m3200 with 2GB Ram won't boot

Does anyone here have a Sentia m3200 with 2 GB of Ram? If so, have you had any problems with system crashes?

I have had a reoccurring problem with my m3200 experiencing sudden fatal crashes (no BSOD, just sudden death, and now more frequently followed by inability to get past windows eXPlicative welcome screen). I have run Memtest repeatedly with no errors, and have gone as far as returning the memory for a fresh pair. Still the same problem.

So my question is, will having more than officially sanctioned memory (AW and Uniwill say 1GB is max supported, but most memory suppliers list 2x1 GB as compatible) cause this kind of problem? And does anyone have a system that is running smoothly with 2GB of memory? I would like to rule this out before I send the laptop back to the mothership.

 

Sentias are ancient in hardware terms. they might have mobo restrictions, sorta like the m9750, which is limited to 2.5gb of RAM.

 

^ agree

 

Hi,
I don't have a Sentia either, but I think Whizzo has a point. Usually motherboards are capped at a certain maximum of memory. However, I've never heard of a computer not running stable if you added more than its maximum. It just simply uses what it sees. What does the blue screen of death say??? What happens when you take a stick of memory out??? Do you have the current Bios??? Are you sure your memory is compatible???

Gabe

 

I was just poking around on the AW tech support site, and they now list 2GB as maximum memory on the m3200 (they only offered 1 GB when new, and Uniwill still lists that as max for the model). So I guess I can rule out the memory as the problem.

 

Run a check on your Hard drive. Might be a bad hard drive.

 

No BSOD, just D. Memory is compatible, has similar issues with one or two sticks. I just don't want to send it in and have AW say that adding excess memory is not supported and then not repair the laptop.

 

Hi,
Do you have the current Bios?

Gabe

 

Tried that too. And a clean Windows install. And any test that I can run without either voiding the warranty or buying expensive test kit. Looks like its due for a trip back to the mothership.

 

I'm sure alienware will be able to replicate the issue. I did own an Ibuypower once, and it was running a uniwill motherboard as well. I remember the bios being a rather manual proceedure than an easy one. Have you checked the uniwill site for a Bios?

Gabe

 

I have the current AW BIOS (it's about two years old). I am afraid that a Uniwill BIOS will (1) void the warranty and (2) mess up the alien logo lights (the AW BIOS update was to fix an issue with the lighting). I am leaning towards motherboard as the source of the problem.

 

Test the hard drive yet? A bad hard drive can lead to BSOD's as well.

 

Asked & answered.

 

Call AW yet? If you want try the Roswell Crew. Their phone number is in my signature. These guys do a better job at customer service then regular TS.

 

Thanks. I'll give them a call.

 

May have found a problem. I got the system to boot off a Geubuntu live CD, and was greeted with the message "critical temperature reached 105 degrees"

 

Sounds like my friends M5500

 

Here we go again...

 

Overheating. Motherboard?

 

That's what I'm thinking. Only AW can tell for sure. I've contacted the Roswell Crew and am awaiting instructions to send it in for testing.

 

OK, its going back to the mothership. I must say that I have been impressed with the Roswell Crew. Very fast and helpful.

 

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

I think. My wife signed for the box, so my Sentia is waiting at home. Laptop was just returned from repair depot with a new motherboard. Repair took a day, so with shipping I was without my computer for a week. Have to get home and fire it up.

Once again, Roswell Crew was a pleasure to deal with, and Alienware support was awesome.

 

let us know how it goes! Congrats

 

Can any AW customer contact Roswell support, or are they just for certain models.

Good luck with the pc.

(Sorry to hijack thread, lol)

 

No problem. Anyone with an Alienware can contact Roswell, and I would strongly recommend it.

Had a few hours playing around with the laptop last night. Works perfectly. +1 for AW support!!!