S55t A5161 - RAM Issues

DogsPaw · December 26, 2014

I own a Toshiba Satellite S55t-A5161, I've swapped out the HDD for a Intel 530 Series SSD and swapped the thermal compound for something a little better.

While installing the RAM, I overlooked the fact that it was a 1.35v socket and attempted to install 1.5v RAM. It booted the Toshiba BIOS screen, and then immediately crashed and refused to boot at all. It'd power the Power LED and then immediately turn off.

Checked my RAM numbers to see what was wrong, saw the 1.35/1.5 issue. So, I went with 16GB of G.Skill RipJaws 1.35v SO-DIMM Etc.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231705

I took the Samsung 2x4GB Sticks out, and put the G.Skill 2x8GB Sticks in. Booted up just like the last time, and immediately crashed. But this time it made me do something I really wish I hadn't needed it. I could not shut the laptop off. It'd boot the LED Backlit Keyboard and the Power LED but immediately crash and retry. Since it was off, you couldn't hold the power button down, since they built the battery into the computer and that requires the entire bottom to come off, which I refused to do on a live Motherboard. I cringed and timed it as best I could to take one of the RAM Modules out right as it crashed and wasn't providing power. When it went to retry with 1x8GB Stick in, it booted. I shut if off, took the stick out, and put the old RAM back in and went to Toshiba Support because this RAM 100% should have worked.

It's identical to the RAM I currently have installed besides the CL which is 11. (G.Skill is CL9)

The dude that spoke to me immediately got on my bad side with that basic tone of "You're a stupid moron and you're the reason your computer sucks."

When I started talking about things a normal user probably wouldn't have known, he started getting defensive, and started saying the dumbest things I've ever heard.

Including:

I was mixing my RAM Modules up.

I was NOT a paying customer and didn't deserve his Supervisors time.

The call was being recorded. (Don't know why he said that, I wasn't being aggressive, just pointing out all his BS that he was spitting at me)

Toshiba ONLY accepted Toshiba RAM, even though I kept telling him I bought it FROM THEM with Samsung RAM.

I was stupid for using third party websites to purchase uncertified RAM. (Newegg.com)

There were only TWO compatible RAM Sticks for my laptop, which could ONLY be purchased off the Toshiba Site. (Overpriced)

The RAM Cache needed to be the same. (I've never heard of this)

I work in Customer Service, never did I think I was going to ever say "Get me your Supervisor" but when I came to the realization that he wasn't going to help me, I ended up demanding for one, after 25 minutes of him saying there were actual paying customers that needed the supervisors attention, I had to formally say I was going to lodge a complaint against him, as well as asking for any information, which he said I couldn't legally ask for, I didn't ask for where he lived, I asked for his name and Operator Number or whatever number he had, that's when the "This call is being recorded" line came up, and then I asked for his first name, which he said he wasn't allowed to give, even though he gave it to me in the beginning.

Anyways, I get the Supervisor who has first tells me they won't be able to do that much as it isn't certified RAM, but had me take out the sticks I had, put one stick in, Boot into BIOS and tell me if it read that, as well as the other stick, then swapped it to the other slot and tested both sticks in that slot. So at this point both slots read both 8GB Sticks SEPARATELY, but together, it threw the fit.

Now what they want me to do is, return the working RAM I have, purchase their Kingston/Toshiba RAM from their site, without the guarantee that they'd be able to fix the problem if it wasn't purchased from them. Even if the Part#s matched. If it didn't read those sticks in the 16GB, I'd possibly have to send my laptop into them, lose my SSD Storage, wait 6-8 weeks, and still possibly have a laptop that can't read 16GB. (For the record, yes, the laptop can max at 16GB)

Any ideas on why my laptop is having such an issue with 16GB of RAM. The G.Skill and the RAM I have right now are identical besides the CL difference.