Easy Guide to Installing Desktop Computer Memory
Some people had the forethought to take a class in computer maintenance around the same time they bought their computers; others just have a natural gift for knowing what to do to improve the performance of their PC. The rest of us fall into the clueless category. For these individuals, the basics beyond knowing how to turn the computer on and off are about as complex as it gets. Fortunately, the process for installing more memory into your computer isn’t all that difficult. It doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s a fairly foolproof job.
There are a few key, essential pieces of information you should have before you begin upgrading your computer’s memory. The first thing is to check with your computer knowledgeable buddy down the street or in the computer’s owner manual for the type of memory your system will require. The computer maker’s website or customer service phone lines are other good places to check for this information. It is important to be aware that the make and model of your computer’s motherboard is defines the type of memory you will need to purchase. The next thing is to be sure that memory is indeed what the computer needs. Sluggish operations and problems with screen displays are two ways you can be sure your system needs a little memory boost.
Now that you have the type of memory you need, your palms are sweaty, and you are sure that the computer police are going to come after you for PC abuse, it’s time to begin. The first step is relatively simple. Turn off your computer. See, everything is going fine so far. Unplug the power cord. The next thing you should do is to determine how your computer opens. Some are made with a button or lever designed to pop open the compartment where all the computer magic happens. Others require that you unscrew a few screws to access the working insides of your system. Once you have the case opened, just slide the casing back for working access to your computer and the motherboard.
The next thing you need to do is locate the memory slots in the computer. They are fairly easy to see. You already know what the memory modules look like. The memory slots should be black, brown or blue. These slots will NOT be white. Please don’t confuse your white PCI Expansion slots (4” white slots) with your memory slots. In some cases, wires may be covering the correct location. Gently push wires out of the way until you find the right spot. Be sure to be gentle so you don’t loosen or pull any of the wires out. You don’t want to install the memory correctly and then have problems because of a loose or disconnected wire.
All memory is keyed in the pin-set. This means that the portion of the memory that inserts into the memory slot has pins or connectors that are separated by one or two notches. These notches correlate to notches in the memory slot. Due to the placement of these notches, your memory module will only insert in one direction. As long as you are trying to install the memory in the right place and the right direction, it will snap into place with a little bit of pressure. Once you have the correct alignment, push down on the memory module on both sides. When you’ve successfully installed your memory, the white tabs on the end of the memory slot will lock into place by the force of the memory module going into the slot. If you have trouble, realign the slots and try again. This process helps to make sure the memory is fully engaged with the motherboard.
The only thing you have left to do is close the case back up and replace the screws if necessary. Plug the power cord back in are restart the computer. It is pretty easy to install more memory, but there is always the possibility of error. Your computer will let you know if there is a problem. When you restart your computer the system should boot right into Windows. Take a look at your system properties to confirm that the correct amount of memory is installed!
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Tags: Desktop Memory Guide
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