Hey all,

I just inherited an older chipset computer and wanted to know the maximum hard disk size I could install on it. It's in a Dell Dimension 4100...I downloaded the manual but nothing gives....

As long as you have it set to SPD in your BIOS....see your motherboard manual for more info on BIOS settings.

Freshdiagnose is a freeware program that is nice to use to check out your hardware. It's available from download.com


You CAN mix RAM (PC2100 and PC2700 for example) but it will run at the...

you are correct...you cannot mix diff speeds of RAM together. This causes problems because of different settings between the types of RAM.

If you invest about 10 bucks into getting a DMM (digital multimeter) at Wal-Mart or your local hardware store, you can detect whether or not the case LED's have 'continuity' between the two...

No offense on this, but you really should do a search via google or your fav search engine on this yourself. I did a search on 'i845e specifications' and came up with this on the first page:
...

Yes...PC2700 will work in a PC2100 only board...but would be a waste IMHO

Also


Don't mix types of RAM...say, having PC2100 256MB and a PC2700 256MB...mainboards often get confused with...

Yes it actually does. Each RAM module is rated in Mhz (Megahertz). PC2100 is rated at DDR (double data rate) 266Mhz and PC2700 is rated at DDR 333Mhz.

If you buy PC2700 and plug it into a board...

Hence SPD...which times RAM and FSB automatically together without conflicts.

Usually, unless you overclock, you'll want to go with SPD setting in BIOS for your RAM. I use Abit boards though which gives me the option of having preset tweaks that I can switch to. Perhaps your...

Case modding...

Directron.com hands down is the best place to find cheap mods.

One easy way to dry them out is to pick up some ethyl alcohol and use an small paintbrush on each and every circuit ont the board. Ethyl alcohol helps to remove water that may or may not be present...

I don't think hardware upgrade constitutes a 'new system'
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/downloads/X0933534LBL.pdf

I can't find anything in the above link that supports it...but then again,...

Hopefully you reinstalled windows when you installed the new motherboard. You'll have less problems when you do that.

If you haven't...there's your culprit.

If you don't know the megahertz of your RAM, it's easiest to count pins. 184 pins are DDR (double data rate) and 168 or fewer pins are SDR (single data rate). There are specific instances where...

Whats your motherboard vendor/model?

Things to try:
1. Start, Run, regsvr32 ntdll.dll
or Start, Run, regsvr32 c:\windows\system\ntdll.dll (there is a space between regsvr32 and c:...)
If no joy then
2. Extract new one from...