Solved RAM issue

My older HDD recently died and while I was waiting for the new one to arrive in the mail (which it did today), I decided to give the inside a nice cleaning.

Anyways, Windows 8 is telling me that I have 6 GB (2.96 usable). I tried msconfig, BIOS, re-seating and re-arranging 1 at a time to see if that was the issue...nothing. What's going on with this?

Also, onboard GPU is non-existent.

0105 - Memory : 6144MB RAM
0106 - Available OS Memory : 3032MB RAM
0107 - Page File : 1904MB used, 4198MB available

0401 - Total Memory : 2.96 GB
0402 - Free Memory : 1.54 GB
0403 - Total Pagefile : 5.96 GB
0404 - Free Pagefile : 4.07 GB


0405 - Bank Label : BANK0
0406 - Speed : 1333 MHz
0407 - Total Width : 64 Bits
0408 - Capacity : 1.00 GB


0405 - Bank Label : BANK1
0406 - Speed : 1333 MHz
0407 - Total Width : 64 Bits
0408 - Capacity : 2.00 GB


0405 - Bank Label : BANK2
0406 - Speed : 1333 MHz
0407 - Total Width : 64 Bits
0408 - Capacity : 1.00 GB


0405 - Bank Label : BANK3
0406 - Speed : 1333 MHz
0407 - Total Width : 64 Bits
0408 - Capacity : 2.00 GB

Edit: BIOS is also saying 3 GB.

Ok a little update as I'm getting no responses here. I noticed some pins on the motherboard (where the CPU goes) were a little bent and I'm sure during my cleaning I was clearly responsible. However, it seems that the RAM issue could correlate with bent pins...right? If so, then me trying to fix the bends resulted in an even worse fate...no POST. Also if this is the case I need to know if I need to punch my sack for being so careless.

Do these symptoms fit with the bent -> damaged? pins? Damaged is in question because it doesn't look much different to the naked eye but I'm assuming they are and by symptoms I mean the first post included.

Edit: everything powers up and seems to work just no POST and nothing on the monitor. Also, could cleaning the CPU with 91% isopropyl alcohol destroy it? Well the connectors anyway. I wanna say no but doesn't hurt to get more opinions. In the end I need to ultimately know if this is a motherboard or CPU replacement?

Talking about bent CPU pins, I bent mine on a desktop motherboard but it still works fine (CPU gently put into place, all connections were made).

You can test the RAM slots and chips:
I would consider removing some RAM chips and do some testing: 2GB + 2GB (remove the 1GB slots just to see if you get 4GB total).
It might be an incompatibility between the RAM chips...

Careful with that extensive cleaning though. Don't know anything about isopropyl. Don't clean electrical parts like pins only the CPU smooth top metal case.

the alcohol shouldn't hurt ,did you apply new thermal past to the cpu

caperjack said:

the alcohol shouldn't hurt ,did you apply new thermal past to the cpu

Click to expand...

Of course! That's 1 good habit I picked up is whenever the heatsink comes off I clean and reapply every time.

You might have damaged CPU with static electricity when you were handling it. Can you try another one ?

No, and I always grounded myself so I'm pretty sure that's not it.

All of the above problems were the result of bent/broken pins on the motherboard. I just received my new motherboard in the mail today and everything is working like a champ!