Did I get the wrong memory??

[John Prophet]

I have this laptop, Inspiron 1100 with celeron. http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...772&oc=1100SAP

Which obviously has DDR memory.

I bought this 256M DDR module from newegg http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...155-105&depa=1

As far as I can tell, this is the product link http://www.kingmax.com/product/pro_p...B62D-68KX3.htm altho the invoice from newegg says -38kt3 at the end as opposed to the -68kx3 on the product site. Is there soem difference there? I dont see a 38kt3 on the product site.

Hmm, I took out the original 128 and put this 256 in ...it went in place easily.....and I hit the power button...I get the little power light on the front but nothing else...no monitor etc.

I tried reseating it.

I tried letting it sit a minute or two in case it had to do some weird detecting, lol. (Im new with laptops)

I put the original back in and it fires up.

I have tried both DIMM slots, the new module doesnt work in either one.

I tried it with the original in the Dimm 1 slot and the new one in Dimm 2..no go.


So did I order the wrong memory??

This memory is listed as 2.5v....is that standard for laptops or do some use 3.3v??

Is this just a bad stick?

Is there some sort of weird thing I need to do in the bios? (couldnt be cuz I cant get into bios, lol)

What gives??

Thanks, JP

[ale_x13]

mmm i dunno, does ur mobo support ddr 266? though if it doesnt i guess the RAM would just run slower...

r u SURE ur original RAM is DDR not RD (though i thought only a P4 could accept RD, i didnt think celerys could)

could just be a bad stick as well, really not sure.

[John Prophet]

Well the old module is PC2100 2.5clr DDR and so is the new one. And besides that, I think a different type of RAM would have a different slot altogether. This is 200 pin SO-DIMM.

JP

[osprey4]

JP, it looks right to me. Crucial is showing 256MB, DDR PC2100, 200-pin SODIMM, CL=2.5, non-ecc. Have you tried 128 in slot #1 and 256 in slot #2?

This item should be easy to RMA.

[John Prophet]

yes I tried that, lol.

I dont have another laptop to try the module on either.

RMA means I am out shipping costs huh? (even though it had free shipping, lol)

JP

[John Prophet]

Man, I cant believe this....I just got my RMA back..stuck it in....same thing.

I noticed the 256 is double sided and the 128 that came with the laptop is single sided.

What to do now, I dont have another laptop to put the memory into, lol.

Plus I am scared to order more memory but Im not selling an XP laptop with a celly AND only 128M ram, lol.

Grrrr.

Is there some sort of trick to putting in laptop ram?? I put the stock 128 stick back in and it works fine.

JP

[Nighthawk]

That shouldn't have made a difference.. The density would be the same between a single-sided 128 and a double-sided 256, and even if it wasn't you'd just not see all of the RAM.

The Dell site offers 2 256MB DIMMs as an option, so it supports DIMMs that large. Have you tried calling Dell or checking to see if there's a new BIOS flash?

[daveleau]

RAM in laptops can be finicky. I would only buy RAM that is specifically advertised as being compatible with your laptop.

[SiliconJon]

I would go to a local big store with the laptop and try their dimms until one works. They won't mind, you just have to purchase it, then return it if it doesn't work. Then try another...all from the confort of their store. <- Freudian slip

I've had great luck with generic & "low end" ram in picky laptops...just lucky I guess.

:P

[John Prophet]

Weird to me.

And Dell has this strange quote on their memory upgrade chart

"The standard memory is installed in a socket which cannot be accessed by the end user. The second memory socket supports the end user upgrades. In order to reach the maximum you may need to have the standard memory replaced by an authorized service center."


huh?? what is all that about??

The modules are right beside each other unless I am missing something...does it have some sort of built in memory too? lol.

Thats a good idea about taking the lappy to a store....except the prices are sad locally..we only have an officemax....of course desktop ddr is $10 for 256M pc2100 every other week..but ive never seen laptop memory cheap like that.


If you look here http://www.newegg.com/app/Listproduc...n=&srchFor=256
you see that some 256 sticks are 32X64 and some are 16x16.

As far as I can see, the Dell recommended ram is 32x64.

The stupid stick I got (twice now) from newegg..when I follow the product link, the part# is NOT on the manufacturers website, lol. Some kind of weirdness there.

the module I received is# msdb62d-38kt3.....there IS NO 38kt3 on their site. http://www.kingmax.com/product/pro_prot.htm



JP