Possibly the STUPIDEST thing I have ever done

[bada_bing]

I think I know the answer to this but just want to check.

I have a Gen 2 15" Powerbook with 1GB RAM. A couple of days ago I noticed only 512MB was showing through the OS. I figured maybe one of the SIMM's had become dislodged and needed to be reset. Went out today and purchased some small screwdrivers, came home this eveing and opened the memory slot up, removed both SIMM's and reset them, flipped it over to re-start and at that point I relised the machine was not in fact turned off but only asleep!!!!!!! Now all I get on boot is three beeps which from some quick research means 'no good banks'.

So I am guessing that this memory is now fried. A few questions;

Firstly, will this have any impact on the data on the disk? I am guessing no. In theory I should be able to just replace the memory and everything will be fine?

Secondly, does anybody know somewhere in London I can buy 1GB (2 x 512) of memory over the counter tomorrow!

TIA

Paul

[edesignuk]

In theory I should be able to just replace the memory and everything will be fine?
So long as it's the memory you screwed, and not the logic board :eek:

[Applespider]

Ouch! The only place I can think of where you might be able to buy RAM over the counter is probably somewhere on Tottenham Court Road. There's enough 'build your own' electronic shops up there that I'd imagine somewhere has it. Or I guess you could pay over the odds and go to the Apple Store.

The only trouble with the TCR shops is how good they'd be at taking it back if it is in fact a fried logic board...

[brap]

Ouch! The only place I can think of where you might be able to buy RAM over the counter is probably somewhere on Tottenham Court Road.
There's always PC World.

Make sure you have plenty of KY for that one :rolleyes:

[radio893fm]

Try reseting the MAC BIOS first... I just forgot the sequence but it should be easy to find... most probably you have not fried anything at all...

[diamond geezer]

You must have had the top case closed, so the machine would have been asleep (assuming that function was working).

I have mistakenly removed/installed RAM in sleeping machines before, without problems.

Try resetting the unit, by switching it off and holding down the "apple", "Option", "shift" and power button.

Hold them for one second, then wait 10 seconds and power the machine on.

Try installing one RAM module at a time and in different slots to narrow the problem down.

[bada_bing]

Try resetting the unit, by switching it off and holding down the "apple", "Option", "shift" and power button.

Hold them for one second, then wait 10 seconds and power the machine on.

Try installing one RAM module at a time and in different slots to narrow the problem down.

Thanks for the advice but can't seem to get this working. I don't quite understand your instructions. Turn off machine, hold down apple, shift, option and power (which means the machine is now on) next step is turn machine on - but it is already on from the previous action??

Thanks for the help

Paul

PS I have tried swapping the RAM modules around but no luck

[bada_bing]

Try reseting the MAC BIOS first... I just forgot the sequence but it should be easy to find... most probably you have not fried anything at all...

Thanks for the reply. I have found some info on using either Apple, Option, "O" and either "F" or "P" to reset the "PRAM". Is this waht your talking about? I can't get either method to work!!!

cheers

Paul

[brap]

Thanks for the reply. I have found some info on using either Apple, Option, "O" and either "F" or "P" to reset the "PRAM". Is this waht your talking about? I can't get either method to work!!!
IIRC, it's "Command + Option + P + R" at boot.

[Lacero]

Does anyone unplug the power cord before installing or removing RAM? I normally open up the case, ground myself by touching a metal portion of the mac, then unplug the power supply before I start adding or removing components.

[blodwyn]

Does anyone unplug the power cord before installing or removing RAM? I normally open up the case, ground myself by touching a metal portion of the mac, then unplug the power supply before I start adding or removing components.

A good practice in general, but doesn't help if it's a laptop running on battery power

[Applespider]

Apple's instructions tell you to shut down and remove the battery before you open the Powerbook's RAM - tho with the internal battery that allows battery changes, I'm not sure how foolproof it is.

As far as the stupidest thing I've done (just to make you feel better), I got home early from a weekend in Germany. I threw some clothes in the washing machine and figured that I might as well throw the jeans I was wearing in too. Off they came... and on went the machine

I headed to the sofa and started checking my email. Then my Powerbook, since Bluetooth was on, flashed up that I had a text message. I went to my handbag to get my phone.... then remembered I'd shoved it in my jeans pocket (it was a T68 so pretty small). I ran to the washing machine... but the drum had started turning and the phone was now very, very wet and dead... oops! :o

[Peterkro]

Given that you have to remove the battery to get at ram that isn't a problem.The switch over battery backup only lasts a couple of mins so it would be prudent to wait a bit before doing it.

[reh]

...I figured maybe one of the SIMM's had become dislodged...removed both SIMM's and reset them...

There's your problem. You're using SIMMs! :D

[Sun Baked]

I have faith in you.

Grab a beer, heck grab a couple cases... drink them and embrace the glory of an American right of passage -- drunken stupidity.

[deral]

Have unprotected sex two nights in a row with some guy and miss my flight home....

...oh and much empathy to you paul.

[Lacero]

My idea of unprotected sex is leaving the door unlocked so my 4 year old daughter comes crashing in.

