In message , Paul
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , KenK
writes:
[]
How difficult is it to replace the memory chips? Remember? I seem to
recall doing it on one of my systems a few years ago but that's all I
recall. Probably depends on the motherboard.


What Memtest86 (and I suspect the other utility that others have
mentioned) tests is the RAM modules, which are one of the more trivial
things to change on a motherboard. You probably know this, but I
wasn't sure, from the above question.
If you don't: the RAM modules are long narrow circuit boards, held
in by clips at each end - often, when the clips are pushed outwards,
they pivot and push the modules up out of their sockets. They come in
various sorts, dependent on the motherboard - with names like DDR2,
DDR3, DDR, PC100, PC133 ...
[]
Yeah, the ejectors on the ends of the DIMM sockets
help them come loose.

When you put them back, you listen for a "click" and you
can sometimes eyeball the socket and see if the gold
contacts are "submerged" so you cannot see them again.
That's an alternative way to tell their "homed'.

The modules are keyed, and only fit one way. The key is on
the contact edge. *All* power must be removed from the
computer, during insertion or removal, and unplugging
is an easy way to de-power it. On an Asus motherboard,
you wait until the green LED goes out, before beginning
work. Other brands don't have the +5VSB green LED indicator.

When the modules are reinserted, the ejectors should be
vertical and the features on the side of the ejector

That's when the reinsertion is _complete_. To _start_ a reinsertion, the
injectors should of course be opened as wide as they'll go.

fit into "dents" in the ends of the modules. If the ejectors
didn't rotate to be flat against the module, it probably
isn't all the way in.

When the edges of the modules used to have a nice bevel
on them, the insertion force was gradual. Now some of the
modules are sorta "blunt" on the edge, and it hurts your
fingers installing them. So if someone asks "how much force
should this take", the answer is "considerable". At one time,
[]
I _think_ KenK's board isn't all that modern.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.