Question PC won't POST unless reinserting RAM stick

[TippingLambda]

Hey guys. Sorry for the long post, I tried to be as detailed as possible. I have a TL;DR at the end. Any help would be appreciated and hopefully people who've struggled with this this share their experience.

Issue:
I have a rather strange problem with my build from 2014/2015, namely it no longer POSTs. The fans start spinning, the GPU lights on, but my screen remains black. There's no mobo logo on boot and all of my peripherals have no power.

The only hints I have for a possible explanation as to why this is happening are:

• Windows 10 update a couple of days before the issue started happening.
• There was a lightning storm the day before the issue began. My PC was shutdown BUT plugged in. I'm guessing it is possible for the Windows update to have turned on fast start-up/hibernation mode without my knowledge, meaning my PC was in a powered state after all?

What sort of works:
Under normal circumstances I make full use of my RAM slots, but ever since this started happening I've been only using one stick. The weird thing is that the stick has to be reinserted into a different slot after each PC shutdown, otherwise the PC refuses to POST. Restarting the PC works as normal, but full shutdowns trigger the issue to reoccur.

Using an old RAM stick from my very old PC fixes the issue (Elixir M2Y2G64CB8HC5N-CG - 2GB 1333Mhz). It successfully boots every time. I thought it could be a voltage issue, but every RAM stick I own uses 1.5V. Could it be my mobo is starting to fail and can no longer handle higher Mhz? Because that's the only difference (from my inexperienced perspective) I can see between these RAM sticks 1600Mhz vs 1333Mhz. Or is it more likely for all four RAM sticks to have been damaged by a power surge? Is that even a thing that can happen?

Things I have tried unsuccessfully:

• Bought a new PSU, replacing my old Seasonic S12II 620W with a Corsair RM650x 650W.
• Switched from Windows 10 to a Linux distro.
• Tried each RAM slot individually. Slots seem to work fine.
• Tried each RAM stick individually. They "work", as long as they're reseated in a different slot every boot -- unless I'm using the old Elixir RAM stick.
• Checked to see if everything was plugged in correctly.
• Reset my BIOS settings to default.

I've read that a BIOS update usually fixes the problem (sometimes only temporary?). I wanna try it myself, but I don't know my mobo revision number. It's not shown on the board itself and tools like CPU-Z just show "x.x". I also don't understand why a BIOS update is required all of a sudden..


TL;DR: PC refuses to POST, possibly after Windows 10 update and a lightning storm. Switching RAM stick slots before every boot temporarily fixes the issue until the next shutdown. Using old RAM stick makes the problem go away. RAM issue or failing mobo? Why does a mobo update fix the issue?


Specs:
Mobo: Gigabyte H97-D3H
CPU: Intel Core I7-4790K
PSU: Corsair RM650x 650W -> Newly bought thinking it would resolve my issue
GPU: GeForce GTX 970
RAM: (2x 4GB) Crucial DDR3 1600Mhz CL9 [Ballistix Sport]
RAM: (2X 8GB) Patriot Viper 3 Black Mamba DDR3 1600MHz CL9 -> Bought 2 years ago


Other Noteworthy Threads:
Tomshardware
Reddit
Reddit 2

 

[General Kenobi]

Hey guys. Sorry for the long post, I tried to be as detailed as possible. I have a TL;DR at the end. Any help would be appreciated and hopefully people who've struggled with this this share their experience.

Issue:
I have a rather strange problem with my build from 2014/2015, namely it no longer POSTs. The fans start spinning, the GPU lights on, but my screen remains black. There's no mobo logo on boot and all of my peripherals have no power.

The only hints I have for a possible explanation as to why this is happening are:

• Windows 10 update a couple of days before the issue started happening.
• There was a lightning storm the day before the issue began. My PC was shutdown BUT plugged in. I'm guessing it is possible for the Windows update to have turned on fast start-up/hibernation mode without my knowledge, meaning my PC was in a powered state after all?

What sort of works:
Under normal circumstances I make full use of my RAM slots, but ever since this started happening I've been only using one stick. The weird thing is that the stick has to be reinserted into a different slot after each PC shutdown, otherwise the PC refuses to POST. Restarting the PC works as normal, but full shutdowns trigger the issue to reoccur.

