Can Ram be tested if the Mac doesn't boot? Sounds like a funny joke, but please read on....

Thank You Old Toad. Well, I know for sure I have one working slot. I'm almost certain the others are working also, but that would be my next troubleshooting thought. For me it's hard to tell, because so much goes into troubleshooting that I went for what I knew works which is that 3rd slot. However, before all this began slots 1 and 3 worked. I had 8gb in them each installed by apple. It's an Imac 5k 27in. 2017.

The frustration that it has created is their are so many things you can try: SMC Reset, Zap the PRAM and other things that can make the difference one way or the other. I've tried everything and one time I forgot to plug it in and when I did it worked with one of the original ram chips from apple.

Things that I tried:

• OWC tech worked with me for three hours, but I had to stop due to virtual music lessons I was giving. This is where it became so frustrating! Being able to get them back on the phone or even email is next to impossible. The guy I worked with was great but must have been part time as it seemed that he was always out of the office and would get back to me. His last email stated they would replace them, but when I checked h didn't get it started. I have to wait till Monday. Plus, they are closed on the weekends.

• Used verified working slot - tried each one of the 16gb. chips I bought from Other World computing all 4 together and one at a time. Each 1 by itself. In doing so I thought I remembered one of them did work, but I confused myself that I'm not sure.
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In retrospect I should have written down what I had done, but I figured this next time should work ad was impatient I guess?! The plan now is to get back the full 16gb I had apple install when I bought it and wait for a replacement from OWC.

I still want to see if I can do some diagnostics via pressing D at startup to answer the question did I damage something internally or not. It seems my mac doesn't tell me anything if the ram isn't installed properly. I get a blank screen and no beeps as if something else is wrong. Power supply or something. I try again and it works!

I had mentioned earlier that I have one working chip and slot. I plan to try the other apple chip and the original slot it was installed in again to get it back next. Not sure when I can do that timewise though.

Thanks again for your help. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks HW tech! OWC is acknowledging that I need to send them, but again no action. This was the 2nd or 3rd person who emailed me to verify my phone number and address and someone will call me, but no call. It's hard to troubleshoot for hours with needing my mac for my job, so I am hesitant to start all over again. Plus, I have the 8gb working. I will try to get the other apple 8gb chip working in a day or two when I get a break from work! When I get the originals back I might try two of theirs along with the apple ones. Or, if I'm daring just one of theirs in a known working slot. The problem is that I have done all that already, so I am just making sure that I didn't miss anything wondering if my time is being waisted and more importantly the wear and tear of my mac. If OWC and I connect I will send them this set for a new one.

Thank You for your suggestions! I may try what you had suggested if I could get to it.

In the meantime I'm just trying to get back to what I had started off with. At 16gb I was able to use intensive apps. Individually, but I could use them. Now I don't have more than 8gb ram.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks

Hi HW Tech, Thanks as always for giving me advice in trying to help me! Last night I seated the original ram in their known working slots from the factory. I kept the mac unplugged overnight, plugged it in and it still appears that it isn't powered on unfortunately. In my journey I had an experience with one apple chip where it did the same thing and I believe that I reinstalled it that morning and it worked! Before that when I installed them it would power on right away. I should also mention that I had left the working chip in the working slot and after it didn't work with the other chip it didn't automatically startup. I figured it would as it never moved. OWC tech agreed with me and said that it is weird.

You may be right about compressed air, but our local radio shack has been closed for a few years, so I am unsure where I can go locally for it.

Something is troubling me though. When I seated the ram last night it didn't feel or sound the same like I broke a slot or something? I know that it is totally my fault because I wanted it to work so bad that I tried to hard waiting for OWC, but it's not a good feeling!

Well, I thought I heard you can access another mac if you connect them via firewire or that other cable in target mode. Would it be possible if this mac won't start up? I may have to resort to that?

Thanks

Wow! Babowa. Thank You so much! I plan to follow your advice, but I think I have major problems that need attention first. I tried putting that 2nd ram chip from apple in the first slot and it isn't working. This is where the original was and working. The mac does nothing! The whole problem with this scenario is that it could be something that I did wrong or not. If I lose that ram chip and not the slot it wouldn't be too bad because a working ram chip from OWC will replace it, but if it's the slot I'm in big trouble. I just tried a different slot and it didn't work. This would be in addition to the working slot of the other one. I guess I could try this chip in the working slot or the working chip in the slot that wasn't working to see what works and what doesn't? LOL. Or, two OWC chips in those slots? LOL. What do they say the definition of insanity was? LOL.

