Memory error

[pcnut2001]

I own a dell dimension 4700 with windows xp pro 32-bit. it has 1 gig of 4 256 mb ddr2-3200u modules in it but when i went to upgrade it to 2 gigs of ddr2-6400u windows first crashed twice then when it finaloly booted up it would not open my programs and then after that it would open them but it would soon crash ang give me many errors.
Please help

 

[clutchc]

First be sure the memory is good. Run Memtest on each stick individually for at least one full pass.

Then check to see if you have a late enough BIOS version for the faster RAM. The 4700 was only designed to use up to PC2-4300 originally.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4700/sm/specs.htm

 

[pcnut2001]

Ok i upgraded my BIOS to A10 but that did not work. I also know that the ram is good because It came out of another working computer. Also this morning i was fiddling around on it and switched out the ram aging and I got a beep code. I'll try memtest on it.

 

[pcnut2001]

Best answer selected by pcnut2001.

 

[clutchc]

Ok i upgraded my BIOS to A10 but that did not work. I also know that the ram is good because It came out of another working computer. Also this morning i was fiddling around on it and switched out the ram aging and I got a beep code. I'll try memtest on it.

What were the results of Memtest?

 

[pcnut2001]

This makes me sound stupid but i could not get memtest to work.

 

[clutchc]

This makes me sound stupid but i could not get memtest to work.

Not at all. If you downloaded the file with an .ISO extension, you will need to use a disk burning program to make a bootable disk from that file. Did you do that?

 

[pcnut2001]

Yes I did ,but when I put the disk in when I press the power button it still boots in to windows. Should I be burning it as an ISO image? Also Should the disk contain ISOLINUX , SRC_40A 132kb and SRC_40A 144 KB

 

[pcnut2001]

Ok i got memtest working and I am running it now

 

[pcnut2001]

Wholy cow!
On the secone module i am at 6% pass and allready have 10000 Errors

 

[pcnut2001]

Thank you. I fixed my problem and am now running the ddr2 800 ,But sadly only 1 gig

 

[clutchc]

Unfortunately, that was what I was expecting. Bad RAM is usually the first thing to suspect with those symptoms. And old DDR2 memory is getting scarce and expensive. Was the bad memory used?

 

[pcnut2001]

No, I am seeing if there a way to repair it. So for now I am running on the good one out of the pair

 

[clutchc]

What I meant was... is the RAM that tested bad, used RAM or new RAM? Newegg has new DDR2 memory at reasonable prices right now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600052012&IsNodeId=1&srchInDesc=ddr2&page=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

look for RAM with the same voltage rating as you are using now.

 

[pcnut2001]

It was used
Ok and thanks for all your help

 

[clutchc]

One last thing... be sure to buy your memory in matching pairs if you are going to populate 1 pair of dual channel slots, or in sets of 4 if you are going to populate all 4 slots.

Have a nice day.

 

[pcnut2001]

ok thank you