Upgrading RAM in a Dell Computer

[littlebitstrouds]

I recently installed an additional 256mb memory module in a friends Dell 4300 Dimention Desktop and it does not recognize it in the bios or in Windows. I know for a fact the motherboard can take 512 of ram, and I remember having this problem with almost the same machine about a year ago and getting it to work.

Any suggestions?

BTW I used reletively wildly accepted Crucial pc133 ram for any of those questions.

 

[littlebitstrouds]

still lookin for a solution

 

[mechBgon]

Looking at Crucial.com's configurator, it comes up with their PC133 being ok too. Maybe you have a module with higher-density chips on it, however? I know with Crucial's PC2100 modules, you can find 256MB modules with 16 chips, with 8 chips and even with just four chips, the difference being the memory density.

Or maybe you need to go into the 4300's BIOS and go through some motions to "approve" the new module. Good luck, at any rate

 

[tm37]

More than likely it is a density issue as mechBgon has stated.

Usually though when that is the case it will identify it incorrectly.

From the looks of the crucial site your machine is kinda perticular.

I would try moving the one that works into the other slot and see if perhaps you have a bad slot.

 

[imported_Skorpio]

yeah highly likely mech is right

I saw a good deal on 256 PC100 ram to find out that it wont recognize on my computer. Turns out the memory density was wrong. Too high

What do you mean by not recognize? are you able to go into the desktop?

Have you use an air compressor thing to maybe clean out the slots? (Possible bad conduction)

Is your newest ram moved to the slot closest to the cpu? The larger MB the module of ram, the closer it should be to the cpu...is my rule of thumb