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A few years ago, I wanted to add more RAM to a Lenovo laptop. I opened the thing, remove the RAM, and like a complete idiot, switched on the power without any RAM in the slot.

The laptop refused to start.

I took it to the Lenovo center and they said about 7-10 days and a minimum of Rs 10,000 (about $150 in those days).

Since this was too much for an old laptop, I looked for alternatives. Someone suggested a repair shop in Nehru Place, New Delhi

This was tucked into the back of the basement of a big tower. A tiny 10x10 room filled with laptop parts

The guy at the counter looked at the laptop, opened it up, twisted some wires around, added another few wires, and the thing was working again

Total time: under 10 minutes.

Total cost: Rs 200 - just about $2.5 today




>I opened the thing, remove the RAM, and like a complete idiot, switched on the power without any RAM in the slot.

>The laptop refused to start.

>I took it to the Lenovo center [...]

This makes no sense. Why didn't you just replace the RAM? I seriously doubt starting the laptop without RAM bricks the laptop.


I forgot I had no RAM in the slot and switched the laptop back on

Why it refused to start after that is something that's beyond my expertise


Wait, you mean the laptop refused to start after replacing the RAM? And - was the price quote you got for adding RAM, or for fixing the laptop so that it starts again (with the old RAM SODIMM)? I couldn't quite follow the example.


I never replaced the RAM. Switched off the laptop, opened it, removed the RAM, and then accidentally switched it on again without any RAM in the slot





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