computers

janetteosborne

Hi

My son wants to add more RAM to our home computer and reckons he can do this himself. He is 16 going on 90 and knows it all, if you know what I mean. Can he do this? Help frustrated mother with grey hair and laughter lines - no nothing is that funny.

Janette:beer:

Shaun_d123

Adding RAM is a relatively easy task.

Firstly to ensure you get the right sort of RAM us Crucials online checker which will reccommend the best RAM suitable for your pc
http://www.crucial.com/uk/

To install the RAM he will need to open up the pc and locate the existing memory and its pretty much straight forward to insert the new RAM

OK_Sauce

It is a relatively simple job. Essentially the RAM modules snap into place. There is a good guide on the Crucial website.

Have a look to see if you think he can do it!

http://www.crucial.com/uk/install/dimm.aspx

Shaun_d123

Forgot to add You can have a look at the website below which gives you a pretty much step by step guide including a few pics

http://www.computer-adviser.com/computer-memory-upgrade.html

culpepper

My son put his computer together when he was 15. As long as he has the right memory modules to put in,it is as easy as putting an airfix model together and less messy.

timbim_2

Ah, but with airfix, static electricity is not a problem. Just hold on to a radiator while you're doing it, and make absolutely sure that the battery is out of the machine!

BillScarab

It's going to be tricky to do it holding onto a radiator!

Is it a laptop or a desktop?

There's lots of info on the web about fitting RAM. he just needs to touch a radiator or similar first to discharge any static build up.

At least with upgrading PC's glue and paint aren't involved (usually anyway).

niceguyrichy

doesn't need to 'hold on to a radiator'.
tell him to leave the PC power plugged in , but switched off, that way he's grounded so long as he's touching part of the computer case
and so long as he gets the right memory, the only thing that can possibly go wrong is he tries to put it in the wrong way round. it really is a piece of cake though.

Fifer

niceguyrichy wrote: »

doesn't need to 'hold on to a radiator'.
tell him to leave the PC power plugged in , but switched off, that way he's grounded so long as he's touching part of the computer case
and so long as he gets the right memory, the only thing that can possibly go wrong is he tries to put it in the wrong way round. it really is a piece of cake though.

Can I just make the comment that, although it's a reasonably safe practice with a PC where the PSU has no exposed live points (unless you open the PSU housing), it's not generally good practice to work on plugged-in mains powered equipment, unless you really know what you are doing.

I'd be very uncomfortable advising a 15 year-old to work on anything mains powered whilst it was plugged in.

BillScarab

But if Crucial recommend the wrong RAM they will replace it. If you !!!! up buying it yourself from elsewhere it's your own fault.

Mind you I always check the Motherboard specs before doing anything as well. But then you also need to check revision numbers and BIOS versions.

MikeFishcake

If it's plugged in but switched off at the wall socket, it's totally safe.

And not all pros do it by going to the motherboard (that's what aknot means by MoBo ) manufacturer's websites, because as I've mentioned in the memory thread for the topic in this week's newsletter, even though they may list the memory specifications, there can still be compatibility issues.

If you go to the crucial.com/uk website, download the system scanner and purcase the recommendations, it should be absolutely fine, and Crucial will give you all your money back or replace it if stuff they've recommended for your system isn't compatible.