Dell Inspiron Ram Problem. Help Me please

[mike217]

I have a dell inspiron 5100 that my fiancee uses for just screwing around on the net. I sometimes use it for email and such. My question is about adding ram to the computer. The computer originally had only 256MB. I took out one dimm and replaced it with a 512MB module. Computer worked fine. I then went ahead and replaced the other dimm with another 512MB module to raise the ram to a Gig. My question is once I put in the second dimm of ram, every time I close my laptop and reopen it, i get the blue screen of death. I do not have this problem when I don't have both dimms filled with the 512MB's. The comp takes pc2100 ram and I have replaced it with PC2100 in both slots, although, my newest ram states that it is PC2700 or PC2100 compatible. If I keep both dimms with 512MB in both, is there a way that I can set my computer up so it won't go to the blue screen each time I reopen it and try to log back in. I have XP Pro on it. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I am not the most tech savvy person.

[Bozena X]

Yeah, I have had ram problems like that before. I just sucked it up with my one stick of ram until i bought a new computer. Bump for your problem I would suggest talking to tech support for your laptop. They might be able to stear you in the right direction quicker than this forum..

[Dynamix]

You might be overloading the motherboard. Mobo's are built to handle a certain RAM limit internally so just plugging in additional sticks won't always add RAM. In most newer models the limit is rather high, but not necessarily and in your case it may be 512megs.

[Dynamix]

I spoke too soon: Looks like your particular model supports up to 1024megs (a gig). The newest stick you bought that "supports" PC2100 may actually not. Your best bet is replacing the newest 512 stick with the original 256 stick and just settling for 3/4ths of a gig.

[amateurcanada]

I have a dell inspiron 5100 that my fiancee uses for just screwing around on the net. I sometimes use it for email and such. My question is about adding ram to the computer. The computer originally had only 256MB. I took out one dimm and replaced it with a 512MB module. Computer worked fine. I then went ahead and replaced the other dimm with another 512MB module to raise the ram to a Gig. My question is once I put in the second dimm of ram, every time I close my laptop and reopen it, i get the blue screen of death. I do not have this problem when I don't have both dimms filled with the 512MB's. The comp takes pc2100 ram and I have replaced it with PC2100 in both slots, although, my newest ram states that it is PC2700 or PC2100 compatible. If I keep both dimms with 512MB in both, is there a way that I can set my computer up so it won't go to the blue screen each time I reopen it and try to log back in. I have XP Pro on it. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I am not the most tech savvy person.

Sounds l ike incorrect ram or the ram potentially was electrically shocked in handling (you didnt drop on carpet did u lol). get it tested and contact del support.

[mike217]

Thanks guys, let me know if you have any more advice.

[mike217]

Bump, Dell has told me to do a flash bios update, which I am leary of because I have heard bad stories about doing this. Has anyone had any experience upgrading their bios on an inspiron 5100. I am thinking this may help. Thanks