Accessing Inspiron 2650 physical memory

I have an Inspiron 2650 here. I took off the bottom plastic marked "M" and
found one DIMM socket marked "DIMM B", plus a modem. Where is the socket
marked "DIMM A"? Do I need to remove the keyboard to get at it?

The 2650 service manual at the Dell web site comes up short here, does not show
how to put memory in the second DIMM socket, but the specs for the computer say
2x256MB for 512MB max.

Actually, my guess is that it will take even more memory, given that the
computer has an Intel 845 chipset. Thanks much... Ben Myers

"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I have an Inspiron 2650 here. I took off the bottom plastic marked "M"
>and
> found one DIMM socket marked "DIMM B", plus a modem. Where is the socket
> marked "DIMM A"? Do I need to remove the keyboard to get at it?
>
> The 2650 service manual at the Dell web site comes up short here, does not
> show
> how to put memory in the second DIMM socket, but the specs for the
> computer say
> 2x256MB for 512MB max.
>
> Actually, my guess is that it will take even more memory, given that the
> computer has an Intel 845 chipset. Thanks much... Ben Myers

Odds are the keyboard. That's where the 'other' one usually is. Likely
marked in the doc as not user accessible.

I found the answer to my own question: "The Dimm A slot on the Dell Inspiron
2650 laptop is inside the laptop. You need to remove the keyboard & then the
metal plate under that to get to Dimm slot A." Now we know. And I'll upgrade
the little bugger to 512MB.

Dell's service manual calls "DIMM B" customer accessible. Hah! So is DIMM A,
if you are a tough customer... Ben Myers

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:55:51 -0500, "Tom Scales" <> wrote:

>
>"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>>I have an Inspiron 2650 here. I took off the bottom plastic marked "M"
>>and
>> found one DIMM socket marked "DIMM B", plus a modem. Where is the socket
>> marked "DIMM A"? Do I need to remove the keyboard to get at it?
>>
>> The 2650 service manual at the Dell web site comes up short here, does not
>> show
>> how to put memory in the second DIMM socket, but the specs for the
>> computer say
>> 2x256MB for 512MB max.
>>
>> Actually, my guess is that it will take even more memory, given that the
>> computer has an Intel 845 chipset. Thanks much... Ben Myers
>
>Odds are the keyboard. That's where the 'other' one usually is. Likely
>marked in the doc as not user accessible.
>

Well, the memory upgrade for the Inspiron 2650 is done. Not the easiest one
ever, but not too brutal. You need a good screwdriver with a smaller Philips
head.

1. Remove two screws from back of case holding on the plastic panel with the
on-off switch.
2. Remove plastic panel.
3. Remove 4 screws attaching keyboard up toward where the LCD is attached.
4. Carefully lift keyboard out, keeping its cable attached.
5. Remove 2 screws holding LCD ribbon cable, and carefully detach it.
6. Remove three long screws that hold down metal plate on left side.
7. Lift the metal plate. Voila! "DIMM A" is exposed, like a flasher in a
raincoat at night.
8. Install memory, reverse steps above and be careful with all ribbon cables.
9. Test with MEMTEST-86 for the fun of it.

Speaking as a confirmed Dellbot, let me say that a memory upgrade for this
machine is really a pain in the ass. But it's done, once and for all. Whoever
designed this motherboard should be condemned to a purgatory (if such a place
exists) where he has to repetitively install and uninstall memory from DIMM A.

Now that I think about it, there are undoubtedly other notebooks with the same
stupid DIMM layout. I worked on a Toshiba a few months ago and installed 128MB
on the underside, leaving 64MB somewhere inside, soldered to the motherboard, I
thought. Betcha Toshiba employed the same dimwit to design the motherboard as
Dell did for the 2650, and there is another DIMM socket under the keyboard.

Case closed... Ben Myers

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:12:06 -0500, Ben Myers
<> wrote:

>I found the answer to my own question: "The Dimm A slot on the Dell Inspiron
>2650 laptop is inside the laptop. You need to remove the keyboard & then the
>metal plate under that to get to Dimm slot A." Now we know. And I'll upgrade
>the little bugger to 512MB.
>
>Dell's service manual calls "DIMM B" customer accessible. Hah! So is DIMM A,
>if you are a tough customer... Ben Myers
>
>On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:55:51 -0500, "Tom Scales" <> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>>news:. ..
>>>I have an Inspiron 2650 here. I took off the bottom plastic marked "M"
>>>and
>>> found one DIMM socket marked "DIMM B", plus a modem. Where is the socket
>>> marked "DIMM A"? Do I need to remove the keyboard to get at it?
>>>
>>> The 2650 service manual at the Dell web site comes up short here, does not
>>> show
>>> how to put memory in the second DIMM socket, but the specs for the
>>> computer say
>>> 2x256MB for 512MB max.
>>>
>>> Actually, my guess is that it will take even more memory, given that the
>>> computer has an Intel 845 chipset. Thanks much... Ben Myers
>>
>>Odds are the keyboard. That's where the 'other' one usually is. Likely
>>marked in the doc as not user accessible.
>>

"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Well, the memory upgrade for the Inspiron 2650 is done. Not the easiest
> one
> ever, but not too brutal. You need a good screwdriver with a smaller
> Philips
> head.
>
> 1. Remove two screws from back of case holding on the plastic panel with
> the
> on-off switch.
> 2. Remove plastic panel.
> 3. Remove 4 screws attaching keyboard up toward where the LCD is attached.
> 4. Carefully lift keyboard out, keeping its cable attached.
> 5. Remove 2 screws holding LCD ribbon cable, and carefully detach it.
> 6. Remove three long screws that hold down metal plate on left side.
> 7. Lift the metal plate. Voila! "DIMM A" is exposed, like a flasher in a
> raincoat at night.
> 8. Install memory, reverse steps above and be careful with all ribbon
> cables.
> 9. Test with MEMTEST-86 for the fun of it.
>
> Speaking as a confirmed Dellbot, let me say that a memory upgrade for this
> machine is really a pain in the ass. But it's done, once and for all.
> Whoever
> designed this motherboard should be condemned to a purgatory (if such a
> place
> exists) where he has to repetitively install and uninstall memory from
> DIMM A.
>
> Now that I think about it, there are undoubtedly other notebooks with the
> same
> stupid DIMM layout. I worked on a Toshiba a few months ago and installed
> 128MB
> on the underside, leaving 64MB somewhere inside, soldered to the
> motherboard, I
> thought. Betcha Toshiba employed the same dimwit to design the
> motherboard as
> Dell did for the 2650, and there is another DIMM socket under the
> keyboard.
>
> Case closed... Ben Myers
>


Thanks for the heads up, Ben. Always an odd-bird system out there with some
lack of docs to help.

Stew