LG Gram 15Z980 laptop has 16GB RAM (8gb onboard/permanent, 8gb installed in MB socket).
Problem, computer freezes after a couple minutes of use and then returns a blue error screen (different errors returned, not the same one each time). At this point the laptop usually shuts down, and then goes into a boot loop... every 5 secs or so all the keyboard lights go on, and then dims again after a few secs... and then this repeats until the battery dies. Long pressing the power button does nothing, and the screen never lights up when this boot loop occurs.
To get past this, I've had to open the case, disconnect & reconnect the battery and remove and replace the RAM module. Then the computer will restart like normal... and after a few minutes of use, the same thing reoccurs.
I've inspected the RAM SLOT on the MB and the RAM sticks with a high magnification visor and there are no visible physical issues (bent or shorted pins etc), everything appears pristine. I also purchased two additional RAM modules with identical specs, and tried those, each time getting the same result, computer freezes, bsod, boot loop. Did a memtest on the RAM, and it is okay.
I removed the external RAM and ran the system with just the onboard 8gb permanent RAM, and the system runs just fine. Even upgraded Win 10 to Win 11 with no problem. But even with Win 11 installed, still can't add RAM to the MB socket, It'll freeze, bsod, boot loop. Remove the external RAM, runs fine.
My conclusion: RAM is ok, & RAM socket has no signs of visible damage. So I probably either have to use this laptop as is with the 8gb onboard, or replace the MB if I really want that 16gb RAM. I also tried resetting the bios (Phoenix) to default settings, but that didn't change anything and there does not appear to be any bios update available,
Thoughts?
Problem, computer freezes after a couple minutes of use and then returns a blue error screen (different errors returned, not the same one each time). At this point the laptop usually shuts down, and then goes into a boot loop... every 5 secs or so all the keyboard lights go on, and then dims again after a few secs... and then this repeats until the battery dies. Long pressing the power button does nothing, and the screen never lights up when this boot loop occurs.
To get past this, I've had to open the case, disconnect & reconnect the battery and remove and replace the RAM module. Then the computer will restart like normal... and after a few minutes of use, the same thing reoccurs.
I've inspected the RAM SLOT on the MB and the RAM sticks with a high magnification visor and there are no visible physical issues (bent or shorted pins etc), everything appears pristine. I also purchased two additional RAM modules with identical specs, and tried those, each time getting the same result, computer freezes, bsod, boot loop. Did a memtest on the RAM, and it is okay.
I removed the external RAM and ran the system with just the onboard 8gb permanent RAM, and the system runs just fine. Even upgraded Win 10 to Win 11 with no problem. But even with Win 11 installed, still can't add RAM to the MB socket, It'll freeze, bsod, boot loop. Remove the external RAM, runs fine.
My conclusion: RAM is ok, & RAM socket has no signs of visible damage. So I probably either have to use this laptop as is with the 8gb onboard, or replace the MB if I really want that 16gb RAM. I also tried resetting the bios (Phoenix) to default settings, but that didn't change anything and there does not appear to be any bios update available,
Thoughts?