Four GB of RAM vanishes … but then reappears

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LANGALIST Four GB of RAM vanishes … but then reappears By Fred Langa A long-stable Win10 PC with 12GB of RAM suddenly crashes after losing track of
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geekdom, woody

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[MHCLV941]

While Mario is reseating his memory, it would not hurt to do the same with all the machine’s power connectors.  Also, a good blow out would be in order unless this has been done regularly over the years – don’t overlook the power supply’s fan(s).  Dirt/dust are big players in thermal stress issues.

Speaking of the power supply, might this problem be related to a failing power supply?

(In a previous life, I flew C-130s for the Air Force.  The number of times the mechanics cleared problems with the planes’ electronics with “remove and reseat” was a bit unnerving but usually did the trick.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by MHCLV941.

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System maintenance can be a Good Thing. We all want our computers to Just Work, and it’s quite possible to have a Windows system that’s at the ready whenever you need it.

The potential for hardware glitches is why more expensive system designs (e.g., workstation class machines) are built with things like error correcting memory and a BIOS that will advise you just what part has failed when that error detection and correction logic has been exercised.

On another front, nowadays, with Windows 10’s bloat and a world in which a web browser creates 10+ processes and chews up most of a gigabyte just to show you that first web page you should actively question whether you want more RAM for your system. It doesn’t cost as much as it used to.

Finally, with many system designs, filling all the RAM slots with equal-sized DIMMs often yields a more efficient system, for example opening up all the channels for use. A lack of RAM bandwidth can limit your system’s performance. This again implies that now might be a time to get more and better RAM for your system.

-Noel

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Any screws also have a way of backing out over time due to vibration. Check to see that all screws are seated and tight. Rattling inside the computer or laptop when moved indicates a loose component — usually a screw.

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You told him to remove all memory modules and clean them…

I disagree. remove them one at a time, clean and replace. insert and remove three times then go to the next.

The sockets and fingers mate to each other by friction fit which is already established. You want them to re-clean each other.

You said to ground your self to earth before working on it. NO  !

Ground your self to the frame of the machine by touching it and/ or wrist strap. If it is unplugged it is not earth grounded unless you connect it with a wire to earth.

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NetDef

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I concur, this is the safest and most effective method.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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Ground your self to the frame of the machine by touching it and/ or wrist strap. If it is unplugged it is not earth grounded unless you connect it with a wire to earth.

That’s why when working on my computers, I turn it off and turn off the switch on the back of the power supply but I do NOT disconnect the plug from the back of the computer to the outlet, as this provides a ground path via its green colored conductor to the grounding point in the outlet on the surge protector!

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Grounding the computer by leaving the power cable connected is of no value if you wander in “fully charged” and put your hand straight on top of the RAM. You now discharge to ground via the RAM!

Static electricity is all about potential difference, not “ground”.
You must be at the same potential as the computer and components, even if that is several thousand volts above “ground”.

Touch a metal part of the computer case, before putting your hands / tools anywhere near the components. If you leave and come back, even a few metres, touch a metal part of the case first.

cheers, Paul

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how fine do these mis-reads get? Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-551-T5E7)

how about about a laptop that says 8 GB installed (6.95 GB useable)

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Quite normal, a portion of RAM is set aside for the graphics component to use, smaller ‘slices’ are used by other hardware. Sometimes a BIOS update will reduce the amount set aside with firmware improvements.

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geekdom, PFC, Microfix

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The OP’s PC in question is most likely the 3 channel X58 chipset series that was a performer in its day, especially for memory intensive tasks. I am still using a PC with an Intel brand MB with the X58 chipset, an i7-960 and 12 GB of RAM. A year after the build, I was having problems getting the RAM to run in the available XMP memory profiles. It turns out that the culprit was the 6 2GB ram modules. On the Intel MB forums I was advised to try 3 4GB modules as it used less current and actually ran cooler.

I decided to try the larger 4GB modules and it made the difference and I was able to run the extended XMP profiles. As I had paid more the the 6 2GB modules (tight memory time) than the later 4GB sticks, and was able to sell the 2GB modules it was a wash. I also remember reading that some makers’ triple channel boards did not always like that setup and had a reputation for being memory picky.

I had a few instances when the machine seemed slow and the MS Win7Pro-64 Property applet would show only 8 GB was available, but SPECCY always would showed all 12GB. Once I switched to the larger modules that ended.

When checking them and removing them, make sure you blow out the slots with canned air.

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