-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: [log in to unmask]
To: Personal Computer Hardware discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Your help is appreciated.
Date: Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:44:46 +0000
First, check your manual for the RAM cover location, and the specifications of 
the modules. If you don't have the manual handy, best way to find what modules 
you'll need, is by checking your laptop vendor. You can also check by using the 
memory search function of the various memory vendors (kingston.com, 
crucial.com). The main things you'll be looking for is the speed type 
(EDO(really old standard), PC100 or PC133, DDR PC2100, 2700 or 3200, DDR2(the 
newest standard)various speeds).
Armed with the type, you can go shopping at the many PC parts stores available 
online, but.
Before you buy your new RAM, I'd suggest you do an internet search on this, 
"installing ram in a laptop". This resulted in many links that had illustrations 
of how to go about replacing/installing modules. Pictures are worth a thousand 
words, and if I went into details here, I'd probably be banned.
 
CAUTION! Not only disconnect the A/C power, but also remove the battery. Do make 
sure you're working in an anti-static mode. Ground yourself, before you go 
poking your fingers on the insides, or handling your new module.
You have been warned.

Now, without knowing the specs of your laptop, you'll have to answer these 
questions yourself. I'm going to assume that your laptop included 1GB RAM. After 
you've taken the cover off, what do you see?
How many banks do you see? Banks; slot where the module sits in. Newer laptops 
sometimes have three banks, but generally, two.
Are both banks filled? If both banks are filled, then vendor has installed 512MB 
modules in each bank. Two 512MB modules are cheaper than one 1GB module. Go 
figure.
You can stair-step yourself up from this point, or go the full monty. Either 
way, you'll have to make a sacrifice. Your new upgrade will start in Bank0. If 
you had three banks, they'd be labeled; Bank0,1, 2. In any case, the highest 
amount of RAM module in a laptop should be seated in the lowest bank#. Per say; 
bank0 512MB, bank1 1GB, laptop will see see 1GB. Done the opposite and correct 
way, laptop will see 1.5GB.
 
Unless you're running WinXP-64bit, don't except to go higher than 2GB. That is a 
mathematical limit, and no way is MicroSoft to blame for that reality. 
Tim


>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> > Hello Tim
> >  
> > I read with interest your email advice about increasing ram. Okay for a  
> > desktop you can tinker with but wehat about the ram in a laptop?
> >  
> > Dorothy Jones
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >    
> > 
> >                          PCBUILD's List Owners:
> >                       Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
> >                        Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
> 

                  Visit our website regularly for FAQs,
               articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more
                          http://freepctech.com