Faulty RAM slot?

My MBP (2010) won’t start up properly; when it turns on the screen doesn't load (the screen is black) and it gives off beeps indicating a RAM error. I took it to the computer tech at my school, and she said that the RAM slot was defective. She said could fix this by removing the RAM slot and placing my RAM in the other available slot.
My questions: is removing a faulty RAM slot feasible? Can the faulty slot be fixed under warranty?
Thanks for your help .

How did this work out? I've just been told that my MBP I bought October 20th, 2010 has bad RAM slots.
Of course, this requires a total logic board replacement for $700!
This machine is less than 14 months old. Used sparingly. I don't understand how this could be.
Anybody have any suggestions?
gm

Similar Messages

? RAM slot problems (and much, much more... :))

Have a brand new 'Intel' iMac 20", and installed RAM (from Crucial memory)into it.
Twice now I have had a major crash. First time it got sorted by re-seating the RAM, but now it's happened again. I think one of the two RAM chips may be faulty, but intermittently, which is a pain.
Can I ask the following to help me along:
1) Is it a known issue that there may be faulty RAM slots in the iMacs?
2) I may have to run MemTest on my system, which recommends starting in single-user mode to do a full RAM test. Can I start in single mode with a WIRELESS keyboard (according ao the Apple site you can with OS 10.4.8 - the bluetooth 'drivers' must be buried well deep if this is so!)
3) Read somewhere that resetting PRAM and NVRAM should be done after all RAM additions/alterations, but elsewhere that this is an evil falsehood. Which is true? And if recommended, again can I do this with a wireless keyboard.
4) Of course if your RAM is faulty your machine may not start up at all so HOW CAN YOU DO ANY OF THIS!!!??
(Thanks!)

1. No, there are no known issues with RAM slots in any Macs. However, if you were not careful to follow instructions on seating the new RAM you can damage a slot, although this is unlikely.
2. You don't need to use MemTest. Boot the computer with the OS X Installer Disc One that came with the computer. After the chime press and hold down the "D" key until the diagnostic screen appears. Run the extended diagnostics. If there are any memory or hardware problems they should be detected.
3. I've never reset the NVRAM (PRAM) after installing new RAM, and I've never had a problem. That said resetting the PRAM/NVRAM doesn't hurt anything.
4. Start by removing the new RAM you installed and use only the original RAM that came with the computer. If the computer works properly, then it's reasonable to assume the new RAM is faulty.
Be sure the new RAM you purchase meets the required specs as outlined in your User Guide. The RAM must be PC2-5300 667 Mhz DDR2.

RAM Slot Faulty? Computer Only Boots With One Module of RAM

Ok, so my Macbook Pro is out of warranty and my 100gb HDD was getting a bit tiny, so I decided to upgrade it myself.
After following directions on iFixit, the harddrive went in without a hitch. When I put it back together and boot it up, the latch/sleep light came on, hdd spun up, fans spun, CD spun however the screen refused to turn on.
So I tried resetting PMU, PRAM etc to no avail (would not accept keystrokes). Then I had a fiddle with the RAM (there is 2 512mb modules) and basically worked out that if I have either one module in the top and nothing in the bottom everything was A-OK. But if I put either one by itself in the bottom or have both together (either way around) the computer would do the same thing as before (screen would not turn on but made all other usual sounds). Does this mean the bottom RAM slot is faulty?? If so would the logic board have to then be replaced?!

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
That's exactly what it sounds like that the RAM slot is bad. Unfortunately you also might have damaged it yourself in doing all the iFixit instructions. And yes a logicboard replacement would be in order if you couldn't get anything to work. As long as you have something limping along I'd save the money for the logicboard replacement, and in the future have an authorized service center do such installation while you are still under AppleCare with the proviso they promise you to document it under AppleCare that they did it and they will remove the RAM if it ever was found to be bad in the future so that you have no risk of losing your AppleCare in case an accident happened in the installation. If no authorized service center in your area will give you that sort of stipulation in writing, be sure only to buy machines build to order with the parts you need up front, and don't expect to be able to upgrade it in the future.

Lower RAM slot damage caused by 3rd party RAM?

