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    Will leaving faulty RAM in your computer cause other hardware damage?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by lytefyre, Jan 20, 2008.

  1. lytefyre

    lytefyre Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi guys,

    So I posted in the Asus forum that I upgraded the RAM for my gf's W5fm and she's been experiencing a lot of BSODs a few weeks later. I'm pretty sure its the RAM's fault, but I haven't run Memtest because she is on co-op in another country, and she is not comfortable doing anything techy (I know, I've tried to lead her step-by-step but she refuses to do anything for fear it'll make things worse).

    Anyways, she won't be back for another 3-4 months, so I'm wondering if leaving the faulty RAM in her laptop will damage any other hardware components. I know she's getting a lot of BSODs, but she says she can cope with it. All she needs to do is restart the comp and save her documents more often. She's willing to wait the 3-4 months, but in that time, will the faulty RAM and BSODs damage the other laptop hardware? Thanks guys.
     
    lytefyre, Jan 20, 2008
    #1
  2. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    If it has not fried it yet unlikely to damage other components. As a matter of fact if you are not worried about corrupting (frying the OS) I don't think you have anything to worry about. I mean it will not physically fry HDD,CPU,screen,DVD,MoBo,Batt,keyboard,touchpad.
     
    powerpack, Jan 20, 2008
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  3. lytefyre

    lytefyre Notebook Enthusiast

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    Do you mean the frequent BSODs will make cumulative errors on the OS, like permanent errors? Btw, the OS is vista premium 32bit and thanks for the quick reply.
     
    lytefyre, Jan 20, 2008
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  4. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It is possible that faulty RAM can destroy the OS, and I'm sure she would not like that. If the right bits are involved, anything can happen.
     
    Greg, Jan 20, 2008
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  5. chubbyfatazn

    chubbyfatazn Notebook Evangelist

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    My RAM has caused my desktop to cease functioning twice already, but it has not in any way damaged any of the components inside it.

    Basically what happened was that I would have to wait until the computer froze during OS loading (always at the same spot, every time), restart it, and then be able to fully load the OS. It degraded to the point where it only sporadically booted, and then finally would not boot at all.

    Nothing was damaged, so I'm happy.
     
    chubbyfatazn, Jan 20, 2008
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  6. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    I mean if it affects anything it would be the OS. It could corrupt it so much that it will not boot (worst case scenario). The BSOD as annoying as it is (I thought they got rid of that option after 98) protects the OS.
     
    powerpack, Jan 20, 2008
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  7. lytefyre

    lytefyre Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ah I see. Thanks for the replies guys!! Saved me a lot of headaches and guilt (well...I still have guilt but less now). I'm gonna try to walk my gf through memtest and installing RAM. Thanks again for all the help.
     
    lytefyre, Jan 20, 2008
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  8. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    It may not damage other hardware but it may corrupt the documents she is working on.
     
    hendra, Jan 20, 2008
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