RAM upgrade gone wrong

krazykidskate

Well i bought some new RAM to upgrade my laptop as recently recommended and followed the guidelines to replace my .5MB with 2 x 1 GB RAM.

When i turned it on afterwards there was a bit of noise but nothing on the screen whatsoever. I put my own RAM back in thinking the new RAM might be incompatible but no response from that either. I'm pretty sure the RAM was in the correct position.

I'm thinking I've probably damaged the RAM, hope thats all.:o I'm thinking that where I've touched the metal casing to get rid of static, its not actually metal, more of a silver plastic

So what do i do now? PC World charge around £95 just for having a look. Any other suggestions for getting it looked at cheaper? Any advice welcome

DatabaseError

i've never damaged ram putting it in/out of any machine, so i think its very unlikely that you've knacked 3 sticks. more likely is that the ram isn't 'seated' correctly, all lappys are different, but generally (sodimm) the ram slots in at about 30 degrees, then pushes down to clip into place. make sure when pushing in that most of the contacts (the little gold lines) disappear and look level.

jje_2

Earth yourselves by touching a tap .
Then remove al the RAM and try putting one stick back in at a time .
I can not see any reason why one it would make a noise and two that you would damage a bunch of ram by handling them . Possible but not very likely .
Ram only goes in one way around so line up the little slot thats not in the middle of the golden fingers on the ram .

jje

unrich

Also try one stick at a time.

PROLIANT

The laptop motherboard may not be able to take the extra memory ergo 512MB to 2GB is a big jump if the motherboard is not capable of taking this ammount of RAM, google the make and model of your machine and see if there is anything you can find about it. And please use an anti static earth strap, touching a case or a tap will only discharge the static from your body there and then, when you move away and go and handle the equipment you have already charged up again, trust me.

krazykidskate

unrich wrote: »

Also try one stick at a time.

Well the original is just one stick and this doesn't work now on its own. I'll try again anyway, i'm just scared of causing more damage.

krazykidskate

PROLIANT wrote: »

The laptop motherboard may not be able to take the extra memory ergo 512MB to 2GB is a big jump if the motherboard is not capable of taking this ammount of RAM, google the make and model of your machine and see if there is anything you can find about it. And please use an anti static earth strap, touching a case or a tap will only discharge the static from your body there and then, when you move away and go and handle the equipment you have already charged up again, trust me.

Well Crucial do a check and say its compatible and the laptops only a few months old so should be able to take the 2GB. If i had the anti static strap and the casing isn't metal then where would i clip it to anyway

Jem8472

I am not 100% sure with laptops but with desktop computers if there is a problem with something like memory it gives error beeps when it is turned on.

Also rather than take it to PC world (reformat) try a computer person that is local to you. My dad does this sort of stuff and a lot of problems are easy to fix if you know how. But ask people that you know if they have had anyone help them. Word of mouth is the best way to find a good reliable person

PROLIANT

krazykidskate wrote: »

Well Crucial do a check and say its compatible and the laptops only a few months old so should be able to take the 2GB. If i had the anti static strap and the casing isn't metal then where would i clip it to anyway

The strap should have a yellow mains plug with a stud on it, then you plug it in to the mains socket which connects you to earth.

BritBrat

Did you remove the laptop battery before starting upgrade?

Jem8472

PROLIANT wrote: »

The laptop motherboard may not be able to take the extra memory ergo 512MB to 2GB is a big jump if the motherboard is not capable of taking this ammount of RAM, google the make and model of your machine and see if there is anything you can find about it. And please use an anti static earth strap, touching a case or a tap will only discharge the static from your body there and then, when you move away and go and handle the equipment you have already charged up again, trust me.

All the years I have been doing stuff with computers I have never used a anti-static strap. Never had a problem with it.

But I have come across someone who can brake a computer by just being in the same room as it!