RAM problem!

  • Thread starter Thread starter LucieInTheSkyWithGems
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LucieInTheSkyWithGems

Hi,

My problem is that once in a while my laptop just shuts down and
refuses to work. The only way for me to solve it is by opening my
laptop, pulling out the RAM and putting it back in (I've got two slots
so I usually put it back in the alternate slot from which it came).
Then it works normally for 2-10 hours, before I have to repeat the
process again. It's not that the RAM is coming loose - the problem
occurs whether the laptop is stationary or being moved around.

This is starting to get incredibly annoying! Does anyone know what
might be causing this problem, and how I might solve it?

Lucie.
 
LucieInTheSkyWithGems said:
Hi,

My problem is that once in a while my laptop just shuts down and
refuses to work. The only way for me to solve it is by opening my
laptop, pulling out the RAM and putting it back in (I've got two slots
so I usually put it back in the alternate slot from which it came).
Then it works normally for 2-10 hours, before I have to repeat the
process again. It's not that the RAM is coming loose - the problem
occurs whether the laptop is stationary or being moved around.

This is starting to get incredibly annoying! Does anyone know what
might be causing this problem, and how I might solve it?

Lucie.
Click to expand...

A reason for shutdown, would be a thermal problem.

Check for dust bunnies, check that fan is operating etc.
If the laptop has a temperature monitoring utility, see
if the temps are high or not.

As for your "recovery procedure", are you doing this
with the adapter disconnected, and the battery removed ?
You don't want any power present on the RAM slots
when you are fooling around with the RAM.

One thing that changing the RAM slots will do, is cause
the DMI/ESCD to be updated during the next POST. But that
doesn't particularly have anything to do with your
symptoms.

Perhaps if the RAM connector is "hot", you are shorting
something out, and that is what causes the laptop to
"recover". Or, maybe, it has nothing to do with the
RAM, and everything to do with you pulling out the
battery just before the RAM swap.

Paul
 
LucieInTheSkyWithGems said:
Hi,

My problem is that once in a while my laptop just shuts down and
refuses to work. The only way for me to solve it is by opening my
laptop, pulling out the RAM and putting it back in (I've got two slots
so I usually put it back in the alternate slot from which it came).
Then it works normally for 2-10 hours, before I have to repeat the
process again. It's not that the RAM is coming loose - the problem
occurs whether the laptop is stationary or being moved around.

This is starting to get incredibly annoying! Does anyone know what
might be causing this problem, and how I might solve it?
Click to expand...

Next time this happens, go through all the motions of swapping the RAM, but
don't actually pull it out. It just might be the amount of time you have it
shut down, or one of your other actions.

Reminds me of a guy who's car would not start when he bought vanilla ice
cream...
 
The thing is, I don't think it's because of the heat. Sometimes it cuts
out after 2 minutes even though I hadn't been using the laptop for
hours previously.
 
The thing is, I don't think it's because of the heat. Sometimes it cuts
out after 2 minutes even though I hadn't been using the laptop for
hours previously.
Click to expand...


If the power connector isn't loose (does it also happen on
battery power?) I'd tend to suspect bad internal connectors,
dry solder joints, cracked circuit board(s), or these days
we have a new suspect - tin whiskers in today's brave new
lead-free world.

Heat and mechanical stress can work collaboratively to
disrupt power or signal traces, or connectors. If you feel
comfortable disassembling your laptop (and it's out of
warranty already), you might open it up and inspect it under
strong light, and unplug/replug any mechanical connectors
you can safely (we can't see it).
 
LucieInTheSkyWithGems said:
Hi,

My problem is that once in a while my laptop just shuts down and
refuses to work. The only way for me to solve it is by opening my
laptop, pulling out the RAM and putting it back in (I've got two slots
so I usually put it back in the alternate slot from which it came).
Then it works normally for 2-10 hours, before I have to repeat the
process again. It's not that the RAM is coming loose - the problem
occurs whether the laptop is stationary or being moved around.

This is starting to get incredibly annoying! Does anyone know what
might be causing this problem, and how I might solve it?

Lucie.
Click to expand...

Bad motherboard.

Try mashing down on the keyboard. If that works, your motherboard is
definitely shot. (bad solder, or it's cracked)
 
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