Using an old RAM stick from my very old PC fixes the issue (Elixir M2Y2G64CB8HC5N-CG - 2GB 1333Mhz). It successfully boots every time. I thought it could be a voltage issue, but every RAM stick I own uses 1.5V. Could it be my mobo is starting to fail and can no longer handle higher Mhz? Because that's the only difference (from my inexperienced perspective) I can see between these RAM sticks 1600Mhz vs 1333Mhz. Or is it more likely for all four RAM sticks to have been damaged by a power surge? Is that even a thing that can happen?

Things I have tried unsuccessfully:

• Bought a new PSU, replacing my old Seasonic S12II 620W with a Corsair RM650x 650W.
• Switched from Windows 10 to a Linux distro.
• Tried each RAM slot individually. Slots seem to work fine.
• Tried each RAM stick individually. They "work", as long as they're reseated in a different slot every boot -- unless I'm using the old Elixir RAM stick.
• Checked to see if everything was plugged in correctly.
• Reset my BIOS settings to default.

I've read that a BIOS update usually fixes the problem (sometimes only temporary?). I wanna try it myself, but I don't know my mobo revision number. It's not shown on the board itself and tools like CPU-Z just show "x.x". I also don't understand why a BIOS update is required all of a sudden..


TL;DR: PC refuses to POST, possibly after Windows 10 update and a lightning storm. Switching RAM stick slots before every boot temporarily fixes the issue until the next shutdown. Using old RAM stick makes the problem go away. RAM issue or failing mobo? Why does a mobo update fix the issue?


Specs:
Mobo: Gigabyte H97-D3H
CPU: Intel Core I7-4790K
PSU: Corsair RM650x 650W -> Newly bought thinking it would resolve my issue
GPU: GeForce GTX 970
RAM: (2x 4GB) Crucial DDR3 1600Mhz CL9 [Ballistix Sport]
RAM: (2X 8GB) Patriot Viper 3 Black Mamba DDR3 1600MHz CL9 -> Bought 2 years ago


Other Noteworthy Threads:
Tomshardware
Reddit
Reddit 2

Hello there!
You said system works fine with old ram right? Maybe that's the issue...?
In one of the thread a user suggested a software Memtest it tests your memory without keeping windows in the equation so give it a try. Put it in a flash usb drive and boot from it.
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/memtest86.html

 

[xherbertx]

Try unplugging the PSU completely and waiting a few minutes, leaving the RAM slot into the same slot it was in prior to shutdown. Might be a residual power issue? Currently dealing with problems with my own motherboard, in a thread on this board. If you think you can help, please do!

 

[TippingLambda]

Hello there!
You said system works fine with old ram right? Maybe that's the issue...?
In one of the thread a user suggested a software Memtest it tests your memory without keeping windows in the equation so give it a try. Put it in a flash usb drive and boot from it.
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/memtest86.html

Hey! Thank you for the reply! I will try to do a full memtest overnight. Do you think it's possible for a (potential) power surge to fry all of my four RAM sticks at the same time? I will post my memtest results tomorrow!

 

[TippingLambda]

Try unplugging the PSU completely and waiting a few minutes, leaving the RAM slot into the same slot it was in prior to shutdown. Might be a residual power issue? Currently dealing with problems with my own motherboard, in a thread on this board. If you think you can help, please do!

I'm afraid I've already tried that. I've been dealing with this issue for more than a week now. I've also tried holding the "power down button" while unplugged for 20+ secs. Do you get any power in your peripherals? Have you tried switching RAM slots like I did? Hopefully we both get this resolved

 

[SkyNetRising]

TL;DR: PC refuses to POST, possibly after Windows 10 update and a lightning storm. Switching RAM stick slots before every boot temporarily fixes the issue until the next shutdown. Using old RAM stick makes the problem go away. RAM issue or failing mobo?

Clean ram gold contacts with eraser.
Try increasing DRAM voltage and see, if it alleviates the issue.
Try 1.55V, 1.6V, 1.65V.
Do not go over 1.65V.

 

[TippingLambda]

Clean ram gold contacts with eraser.
Try increasing DRAM voltage and see, if it alleviates the issue.
Try 1.55V, 1.6V, 1.65V.
Do not go over 1.65V.

I don't have an eraser at hand right now, but I will give it a try in the upcoming days! How would I go about increasing the DRAM voltage? I did not see any option in the BIOS menu for this? Thank you!

 

[Bob.B]

Hey guys. Sorry for the long post, I tried to be as detailed as possible. I have a TL;DR at the end. Any help would be appreciated and hopefully people who've struggled with this this share their experience.

