Per HP, I’ve got the right memory stick, now I have to install it. I’ve got the instructions, any precautions or “tricks” I should be aware of?
A useful set here: http://www.crucial.com/support/help.aspx?tabid=sc2.
It’s usually pretty straightforward.
The memory can only go in one way, and there should be notches that will help you align it correctly.
Most modern memory goes in at some angle and then snaps into place (by the retaining clips).
Thanks !!
If you don’t see me posting for awhile, you’ll know I messed it up!
Don’t forget to ground yourself (electrically, that is) before you begin. Easy way to do this is to touch the screw in the middle of an electrical outlet cover. Computer circuitry is very sensitive to shocks that may not even be perceptible to you - and bear in mind that a perceptible static shock is generally at least 1,500 volts. (That’s not a typo.)
Also, something I do is to leave the power cord connected (but make sure the computer is turned off!) so that there is an active ground. Make sure that no one hits the power switch (even inadvertantly) or you’ll fry your computer - and maybe yourself! The RAM is keyed to only go one way - if it doesn’t seem to fit, don’t force it, look to make sure that it is going in the right way round.
My computer-illiterate parents installed new RAM in their machine with me on the phone - no problems. They just took it slow and made sure things were right before going on to the next step.
Good Luck!
Brian
Ditto on the grounding. Especially in winter when it’s dry. One Spark and POOF there goes your RAM and maybe some other stuff if you’re installing it.
I worked with a guy that was “Highly electrically charged” fro some reason.
Probably once a month he’d walk up to my desk and a spark would fly, metal desk. 9 times out of 10 I would have to reboot because my machine would lock up. Was very weird and only happened with him.
~Matt