adding memory to laptop advice please

Donnie

You would only break the slot if you were clumsy. The correct memory modules are all the same size regardless of density. ie 512MB or 2 GB.

But, I would be circumspect of the advice given by PC World..... It's true that certain versions of Windows only recognise up to 3.5GB of RAM, but your Motherboard may only be capable of recognising lesser amounts.

So it's entirely possible that you may purchase a 2GB RAM memory module and for your laptop to not recognise it at all.

GunJack

shopper - you can have 1.5GB in a pc...I've just sorted it out on MIL's desktop. 2 slots, one 512 MB stick fitted. Just pop a 1GB stick of compatable RAM in the other, bingo!! 1.5GB She's running vista, and was sluggish as h*ll, with 1.5 GB in there, it's running very nicely, thanks

As donne says, how much your system will recognise does depend on the OS, and 3-3.5GB is recognised by 32-bit vista. However, the other main constraint will be whether your mobo can handle it....if you have 2 slots with a 1GB stick in one of them, OR if you have 2 slots with 512MB in each, your safest bet would probably try to add 1GB, either in the empty slot or by replacing one of the 512MB sticks. 1.5 or 2GB, you probably wouldn't notice a huge difference between either set-up. You should notice a difference over what you have now with more RAM, whether it's the extra .5 or 1GB. LEt us know how you get on....