How hard is it to install extra memory? Will stores do it if I pay a fee?
 

When I bought my Vista laptop 18mths ago I didn't really think I needed extra memory, as basically all I do is word, excel, email, occasional powerpoint or download/upload photos. But my computer has been running a bit sluggishly & HP message occasionally tells me it's at a poor performance status (and then hangs up when I click on the fix it or further details). A friend said that while my needs might be relatively minor, Vista itself probably needs extra.

So - you all know that I'm no techie, but I've got a credit card that will buy extra memory. Would a place like Fry's install it for me if I paid them to do it? I bought the laptop at Fry's & would probably buy the memory there too. Should I find a neighborhood kid? ;) Anyone LA-based willing to do it for some UA drink chits, or the offer of drinks or a meal? :D I'm very, very leery of trying to do it myself because usually if there's a way to muck something up I do.

Any input appreciated. Cheers.

On most laptops, installing memory is incredibly easy. Usually, there is a panel on the bottom of the laptop that is attached by two screws. You remove the screws and take off the panel and then slide the new memory into an empty slot. If there is not an empty slot, you can pop out the old module(s) and replace with new ones.

You want to be careful of static electricity, but that's the biggest concern.

I'm sure Fry's, Best Buy, etc. will install memory for a fee, but that fee is likely to be pretty high.

It is really easy as soitgoes says. You may need a small phillips screwdriver to access the memory module. Just be sure you buy the correct one. You can try www.crucial.com and see what it says you need (be careful about older machines where the scan may not be accurate). A laptop usually has 2 slots. Manufacturers tend to use both so if you have 1GB, the computer probably has 2 x512MB modules.

Vista seems to run o.k. on 1GB but my desktop went from 1GB to 2GB within 3 weeks of me getting it and is now up to 4GB (bit of an overkill even with the small amount of built-in video RAM).

If your computer is running slower and more sluggishly than when you first go it, it may be various extraneous junk running in the background that are really slowing it down.

The modules can only go in one way (watch for how the connector side line up). When you power up the computer, you may have to press the setup-at-boot key as the computer will detect a mismatch in RAM size and may or may not correct the RAm size automatically.

And, of course, make sure the laptop is turned off when you do this :)

Cheers.

ie, remove the battery. Look at the manual for your laptop and see if you would be comfortable installing memory modules.

How much RAM do you have? There are many things that can slow the computer, ie malware.

You all seem to forget that I couldn't figure out how to get the 'S' key back onto my laptop keyboard, so the idea of putting in memory scares me willy-nilly! I'll look at the manual etc this weekend.

Here's the description from the sales receipt:

HP dv6235us CoreDuoT225, 1.73Ghz, 1Gb, 120Gb, 15.4", DVDRW LS DL 3945abg
RP2987S#ABA VH Permium

Actually, in looking at the receipt, I remembered that I bought an extra 1Gb when I got it, but turned out I bought the wrong one or something so when a friend tried installing it, it didn't work. He figured since my needs were basic I really didn't need the extra & plus he had to fly out/wouldn't be around to install it, so I returned it. Not sure I need 4Gb, but sounds like I definitely need an extra 1Gb.

Cheers.

The last HP laptop I worked on I think you had to pull about 6 screws, and a fairly large panel from the bottom of the laptop (it also covered the hard drive). Once you got that off, replacing the memory would be trivial.

A site like crucial.com will let you look your computer up, will tell you how many slots there are in the system, and what type of memory you need to buy, and their prices aren't too bad for memory. As someone else said, there's a fair chance you'll have to totally replace the memory that's in a laptop, because they like to use all the slots. Removing the old memory generally just involves pulling a couple of tabs out of the way and lifting the old module out of each slot.

Theoretically you should be careful about static discharging yourself before doing any of this. In reality, memory's nowhere near as sensitive as most people seem to think it is (but I still wouldn't recommend shuffling your socked feet across a carpet and then doing the change without grounding yourself first :) ).

Total time involved is probably no more than 15-20 minutes, even for someone that hasn't done it before.

(And FWIW, with an HP if it's indeed the same panel covering hard drive and memory, I'd probably take a quick glance to see if the hard drive actually has any screws holding it in place. The last HP I opened was because there's just enough room for the hard drive to slide out of place so it isn't connected anymore. This particular system had a couple holes for screws, but none in place, so the hard drive was just held in place by the friction of the connector.)

This is what Crucial recommends for your system:
http://crucial.com/store/mpartspecs....07CCE4A5CA7304
(It's pretty standard modern laptop memory, and there are often good after-rebate deals from frys.com, newegg, etc.)

Their system says you have two slots (as expected) and can support a maximum of 2GB RAM (possibly a motherboard limitation).

Here's the HP installation guide for memory for your laptop series:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00829345.pdf

Available from:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/m...3340168&dlc=en

You have a 1 GB RAM machine so I'd imagine the system has 2 512MB DDR2 PC2-5300 200-pin SODIMM modules.

You'll want to get either 1 or 2 1GB DDR2 PC2-5300 200-pin SODIMMs (for 1.5 or 2GB respectively).

2GB costs $34 from Crucial.com (there's either ebates of fatwallet money-back) or you can spend $38 after rebate and go for 4 GB (2 x 2GB) at Fry's:

http://shop4.frys.com/product/5468099

See if you are comfortable with this operation:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00829345.pdf

Thanks soitgoes (and YVR cockroach). And everyone else.

The pricing on the memory from Crucial is quite good. Only 33.99 for 2GB? Am I reading that correctly? Heck, when I purchased the 1Gb extra last year it was $99 at Fry's.

And thanks for the installation guide for memory. Perhaps I can get one of the neighbor's to come over & help since we have the guide.

Cheers.

Ok, ordered the memory. Must have missed today's shipping because I did 2-day but it won't get here until Monday. Cheers.

You already have 1GB in the machine or do you have more? Go to Control Panel>System and then see how much memory your machine has first.

What may have happened was your machine came with 512MB (or 0.5 GB) though it is hard to think of a Vista machine with that little RAM. Fry's may have swapped out the 2 x 256MB modules and put in 2 x 512 MB modules.

Memory change on your laptop is a 30 second job (or even faster).

Very likely. Memory prices have been going through the floor recently. Good for consumers, bad for those making memory and related equipment.

Cheers.

The purchase description lists that 1GB was included originally (probably 2x512mb). If you already added 1GB, you probably have 1GB+512MB. The link I gave to Crucial was for 2 1GB sticks (because Crucial lists that as max supported, which may or may not be true--they tend to be conservative on that).

If you run Crucial's system scanner, it will tell you how much memory you have and how many slots you have filled:
http://crucial.com/systemscanner/index.aspx