Dell XPS-420 8GB RAM?

Foxrac said:
You don't get it that what I was talking.

Go check Jacob's post, that why about it has nothing with Vista if they can't read or cause any issues, it all from motherboard issue or so, regardless if they have 64 bit.

For my first statement, few of my friend that use 64 bit Vista as well, no issues with 8 GB RAM, I already know that 32 bit limited to 4 GB but in some cases, 3 GB for some motherboard.
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why then, the hell is Dell selling XPS range with shitty hardware that affects the usabilty of 64 bits OS??
This is beyond me
 
Grummer said:
why then, the hell is Dell selling XPS range with shitty hardware that affects the usabilty of 64 bits OS??
This is beyond me
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Oh damn, you missed my point.

It wasn't XPS or Dell branded PC that has crappy motherboard or hardware, I was talking about other PC companies, such as Gateway or Emachines and alone built PC with crappy brand of motherboard.

I have NO problem with my Dell XPS, even I can install 64 bit version of Vista without any issues, only minor is some of driver issues and compatibility issues, also one of my friend XPS PC with 64 bit version of Vista and don't have any issues.
 
Next time, do not buy Dell.

I never like to fix Dell computer for my son's friends. It is real VERY PAIN in the A**
 
darkage said:
Next time, do not buy Dell.

I never like to fix Dell computer for my son's friends. It is real VERY PAIN in the A**
Click to expand...

Dell's crap.. Not the system itself. It's the way how Dell provide CDrom for driver and OS. It is my 3rd time fix my friend's Dell Inspiron lappy. It sux when after installed XP Media and using Dell's driver, it doesn't have everything that works with Dell Lappy's hardware and it's a wasteful installation cuz I had to unzip the file then run installation and it turn out it's not the right driver!! Dell provided that lousy driver CD! . I had to download all drivers, unzip all drivers folders then Rename Folders to which driver are for each hardwares and burn it to CD and wrote " Drivers for Dell Inspirion1502 Laptop Only, Do Not Lose!!!" for so make it easier for my friend to reinstall driver quickly. This is why I hate Dell's gut for not providing correct Driver CD. I bet customers who own Dell will have hard time getting drivers installed until it come to sense that Dell just drop crap on them.

As for memory size. Why don't you use "Service ID" and find out Dell's hardware configuration and what is the maximum memory.

Are you aware there are memory hack!!?? Go to Google and search for Vista memory hack by going in Regedit and change the registry setting so you can have more memory installed to your system.

I am fully aware about BIOS limitation on how much memory you can install. Why don't you try Dell's Live chat or send email which may be slow. Or go over to Dell and talk with Dell Rep and Technician if they are willing to tell you if you can update BIOS to allow 2 GB DDR each (Probably you will try 4GB ddr stick each to make it 8gb because of Dual Channel slots. I don't know how many memory slots you have. If you have 4 then it means 4GB memory sticks each to make it 8 GB

Catty
 
darkage said:
Next time, do not buy Dell.

I never like to fix Dell computer for my son's friends. It is real VERY PAIN in the A**
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You have simple to say, no clarity? I have no idea what are you talking about Dell.

I'm Dell XPS owner and haven't any issues with that.
 
Foxrac said:
You have simple to say, no clarity? I have no idea what are you talking about Dell.

I'm Dell XPS owner and haven't any issues with that.
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Me either.. Its my first personal Dell desktop, but also owned few dell laptops. Also using work Dell desktop and laptop. Never had any issues with them.. I like their OS CD.. No key needs and works on any dell PC plus no junks on it.
 
purplecatty said:
Dell's crap.. Not the system itself. It's the way how Dell provide CDrom for driver and OS. It is my 3rd time fix my friend's Dell Inspiron lappy. It sux when after installed XP Media and using Dell's driver, it doesn't have everything that works with Dell Lappy's hardware and it's a wasteful installation cuz I had to unzip the file then run installation and it turn out it's not the right driver!! Dell provided that lousy driver CD! . I had to download all drivers, unzip all drivers folders then Rename Folders to which driver are for each hardwares and burn it to CD and wrote " Drivers for Dell Inspirion1502 Laptop Only, Do Not Lose!!!" for so make it easier for my friend to reinstall driver quickly. This is why I hate Dell's gut for not providing correct Driver CD. I bet customers who own Dell will have hard time getting drivers installed until it come to sense that Dell just drop crap on them.

