I think I fried my motherboard swapping out the ram

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

I swapped the memory in my laptop and now it wont turn on. My laptop is an Asus U41JF-A1. When I press the power button the power indicator light comes on, the hard drive indicator light begins to blink, then it shuts down. This happens within 5sec of pressing power button. And it tries to start itself again and again until I unplug it or take out the battery. I thought my computer just didn't like the ram but when I re-installed the original ram the laptop still would not turn on.

The memory that I swapped into my laptop that seems to have created this problem were two 2GB Sticks (total of 4GB) of Samsung Ram. Here are the model #'s and specs on the Ram:
*2GB Samsung DDR3 ( M471B5673FH0) voltage= 1.5, 1.35; Speed= F8, H9, K0; Component Composition= (128Mx8)x16
*2GB Samsung DDR3 (M471B5773CHS) voltage= 1.5, 1.35; Speed= F7, F8, H9, K0; Component Composition= (128Mx8)x8

Solutions I have tried:
1. Tried to drain CMOS battery. removed laptop battery and unplugged from power source. pressed power button for 1min. reconnected battery and pressed power button.
2. Tried to reset CMOS memory. unscrewed laptop casing and got to the motherboard and located the CMOS battery. unplugged the cable going to the motherboard. did not find any pins to jump. never done this before so maybe I just didn't know what I was looking for.

Neither of these solutions affected the problem. However, after the second solution, when I powered on the laptop, the fan also came on for a second with the power light, but the computer shut down and tried to start up again and the fan didn't come on again.

I am afraid that my motherboard is ruined. Please help me trouble shoot this or find a solution. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Akashdeep · Oct 20, 2013

Tried updating the BIOS?

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

I can not get into the BIOS. Computer shuts down before it loads.

Akashdeep · Oct 20, 2013

Why you swapped the RAM sticks? Any valid reason?

Or did you have the though swapping the sticks will provide you more memory or perform more faster?

Do you have warranty?

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

"Do you have warranty?"
No it is past warranty.

I had 8gb in the Asus and was helping a friend. I wanted to know if an increase of Ram in his laptop would help his lag issues. So I put my Ram in his laptop and I put his ram in my laptop so I could continue using it. My laptop wouldn't start back up.

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

So, where would you suggest I look to buy a new/refurbished/used motherboard if that is the solution?

Akashdeep · Oct 20, 2013

"I had 8gb in the Asus"

What you meant by that? Earlier you said "Here are the model #'s and specs on the Ram:
*2GB Samsung DDR3 ( M471B5673FH0) voltage= 1.5, 1.35; Speed= F8, H9, K0; Component Composition= (128Mx8)x16
*2GB Samsung DDR3 (M471B5773CHS) voltage= 1.5, 1.35; Speed= F7, F8, H9, K0; Component Composition= (128Mx8)x8"

Please be specific. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to sort out the issue.

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

Oh, sorry I thought I was being very clear. You asked me why I swapped the Ram. It was not to upgrade, I had 8gb (2 sticks of 4gb Kingston) Ram in the laptop and swapped it out for the 4gb of Samsung Ram. I swapped my ram for a friends to help him trouble shoot an issue. His Ram was bad for my computer it seems.

My laptop was running in tip-top shape. I didn't think that putting my friends Ram in my laptop would cause such issues.

Akashdeep · Oct 20, 2013

Never tried checking your own ram sticks in the board?

Akashdeep · Oct 20, 2013

Putting his ram can't frie your laptop.

You just need to clear your CMOS by resetting the board jumper.

Look for the jumper and reset it.

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

"Never tried checking your own ram sticks in the board?" -I don't understand what you are asking. Yes, of course I put my own ram back into my laptop but it still wouldn't start.

"Look for the jumper and reset it" -I read some information on this but when I had my laptop opened up and the motherboard revealed, I didn't see the jumper. Do you know of any good tutorials on this?

Akashdeep · Oct 20, 2013

Take a snap of your board, and post here. I will point you out the jumper.

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

Here is the motherboard. Let me know if you need a better image.

Akashdeep · Oct 20, 2013

Lol... man I need to see the top view of the board, not the back view as you shown above.

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

Right.... I knew that :sarcastic:

Hope this is better, being the right side and all

mudsong · Oct 20, 2013

Here is where the CMOS battery connects to the motherboard. I would think the pins might be near by.

Akashdeep · Oct 21, 2013

Check the small chip just above the battery connection slot, which has a + symbol on it. Can you remove it?

mudsong · Oct 21, 2013

No, it's soldered in. I don't see a removable pin or jumper anywhere on this board. Isn't it possible there is no CMOS reset jumper?

Akashdeep · Oct 21, 2013

And the R56 thing?

mudsong · Oct 21, 2013

yep. soldered.

Can I jump the positive and negative with a paperclip or something? I read this somewhere as a possible method.

Akashdeep · Oct 21, 2013

I am unable to see the jumper.

mudsong · Oct 21, 2013

i don't think there is one. thank you for helping look.

Akashdeep · Oct 21, 2013

I see you have raised the same question in Asus official forum.

Hope you get help there.

Sorry, I failed to help you.

I think I fried my motherboard swapping out the ram

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