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How Hard is it to Upgrad My Memory?



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 23rd 05, 02:26 AM
Von Fourche
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Default 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  
Old May 23rd 05, 04:02 AM
Ben Myers
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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  
Old May 23rd 05, 04:20 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

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  
Old May 23rd 05, 09:15 AM
external usenet poster
 
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Default

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  
Old May 23rd 05, 01:12 PM
Ben Myers
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Posts: n/a
Default

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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