Computer Won't Boot After New RAM Install, Even Once New RAM Removed

[Gwardinen]

As I said in the title, I'm dealing with a computer that won't boot at all (not even to BIOS) after a new RAM stick has been installed. It's my brother's computer and I wasn't there when he put the new stick in, so there are some things I don't know about that process, but here's what I do know:

He started off with a single 4GB DDR3 1333MHz stick in the leftmost (first black) position, that's the last configuration that worked. He bought a new single 4GB DDR3 1333MHz stick from a different manufacturer, and installed it in the third position from the left (second black). I probably would have put it in the first blue myself, and not tried to "pair" two different manufacturer sticks, but whatever.

After switching his computer on again, it seemed to be starting normally (in terms of the various parts of the computer turning on - as far as I know nothing was ever shown on the monitor) before it rebooted itself. After rebooting, it doesn't show anything on the monitor and the mouse and keyboard don't turn on. The red DRAM LED shows solidly and nothing else happens. He then took the new stick out again, but the same problem persists even with the old (and untouched) RAM.

I've had him try each of the two sticks singularly in every position to no avail, and he tried the MemOK button once as well - it rebooted the computer, blinked for a while and then went solid again with no other change. Is there any purpose to me having him try MemOK with every stick combination & position?

What else can I have him try?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[rolli59]

Reset BIOS and try again with the single stick. Then again check all connections if something bumped loose while messing with it.

 

[Tradesman1]

Reset BIOS and try again with the single stick. Then again check all connections if something bumped loose while messing with it.

_________________

+1

 

[Gwardinen]

Ugh, I accidentally clicked the "pick best answer" button to come back to this thread and now it's showing as solved. Is there any way I can unsolve it?

I had him pull out the CMOS battery for several minutes while the computer was completely unplugged. That should have reset the BIOS, right? It didn't make any difference to the boot. I asked him to check everything was in securely, but as I'm not there physically I can't do it myself.

With that in mind, is there anything else I can have him try to do before I go over in the coming days?

 

[Tradesman1]

Have him ensure the DRAM is securely seated, (1 stick only) the side clips should lock them selves in, some DRAM slots are very tight

 

[Gwardinen]

I did, actually, having had that problem myself in the past. It wouldn't really explain the problem anyway though, because after the initial new installation didn't work all he did was take out the new stick without messing with the old one at all. That one had to have been seated properly in the first place because it's been working for months already.

 

[Tradesman1]

Changing the DRAM resets the BIOS settings, if when changing back it doesn't get fully seated it can throw things off, try resetting CMOS again and firmly inserting the old DRAM so the clips lock themselves in - I know it's PITA to this like here or over the phone

 

[Gwardinen]

I'm going to go over later today to put my hands on it myself, because I've had issues with unseated RAM before and I might know the "feel" of it more than he does. In case that doesn't solve the problem, though, are there any more steps I can try once I'm there? I don't want to show up, fiddle with the sticks for five minutes and then have no further ideas!

 

[Gwardinen]

I went over, took out the CMOS battery for a full 15 minutes and then really firmly reseated the memory sticks, and it finally worked. I don't know exactly what he did wrong, but memory can be fiddly so there you go.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Tradesman1]

No worries, glad all is well 😉