Hello everyone,

Ever since I bought the Dell used, it refused to use the second RAM slot, just blinks the caps light 10 or so times at bootup. The unit shipped with two 512mb sticks, and I've switched them out every which way and that and the RAM itself is fine, it is the slot that is the problem. As I was toying around with the RAMs one day, I discovered that if I put it on my lap and press with my knee and hands and sort of "compress" the laptop, it works! with both RAM sticks installed, boots up to Windows or whatever you want it to.

However, when I release the pressure of my hands/knee, the unit simply crashes and shows a static video screen. This happens with everything, Windows, RAM Diagnostics, whatever.

So am I on to something? Is the laptop saveable? 512mb is too small for my tasks, and I would gladly appreciate 1gb of memory. I've noticed that those little metal strips on the back plate came off and stick instead to the metal they're supposed to be grounding I suppose. A sign? Maybe I need a new back RAM plate? I don't want to blow money on something that surely doesn't work however.

Thanks.