TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2002-03 > 1015143945


From: Walt Flory <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Memory in Win 98 SE, Win ME, Win XP/XP Pro (was: Exhibit log)
Date: Sun, 03 Mar 2002 03:25:45 -0500
References: <5.1.0.14.0.20020302233030.0270f8f0@mail.fscv.net><5.1.0.14.0.20020302195758.00a06850@pop.sprynet.com><5.1.0.14.0.20020302183300.00acca80@mail.fscv.net><OE135uKxeSuPcw3LyyU00005116@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20020302234320.00a0dec0@pop.sprynet.com>


At 12:04 AM 3/3/02 -0600, Darrell A Martin wrote:
>At 11:55 PM 3/2/02 -0500, Walt Flory wrote:
>>
>><snip>
>>I've been wanting to add more memory to it but Dell technical support
>>assured me (about nine months ago) that the Windows SE that it shipped
>>with would not recognize more than 128 MB
><snip>

>Hi, Walt:
>
>Correct. Windows 98 SE running on my IBM Personal Computer 300PL, a 400
>MHz Pentium II, shows 192 MB as available when you look at System
>Properties, whether it is run by right-clicking "My Computer" or by using
>the Control Panel.
>
>One caveat. It is not unheard of for a specific machine to have a
>limitation in the BIOS, in the motherboard hardware (especially laptops),
>or in the specific configuration of the operating system that is not
>present in all versions of that same operating system. But I haven't heard
>anything like that about Dell notebooks, especially not one running
>something as settled as Win 98 SE was in 2001.
>
>In my opinion, Dell Technical support (or more likely, the junior staffer
>you talked to at the time) was feeding you some low-grade baloney. To
>confirm that, you might want to use some Web search engines and look for
>all terms: Dell Inspiron 7500 memory, before you run out and buy what may
>be relatively expensive proprietary RAM. But Dell's OWN memory selector
>site, at:
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/mem_config.asp
>
>shows a 256 MB memory module for the Inspiron 7500, and I was unable to
>find any FAQs that warned about Windows 98 limitations on your machine.
>
>Darrell


Darrell

Thanks for the confirmation. I hated to even pose the question, I can tell
you know your way around a computer. And yes, I certainly know that first
line help desk is very spotty ... some are extremely good, some are very green.

I know when I bought the computer that they showed configurations at least
up to 256 MB. At the time (about two years ago) 128 MB seemed like a
gracious plenty. The machine was designed and tested for both Win 98 SE and
Win 2000. I was led astray by the comment about operating system
limitations. Not even "junior" at the help desk hinted at the computer not
being capable of handling it. I'll talk to them again.

The computer was delivered running Win 98 SE in Feb 2000, one of the first
of the PIII mobile computers. Do your comments still stand?

Any thoughts on whether or not I should consider more than 256 MB?

Walt Flory


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