Memory Problems...flashing sleep light

Question

Level 1

19 points

Memory Problems...flashing sleep light

So i thought i did all my research before buying the ram i got, but then i tried to install it and when i turned on the computer, all i got was a blank screen and the sleep light was flashing. I did some seearches on google and most of the suggestions were to push the memory in harder, and i've pushed it in as hard as it can go and it still doesn't work. I don't think that's the problem eitehr because i can take my old memory out and put it back in and it still works.

Here is the memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220208

and my specs

Macbook
Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GHz
Memory:

Size: 512 MB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 667 MHz

did i get incorrect memory?

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Jan 27, 2008 8:56 PM

Reply

Answer 1

myhighway

Level 5

7,270 points

Jan 27, 2008 9:03 PM in response to ithew

You're removing two and inserting two new ones at the same time, right?

Flashing power LED once per second - bad RAM, no RAM
OR
Three flashes, a pause, and three more flashes (occurs continuously) - marginal RAM

Which is it?

Reply

Answer 2

ithew Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 27, 2008 9:42 PM in response to myhighway

Here is what I did,
i only bought one stick...
so i first tried to replace one 512 with the 1GB...didn't work
then i took both 512 sticks out and put in just the 1GB..didn't work

the flashes are contiuous about every second

Reply

Answer 3

myhighway

Level 5

7,270 points

Jan 27, 2008 10:11 PM in response to ithew

The particular RAM you bought is the correct memory. However, the flashing light is probably indicating that you received a bad module. I don't believe that mixing a 1GB module and a 512MB module should result in the black screen/flashing light.

Then again, I'm sure you've noticed that plenty of users have had trouble pushing new modules into a fully seated position. Perhaps on the second or third try you'll have better luck applying enough leverage. If the result is always the same, however, it's probably a bad module.

On the other hand, the RAM in a MacBook is recommended by Apple to be two equal modules, referred to as "matching RAM:"

"Note: For best performance, fill both memory slots, installing an equal memory module in each slot."

MacBook: How to install memory

MacBook (13 inch) Memory Replacement Instructions (Do it yourself Manual)

Troubleshooting a MacBook or MacBook Pro that won't turn on If you recently installed additional memory

Reply

Answer 4

ithew Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 27, 2008 10:18 PM in response to myhighway

Thank You so much for the quick reply
i contacted newegg and they are sending me another stick free of charge
so when that gets here i'll try and put both 1GB sticks in and see if that works

Reply