I took my 1.33 ghz 15" powerbook G4 in to be repaired this past Friday. The lower RAM slot was not working (as a note, this slot contained the original RAM that came from Apple). Upon noticing that 256 megs I had in there was missing from system profiler, I removed the 3rd party 512 RAM and placed the 256 Apple RAM there, I placed the 512 meg card in the other slot, and then 512 megs were missing when I booted up. Clearly both sticks of RAM worked, the problem was the slot. I took it into Apple.
They called me today to tell me the system was repaired. They also told me something that I don't believe and don't even think is possible: The 3rd party RAM is what caused the problem. The reasons I don't believe this? I have never heard of faulty RAM breaking a RAM slot in my life, it just doesn't work. Also, the RAM worked in there for a long time prior to it not working. I have also heard of a system update which breaks the lower RAM slot, and Apple issuing a recall on a range of powerbooks as a result to replace the motherboard. True, my powerbook is not in the range of serial numbers, but I also know that there are many people who have this problem that are not in the range Apple has recalled.
The RAM was installed free of charge at the store I bought it from (a non-Apple mac store in Los Angeles). It was never removed until I noticed that the RAM was not being detected, and it was the slot, not the RAM that proved defective.
What do you guys think? Could that have legitimately been the problem? Or did Apple just not know what was wrong, fixed the board, and made that up in the hopes of getting me to buy some overpriced Apple RAM?

Hey, whatever mod deleted the reply to this and my subsequent reply to that, why don't you tell me an accurate response? Tell me exactly how working RAM could break the RAM slot it wasn't even plugged into.
Otherwise, Apple is telling a bunch of bull and refusing to admit to a product flaw. Why delete a post speculating on such an issue? All it does is lend credence to the speculation. I believe that it is the case all the more now that you have deleted the posts.

MacBook Ram slots - Which bank is which?

I installed two new RAM chips in my MacBook and one of the chips is faulty. I discovered that it was a RAM problem by switching the chips. In the first instance the good RAM showed up in Bank 0 and the second installation showed the good RAM was in Bank 1.
I have consulted the user manual but it does not say which RAM slot corresponds to what bank!
I don't want to take the chance of putting 1 chip in and ending up with no RAM. So, I need to know what slot is Bank 0 and what slot is Bank 1.
Hope someone can help!
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8) 13" (older model)

Thanks folks for your help! Here is the result of my findings:
1. When I chose the bad chip and 256MB chip, the MacBook would startup but the screen was black. So I knew I must have the bad chip installed.
2. When I chose the good chip and the 256MB chip, it booted and when I looked in the "About this Mac" it showed 1.25GB.
3. When looking in the battery compartment with the chip levers at the top, I put the 1GB chip in the slot on the LEFT. The System Profiler indicated that that was Bank1/Dimm1.
Briefly then - Bank 1 - left and Bank 0 -right when the levers are viewed at the top.

Fried RAM slot? Really need some help quick.

Hi guys. I have a major problem on my hands, that I hope you may be able to help me solve...
I have been working on a deadline for the production of a DVD that will be used as part of a mental health outreach program, and all had seemingly been going well, albeit slow with my OEM 512MB of RAM. I therefore decided to upgrade my RAM, first buying two 512MB DIMMS from macsolutuons, but these DIMMS produced crashes almost religiously after 5 or so minutes of uptime. After receiving a new shipment, ensuring they were from the same batch, all seemed to be well. The computer stayed up for days without crash - but when I put a load on it, namely video encoding to DV stream and to MPEG-2, poof - hard crashes.
I decided the RAM from macsolutions looked generic and suspected if I bought some real RAM I'd be safe. I purchased Viking RAM form macmall, three 512MB DIMMS, overnighted so I can make this deadline.
Here's the catch...
If I use all three DIMMS, the computer crashes in less than 5 minutes of uptime religiously. If I use two of them, the computer seems to stay up without problems, but when it sees a load like video conversion places on the system, it locks up. When I remove all RAM, so only one 512MB DIMM is present, I can encode video, and I don't seem to get crashes.
When I bought the machine from Apple some two years ago, it came with one 512MB DIMM. I'm only hypothesizing here, but is there a chance that I received a machine that has a RAM slot 1 that's fine, but there's something wrong with slot 2 (or even 2, 3, 4)? In theory, when just surfing or using standard apps, the first slot meets the RAM need, but when more RAM allocation is needed under hard processes, and the system feeds off of slots beyond #1, then I crash. MenuMeters is installed so I can monitor RAM use, and sure enough, I mainly get crashes as my used RAM approaches 480-500MB.
It's really urgent that I get to the bottom of this issue sooner than later, so I can finish this project to meet my deadline. Assuming slot 2 and so forth are bad, could I use a single 1GB DIMM module?
Any advice is greatly appreciated. If i can repay the favor in any way, I'd be glad to.

