I am certain the ram is good as it keeps working somewhat and it's brand new.
That does not prove that the RAM is good. Also, the fault could be in the slot(s), motherboard, CPU, etc.
I would use a more thorough testing utility such as memtest86+.
First, rest the laptop on an anti-static mat or at least a reasonable alternative such as corrugated cardboard. Wear a grounded wrist strap, also called anti-static wrist strap, ESD wrist strap, or ground bracelet. I know many people do such work without this, but it's a cheap and sensible precaution. If you did not use a grounding strap when you installed the RAM, you could have caused a fault from static.
Disconnect the AC adapter. Disconnect the battery. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to discharge any residual electricity.
Remove the RAM stick. Use a soft rubber eraser (the type used to erase pencil) to clean all the RAM contacts on both sides. Use a clean cloth to brush off any eraser residue. Moisten a microfibre cloth with 99% isopropyl alcohol and use a credit card to slip the damp cloth into each RAM slot to clean its contacts.
After everything is dry, insert the RAM stick firmly at a 30° to 45° angle, ensuring that it seats fully in the slot.
Connect the AC adapter. Boot the laptop and run memtest86+ .
memtest86+ runs from a bootable flash drive or CD/DVD, so it can test more of the memory than is possible with Windows Memory Diagnostic. memtest86+ should be allowed to run for at least three passes, which on older hardware can take many hours. Over at TenForums, they say that for solid test results, you should let it run at least 8 passes in a single session. https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/14201-memtest86-test-ram.html
Any error reported by memtest86+ means that there is a hardware problem, though not necessarily in the RAM. Errors could relate to issues with CPU, motherboard, RAM slots, etc. There is a process to follow to test RAM sticks individually in each slot, etc., to gradually narrow down the source of the errors.
I ended up going to a repair shop nearby, me and the technician tried new Ram, issue persisted. Did about everything we could think of to resolve it, but nothing worked and the same issue persisted.
I am not sure what the cause is, but I am fairly certain the board has given out.
I am unsure how to proceed, whether to sell it as broken or take the risk of spending the money for a replacement board, as far as I am aware all the major components that could be causing are on the board right?
Anyways, I'll get through exams and then figure out what to do with the machine. Seems like a waste to give up now as the laptop is in good condition and still ran perfectly adequate even when being 6 years old.
The only way to know for sure is to perform methodical testing: insert a single stick of RAM in one slot, test, then single stick in the other slot, test, test that RAM in another computer, etc.
If a stick of RAM works in another computer and fails in each slot on your laptop, then something on your motherboard is bad and you'd need to replace it. If it fails only in a single slot, then you can clean the slot as I described, but if it still fails then you'd have to abandon that slot. I recently fixed a friend's laptop that had memory errors. After i cleaned RAM sticks and slots, the errors disappeared.
I strongly recommend that anyone doing any work with components or inside a computer use a grounding strap (as I described earlier). One invisible and unfelt static discharge can damage components.
filbert
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
October 14th, 2022 07:00
That does not prove that the RAM is good. Also, the fault could be in the slot(s), motherboard, CPU, etc.
I would use a more thorough testing utility such as memtest86+.
First, rest the laptop on an anti-static mat or at least a reasonable alternative such as corrugated cardboard. Wear a grounded wrist strap, also called anti-static wrist strap, ESD wrist strap, or ground bracelet. I know many people do such work without this, but it's a cheap and sensible precaution. If you did not use a grounding strap when you installed the RAM, you could have caused a fault from static.
Disconnect the AC adapter.
Disconnect the battery.
Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to discharge any residual electricity.
Remove the RAM stick.
Use a soft rubber eraser (the type used to erase pencil) to clean all the RAM contacts on both sides. Use a clean cloth to brush off any eraser residue.
Moisten a microfibre cloth with 99% isopropyl alcohol and use a credit card to slip the damp cloth into each RAM slot to clean its contacts.
After everything is dry, insert the RAM stick firmly at a 30° to 45° angle, ensuring that it seats fully in the slot.
Connect the AC adapter.
Boot the laptop and run memtest86+ .
memtest86+ runs from a bootable flash drive or CD/DVD, so it can test more of the memory than is possible with Windows Memory Diagnostic. memtest86+ should be allowed to run for at least three passes, which on older hardware can take many hours. Over at TenForums, they say that for solid test results, you should let it run at least 8 passes in a single session.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/14201-memtest86-test-ram.html
Any error reported by memtest86+ means that there is a hardware problem, though not necessarily in the RAM. Errors could relate to issues with CPU, motherboard, RAM slots, etc. There is a process to follow to test RAM sticks individually in each slot, etc., to gradually narrow down the source of the errors.
FriendlyGerman
2 Posts
0
October 15th, 2022 09:00
Thank you very much for your reply.
I ended up going to a repair shop nearby, me and the technician tried new Ram, issue persisted. Did about everything we could think of to resolve it, but nothing worked and the same issue persisted.
I am not sure what the cause is, but I am fairly certain the board has given out.
I am unsure how to proceed, whether to sell it as broken or take the risk of spending the money for a replacement board, as far as I am aware all the major components that could be causing are on the board right?
Anyways, I'll get through exams and then figure out what to do with the machine. Seems like a waste to give up now as the laptop is in good condition and still ran perfectly adequate even when being 6 years old.
filbert
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
October 16th, 2022 05:00
The only way to know for sure is to perform methodical testing: insert a single stick of RAM in one slot, test, then single stick in the other slot, test, test that RAM in another computer, etc.
If a stick of RAM works in another computer and fails in each slot on your laptop, then something on your motherboard is bad and you'd need to replace it. If it fails only in a single slot, then you can clean the slot as I described, but if it still fails then you'd have to abandon that slot. I recently fixed a friend's laptop that had memory errors. After i cleaned RAM sticks and slots, the errors disappeared.
I strongly recommend that anyone doing any work with components or inside a computer use a grounding strap (as I described earlier). One invisible and unfelt static discharge can damage components.