Re: Did I just brick my laptop? by Paul
Paul
Thu Jun 26 09:02:00 PDT 2008
TreyWinston@gmail.com wrote:
> Thanks for the reply :)
>
>> Return to the original RAM configuration. Does it still work ?
>
> No. It now won't boot in any configuration.
>
>> I'd double check that it supports memory that large. I'm not finding
>> a match on Crucial for the model number, but perhaps if you head
>> on over to Crucial.com, you can find a reference to your machine,
>> and what size the max memory is. Crucial has a scanning tool, but
>> that is only going to work, if the machine is booted.
>
> I used that tool when I bought the RAM, and I'm sure that it is the
> right type of chip. The computer should be able to take 1 Gb.
>
>> When working on RAM, I recommend removing all power from a computer
>> you are working on. On a desktop, I unplug the power supply, so I
>> can be absolutely sure +5VSB is disabled. On a laptop, I'd probably
>> pop the battery pack. That way, there won't be any raw voltages
>> on the RAM slot. If you change RAM while the slot is powered,
>> something could get damaged.
>
> I took the power, but I didn't pop the battery. That could be it, I
> guess.
>
> A RAM which is the wrong capacity
>> should not damage a computer, but having voltage present while
>> doing the change, could damage something. (The BIOS is supposed
>> to check the SPD on the DIMM, and decide how to configure the
>> hardware. If some RAM is not compatible, the BIOS should not
>> be enabling the RAM slots, and should issue a beep code.)
>
> As far as I can tell, there's no beep at all.
>
> I guess I could have shorted out all three chips and/or both RAM
> slots, since I didn't pop the battery.
> This doesn't sound good. Should I give up hope?
>
> Trey
>
Is there a procedure for clearing the CMOS ? That is the only
procedure that comes to mind. And that may not be documented in
the literature that came with the product. Since I wasn't able to
find anything worth having on the hp.com site, I can't advise
further, on which access plate you might have to remove to get
at a CMOS jumper or remove the tiny CMOS battery.
Or, you could try starting the laptop once, with no RAM present.
Listen for beeps. Do you get a beep error code ? A beep means
the processor might still be running (there is no reason
anyway, to assume the processor was affected, so it should
still be trying to run).
After the boot cycle attempt with no RAM, shut down, pop the
main battery, and put the original RAM back. And try again...
Motherboards are expensive to replace, although in terms of
material value, they shouldn't be any more expensive than a
desktop motherboard ($50 to $150 or so). But the manufacturer
will price them, to squeeze as much as possible from the
customer. Many people buy a new laptop, when expensive
maintenance of this sort seem imminent.
You can always sell the laptop on Ebay for parts, indicating
that just the motherboard is bad, and you might get some money for
the display. Since there are always a few people out there
with cracked displays, there will be a market for the display
part of the laptop. The processor itself, probably less so.
And the keyboard may be of use to someone. You can keep the
hard drive, to copy over your files - a 2.5" external enclosure
with USB interface, can be used to do that.
It is even possible that there are people on Ebay, who take
two busted laptops, and scavenge enough parts to make
a good one. As a sort of business.
Paul