Hey I have an old Dell 2350, WinXP, 256 RAM, up to date on all updates (as of today) w/a 2 ghz Intel Celeron.  It's old, slow, and bogs down if i I have more than 2 regular PROGRAMS open.  But I can't afford a whole new computer, so I decided that I could probably hold off a while if I got a faster processor, some more memory, and reformatted.  So I got a hold of an Intel Pentium 4, 2.8 ghz.  I popped it in, and now my computer won't fully boot with it.  It showed power, and the FAN came on, but no boot.  So I had to put the old one back in.  I'd like to know what I got wrong when I bought it... should I have stuck with another Celeron (shudders)?  Is there a setting I need to fix before installing it?  If you need more info about my computer... let me know (and know how to find it).  I'm not a computer genius, but know how to find stuff if someone just tells me.  Like, I've installed a lot of things on my computer before, so just let me know what you need to know.Did you check to SEE if the new processor is compatible with your system?

Before swapping processors, it's a good idea to see if your motherboard and BIOS will support it - check with Dell.

Seems like the best thing that you could do would be to increase RAM to 1 GB - again, check with Dell to find out what is compatible with your MB.

Best of luck!what do i need to check to see if they're compatible?  is there a label somewhere?  anything?I'd start with the Dell website, pretty self-explanatory; the memory question ought to be readily solved by checking the website, but you may also need to call them about the processor upgrade.

EDIT: Take a look here: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2350/specs.htm#1101572

Assuming this is your system it doesn't look as if your new processor is supported - I'd check with them to see if there has been a BIOS update that would allow your new processor.

Note that this also answers the memory question.ok, so basically the fastest processor i can run on this hunk of metal is a P4 2.5 ghz or a Celeron that is 2.3?  geesh.  that sucketh.  guess i'll throw this 2.8 on ebay.

luckily, i know about memory.  this thing came with 128 DDR, so i bought a second stick of it to get 256.  I have a 512 coming in the mail already... so i'll end up with 640, which should help at least a little.

i'll probably still spend a weekend reformatting... i've had this thing for over 6 years now.  Reformatted once, but you know how over time so much junk gets on there, so many programs added and removed, that there's probably junk that can't otherwise easily be smoothed out.  So half the weekend will be spent burning all my important stuff to cds and the other half updating windows and reinstalling everything.   sounds like so much fun.Enjoy!

May be worth a call to Dell before you fire up Ebay - a BIOS upgrade MAY allow you to use your processor.

Best of luck!i did the bios upgrade from dell.com and it didn't fix it    oh wellSorry that the BIOS upgrade didn't help.