Did I brick it??

[britechguy]

@timeshifter has laid it out, in its entirety.

I would certainly be talking to the client and explaining the situation, but not *exactly* taking responsibility for a failure that is likely not my own. I would, however, be offering the alternatives mentioned: replacing the machine with its exact equivalent, acquired by you and with the memory they wanted installed gratis or suggesting they get a new machine (and return the memory, if they can) and that you'd do the data porting and program setup gratis.

These things happen. It's very often how you manage a negative incident after it occurs that's more important than the incident itself.

 

[HFultzjr]

Just double checked - both are 1.5 (whew)

Even though the original was 1.5v it looks like 1.35 recommended:
https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Toshiba/satellite-l755-s5216
I always go by what Crucial says, as I'm no Ram Expert.

 

[glennd]

Tell them what happened. Reiterate that you're a pro and know what you're doing, have done hundreds of these or whatever. For some reason the system died - could have been on it's last leg, you may have zapped it or whatever. But you're taking ownership of the failure even though it may or may not be your fault.

Offer them a replacement machine that's the same. Their cost will be the same as they'd have paid for memory upgrade.

Offer them an alternative: they buy a new, newer or better machine. You'll credit the value of their machine and get everything set up on it for them.

I think a lot of people would be thrilled with the second idea. They know they've got a crappy old machine (why else were they putting RAM in it after all this time? trying to make it better, faster).

Agreed. Nearly everyone will appreciate the honesty. You should point out that you don't know if you caused it or if it was always going to happen. And the fact that you're offering a solution to this 'new problem' will also be appreciated.

 

[annenap]

Thanks for the excellent advice. Just left him a message and am ready to explain the issue *and solutions* with confidence (and a dash of humility)!

 

[fincoder]

Even though the original was 1.5v it looks like 1.35 recommended:

Crucial search is recommended a lot in forums, probably because the RAM modules are a good price to buy. But almost every time I've tried it I've found it to be wrong or just generic info.

I use always Kingston search which says 1.5v:
https://www.kingston.com/en/memory/search?model=72289&devicetype=3&mfr=TOS&line=Satellite

 

[Diggs]

I'm not about to take responsibility for a dinosaur when it dies on my bench

I pretty much take responsibility for anything that dies on my bench. What happens after that varies by customer and the machine. Usually work to upgrade the customer with them covering my costs. I may not make anything but I try not to lose anything either.

 

[seashore]

Further responses to OP's question on yesterday's edition of MSP Unplugged:

 

[coffee]

I just upgraded RAM on a Toshiba Satellite L755-S5216 and now I have no POST. Not with new RAM, or old or no RAM. I fear I've bricked it.
Any suggestions?

When you turn it on do you get any lights?
Can you tell if you get fan spin when you first turn it on?

 

[NJW]

I always go by what Crucial says, as I'm no Ram Expert.

I'm with @fincoder – double-check what Crucial says. They specified 1.35 V for an older eMachines laptop that definitely uses 1.5 V. Even the 'guaranteed compatible' can be wrong (personal experience) and their guarantee is limited to a refund, with all the fun of an RMA, and it doesn't include consequential damage.

I, too, have more reliable results with the Kingston selector.

 

[Mike McCall]

These things happen. It's very often how you manage a negative incident after it occurs that's more important than the incident itself.

^^^This

 

[johnrobert]

This is the worse thing that can happen when the patient dies on the operating table.
I have taken a few working Toshiba's to recycle lately.
you could do this a thousand times and it would not happen.

Just this week I was peeling some sticker from a desktop they would not come off so I used a heat gun at distance done this countless time only this time it fried a nice I7 desktop, fortunately, it belonged to me

 

[cypress]

Yeah, this sucks. I've been there before. I broke a part on a laptop while putting it back together and although the laptop was functioning properly it wasn't up to par. I told the client what happened and offered a replacement laptop similar to hers. All worked out in the end.

 

[NJW]

... double-check what Crucial says. They specified 1.35 V for an older eMachines laptop that definitely uses 1.5 V.

Not to drift the thread too far, but I learned today that Crucial DDR3L is dual voltage, 1.35 V & 1.5 V, so universal application. I didn't know that – apologies to Crucial for doubting.