Upgrades and Repairs

The day may come when you'll want to install RAM, replace a video card, sound card, or ethernet card, or install a CD-ROM drive. You can do these things yourself-- but you may not want to.

RAM and various cards are easier to install than drives. All of these things can be purchased by end-users at office supply stores. They come with directions for installation.

To give you confidence, I would recommend hands-on training or an experienced friend to help with the first installation, though.

RAM comes in memory modules that plug into your computer's motherboard or mainboard. Before you buy additional or replacement RAM, read the manual that came with your computer system to find out what speed and type of RAM you should buy. Some manufacturers, like IBM, require special RAM. There are generic versions of these manufacturers' memory, but you will have to purchase the right type. Other machines use generic RAM that can be bought at office supply stores.

Once you've learned what sort of RAM you need, write the specifications down and use them when buying the modules. Also note whether the modules must be paired. Especially in older computers, modules had to be installed in pairs, e.g. 2 8-MB modules, 2 4-MB modules, and so on.

RAM is returnable. Manufacturers generally warranty RAM for life, so make sure that any RAM you buy is returnable, no questions asked. No static! If you buy RAM packaged for the end-user market, it will come with directions for installation. Generaly, you remove the outer case, remove the old RAM (unless you're adding, not replacing), slide the new RAM into the slots and click it into place, test the new RAM by making sure the computer can boot and that it recognizes the increase, then put the outer case back on.

Warning: Turn off the computer and unplug it before you take off the case. Then make sure to ground yourself before touching the RAM or any internal part of the computer. Do this by touching a bare piece of metal on the computer case.

The RAM will only fit in one direction. Often, the insides of the computer case are dark, or the slots in an awkward spot, and it may be difficult to see if the new RAM is properly seated. Once the RAM is installed, reboot your computer. It will automatically recognize the increased RAM. If it doesn't recognize the increase, try reseating the RAM.

If you decide to install a video card, sound card, internal modem, or other card, first turn off your computer and open the case. How many slots do you have free? If you're replacing a card, you can put the new one in the same slot; otherwise, you need a free slot for the new card.
Make sure that you are grounded!
Next, take out the screw that holds the card in place. Save that screw. Grab the old card at both ends and lift. You may have to rock it a bit to get it out of the slot.
Install the new card by putting the far end (the end furthest from the screw) in first. Then firmly slide the rest of the card into the slot. Make sure that the connectors on the card are pushed all the way in the slot. Replace the screw.
Sound cards may have additional cables to attach them to CD-ROM players or the motherboard. Follow the instructions that come with the sound card.
When you reboot your comuter, Windows 95/98 will recognize the new hardware and install the drivers for it. The drivers will either be on the CD or floppy that came with the hardware or on the windows CD. If you have the manufacturer's drivers, I would recommend using those unless the hardware is an old hand-me-down that was created in the pre-Win 95/98 days.

Installing hard drives, floppy drives, CD-ROM drives, and so on presents its own set of difficults, most of them mechanical rather than technological. Any drive you buy will come with its own directions, but an outline of the usual procedures is below.
Make sure that you are grounded! No static!
There are two sizes of drives (as you'll see if you look on the front of any desktop computer). The larger bay used to be for 5.25" floppy disks, and now is used mostly for CD-ROM drives and ZIP drives. The smaller bay is for 3.5" floppy drives, hard drives (which you don't see behind the face plate), and other smaller devices. Small drives, like your 3.5" floppy, cango into the larger bay: there are special rails that attach to the sides of the drive and extend its width.
Find an open bay, choose the regular rails or the rails to extend the size of the drive, and mount the rails on the drive. The position of the screws differs from drive to drive and case to case (of course!), so you'll have to judge how far up or back to put the rails.
The drive will slide into the bay. A power cable will attach to the back of the drive, and a flat, gray cable will be attached from the drive to the motherboard, sound card, or other component, depending on the drive. The gray ribbon cable has red markings on one edge. That red edge normally is on the "pin 1" side of both the drive and the connector at the other end (if you have good light and good eyes, you can read the "1"; on the drive, however, the red edge goes on the side closest to the power cable, which makes that a bit easier). If you install the ribbon cable backwards, the drive will not work, but it won't hurt anything.
Don't put the case back on until you've booted the computer and know everything works.
If you have never installed a drive before, I don't recommend doing it on your own. The procedure isn't complicated when everything goes smoothly, but sometimes, things don't! Sometimes, for instance, the hard drive cable or the power cable is too short. Or if you're adding a drive, you may find you don't have a spare power cable. None of these are disasters, but they are frustrating if they delay your upgrade, or force you to take it to a computer shop anyway.
If you happen to have a friend who is experienced with hardware installation, bribe that person with food, and ask for help. If you aren't lucky enough to have a good-tempered technician as a friend, it's up to you: if yo're curious about how computers work, enjoy a challenge, and so on, go ahead. Give it a shot. If the whole thing seems like a hassle, take it to a computer shop and let them do your upgrade.