Physical memory and available memory

unifex said:

ggeoff, here you will find the memory-related chapter from Dell's instruction manual for Precision 490 - I guess that's your model. When inserting memory you should follow the directions precisely, especially pay attention to the slot numbers. Please let us know how this went.

Now, to check whether your system recognizes your new DIMMs, simply remove all other memory and put one new DIMM in slot 1. If the BIOS won't see it - and the computer won't boot - that means that either the DIMM is defective, or it is not suitable for your motherboard, or you may need a BIOS upgrade. I don't see any other possibility.

yes thanks have read and read that. According to Dell it makes no difference, they suggest using sets of four sticks but also suggest sets of two sticks. BIOS detects 9 Gb as what is in the DIMMs but only 5 GB. So thats odd and also the 4 GB sticks are 2 GB sticks according to the table.

@bigmck

Off topic but for what it's worth I have upgraded from XP Pro 32 bit to windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I bought a windows 7 pro Upgrade.

bigmck said:

ggeoff said:

@bigmck

Off topic but for what it's worth I have upgraded from XP Pro 32 bit to windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I bought a windows 7 pro Upgrade.

If you did not do a clean install, I am not sure what you did. There is no upgrade from XP to Win 7 and there is no upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit. You must have done a clean install.
Are you sure you are running 64-bit? That could be the reason you are seeing the memory problem.

Thanks bigmck, Well, I have the upgrade package it contains two disks 32 and 64 bit versions. It is described as Upgrade designed for Windows Vista but does include the warning reprinted below. "If you are upgrading from Windows XP you will need to back up your files and settings, perform a clean install and then re-install your existing files, settings and programs."

I had a clean system, no programs, so no backup etc required. Control Panel reports that I have Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Operating System. Are you suggesting that the upgrade is possibly corrupt?

I doubt it is a corrupt install if the BIOS itself is not seeing the new memory. I am still questioning about the memory in and of itself. Have you tried just putting one of the RAM sticks in and seeing if it bothers to see just the memory itself at startup?

Keiichi25 said:

Another thing to consider is also checking whether or not that is the correct memory for your system. When you got the second hand ram, did you go through the memory configurators for Crucial, or Kingston or the like to make sure it works for that model of computer.

I have to ask this cause sometimes people think they have the right kind of ram, but ended up getting the wrong kind, not knowing that the speeds and chips make a difference.

Hi
I bought it on ebay from a dealer and aasked whether it will work on the Dell 490 and was told it will.

Keiichi25 said:

I doubt it is a corrupt install if the BIOS itself is not seeing the new memory. I am still questioning about the memory in and of itself. Have you tried just putting one of the RAM sticks in and seeing if it bothers to see just the memory itself at startup?

Thanks Keiichi

Well if I put the 512MB stick and the 4GB stick I get a message: Operating in single channel mode please populate memory in matched sets for normal operation. Setop reports: Installed memory 512 MB memory Channel Mode: Single DIMM 1 512MB and DIMM 2 2GB. Conrol Panel reports: Installed memory 2.50 GB (512 MB usuable). PC Wizard 2010 reports: DIMM 1 512 MB anf DIMM 2 2048 MB The program lists the manufacturers of the memory as well and in that list of contents of the DIMMs it lists DIMM 2 as 4096 MB ( 4 ranks of 8 banks)

If I just try to install the two 4 GB sticks the system reports via a signal lamp no memory installed. I've given up on this and will return the memory for a replacement or a refund. I have also posted a query on the Dell forum and will share any information I get that sheds light on the issue.

Thanks everyone for helping :)