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Reverse install - burning ram question

H

Harry_Speakup

Junior Member
I just upgraded my old Asus a8v system (originally self-built in 2005) with two new matched 1GB crucial ddr pc 3200 184 pin ram modules.

Popped the old memory out, no problemo.

Installed the new stick in the correct slots. No need for excessive force. Felt them go all the way in and made sure the clips were locked in place. (done this on dozens of occasions on several machines).

Booted the machine.

No POST beeps, nothing displayed on the monitor. Just fans spinning.

Then the smell of burning pcb.

Switched the machine off in panic.

Machine powered up for 10 - 15 seconds max.

One module appears fried. A small area on the pcb has melted and some carbon or other gunk has discoloured a single pin.

Contacted crucial who told me that i'd reverse installed the modules.

When i queried the fact that the pin configuration is assymetrical and that to get the memory fully seated in the slot the wrong way round would surely cause damage to either the module and/or the slot they just equivocated and held to their opinion that i'd reverse installed the ram.

I'm just left wondering how it is possible that a memory module goes into it's slot the wrong way round sufficiently for the retention clips to lock into place.

I don't mind appearing foolish, (hence this post) i'd just like to know if the only posssible cause of this incident would be a reverse install.

Crucial were fine about replacing the matched pair.

I've reinstalled my original pair of 512 MB modules and i'm typing on the machine that the ram fried on so the system seems to be working. i will run memtest on the old ram later today just in case the slot was affected.

Could anyone confirm for me my idiocy by assuring me that reverse install is the only answer to what happened to the ram or is there another answer i'm not aware of.

Thanks for listening.
 
It's not possible unless the key molded into the socket was broken, and instead I suspect a tiny surface mount component was soldered improperly and caused a short.
 
i almost install memory the wrong way quite often. when you notice it teetering, you realize in seconds it's the wrong way. you'd probably crack the motherboard trying to jam it in the wrong way.
 
You might find it's not as hard as you think to install a 184 pin DIMM backwards.
Had an " Oh Sh*t " moment myself a while back ...
 
You're on the ground doing the upgrade, not the Crucial flunky who's job it is to convince you it was user error. Fully seating a stick of DDR backwards requires a lot of force and would be quite evident due to the physical damage it would do to the DIMM or the memory slot.
 
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