Laptop Random Shutdown...RAM Problem?

[at1105]

I'm working on a Toshiba Satellite L75D-A7280. The description of the problem was that it would just randomly shut off while in use. The first time I powered it on it did ok until it got to the Windows 8 login. I would put in the password and hit enter. As soon as it would begin the login, it would shutdown every time at the same point. So I decided to Memtest86+ the memory. Less than 5 seconds into the test, it shuts down.

I began testing one stick at a time with Memtest86+....

The first stick (Micron 2GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600MHz) tested fine and passed twice.

The second stick (Samsung 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600MHz) laptop would shutdown during the second pass every time.

Assuming the second stick was bad, i ordered another 4GB stick (supposedly tested and working) (Micron 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600MHz) and it shuts down within 5 seconds of beginning the Memtest86+.

Toshiba says the laptop supports up to 16GB of PC3-12800 DDR3-1600MHz in either 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB. So I'm at a loss. Maybe the replacement stick is bad too?

 

[14049752]

No mention of cleaning the fan or checking to see if it's spinning. That's the first thing you should have mentioned, before jumping to ram.

 

[at1105]

No mention of cleaning the fan or checking to see if it's spinning. That's the first thing you should have mentioned, before jumping to ram.

Fan is clean and spins flawlessly. In fact, the system looks as if it's never been used.

 

[Markverhyden]

Did you switch slots during testing?

 

[tek9]

Overheating would be the first thing I would check on a system that shuts down under load.
Boot to parted magic, if possible, and run the Temp GUI application to see if the temps spike and/or don't go down when nothing is stressing the CPU. You might have to check the thermal paste on the CPU. I've had a brand new Dell Precision laptop where they forgot (?) to put thermal paste on the GPU and it was causing it to shut down whenever any graphics programs were used. Applied the paste and haven't had any issues since.

 

[at1105]

Overheating would be the first thing I would check on a system that shuts down under load.
Boot to parted magic, if possible, and run the Temp GUI application to see if the temps spike and/or don't go down when nothing is stressing the CPU. You might have to check the thermal paste on the CPU. I've had a brand new Dell Precision laptop where they forgot (?) to put thermal paste on the GPU and it was causing it to shut down whenever any graphics programs were used. Applied the paste and haven't had any issues since.

Booted to Parted Magic and watched the Temp GUI. At idle it's around 47°C to 50°C. Ran the GPU test which put it under 100% and watched the temp. It ran up to 60°C and held there until the test was done. Ran it a couple times. It didn't hiccup. Still going strong and that's with both sticks of original RAM in it.

 

[glennd]

you didn't say if you ran memtest from a boot cd or from windows. if from windows then you haven't yet discounted windows as the source of the problem.

 

[Markverhyden]

you didn't say if you ran memtest from a boot cd or from windows. if from windows then you haven't yet discounted windows as the source of the problem.

He said the machine shuts down at the same time when booting from the native OS in the OP.

 

[at1105]

Did you switch slots during testing?

Yes. Anytime I tried to boot with just one stick in the top slot it would start everything up except for the display - no picture. Moving the stick back to the bottom slot would bring back the display on boot. Using both at the same time in any configuration causes system shutdown during Memtest86+ testing.

 

[14049752]

Yes. Anytime I tried to boot with just one stick in the top slot it would start everything up except for the display - no picture. Moving the stick back to the bottom slot would bring back the display on boot. Using both at the same time in any configuration causes system shutdown during Memtest86+ testing.

Sounds like a motherboard issue to me.

 

[Larry Sabo]

you didn't say if you ran memtest from a boot cd or from windows. if from windows then you haven't yet discounted windows as the source of the problem.

Parted magic ran the full GPU test without shutting down, so it sure looks like a Windows problem to me. Can you do an offline system restore (after imaging the drive for safety, if you haven't done so already). I'd be testing the hard drive,too, although I would be surprised if a faulty drive made it shut down.

 

[glennd]

Parted magic ran the full GPU test without shutting down, so it sure looks like a Windows problem to me. Can you do an offline system restore (after imaging the drive for safety, if you haven't done so already). I'd be testing the hard drive,too, although I would be surprised if a faulty drive made it shut down.

i wouldn't. hdd is a possibility. a faulty read of a driver file or a corrupted file could easily trash windows and/or cause a power down.

 

[at1105]

Parted magic ran the full GPU test without shutting down, so it sure looks like a Windows problem to me. Can you do an offline system restore (after imaging the drive for safety, if you haven't done so already). I'd be testing the hard drive,too, although I would be surprised if a faulty drive made it shut down.

Here's the thing though, if I leave only the "good" stick of RAM in it (Micron 2GB) and take the other out (Samsung 4GB), it boots into Windows fine. No problems whatsoever. In fact, I ran it for several hours with no issues with just the one stick. The moment I add the Samsung 4GB stick to the second slot, it starts shutting down. Even the replacement Micron 4GB stick I ordered does it the same way. The only way it boots and behaves normally is to use only the Micron 2GB stick by itself in the first slot. I have listed the combinations and their results below.

Slot 1 - Micron 2GB
Slot 2 - Samsung 4GB
=Shutdown on login

Slot 1 - Micron 2GB
Slot 2 - Micron 4GB
=Shutdown almost immediately on boot.

Slot 1 - Micron 2GB
Slot 2 - Empty
=Works perfect

Slot 1 - Samsung 4GB
Slot 2 - Empty
=Works perfect

Slot 1 - Micron 4GB
Slot 2 - Empty
=Works perfect

 

[nlinecomputers]

Which module is OEM? Sounds like you may have incompatible memory.

 

[at1105]

Which module is OEM? Sounds like you may have incompatible memory.

They are all the same. PC3-12800 DDR3-1600MHz non-ECC Unbuffered

 

[glennd]

got another machine you can plug those modules into?

 

[tek9]

Did you try just the 4GB stick itself in Slot 1?
Are there any BIOS updates available for this machine?

 

[at1105]

Did you try just the 4GB stick itself in Slot 1?
Are there any BIOS updates available for this machine?

I did. Works perfectly. But as soon as I add the second stick in Slot 2 it starts shutting down. Sometimes it would shutdown during log in and other times it would shutdown within a second or two after powering on.

Checked on BIOS updates. Was unable to find any that address this. There was only one update available and the release notes said it corrected video playback issues.

 

[tek9]

I did. Works perfectly. But as soon as I add the second stick in Slot 2 it starts shutting down. Sometimes it would shutdown during log in and other times it would shutdown within a second or two after powering on.

Checked on BIOS updates. Was unable to find any that address this. There was only one update available and the release notes said it corrected video playback issues.

Just for kicks, what would happen if you put in a matched pair? A 2GB or 4GB stick in each slot.
Also might try the BIOS update anyway, if you have nothing to lose.
Probably would shut down, too, as it seems the second RAM slot is bad.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Here's the thing though, if I leave only the "good" stick of RAM in it (Micron 2GB) and take the other out (Samsung 4GB), it boots into Windows fine. No problems whatsoever. In fact, I ran it for several hours with no issues with just the one stick. The moment I add the Samsung 4GB stick to the second slot, it starts shutting down. (snip)

When you mentioned running Parted Magic, you didn't say that there was just one stick in Slot 1, hence my conclusion that HW was okay. You also don't say whether trying just one stick in slot 2 ran or not, or maybe I missed it. Sure sounds like a MB slot 2 issue, unless it ran PM with two sticks.