I've been facing a frustrating issue with my PC since it tipped over a bit due to a cable snagging on my chair. Now, it refuses to boot with more than 8GB of RAM installed. When I try, it doesn't post, there's no error LED activity on the motherboard, and I don't hear any beeping sounds. The only thing that happens is the fans spin at full speed and I can't seem to stop them. I find it hard to believe that a slight fall would cause damage to the RAM or the motherboard slots, so I'm stumped. Can anyone help me figure out what might be going on?
2 Answers
As a recent builder, I just went through something similar! One thing to try is removing the CMOS battery for a few minutes and then putting it back. Be careful, though—it’s different from the BIOS chip! After that, try booting with just one stick of RAM in varying slots to see if any of them will work. If it boots up fine with one stick but not with more, there might be a compatibility issue or some damage.
It sounds like the fall might have caused some damage, despite what you think. Have you checked if the RAM sticks work in different slots? Sometimes, even a little bump can mess with the seating of the RAM or damage the slots themselves. Try booting with just one stick in each slot, if you haven't yet. And definitely let us know what motherboard you're using—it might help diagnose the issue further!
It could also be worth trying just one stick in specific slots, like you mentioned. I've had problems where only certain slots worked after an incident, so check if it matters where you place each stick!
Good point! I’ll give that a shot and see what happens. I was worried about taking things apart too much, but it sounds like it might be worth it.