"An unsupported memory moduel was detected" Dell laptop problems

Draeger

Draeger

Draeger

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Purchased a stick of SDRAM for my Dell C400 Laptop from a seller on that well known auction site.

The spec is:-

512MB SDR SODIMM PC133 512 MB M 133Mhz 144PIN

144 PIN Memory

133 Mhz (backward compatible with PC 100/66)

SODIMM (DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY)

Non-ECC

Non-Parity

Unbuffered

64 X 8 Configuration

Gold leads

But when I fit it in my Dell C400 Laptop, I get the message:-

"An unsupported memory module was detected".

"A bad or unsupported memory module was detected. Please remove the unsupported memory module in Socket 1.????

Strike the F1 key to continue."

I'm pretty sure its the correct type of memory for the laptop and on the Crucial site it tells me that up to 1Gb is supported by my model.

So silly question, is it a faulty module or is there something in particular with the type of memory these Dell laptops require?.
 
No m8, it shuts down.

In fact I think I got it wrong when I said it says "Press F1 to continue".

It actually says "Press F1 to switch off/shutdown" or something similar. :(
 
Laptops are sometimes resentful of mixed RAM inside them. Quite a few will not work with another stick from another manufacturer, see if you can find a match to the one you already have.
 
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Sadly, I think you are correct.

I just removed the keyboard and heatshield to remove the already fitted to the motherboard memory module.

When I finally got it to bits, its an Infineon 256Mb PC133 CL3 32x64 SODIMM thats under there.

I fitted the 512Mb SODIMM that I have and the attempted to switch the laptop on. The green power LED lit for a few seconds and then went off immediately. Not a thing showed on the screen. Nothing.

Removed it and put the original module back in and it powered up without any problem.

So I have either a duff chip or its just not compatible with the laptop at all, with or without the original memory module fitted.

Kinda strange, I was half expecting it to fire up with the new one fitted to the motherboard and the original removed, as its the same spec, albeit different manufacturers.
 
might be that the moduals are "locked" - the lappy wont use any memory without a specific string in the spd.

wouldnt be a shock to me anyway.

maybe an investigate with an spd tool could help (at your own risk)
 
Its a few years old now, one of those little C400 Ultra portable Dell's.

The chipset is the Intel 830M.

From the spec sheet, as far as memory goes, it says:-

Memory

Architecture
PCI33 SDRAM

Memory module socket
two (2) SODIMM sockets; one user-accessible

Memory module capacities
128, 256, and 512 MB

Memory type
3.3-V SODIMM

Standard memory
128 MB

Maximum memory
1024 MB

Memory clock speed
133 MHz
 
Well, I remember very little about that chipset but, (again a guess here) it would appear that the system will not support a 64x8 configuration which is what your new SODIMM is.

From above:
64 X 8 Configuration
Click to expand...

Most likely it would need to use a 512mb module made with 32 x 16mb ICs as opposed to 64 x 8.
 
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