Laptop memory

[Lifeisontheup]

Is it possible to buy additional memory for a dell laptop? And if so where/how, I'm a complete technophobe.

Go to crucial and use their "system scanner". It will tell you what you have and what you could get to increase the memory. You might need to download their scanner software to do it. I have bought memory for all my machines from them.

www.crucial.com/uk/store/drammemory.aspx

Thanks will do that.

As a "complete technophobe" are you happy installing your own memory? It's not difficult, but if you buy from Crucial, they won't install it, so you need to have enough confidence to do it yourself, or know someone who will do it for you.

I did wonder that, might have to take it in to my local very helpful computer shop. I've done the scan thing and it doesn't seem to say my memory is near to full, it's just I keep getting a message pop up which says 'high memory usage' from google chrome. Was a bit surprised as I haven't got loads of music or pictures stored but was a bit panic stricken as I have my assignments for my uni course on here even though I back them up regularly.

From what you've said, you might just need to disable the notifications (from AVG?). If your computer is running well apart from the notifications, you can disregard them.

BTW Memory and storage are two different things. The hard drive is for storage, and that's where your files and programs are kept. Memory, or RAM, is in use while you're doing things on the computer.

The RAM more you have, the more you can multi-task ? it's like your PC's headspace.

If you do want to upgrade RAM, it's an incredibly quick and easy job. You don't have to be a techie!

You need a small Philips screwdriver ? if you buy your RAM from Crucial, they do a good one.

Second, find a manual or google to check where your RAM slot is. But if you flip your laptop over it's usually pretty clear which bits will unscrew. There might be letters or a diagram over the RAM slot.

When you have located it, and you've got your RAM, do this:

1. Unplug your laptop
2. Take the battery out!
3. Ground yourself by touching a radiator, or wear an anti-static wrist band
4. Unscrew the RAM cover. Put the screws in a dish or something so you don't lose them
5. Remove old RAM ? there are clips holding it there
6. Clip new RAM into place
7. Replace RAM cover
8. Let your PC detect the new memory when you next switch it on

That really is it.

Here's a video to help out ? it's old, but still stands. Changing RAM takes less time than playing the video.

www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/pc-help/1913224/upgrading-memory-notebook

Found this:
open the AVG control panel from the tray icon. On the top bar, click on Tools and select Advanced settings?. In there, select Appearance from the left panel. Under System tray notifications, uncheck the Display AVG Advisor notification to turn those off and click Apply. You will now no longer be warned about your browser?s memory usage.

Are you running AVG? Personally I don't but I do have Google Chrome and I have never seen High Memory Usage warning come up, and a quick Google suggests it may well be AVG (antivirus package) that is coming up with the warning. A web browser will at times use a lot of memory, especially I suspect when playing video.

Do you really need more memory - I would guess not. On my Dell, I can click the Windows Vista logo, then select Computer and it opens a box which lists the drives and at the bottom it says Memory 4.00 GB. I have no issues running typical software with that amount of RAM.
That same box will tell you how much space you have on your harddisc, I have 219 GB free of 283 GB. So I have loads of space left.

How much RAM (memory) does your computer currently have?

Have you noticed any memory warning messages from anything else, other than when using Chrome, and do you have anti-virus from AVG?