This guide will require installing and removing DIMMs from motherboard to specific DIMM slots.
1. Please insure that the system is turned off while removing memory. Remove all but one DIMM of RAM.
But a basic test is good enough to check for any fault. To use the Memtest86 software download the bootable ISO version and burn it on a blank CD with any burning software. Insert the CD and restart your computer by setting your computer to boot from the CD in the BIOS, the software will run a test on all the installed RAM in your computer. If you're having issues with a ram slot on your motherboard here's the troubleshooting steps I'd take. Removal all the ram expect one stick. Test each ram slot with one stick of ram at a time and see if itll boot into whatever OS you're using. If you pass that test it's likely you had a bad stick of ram.
2. Single DIMM should start in DIMM_A1.
3. Start system up and confirm that the system posts to BIOS/OS.
Slot 2 seemed to be the problem.used flat piece of plastic like the guitar pick.it worked gigitty.was confused on whether the slot is bad, the ram stick, or both??reason for confusion there is that i tried the slot 2 ram in the 1 slot with slot 2 empty and no boot but slot 1 ram in 1 slot with slot 2 empty did work.now with both in. It's pretty rare that I have the chance to open one of our ESXi hosts, but I need to know if all RAM banks are being used. If so, I'll need to order and install a second processor so I can add more RAM to the hosts (Dell Poweredge R410 & R610). When we had physical servers I would run the Crucial memory scanner. Hey all, I have been getting some blue screens related to memory. So today I have been running memtest86 for two hours. Within the first hour it found issues. Now my question is which ram stick is bad? Will i need to pull all of the ram out and test one by one? Currently there is 8 gb.
4. If the system posts normally, shut off system and continue to install one additional DIMM until the system fails to post to BIOS/OS.
When installing DIMM should hear/feel a click when DIMMs are installed correctly.
Use the following Guide for optimal memory configuration depending on how many DIMMs system has.
5. If the system fails to post remove last DIMM installed and set aside, continue from last DIMM slot and install another stick. (repeat with any other failed DIMMs)
6. If multiple sticks fail in the same DIMM slot install a confirmed working DIMM and verify if the slot is bad. (Make note of defective slot using DIMM guide DIMM_D1, etc.)
Is it possible to fix laptop memory slot failure with a guitar pick? Yes, it is. You will not fix the memory slot itself, but you can work around the problem. 🙂
Today I received a Toshiba Satellite Pro 4600 laptop with the following complaint:
The laptop starts and works properly, but recognizes only one of the two memory modules installed. The laptop has two 256MB RAM modules installed, but registers only 256MB.
How To Check For Bad Ram Stick
First of all, I removed the memory cover to find out if both memory modules are installed correctly. The laptop had two 256MB Kingston modules installed and they were seated properly.
How To Check For Bad Ram Slots
When I started the laptop and entered the BIOS setup menu, I found that only one of the two memory modules is detected and the laptop registers only 256MB (262144KB) of RAM instead of 512MB (524288KB).
Just a side note. In the computer world 1MB=1024KB. That’s why 256MB=262144KB and 512MB=524288KB.
I tried reseating both memory modules but it didn’t help.
After that I tried installing both memory modules in both memory slots one by one and here’s what I found. The laptop worked absolutely fine when both memory modules were installed into the slot A, but failed to boot with both memory modules installed into the slot B.
Apparently, there is nothing wrong with the memory modules and the laptop has a faulty memory slot B. The memory slot is permanently soldered on the motherboard. If one of the slots fails you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard or use the laptop with only one working slot.
Buying a new motherboard for this older laptop wouldn’t make any sense because it’s too expensive, but the laptop is still in a good working condition except the faulty memory slot B, so I continued playing with that trying to find the solution.
I noticed that the laptop start normally with the memory module installed into the faulty slot if I slightly press on the module with my thumb. And this gave me an idea.
This guitar pick is going to fix my laptop. 🙂
I installed both RAM modules back into the slots and then placed the guitar pick over the module in the slot B as it shown on the picture.
When installing DIMM should hear/feel a click when DIMMs are installed correctly.
Use the following Guide for optimal memory configuration depending on how many DIMMs system has.
5. If the system fails to post remove last DIMM installed and set aside, continue from last DIMM slot and install another stick. (repeat with any other failed DIMMs)
6. If multiple sticks fail in the same DIMM slot install a confirmed working DIMM and verify if the slot is bad. (Make note of defective slot using DIMM guide DIMM_D1, etc.)
Is it possible to fix laptop memory slot failure with a guitar pick? Yes, it is. You will not fix the memory slot itself, but you can work around the problem. 🙂
Today I received a Toshiba Satellite Pro 4600 laptop with the following complaint:
The laptop starts and works properly, but recognizes only one of the two memory modules installed. The laptop has two 256MB RAM modules installed, but registers only 256MB.
How To Check For Bad Ram Stick
First of all, I removed the memory cover to find out if both memory modules are installed correctly. The laptop had two 256MB Kingston modules installed and they were seated properly.
How To Check For Bad Ram Slots
When I started the laptop and entered the BIOS setup menu, I found that only one of the two memory modules is detected and the laptop registers only 256MB (262144KB) of RAM instead of 512MB (524288KB).
Just a side note. In the computer world 1MB=1024KB. That’s why 256MB=262144KB and 512MB=524288KB.
I tried reseating both memory modules but it didn’t help.
After that I tried installing both memory modules in both memory slots one by one and here’s what I found. The laptop worked absolutely fine when both memory modules were installed into the slot A, but failed to boot with both memory modules installed into the slot B.
Apparently, there is nothing wrong with the memory modules and the laptop has a faulty memory slot B. The memory slot is permanently soldered on the motherboard. If one of the slots fails you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard or use the laptop with only one working slot.
Buying a new motherboard for this older laptop wouldn’t make any sense because it’s too expensive, but the laptop is still in a good working condition except the faulty memory slot B, so I continued playing with that trying to find the solution.
I noticed that the laptop start normally with the memory module installed into the faulty slot if I slightly press on the module with my thumb. And this gave me an idea.
This guitar pick is going to fix my laptop. 🙂
I installed both RAM modules back into the slots and then placed the guitar pick over the module in the slot B as it shown on the picture.
I thought if I close the RAM door it will press on the guitar pick/memory module and it will have the same effect as pressing on the module with my thumb. And it worked!
Both memory modules were detected properly and the laptop registered all 512MB. After “the fix” I tested memory with Memtest86+ and the laptop passed the test.
I wouldn’t call it the best solution for fixing a faulty memory slot but in some cases it will work.
By the way, I didn’t charge the customer for this “repair”, he knows what is going on and how I “fixed” his problem.
How To Check For Bad Ram Slot Speed
