Black screen / won't boot after installing RAM

[Cyberiaglaze]

I added two sticks of 8gb Corsair Vengeance SODIMM DDR4 3200 RAM to my laptop. After turning back on, it doesn't boot. I just get a black screen.

The laptop is:

Model number hp 15s-fq2043na

serial number [edited]

There is a RAM warning via a flashing light on the caps lock button (three dashes, two dots).

Things I have tried:

- Hard reset - multiple times (no battery in laptop, no AC plugged in, held power button down for ages to drain charge, plugged in AC and started)

- As above but left overnight

- Changed back to original RAM

- Various combinations of only having one stick of RAM in either slot

- Holding down Windows plus B on boot

- Holding down Windows plus V on boot

- Holding down loads of different F keys and Esc on boot

It seems like a BIOS rather than a hardware issue as both slots and both sets of RAM are affected, but who knows at this point. I have no way of accessing the BIOS menu though.

Any help appreciated because the despair is real right now.

[zoey7886]

@Cyberiaglaze, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Black Screen After Installing New RAM in HP Laptop! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

Adding new RAM to an HP laptop can sometimes lead to boot issues. To troubleshoot the black screen and caps lock LED error after installing Corsair Vengeance SODIMM DDR4 3200 RAM, follow these steps:

Check RAM Compatibility: Ensure the new RAM sticks are compatible with your laptop. Refer to your HP 15s-fq2043na's specifications and verify the supported RAM type and speed.

Reseat RAM Modules:

• Turn off your laptop and disconnect all power sources.
• Open the back cover and carefully remove the RAM modules.
• Reinsert the RAM sticks, ensuring they are seated properly in the slots.

Test Each RAM Stick Individually:

• Remove both new RAM sticks and install only one.
• Try to boot the laptop with each RAM stick individually to check if one of them is faulty.

Reinstall Original RAM:

• If the laptop boots with the original RAM but not with the new ones, the issue might be with the new RAM compatibility.

Clear CMOS:

• Reset the BIOS settings by clearing the CMOS. This can sometimes resolve hardware compatibility issues. Refer to the laptop’s manual for instructions on how to clear the CMOS.

Error Codes:

• The caps lock LED error (three dashes, two dots) usually indicates a RAM problem. Refer to HP’s documentation for troubleshooting specific error codes.

Reset BIOS Settings:

• Boot into BIOS setup by pressing the appropriate key during startup (usually F10).
• Reset BIOS settings to default, save changes, and reboot.

Check for Firmware Updates:

• Ensure your laptop's BIOS is up to date. Sometimes, BIOS updates can improve compatibility with new hardware.  

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

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Regards,