[tateusmaximus]

hehahe no ones picked up on the fact that hes trying to jam a big SIMM stick into a little DIMM hole!

its ok... i do that all the time
:)

[bubbamac]

I feel for you. I did something similar to my first PC some years ago. I didn't ground myself, and had to replace the RAM.

$200 for Four Megabytes!

[brap]

I threw some clothes in the washing machine <snip> very, very wet and dead... oops! :oI did the exact same thing with my T610. I've still not got a replacement!

[Mechcozmo]

A good practice in general, but doesn't help if it's a laptop running on battery power

Hence Step 2. "Remove Battery"
Step 1 is to shut down the PowerBook....

hehahe no ones picked up on the fact that hes trying to jam a big SIMM stick into a little DIMM hole!

its ok... i do that all the time
:)

Yeah, uh, don't the PowerBooks use SO-DIMMs? DIMMs are the standard ones in a desktop, SIMMs are the former standard, and SO-DIMMs are the Small Outline DIMMs.

[reh]

hehahe no ones picked up on the fact that hes trying to jam a big SIMM stick into a little DIMM hole!
...I figured maybe one of the SIMM's had become dislodged...removed both SIMM's and reset them...

There's your problem. You're using SIMMs! :D
'cept me.

[Lord Kythe]

Hi there,

Three beeps means that no RAM banks passed the memory testing of the POST. Which means resetting the PRAM will not do any good since your computer's built-in ROM detected faulty hardware. The PMU has nothing to do with it.

First, you should try removing any memory module from the upper slot and replace the lower slot chip with a known-good chip. If the problem persists (three beeps at startup), you've got yourself a dead logic board 100% sure. If not, well obviously you've got yourself some dead RAM chips.

By the way, removing the battery of your laptop has nothing to do with "avoiding damage to the laptop" directly. The battery will not send random voltage in your laptop's circuitry while you work inside its case if it was shut down. It is only to make sure you don't accidentaly turn it on (I'm not really sure how you'd end up doing that, but anyway) while the case is open, which could, in that case, damage components.

Good luck!

[Sharewaredemon]

My idea of unprotected sex is leaving the door unlocked so my 4 year old daughter comes crashing in.

Hahah, that's great. Everyone's point of view is different!

[baby duck monge]

Thanks for the advice but can't seem to get this working. I don't quite understand your instructions. Turn off machine, hold down apple, shift, option and power (which means the machine is now on) next step is turn machine on - but it is already on from the previous action??

Thanks for the help

Paul

PS I have tried swapping the RAM modules around but no luck

i think that key combo will not actually boot the computer up, it just works on resetting some things. so you would have to turn the computer on for real after you booted holding down that combo.

[mojohanna]

My idea of unprotected sex is leaving the door unlocked so my 4 year old daughter comes crashing in.

Nice!! I couldn't agree more...... i think the first question my wife asks, regardless of what time it is... "is the door locked?"

hehe

[robbieduncan]

Given that you have to remove the battery to get at ram that isn't a problem.The switch over battery backup only lasts a couple of mins so it would be prudent to wait a bit before doing it.

Not on my 15" you don't? The RAM is behind a little square section of the case held on by 4 tiny little philips screws in the middle of the bottom of the case.

[Mechcozmo]

By the way, removing the battery of your laptop has nothing to do with "avoiding damage to the laptop" directly. The battery will not send random voltage in your laptop's circuitry while you work inside its case if it was shut down. It is only to make sure you don't accidentaly turn it on (I'm not really sure how you'd end up doing that, but anyway) while the case is open, which could, in that case, damage components.

Good luck!

Well it also allows the various circuits in the laptop to remain completed which you can short circuit because the battery DOES slowly drain over time and would gladly travel through the metal in a PowerBook. And you don't want to take the chance of zapping yourself...

[bada_bing]

Good News: The RAM is fine

Bad News: The logic board is fried, £550 to fix and at least 10 days without it!

Good News: I think the 'genius' I spoke to was going to slip it through under Applecare even after I admitted what I did (ie opening the case while asleep voids the warranty)

Bad New: I never realised you had to register your copy of Applecare with your machine after you buy it, therefore my machine is officialy out of warranty.

Worse news: You only have 12 months after buying Applecare to pair it with your machine. I purchased machine and Applecare in December 2003! I know I should have read the T & C in the Applecare box but come on, when you buy the two together surely they can pair them before sending them out. How many other people have missed this little detail???

cheers,

Paul

[Applespider]

So please tell me that since you have receipt for the PB and the Applecare purchased together (as opposed to Applecare receipt for 2 days ago), that Apple are being good on the customer service front and helping you out.

[bada_bing]

So please tell me that since you have receipt for the PB and the Applecare purchased together (as opposed to Applecare receipt for 2 days ago), that Apple are being good on the customer service front and helping you out.

Have to make a call to Applecare tomorrow and find out, apparently they can't help with that sort of Applecare query in the store, but they had better!!!

I can deal with this one because it was my stupidity that did it but I better still have two years valid Applecare left.


Paul