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

Hi,

I have been on a very frustrating journey trying to install ram from Other World Computing. They are great if you can reach them, but it's been since Thanksgiving since I first called them. 3 weeks later and I am at half the ram I started with. Story in my other topic/ posts. It seems I can only get one apple installed chip working, but if I add another chip from apple it doesn't boot or I don't hear any beeps. Could be the way I installed it, but after a successful boot and leaving the working apple ram chip untouched I can't determine if I installed the other one incorrectly or it's a bad slot or ram chip.

I would like to be able to determine if my attempts at trying to install the new ram has damaged the slot or even one of the apple installed chips. Does anybody have any ideas short of bringing it in? My three year apple warranty just ran out in November, but I doubt it would be covered. Plus, don't want to go in for a fix due to the pandemic.

Thanks

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 10.13

Posted on Dec 12, 2020 10:35 AM

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130 replies

Dec 17, 2020 3:57 PM in response to babowa

Hi Babowa,

I actually talked to two of their salespeople and chatted with one to make sure I ordered the right ones upon ordering. However, my street number wasn't included in the delivery, so I am inclined to think they are not operating at 100% due to covid-19 or something? I am a forgiving person, but if I did damage to my mac I will be upset. I will take the blame for not having the patience, but it shouldn't have happened. I will look into what you said, but the girl who I chatted with from OWC a few days ago couldn't tell me what ram I bought from the serial number. I'm inclined to believe that OWC is good, but a series of bad events has put a sour taste in my mouth from them. The ram appears to fit which is a good indicator it is the right ones, but their might be other factors that make them either incompatible, I'm doing it wrong or a bad set. This is not my first ram installation to. I just wish that my case would have been escalated to someone who could take action instead of a new team person asking me to verify my phone and address to never get in touch with me. A direct extension or something after all that I went through and the time I waisted seems appropriate.

I am at the point now where I just want to get the apple factory installed chips working again so I can breath a sigh of relief that I didn't break anything or lose one of the original chips. Then I may try again and get the process started with OWC to try to get replacement chips.

I truly appreciate your help. I'll keep you posted.

Dec 17, 2020 8:45 PM in response to babowa

Welp! I just went to install an OWC ram chip to keep it in overnight and I noticed the back rubber plate was broken in the back of the slots. It's that rubber wall. I wonder how important that is/was? The way these things are so sensitive it probably won't work again. I got major problems now!

i wonder if I can get same day service somewhere. Geez! I should have had all the ram I wanted installed when I bought it, but it was so expensive! Tomorrow I will try the working apple chip to see if it is in fact important. hopefully not, but probably is! Thanks

HWTech

Level 9

68,618 points

Dec 18, 2020 11:12 AM in response to Macs Are War Horses

Macs Are War Horses wrote:

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!

Can you take a picture of the memory slots. If you get a good clear picture maybe we can tell if it looks damaged. We would need to see the other slots to compare them too.

Dec 18, 2020 11:57 AM in response to HWTech

Hi HW Tech, I will. However, I just did an apple diagnostic and it said no issues found! My limited knowledge tells me that if I am experiencing issues it would be a bit minor like dust that I could figure out how to clean. However, I'm leaning on the 2nd apple installed chip may be bad or need cleaning or something after the many many attempts I had made, which is better than the slots if the test is accurate. I guess what I need to do is take that chip and put it in the working slot just to be sure. However, it's a bit of a problem as I need my mac, so I'll need to wait for the first chance I get! I will take that pic though. Come to think about it when I tried both chips it didn't work, so it's probably the chip. Sad, because in my first batch of attempts it used to work!

I saw a youtube video that said you could clean a ram chip with an eraser? Is this true. Real carefully I'm sure. The vid showed how it's done!

Again, THANK YOU to yourself and ALL the people of this apple community for sticking with me on this!

HWTech

Level 9

68,618 points

Dec 18, 2020 1:32 PM in response to Macs Are War Horses

Macs Are War Horses wrote:

I saw a youtube video that said you could clean a ram chip with an eraser? Is this true. Real carefully I'm sure. The vid showed how it's done!

Yes, using a pencil eraser is a good way of cleaning the gold contacts on memory modules or other edge contacts. It is an old trick my Dad taught me back in the 80's when many contacts were made of Tin which corroded easily. The eraser removes any tarnish or natural metal corrosion, or dirt on the contacts. I like to follow up with wiping the contacts with a cloth with a bit if Isopropyl Alcohol to help remove the bits of eraser residue.

Edit: I should add that you need to be careful not to damage the very small surface mount components on the board as they are easily damaged.

Dec 18, 2020 3:50 PM in response to HWTech

HW tech, that's what I am afraid of....being careful! LOL. I wonder if that was the reason why it appears not to be working? I might have damaged something when trying to install them? Well, if I am game I may try it?

