Laptop only boots when reseating RAM

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by itsmemario1, Aug 9, 2021.

  1. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

    Sep 10, 2012
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  2. Hadron-Curious

    Hadron-Curious MDL Guru

    Jul 4, 2014
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    I would suggest you run it for few days without the CMOS battery. That means you would have to correct the time on every boot.

    I had an old laptop that used to behave in the same way. I just removed the CMOS battery and that seemed to solve the problem but correcting the time on booting was very boring.
     
  3. TigTex

    TigTex MDL Senior Member

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    Windows tries to read something from the SSD but it became unresponsive. The mouse moves for a while but nothing works. After a couple of seconds everything freezes. You force a shutdown and see a "boot device not found" on boot.
    If this is your issue your SSD might be failing or has a firmware bug.
    Search for a firmware update for your ssd. This is common on some cheap kingston ssd's
    Reseating the RAM should have nothing to do with the problem described above.
     
  4. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

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    Its a "cheap" but new intenso SSD, there is no firmware update available.
    Various tools claim the SSD is "good".

    But yes, it didnt happen on Windows 8.1 with a normal HDD.
     
  5. Hadron-Curious

    Hadron-Curious MDL Guru

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    Then try a different Windows 11 installation from the one you used on the system. Perhaps, this has something to do with the OS.
     
  6. WindowsGeek

    WindowsGeek MDL Expert

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    To me does are the symptom of a failing HD.
     
  7. Hadron-Curious

    Hadron-Curious MDL Guru

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    He says reseating RAM module seems to help with the problem. HDD issue can be very usual at times, the most obvious are freezing and slow operations. Perhaps, mixed up RAM modules or a faulty one, corrupt OS, etc.
     
  8. chillgates

    chillgates MDL Senior Member

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    May be a bad sector in boot area lead to this. One time good and another time bad reading of the area give errors.
     
  9. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

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    Has not happened since 2 days. Today I took the device completely apart and cleaned it 200%.
    Reseated every cable. Inserted a new CMOS battery.

    Bad sector in boot area leading to random fails, hmm ? Sounds interesting.

    THe enxt time it happens I will insert another new SSD and reinstrall Windows 11.
     
  10. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

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    It happened again 2 days ago.

    Classic "IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" now. :p

    Runs well again now.
     
  11. WindowsGeek

    WindowsGeek MDL Expert

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    #11 WindowsGeek, Sep 6, 2021
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2021
    Check the laptops charger and battery it mite have issues causing a short also your mobo could be causing the reboots.
     
  12. itsmemario1

    itsmemario1 MDL Expert

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    By reading all this, I would point towards the SSD myself. But its working fine.

    I also took the device completely apart, searched for leaks...completely cleaned it and renewed thermal paste.

    Its running waaayyyy cooler now and has not happened again.

    Battery also looks "normal", but of course is from 2012 as well by now.

    I dont really want to invest into a new battery as it still runs for 2 hours +.


    Im aware this old device is not even worth this thread or your time...but I love such older devices and such forum discussions, exchanging knowledge. :)
     
  13. TigTex

    TigTex MDL Senior Member

    Oct 5, 2009
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    IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is a common memory error
    Have you run a memtest (passmark memtest for example) for a couple of hours?