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by pams

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This is regarding a Windows 95 Pentium II, Dell Dimension XPS 233 that is no longer under warranty. It has 2- 32MB chips or a total of 64MB of RAM. A new 64MB chip was purchased for the remaining slot to increase memory to 128MB. It was first purchased from two different office supply stores, where they identified a compatible chip. Most recently, memory was purchased from Dell. The same problem keeps occurring.

When Windows tries to boot up it doesn't count the additional memory and it generates a Windows Protection Error. If the memory chip is swapped with the originals, then it is still not counted and the same message is received. If just the 64MB chip is put in, then the computer won't even start.

When the originals are placed back where they started and the new memory is removed, then everything is OK again and no error is generated.

Is the Windows Protection Error causing the problem? If so what must be done?

Tried the Dell Diagnostics program and it must have recognized the chip because it tested 128MB of RAM.

Called Dell and they are sending another chip.

I am not real hopeful about that fixing the problem. I'm hoping someone out there knows what the problem might be. Please help, any ideas would be appreciated.

22 replies

by dmiles

It seems as though the memory is not compatible with the system,memory may be set to run on a different bus speed than what you have.
The memory could be of different type,you need to get the same memory as klyou have in the system currently,check the bus speed of the system and then compare it to the bus speed of the new memory,this should also apply to system bus speed.

by gcaloyloy

I agree with Answer #6. Depeding on the Dell model you have you may be out of luck. I am a certified Premiere Access Technician. (DCSE)

Good Luck

by gcaloyloy

Hmm..

Your memory specs:
http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dalex/Memory.htm

Memory Installation Guidelines: (from Dell)
- The 3 DIMM sockets can accommodate from 32 to 384 MB of RAM.
- Supported DIMM sizes are 32-, 64-, and 128-MB for non-ECC, and 64- and 128-MB for ECC. (ECC DIMMs have 9 memory chips on one or both sides; non-ECC DIMMs have a maximum of 8 chips per side.)
- Do not mix ECC and non-ECC DIMMs in a system. If any sockets contain non-ECC DIMMs, ECC capability is disabled.
- You can mix DIMM sizes and install them in any order in the memory banks, leaving a bank unoccupied if necessary. It is recommended that you fill the sockets in order starting with Bank 0, but it is not a requirement

more...

Memory- DIMM sockets 3
- DIMM capacities 16, 32, 64, and 128 MB
- Minimum RAM 32 MB
- Maximum RAM 384 MB
- BIOS address F0000h
- DIMMs registered or unbuffered unbuffered
Frequency 66 MHz
- Clock cycle 15 ns (supports 2- or 4-clock DIMMs)
- CAS latency 2
- SPD revision 1.0
- DIMM voltage 3.3 V

NOTES: The Dell Dimension XPS Dxxx requires memory manufactured to Intel's PC-66 SDRAM specification 1.0.
- The system must consist of either all ECC or all non-ECC memory.

by jason.pruitt

Sounds like the 64 MB stick is running at a different bus speed than the mother board. Originals alway work but the new stick doesn't even when it is the only one slotted. Did the Dell Diagonstic program get loaded from a floppy? You could try putting 2 64 MB sticks in for kicks. If it works it means the memory needs to loaded in pairs. If you don't have 2 64 MB sticks load one stick of 32. Does the compter work with one stick of 32? If it doesn't it means that the memory needs to be loaded in pairs. I hope this helps you.

by thechas

Many of the older PCs do not work with the modern DIMMs, One known issue, is a change in the number of clock lines used.

Go to either www.crucial.com or www.kingston.com

Enter the model number of your Dell, and they should recommend a fully compatable DIMM.

I have 1 128MB DIMM that seams to function in every PC I try it in. I an saving it as a reference DIMM for trouble-shooting.
I have another set of 64MB DIMMs that will only work with each other. I have not found another DIMM that will work with them.

A friend took his PC to 3 different computer shops before one of them found compatable DIMMs in their stock!

Also, some of the older MBs had interesting memeory limits. It is possible that your Dell has a 32MB DIMM limit. Or some other strange memory limit.

by pams

More details:
The machine is a Dell Dimension XPS D233.

The machine only has 3 slots rather than 4. It was tested with just a 32MB chip and it worked fine.

It seems that whichever slot the 64MB chip is in, is where the diagnostics has failed.

I'm not sure if this is what you mean by bus speed but, the information I have is that the system uses PC66 technology.

The first chip tried was a PNY that was supposed to work with PC66, PC100, or PC133.

The second chip tried was ValueRAMthat was PC100 and was supposed to be able to also go down lower.

The third chip received from Dell was PC66 the same as the system.

Appreciate your comments.
Thanks again.

by spioinu

This model dell will only accept a total of 64mb of ram. Check the dell web site using the s/n to confirm it. My church has XPS200's and that what i found with them. This is because of the chipset used on the motherboard.

hope this helps

by goodwin2000

I am an Associate DCSE, I work with Dell all day long on some of the models of Latitude, Optiplex and Precision.

I have seen that problem before when repairing the laptops.

The memory stick that you were trying to us to upgrade was probably the wrong bus speed. The XPS probably takes an EDO at 33 or 66 bus speed.
You may have tried putting an SDRAM at 100Mhz.

See what happens when Dell sends you the new chip.

Also make sure both chips are the same manfacturer,if I am not mistaken the two brands that work best with Dell machines are Toshiba and Kingston.

If the diags from Dell see the memory physically, then the sticks are probably good. But even with that you may even have an intermiottent systemboard problem where itis not reading the memory correctly.

Hope this helps

by smcdonald1

To follow up on Answer#7...If the 32MB sticks that were originally installed are EDO then you must install in pairs!! I thought I read in one of the answers that your MB only has 3 sockets. If this is the case then get another 64MB stick and installthe 2 64's and forget the 32's.

Hope you get the answer you want to here.

Sean

by rohit kumar d

it is the problem with the ram.have you checked the the mother board bus speed.this problem can occur when the mother board bus speed is less and the ram speed is more.first check the speed of both mother board & ram if its same then replace the memory. this will solve your problem

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