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Windows Protection Error when installing New Memory

T

TheMinger

Member
Hi all, here's a good puzzle for you:

I originally have 96 mb of ram in my PC. By the way im running a Dell Dimension XPS T450:

Phoenix Bios 4.0 version 6.0
13 GB Hard Drive
Voodoo 3 3000 graphics card.

Anyway, so I recently purchased Corsair Memory (256 MB) from Fry's and installed it into my computer. When it boots up, the memory check only counts the original 96 MB i have in my computer, but not the additional 256 that I installed. When I go into the bios, the memory slot detects that there is in fact is a 256 Mb Dimm there ( as it should). When it continues to boot up, it does not boot up my operating system, but it says: "windows protection error. Please restart." So i restart, and i get the same exact symptoms again.

When I try using just the newly purchased corsair 256 Mb memory by itself (removing the original 96) my PC doesnt even bootup and doesnt perform a memory check. There is no signal going to my monitor and it sits as if my PC is off. I've tried putting it in all slots and I get the same results. I initially thought that it might be fautly memory, so I then purchased Mushkin memory. When I installed that, I get the same exact results. When I pull out the non-dell memory, everything seems to be working fine. No errors at all. Can anyone tell me whats going on? Thank you.


A side note: When trying to run Half-Life/Counter strike I get numerous errors saying that it is unable to load certain bmp files or certain files are "empty." This occurs even though I can sucessfully install on others' computers, AND after I completely reformatted my entire disk drive. Anyone know a solution to this as well? Thanks.
 
Yeah, spanky probably has it right. They may be bigger than the motherboard can support (hopefully a bios flash will change that) or you might need to go down to 2-128meg sticks. Something to look into.

Also some older DIMM's were 5v and not 3.3v. You might check that, but you would think a 450 would of been well into standard SDRAM age.
 
Originally posted by: TheMinger
how do i flash the bios?
Click to expand...
go to the dell download site & look for bios flash updates for your system.
there should be full details on what you need to do on there.

 
Well, a quick search on the Dell says it has 3 memory slots and supports up to 768MB of memory so 256MB modules *should* be compatible.

But, what I'm wondering is if the Mushkin and Corsair modules you tried out are high-density modules? It looks like you have an Intel-based system and they aren't high-density friendly.
 
Take it back and get one that isn't. I guess to be sure that what you're getting is compatible with your system, you could go through the memory selector at Crucial. If you do that, they guarantee compatibility.

But before you get that far, do you remember if the 256MB DIMM had chips on both sides or just one? If they were only on one side then I'm pretty sure it's high density.
 
The Chips are on one side, so they must be high density DIMMs. But the original DIMMs in the system appear to be high density as well because they also only have chips on one side.
 
Do you have any idea what type of RAM is in your system currently? Maybe you can get the same brand as the original RAM. I personally think you should get a new computer. 😉
 
Originally posted by: TheMinger
The Chips are on one side, so they must be high density DIMMs. But the original DIMMs in the system appear to be high density as well because they also only have chips on one side.
Click to expand...
Ah, but the original DIMMs are 64MB and 32MB? All the chips might still be on just one side but there's less memory per side. You can have 128MB per side and still be okay. That's why you have the system limitation of 768MB.
3 DIMMs x 2 sides/DIMM x 128MB/side = 768MB 😉
 
So basically you're saying the DIMMs arent compatible with my system. This is possible I suppose but this is the memory "suggested by DELL" according to their reference guide they send to Fry's to help decide which memory a consumer should purchase for each system. So is Dell's recommendation a faulty one??
 
Dell suggested that specific module? 😕
Or are you saying that Dell reccomended the Mushkin brand in general?
I'm fairly sure that the module isn't compatible.

I found this in the at FAQ section. Your XPS T450 should have the Intel BX chipset on the motherboard so this part of the FAQ is the most relevant...
This means for a BX chipset, it will not be able to handle a double sided DIMM that is larger than 256MB: 8 x 128Mbit chips on both sides of the DIMM
Click to expand...
So, basically, if you have 256MB and all the chips are on one side, you are SOL since that is higher density than if there were chips on both sides. 🙁

It looks like you're going to have to return or exchange it. Maybe they'll have something there that will work for you for a decent price. High-density memory is usually significanty cheaper though since they don't have to use as many chips on the module.

Do these prices at Crucial look comparable to what you got the Mushkin for? I think they'd be the easy way out. 🙂
 
Are the ones at crucial high density as well? It would have to be double-sided, correct? would they be compatible w/my board? sorry for so many questions, im jsut frustrated by it all!
 
As long as you go through Crucial's memory selector (You get to pick brand/line/model of your system) they guarantee compatibility. The link in my previous post goes right to the page for your system but you can go all the way through from the start for peace of mind if you want.

Don't worry about all the questions, that's okay. I build a lot of systems and I know what it's like to get stuck trying to troubleshoot something. 😉
 
Originally posted by: LakerGod
Frys has a wonderful pornography dvd section in the corner. Try it out. 😉😀
Click to expand...
Wow, I was going to try to think of something legitimate but you've got me beat! 😀

 
Frys has a wonderful pornography dvd section in the corner. Try it out.


I was walking by the DVD section and for some reason my eye caught a glimpse of "I CREAM OF JENIE" and "INDY ANAL JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF POON". I almost died of laughter...




-Jimbo
 
In the Oregon Fry's you can't just "just be passing by" the adult section. It's way off all by itself against one of the walls. If you're over there, there's no question about what you're doing over there. :Q
 
Change the speed of the clock? What do you (they?) mean? Are you currently OCing your Dell? Or maybe they meant the memory timings? That's the only other thing that would make sense. You can't run your memory speed asynchronous with the FSB on a BX chipset board. They're locked together.

I'm pretty sure that the memory module is incompatible but if you're talking about memory timings then what the hell, give it a shot. It's free to try! 😉

You remember that Fry's return period on memory and CPUs is only 15 days versus the 30 days you get for everything else, right? Just checking. 🙂
 
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