there are definitely differences in brand I would only go with a name brand, I use Kingston and get mine from Newegg.com they have excellent prices and return policies.

There may be a problem with what you are considering, you may have to have matched pairs of memory, that is how most function best when you have 2 of the same size so you would want 2 of the 512 sticks of Ram memory.

I would install belarc advisor on that pc and let it run then print out the specs so you have exactly what is on that pc and exactly what is available. You will need to know the specifics for that pc as to exactly what Ram you can use, it is best to get that directly off the pc rather than look at websites.
Belarc

I have changed memory on all of my computers and it was fairly easy some easier than others, depends on how tight things are in the case. I would get an antistatic wrist strap to put on to work in the case, they are like a couple bucks at electronics stores or at newegg.

you can try to find your specific pc online and see if they have pictures of the inside then you will know exactly where the memory slots are located. It is basically pushing down the 2 clamps that hold in the memory stick to remove the stick from the pc, then push in the new stick, it only goes in one way, and making sure it is pushed in till the clamps snap back in place locking it in.

I recently bought 1 gig sticks of Kingston for one of my pcs and paid $17 each, some times they have free shipping.

here is what it says for that pc on the crucial site.

* USB Support: 1.x Compliant
* Maximum Memory: 1024MB
* Slots: 2 (2 banks of 1)
* Standard Memory: 128, 256, or 512MB removable
*

Q: Will my system recognize the maximum upgrade?

A: Possibly

How much memory your Windows OS will recognize depends on which version of Windows you are running. 32-bit versions of Windows will see (and utilize) only 3GB or 3.5GB. To utilize more memory, install a 64-bit version of your OS. More information about OS memory maximums can be found at http://www.crucial.com/kb/answer.aspx?qid=4251.

Q: What memory goes into my computer, and will a faster speed be backward-compatible?

A: DDR memory with support for DDR PC2700,DDR PC3200 speeds.

Because DDR memory is backward-compatible, you can safely upgrade your system with any of the guaranteed-compatible DDR speeds listed below, even if your manual calls for PC1600 or PC2100 speeds.

Q: How much memory can my computer handle?

A: 1024MB.

Adding the maximum amount of memory will improve performance and help extend the useful life of your system as you run increasingly demanding software applications in the future.

Q: Do I have to install matching pairs?

A: No.

No, you can install modules one at a time, and you can mix different densities of modules in your computer. But if your computer supports dual-channel memory configurations, you should install in identical pairs (preferably in kits) for optimal performance.

Q: Does my computer support dual-channel memory?

A: No.

Your system does not support dual channel.

Q: Does my computer support ECC memory?

A: No.

Your system does not support ECC. Because ECC and non-ECC modules should not be mixed within a system, install the same type of modules that are already in your system.

Number of Slots:
Slot 1
Slot 2

Each memory slot can hold DDR PC2700,DDR PC3200 with a maximum of 512MB per slot.*

Kingston ValueRAM 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)
they have the matched pairs for $30.99

here is the search link

Here is a link that might be useful: DDR PC3200

Here is a link that may be useful in the future.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dell site 4500

that link zep provided has the adding parts section that shows exactly the process for that pc. Unfortunately it does not show actual photos but drawings instead but still a good guide for you.

The HP site for my HP shows the actual pictures which really gives a good view of just where the slots are and how to get to them.
this is just an example of one of the HP instructions for RAM the pictures may help you.
Upgrading Memory

If the computer is running slow with 768MB of RAM and you don't have much software installed, it's unlikely that increasing the RAM to 1GB will do much, if anything. The kind of slow Internet performance you're describing usually means that you have accumulated some spyware, bloatware, Trojans, and/or other crap. In addition, you need to defragment your hard drive once in a while. Lastly, you may have a lot of programs loading at startup and running in the background that aren't necessary, and it's possible to prevent this if you know how to use the "msconfig" command.

I'd be interested to know how often you update your antivirus and anti-spamware software. How often do you run scans? How often do you clear the cache in your browser? How often do you defragment the hard drive?

You should consider having someone who knows computers come in and clean it up. Since the computer guy you had in didn't suggest that, it might be best to find someone else to do it. FYI I have a 7-year old Dell with only 512MB and it runs quite fast, which I attribute to doing regular scans and a little maintenance.

2 things you could get rid of that would likely make a huge difference on it are the AOL and the McAfee. Both are very much bloatware.

I just got rid of my McAfee which I got free with verizon, I was amazed at how many problems I had been having that immediately went away once McAfee was wiped clean off the pc, had no idea it was McAfee causing it.
I put Avast on it and cleaned out a bunch of programs I no longer use.
Now I have and run on it the Avast, superantispyware, malwarebytes, spywareblaster, zone alarm pro.
Did a disc clean and ran defrag. Cleared out the startup menu of non essential start up items too. I would recommend those things for good pc maintenance.

this article by miekie is always a good read.
Help! My computer is slow!
Startup lite is by Rubber ducky that created malwarebytes.

