RAM chip doesn't always work in Sony Vaio Laptop

[Mark]

I have a Sony Vaio GRZ660 notebook computer. It is out of warranty (more
than 2 years old.) It has 2 slots for memory chips. Both chips work fine
in 1 of the 2 slots. Recently, I have noticed that for the other slot, the
memory chip will only work sometimes. It may have been doing this since I
have owned it. I have cleaned the contacts on both the chip and in the
socket as best I can. If I press on the socket to deform it slightly before
I place the chip in the slot, the computer will boot up and show that this
chip is working. However, the next day and days after, the memory isn't
recognized. I think the socket slowly returns to its former dimensions,
which is too big for the chip.

I think that the slot is slightly bigger than the thickness of the circuit
board that makes up the memory chip, because the board feels a little loose
after it is placed in the socket..

If this is the case, what is the best solution?
1. place a thin film of solder on each contact tab (there's about 20 on each
side of the board and are close together).
2. some other solution?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

 

[Jim Adney]

On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 20:15:35 -0500 "Mark" <mmwink@bellsouth.net> wrote:

If this is the case, what is the best solution?
1. place a thin film of solder on each contact tab (there's about 20 on each
side of the board and are close together).
2. some other solution?

I would try to avoid the solder solution.

Look carefully at the socket for damage to the pins or the socket
structure itself.

I would try to check the other side of the PC board, just to make sure
that the solder connections of the socket to the board were okay.

I would also check all the board solder joints and lands within a
couple inches of where you were pressing for bad connections and
broken lands. Check both sides of the PC board.

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Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, WI 53711 USA
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