Laptop was working fine. Now it will not boot. HP Pavilion 360 2-in-1 whatever. on pressing power, only thing that happens is the Caps-Lock light flashes 3-times repeatedly. Internet search says it is a RAM failure, re-seat. Okay. I do that...even replace it with new RAM from bestbuy, same failure. Okay, I replace the entire motherboard with a new one from a parts-seller. Same failure, even with the new RAM.

The motherboard is the entire computer. Nothing more than the display and hard-drive. Why would either of those throw a RAM failure?

7/2/2018 5:53:41 PM

I assume if you are using multiple RAM modules that they are the same size/capacity?

7/2/2018 9:17:58 PM

Well, yes, they are, but I tried it with only one module in at a time. I got three modules, tried all three, same 3-times flashing error. It gives the same error when no RAM modules are installed.

It seems I have three possible situations:
#1 something in the laptop, perhaps a short in the display panel or battery, has fried both motherboards in the same way producing the same failure mode
#2 All three RAM modules are bad, including the new one from BestBuy
#3 The new motherboard from the parts-supplier was broken in the same way as the existing one

#3 seems absurd. I could test #1 by getting a third motherboard and then not plugging in anything else into the motherboard until after it is verified to work. But I would plug everything in eventually, killing the third motherboard too. And it could be the power button or power supply, which would mean I'd kill it instantly. I'd then replace that component and get a 4th motherboard. It is plausible the old motherboard kills RAM chips, explaining #2.

I'm thinking of paying someone to take over this process. I suppose HP would be a good suggestion. Probably expensive, though...

7/3/2018 2:01:33 AM

#4 You bought an HP

7/3/2018 7:07:22 AM

replace it

7/3/2018 8:10:54 AM

Sounds like a lost cause to me tbh

7/3/2018 10:40:11 AM

Take it to an Apple Genius

7/6/2018 11:26:12 AM

actually, take it here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/biz/topic_shopping_retail-raleigh/Undead-Electronics-225728880901259/

7/6/2018 12:21:07 PM