As for memory size. Why don't you use "Service ID" and find out Dell's hardware configuration and what is the maximum memory.

Are you aware there are memory hack!!?? Go to Google and search for Vista memory hack by going in Regedit and change the registry setting so you can have more memory installed to your system.

I am fully aware about BIOS limitation on how much memory you can install. Why don't you try Dell's Live chat or send email which may be slow. Or go over to Dell and talk with Dell Rep and Technician if they are willing to tell you if you can update BIOS to allow 2 GB DDR each (Probably you will try 4GB ddr stick each to make it 8gb because of Dual Channel slots. I don't know how many memory slots you have. If you have 4 then it means 4GB memory sticks each to make it 8 GB

Catty
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Wait for him to make clarity, he hasn't make clarity about how issue are, such as bad recovery CD or driver CD.

Bad recovery CD has been happened with cheap Dell PC in few years ago, if issue with driver CD then just install Vista/XP and download driver from any website, such as Nvidia, ATI, Intel, Realtek audio, etc, also make sure you to have network driver in memory card or external HDD, that allow to install network driver and let you to download everything.
 
Foxrac said:
Wait for him to make clarity, he hasn't make clarity about how issue are, such as bad recovery CD or driver CD.

Bad recovery CD has been happened with cheap Dell PC in few years ago, if issue with driver CD then just install Vista/XP and download driver from any website, such as Nvidia, ATI, Intel, Realtek audio, etc, also make sure you to have network driver in memory card or external HDD, that allow to install network driver and let you to download everything.
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No, it's not a Recovery CD..... She never had it..

It was a good clean XP installation CDrom (Not Recovery CD)and the Driver CDrom is also good and clean too came from Dell... It's not the problem with XP CDrom, It's the problem with the driver CD which Dell threw in craps that not related to Dell Inspiron laptop. only 2 or 3 drivers would work with her lappy but the rest of it are just something else and wouldn't install cuz there's no hardware compatible to it so I had to download ALL Dell Inspirion 1502 laptop drivers in order to have all drivers installed. That's the PaIn!! All that work I did took me 3 hours to get XP and drivers fully installed plus few neccessary softwares in.

So my point is that if Dell built laptop and desktops, They SHOULD have drivers CD ACCORDING SPECIFIED TO it's MODEL, not General or throw odd something incompatible drivers that DOES NOT BELONG to that Model!!! Of course many customers would try save money reformat, reinstall XP then install Drivers after that in order to have their system up and running, ready to use.
Dell just want to give tech noob customers hard time so customer throw their hand and deliver it to Dell to fix so Dell can pocket money on repairs.

My Acer Aspire laptop have Recovery CD that I burned a copy the first thing when I first use my laptop. So it have everything in it and took me 35 min to have all restored plus driver all in there. Save my time.

My friend bought laptop from Dell directly. It's not a cheap one but was on sale.

I would buy Dell XPS system and once I have it, I would run Acronis Trueimage or Norton Ghost and copy entire drive to DVD for restoration purpose. Unless Dell finally include Restoration cd then I'll be happy. I'm just interested in quick restore and have system up and running less than hour.

Catty
 
rhr said:
I got you, sorry i understand about you want virtual Machine (Virtual PC, VirtualBox, etc..) yeah need more memory oh well
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:lol: RichardDeaf,.. you're a VMware crackhead. :rofl:

I am not sure if you are familiar with Single and Duall Channel DDR slots, like DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4. Something that if you want to upgrade it to 8GB on a 2 or 4 slots, You'll need 4gb ddr stick each slots to make it 8gb.

Using 2GB DDR memory stick:

DDR1 + DDR3 slots = 4GB Single Channel

DDR1+DDR2 slots = 2GB Dual Channel

So If you have all 4 of 2GB sticks plugged in, It'll be like

DDR1 + DDR2 + DDR3 + DDR4 = 4GB Dual Channel

That's what I got from my AMD64 mobo with 4 memory slots It can go up to 4GB using 1GB DDR400 on all 4 slots or 2GB DDR400 on two slots.

