Laptop does not start after increasing memory

[rul3s]

Hello!

I'm posting this topic here because I haven't seen a specific section for laptops and/or hardware problems (maybe it would be good to create these sections?).

I have an Asus U31F that comes with 2x2GB DDR3 PC3-10600. Well, I had 2 DDR3 PC3-10600 modules of 4GB from two laptops that had their motherboard broken, so yesterday I decided to increase the RAM on mine by putting those modules in.

It turns out that when I booted up with the new modules already installed, it wouldn't boot, the symptoms are:

• I turn it on, the light turns on, the fan spins a little, the light turns off and the laptop turns off. It turns on again by itself, and so on repeatedly.

I thought, well, they're not compatible, so I put the original modules back in and it still doesn't work. It does exactly the same thing.

I tried each module in each socket separately and individually, it doesn't work.
I tried all the modules in another laptop, both the original ones and the 4GB ones, they all work.
I took the whole laptop apart, I'm left with just the motherboard + cpu + ram, it does exactly the same thing.
I tried just with Motherboard + CPU, it stays with the light on and doesn't turn off by itself, but obviously it doesn't work or show an image because there's no ram.
I tried another identical cpu, same thing.
The battery charges if it's connected.
I've done all the tests both with AC and with battery.

So, since in the end I've done the tests only with CPU + MOTHERBOARD + RAM, if I've tested the CPU and RAM in another PC and they work, I can only deduce that it's the motherboard, I've even thought that maybe the bios has gone crazy, I've removed the battery and discharged all the static electricity, it still doesn't work.

I'm deducing that the motherboard has died, but before throwing myself into the river and trying the oven method (Motherboard baking) I'm asking you if you can think of anything else.

I can also replace the motherboard (about 80€), they're not very expensive and I think the laptop still has a lot of life left.

Suggestions before I fry the motherboard?

Regards and thanks!

[whoololon]

@Rules:

[…]I put the original modules back in and it still doesn't work, it does exactly the same thing[…] I try with just the motherboard + CPU, it stays with the light on and doesn't turn off by itself, but obviously it doesn't work or show an image because there is no ram.[…]

Could it be the RAM or its slots?

[rul3s]

@whoololon:

Isn't it the RAM or its slots?

I've tested the ram on another laptop and it works perfectly, both the new and the original ones. I've cleaned the slots in case dirt had gotten in but it's still the same…. :facepalm:

[whoololon]

Well, it's time to get a new motherboard. And it's a shame because that laptop, as you say, still has a lot of life left in it.

On the other hand, if it was the BIOS chip that went out (or that the NB broke down), then it's a bad fix, but just in case, to the fire with it! :troll:

[rul3s]

I update, I thought about changing the BIOS, but in the end, when I contacted the seller, he told me that since it's UEFI, I needed the original chip to read certain parameters and load them into the new one.

I'm working on it right now, I'm going to desolder the UEFI chip, send it to them, and wait for the new one, hoping that maybe it just got corrupted and with a new one it will keep working!

Best regards.

[rul3s]

Well, a long time later I tell you how the issue ended.

I removed the BIOS and sent it to a specialized technical service in Holland, Bios-Service-Center: Specialized in programming Motherboard/Notebook BIOS Chip, there they read a parameter called BIS to prepare a new chip and send it to me.

When it arrived, I soldered it back and nothing, it still didn't work, it turns out that it was NOT the BIOS. In total it cost me 15€ + 6 for shipping, it's not that it was a fortune.

Finally I tried baking it, but nothing, it didn't work either, and searching the internet I couldn't find any motherboard that was under 130€, except on Alibaba which are around 110€, but no, I decided to let it be already...

You can't say I didn't try!