I screwed up big time...

So I just put some new RAM in my M15x just as their website directed, but now my computer won't boot. The lights come on, but the screen stays black.

The first problem I had was the top RAM chip wouldn't "pop" in, so I had to kind of slide it in, but it looks like it is placed correctly.

Next, their is a random blue wire just sticking out near the bottom side (Closet to where the battery is) not connected to anything.

I'm scared guys. Can anyone help?

 

mind to take a picture of it so that we can have a clear look?

 

Ok... when you put in your RAM you need to be sure that the part that you put your RAM in is at a 45 degree angle. Then once it seems firmly in, you just put it down to where it was before and make sure the clasps are on top of the RAM module.

Hope this helps!

 

that "extra" cable is on every m15x i think. it's connected to the WLAN card i think, and maybe could serve as an antenna of sorts, but it doesn't right now i think. nothing to worry about.

 

Does it boot if you take the new ram back out?
I had a similar problem with my m5700... It didn't like the ram I tried putting in.

I wouldn't be too scared yet.... you can't really put in ram backwards because they have a guide "pin" on them, and if worst comes to worst you'll fry your ram, not the computer.
~Itomix

 

Yeah you can't put it in backwords because of the opening between pins so it's obvious which way it goes.

 

well you could theoretically force it in and snap off the pins that don't fit... but i think you'd notice

 

It won't pop in at any angle. It does the same thing with the old RAM. The bottom one pops in fine, but I have to fiddle alot with the top one.

Pic: http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o118/runwhen_useeme/HPIM0302.jpg

 

Pic is really blurry, but it looks like its in correctly....
i'll ask again, does it boot without the new ram in it?

Also, try switching the two ram modules, some motherboards can be very finiky about this.

 

It won't boot with the old ones in it. Should I try it with no RAM? I'll switch them around and get back to you.

Even though the top one looks like it's in correctly, it moves around alot when I touch it, and doesn't really snap in place like the bottom one.

EDIT: Also, caps or number lock won't come on, but the all the lights do.

 

have you bent the holding pins back down?

 

Bent them back down? I never bent them up. Can you be more specific please?

 

i seem to recall some metal pins that hold the RAM down... or am i mistaken?

 

I think he means the 2 little metal brackets on the sides of both ram bays... You have to pull these outwards (away from the ram pins) I'd circle them in your picture, but i'm on a really slow computer atm... Do you see what I'm talking about?

I really don't like how it won't boot without the new ram.... I hope you didn't fry both chips...
Is this still under warrenty? If so, try calling tech support (Don't mention the new ram), and just tell them your system won't boot. They can't prove that you tried to put in new ram.

 

There's two pins on the side of each slot. When I line up the bottom one at 45 degree angle and gently press down, there is a satisfying "pop". With the top one, it won't pop in when I press down. The only way to get it in is to push the two pins to the side with my fingers, and slide the RAM in straight on.

 

here is the guide from AW

http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/...3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PW0xNXggcmFt&p_li=&p_topview=1

there you can see the brackets. for some reason in your pic the top ram actually doesnt seem to be in enough. try turning on your computer with only 1 stick of ram. see if that will work. since the bottom one can click in perfectly just take out one of the ram cards and boot with that 1 ram card in

 

Well, there technically dosen't have to be a satisfying pop, you hear that because of the ram moving past the little indents on the two side brackets.... As long as all the pins are in contact with their respective connectors, it should work.

The first problem you should fix is with it not booting with only the old ram in it. Once it starts booting again, you can worry about the second stick...
Its much harder to troubleshoot with two sticks rather than one.

Unfortunately, Without personally being there, there's very little I can do about this. If you have any other compatable notebook ram, try using that (To see if u fried both modules)

Or try booting without ram (it should still boot and show a screen saying there's no ram)

~Itomix

 

Just tried it with one stick and still no luck.

I'm googleling my heart out and find lots of similiar problems but no solutions. Apparently whenever the computer doesn't detect any RAM, it just shows a blank screen.

 

the blue wire is suppose to be lose and not suppose to be connected to anything (just thought I'd answer that for you)

 

so what do you see when you boot?

 

Absolutely nothing. All the lights come on, and the screen stays dead. I've tried it with no RAM, old RAM, new RAM, and just one RAM stick all to the same effect.

 

ok try this unplug the battery and unplug it from the wall. Pop out your bios battery (the one that looks like a big clock battery). then leave it out for about 10 to 20 sec now put it back it. Now put in the old ram and plug your power back in and then tell me what u see.

 

hard to see properly in the picture, but it looks like to me, the small connector for the ram (top of the picture) is actually crooked, so the RAM isn't sitting in it properly.

 

Your RAM isn't in all the way. It can travel in there a LOT further than what you show in your screenshot. You should barely be able to see the contacts of the ram.. like maybe 1-2mm worth. In your pic, it looks like I can see the whole contact length of the RAM stick.

 

yep now that I look at the pic your ram is not properly inserted. O and by the way if your computer doesn't have any RAM or its bad you wont' be able to see anything on your screen.

 

since you tried one stick of ram and it wont turn on im guessing its the mobo. you tried the old ram too right? give roswell a call if you live in the U.S. the number is in the sig. they will help you out with your case.

 

i'm on the phone now.

 

Alright. Thanks everybody, issue resolved...duly (See below).

It turns out that the metal pins on each RAM were broke. Roswell had me reseat the video card, optical drive and HDD, but with no success. While on hold I got a magnifying glass and looked it over and noticed the problem. I bent them back with plyers (I wasn't going to tel tech support that, lol) and viola! Problem solved.

The good thing that came out of this is my previous problem of my unresponsive touch controls is fixed. I didn't have the typical not working after sleep problem, they just wouldn't work period. Now they work again. IDK.

Anyways, thanks again guys.

 

haha nice. XD I'm glad you got it all worked out! ^-^;;

 

glad to hear it worked out for you and you can now enjoy your notebook