Issue:
I have a rather strange problem with my build from 2014/2015, namely it no longer POSTs. The fans start spinning, the GPU lights on, but my screen remains black. There's no mobo logo on boot and all of my peripherals have no power.

The only hints I have for a possible explanation as to why this is happening are:

• Windows 10 update a couple of days before the issue started happening.
• There was a lightning storm the day before the issue began. My PC was shutdown BUT plugged in. I'm guessing it is possible for the Windows update to have turned on fast start-up/hibernation mode without my knowledge, meaning my PC was in a powered state after all?

What sort of works:
Under normal circumstances I make full use of my RAM slots, but ever since this started happening I've been only using one stick. The weird thing is that the stick has to be reinserted into a different slot after each PC shutdown, otherwise the PC refuses to POST. Restarting the PC works as normal, but full shutdowns trigger the issue to reoccur.

Using an old RAM stick from my very old PC fixes the issue (Elixir M2Y2G64CB8HC5N-CG - 2GB 1333Mhz). It successfully boots every time. I thought it could be a voltage issue, but every RAM stick I own uses 1.5V. Could it be my mobo is starting to fail and can no longer handle higher Mhz? Because that's the only difference (from my inexperienced perspective) I can see between these RAM sticks 1600Mhz vs 1333Mhz. Or is it more likely for all four RAM sticks to have been damaged by a power surge? Is that even a thing that can happen?

Things I have tried unsuccessfully:

• Bought a new PSU, replacing my old Seasonic S12II 620W with a Corsair RM650x 650W.
• Switched from Windows 10 to a Linux distro.
• Tried each RAM slot individually. Slots seem to work fine.
• Tried each RAM stick individually. They "work", as long as they're reseated in a different slot every boot -- unless I'm using the old Elixir RAM stick.
• Checked to see if everything was plugged in correctly.
• Reset my BIOS settings to default.

I've read that a BIOS update usually fixes the problem (sometimes only temporary?). I wanna try it myself, but I don't know my mobo revision number. It's not shown on the board itself and tools like CPU-Z just show "x.x". I also don't understand why a BIOS update is required all of a sudden..


TL;DR: PC refuses to POST, possibly after Windows 10 update and a lightning storm. Switching RAM stick slots before every boot temporarily fixes the issue until the next shutdown. Using old RAM stick makes the problem go away. RAM issue or failing mobo? Why does a mobo update fix the issue?


Specs:
Mobo: Gigabyte H97-D3H
CPU: Intel Core I7-4790K
PSU: Corsair RM650x 650W -> Newly bought thinking it would resolve my issue
GPU: GeForce GTX 970
RAM: (2x 4GB) Crucial DDR3 1600Mhz CL9 [Ballistix Sport]
RAM: (2X 8GB) Patriot Viper 3 Black Mamba DDR3 1600MHz CL9 -> Bought 2 years ago


Other Noteworthy Threads:
Tomshardware
Reddit
Reddit 2

Just to get it out of the mix......replace the bios bat.

 

[SkyNetRising]

How would I go about increasing the DRAM voltage? I did not see any option in the BIOS menu for this?

In BIOS
M.I.T./Advanced Voltage Settings/DRAM Voltage Control

 

[General Kenobi]

Hey! Thank you for the reply! I will try to do a full memtest overnight. Do you think it's possible for a (potential) power surge to fry all of my four RAM sticks at the same time? I will post my memtest results tomorrow!

It's possible that a power surge fried your ram but there's also a possibility that the memory controller or the VRM(Voltage Regulator Module) of the ram of the Mobo is damaged.
Try Memtest, @Bob.B is the user who spoke about the Memtest software software i said earlier.

 

[TippingLambda]

I did try to change the DRAM voltage as suggested which did not seem to make a difference. I stopped after 1.65V and reset the settings. I also ran a memtest86 on the first stick and the report mentioned "Tests Passed 48/48 (100%) ". I have yet to clean them with an eraser or replace the mobo battery.

But! One morning it suddenly started booting fine with the single ram stick. I inserted another one a day after and so for the past few days I was able to successfully boot every time with two ram sticks. Inserting a third made the issue come back. Prior to this, I tried the things mentioned above and let the PC sit in sleep mode for many hours trying to avoid the hassle of later switching slots again. I have no idea how or what half "fixed" it, however, I am happy it works, even if it's with limited ram!