Weird Problem on Laptop

[mihir]

My Friend's windows suddenly stopped working, and whenever the Laptop was turned on it Windows Started loading stuff(I mean this screen - http://www.davescomputertips.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/windows_loading_files.png), and then the laptop restarted abrupty everytime at the same progress point.
Then I tried to install Ubuntu 11.04 Using a Flash Drive and once it loaded the purple screen it displayed an error "System --Halted".
Then when the boot priority device was set as the USB Drive.
It displayed an error that the amount of system memory has changed, try reseating the memory etc etc F1 - Setup and F2 - Abort F5 - Diagnostic, so when I ran the diagnostic I got the following error -

I will be running a Memtest
But my Friend is too afraid to let me open up the memory compartment in his laptop and check whether the memory is seated properly or not.
What else can I do?

DELL XPS M1530
Core 2 Duo
3GB DDR2 667
NVIDIA 8600GT

Default config.
Previous OS Windows 7 32bit

 

[mihir]

Ok so I some how managed to install Windows 7 on it, and it detects 3gig of RAM.
But I would still like to know what that error was?
And he still is not letting me run a memtest since he is to afraid that it will mess things up.

 

[GaryCantley]

If the operating system is 32 bit (first post it says it is), then you will only see 3 gig of RAM.

It is possible to have more RAM but only 3 gig is useable.

 

[mihir]

Ok so windows is working but it just gave a random BSOD, I was not there to note the number then.
I definitely think there is something wrong with the memory or the GPU.

 

[johnb35]

Why is he so scared to let you open the memory compartment? Running a memtest scan won't hurt the system at all either. I would say a bad stick of ram most likely, Dimm_B to be exact.

 

[mihir]

Why is he so scared to let you open the memory compartment? Running a memtest scan won't hurt the system at all either. I would say a bad stick of ram most likely, Dimm_B to be exact.

Computer Illiterate and some trust issues.

Dimm_B ah!!! Should have noticed that before
If I can will run a memtest and and if the memory is bad, will ask him to order a new one and will replace it, laptop memory replacement is easy otherwise I hate opening up laptops.

Thanks John.