My Gigabite 7VAX board do not have Dual Channels and it only limited 4 GB maximum using DDR333 1GB memory sticks, not DDR400

So it means you'll need 4 of 4GB memory stick to make it 8GB Dual Channel (budget breakers)

OR

2 of 4GB memory stick plugged on DDR1 + DDR3 slot make it 8GB Single Channel (Budget savers)

You can refer to your mobo's manual. I'm sure Dell XPS system DOES have Single and Dual Channels slots. It's common for all new mobo tho.

Single Channel and Dual Channel have some difference on speed. Gamers thought Dual Channel will make system go fast. I agree but not entirely. I've tried Dual Channel 512mb and ran XP and Linux. I noticed it runs kinda faster than Single Channel.

Make sense?

Catty:thumb::rockon:
 
purplecatty said:
:lol: RichardDeaf,.. you're a VMware crackhead. :rofl:

I am not sure if you are familiar with Single and Duall Channel DDR slots, like DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4. Something that if you want to upgrade it to 8GB on a 2 or 4 slots, You'll need 4gb ddr stick each slots to make it 8gb.

Catty:thumb::rockon:
Click to expand...

I am very familiar with these stuff. I already ordered four DDR2 PC6400 2GB modules (I got four slots). I just wanted to find out which is latest info for my XPS due to conflicting info on many websites.. I got offical specs from Dell which thats all I needed. :D
 
TechBill said:
Jacob's post did not mention if it a 32bit or 64bit Vista and yes you can expereience problem or crashes on 32bit Vista if you put too much memory. That why many websites recommand you only go up to 3 Gig of memory on 32bit Vista to avoid the chance of crashes happening.


.
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Unless you do Registery hack to allow more memory to run Vista. Same goes for Windos XP.


I've read articles that someone mentioned that few years ago He installed 4gb worth of memory and XP crashes. He use registry hack to change XP's memory limitation and his system runs fine after that.


Catty
 
purplecatty said:
Unless you do Registery hack to allow more memory to run Vista. Same goes for Windos XP.


I've read articles that someone mentioned that few years ago He installed 4gb worth of memory and XP crashes. He use registry hack to change XP's memory limitation and his system runs fine after that.


Catty
Click to expand...

You can do a registry hack to let 32-bit recognize 4 GB, but it still can't actually utilize it. Only thing you can do to actually make it useful is get 64-bit Vista.

Registry hack is not needed for people running Vista SP1 as it already recognize full 4GB.
 
Sorry being off topic but about the "recovery cd" almost all "Name-branded" computers include a program to create a recovery cd from the harddrive on their system OS now day since it save cost not having to include actual recovery cd discs with the package.

So when you get a new computer the instruction that come with it will probably tell you first thing is to do is burn a recovery cd with built in program and put recovery cd in a safe place

Lots of folks don't read instruction so they don't realized to burn a recovery cd and put it away safe place before it too late ...

Here a page how to make a Dell recovery cd from your Dell Desktop or Laptop http://support.dell.com/support/top...298774D06E7340E030030ABD62396D&doclang=en&cs=


.
 
TechBill said:
Sorry being off topic but about the "recovery cd" almost all "Name-branded" computers include a program to create a recovery cd from the harddrive on their system OS now day since it save cost not having to include actual recovery cd discs with the package.

So when you get a new computer the instruction that come with it will probably tell you first thing is to do is burn a recovery cd with built in program and put recovery cd in a safe place

Lots of folks don't read instruction so they don't realized to burn a recovery cd and put it away safe place before it too late ...


.
Click to expand...

I had couple friends run into this same problem.. I just go to mininova or thepiratebay torrent site to get the recovery CD.. Not illegal to have as long you download correct version of license you already own for that PC.

PC Manufacturers ought to have that recovery image availible for download on their website after user is registered. Dell offer the image for Enterprise server lines for download.
 
Do you really want to know what I think of Dell?

They suck royally! Really! I never own a single Dell computers/laptops but have had dealt with them in the repair-wise. Also, their tech supports are so horrid and clueless. I couldn't believe them. I wouldn't recommend Dell to anyone who asks me for any recommendation the brand name computers/laptops. No way in hell!
 
InsaneMisha said:
Do you really want to know what I think of Dell?

They suck royally! Really! I never own a single Dell computers/laptops but have had dealt with them in the repair-wise. Also, their tech supports are so horrid and clueless. I couldn't believe them. I wouldn't recommend Dell to anyone who asks me for any recommendation the brand name computers/laptops. No way in hell!
Click to expand...

