Lower Memory Slot - Empty

Add me to the list of unhappy people out there....

I think I am still under warranty. We'll see what happens tomorrow at the Apple Store.

Hi, Well I have the lower memory slot problem too. My 1.5GHz Powerbook went to the Apple Store in Bluewater, UK for a replacement hard drive. When I got the machine back it was running slow so I checked System Profiler. It said one 512Mb chip in upper slot. I assumed they had forgotten to replace the chips (had they a need to remove them) but I just checked and both chips are present. I swapped them over and that proves both chips are fine. It's definitely the lower slot that's the problem. I'm taking it back tonight to see what they say. I'll report back...

Well guys, here's your update...

Took my PowerBook back to the Apple Store, explained that they'd replaced the hard drive and that since then the RAM wasn't behaving as it should.

They ran through the normal tests at the Genius Bar and then my 'genius' took it away...

40 minutes later he came back having established that the chips were fine but the solder to the logic board had failed. He then said they were going to replace the logic board FOC...

I was pleasantly surprised and relieved. They were extremely helpful and I'll be glad to get my machine back...

I hope that provides some hope for you guys...

Rich

Edited by an Apple Moderator

Hi,
Same problem as everybody else. I spoke to a helpful man called Richard at the Apple UK helpline who stated that Apple UK had no knowledge of large numbers of RAM slot failures. I pointed him toward the links below and he suggested that I notify with my problem and any links. So reply to:

www.apple.com/feedback/powerbook.html

I hope everybody in this discussion forum can do the same. Maybe they'll sit up and take notice. Here are a few links for anyone who hasn't been to these sites.

An update....

I picked up my powerbook back up from the service dept. at the MacStore last night.

New logic board and "Top case assembly" (for the logic board and was, according to the service guy, a factory defect). Would have been about $950 had i been out of warranty.
Before I left the store i purchased apple care.

I now belong to a club I did not want to join. I am filled to the brim with rightous fury. I lost my happy-start-up-ding a couple of weeks ago and had no idea where to look for the solution. Since nothing else seemed affected, I figured I'd add it to the short list of issues I've been having with the computer --I'm covered under AppleCare for another 2 years and hate the idea of repeatedly shipping off my computer to be fixed...I guess I've been waiting for another problem to justify it. Well, here it is! My computer slowed down a bit (a 50% cut in RAM will do that, won't it?) so I took a peek in the System Profiler. I re-seated the dimms three times, which didn't work, then switched them, which worked for about 20 seconds. I suppose I'll try one last time after the computer has cooled overnight since people have mentioned this might be a fan issue (my Powerbook even sits on a Podium Pad because I have heat fear). I couldn't be more ticked off. I was going to get more RAM and now can't because apparantly this will happen over and over. I don't want to keep sending in my computer and totally disrupting my life every time this happens. I don't want a new logic board. I want a new computer and Apple is 100% responsible for replacing this defective one, as far as I'm concerned. Do they expect me to just keep repairing it when this is obviously a major design flaw? What happens when my AppleCare runs out? Absurd.

So, here I sit. Labor Day. AppleCare closed. Apple Store closed. BIG project due for work tomorrow, and my 2 month old 15" Powerbook won't even start up.

Everything leading up to this has the tell-tale signs of "Lower Memory Slot Failure." And Apple needs to do something about this NOW!

What I'm prepared to do. I'm going to take my laptop into the nearest Apple Store where I'm going to have them replace the Logic Board (I hear this is common with the Lower Memory slot failure), and I will continue to do so everytime it fails. If it's 50, it'll be 50 Logic boards on Apple's dime.

Also, I'm going to get in touch with the individual that is contacting the lawyer out of NYC to put together a class-action law suit for this matter. And, take out a full-page ad in the NY Times stating the problems that we are all facing with these lower memory slots on the 15" PowerBook.

We spend way too much money on their machines to have this go un-noticed.

Peace,

Ferrence

you will be starting the 2nd class action suit, then.
there is already one. do a google search for it.

Yet another victim here. My local apple tech tells me it's the logic board.
Not keen to replace the board at vast expense if there's a chance that it'll fail again.
Unfortunately for me, I'm out of warranty with no Applecare.
Not happy!

Just to go on record, have been noticing reduced performance for months. can't remember when i last heard my chime?????
Lower slot has failed not recognizing confirmed good ram.

I am still under apple care but will probably just put a 1gig stick of memory in the top slot and wait to see how this plays out as i need my computer daily.

saw 1 gig ram on ebay from Ramdirect today for $139.00

seems the fastest and easiest way out for now, until apple addresses the problem.

I just received a I gig stick from OWC. I installed it in the upper slot, restarted the computer, and after checking my system profiler I found out my lower slot is back and running after going MIA for over five months. Sadly I've read posts on this happening before, and they have reported the lower slots goes MIA after shutting down. So I guess I'll never shut down my PB, ever again. But I highly doubt that will any difference.

I have this problem. called apple care and they said to take it in for repair. boo.

should i back up my hard drive before taking it in?

I guess that depends on how much you would mind if everything on your hard drive disappeared. Personally, I've found Apple's service to be excellent and fast. However, things can go wrong. What if they lost your computer? What if it was damaged during shipping and the hard drive was ruined? What if they decide to put a new hard drive into your computer for some reason?

Aside from backing it up, is there any sensitive personal data on your drive? Account numbers, SS number, love letters? 😉 Would you mind if someone copied this down? Again, I trust Apple.... but I'm no fool. I back up my drive and then remove everything personal from it. I also create a new "guest" user account with no password and set the computer to boot into it.

Your mileage may vary. BTW, if anyone has followed my saga, My 4th logic board is still working fine and both memory slots are still recognized, almost 2 months after the last repair. I just hope I haven't jinxed myself by saying this! :-0

yep - here i am, add me to the list --- i was shocked to find this and the other thread about this ever growing problem.

have had my Powerbook since March -- so about 7 months and noticed the no-chime at startup a couple of weeks ago only just now to figure out what the problem has been.

i'll be going down to the apple store today - i sure hope the repair is speedy and long lasting :\

I can't believe this is such a common problem w/ no comments by apple yet.

I got my powerbook back from the repair - they exchanged the logic board. Since a week it is doing fine - hope it will stay like that!

Greetings and good luck to the rest..