Q: I tried to install a program on my computer but the installation failed. There was an error message displayed that indicated I need more MEGABYTES. How do I install more memory in my computer?

A: The first thing to understand is that memory in your computer and disk space are both measured in BYTES. Actually, disk space is usually measured in GIGABYTES and memory in your computer is measured in MEGABYTES. A few years ago, both quantities were measured in MEGABYTES but hard drives have become very large in the past few years. Memory is very cheap compared to a few years ago. It is only a matter of time before we have GIGABYTES of memory on our computers in our homes.

In case you were wondering, MEGA indicates million and GIGA indicates thousand million or billion.

System requirements for applications or programs are usually listed on the box. There should be a disk space requirement and a system memory requirement for the application to operate properly. If you have determined that you need to increase your system memory, it is relatively easy to increase memory but there are a few errors to avoid.

Make sure that you purchase the right type of memory for your computer. Most computer parts suppliers can tell you the proper memory required by your system. Just because a memory part looks the same doesn't mean that it will work.

Use proper static procedures. Keep the memory in the proper packaging until you install it. Don't forget to use a static strap or at least touch the metal on the computer before touching inside of your computer. Static discharge can destroy the memory even before it is inserted in your computer.

Don't force the new memory in the slot. If you haven't properly aligned the memory, you can damage the memory connection in your computer. A damaged memory slot can make your computer an expensive paper weight.

If you don't feel that you are capable of  upgrading your computer's memory, contact a computer repair technician. It should only take a few minutes to install and test additional memory in your system.

TIP: track ball suggestion. Ralph L, Lowell.
If you are having a tough time of using a mouse, consider a track ball. A track ball is a unit that can take the place of a mouse. There is a large ball on the top of the unit that you move to make the pointer change position on your screen. You don't move the whole unit like a mouse but you roll the ball to move the pointer. Some people seem to have an easier time with the trackball.

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