A tip for you: Don't buy Dell from "Home" sales.. Buy it from Dell "Business" sales, they may be a little expensive but tech support are better and use AMERICANS, not from India. I have used Dell business supports twice for hardware support, they are great.
 
I always favor operation of XP Professional in my laptop. I dislike Vista.
 
I remember I have Trios I and II, for 3 switch Hard Disk in one
press 1 for XP
press 2 for FreeDOS
press 3 for Linux

that no problem no loss memory and perfect speed but Trios is no longer, I am sad

but you can 2 or more hard disk, boot and hit F8, choose hard disk
but they will show C:, D: ,F: but Trios I/II only alone C:
warning not Vista becuase Vista will error boot and insert DVD for repair for "BootLogo" or "MBR", XP, 2000, Lincus are fine
 
rhr said:
I remember I have Trios I and II, for 3 switch Hard Disk in one
press 1 for XP
press 2 for FreeDOS
press 3 for Linux

that no problem no loss memory and perfect speed but Trios is no longer, I am sad

but you can 2 or more hard disk, boot and hit F8, choose hard disk
but they will show C:, D: ,F: but Trios I/II only alone C:
warning not Vista becuase Vista will error boot and insert DVD for repair for "BootLogo" or "MBR", XP, 2000, Lincus are fine
Click to expand...


Nice hardware. I read about it and it is so neat!! But it's no longer selling at Tigerdirects. Cost $200 something. I would love to have that!!!! So I won't be unplugging and swaping and plugging many hdd for different OS. I had Ubuntu Hardy, FreeSuSe, MintLinux, and XP. :lol: My kids think I'm a real pain in the butt when they want to run XP to play game and when booting up system, It ended up Linux that I forgot to swap back drive to XP.

:rofl:

Catty
 
RichardDeaf said:
You can do a registry hack to let 32-bit recognize 4 GB, but it still can't actually utilize it. Only thing you can do to actually make it useful is get 64-bit Vista.

Registry hack is not needed for people running Vista SP1 as it already recognize full 4GB.
Click to expand...

Yup true. Heard that OS does have it's limitation, Unless you dig deeper to find hacking Vista OS to expand more memory allowance and find out if you can hack Vista using Vista Server version by extracting files from it and insert it to Vista Ultimate.

It's just like trying to boot full installed XP from USB flash drive. You'll have to extract 3 of Windows 2003 USB files and install it to XP as a bootstrap file that force USB to stay on while booting up and to destkop. That's the hack you need..

:lol:

Sometime Mobo have memory expansion limitation due to BIOS unless flashed to updated or find a hacked Dell BIOS with your risk. Sometime you might want to investigate what exactly Mobo came from. Sometime it came from well known brand mobo manufacter. If you can match Mobo model against mobo manufacter's model. If it matches, you can always download their BIOS instead of Dell's

I did the trick when my friend have old Compaq 300mhz system. What I did was look for model of mobo what Compaq bought from. It was Asus board so I look through Asus site and found matching model and downloaded BIOS and reflashed it to Asus' BIOS file. Compaq booted up with Asus name (Tada!! NO Compaq's flashscreen!!) and it had tons of options in Asus BIOS than Compaq's restrictive bios options!! My friend was shocked how I did with his system and able to configure it to make it run faster and upgraded processor to 500mhz :rofl:

I DID have hacked ABIT AV8 BIOS for overclocking purpose. For example, AV8 BIOS file was av27 as the most recent update listed on ABIT Driver Download website but I found it somewhere that have hacked "av28" to allow AV8 to open up clock speed. hee hee. But mobo died out before I had chance to flash bios to av28 :rofl:

So you might want to investigate it but I'm sure you don't want to reflash hacked BIOS file and turn up into dead XPS system. Unless if you have special "dual BIOS" like Gigabyte mobo. I love Dual BIOS and one time one virus did skew my BIOS on Gigabite and mobo went dead for 20 seconds and resurrected itself back to life without doing anything. Even if you accidently or purposely reflash wrong BIOS to Gigabite board to kill the board, it resurrected itself in 20 seconds again. It's like a Phoenix. I love Gigabyte.
Catty
 
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