I suspected the RAM as well, however when I use only one DIMM I get zero crashes. I have used each of the three DIMMS for one day each now, and no crashes, but the second I add another ino the configuration crashes occur. While I agree that cheap RAM is often the culprit, to me all signs point to a faulty slot 2.
I think I'll try getting a 1G RAM DIMM and only use slot 1 and see how that goes. Too bad, because I could really use more than 1G.

RAM Slot Not Working for Macbook 2009 - Looking for Alternatives

Tested RAM slots and found that the second slot (slot closest to interior of computer) is not working properly. Switched both 4gb cards in back slot and the computer would not start up, only would beep....definitely not faulty RAM cards because they both work in the first slot.
I've researched this on forums briefly, the consensus seems to be logic board replacement.
I really don't want to invest more money into this older computer - Macbook Pro mid-2009.
Are there any other troubleshooting options here? I don't think it's the OS and do not have any Time Machine data set up before Mac X nor do I have an partitions set up on an external.
The computer is not terribly slow but when using Final Cut Pro X it tends to lag. All of the specs for my computer fall in the recommendations for using with FC10
Could I get an 8gb RAM card for slot 1?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

Does not look like it supports 16 GBs of RAM meaning only 4 GBs/slot.

Where do i find the second ram slot on a t43 thinkpad

i believe ram might be my issue causing my t43 to freeze moving the mouse pointer with the track pointer helps get things working i bought a new 1gb ram and installed it in the ram port since then i have been able to run sluggish applications more smoothly but after a while of using these applications up to an hour the t43 freezes using the track point put some life back in to the machine (enough to close the application) when i dont have anything running except the internet it runs fine i believe the t43 has some sort of second ram slot since in the system it now shows as 1.5gb of ram and not 1gb
should the t43 have a second ram slot how easy is it to get at i don't want to accidentally break something

Welcome to the forum!
The second RAM slot is under the keyboard. Check the HMM for removal instructions:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-58791
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
George
In daily use: R60F, R500F, T61, T410
Collecting dust: T60
Enjoying retirement: A31p, T42p,
Non-ThinkPads: Panasonic CF-31 & CF-52, HP 8760W
Starting Thursday, 08/14/2014 I'll be away from the forums until further notice. Please do NOT send private messages since I won't be able to read them. Thank you.

Accessing ram slots on a 27 iMac

I just received a new 27 iMac and I’m thinking about adding an additional 4GB of ram. I’m not very excited about laying this big boy down onto its face to add the extra ram. Is it possible to place the machine on the edge of a table and tilt it back to access the ram slots?

Thanks for the responses. So I agree with you guys about following the directions. I'm trying to visualize the best way for my wife and I to tip it onto it's face. Should I hold the sides while my wife holds the arm in the back? Or should we each take a side? I'm trying to avoid getting a bunch of finger prints on the screen or stirring up dust that might exist inside the machine.
I know I might seem overly paranoid but it's been four month ordeal for me to get where I'm at right now. I would hate a screw something up at this point in the game.

Ram slots on a G-5

How do ram slots J-43 and J44 relate to the numbered slots inside the machine 1-4 upper and lower on a G-5?