Do you happen to know if the apple diagnostic test is any better than in target disk mode than it is within the affected mac? I'm tempted to try it. All it needs is to be powered up, right? Not booted on screen, right?

Thanks

HWTech

Level 9

68,618 points

Dec 18, 2020 5:38 PM in response to Macs Are War Horses

Macs Are War Horses wrote:

HW tech, that's what I am afraid of....being careful! LOL. I wonder if that was the reason why it appears not to be working? I might have damaged something when trying to install them? Well, if I am game I may try it?

You only do that on the memory modules and not the memory slot. There is nothing you can do with the memory slot except to carefully blow it out with compressed air. New contacts on new memory modules should not need to be cleaned, but it is possible the original Apple memory modules may have a coating on the contacts.

Do you happen to know if the apple diagnostic test is any better than in target disk mode than it is within the affected mac? I'm tempted to try it. All it needs is to be powered up, right? Not booted on screen, right?

You cannot test the iMac or memory with Target Disk Mode. Target Disk Mode is a way of connecting another Mac to access data on the Mac's drive (a Mac in Target Disk Mode acts like an external hard drive).

For testing memory you can use the Apple Diagnostics or Memtest86 which ever is most convenient (or both). "mprime" which I mentioned in an earlier post is a good way of testing system stability and it can also sometimes detect bad RAM. I thought if you did get the system booting with the memory, then it would be good to test both the RAM and system stability to help you give peace of mind.

HWTech

Level 9

68,618 points

Dec 19, 2020 12:17 PM in response to Macs Are War Horses

I see a dark spot on the contacts there, but the picture isn't clear enough to determine if it is a problem with the contacts in the slot or if it is just dirt or dust. If that is all dust, then you definitely need to use some compressed air to clean those slots. The slots should be clean and free of dirt, dust, and debris. You just need to make sure to keep the can of compressed air upright. If you tilt the can too much it will spray out the freezing cold wet propellant which could damage the computer. In a pinch you could try using a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle attachment to see if it can pull the dust out of the slots, but compressed air is the better option.

Halliday

Level 4

2,677 points

Dec 19, 2020 1:06 PM in response to Macs Are War Horses

Unfortunately, Macs Are War Horses, the pictures of just the slots are way too blurry to tell much about their condition.

Two of the pictures with only a single empty slot showing, next to a filled slot, looks like you may have some bent connectors.

Once you get the debris out of there, and get some well focused pictures, we should be able to tell you much more.

Halliday

Level 4

2,677 points

Dec 19, 2020 2:14 PM in response to Macs Are War Horses

Macs Are War Horses wrote:

Thank You Halliday, need to get compressed air as I don't have any. Are their any substitutes for canned air.

HWTech already gave good guidance in this area.

Also, Would I be able to bend them back or do they need service Thanks.

One can «bend them back», if one is very careful (and lucky).

In your case, since the base of the slots are in a recess, this may be very difficult.

In any case, it will require tools that fit the job well, and a steady hand. (My hands are no longer steady enough.)

Dec 19, 2020 2:58 PM in response to HWTech

Thanks HWtech, I need to buy compressed air then. It wouldn't hurt if I hold it upright. I will learn how to do it the way you told me to before I try it. I've got one 8gb. slot working, I don't want to ruin that. Thanks.

Dec 19, 2020 3:02 PM in response to Halliday

Hi Halliday, I just went back and read your posts. You did say it was a bit hard to tell, so I guess when I clean it maybe at least one slot is not bent enough to use at least 2 chips, but I also know that the ram needs to be in a certain combination to work. Thanks.

Dec 19, 2020 3:29 PM in response to Halliday

I'm just pulling at straws my mac friend. Hoping and praying I can get at least back what I lost or better yet if one more of the two slots can work, I will be able to at least double what I had from 16 gb. to 32 gb. This maybe all that I need?

HWTech

Level 9

68,618 points

Dec 19, 2020 8:31 PM in response to Macs Are War Horses

You don't insert the nozzle into the slot, just run it along the edge of the slot (it is unlikely you would find anything that would fit into the slot anyway). The vacuum should be able to pull any loose dust from within the slot just by running the nozzle across the opening..

Dec 20, 2020 10:45 AM in response to Macs Are War Horses

This is where I am right now. Their is a place that used to be down the street from me. They are an apple authorized reseller. I just sent them a message for a price quote, but they are closed on Sundays. I think they will come to the house, but it's going to cost me I'm sure! I may have to bite the bullet though. I'm sure I lost the $286.00 I paid to OWC because I tore off the labels of some of the chips, which will void warranty in addition to the cost of the expensive repair. Not sure how I will do this with covid though. My family is keeping a 24/7 watch on my elderly mother and covid seems to be rampant. Well, let's hope/ pray I can get some of the slots working. I could then have a decent computer until the next one. it's 3 years old. In dog years it needs to be replaced. LOL. I'm just kidding. They last at least 4. LOL.

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