camdav72
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Ram upgrade causing iMac to continually crash

    

Hello


yesterday i finally finally got round to installing 8GB extra RAM to my iMac. I purchased the 8GB module from crucial and followed all the steps from their website and apple support on installing RAM upgrade


initially all seemed ok, it rebooted ok and on checking my memory under about this computer it showed the RAM as 1x4, 1x4, 1x8 and 1 empty. A few minutes later when launching photoshop and running safari it hung and restarted itself. I got the grey screen telling me my mac restated itself because of a problem etc..


ITs been continually crashing ever since when I try and run anything?

 

i Can't seem to do the apple hardware test - holding down the d key on restart does nothing And can't find anyway to run a diagnostics check to see where the problem is. I will remove the ram and check, then reinstall in another slot to hope this solves the problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated from here tho?

Posted on Feb 21, 2015 12:30 AM

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camdav72

Q: Ram upgrade causing iMac to continually crash

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  • Helpful answers

  • by mende1,

    mende1 mende1 Feb 21, 2015 12:47 AM in response to camdav72
    Level 10 (93,329 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 21, 2015 12:47 AM in response to camdav72

    You said the answer: bad RAM or you purchased the wrong one for your iMac. You should return it and get another RAM module, so it should work correctly.

  • by camdav72,

    camdav72 camdav72 Feb 21, 2015 2:18 AM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2015 2:18 AM in response to mende1

    I can't be the wrong type because I ran their system scan to match the Ram to my machine. And the fact the machine is reading the 8gb module surely means it is compatible.. Yes?

  • by mende1,

    mende1 mende1 Feb 21, 2015 3:20 AM in response to camdav72
    Level 10 (93,329 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 21, 2015 3:20 AM in response to camdav72

    In that case, you bought the right RAM but you got a defective module. Just return it and get a new one.

  • by camdav72,

    camdav72 camdav72 Feb 21, 2015 5:29 AM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2015 5:29 AM in response to mende1

    Thanks - is this quite common then? Bad RAM modules?

  • by den.thed,Helpful

    den.thed den.thed Feb 21, 2015 6:58 AM in response to camdav72
    Level 7 (27,755 points)
    Feb 21, 2015 6:58 AM in response to camdav72

    Not sure exactlly which year model you have?

     

    But I would re-check all the modules to ensure that they are fully seated in the slots. New modules require a firm push to fully seat and existing modules can easily become unseated.

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Feb 21, 2015 9:03 AM in response to camdav72
    Level 8 (35,316 points)
    iPad
    Feb 21, 2015 9:03 AM in response to camdav72

    What brand was the RAM? From whom did you purchase it?

     

    Kingston ValueRam and Corsair RAM show up here in a lot of problem reports.

  • by Old Toad,Helpful

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 21, 2015 9:46 AM in response to camdav72
    Level 10 (141,679 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 21, 2015 9:46 AM in response to camdav72

    Open up the memory compartment and make sure they are firmly seated in the slots.  Boot again and see if there's any improvement.

     

    RAM as 1x4, 1x4, 1x8 and 1 empty

    If the above fails contact Crucial and exchange the 1 x 8 module for two 4GB modules.  They work better when installed in pairs.

    OTsig.png

  • by camdav72,

    camdav72 camdav72 Feb 22, 2015 11:54 AM in response to camdav72
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 22, 2015 11:54 AM in response to camdav72

    Ok, firstly thanks for all your advice.

     

    Today, I removed the 8GB module and reinserted it into another slot. I ran two tests using apple's hardware test - a quick one and a secondary more thorough check..

     

    Both came back with no problems.

     

    My iMac does seem to be running noticeably quicker but I'm holding my breath with every application I launch or any time I get a spinning beach ball incase it freezes and crashes again.

     

    I've had Safari, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign running in tandem with no real lags and am finding it almost seamlessly switching between them all.

     

    Fingers crossed that I've managed to sort it out...

     

    Cheers

    Cammy

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Feb 22, 2015 3:49 PM in response to camdav72
    Level 7 (27,755 points)
    Feb 22, 2015 3:49 PM in response to camdav72

    Glad to hear that all is well.

     

    Additionally your Activity Monitor can also help you determine if, there is now enough or if you need more RAM.

    see > http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201464