Dell Inspiron E1505 Upgrade Adivce

[dudejoe4]

My parents have a e1505 which is currently running Vista. I have been debating on upgrading it to W7, but was unsure if it would handle it well. I have keys for XP, Vista, and W7 32bit. I plan on doing a clean install.
It has a T2250 1.73GHz processor with 2gb ram.

All my parents will be doing with it is internet use and organizing pictures and things like that. It's about time for a clean install of any OS on it.

Thanks
-dudejoe4

 

[Bill2]

Run the upgrade advisor.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows

 

[pebbly]

Hi dudejoe4, welcome to the forums , the e1505/i6400 will run win 7 although you may have to install some of the drivers in compatibility mode

 

[lhorwinkle]

My daughter had that same computer: Dell E1505. It ran Vista.
Horrible! Why? Because this box will NOT accept any more than 2 GB of RAM. It was starved for memory.
In the end, we replaced it with an HP laptop, one that had enough memory to work properly.

What to do with the E1505? I loaded it with Windows XP, which runs fine with only 2 GB of RAM. It's now my piano computer.

Conclusion: The E1505 is not suited for Vista, and probably even less suited for Windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

You can run Win7 32 bit on 2gb RAM just fine. I run it on 1gb RAM with a weaker processor for light web browsing and multi-tasking.

You'll want to run the Upgrade advisor to flag specific issues with software or hardware.

Back up your Dell recovery disks or an image of the Vista install if it is worth saving:
Macrium - Image your system
Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

Then boot the Win7 DVD to clean reinstall following these steps to get a perfect baseline install which you can then image so you never have to reinstall again: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[pragnesh89]

Yeah, you can. I have the same laptop. I feel gutted that I can't put more RAM in it. The techs at Dell really messed it up. Windows 7 runs pretty fine on it but still I would love an extra 2 gigs of RAM.

 

[kegobeer]

It runs 7 just fine. I have one and it's running 7 Ultimate without any problems at all. It runs much better than it ever did with Vista on it.

 

[Beta]

Your 32 bit key will let you install 64 bit. That is what i would do since 64 bit will be around longer the 32 bit will more programs will run on it in the long term. Also 32 bit programs will run on it also.

 

[gregrocker]

The point in advising OP install 32 bit is that 64 bit may drag some with only 2gb RAM allowed on that Dell.

 

[Beta]

I have a HP Dv5215us and it has a max ram of 2GB however the AMD CPU supports x64 so why not? You do not lose anything or realy gain anything profrmace from it but you are at the cutting edge when it comes to x64. My idea about computers is if it can do it then go for it.

 

[gregrocker]

Some have experienced drag with 64 bit on 2gb or less RAM. It depends on what you use it for.

What is your experience with 2gb RAM using 64 bit Win7?

Let's hear what others have to advise.

 

[Beta]

Works great and I have two sticks of DDR 333 running single channel since that is all the CPU supports. Has been my flagship laptop for 5 years now and it still has life left in it. I do limited gaming on it and I use SolidWorks x64 2011 on it and it works great. When it comes to the OS it is all how you manage it and how you use it. The ram on x64 idles higher the x32. So people think that means that lower ram computers should not use it. This is untrue. Microsoft in there "wonderful" thinking thought that they should put more ram in idle ie when you start a program and then close it the program stays in the ram until Windows needs that space.

 

[lhorwinkle]

Win 7 in 2 GB of RAM is like putting an elephant into a phone booth. It may fit, but it isn't pretty.

I run Win 7 on a box with 8 GB RAM. It uses 2.5 GB while sitting there idle, running no apps (just the usual background services and desktop cute stuff).

I wouldn't think of running Win 7 with so little RAM. Better to add memory or buy a bigger box.

 

[gregrocker]

I would strip your OS down to the cleanest boot possible, ideally only AV running at Startup.

To do this, enter msconfig>Startup and uncheck everything you don't absolutely need to start with Windows, which drains CPU/ram, slows startup and can spy on you. Check back after reboots that nothing writes itself back in, or turn it off in it's Program Prefs or uninstall it. s

Do the same with msconfig>Services after hiding all MS services. After a day of making sure nothing sneaks back into either list, see what your idle RAM/CPU has become.

 

[pebbly]

Dell insisted my I9400 would only support 2GB ram ,searching around the internet I found people saying it was possible to run 4GB so I tried an extra 2GB and voila no problems ,It may be worth trying an extra 2Gb in the I6400/E1505

 

[dudejoe4]

thanks for the info. i'll probably put the 32bit version on it.

 

[kegobeer]

The 1505 doesn't support more than 2GB. I have the 1705/9400, which does, as well as owning a 1505, which doesn't support it.

Windows 7 runs just fine on a system with 2GB.

 

[lhorwinkle]

"1505 ... doesn't support it.
That's what I read all over the web. Dell says no. Users say no. So I guess it's no. Just 2 GB max in an E1505.

 

[Nightreaper]

Hi,

I also searched internet to find Dell say "NO" and some user's say "NO", however I also found some user said "YES" :sarc:
I suppose it depends on your chipset and the Dell BIOS they used!

Now it just so happens that i had a family member bring me a laptop to sort out some issues, now being the inquisitive type I started to check out the components in this laptop. Yes you guessed it, it had the same spec ram as mine, only this baby had a 2gb stick in it .
Well it had to be done , moments later ram swapped over and my i6400 is booting and the dell bios is complaining that ram spec has changed "PRESS F1 TO ENTER BIOS", so enter bios new ram amount showing escape bios reboot laptop and boots to windows just fine .
So its now got 3gb ram and windows 7 32bit, it's used for general laptop tasks and runs just fine. Decided to stay with 32bit to limit driver issues, also this laptop has no dell "bloatware" installed.

Sorry forgot to say hope this helps! and suppose the only way to be sure is get hold of a stick and try!

 

[kegobeer]

Hi,

I also searched internet to find Dell say "NO" and some user's say "NO", however I also found some user said "YES" :sarc:
I suppose it depends on your chipset and the Dell BIOS they used!

Now it just so happens that i had a family member bring me a laptop to sort out some issues, now being the inquisitive type I started to check out the components in this laptop. Yes you guessed it, it had the same spec ram as mine, only this baby had a 2gb stick in it .
Well it had to be done , moments later ram swapped over and my i6400 is booting and the dell bios is complaining that ram spec has changed "PRESS F1 TO ENTER BIOS", so enter bios new ram amount showing escape bios reboot laptop and boots to windows just fine .
So its now got 3gb ram and windows 7 32bit, it's used for general laptop tasks and runs just fine. Decided to stay with 32bit to limit driver issues, also this laptop has no dell "bloatware" installed.

Sorry forgot to say hope this helps! and suppose the only way to be sure is get hold of a stick and try!

I do have personal experience with the 1505, which is why I posted and told the OP that it doesn't support more than 2GB.