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Question

RAM likely failing

by Sep 3, 2015 10:56AM PDT

I'll try to keep this short but detailed.
Lately my computer has been randomly shutting off, as if I held the power button down, and restarting, without warning. This most commonly (or always) happens when I'm playing World of Warcraft, a very RAM-intensive game. Another forum I checked said that my fans, etc, might just need to be cleaned out, so I was trying to uncover my laptop to do that last night. I had to stop the process because of an activity I was attending on WoW, but my computer still rebooted while I was playing, however, one of these times, the computer started beeping and would not start the boot process (the screen stayed black).
At the time I was not aware of the actual location of my computer's speakers, and I thought the beeping was coming from a part, not from the computer itself, so later on (after the WoW event) I started messing with the part I thought the beeping was coming from. I looked it up and found the part to be my computer's RAM, which I then took out of the computer and attempted to boot it up, but the screen stayed black and the computer started beeping again, very similar to the time before when I hadn't taken out the RAM.
Having almost confirmed these were the issue, I did more research, and found a program called MemTest which I attempted to download but for some reason couldn't get to work. I then found out my computer has a very similar program already built-in (Windows Memory Diagnostic) and ran that program to do about 5 tests in total, but every time it said it didn't detect ANY issues with my RAM.
Is there possibly another cause for these issues?? Something besides my RAM? I run a Dell Inspiron 5520 with Windows 7, 6 GB RAM, 64-bit OS.

TL;DR: I had very good reason to believe my RAM was failing on my computer but Windows Memory Diagnostic found no issues. What could cause similar issues?

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Answer
I looked at the laptop from 2012 and found
by Forum moderator Sep 3, 2015 11:02AM PDT

No dedicated GPU. This can fail under a gamer's load due to many things but let's forget that and ask a few questions.

1. I will assume it worked for years.

2. Are you using a laptop cooling pad?
3. Are you keeping up with the 1st of the month canned air to the vent work?

4. I will not repeat prior discussions about temps. This is not a gamer laptop but might do if we put it on the cooling pad and keep up the 1st of the month routine.

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Answer
by Miranda0110 Sep 3, 2015 11:09AM PDT

It's worked for over 3 years now. It's about the longest I've had a laptop work well and the issue only started around August. I don't use a cooling pad but I tested this issue even while keeping the laptop elevated and the fan unblocked, and the issue still occured. I also haven't done the canned air trick.
Do you think the issue could be from overheating? I've never had it this bad and, while I thought that to be the issue at the start, I thought keeping the laptop elevated might help.

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That's no trick!
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 3, 2015 11:17AM PDT

How to use canned air on the vents is on the web, youtube but the fact you haven't means I want you to start today.

For one week, do this daily.
For the next month, do this every Monday.
Then back to the 1st of the month.

Get a cooling pad.

OK, there could be infections but the fact the owner hasn't been using canned air regularly is a fine clue. Makers do not usually tell you this as you can get years down the road and then the consumer buys a new laptop.

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Alright!
by Miranda0110 Sep 3, 2015 11:20AM PDT

Sounds like some helpful advice. I'll check it out and see if it helps (fingers crossed!)

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Answer
Now let's cover that beeping.
by Forum moderator Sep 3, 2015 11:39AM PDT

It's a long shot but on a 2012 laptop that has been gamed on and without the canned air work I suspect the HDD is on its way out.

BEFORE anything bad happens I'd make a full backup.

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Black-Notebook-WD7500BPKX/dp/B00DSUTX3O/ is under 60 bucks today and if that's too much, look at the 500GB model.

The step up from 5400 RPM to 7200 RPM will give the laptop a step up in performance.

500GB SSDs are now in the 160 buck range if you really want a move up.
Note: Edited title for typo.

Post was last edited on September 3, 2015 11:40 AM PDT

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