I am trying to perform a clean install of Windows Vista Home Basic. I am
running a Dell Dimension 3000.

Processor: Pentium 4 2.8GHz
Memory: 1024 MB DDR SDRAM (333MHz)

During installation I get the message that "Windows detected that this
computer has 256Mb of RAM, but 512MB is required for installation.
Installation cannot proceed". I have checked with the BIOS setup utility and
I defntiely have 1GB RAM installed, and my PC meets the minimum system
requriements for Vista. Any ideas why Vista installation only thinks I have
256Mb RAM??

Thanks very much.

nwb wrote:
> I am trying to perform a clean install of Windows Vista Home Basic. I am
> running a Dell Dimension 3000.
>
> Processor: Pentium 4 2.8GHz
> Memory: 1024 MB DDR SDRAM (333MHz)
>
> During installation I get the message that "Windows detected that this
> computer has 256Mb of RAM, but 512MB is required for installation.
> Installation cannot proceed". I have checked with the BIOS setup utility and
> I defntiely have 1GB RAM installed, and my PC meets the minimum system
> requriements for Vista. Any ideas why Vista installation only thinks I have
> 256Mb RAM??

According to Dell's website, the Dimension 3000 is not supported in
Vista. There are no drivers for it. The only operating system for which
there are drivers is XP. It doesn't matter why your installation fails;
Vista isn't going to work on this machine. Here is a link to Dell's
website where you can select the OS and download drivers (TinyURLed):

http://tinyurl.com/27yxzo

Sorry.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Malke" wrote:

> nwb wrote:
> > I am trying to perform a clean install of Windows Vista Home Basic. I am
> > running a Dell Dimension 3000.
> >
> > Processor: Pentium 4 2.8GHz
> > Memory: 1024 MB DDR SDRAM (333MHz)
> >
> > During installation I get the message that "Windows detected that this
> > computer has 256Mb of RAM, but 512MB is required for installation.
> > Installation cannot proceed". I have checked with the BIOS setup utility and
> > I defntiely have 1GB RAM installed, and my PC meets the minimum system
> > requriements for Vista. Any ideas why Vista installation only thinks I have
> > 256Mb RAM??
>
> According to Dell's website, the Dimension 3000 is not supported in
> Vista. There are no drivers for it. The only operating system for which
> there are drivers is XP. It doesn't matter why your installation fails;
> Vista isn't going to work on this machine. Here is a link to Dell's
> website where you can select the OS and download drivers (TinyURLed):
>
> http://tinyurl.com/27yxzo
>
> Sorry.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

OK. Thats not good news but thanks for the answer and quick response.