Polar Light <tpt12345@somewhere.net> wrote

> I just got a call from a friend who tried to upgrade the RAM on his
> computer, after installing the new memory, the computer just wouldn't
> start. He then took out the new chips and replaced the old ones but
> it's still the same. The power comes on, the fans make noise and the
> monitor says there's no signal so presumably both the power supply
> and monitor are working fine, however, the BIOS screen doesn't come
> up and there are not bleeps.

> He says he's checked the connections and they're all OK and the system was working perfectly
> before.

> Can a motherboard be killed just by installing new RAM?

Yes, there are a variety of ways you can get that result.

One obvious possibility is to not UNPLUG the system from the mains.
Modern systems have standby power on the motherboard even when
they are turned off and you can kill a motherboard by unplugging stuff
with the standby power still applied.

Some motherboards are installed with bugger all support in the ram
socket area and some ram can be a surprisingly tight fit in the socket
and its definitely possible to flex the motherboard so much that you kill it
in the process of installing the ram if you arent careful. What you should
do in that case is support the motherboard properly when installing the ram.

Its obviously theoretically possible to be such a butcher that you
force the ram in the wrong way around and kill the socket that
way. You have to be pretty rough, but some combinations of
socket and ram can be a pretty tight fit the right way around,
so it has happened.

Its possible to produce static damage as well but its not that common.

Worth resetting the cmos to check that that isnt the problem
and worth checking that he didnt just dislodge one of the other
cables like the square 4 pin 12V power connector if it has one.