MacBook RAM Problem

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by lyingfromyou, Nov 17, 2009.

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  1. lyingfromyou, Nov 17, 2009

    lyingfromyou macrumors newbie

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    #1
    I am trying to upgrade the RAM in my white macbook from 2 GB to 4GB using the RAM from a Sony VAIO laptop. If I put both 2 GB sticks from the other laptop in, my computer turns on but does not boot. The screen never turns on. If i have one of the original sticks in, and one of the new sticks in, it boots up fine and the system profiler recognizes the new RAM and says it is in working order. Why can't I boot with both sticks in? They are both DDR2 667MHz sticks and are all working.
     
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  2. Makosuke, Nov 17, 2009

    Makosuke macrumors 603

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    #2
    It depends on what model of MacBook you have.

    Some of the older (but not really old) ones officially only support 2GB of RAM, but generally will accept 3GB. The hardware cannot deal with 4GB, however, so that may be what you're seeing. (Admittedly, I thought that they would just show you 3GB even if you had 4GB installed, but maybe it just refuses to boot entirely--never tried it myself.)

    If you have a newer one (Santa Rosa or later) that officially supports 4GB then something else is wrong. Could be a weird incompatibility (I've seen some pretty un-intuitive RAM issues on occasion), or maybe a motherboard issue.
     
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  3. BlueRevolution, Nov 17, 2009

    BlueRevolution macrumors 603

    BlueRevolution

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    #3
    Can you boot with one of the new sticks alone?
     
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  4. lyingfromyou, Nov 17, 2009

    lyingfromyou thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Well the model Identifier is MacBook4,1 with an Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 Ghz processor. I bought it in July of 2008 and I'm pretty sure that I checked if I could upgrade to 4 GB of ram when I first bought it because I knew i would be using Pro Tools and other audio programs a lot, but until now I was not in a position to upgrade. I'm going to try booting with just one of the sticks, and I have tried booting with each of the new ones as well as an old one and it worked fine.
     
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  5. BlueRevolution, Nov 17, 2009

    BlueRevolution macrumors 603

    BlueRevolution

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    #5
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  6. lyingfromyou, Nov 17, 2009

    lyingfromyou thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #6
    So can you think of any reasons why it won't boot without at least one stick of the original RAM?

    It just seems odd that I can boot it with one stick of the original 1 GB and one stick of the new 2Gb, switch and use either stick and have it work fine, but if I try to use just one of the 2GB sticks or both, it will not load at all.
     
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  7. BlueRevolution, Nov 17, 2009

    BlueRevolution macrumors 603

    BlueRevolution

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    #7
    Must be bad memory, or it doesn't match the specs of the Apple RAM precisely. Just because it reports as working to Apple's diagnostic tools doesn't necessarily mean that it is in perfect working order. The ultimate test of whether the memory works is whether it... works. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, and you need to buy new memory that does.

    Does the MacBook beep when you try to start it with only the new memory installed?
     
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  8. lyingfromyou, Nov 17, 2009

    lyingfromyou thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #8
    No, the light at the front comes on, the screen flickers just once quickly, and the CD drive boots up, but other than that nothing happens. Is there software I can use to test the RAM while I have it up and running?
     
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  9. BlueRevolution, Nov 17, 2009

    BlueRevolution macrumors 603

    BlueRevolution

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    #9
    Well, you could try booting to Apple Hardware Test from the computer's restore disk 1 if you haven't. Just follow the instructions printed on the disk. I think you hold D on startup to access it.
     
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  10. lyingfromyou, Nov 17, 2009

    lyingfromyou thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #10
    Well I tried that, and it says that the RAM is fine. Both sticks say they're fine, and run fine with one of the 1 Gb sticks. I don't understand why I can't boot up with both of the new sticks, but they both work fine =\
     
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  11. colourfastt, Nov 17, 2009

    colourfastt macrumors 6502a

    colourfastt

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    #11
    Probably since the RAM is from a Vaio .... Apple computers are known for being rather 'picky' with the RAM they will work with. Even with new memory they're known for problems with Kingston for example, even when spec'd for the computer.
     
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