So I recently decided to upgrade the RAM on my PC for better performance, but now it's not booting up at all! Initially, I powered it back on and got a black screen. After reseating the RAM, I managed to get the screen on, but now it's stuck in a loop, either trying to prepare for automatic repair or just freezing entirely. I've tried a bunch of troubleshooting steps: removed the CMOS battery for about five minutes, disconnected everything, attempted to boot from a USB drive, and even messed around with BIOS settings, but I've reset those back to default to avoid complicating things further. What am I potentially overlooking here?
5 Answers
Have you tried booting with the old RAM? If it works fine with that, then you can rule out other issues. And when you attempted to boot from the USB, did it ever get past the initial stages, or did it just loop back to the beginning?
What motherboard, CPU, and RAM kit are you using? If you can boot into BIOS but not Windows, that helps narrow things down. Have you checked if reverting to the original RAM resolves the issue? Sometimes the new sticks can be incompatible or improperly seated.
Honestly, I'm not sure about the specs since this PC was a gift from a friend. I think the motherboard might be something like an AMD 5 5500, but I don't know the exact CPU or RAM.
Clearing the CMOS might help too! You can use a jumper or even something conductive like a pair of scissors to short it out. Also, make sure to check the old RAM with just one stick at a time in the last known working slot, just to be thorough. Did you upgrade with identical sticks or mix them up with different specs?
I tried a few combinations already, even used a screwdriver. Might need to give that another shot.
You might not have waited long enough for the memory training process to complete. Sometimes just giving it a bit more time after making changes can make a difference. Also, you might want to remove the battery and leave it out for longer if possible.
Should I leave the battery out for longer?
I had a similar issue when I upgraded both my CPU and RAM. Resetting the BIOS helped, but I found that switching the RAM slots could also fix boot issues. Just a heads up, make sure you're testing each stick one at a time to pinpoint any problems!
It won’t boot with the old RAM either. It gets stuck in a loop trying to boot from the USB and then goes black.