- 1). Determine the type of RAM you'll need. The easiest way to do this is to look at your computer's manual (or the motherboard manual, if you have it). If you don't have the manual, search for the make and model number of your computer to find the manual online. The manual will specify the type of RAM and speed you need.
- 2). Purchase the type of RAM your computer can use. Don't bother buying faster RAM than your computer can use; the computer will just run it at the old speed. When in doubt, buy exactly the RAM your motherboard specifies.
- 3). Ground yourself by touching a piece of metal that isn't part of your computer, and turn your computer off. Leave it plugged in at the surge protector. This isn't to protect you (though it will); it's to keep any static electricity you may have accumulated from discharging onto a motherboard component and burning it out.
- 4). Open the case of the computer, following the instructions in the manual, and look for the RAM slots. They are usually near the central processing unit, and have long parallel rows. RAM slots are just about 4 inches long, and most computers will have two or four RAM slots. They will also be clearly marked in your computer's manual, or the manual for the motherboard.
- 5). Blow any dust out of the RAM slots with a can of compressed air.
- 6). Press down the plastic levers at the ends of each RAM slot. They're designed to press out and down, so they open up a wider space for the RAM to go in; when it's seated properly, they'll pop into place and secure the RAM.
- 7). Put the RAM into the slot by sliding it in so that the gold contact points fit into the slot--align the single notch toward one end of the RAM over a riser in the RAM slot. Once it's lined up, press down on it firmly and gently--don't force it; push with firm pressure, until the two levers you opened up in the previous step snap back into place to hold the RAM in. Repeat this for each RAM module you're putting in. When RAM is seated in the slot properly, it's held in quite firmly and won't wiggle when you put your fingers on it.
- 8). Turn on the computer, and watch at the very beginning of the boot up process. The start-up screen will tell you how much RAM the computer has. If this doesn't match what you expect, turn off the computer, ground yourself, and check to make sure that the RAM is seated properly.
- 9). Put the cover back on your computer, once the RAM is showing up properly on system bootup.
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