Are you getting the dreaded blue screen of death? Are files getting corrupted that you're working with? Can't even get windows to install on a new hard drive? Well, your problem may be with the memory, commonly called RAM. Memory is composed of usually between one and four small circuit boards inside of your computer. As of late it has come down considerably in price, and can usually be found on popular websites such as Newegg or even your local big box store.
If you think memory may be your problem, one good thing to do first is to make sure that its installed nice and tight on the motherboard. To do this open the case (do not attempt if you are not comfortable and do not know how to prevent static discharge.) If it is a desktop, the memory will be small rectangular circuit boards perpendicular to the board itself, in a row of between 1 and 4 slots. You want to unseat the memory one at a time by gently pushing the tabs on either side of the slot so that the memory is released. Then push the memory back into the slot firmly so that the tabs snap back into place. Not so firmly that you break something, but it should snap in snuggly.
If you have a laptop, the memory will most likely be under a panel on the bottom of the computer. You will need a small Phillips Head screwdriver to open the panel. Then the memory can be removed and reinserted by pulling back small holding brackets and rotating the memory up to a 45 degree angle. It is then reinserted at a 45 degree angle and gently pressed down until it locks into place.
If you think the memory may be bad, you can always try swapping it out a stick at a time to isolate the bad stick, or you can use memtest86. The easiest way I've found to get access to it is to just make a Knoppix CD. You can download it by searching for Knoppix in Google.
The file you will download is an ISO file, and you will need a program such as Nero or Power ISO (Google it and pick up the shareware for free.) Once you have done so, insert the CD and reboot your computer. You want to boot off of the CD and may need to go to the boot menu to accomplish this, generally accomplished by hitting F12 several times on boot. Instead of letting it go into Linux when you are first given a prompt type memtest. This will bring up a blue screen and it will start testing your memory. Let it run for about 20 minutes, if it doesn't fail then your memory is probably fine. If you start seeing a bunch of bright red error messages then yes your memory is having problems. It will even isolate which slot is bad.
If do have errors, determine which slot the error is coming from. Then open the computer, remove the stick that is in that slot, and insert another stick into it. Then run memtest again and see if you get the same error. If you do then you know that the motherboard is bad. If you do not get an error then you know that the memory you removed is bad. Replace whichever part is bad and your problem should be resolved.
John Daniels is a former High School teacher turned computer technician. He has over 6 years of experience in the field and operates a site that gives daily tech tips at http://www.broketech.com It is part of the John W. Daniels network at http://www.johnwdaniels.com
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