3 months ago, my Framework 16 broke overnight. To where it deleted Windows 11 and wiped everything on the computer. I had it in the computer repair shop for 3 months trying to get it fixed. First we believed it was a software issue, then we learned it was a hardware issue with a RAM stick replacement under warranty. Now, the laptop has turned from being unable to be used without crashing to being able to run but unable to play any videogames for more than an hour without crashing. The two times I’ve timed it, I turn on a videogame and it crashed at 8 minutes and then at 20 minutes. After 3 months with the laptop sitting in repair of its 7 month lifespan, I don’t know how much longer I can handle a laptop not being able to function. Can anyone tell me if there’s some simple way to fix this.
Have you tried running some passes with memtest to see if you still have bad ram issues?
Maybe test the nvme for issues as well.
Just a matter of trying to narrow down the root cause.
I wouldn’t even know how to do that stuff. I just want the computer to work.
Sounds to me that the computer repair shop you sent it to is not much good at repairing stuff. Maybe try a different repair shop?
What processor is in your framework 16? Stock framework ram? Stock 180W charger?
What bios version are you using? (msinfo in windows search bar will show)
Hi @Dominic,
Welcome to the community.
To get a few things out of the way, the loss of Windows on the SSD and the Framework Laptop 16 are only loosely related in that something was either not written or written courruptedly on the drive to doom it from seeing the drive.
The RAM being suspect says that corruption was happening from the time the memory failed and this probably contributed to being unable to boot or even see Windows as a boot option.
To help isolate what is going on, remove the other RAM stick and leave it out. If the system is still unstable then the issue lies elsewhere.
Is this a Framework repair facility? If not, the machine is still under warranty and support can help repair or replace the components that are defective. Either way, please contact support as they are the most knowledgeable about their own machines.
If it stops after X time playing a game (i.e. being stressed) then there is a thermal or a hardware level issue that needs to be identified.
Just be upfront with whomever you talk to at Support that you are not very tech savvy and even running some software tests are not something you are familiar with. They have the means to help you but they need to know you are not going to be able to remotely diagnose it beyond some basic things.
We do not want to see you frustrated with support or them with you over trying to get your machine fixed. The Framework Laptop 16 is a great machine but any computer when it does not work right is a pain. Let us know how things turn out.
Would that bend be any concern. The fans on the laptop were beginning to make loud noises, so I go in the check if something was causing the noise. They appear to be clean.
It was a local computer repair shop. Only one in town, been doing it a few decades and has never seen issues as bad as this. It is a small town. I wouldn’t even be comfortable removing the RAM and turning it on without watching someone else do it first to see it’s fine.
Maybe a fan is also faulty and causing it to overheat to the point games are crashing as fast as 10-20 minutes after turning them on.
I could be wrong, but it kinda looks like your ram is not pressed all the way in the slot. I’d have to open mine to compare, but I think the key should fill the notch on the ram stick and there should be less (or none) of the metal contacts visible.
I would agree. The ram is not installed correctly. Both ram chips are not correct
The bend is typically there when the ram is not seated properly. I believe those are spring tabs and they are there to hold tension of the memory after the gold contacts are seated inside the connector. I agree with some of the others that the memory may not be seated correctly. I am not near my Framework to check but I believe all or nearly all of the edge connector is covered once it is correctly inserted into the slot.
They go in at an angle (30 degrees?) and then are pushed down flat and the spring tabs snap over the notch to hold the ram in place for each slot.
You might have your local shop “re seat” the memory and see if that helps the issue. Regardless, get a conversation going with Support and maybe you can enlist the help of your local shop so Framework can determine what the cause is.
I am hoping it is something simple for you like the memory not seated correctly. This is not common but it does happen.
Spot on. Ram can do amazing things when not correctly installed. Turning on and off my device was my previous issue.
I am kinda impressed it even posts like this.
Honestly, I wish I didn’t buy a broken computer. I don’t have the knowledge to fix these endless issues nor do I have the time or patience. It would be the simplest and easiest to just get a full replacement for the laptop.