[SOLVED] RAM Upgrade Causes Blue/Green lines and Freeze on Startup

Dec 24, 2021
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Hey y'all,

I've had an HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop for almost exactly a year now. It came with 8gb RAM, 2 x 4 strips. I am trying to upgrade it to 16gb, 2 x 8 strips. The strips match the previous ones (DDR4, PC4) and I bought two identical strips from a Best Buy that a specialist recommended for my laptop. I've checked my system, windows, and drivers, all can handle the upgrade. However, every time I put in both 8gb strips, the laptop freezes on the restart screen and gets either red, blue, purple, or green lines/pixels. I have tested both 8gb strips and their sockets, all are fine. I currently have one 4gb strip and one 8gb strip in as I write this and everything is working fine, the system has registered the upgrade to 12gb. I tested every possible combination of 4 and 8 to see if one of the strips is faulty or one of the sockets is messed up, but every combination of 4 and 8 works. I ran every HP diagnostic I could find and nothing seems to be wrong, except for the fact that I can't even get to the login screen when both 8gb strips are in.

Please help. I would take it to the Geek Squad, but I am currently quarantining and cannot leave the house. Thanks :)
 
Solution
Hey y'all,

I've had an HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop for almost exactly a year now. It came with 8gb RAM, 2 x 4 strips. I am trying to upgrade it to 16gb, 2 x 8 strips. The strips match the previous ones (DDR4, PC4) and I bought two identical strips from a Best Buy that a specialist recommended for my laptop. I've checked my system, windows, and drivers, all can handle the upgrade. However, every time I put in both 8gb strips, the laptop freezes on the restart screen and gets either red, blue, purple, or green lines/pixels. I have tested both 8gb strips and their sockets, all are fine. I currently have one 4gb strip and one 8gb strip in as I write this and everything is working fine, the system has registered the upgrade to 12gb...
Dec 24, 2021
2
0
10
Also, I realize I may just have to wait and bring it to Geek Squad, but is there any danger to running a 4gb and 8gb strip at the same time? I've heard varying opinions on doing so being okay or dangerous.
 
Hey y'all,

I've had an HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop for almost exactly a year now. It came with 8gb RAM, 2 x 4 strips. I am trying to upgrade it to 16gb, 2 x 8 strips. The strips match the previous ones (DDR4, PC4) and I bought two identical strips from a Best Buy that a specialist recommended for my laptop. I've checked my system, windows, and drivers, all can handle the upgrade. However, every time I put in both 8gb strips, the laptop freezes on the restart screen and gets either red, blue, purple, or green lines/pixels. I have tested both 8gb strips and their sockets, all are fine. I currently have one 4gb strip and one 8gb strip in as I write this and everything is working fine, the system has registered the upgrade to 12gb. I tested every possible combination of 4 and 8 to see if one of the strips is faulty or one of the sockets is messed up, but every combination of 4 and 8 works. I ran every HP diagnostic I could find and nothing seems to be wrong, except for the fact that I can't even get to the login screen when both 8gb strips are in.

Please help. I would take it to the Geek Squad, but I am currently quarantining and cannot leave the house. Thanks :)
Check the HP site for any bios or chipset driver updates.

If you update test the 8GB sticks again.

The 4+8 should work fine....keyword 'should'.
Grab a copy of memtest86 and run a pass....no errors allowed.
 
Solution