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Nevu Jan 4, 2020 @ 2:25pm

[SOLVED] USB ports and display not working after installing more RAM

Hey, I just picked up a 8GB stick to upgrade my PC to 16GB. The 8GB stick is 100% identical to the one I already have installed. The RAM seemed to pop in with no fuss and everything seemed okay. Though, when I turned on the PC and hooked everything up, there was no display, and my peripherals weren't working at all. There was also a weird very faint beeping-like constant noise coming from the PC. After removing the new RAM and turning the PC on again, everything worked as if nothing happened. What gives, could the RAM be defective?

Last edited by Nevu; Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:55pm

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Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Pressing case reset or power never resets the cmos. The purpose of unplugging the power cable from rear of psu and holding in case power button for approx 10 secs is to drain the caps. Now the system has zero power build up. The battery alone is keeping the bios settings alive. Remove the cmos battery for approx 5 mins, or short the reset cmos jumper pins. Then power the system back on and give it a hood minute or so to post. But be ready to enter the bios if it doesn't do that all on its own. If the PC boots to OS too quickly, temporary unplug sata data cable from internal drives. Once cmos is reset and posting, don't change anything yet, just save and exit the bios. This is to check that the ram works. If it does, force the power off via the psu switch, hold case power button in for 10 secs. Then remove ram that booted fine and swap for the other.

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Showing 1-15 of 23 comments

Omega Jan 4, 2020 @ 2:29pm

Make sure the module is installed properly. Try a single module at a time to check if the modules you are mixing don't like eachother. Also try a BIOS reset by removing the CMOS battery for a few minutes.

The module might be dead. It can happen, that is what warranty is for.

Nevu Jan 4, 2020 @ 2:47pm

Originally posted by Omega:
Make sure the module is installed properly. Try a single module at a time to check if the modules you are mixing don't like eachother. Also try a BIOS reset by removing the CMOS battery for a few minutes.

The module might be dead. It can happen, that is what warranty is for.

It definitely was installed properly. Someone already suggested the CMOS reset thing to me earlier.

Would it make a huge difference if I say, unplugged the PC and held the reset button for 5-10 seconds to reset the BIOS? Or for example, resetting the BIOS through the BIOS interface itself? Also, should I reset it after I install the "problematic" RAM, or before installing it?

Omega Jan 4, 2020 @ 2:52pm

Originally posted by Nevu:
Originally posted by Omega:
Make sure the module is installed properly. Try a single module at a time to check if the modules you are mixing don't like eachother. Also try a BIOS reset by removing the CMOS battery for a few minutes.

The module might be dead. It can happen, that is what warranty is for.
It definitely was installed properly. Someone already suggested the CMOS reset thing to me earlier.

Would it make a huge difference if I say, unplugged the PC and held the reset button for 5-10 seconds to reset the BIOS? Or for example, resetting the BIOS through the BIOS interface itself? Also, should I reset it after I install the "problematic" RAM, or before installing it?

1. Unplug the PC from power.
2. Install the new RAM.
3. Remove the CMOS battery.
4. Hit the power button a few times.
5. Wait 2-20 minutes, depending on the board.
6. Turn it on and see what happens.

But I recommend trying to start the PC with only the new RAM installed first. If the machine doesn't POST the module is most likely dead (or incompatible).

What are the make and model of the motherboard and new RAM?

Last edited by Omega; Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:58pm

Nevu Jan 4, 2020 @ 2:56pm

Originally posted by Omega:
Originally posted by Nevu:
It definitely was installed properly. Someone already suggested the CMOS reset thing to me earlier.

Would it make a huge difference if I say, unplugged the PC and held the reset button for 5-10 seconds to reset the BIOS? Or for example, resetting the BIOS through the BIOS interface itself? Also, should I reset it after I install the "problematic" RAM, or before installing it?
1. Install the new RAM.
2. Unplug the PC from power.
3. Remove the CMOS battery.
4. Hit the power button a few times.
5. Wait 2-20 minutes, depending on the board.
6. Turn it on and see what happens.

