chkdsk).
I don't know what to do next. Everything works but the MS Office applications.
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Additional Info:
Dell's website:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&category_id=4325&mfgpid=190933&chassisid=-1
From the SimpleTech website:
http://www.simpletech.com/upgrades/dell/optiplex/170lintelp432ghz/
Maximum Memory 2 GB
Sockets 2
Slots/Banks 2
Installation Notes Machine is configure-to-order and may ship with PC3200 or PC2700 DDR memory depending on system configuration. Memory can be installed as single modules, but must be installed in matched pairs for Dual Channel mode. DDR333 (PC2700) runs at 320MHz with 800MHz FSB and DDR400 (PC3200) and DDR333 (PC2700) runs at 266MHz with 400MHz FSB. This is a configure-to-order system and may ship with a Pentium 4 or Celeron processor with speeds ranging from 2.4 GHz to 3.2 GHz at 800/533/400 MHz FSB.
Dell's website:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&category_id=4325&mfgpid=190933&chassisid=-1
From the SimpleTech website:
http://www.simpletech.com/upgrades/dell/optiplex/170lintelp432ghz/
Maximum Memory 2 GB
Sockets 2
Slots/Banks 2
Installation Notes Machine is configure-to-order and may ship with PC3200 or PC2700 DDR memory depending on system configuration. Memory can be installed as single modules, but must be installed in matched pairs for Dual Channel mode. DDR333 (PC2700) runs at 320MHz with 800MHz FSB and DDR400 (PC3200) and DDR333 (PC2700) runs at 266MHz with 400MHz FSB. This is a configure-to-order system and may ship with a Pentium 4 or Celeron processor with speeds ranging from 2.4 GHz to 3.2 GHz at 800/533/400 MHz FSB.
ASKER
WiReDNeT,
Thanks for the quick response.
I has already looked up the specifications on the machine so I had the information from the Dell site about memory options, max memory, etc. that you provided.
I did check the swap file settings and they are set to "System Managed" so I wouldn't expect the swap file to be the issue unless they were set to a "Custom" size that was too small. I understand that setting to a custom size in some increment of the available RAM would be optimal but I can't see where System Manged would cause my issue with Office Applications shutting down.
This isn't my machine so I do not have immediate access to it. It is in an office environment so it is needed on a day to day basis. Installing the new memory sticks to 'test' a solution is not easily accomplished but I'll try any reasonable solution.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks for the quick response.
I has already looked up the specifications on the machine so I had the information from the Dell site about memory options, max memory, etc. that you provided.
I did check the swap file settings and they are set to "System Managed" so I wouldn't expect the swap file to be the issue unless they were set to a "Custom" size that was too small. I understand that setting to a custom size in some increment of the available RAM would be optimal but I can't see where System Manged would cause my issue with Office Applications shutting down.
This isn't my machine so I do not have immediate access to it. It is in an office environment so it is needed on a day to day basis. Installing the new memory sticks to 'test' a solution is not easily accomplished but I'll try any reasonable solution.
Any other suggestions?
This is a wild suggestion so feel free to reject it.
The applications could be closing down because they have detected a change in configuration and are presuming they have now on a totally changed system from that which they were installed on.
XP Office applications will moan about this and get you to re-register the applications. But usually a memory upgrade won't trigger this. Its usually about 2 or 3 items that have to change for this to occur; such as memory, graphics card and hard disk.
But you get the warning and reduced functionality - not an instant closure which is what you are getting. This is why I say this is a wild suggestion.
The applications could be closing down because they have detected a change in configuration and are presuming they have now on a totally changed system from that which they were installed on.
XP Office applications will moan about this and get you to re-register the applications. But usually a memory upgrade won't trigger this. Its usually about 2 or 3 items that have to change for this to occur; such as memory, graphics card and hard disk.
But you get the warning and reduced functionality - not an instant closure which is what you are getting. This is why I say this is a wild suggestion.
About the only thing I could give you advice on is to make sure that you have the exact memory that your systemboard is asking for, i.e., lookup the systemboard manufacturer specs for that systemboard, then get the memory that matches the specs exactly.
When you say that the swap file is "System Managed" how much space is available to use? Can you just try and create a 3GB perm swap file to see if this helps?
Did you try reinstalling the office apps with the additional memory installed?
When you say that the swap file is "System Managed" how much space is available to use? Can you just try and create a 3GB perm swap file to see if this helps?
Did you try reinstalling the office apps with the additional memory installed?
ASKER
So far I haven't seen any solutions that have worked or that seem to logically provide a solution. System specs have been checked against memory used, swap file, etc. but no solution.
Does anyone else have a suggested solution or am I in the wrong section of EE? Should I be in Applications or Hardware? Do I need to assign more points to attract different Experts?
Does anyone else have a suggested solution or am I in the wrong section of EE? Should I be in Applications or Hardware? Do I need to assign more points to attract different Experts?
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Right-click My Computer > Advanced tab > Performance button > Advanced tab > Virtual Memory button
Change it to 1.5 times your memory, which shud be around 3GB.
Permanent swap is usually best performace, and put it on a second physical drive if you have it to help speed up performance too.