upgraded the ram on my sisters old laptop and windows won’t boot | Linus Tech Tips | Page 1

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 7:29 PM

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So I’m the family tech, and one of things we tried to fix this year was my sisters 13 year old HP laptop.

I upgraded from a 4GB to a 8GB stick of RAM however since installing the new RAM Windows is getting stuck in a boot loop. It’s hitting the HP logo and windows spinning dots and gets stuck, then on manually restarting it’s trying to attempt an automatic repair but it can’t.

I’m currently running a Start Up repair but it’s taking some time.

I’ve switched back to the original RAM but still getting the same issue.

Just wondering if anyone had advice here? Didn’t realise there’s no backup so at the least attempt to save files on the hard drive.

valid nimbus Dec 30, 2023, 7:36 PM

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Did you possibly touch the boot drive?

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Cause it sounds like it’s corrupted

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 7:37 PM

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Nope, the RAM and WiFi card are in a separate section under its own cover.

valid nimbus Dec 30, 2023, 7:38 PM

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Did you say that it was running off a hard drive? And did you have any magnets near you

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Cause if so some old hard drives can be corrupted with magnets

normal knot Dec 30, 2023, 7:39 PM

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I had an issue adding more RAM to a laptop. Turns out I could not add more then 12 gigs to it

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 7:39 PM

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We made sure we were using non magnetic screwdrivers etc

normal knot Dec 30, 2023, 7:39 PM

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Its to do with the memory controller

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Can only address a certian ammount of memory

valid nimbus Dec 30, 2023, 7:40 PM

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But he said it didn’t work with the old ram

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 7:40 PM

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Yeah I’ve got the original ram in now and it’s the same issue

normal knot Dec 30, 2023, 7:40 PM

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Oh

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 7:48 PM

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Is it worth me trying to get a bootable Linux USB to attempt to save the files?

normal knot Dec 30, 2023, 7:52 PM

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Data's probably still there

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 7:53 PM

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Any suggestions on which Linux distro to use?

dim path Dec 30, 2023, 8:04 PM

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Not really tbh, anything lightweight and functional will be fine (personally use lububtu for scenarios like this)

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 8:05 PM

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Thanks! I had just started downloading Lubuntu!

dim path Dec 30, 2023, 8:05 PM

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You'll need 2 usb drives tho, one to boot from, the other to copy files to c:

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 8:06 PM

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Ahh great point!

dim path Dec 30, 2023, 8:06 PM

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Good luck heart

static copper Dec 30, 2023, 8:06 PM

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Thank you!

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I'm still leaving the Attempting Repair screen running, just incase - and to not do any more damange, but I imagine it's going to take a while.

#upgraded the ram on my sisters old laptop and windows won’t boot