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#1
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How Hard is it to Upgrad My Memory?
I have a five year old Compaq with 128MB of memory (shared with video memory.) It has Windows ME installed so you know that It's crashing like crazy. Before I spend the money on a new computer I thought I would look into upgrading the memory. So: how hard is it to take out the old memory and install new memory? I have never cracked open my computer case before. How easy is it to really mess up a computer while changing memory? My computer is a Presario 500 Series - model number - 5B2284. I just went to that crucial.com site and punched in my model number. They have 256MB or ram for $76.00 I would buy two of these, right? Open the case, take out the two RAM things, and replace them with the two new RAM modules. Correct? Would I have to update any software or mess with the BIOS? If all it involves is a few simple steps then with good instructions I could probably do it. Thanks! |
#2
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1. Unplug the computer from the wall whenever you work on anything inside the
chassis. 2. No BIOS changes are necessary. Modern motherboards auto-sense the amount of memory and report it to the operating system. 3. No software changes are required either. Windows actually uses whatever memory is available on the system without any fuss. 4. Memory modules are held in place by pairs of plastic clips. They are easy to remove and install. Only if there are lots of cables blocking access to the memory is there any difficulty... Ben Myers On Mon, 23 May 2005 01:26:02 GMT, "Von Fourche" wrote: I have a five year old Compaq with 128MB of memory (shared with video memory.) It has Windows ME installed so you know that It's crashing like crazy. Before I spend the money on a new computer I thought I would look into upgrading the memory. So: how hard is it to take out the old memory and install new memory? I have never cracked open my computer case before. How easy is it to really mess up a computer while changing memory? My computer is a Presario 500 Series - model number - 5B2284. I just went to that crucial.com site and punched in my model number. They have 256MB or ram for $76.00 I would buy two of these, right? Open the case, take out the two RAM things, and replace them with the two new RAM modules. Correct? Would I have to update any software or mess with the BIOS? If all it involves is a few simple steps then with good instructions I could probably do it. Thanks! |
#3
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On Mon, 23 May 2005 01:26:02 GMT, "Von Fourche"
wrote: I have a five year old Compaq with 128MB of memory (shared with video memory.) It has Windows ME installed so you know that It's crashing like crazy. Before I spend the money on a new computer I thought I would look into upgrading the memory. So: how hard is it to take out the old memory and install new memory? I have never cracked open my computer case before. How easy is it to really mess up a computer while changing memory? My computer is a Presario 500 Series - model number - 5B2284. I just went to that crucial.com site and punched in my model number. They have 256MB or ram for $76.00 I would buy two of these, right? Open the case, take out the two RAM things, and replace them with the two new RAM modules. Correct? Would I have to update any software or mess with the BIOS? The BIOS will take an inventory of memory as part of the power-on self-test procedure, without needing any attention from you. Likewise, modern application software requests memory from the operating system and adapts to what it gets. Anything that runs in 128 megabytes will run, and may run faster (because it will make less use fo the swapfile), in 512 meg. Swapping memory is no big deal. Get the case open, usually by removing a few screws or thumbscrews at the back, locate the memory modules, pop the old ones out and insert the new ones. The only tool you may need is a scrwedriver, and maybe not even that If you're lucky and the case has spring latches or thumbscrews. The memory modules are held in their sockets by latches at each end. You have to release both of them to get a module out, preferably both at once. There are at least two arrangements, difficult to describe in enough detail, but Crucial will probably provide an illustrated instruction sheet. Altogether, it's about like replacing a tail light bulb in a car. The memory package will have warnings about static electricity, but touching the inside of the case before you reach for the memory is usually enough to discharge any static you may have picked up. Precautions like a grounded wristband are necessary only in very dry (as in get zapped whenever you reach for a doorknob) conditions. It's also a good idea to leave the machine plugged into its grounded outlet. The line cord terminates inside the power supply box, so you can't accidently touch a hot terminal. |
#4
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On Mon, 23 May 2005 03:02:45 GMT, ben_myers_spam_me_not @
charter.net (Ben Myers) wrote: 1. Unplug the computer from the wall whenever you work on anything inside the chassis. Good advice in the general case, but PC power supplies have the line terminals inside the power supply enclosure, where you aren't going to accidentally touch them. That's why some authorities recommend leaving the machine plugged in, to maintain the case ground connection as a static drain. Of course, the computer has to be off. Memory is definitely *not* hot-pluggable. |
#5
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Wait a minute here! With modern ATX power supplies, as long as the computer is
plugged in to the wall, there is current flowing through the motherboard! You mean to say that it is OK to install memory in a "hot" motherboard? No way! Similarly, if one is working on the memory of a notebook computer, unplug it from the wall AND remove the battery. Notebook motherboards have gotten fried when someone attempted to add memory while the battery was still in the computer. Back in the dark ages of AT-style power supplies, it was perfectly fine to leave the computer plugged in while working on the inside of the chassis... Ben Myers On Mon, 23 May 2005 03:15:03 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 23 May 2005 03:02:45 GMT, ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers) wrote: 1. Unplug the computer from the wall whenever you work on anything inside the chassis. Good advice in the general case, but PC power supplies have the line terminals inside the power supply enclosure, where you aren't going to accidentally touch them. That's why some authorities recommend leaving the machine plugged in, to maintain the case ground connection as a static drain. Of course, the computer has to be off. Memory is definitely *not* hot-pluggable. |
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