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10.4.4 Took my Ram!

discoforce

discoforce

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 27, 2004
575
0
Vermont, USA
Well maybe not, but that's when it seemed to happen.

After installing 10.4.4 (and all the other updates) yesterday, I clicked on "About my Mac" from the apple menu and noticed that my RAM had been cut in half: 512 down from 1Gig. :eek:

Openning the system profiler I found that my 15 Powerbook (FW800) believes that the "lower" Ram slot is empty and the "upper" one has 1 512 stick of Ram. I opened it up and confirmed that both sticks of Ram were still there, so I swapped them but continue to get the same message: Only 512 of Ram and the "lower" slot is empty.

I'll be taking it in for repair, but I wanted to know if anyone else experienced dissapearing Ram following updates. Anyone?
 
discoforce said:
Well maybe not, but that's when it seemed to happen.

After installing 10.4.4 (and all the other updates) yesterday, I clicked on "About my Mac" from the apple menu and noticed that my RAM had been cut in half: 512 down from 1Gig. :eek:

Openning the system profiler I found that my 15 Powerbook (FW800) believes that the "lower" Ram slot is empty and the "upper" one has 1 512 stick of Ram. I opened it up and confirmed that both sticks of Ram were still there, so I swapped them but continue to get the same message: Only 512 of Ram and the "lower" slot is empty.

I'll be taking it in for repair, but I wanted to know if anyone else experienced dissapearing Ram following updates. Anyone?
Click to expand...

Oh great I have the FW 800 Pb 15in ( I presume you mean the 1.25ghz since they were known by the name FW 800) with 1.25 gigs of ram.

I have not noticed any failure of the ram slot and really really really hope that I do not. Hypothetically if my bottom ram slot did die and it was found that 10.4.4 was at fault in others with the 1.25 Rev A PB would Apple step up and do anything about this do you think?

Since I am not covered with AppleCare?
 
iDM said:
Oh great I have the FW 800 Pb 15in ( I presume you mean the 1.25ghz since they were known by the name FW 800) with 1.25 gigs of ram.
Click to expand...

That's the one, but I wouldn't panic yet - it may have failed a while ago and I simply noticed it after the update.

Whether they'd fix it if it turned out the update was to blame? I'd sure as heck hope so!
 
discoforce said:
Well maybe not, but that's when it seemed to happen.

After installing 10.4.4 (and all the other updates) yesterday, I clicked on "About my Mac" from the apple menu and noticed that my RAM had been cut in half: 512 down from 1Gig. :eek:

Openning the system profiler I found that my 15 Powerbook (FW800) believes that the "lower" Ram slot is empty and the "upper" one has 1 512 stick of Ram. I opened it up and confirmed that both sticks of Ram were still there, so I swapped them but continue to get the same message: Only 512 of Ram and the "lower" slot is empty.

I'll be taking it in for repair, but I wanted to know if anyone else experienced dissapearing Ram following updates. Anyone?
Click to expand...

10.4.4 took also my 17" Powerbooks RAM!!!!! :( Now my System Profiler shows only 512 instead of 1GB!
 
You've got to be kidding. You haven't heard of this problem? There was some sort of thread a while back about RAM slots going bad in 15" PBs after an OS update. It seems to be one of those horror stories that you just hope never happens to you.
 
Does anyone actually think that making a new system install would solve this?
Because when i boot with "cmd-opt-o-f" and type "dev /memory .properties" i can see 2 entries in dimm-types and 2 in dimm-speeds. :confused:
 
Ok, i just booted into the Tiger Setup on the Install DVD and checked if the old System Profiler is able to locate the second RAM stick, but it didnt. Does anyone know a solution? :confused:
 
heaven said:
Ok, i just booted into the Tiger Setup on the Install DVD and checked if the old System Profiler is able to locate the second RAM stick, but it didnt. Does anyone know a solution? :confused:
Click to expand...

It's a known problem. Your lower RAM slot has died. You need Apple to fix it... there is no other solution.
 
maverick808 said:
It's a known problem. Your lower RAM slot has died. You need Apple to fix it... there is no other solution.
Click to expand...

Guess that i ll have to do that then. Thank you for the reply ;)
 
AlBDamned said:
Yes - it's a well-known and documented problem. Your logic board is screwed.

Here you go: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/122576/

Hope you're in warranty or within the specified serial numbers for the extended repair scheme.

Good luck and do not use your PB on your lap until it's fixed. ;)
Click to expand...

