The laptop starts with a blue screen error after memory upgrade.

Possible cause:

1. Memory not seated correctly.
2. Bad memory module.
3. Bad memory slot on motherboard.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

I assume that you are using the right memory type and size for your laptop.

1. It’s possible the memory module was installed incorrectly. Try reconnecting the module. Remove it from the slot and install back. Test the laptop.

2. Check out all contacts on the memry module. Make sure all contacts are clean. Take a look into the memory slot. Make sure there is no junk inside the memory slot.

3. If you installed new memory module instead of the old one, try installing the old memory module back and test the laptop. If the laptop works fine with the old module but not the new one, it’s possible that your new memory module is defective. You can test memory with Memtest86+ utility (google it).

4. If you installed new memory module into the emptly slot, it’s possible that the slot itself is defective. Move the new memory module into another slot and test the laptop. If the laptop works fine when installed into the second slot, the first memory slot could be bad. In this case you’ll have to replace the motherboard or use the laptop with only one memory module installed into the good slot.

The laptop shuts down while installing Windows. The installation process runs fine for a while but after some time the laptop shuts down on its own. Same problem happens if you start the installation process again.

Possible cause:

1. Laptop overheating.
2. Memory failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

It’s possible that the laptop shuts down on its own because of overheating. Take a look inside the cooling module. If the cooling fan and heat sink are dirty and clogged with dust, clean it with compressed air. After the cooling module is cleaned, try installing the operating system again.

Also, this problem could be related to the memory failure. Test laptop memory with Memtest86+ utility. If it fails test, replace the memory module.

If you have two memory modules installed in the laptop, remove them one by one and try installing Windows with only one memory module in place. If one of the memory modules is bad, the installation process will run smoothly when this module is removed.

The laptop screen shows vertical dotted lines. The dots are red and moving up and down. The external monitor connected to the laptop either has garbled image or shows same dotted lines.

Possible cause:

1. Failed memory.
2. Failed video card.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

If the problem appears on both the laptop screen and external monitor, it’s not related to the laptop LCD screen or video cable. Most likely the problem is related to the faulty memory module or video card.

Download Memtest86+ (google it) and test laptop memory. If the laptop has two memory modules installed, remove them one by one and test separately. If one of the memory modules fails test, move it to another slot and test again, just to confirm that it’s bad module, not the memory slot. Replace the failed memory module with a new one if needed.

If laptop memory passes test a few times, most likely there is a problem with the video card. In most laptops the video card is a part of the motherboard and cannot be removed and replaced separately. If the video card fails, you’ll have to replace the entire motherboard.

The laptop starts loading Windows, gives a blue screen error and reboots by itself. On the next start the same problem occurs again.

Possible cause:

1. Software related failure.
2. Faulty memory module.
3. Faulty hard drive.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

Most likely this problem is related to corrupted software, memory module failure or hard drive failure.

1. Turn on the laptop and press the F8 key when logo appears on the screen. You’ll see the boot menu.
- Try using Last Known Good Configuration.
- Try boot the laptop in Safe Mode and if you can do that, go to the system restore and revert your system to the previous restore point.

2. Test laptop memory. As memory test utility you can use Memtest86+. If you are getting error messages, replace the faulty memory module.

3. Test laptop hard drive. You’ll find many different hard drive tests on the UBCD disc (Ultimate Boot CD). Just google UBCD. Replace the hard drive if it fails test.
I usually use Hitachi’s drive fitness test, it works well with many different brands. You’ll find this test on UBCD or just google Hitachi DFT.

4. If memory and hard drive passed test, try reinstalling the operating system from scratch.

The laptop freezes when moved or lifted. When the laptop is on a table and not touched, it works fine. The laptop freezes only when moved.

Possible cause:

1. Poor connection between memory module and motherboard.
2. Faulty memory slot.
3. Faulty motherboard.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

When the laptop freezes if moved or lifted it’s likely that the problem is somehow connected to the memory module/modules.

Maybe one of the memory modules is not making good contact with the memory slot, or the slot itself is faulty.

Here’s how you can troubleshoot the problem.
1. Try reconnecting memory modules and test if it fixes the problem.
2. Test the laptop with each memory module installed into each slot separately. Move or lift the laptop and see if you can find the failure pattern. If the laptop works fine with both modules installed into the slot A but freezes with both modules installed into the slot B, most likely the slot B is bad.
If one of the memory slots is bad, you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard or use it with only one memory modules installed into the good slot.

