Installing crucial ram in a powerbook

[lazyboy922]

I am going to install a 512 stick of ram from crucial into my 15 inch powerbook. Is there anything special i should be aware of? I have read apple's manual on installing ram, and it seems relatively easy, but i dont want to ruin my new power book either! i have done desktops before, but never a laptop. thanks!
Don

[MoparShaha]

Just make sure to discharge static electricity first. Otherwise, it's a very easy procedure. Good luck.

[lazyboy922]

thanks!

[virividox]

lay it on a nice large piece of cloth or rubber mat, and dont touch the connectors, some ppl get away with it but its best not to. and do a hardware check witht he cdrom right after to make sure it isnt bad ram

[lazyboy922]

This may be a silly question, but how do i do a ram check with the cd rom?

[jxyama]

you should have gotten a hardware check CD with your powerbook... one of the tests it does is the memory check.

[tomf87]

Mine came with AppleCare... The only CD's I received with my PB was the Software Restore and iLife '04.

[bankshot]

Originally posted by tomf87
Mine came with AppleCare... The only CD's I received with my PB was the Software Restore and iLife '04.

Right. Put in the Software Restore DVD (it's a DVD, not a CD, right?) and reboot. Hold down the option key as it boots. Select the Hardware Test when the boot disk selection screen comes up.

[lazyboy922]

In the manual, it states there is a way to just check to see if it recognizes the new memory. could i just do that instead of doing the dvd thing?

[jxyama]

sure, just go to the apple menu on the top left, choose "About this Mac"

a window will pop up and it should tell you the processor and the RAM.

that screen only tells you if the memory is recognized or not. i think DVD hardware check will be more thorough and check if memory is bad or not (but it may still be recognized.)

you only need to do this very rarely... why not take the time and get it done?

[lazyboy922]

sounds good, thanks!

[Hodapp]

Hardware check is kind of un-needed for RAM, in my opinion. It will be VERY apparent your ram is bad if it is, as your computer will begin acting like a cracked out raver chick. :)

Also regarding static, you'll always carry a little charge on your body no matter what you do unless you're wearing an anti-static bracelet... Just be careful not to touch any bare metal contacts/circuit traces on either the ram stick, or the inside of your PowerBook after you take the cover off. :P

[lazyboy922]

I just checked my cd's, and the hardware restore check cd or whatever didn't come with it. i just got the ilife cd.

[jxyama]

um, i think it's in the software restore DVD...

if the only disc you got was the iLife, then you are missing something. call apple.

[lazyboy922]

yeah ill have to check in the box to make sure, but i believe im missing something. thanks

[lazyboy922]

oops nevermind, i guess i had already put it away with the rest of my utilities disks