Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

[The Rube]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Dell computers have a storied history of not playing nicely with non-Dell parts. For years, Dell used proprietary power supplies and motherboards with non-standard connectors. They supposedly stopped doing that with their desktops several years ago, but laptops are anyone's guess.

Could just be that the RAM you bought was a lemon. I've had it happen before.

See also:Gateway and Sony. Doomed their products for stretches.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Dell computers have a storied history of not playing nicely with non-Dell parts. For years, Dell used proprietary power supplies and motherboards with non-standard connectors. They supposedly stopped doing that with their desktops several years ago, but laptops are anyone's guess.

Could just be that the RAM you bought was a lemon. I've had it happen before.

[brookyone]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

It should have been a no brainer. Does it have 2 slots? It may want 2 4GB cards.

Otherwise, blame the communists.

No...one slot. I asked Dell that before I purchased the 8GB or opened the notebook. Dell tech states that alarm sequence indicates RAM failure.

[joecct]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Tried the 8GB RAM card upgrade today. No go. RAM card (PNY) installed easy as pie as advised here by several. Turn on the notebook and all I get is an alarm of two loud beeps...pause...two loud beeps...repeating. Reinstall the original 4GB RAM card and PC works just fine.

Back to Best Buy to return the PNY RAM. Guess I'll have to buy the 8GB card from Dell at a $30.00 premium over other brands.

It should have been a no brainer. Does it have 2 slots? It may want 2 4GB cards.

Otherwise, blame the communists.

[brookyone]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Tried the 8GB RAM card upgrade today. No go. RAM card (PNY) installed easy as pie as advised here by several. Turn on the notebook and all I get is an alarm of two loud beeps...pause...two loud beeps...repeating. Reinstall the original 4GB RAM card and PC works just fine.

Back to Best Buy to return the PNY RAM. Guess I'll have to buy the 8GB card from Dell at a $30.00 premium over other brands.

[St. Clown]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Never done it on a laptop, but it is that simple on desktops. As long as the memory is readily accessible, I'd imagine it's just as simple for laptops.

It's even easier in a laptop. Manufacturers have taken to locating the memory sticks under the battery compartment.

[unofan]

Recently bought an inexpensive Dell Inspiron notebook, primarily for use as a source for music integrated into an audio / home theater system. Supplied new with 4GB memory card...expandable to 8GB. I've never cracked the case on any PC...desktop or notebook, but I want to upgrade to the 8GB memory. A little research and it looks like a fairly simple procedure. Just access the memory card port...or whatever, remove the original and the new card pretty much snaps right in...in place of. Anyone have experience with replacement or upgrade of a memory card? Is it that simple...or anything else I need to know?

The 8GB card...Dell wants $150.00. Anyplace online I might buy one for less?

Thanks!

Never done it on a laptop, but it is that simple on desktops. As long as the memory is readily accessible, I'd imagine it's just as simple for laptops.

[Slap Shot]

It is that simple. Just be careful installing the new RAM chips, and you need to be gentle yet force them in. [Insert joke here]

Obviously, don't do it will the laptop running or plugged in.

And try Newegg.com for a better price.

Or Amazon.

[aparch]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

It is that simple. Just be careful installing the new RAM chips, and you need to be gentle yet force them in. [Insert joke here]

Obviously, don't do it will the laptop running or plugged in.

And try Newegg.com for a better price.

[brookyone]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Recently bought an inexpensive Dell Inspiron notebook, primarily for use as a source for music integrated into an audio / home theater system. Supplied new with 4GB memory card...expandable to 8GB. I've never cracked the case on any PC...desktop or notebook, but I want to upgrade to the 8GB memory. A little research and it looks like a fairly simple procedure. Just access the memory card port...or whatever, remove the original and the new card pretty much snaps right in...in place of. Anyone have experience with replacement or upgrade of a memory card? Is it that simple...or anything else I need to know?

The 8GB card...Dell wants $150.00. Anyplace online I might buy one for less?

Thanks!

[MissThundercat]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Unplug the router, wait 10 seconds. Plug it in again.

If that fails, delete the network and readd it. Don't know why, but it works, especially if you're in hotels that may have the same network name but are 100's of miles apart.

The unplug trick worked. I'm still thinking of buying a new computer, though... this one is a dinosaur. The CD-R drive is still jammed shut, the screen is shot (plugged into a monitor so I can use it at all), and the wireless card is old. I'm thinking a new laptop will suffice... all I use a computer for now is internet and music. And I have a 500 gb external hard drive, so I can load all my music.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Unplug the router, wait 10 seconds. Plug it in again.

If that fails, delete the network and readd it. Don't know why, but it works, especially if you're in hotels that may have the same network name but are 100's of miles apart.

And if all else fails, I hear there's internet out Californee-way.

[joecct]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Question: the wireless internet on my laptop will not hold a signal. I have tried restarting the computer, disconnecting and reconnecting, repairing the connection, etc, only to be met with "limited or no connectivity." The computer is an IBM Thinkpad and it's from 2005. Also, the in-house internet is DSL from Frontier, so I don't know whether it's the computer or the network itself. What can I do to stay connected?

Unplug the router, wait 10 seconds. Plug it in again.

If that fails, delete the network and readd it. Don't know why, but it works, especially if you're in hotels that may have the same network name but are 100's of miles apart.

[MissThundercat]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

Question: the wireless internet on my laptop will not hold a signal. I have tried restarting the computer, disconnecting and reconnecting, repairing the connection, etc, only to be met with "limited or no connectivity." The computer is an IBM Thinkpad and it's from 2005. Also, the in-house internet is DSL from Frontier, so I don't know whether it's the computer or the network itself. What can I do to stay connected?

[St. Clown]

Re: Puter Help... I hate these **** machines!

When in doubt, delete cache and reset. Then uninstall/reinstall.