Windows XP is certified to run in 128MB of RAM.  You may not like the
performance but a freeze or lockup as OP describes is not a symptom of
"minimum RAM configuration".
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/evaluation/sysreqs.asp

As to the hardware problem, I would remove and reseat all cables,
connectors, and RAM module(s) associated with this motherboard.  If no help,
then a motherboard swap is probably the fix.

Carl

-----Original Message-----
From: PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill Todd
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2004 11:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Dell Latitude - Intermittent freeze up

Hi David -

I might be wrong about this (I'm still using Win98SE myself), but I've heard
that you needed at least 256 mb of RAM to use WINXP properly.  That would
easily explain the freeze up problem you are having.

Bill Todd
-----Original Message-----
From: "David R. Enberg"<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sun May 30 15:22:41 PDT 2004
Subject: [PCBUILD] Dell Latitude - Intermittent freeze up

>I am troubleshooting a clients laptop. The unit is a Dell Latitude Cpi A
>366XT. IT has 128 mb ram and a 10 gb HD. I installed Win XP on it when I
>sold it to him last January.
>
>The unit freezes up at different times. Sometimes it boots right up into
>XP, works a few minutes, then freezes up. If I stop or start any
>hardware services, or even insert a CD ROM it freezes. Sometimes when I
>boot it up (or try to), it freezes at the BIOS splash screen or doesn't
>start at all. Also, I sometimes get a brief colored bar across the
>bottom of the screen as it boots up (video chip malfunction?). If I DO
>get a system freeze in XP, I have to shut off manually and restart; on
>these occasions, it does not boot up at all, but if I wait a few
>minutes, it will boot up once more, but may freeze again anywhere
>between BIOS check and Windows XP startup.
>
>When I was able to boot it up in XP, I did a thorough disk scan and
>defrag, ran a virus check, spyware and adbot removal, but I doubt that's
>it. I can't even boot to a CD or floppy, nor can I get into the BIOS
>setup utility. Your supposed to be able to do that on this unit by
>pressing FN-F1 on boot up, but it doesn't work.
>
>I think my only option at this point is to put in a new/used motherboard
>but I wanted to bounce this off you folks before I went ahead.
>
>Thanks in advance for your help
>
>Dave Enberg

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