Tech help said that because it beeped 3 times when I powered the comupter that the RAM has failed, so I'm about to replace the RAM on my emachine. What else am I going to need to do?
Will I need to restore the operating system or will replacing the RAM fix the computer?
2007-11-28 03:42:51 · 4 answers · asked by Matt S 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
As long as you remember to put your hand on a piece of unpainted metal (the computer chassis is fine) to get rid of any static before you start messing with the RAM you should have no problems. Remove old RAM, Insert new and restart your machine. That's it.
2007-11-28 03:51:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish you had provided some more detailed information. Such as are you able to boot up your computer at all, if you can't boot into normal mode, can you boot into Safe Mode, what error messages you received, if any. Whether or not the machine blue screened, what you were doing when this occurred, where you received the "tech help" from, whether from your computer manual, or an actual person at the manufacturers technical assistance department, and what exactly where you told. It would also help to know how much RAM is installed, what type it is, how old the machine is, etc.
Now, to try to assist with only the information you provided, I would say replace the RAM modules with the exact same type you currently have installed.
Be sure to purchase RAM which your motherboard can handle. When you begin to change out the old RAM and install the new RAM, unhook the computer from its power source, and make sure you ground yourself before touching any components inside your case. If you do not ground yourself you can cause static electricity to jump into components and it will burn them out, causing you to have to either replace the burned out hardware, or buy a completely new system.
To ground yourself, simply use a wrist band and have it connected as the wrist band instructions outline. These wrist bands are very inexpensive, perhaps a couple of dollars, so there isn't any reason to not get one. However, if you just don't see the importance of one, then touch a part of the metal casing of the computer, and then touch the floor or wall. This is a less safe way to go about this, but it is better than not doing anything at all to ground you and the case from static electricity.
It is very simple to remove and install RAM modules. What is more difficult is finding out exactly what type of RAM and how much RAM your particular system can utilize.
A good method of discovering what type and how much you can use, go to Crucial and run their test on your system if you can. If you are unable to boot up at all, or establish a network connection while in Safe Mode with Networking, then try to find out in your manual which type your particular motherboard can handle, or contact the manufacturrs hardware support and ask them. If your system is out of warranty, the technicians may refuse to tell you what you need to know, unless you buy extended hardware warranty. If it is out of warranty, and they will not tell you what you need to know, use a different computer and go to the computers manufacturers website and try to locate the information there.
If you put in the wrong RAM modules you can kill your machine. At least until you take out the wrong RAM modules and replace it with the right type and speed.
There are usually a couple of different speeds a systems motherboard can handle. I want to point out that if you put two different speeds in your system, (that it can handle) the faster speed module will be wasted because the system reverts to the slowest module onboard. So, make sure what you buy is compatible, and is of the proper speed.
Here is the address for Crucial:
http://www.crucial.com
On this website you can run a test which will tell you what types of memory modules your particular motherboard can handle. They also sell memory modules, but you are not required to buy from them just to use the tool. The tool is free for anyone to use who needs to find out information about their installed RAM, and what types of RAM the motherboard can handle.
Also, never put in the full four Gigabytes of RAM that the manual may say your computer can handle. Up to the last 1 Gigabyte of RAM will be wasted, unless it is a x64, which I doubt it is. The manuals of a x86 system says it can handle up to four gigabytes of RAM, but the truth of the matter is that the upper forth gig is reserved for system and hardware use. So, don't install more than three gigs of RAM, or that last gig is a loss, perhaps only 512 Mb as in my system, due to those memory addresses in those upper forth gigabyte is reserved.
Good luck and a happy holiday season.
2007-11-28 12:02:35 · answer #2 · answered by Serenity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Changing the RAM should fix your system, u do not need to restore your OS. But u need to get the correct type of RAM.
2007-11-28 11:52:14 · answer #3 · answered by tj is cool 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
RAM should fix it (if that is the only place the problem is). just take out the bad RAM Chip and put in a new one. reboot and you should be fine.
2007-11-28 11:46:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