RAM problems, or might be something deeper on Orion PO3-630

JesseT

I made the worst mistake and unplugged the desktop power cord while the computer was on (the screen was frozen, I should have used the power button).
Now when I try to start the PC with two RAMs it just keeps a long beep (beep doesn't stop). Or recently when I reattached the rams it opens to the login screen but then freezes.

I tested some more today, when I stick the ram in any of the first two places (1a? 2a? I couldn't find the motherboard manual), it keeps a long beep or freezes on the loading screen.
But if only one of the two rams is attached to the last two slots (2a 2b?) it boots fine (shows some bios windows though with a "keyboard error" at the start) and then goes to the login screen normally. → This seems like only the two first RAM slots are either broken or something else is broken. I was wondering could resetting the bios help in this or anything?
Or does this mean that when I unplugged the power cord I broke something and the computer is now doomed?

Orion PO3-630

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

brummyfan2

Hi,

Give this a try, it may or may not work, if it doesn't work wait for someone else post their solution, turn off the PC, remove AC adapter, open the case and remove CMOS battery, let the PC rest for a while, reinstate or replace the CMOS battery and and see whether it helps booting normally.

JesseT

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1287986#Comment_1287986

I need to get longer screwdriver the short one won't fit sadly, was the CMOS removal for bios reset? Was there any other way to perform bios reset and does it affect the system otherwise? Sorry I just know so little at the end of the day about these things.

brummyfan2

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1288007#Comment_1288007

Yes, it's to reset the BIOS, you can also try another method, go to BIOS screen and move to Main tab, press F9 button in the keyboard, press F10 to save the settings and reboot, I prefer manually resetting by removing the CMOS battery.

billsey

Here is the chart for installing memory:

Here is the motherboard layout:

And the DIMM slot numbering:

JesseT

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1288052#Comment_1288052

Do you also think that removing the CMOS battery could be good to test?

billsey

Not really, the memory test isn't part of the CMOS saved data, it's part of the BIOS firmware itself. What size and type of memory sticks do you have? Which slots are working, which are not in the diagram I posted? Do both sticks work in one slot and both fail in a different slot?