I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop which takes up to 1 GB RAM, and I purchased 512 MB RAM on ebay and recieved it today. So I was wondering if it is possible for me to manually install the 512 MB RAM myself. Will doing so cause any damage to the computer, i.e. will it erase anything I have saved now? I need to know so that I can back up my files. Also, like is there anything specific that might happen, like will exposure to air/dirt cause any damage to the RAM? And how do I install it myself? (is there a website that could show me how)?
2007-12-13 04:02:58 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
Hello,
Yes, you can update the RAM in a laptop and it will not delete any of your files if you mess up. Matter of fact there really isn't a way for you to mess up since RAM has it's own slot and no other component can fit in it.
Most of the time it's a memory stick or a PCMCIA card. There are different types of RAM so you will have to know what type of RAM your motherboard can take(ie: DDR, ECC, Etc). There are different ways to find this out but the easiest is to go to http://curcial.com and use their ram search which will find the right type of RAM for your laptop model. If you don't want to do it that way then you will need to go to the manufactures site and look for your laptop's specifications to find out the type and max size of RAM your laptop can handle.
The ways for installing RAM on a laptop can vary but you can go to the manufacture's website and look for your model and see if they have a diagram that shows where the RAM goes. Sometimes it requires you to take off the keyboard or find a slot on the bottom of the laptop. I wish I could be more help here but it really depends on your model of laptop.
Some things to watch out for are electric static discharge(ESD) which can cause damage to the RAM. So be sure to ground yourself by touching some unpainted or unsealed metal surface.
Also try to buy RAM from name brand manufactures like Kingston, Curcial or Corsair or else you could end up with cheap RAM and have a bunch of Errors.
I hope this helps.
If you need any more help you can email me at
eofu@chaoticpulse.com
2007-12-13 04:31:35 · answer #1 · answered by jack 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a compartment on the bottom of your laptop that contains the memory. Open this compartment and you will see the 256 ram stick. First check to make sure that you have the correct memory by comparing the two, and then just clip the ram into the holder or (slot) as it is called.
Installing memory will not cause any loss of data, nor will exposing it hurt it in any way.
2007-12-13 04:11:52 · answer #2 · answered by Ron M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This _should_ be a simple operation that you can do yourself. I don't know the specifics of the laptop in question as you haven't listed a model, but there should be section in the manual or on their website (try http://www.toshiba.co.uk/ ) on how to perform this. On most systems the memory is accessed from a removable plate on the underside of the unit (but check before poking around).
As with all maintenance, it is always a good idea to make sure you have a backup of any important files on your system. And regular backups are important as a matter of course, anyway.
2007-12-13 04:10:49 · answer #3 · answered by MH 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can install it yourself.
If you're carefull you will not damage it. make sure you're grounded, touch a metal part of the laptop if possible every few mins.
It will not erase anything....
usually exposuure to auir/dirt will not harm it.
Check the laptop makers website for information on hot to install but it would go like this...
remove screw covering the memory slot(s) insert the ram and snap into place.,
replace the cover and boot the laptop....all you need now is the location of the memory slots...
2007-12-13 04:27:39 · answer #4 · answered by newton3010 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its not highly recommended. The best performance is when you place 2 of the same modules together. 256mbx2 or 512 mb x2. You can put a 256 w/ 512 but ....
2016-05-23 09:28:42 · answer #5 · answered by luz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can find a how to on internet on how to install it your self its really easy. It will not erase any data on your computer but if your data is critical you will have to back it up. Another thing that might happen ebay is auction and you never know what they sell to you. So your computer might starting rebooting it self or crash after install if the memory is bad. But if its good then nothing will happen.
2007-12-13 04:09:32 · answer #6 · answered by hot7wheels 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
did you buy the correct type of ram?
does your computer have an extra slot for more ram?
air/dirt won't cause damage... unless your dropping it in sand or something.
2007-12-13 04:07:04 · answer #7 · answered by soccerpsychic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is such a website www.crucial.com
2007-12-13 04:05:51 · answer #8 · answered by Mitchel G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