If you're sure the RAM is good, try the Hair Dryer trick...
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=13240047#13240047
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15223603#15223603
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15499912#15499912
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15613068#15613068
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3270112
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16053892#16053892
It can show on any G5, and even many other computers & electronic devices of the period.
http://www.macintouch.com/reliability/pmg5.html
http://lowendmac.com/ppc/power-macintosh-g5.html

RAM slot failure on a Equium P300-16T

Hi, Ive got a RAM slot failure on a Equium p300-16T. I have tested both RAM modules and there in perfect working order. RAM slot 1 works and laptop boots successfully but as soon as RAM module inputed into RAM slot 2 no boot.
My frustration comes from when i began a warranty repair on Friday night through the website and it refused to accept it stating that the server had timed out. Unfortunately this timing out seem to happen every time i went to finish the warranty claim. And to my dismay my Serial number is no longer available on the website due to the warranty running out today (2nd of August).
Is there anything i can do?
Kind Regards
Ian Watt

What size RAM are you installing?
The system is capable of 2GB Max in total, so if you are installing RAM above 2GB, booting will/may fail.
You may be able to install a 2GB Module in Slot A, but it will probably be unstable and cause intermittent BSOD's. Or not boot at all. (not recommended)
I believe your laptop has the Santa Rosa chipset, which requires RAM in at least Slot A.
If you install RAM in Slot B only, it wont boot.
So basically to get the most out of the system, you should have a 1GB Module in each slot, which is how it comes from the factory if the specs found in google are correct.

MacBook Pro mid 2012 15" - one RAM slot gone bad

Hi,
Has anyone ever had the issue with not working RAM slot? My MacBook Pro mid 2012 (non-retina) suddenly froze and after restart was beeping three times every few seconds. I found out that the beeping signals bad RAM. Bought new chips, and the problem still exists. My mac can now run on one slot with 4GB RAM.
I did check the placement of the chips in the slots, i also checked one slot at a time, and one of them has gone broken.
Any ideas on how to make it run again? or if it is possible to replace the slots?
Brgds
Marek
MacBook Pro 2,7GHz Intel Core i7 / OSX 10.9.4

The Apple-accepted cure for a dead RAM slot is a new logic board. Unless you ahve AppleCare, that will be an expensive fix.
An Apple service option is the "depot repair." Instead of working on your computer in the Apple Store, they send it to a centralized refurbishment facility where they fix anything they find wrong (except for cosmetic damage and damage from abuse like dropping) for a flat fee of a little over US$300. That is between 30 and 40 percent of the parts and labor charges if Apple installs a new board in an Apple Store. Sometimes they will install an new battery at the depot without increasing the flat fee.
The downside is that it takes about a week; for that level of cost savings, I could do without my computer for a week.
So take it to Apple and ask about a depot repair.
A low-tech and low-cost option is to expand on what you are doing now--using one slot. Although the official RAM limit on your model is 8GB RAM (two 4GB models), your model can actually handle a total of 16GB (two 8GB modules. You can ignore the dead slot and put an 8GB module in the good slot. My 2012 MBP has 8GB RAM and is completely happy running Mavericks.
Be sure to ONLY get the RAM from an Mac-savvy vendor. For over a decade I've bought all our Mac RAM from one supplier. This is their page for an 8GB module for your MBP model:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/1600DDR3S8GB/
I would also trust Crucial on this one. For a change they recognize that your model can use more RAM than stated in Apple's outdated specs:
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Apple/macbook-pro-%2813-inc h-and-15-inch%2C-mid-2012%29

How to fix a malfunctioning RAM slot?

I tried to upgrade my Mac Mini (late 2012) from 2 x 2GB to 2 x 8GB after ordering the correct Crucial RAM from Amazon, based on user reviews. After my first installtion attempt, I found that the Mac mini would only recognize only one of the 8 GB sticks. The Blank 1 slot was listed as empty when in the system information retrieved via apple menu. So I repeated the installation 3 times but after the third attempt the Mac mini would start and beep and the monitor screen was black. So I reinstalled the old RAM and the Mac mini would beep again after turning it on. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the top RAM slot wasn't holding the RAM tightly and the left clip plastic piece was little more flexible than the bottom piece. So I removed the RAM and inserted it at 45 degree angle and pressed hard so that it popped in place. Yet the Mac Mini beeps upon start. Even if the top slot is damaged, it doesn't want to run on the bottom RAM slot which seems to work fine. I purchase the Mac Mini in Feb 2013 and just spent over $100 to upgrade the RAM. It's a shame I will have to shell out more to fix it. Any suggestions?