If reconnecting or moving memory modules from one slot to another doesn’t help and the laptop still freezes, most likely there is a problem with the motherboard. Apparently, there is a faulty solder joint somewhere on the motherboard. When you move or lift the laptop, you actually flex the motherboard and because of that it fails and freezes the system.

The laptop turns on, starts loading Windows and freezes at the loading page. The only way to turn the laptop off is hard power down.

Possible cause:

1. Memory failure.
2. Corrupted software.
3. Hard drive failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

This problem could be related to the memory failure. Here are some things you can try:
- Download and run Memtest86+ memory test. If you are getting errors, the laptop has bad memory.
- If you have only one memory module installed, try moving it into the empty slot and test the laptop. If the laptop still fails, try replacing the memory module.
- If you have two memory modules installed, remove them one by one and run Memtest86+ (Google it) with each module installed separately. Find the faulty module and replace it.

If reconnecting and replacing memory doesn’t help, this could be software related problem. Back up all personal files using an external USB enclosure and reinstall Windows from scratch.

There is a chance that you have faulty hard drive. Turn on the laptop and listen for sounds coming from the hard drive. If the hard drive makes repetitive clicking sounds before the laptop freezes, most likely you have a faulty hard drive. Replace the hard drive with a new one.

You can test the hard drive with utilities found on Ultimate Boot CD (Google it). Burn this utility on a CD, boot the laptop from the CD and run hard drive diagnostic utility.

The laptop turns on for a moment and restarts on its own. The cycle repeats over and over until you remove the battery. The power light turns on, stays on for a moment, goes off and turns on again. There is no video when the laptop is on. The problem happens when the laptop runs on AC or battery power.

Possible cause:

1. Memory failure.
2. Motherboard failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

1. Try reseating the memory module, maybe it’s not making good contact with the motherboard.
Try replacing memory with another known good module and test again.

If you have two memory modules installed in the laptop, try removing them one by one and test the laptop with each module separately. If one of the memory modules is faulty, replace it with a good one.

2. If reseating/replacing memory modules do not help, most likely this is the motherboard problem. Replace the motherboard.

The laptop fell down on the floor and will not start now. The laptop turns on, the power LED comes on but nothing appears on the screen.

Possible cause:

Memory module disconnected from motherboard.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

First of all, check the memory modules. It’s possible that the memory module poped out from the slot and the laptop will not start because it cannot detect any memory installed.

Try reconnecting the memory module. Simply remove it from the slot and install back. Test the laptop and find out if the problem is fixed.

The laptop is booting and running very slow. It takes a few minutes to boot to the desktop. The laptop was way faster when you bought it.

Possible cause:

1. Software related problem.
2. Not enough memory installed.
3. Failing hard drive.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

This could be a software related problem. It’s possible that you have too many programs loading on startup at the same time. If the laptop was fast before and very slow now, you can try reinstalling the operating system from scratch. Back up all personal files and run the recovery disc. Reimage the hard drive back to factory defaults. Most likely reimaging the laptop will make it faster.

Also, it’s possible that your laptop needs more memory. Take a look at the system properties and find out how much memory you have installed. For Windows XP I would recommend at least 1GB. For Windows Vista at least 3GB. Installing more memory will speed up your laptop.

If you have enough memory installed and reinstalling the operating system doesn’t help, it’s likely that you have a failing hard drive. Does your hard drive make grinding noise or clicking sounds? If it does, you’ll have to replace it with a new one.

The laptop turns on and the power LED lights up but nothing appears on the screen. The external monitor also shown no video. Unplugging the laptop from AC power and removing the battery for a minute doesn’t help.

Possible cause:

1. Memory failure.
2. Motherboard failure.
3. Processor failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

1. Try reconnecting memory modules.

Try removing memory modules one by one and test the laptop with each memory module separately. This way you can find the faulty memory module.

Try installing memory modules into different slots on the motherboard. If the laptop works with both modules in one slot, but not in the other slot, the second slot is bad.

If you have only one memory module installed, try replacing it with a known good module.

2. If reconnecting and replacing memory modules doesn’t help, most likely there is a problem with the motherboard.

3. Could be bad processor, but processor failures are very rare. The processor would be the last thing to blame.