I had a thought of cleaning it, so I learned about contacts or something spray on youtube. I also learned that you can use an eraser carefully to clean the ram. LOL.

Well, it's bedtime where I live right now so I'm going to go to bed. I'm off tomorrow so the insanity will begin again. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks so much!,

Hi Babowa,

This is why I am the textbook definition of insanity. LOL. If I knew I could bring it in somewhere with same day service I might, but it will always be nagging me that I didn't try this or that and have to pay for it! Plus, it will bother me that I tried to save money by not having apple just put them in at the beginning. Although I did have them put in 8gb more when I bought it.

This is where I am now. I guess the hairline split was either there and I didn't notice it or it doesn't matter, because I was able to start it up with the 8gb chip and slot that has been working all the time. Thank God! What I need to troubleshoot now is the other apple chip and the slot I have been putting it in. both used to work well. Even after my attempts with OWC. Not sure when I will be able to do that though. I need my mac.

Well, at the risk of repeating myself: If the apple chip is damaged and doesn't work, It won't matter to much other than trying to sell it, but it's highly likely I won't do that. Hopefully I will get a good set from OWC and all my slots will be working.

Very relieved I have the 8gb working, but hopefully I will get the 64 gb. that started me on this journey. I do plan on writing a business formatted letter to the owner, which is a great idea. I just have to sit down and do it.

Thanks!

I did do an apple diagnostic and their was no issue, but I am a bit hesitant to try the memtest86 and mprime as they are a bit advanced for me, but I'm thinking about it. I'm also not thrilled about shutting my mac down troubleshoot for as long as it takes and then get it back with the minimum 8gb. I need my mac for work! Maybe I'll get a 2nd wind tomorrow and try something though? I just might order a replacement set from OWC and give myself a break! However, I'm thinking of how I can make sure they don't charge me. The warranty might be voided because I took off the serial numbers of some of the chips by accident. The tech guy said not to worry about it, but the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing, so it will fall on deaf ears probably. I'll keep you posted. When I get a chance I will take pics of the slots and the possibly bad chip. Thanks as always.

Yes Babowa, I wonder if I should get the replacement chips by paying for them and if they charge me go that route or should I send the letter to him explaining the situation in a professional manner to see if he'll make sure they don't charge me...if he is in agreement with me. It's probably better if I go through the process and act if they do charge me than if I just assume they will charge me. I just don't have any confidence in them. The first thing they did was forget to put my house number on my order. they were almost sent back, so I would have had to wait another 7-10 days....I wonder if that would have been a good thing? Maybe a different set of chips? LOL.

I just read an email from Other World Computing. They gave me the RMA information and I can call them. The problem is the wait time is usually an hour and they are not open on weekends. it is now 10:35 p.m. their time Friday night! Oh well, I won't have them for Christmas! LOL.

Hi Babowa and HWTech, Well, unfortunately, it appears that slot #1 and the other 8gb. chip have problems. Earlier today I took good apple chip put it into slot #1 (suspicious this slot isn't working anymore and it didn't work). I put bad (suspicious it's not working anymore) chip in working slot #3 and it didn't work either. I seated them twice and did an smc reset to. Luckily, the one slot #3 with the one apple chip is still working so I have something to use. The thing is during my first batch of attempts, both apple chips worked right away in those slots and now only one chip is working and one slot is working. Ugh! Since I am able to get into the Mac is their anything that I can do software wise that might be able to reset it? I do know HWtech had suggested 3 options, but so far I am only comfortable with the apple diagnostic, which said their were no issues. I will look into the two other options that HWtech suggested. Oh! I did take pics. I will post them later.

Thanks to ALL for your help!

Wow! Looking at those pics it looks like I might need compressed air? Slot #1 doesn't look too bad though. However, I am not a tech, so do any of you know? Hoping/praying compressed air will do the trick. Thanks.

Great! When they OWC chips weren't working I googled and they said it takes a strong push and listen for a click. That's how they got bent! Not thrilled about bring it in, waiting and paying for it. LOL. I may have to go with only 8gb. for the remainder of the life of this computer. Thanks for your advice.