Alienware 17 (2014 model) memory issues

Question

My laptop stopped working about a week ago. The lights went on but nothing was displayed, no beeps and then it went down. I opened the bottom panel and played with memory in both visible slots. I found out that one of the modules is not working in both dimm3 and dimm4 slots and when that module was removed - laptop started normally. Since I removed the faulty memory and tried to use it again - laptop started beeping 4 times - as normally it should do for memory issue. So I ordered replacement memory and on a day it arrived (two days later), before I even tried to put it in, laptop started behaving exactly as above (lights on, no beeps then power down). I emptied both dimm3 and dimm4 slots - no improvement. Then I removed disks, opened laptop fully and removed memory modules from dimm1 and dimm2 slots. Then I put it all back together and started playing with inserting single memory at a time to dimm3/dimm4 slots. I learned that all three remaining modules are now failing. I put the new replacement memory in - and it works fine now. It is like that for 2-3 days now. To summarize - all four original memory modules are not working properly now (four  4GB 1Rx8 PC3L - 12800S - 11 - 12 - B4). The replacement one I ordered with exactly same numbers on it however when arrived its last numbers were '13 - B4'. I am thinking that this issue might be caused by motherboard problem but I would rather avoid replacing motherboard as it is too expensive. Any other ideas what happened and how to avoid it? I am now running on only 4GB memory but I hesitate to order  more modules if there is a risk for them to start failing as well.

Prestidigi2 · Answer

Of course I did remove battery before touching anything.

I did not test new module in dimm1 and dimm2 slots as it would be too much

work to work on all those screws that are needed to get to them every time.

But it works fine in dimm3 and dimm4 slots.

I have not tried clearing CMOS. Would it somehow let old modules to

suddenly start working again?

I believe it is latest BIOS. I am not at home right now so I cannot verify

the exact version.

Carbon Based Lifeform · Answer

four faulty RAM Moduls at once....

i hope you removed the Battery before you pulled the RAM Moduls.

does your new Modul work in all RAM Slots?

how about Clear CMOS? have you tried it?

and my last Question: do you have the latest BIOS Version installed?

Eimy_B · Answer

Hi ‌, Exactly! as ‌ suggested you: 1: try a power drain 2: clear Cmos and 3: make sure the BIOS is up to date. Let us know!

Carbon Based Lifeform · Answer

Prestidigi2 wrote:

1. Of course I did remove battery before touching anything.

2. I did not test new module in dimm1 and dimm2 slots as it would be too much

work to work on all those screws that are needed to get to them every time.

But it works fine in dimm3 and dimm4 slots.

3. I have not tried clearing CMOS. Would it somehow let old modules to

suddenly start working again?

4. I believe it is latest BIOS. I am not at home right now so I cannot verify

the exact version.

1. good. not everyone knows that.
2. sounds promising.
3. YES Sir! Clear CMOS and Power Drain can fix alot of Problems, especially after changing the Hardware Configuration. besides, you have nothing to loose.
4. Okay.

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