adding memory to pc

[eta34]

I currently have a Dell Dimension 3100. It has become slow over the last couple of years. I looked online and can upgrade to 2 gigs of memory for 40 bucks. It currently has 512 kb.

The pc has two internal slots currently occupied.by the dual 256 cards. I have no.other slots. When replacing those cards, will I lose anything on my hard drive?

I hope this all made sense.

[sepiid]

no, you will nhot lose anything on the hard drive.

when you receive the memory just shutdown and unplug the computer from power

open the case and touch any metal portion of the case to release static electricity.

remove the old memory

open the new memory and compare to old to make sure it has the slot in the same spot

install new memory

close case

plug in

power on

[JDay]

You're probably much better off just replacing that system, adding RAM is not going to do much to speed up a 3+ year old machine. More likely than not it is infected with adware/spyware. Running something like Malwarebytes on it should take care of that. In any case, if you upgrade the RAM make sure that you get the right type (DDR2 400mhz) for that machine.

[UltraLNW]

Check this out - brand new Dell Vostro 230 Mini desktop w/ Intel E5700, Windows 7, 2gb DDR3, etc etc, with 17" LCD for $339.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=bv1cs3x3&cs=04&dgvcode=ss&c=US&l=EN&dgc=BF&cid=27740&lid=1567911&acd=10853442-404255-173973

[E Pluribus Unum]

You would probably be better off replacing the system.

I charge a flat rate $100 to copy customer data off the drive, format and reinstall the OS, and then copy the data back on. That is dirt cheap, but it has to be because I can't charge more due to the fact that the client could buy a new computer for not much more.

[IrishPirate]

ummm....don't listen to them. I have a 7 year old machine that works just fine. I upgraded to 2gb of RAM 4 years ago (what you're looking to do) and when the hard drive went bad a few months ago, i just replaced that. It runs great!!! Adding the 2gb of RAM will help and you wont lose any info. RAM doesn't hold anything long term, it just holds info in the short term so your computer can run faster than it would if it just ran off the hard drive. If you have to replace the hard drive, that's when you'll need to back up all your info.

[JDay]

ummm....don't listen to them. I have a 7 year old machine that works just fine. I upgraded to 2gb of RAM 4 years ago (what you're looking to do) and when the hard drive went bad a few months ago, i just replaced that. It runs great!!! Adding the 2gb of RAM will help and you wont lose any info. RAM doesn't hold anything long term, it just holds info in the short term so your computer can run faster than it would if it just ran off the hard drive. If you have to replace the hard drive, that's when you'll need to back up all your info.

That's all fine unless you want to do things such as watch HD video or use current versions of software.

[Flyin Brian]

Going from 512k to 2gb is a huge jump and I'm betting you will notice a significant improvement. Get another year or two out of your current system and then upgrade.

[orangeglo]

RAM is random access memory. It is temporary storage for things that are currently running on your machine. Like say you were editing a notepad document. That info is temporarily stored into your RAM until you decide to save it to your hard drive. That is why when you don't save and your computer crashes/powers off you lose everything.

When you save things to your hard drive it is always saved, unless your hard drive dies.

You can change your RAM without worrying about losing anything.

[high_revs]

i'm running windows 7 enterprise 32-bit on a 3-4 year old laptop with just a pentium m processor and 2GB of ram. runs fine though yeah, it's slower than my other laptop on a core-duo processor with 3 gb of ram (4gb but technically, stupid mcafee endpoint takes 25% of the ram). it does basic stuff well but i cannot comment on hdmi/hd since it doesn't have blu-ray or hdmi output. so long as OP ok with that, yeah, RAM upgrade should suffice. (you have only 512K? really? gotta be older than 3 yrs no?).

factor in how much the ram is going to cost you vs. the model suggested above. desktops much, much cheaper than laptops and sometimes (if not most times), just faster.

p.s. i say reformat and resintall your data. but since you're asking if you'll if you'll lose data by removing and installing new ram modules, not sure if you're up to it. i recommend this only so you can really see the performance difference by starting clean and removing those vampiric adware/malware crap.

[JDay]

Going from 512k to 2gb is a huge jump and I'm betting you will notice a significant improvement. Get another year or two out of your current system and then upgrade.

He has 512MB not KB.

[Coded-Dude]

WHAT CPU ARE YOU RUNNING?

sorry for the caps, but that is the most important part to consider when on the fence about upgrading vs new pc. You can easily get upgraded graphics cards, memory, and hard drives....the cpu is the most proprietary slot. If its fast enough, just upgrade like you are. If its not you may want to buy a new pc(or MB/CPU combo and build a new PC)

[high_revs]

He has 512MB not KB.

ooppsie.. LOL i meant Mb.

512K?? reminds me of my old 386sx.

[Barbarossa]

winultilities


I've had great luck with the above program, to just do simple routine maintenance.

[five.five-six]

You would probably be better off replacing the system.

I charge a flat rate $100 to copy customer data off the drive, format and reinstall the OS, and then copy the data back on. That is dirt cheap, but it has to be because I can't charge more due to the fact that the client could buy a new computer for not much more.

normaly the new case will have an empty drive bay, I just take the old drive out of the old machine and put it in the new box... $100 seems fair for that



OP, go to curical.com

click "scan my computer"

then

click "download the scanner"

fallow the prompts, then print the findings and go to frys