I bought a new PC about two weeks ago and it worked normally until today. When I powered it on, an orange status light next to the DRAM indicator began flashing. The system has one 16GB DDR5 memory stick installed. I reseated the RAM as suggested, but afterward the computer started showing a blue recovery screen with several options, none of which allowed me to sign in. The motherboard BIOS reported a performance issue and suggested moving the stick from the third slot to the fourth, but the recovery screen returned after doing that. The PC powers on every time, but I cannot get into Windows. What should I try next?
2 Answers
Clear the CMOS first, following the motherboard manual. Disconnect the power, then either remove the motherboard battery for a few minutes or use the board’s clear-CMOS pins or button if it has one. After resetting the BIOS, install the single memory stick in the recommended slot—usually the second slot from the CPU, often labeled A2—not the third or fourth slot. If the problem continues, test the other slots and check that the stick is fully latched on both ends.
If you can reach Windows through Safe Mode or another recovery option, check the Windows Minidump folder for crash logs. Those files can help identify whether the blue screens are caused by memory or another component. Since the PC is only two weeks old and the DRAM light remains on, also consider testing the memory module in another slot or contacting the seller for warranty service if the BIOS continues reporting a memory problem.
I removed the battery and moved the RAM to the second slot, but Windows still says that the device encountered a problem and could not be repaired.