But I recommend trying to start the PC with only the new RAM installed first. If the machine doesn't POST the module is most likely dead.

What are the make and model of the motherboard and new RAM?

I'll try to use the "problematic" RAM only them.

My motherboard: ASRock H110M-HDS
New RAM: Crucial 8GB DDR4 2400mhz (hope that's enough info)

The author of this thread has indicated that this post answers the original topic.

Bad 💀 Motha Jan 4, 2020 @ 4:57pm

Nevu Jan 4, 2020 @ 5:19pm

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:
Pressing case reset or power never resets the cmos. The purpose of unplugging the power cable from rear of psu and holding in case power button for approx 10 secs is to drain the caps. Now the system has zero power build up. The battery alone is keeping the bios settings alive. Remove the cmos battery for approx 5 mins, or short the reset cmos jumper pins. Then power the system back on and give it a hood minute or so to post. But be ready to enter the bios if it doesn't do that all on its own. If the PC boots to OS too quickly, temporary unplug sata data cable from internal drives. Once cmos is reset and posting, don't change anything yet, just save and exit the bios. This is to check that the ram works. If it does, force the power off via the psu switch, hold case power button in for 10 secs. Then remove ram that booted fine and swap for the other.

Very helpful, I now have a basic understanding of what I am doing here. I just removed the CMOS battery and now I'm waiting a good 10 mins or so to put it back in. Also, I actually want to use both ram sticks so I can have 16GB. Do I skip the swapping part, then?

Bad 💀 Motha Jan 4, 2020 @ 5:30pm

The swapping them out part is to ensure each works properly by itself. If they each work fine alone, then have issues once all are installed, it could be a faulty dimm slot.

Nevu Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:18pm

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:
The swapping them out part is to ensure each works properly by itself. If they each work fine alone, then have issues once all are installed, it could be a faulty dimm slot.

Well, I tinkered around like crazy, and I finally fixed it. I tried booting with only the "faulty" RAM and it didn't work. Then, I removed my old RAM and put the faulty stick into the place of the old one. The PC then actually booted. After that, I put the old RAM into the slot I was trying to put my new one into, and voila. It boots, and it shows 16GB RAM.

To put it simply: I switched the RAM up and it works flawlessly.

emoticorpse Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:19pm

They need to start embedding ram sticks into the motherboard.

Omega Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:21pm

Originally posted by emoticorpse:
They need to start embedding ram sticks into the motherboard.

You mean budget and small form factor laptops?

No! That is horrible!

Last edited by Omega; Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:21pm

#10

Bad 💀 Motha Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:49pm

Originally posted by emoticorpse:
They need to start embedding ram sticks into the motherboard.

You have any idea how ridiculous you sound. That's the kind of dumb stuff Apple does. The more swappable and upgradable the better.

Last edited by Bad 💀 Motha; Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:50pm

#11

Carlsberg Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:52pm

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:
Originally posted by emoticorpse:
They need to start embedding ram sticks into the motherboard.
You have any idea how ridiculous you sound. That's the kind of dumb stuff Apple does.

Maybe not so, I believe Microsofts long term vision is to hard code windows much as console OS is, in which case the required amount of ram can be pre-determined.

#12

Bad 💀 Motha Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:55pm

Windows and games will continue to increase requirements over time.

MS already has their Xbox for such things, it would be pretty dumb to do that to Windows. Plus Windows just as the OS, 4 or 8 gb of ram is fine. It's apps, games and overall multitasking that needs more.

Last edited by Bad 💀 Motha; Jan 4, 2020 @ 6:55pm

#13

Carlsberg Jan 4, 2020 @ 7:04pm

Originally posted by ;1747893074679550382:
Windows and games will continue to increase requirements over time.

MS already has their Xbox for such things, it would be pretty dumb to do that to Windows. Plus Windows just as the OS, 4 or 8 gb of ram is fine. It's apps, games and overall multitasking that needs more.

Thats true but some laptops already come with ram on mainboard, it does not mean that expansion will be unavailable, of course it also means that issues such as this threads original topic will not be prevented.

#14