RAM failure from voltage fluctuation

I've had a Gateway M210XL (1.7 GHz Intel Centrino, 1.256 GB RAM) for 3 years and a voltage fluctuation has messed it up. The power adapter cord was loose in the outlet and sparked up, after which I encountered a Blue Screen of Death while running Windows XP Home

The computer would refuse to boot or give me a BSOD after I tried to restart it a couple of times, so I thought the memory might have been corrupted. I took out the 1 GB Kingston module (256 MB is built-in to the motherboard) and the system works fine, albeit a LOT more slugglishly

I sent the memory module back to Kingston and got another one shipped back, but the same problems persists when I insert it in the mainboard. There is only one open slot so I can't even test if the slot is faulty. To date, I haven't had any hardware problems whatsoever.

My question is; can this be easily repaired or repaired at all? Or is it best to just buy another machine?

Thanks in advance

 

Only one open slot ? Means your notebook doesn't have 2 slots ??

 

You can run a memtest ( http://www.memtest86.com/) or you can try another RAM module.

What is your BSOD error code? Is it always the same?

 

Suspect that the voltage issue could of fried something on MoBo with connection to the RAM slot? I only say because two sticks failure. Just a guess.

 

Yes, it has only 1 slot. Weird, huh?

 

Ok, I just looked up the specs. Your notebook has a soldered 256MB module, and you installed Kingston's 1GB PC-2700/3200 DDR RAM, right ?

When you install the 1GB Module, does it still give a BSOD ? Have you run the memtest linked by Hep! ??

 

Yeah I so too. Is this repairable?

 

Yep, that's right. No I haven't run memtest yet. I was told that was for detecting bad RAM modules, but when I figured the problem wasn't with the sticks I let it go.

I'll run it and get back to you...

 

Repairing the motherboard circuitry will be a professional's work. If you can confirm that the circuitry is bad, you can either get the mobo replaced under warranty, or buy/trade for a new mobo on ebay, etc.

 

Andy I know you know. MoBo's are not repaired, they are replaced

 

I used to repair P4/Athlon boards by replacing blown capacitors. But that's not even worth doing anymore, boards are so cheap. That was also desktop boards though.

 

So I ran Memtest as suggested and my system is now running fine with the 1 GB chip installed. Did memtest repair anything, or am I just lucky?

 

Memtest is purely diagnostic, does not repair anything.

 

In follow up to my previous post, the system did eventually crash (BSOD showing a memory dump error) while running iTunes some 8 hours later. It would not boot again, until I removed the 1 GB chip and inserted it again..

 

Somebody told me that my RAM socket may be damaged...
How can I check/fix it?
Thanks for all your help!

 

Can't fix it. Only check really is to use some confirmed to be good memory in the slot and test it.

 

bh661, have you physically looked at the memory slot?
Check to see that it is dust free,
also use a flashlight and slowly look at the pins. If any of the wires in the slot are crossed, that could be causing your problem. If the wires somehow got crossed/bent than you need to try to use tweezers or the bck end of a fine blade to make the pins straight again.

Write down the errorcode next time you get problems, cause it may be something unrelated to teh memory chip, like say a chipset driver miscmmunication or something like that.

Hep, on laptop motherboards, capacitors are usually condensor based caps, they look like small yellow rectangles soldered to the motherboard.
It is a good idea to shut the system off, and leave the ac plugged in, and check for resistivity/voltage going through the capacitors and such with a good voltmeter.

Just becareful not to cross any wires or else you can dig yourself into a deeper hole.

K-TRON

 

...I know that capacitors are really difficult to replace on notebooks, to the point that you either need very special training and equipment or a robot.

I said in my post "desktops"