NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Forums › Dell Home (Inspiron, XPS, Studio) › 2 beep error code installing 4Gb Ram
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

2 beep error code installing 4Gb Ram

post #1 of 12
11/5/08 at 3:06pm
Thread Starter 
OS: Windows XP SP3

I had two 512MB 2Rx16 PC2-5300S-55-12 sticks of ram in my laptop.

I purchased 2 x 2GB 200PIN DDR2 SODIMM 256MX64 sticks to install.

When i put in the new sticks I get 2 short beeps and it doesn't finish booting the the OS.

Am I doing something wrong? I know that the OS will only recognize 3Gb but it should at least boot right?

Also after the post check this pops up:

The amount of system memory has changed.
If you did not change your memory...
To resolve this issue, try to reseat the memory
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 12
11/5/08 at 3:13pm
Try inserting only one of them. Boot.

Then switch to the other one. Boot.

Likely, one of them is broken. Get it replaced.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 12
11/5/08 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 
I'll try that, does it matter if the RAM is in slot A or B?

Quote:
Originally Posted by m94mni View Post
Try inserting only one of them. Boot.

Then switch to the other one. Boot.

Likely, one of them is broken. Get it replaced.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 12
11/5/08 at 3:21pm
Thread Starter 
One of the sticks is bad, I'll see about getting is replaced. Thanks for the quick reply.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 12
11/5/08 at 4:56pm
Uh, what kind of laptop do you have?

Edit: The BIOS always gives the message about the memory changing. I thought it prompted you to press a key to continue (something like F1 or F2).
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 12
11/7/08 at 10:37pm
No, the message just sits there for a long time as I recall. You just have to wait it out I think.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 12
11/7/08 at 10:44pm
The 2 short beeps = Error doesn't it ?
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 12
11/8/08 at 6:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave-p View Post
The 2 short beeps = Error doesn't it ?
No, Dell machines beep twice and take forever to pass the BIOS screen whenever you change the memory.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 12
11/9/08 at 12:33am
After you seat the memory, just let it be for about a minute then it should go to BIOS. If you suspect a memory issue run the dell diagnostic or run memtest86. Granted they may not pick up everyones problems, but they picked up mine
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 12
12/12/08 at 5:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by |-007-| View Post
No, Dell machines beep twice and take forever to pass the BIOS screen whenever you change the memory.
Thanks for your post!

I installed 4GB in my Dell Latitude D620 and got this behavior. I had reseated memory twice before I found this post with a search engine. Exactly right!

I finally waited it out. My laptop hung on the message with no beeps for almost two minutes. Then 2 beeps. Then a shorter pause. Then the expected "F2 to enter system setup". After setup the boot was slower than normal (more time in POST and more time loading Windows) but no more scary messages. Dell really loses points for not mentioning this in the instructions about installing memory.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 12
12/12/08 at 6:04am
Glad its all working
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 12
12/17/08 at 5:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMD620 View Post
Thanks for your post!

I installed 4GB in my Dell Latitude D620 and got this behavior. I had reseated memory twice before I found this post with a search engine. Exactly right!

I finally waited it out. My laptop hung on the message with no beeps for almost two minutes. Then 2 beeps. Then a shorter pause. Then the expected "F2 to enter system setup". After setup the boot was slower than normal (more time in POST and more time loading Windows) but no more scary messages. Dell really loses points for not mentioning this in the instructions about installing memory.
It's kinda irritating, but luckily you don't change your memory often. Glad you got it fixed.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Forums › Dell Home (Inspiron, XPS, Studio) › 2 beep error code installing 4Gb Ram