Help with memory upgrade

Dell Inspiron 1100. Has two memory slots, both 128M. According to Dell site, it is not reequired for both to match. So removed one card and replaced it with 512M card, which website also says is maximum.

Machine won't boot like this. Any advice?

 

Have you tried taking both old ones out and booting with just the 512??

 

You must have the correct type of RAM for it to work

It has to be 2.5v (some are 3.3v); according to Crucial, you will also need to update your BIOS to the latest version (probably to enable it to work with the more recent PC2700 RAM as well as the PC2100 it was originally specified to run with).

 

Thank you for the speedy replies. The computer I am working is XP1, the owner never did any updates.

How do I update the BIOS? Is this also from M$ or some other source. I've never done a BIOS update.

 

Found a Dell support link for you. Bios update

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&SystemID=INS_PNT_CEL_1100&os=WW1&osl=en&servicetag=&catid=&impid=

For all of the drivers.

 

A word of caution on the updating of the bios. If you have never done it, then I wouldn't recommend it. It can be a tricky thing and if botched can render the machine useless. Make sure you have tried all other possible solutions. Flashing the bios should be a last resort type thing.

 

Okay, I'm fearful of flashing the bios now so I will settle for trying just the 512M card by itself. There are two slots, labeled DIMM A and DIMM B, any difference?

 

Throw it in A.

 

Hmm, the above used to be good advice, given that BIOS flashes were done via (sometimes flaky) floppy drives, often after hours of searching to find out which of the many flash tools to use.

Nowadays the big companies have made it much simpler and safer by using Windows-based installers to do this.

At the Dell drivers page linked by CoalNixon, there is a place to add your Service Tag (it should be on a sticker under the laptop), use this to double-check the correct drivers/BIOS for the machine.

Always double-check all instructions/cautions, both on the website and from the "flashing" software when you use it.



DIMM A would be my choice for a single piece of RAM (with many motherboards that have onboard graphics, this would be the only slot that would allow the PC to start).

 

@Satrow: Very true, very true. But still a potentially hazardous procedure with possible dire results. Should windoze decide to hiccup, burp or fart during the flash, the bios could be rendered corrupt and the machine unbootable. There are some mother boards with built in safe guards but I don't know if the OP's machine is one of these.