Laptop Help

[NickyL0885]

I want to update the ol laptop. I have 256 memory. I want at least 1gb. i can just install it my self right? and i hear i then need to re-install my windows. but i dont have my windows XP disc. its probably in a junk yard polluting the earth. but im tire of using firefox then my comp freeze for like a few minutes. it gives me the same thing like if i was loading something. i cant surf the web, nor watch vids cleanly and smoothly. BAH

[JPMNICK]

I want to update the ol laptop. I have 256 memory. I want at least 1gb. i can just install it my self right? and i hear i then need to re-install my windows. but i dont have my windows XP disc. its probably in a junk yard polluting the earth. but im tire of using firefox then my comp freeze for like a few minutes. it gives me the same thing like if i was loading something. i cant surf the web, nor watch vids cleanly and smoothly. BAH

you do not need to re-install windows if you upgrade the ram. but it does sound like you need to reformat and start again

and yes, you can easily do the install yourself.

[Hottub]

The memory will have nothing to do with Windows Install. Make sure you have the correct type of memory. You will be fine.
Shut down, power off and insert the ram. When you re boot, Windows will recognize it right away.
Happy surfing.

[MisterSmith]

The memory will have nothing to do with Windows Install. Make sure you have the correct type of memory. You will be fine.
Shut down, power off and insert the ram. When you re boot, Windows will recognize it right away.
Happy surfing.

To add to this, make sure you pull the battery as well as unplug the machine - it's a safety precaution.

What model of computer do you have? Many models of Dells, Sony Vaios, HPs, etc. have a boot/recovery partition and you won't need to have the disks for the operating system. You will still need your other software in most cases (office, AV, etc.), but the OS will be restored to factory.

[Devo37]

you shouldn't have to re-install windows, but the computer may need a good cleaning & defrag as well as new memory.

like Hottub said, pull the battery and the a/c power before you do any work (as i found out years ago when i fried the motherboard of a laptop i was messing around with).

also, download the hardware manual from the manufacturer's website before you start. laptops are not as easy as desktop pc's to work with. there's usually dozens of screws you'll need to keep track of as you expose the innards of the laptop.

good luck!

p.s. while you're at it, may as well upgrade to 2 gb. memory is pretty inexpensive nowadays.

[KingGeno]

Another thing to check is what the RAM limit on your laptop's motherboard is. Sometimes you can only upgrade to 2GB.

[NickyL0885]

I have an HP Pavilion ze2000. I bought an 1GB memory stick, added it and comp works great. But last night I WASTED $46 on an Anti-Virus. My friend suggested it and it seemed like a good point. My comp worked well before on 256memory. The Anti-Virus got rid of some stuff but it didnt help my performance. bah. and i DLed it so i cant get my money back.

[donnie_darko]

never listen to your friends for computer support when you have a message board to go to.

never pay for virus protection.

tough lessons to learn.