Dell Dimension 8400 problem

Cutie18Ireland

well i was on the pc yesterday playing sims and it crashed, we have had nothing but trouble with it for the past year and a half. just last week we had to reboot again. now when i turn it on it gives a lot of beeps theres a 1-3-2 pattern found a bit on the dell website about that but none of it made sense. so check the 4 lights on the back and get 2 yellow 2 green and on the dell website that supposedly means...


"Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred.


* If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.
* If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer.
* If the problem persists, contact Dell."

I dont really get what that means not used to computer hardware at all. oh and is there anyway to send it back to dell???

I hope this thread makes sense, i'm just so sick to death of it not working...

Wertz

You've got a bad stick of RAM.

If you're not confident opening the machine, then get someone who is, have them remove one stick of the RAM (there should be two), boot the machine and see if that works.
If not, do the same again, but take out the other stick and replace the first and see if that works.

RAM failure is common enough...I'm not sure if Dell have a life warranty on their RAM, you'd need to call them and find out. The PC will wok fine on one stick until you get the other replaced.
If it's outside of warranty then a new stick isn't that expensive (depending on size and type)...just post back with the specs for advice.


I've had an 8400 for 2 years, not so much as a moment's trouble.

Wertz

The parts of the motherboard I've circled is where the two RAM sticks are located. Make sure whoever is working inside the PC has grounded themselves by touching the metal chassi plate of the machine before touching electronics components.

Cutie18Ireland

ok opened and found it now how do i take it out??

kaizersoze

Wertz wrote:

The parts of the motherboard I've circled is where the two RAM sticks are located. Make sure whoever is working inside the PC has grounded themselves by touching the metal chassi plate of the machine before touching electronics components.

It's an Inspiron 8400 he has so I'd say it's a laptop.

Cutie18Ireland

not a laptop a pc must not be an inspiron then just know its an 8400

oh removed one same problem so gonna try the other one instead

kaizersoze

Cutie18Ireland wrote:

not a laptop a pc must not be an inspiron then just know its an 8400

oh removed one same problem so gonna try the other one instead

Ah. It's a Dimension so.

Cutie18Ireland

ok took out the first one tried it same beeps, put that back in and took out the other one... and its still beeping!?!?!?!

oh and all it says on the ram is 512mb

Cutie18Ireland

kaizersoze wrote:

It's an Inspiron 8400 he has so I'd say it's a laptop.

She not he lol

kaizersoze

Cutie18Ireland wrote:

She not he lol

Apologies Cutie

calex71

Cutie if ur in duleek i might get time later on today to look at for you b4 i head back to dublin

Wertz

Hmm....both banks gone, could be some other hardware issue....pretty unlikely that both sticks would be bad at the same time. Probably something else gone on the motherboard so...are you sure you had the sticks pushed down into their slots correctly?
If so then it looks like it's time to call TS...is it still under warranty?

As for it being a laptop; there is no i8400....combine that with her describing POST lights (which inspirons don't have on the back) and I thought it was safe to presume it was a desktop.

Cutie18Ireland

i dont know if its still under warranty, was thinking we had this prob before... maybe one went bad then? and the other bad now?? is that possible??

5uspect

Dumb question, sorry, but when you put the memory in separably did you put them into the first slot? i.e. the one nearest the processor (back of the computer)

Cutie18Ireland

yeah put them back exactly where they came out of... the ones they came out of had white clips the other 2 had black ones

Wertz

Okay, I'd sya it was time to ring tech support, as horrible a prospect as that is.

Before you do, find the service tag of the machine...it's under the little "hood" thing on the front of the PC below the power button. An alphanumeric code about 8 characters long. When you call TS quote them this number and explain your problem including the POST lights code, tell them you've tried switching out the RAM sticks and see what else they recommend....I think this might be some other problem with the motherboard.
They'll walk you through a lot of stuff you've already done and they're hard to understand so be patient.

Try and find out if it's still under warranty too...replacing a motherboard is a costly prospect especially for a dell so if it's outside of warranty it might serve you netter to replace the whole machine....but be sure you've tried to fix it before you do that obviously...

Cutie18Ireland

okay will give them a ring tomorrow and let u know how i get on... thanx very much for your help

Hobbes

Did you try the Dell websites support wizard first? I Would exhast everything there first before ringing support.

Wertz

Yeah good calls hobbes....forgot all about that. Indian TS is the second last resort (before buying another one lol)

Cutie18Ireland

ah no the warranty is up since may... great!!

the support wizard justs seems to presume u can turn it on...

Wertz

It's a multiple choice type checklist...tick the option that it weon't boot into windows and then it'll ask you some stuff and ask for the POST light code (yygg)...see where it sends you from there...