AboutRider Expertise With 20 years experience I can answer almost any question about Intel computers ror build, restore, backup, configure, OS problems, Hardware issures. Setup of hardware components, repair, remove and replace. Trouble shooting hardware/driver issues.
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Expert: Rider Date: 1/10/2008 Subject: safe mode and mother board
Question QUESTION: I have an old Dell XPS t600 I added memory and things went nuts. I found out that the memory that I got sent was 133 MHz and my system only supports 100 MHz. I took it out but now the system won't boot up regularly. It will boot up in safe mode - did I fry the mother board?
ANSWER: If the system will start in 'Safe Mode' but not normally it is not the motherboard, something corrupted the OS installaton.
Did it start normally before you upgraded the memory?
Did it start normally when you upgraded the memory or did it just lock up or not start?
If it started normally when you did the upgrade the OS install is corrupt. You need to back up your data and then reinstall the OS.
QUESTION: >Did it start normally before you upgraded the memory?
Yes
>Did it start normally when you upgraded the memory or did it just lock up or not start?
No - it flash a BSOD that said BAD_POOL_CAller
I can back up my files in a safe mode but I have one question.
Since this was originally a Dell installed Win98 system that bought an upgrade XP only I don't have a full XP OS. Can I redo from that upgrade XP CD or do I have to buy a full XP software?
Thanks for all your help - the Dell technician told me that I fried my mother board by putting in the 133 MHZ memory
Answer If the system will start in 'Safe Mode' but not normally then it is not the motherboard, the Dell tech was mistaken.
I don't know if you can reload your system with the upgrade cd with out first loading Win 98.
You can try but if it fails then load Win98 and upgrade it again.
