Remove dirt and debris from memory connections.
Remove dirt and debris from memory connections.
Purchased four RAM sticks from eBay. Two kits of two each, likely used together in the same computer. Identical specifications but from different manufacturers. One kit fails to boot, producing three long beeps and a red flashing light—indicating a RAM error. It doesn’t work in any slot, though another kit (mixed with other sticks or placed separately) functions perfectly. The pins on the faulty kit appear corroded, possibly causing the issue. Should I clean it with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide? I’ve used hydrogen peroxide for battery compartment corrosion, but its safety for RAM is uncertain. Rubbing alcohol has only been tried on GPU dies and I’m not confident it would help here. The PC model is Compaq DC7600 with 1024MB DDR2-667 CL5 RAM.
They resemble the pins in a game cartridge, but much tighter. Start with an alcohol wipe. If unavailable, apply rubbing alcohol to a coffee filter. For more stubborn residue, use a clean pencil eraser along the contact traces, then repeat with alcohol.
I employ 2000 grit wet sanding paper rolled in half, applying the abrasive toward the contacts. A few light strokes, then apply the alcohol for a fresh finish. It looks brand new each time.