Thinkpad L540, won't turn on unless I switch ram

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  • insomniacno1
    New Member
    • Sep 2024
    • 7
    • Philippines

    #1

    Thinkpad L540, won't turn on unless I switch ram

    This is a very weird problem and super annoying, so if someone who has experience with this, can explain why this is happening, then I will be grateful😁
    This happen usually when the laptop has been moved. from one room to another OFF charger for some hours, but has also happened when laptop has been shut down and left ON charger over night, and not moved :

    I turn on the laptop normally by pressing the power button briefly, then power comes on and Power LED and Fn LED turn ON/OFF constantly (no post and no beep codes)

    If I(and this is my only option at this point), press and hold the power button then a long beep until I let go and it turns off.

    This started about 3 months ago,

    Here come the strange part, if I switch the ram modules (2x8Gb correct model, and checked with memtest86+ for 4 hours to be 100% ok), and start the laptop then it will post(though a few seconds more than usual), same if I remove 1 module and only boot with 8Gb ram(either module) and boots into Linux Mint 21.3 Cinnamon(since this happens before boot, I doubt its OS related, but you never know).

    It doesn't matter which module is in the laptop and which position, because I already tried with the original ram, and same thing happened - took the ram out and put it back in and the laptop posted and booted.

    So I doubt its Ram related, and the delay in post I believe is because of changed configuration(both power cable and battery were disconnected, but RTC battery were attached).

    I have changed the RTC battery to one I bought in 2023 and know is working, and laptop posted and booted - until one day it didn't. I switched the ram. and it booted. Next no problem booting, a. few. days later same problem.

    RTC battery is not depleted, it keep time and date and there is no boot errors.

    There is no patern, it does this randomly.

    As I said laptop worked fine until about 3 months ago, so doubt it has anything to do with my upgrades since most were done 1 year ago :

    New keyboard(Original is JP, new is US)

    New LCD original AUO 15.6"HD

    Upgraded to 2x8Gb ram

    Replaced the 500GB HDD with Crucial BX500 500Gb SSD

    Bought new 100Wh aftermarket battery(but also happens if the laptop has been OFF charger, but used original battery which still have 43Wh out of 56Wh).

    Bios version is newest, that was the first thing I did when I got the laptop in 2024.

    I can get the laptop to post by removing a ram module, but next time it will not post, I add the one I removed and it posts.

    As I said super weird.

    I am an retired IT Professionel and technician, but I don't do board level repair.

    Its not a fan or thermal paste problem, I already checked this and replaced the thermal paste with a good one(not liquid metal), and fan run for a few seconds when I press power button, and when the laptop do ON/OFF (as mentioned in the start).

    I tested without SSD and with SSD and it makes no difference.

    If it were constant and only OFF charger, I would say motherboard or RTC(though I replaced it and there is no failure), but its not.

    And as soon as I make any change to the hardware, it post, which lead me to think it might be a bug in the bios, that just surface now.

    Some. days it boot fine, like this morning, some days not.

    What do you think?

    I thank you in advance for your help😁

    Jan

    Model 20aua0f4jp

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