Yes, i am under warranty :D I ll let you know what i was when i get it back. I will probably bring it to the store on February 14th when i am back from vacation, so its going to take a while...
 
heaven said:
Yes, i am under warranty :D I ll let you know what i was when i get it back. I will probably bring it to the store on February 14th when i am back from vacation, so its going to take a while...
Click to expand...

That's great you're under warranty because th 17" PB is not covered by the Memory Slot Repair Extension Program. My 15" also was not covered (1.25GHz), but I too had purchased Applecare.

For my repair they replaced the logic board and the display (???), but I now have two working 512MB sticks of ram again. They had to order the logic board, so your repair might be somewhat delayed. I would expect if you take it to the store they'll have to ship it out for repair.

Good luck!
 
discoforce said:
That's great you're under warranty because th 17" PB is not covered by the Memory Slot Repair Extension Program. My 15" also was not covered (1.25GHz), but I too had purchased Applecare.

For my repair they replaced the logic board and the display (???), but I now have two working 512MB sticks of ram again. They had to order the logic board, so your repair might be somewhat delayed. I would expect if you take it to the store they'll have to ship it out for repair.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

That's great that you're both under warranty.
Bear in mind, that if it happens once, it can happen again. If possible - don't let your batteries die completely. Both times when it happened to me the battery had gone and the machine was starved of power.
 
AlBDamned said:
That's great that you're both under warranty.
Bear in mind, that if it happens once, it can happen again. If possible - don't let your batteries die completely. Both times when it happened to me the battery had gone and the machine was starved of power.
Click to expand...

Oh, i ll watch out now. Thank you a lot for the tip ;)
 
AlBDamned said:
Both times when it happened to me the battery had gone and the machine was starved of power.
Click to expand...

Thanks AlBDamned, that's good advice. Everything I've read about this problem is that changing the logic board is NOT a permanent solution.

My condolences on your powerbook BTW, that was a heart breaking story.
 
discoforce said:
Thanks AlBDamned, that's good advice. Everything I've read about this problem is that changing the logic board is NOT a permanent solution.
Click to expand...

No problem and look at it this way, if it goes three times while it's in warranty, make a little fuss and it's likely they'll give you a new machine.

discoforce said:
My condolences on your powerbook BTW, that was a heart breaking story.
Click to expand...

Thanks. May it be an example of what not to do. ;)
 
AlBDamned said:
No problem and look at it this way, if it goes three times while it's in warranty, make a little fuss and it's likely they'll give you a new machine.
Click to expand...

Time left for 2 more logic board failures = 419 days and counting. Maybe I should turn the heat up in here...

;)
 
discoforce said:
Time left for 2 more logic board failures = 419 days and counting. Maybe I should turn the heat up in here...

;)
Click to expand...

In my experience, you should need around 180-200 days (or a little over six months at 3 months per board).
 
AlBDamned said:
In my experience, you should need around 180-200 days (or a little over six months at 3 months per board).
Click to expand...

Okay, so I'll make sure to:
1) Protect the outside of my powerbook with my life, but
2) Pray like heck that the insides melt away, so I get a MacBook :rolleyes:
 
discoforce said:
Okay, so I'll make sure to:
1) Protect the outside of my powerbook with my life, but
2) Pray like heck that the insides melt away, so I get a MacBook :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Open up your PowerBook and get some wires hooked into a high voltage line (relatively high for a logic board I mean... I'm not talking 200 volts). Connect the wires to some of the connectors on your lower slot. Hey presto... a blown lower RAM slot that will look exactly like it died on it's own.

I would never do this though as it's just too risky. But hey, if you're a gambling man then go ahead. I was just pointing out that it's easy to melt the insides while the outside looks perfect. Even a faulty FireWire connector can start your PowerBook smoking.
 
maverick808 said:
Open up your PowerBook and get some wires hooked into a high voltage line (relatively high for a logic board I mean... I'm not talking 200 volts). Connect the wires to some of the connectors on your lower slot. Hey presto... a blown lower RAM slot that will look exactly like it died on it's own.
Click to expand...

:p Thanks for the suggestion, but actually I'd be thrilled if my powerbook just keeps chugging along. It's just the idea of it giving up out of warranty. Then I might start looking for wire strippers ;)
 
If you're anywhere like the end of your warranty and don't have it - get AppleCare.
 
AlBDamned said:
If you're anywhere like the end of your warranty and don't have it - get AppleCare.
Click to expand...

Thanks. That's what I meant by 419 days and counting: That's what's left of my applecare.
 
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