The Mac Mini started with the original RAM after I had sealed the hardline crack with some lactate. The release and hold mechanism for the top slot became stiffer after that. The Crucial RAMs didn't work but I am happy that the mini can start with the original RAMs. There were over 2000 5-star reviews for the Crucial RAM on amazon but the latest reviews are negative suggesting drop inequality or compatibility issues. I am going to return the Crucial RAM and be content with the 4 GB RAM for now.

Help with ram slots on MSI P7N SLI PLATINUM

rig config:
MSI P7N SLI PLATINUM (MS-7380)
bios version: 1.3v
Q6600 quard core 2.66GHz
Zotac modded 9800GTX+ amped version
2x2 Gb DDR2 800MHz Kingston
500 watt (absolute) power supply (taken form an old HP workstation)
windows 7 X64
Everything's on stock setting
Its been almost 1 & 1/2 years since i bought this rig, and from first month itself i have been having problem with the ram. The problem is not with the sticks, its with the ram slots. There are different things that happen. Sometimes when i boot my system:
1) either, it wont start, i.e. no boot screen.
2) It will load upto windows startup screen, crash and restart in an infinite loop.
3) It will load windows, then crash after sometime.
4) If i run any memory diagnostic, it will give errors.
At these times, i take out my 2 ram sticks, tinker with them, place them in different combination of ram slots, try push them in, in a certain way, keep trying until it yields and it boots up again ( generally a process of 1/2 an hr to an hr). After this my system will work fine ( no errors on any memory diagnostic) and boot properly for a week or 2, maybe even a month, but then again the same problem happens. I know for sure that there is no problem with my dimms (have checked them in other system and they work fine), its something to do with ram slots, or memory bus-controller structure.
Recently the problem happened again, though my tinkering didn't help. My system only boots up if i place any of the ram sticks in the 3rd slot (the 1st orange one). It wont work for any other slot and neither will it work if i place both of the sticks together. I have tried resetting my bios as well cmos settings, but it has not helped. My mb is still in warranty, but if i give it for repair, it will be gone for a good month or so, which doesn't go well with me. If someone has any suggestions, or a way out, it will be highly appreciated. Please help!

Quote from: nellinil on 10-July-10, 10:27:51
yes the psu has a single +12v rail with 21A rating, but somehow i don't feel the problem is because of it. When my system successfully boots, it works properly. I can play or work on high performance softwares for any number of hours without fail, which ought not to happen if the psu is bad.
Hmm, you are ignoring the possibility that your PSU is "flaky" (that's a technical term)!!!! You've never had any gizmo where "sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't work"?
If you don't want to buy a new PSU then at least beg-borrow-steal another one and see if your symptoms change.

Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8 PCI (4 RAM Slots) - want to upgrade to 8GB?

My computer is a Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8 PCI (4 RAM Slots)
Is there any way I can break out of the 4GB RAM limit into the world of 8GB RAM without having to buy a newer computer. I need to open a large 4.5GB TGA file in After Effects (48000 pixels x 36000 pixels).
Failing that, is there an application like RAM doubler I could use temporarily to get me though this job?
Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8 PCI (4 RAM Slots) Mac OS X (10.4.10) Currently have 4GB RAM installed

If there is not enough RAM, OSX will use space on the disk drive, so the amount of RAM should not limit the file size an application can handle, but speed will be reduced. 32-bit addressing can restrict the use of huge files, but there are ways that applications can get around it (at the expense of lower speed).
If After Effects has a file size limit, extra RAM will not help A later version (maybe using 64-bit mode) may handle larger files. 64-bit applications can be written to run in Tiger on G5s, but will be easier to write when Leopard is released.
You may be able to use some other application, such as Photo Shop, or Graphics Converter, to extract part of the TGA file, or reduce its size by changing its resolution, so you can use the result in After Effects.

Faulty RAM slot?

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