Friday, May 29, 2015

SUCCESS! ALL TUNED UP AND READY TO ZOOM

The nervous tension is subsiding. Am I relieved! I am feeling a bit light-headed and a little tired now.  

I did my research, it looked straightforward enough, so I ordered memory modules to upgrade my computer.  It's not any old computer it's an Apple and what they do and how they do what they do is different to Microsoft.  With Microsoft boxes of tricks, I could decide on what worked and slot the memory into whichever slot was free.  That was that. Not so Apple.


We had the right type of screwdriver to open the memory modules 'door' below the logo; that was the really easy part, I could have played with it for hours.  I well and truly earthed myself then struggled to open the packaging in which the memory was safely wedged  Each module was very tightly housed into their plastic forms.  I gave up being gentle and succeeded in forcing one out. 
 
 Carefully following the step-by-step instructions, I pulled out plastic tabs that were supposed to loosen the existing computer memory from their slots. Not for me they didn't. As I wanted the existing memory, I was not bothered about moving it anyway. I concentrated on installing the new green  memory modules.  ***!!!** They would not seat properly.  My persistence began to wane. 


The lady on the helpline - from Egypt - made 
suggestions that mirrored what I had been doing already.....Uh, Could I go to a computer shop.....No, not possible where I live.....have you watched installation videos on our site? ....I had a quick look.  No videos, just repeats of step-by-step instructions and not even as good as the ones I used.  We agreed to to replace my modules. as they didn't seem to fit.  She started off the order process. The replacements would be sent when I returned those I had.


Next, phoned my brother hundreds of miles away. I wasn't being forceful enough, he said, 
A Bit Of Caerphilly
Really tug at the plastic tabs like they were a piece of string, he said, it would loosen the pre-installed memory modules, not that I needed to; I did it anyway.  A blue rectangular module catapulted out of the slot making a direct hit on my chest. I was all of a tizzy... I checked it for size against the new one I was struggling to fit. They measured the same. With a bit of a shove the original memory module seated in.  Right, then, let's try the new modules one  more time.  I gave the first one a real heave ho and it did as it was told...wow! The second one got the same treatment.  I was ready to plug in to the mains. 

My system analysis recognised the computer has lots more memory......


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! Well done on getting that sorted. I have the same problem myself - too scared of the laptop to behave like a stroppy boss ;)

ZACL said...

Hi Gilly,

Thank you, applause accepted :)

One thing you could do which would not cause you any anxiety, but give gain in knowledge, is go to this site:

www.crucial.co.uk.

When on it, download the scanner Crucial provides. It will tell you what is needed and what facilities there are for installing what is required. It will also tell you the cost of the purchase. You'll be shown memory cards/modules and possibly solid state disks(SSD's). You are interested in memory only, from what I glean.

At this point, you can make a note of the scan detail if you want to and close out. In your filing system there will be a crucial.exe file, it is the scanner, which, you can delete. The company are reputable. It is the best way to assess requirements.

While on the Crucial site, have a look at the information they provide for installing memory. Another really good place to look is 'Ifixit'. That site would probably tell you how to build a a sandcastle that would stay put!

When one of your handy youngsters is on a visit, you could order some memory and get the youngster to fit it into your laptop for you. Incidentally,and importantly, ensure the right type and size of screwdriver, (similar to jewellers' ones I guess) is available to give access to the 'gubbins'.

Snowbird said...

I am just like you, far to gentle with these monsters! I am glad it all worked out, well done your bro!!! I did enjoy these pictures, lovely!xxx

Anonymous said...

Reading this makes me rather thankful that I don't have to faff around with my PC like that. Flighty xx

ZACL said...

Hi Snowbird,

My gentility with memory comes from being taught how to build a Microsoft P.C some years ago, as part of educating myself about computers. I fitted memory, amongst other things, to the motherboard. Yanking and shoving were definitely not de rigeur then. I cannot say what the present day Microsoft P.C's are like inside their hidey holes.

Bro is a computer purist and apart from having all sorts of niche computer systems, he has a slightly older version of the system I have in which he has increased memory capacity. It would be so much easier snowbird, to have him down the road, rather than hundreds of miles away, just to demonstrate a thing or two! :)

Glad you liked the pix.
xxx

ZACL said...

Ah Mr F,

It was my choice to upgrade, I could have left things as they were, the machine was doing a good enough job. I wanted a little more. The only way to do that was to roll up my sleeves and get the job done. Apart from getting rid of preconceived ideas about the fragility of memory modules,(see reply to Snowbird) also, discovering that I could work from below table level, (odd position but there you are) it was a fairly straightforward process to increase the memory capacity. XX