Lots of good advice here...I would really not even consider bumping your memory from 768MB RAM to its max of 1GB...especially for what the machine is currently used for. I would be very surprised if you gain a noticeable improvement.

If the reason is to improve speed I would be looking in the areas other have mentioned, but very likely the machine is bogged down with the pieces of spy ware that gets placed by many web sites.

My favorite FREE cleaner is Lavasoft's Ad-Aware 2008....it has worked wonders many times and is very uninstructive (runs only when you want) unlike so many of the active virus scan programs we see these days.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ad-Aware

I quite using Norton AntiVirus and changed to AVG 8.0 Now
my computer loads much faster.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5
If you should ever change to AVG make sure you download the
Free version if that's what you want.
Get Ad-Aware as mention above and also add CCleaner.
Ad-Aware - It's Free - http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/
CCleaner also Free - http://www.ccleaner.com/download/

Start - Control Panel - Internet Options open -
Delete cookies, Delete files (select all off-line content) - Click OK to Exit.

For Windows XP run Error Checking.
1. Error Checking- This takes about 35 minutes on my PC.
Start - my computer - right click local disk - properties - Tools Tab -
Error checking section - Check now - check mark both boxes - Start -
This requires a restart to begin.
Sections 4 and 5 take the longest.
cg

If I am not mistaken I think Lynn has and uses superantispyware which should be doing a really good job if updated and run regularly.

I used add remove first for McAfee then used their removal tool following their directions then also following the directions from one of the admin of the McAfee forums I cleaned out any left over folders and files to make sure it was all gone. I did have to go into Run msconfig to the startup tab and uncheck everything McAfee related so that it did not start up on boot then I rebooted, went to task manager and ended task for anything left of McAfee (all done disconnected from internet) Made sure the icon in the systray showed it all turned off. then I was able to remove it from add remove, removing Security center LAST. It went very well. It would not work till I disabled startup.
If you decide to remove it just hollar I will give you all the links I followed.

What wonderful advice. I realize I need to clarify things. Raven - you are correct that I use superantispyware (also ccleaner). BUT - that was my daughter's previous computer. I had the computer guy here to do several things - including trying to speed up her old computer (a dimension 4500s). Interestingly, he ran his own version of malwarebytes (which he tried to sort of hide from me - making an allusion to this coming from the same folks that create the bad stuff). He installed it from his thumb drive - ran it- it found over 100 bad things that superantispyware had not. Then he removed it from her comoputer.

I made additional copies of my older documents and turbotax data files from that computer. But it was still slow. I had this Dell dimension 4500 sitting around (I had bought it with my ultrasharp monitor used - it came together for only $200 - with wireless keyboard and mouse and moderate quality speakers). The previous owner wiped it clean and reinstalled XP home from 2002 - and just enough to get it up and running. Turns out that this dimension 4500 was much faster than my daughter's 4500s - so we decided to switch to that one. It has 768MB RAM. I don't know that it will be slow - so upgrading RAM may not be important.

Unfortunately, the computer guy put McAfee back on it (comes free with AOL - and I do want her on AOL for parental controls and her email). So both those culprits are on her new 4500. I do think it's running quickly enough. But we're having a problem - and if we can't resolve it we will be back to her former 4500s.....

We were able to download and install SP1 and SP2. But when I try to download the additional 81 software updates (not sp3) - it downloads them but it won't install. I've tried several times (I've rebooted my computer several times - and doublechecked from microsoft update site as well as Belarc - and these updates aren't on the computer). My computer guy says it might have been a corrupt XP disc - or corrupt SP2 download. He'll check with microsoft. But he's talking about another 1-3 hours - $140-$300 to redo it all. I'm sorry I started down this path. I could have just bought her a cheap $300-400 desktop. If those updates don't install - should I try anything myself to get them installed. I don't want to spend more money on the computer guy - at a cost that exceeds the value of the computer.

The good things about this 4500 are there's very little bloatware (except for AOL and McAfee - since the hard drive was wiped clean). And it has a decent soundcard and 256MB video card (which is much preferable for her webkinz playing than her previous 64bit videocard).

Are there simple things I can do to get those microsoft downloads installed? Or should I give up on this computer - and get her a new cheap one.

Thanks.
Lynn.

PS - it has a 32 bit operating system.

PPS - interesting possibility. I checked some tech forums and cnet forums and found some folks who say this computer can be upgraded to 2GB. That each dock can take a 1GB chip - and that the reason the Dell documents don't indicate that is because the Dell documents were written in 2002 - before there were 1GB chips - and that Dell has not rewritten its documents for a 7 year old PC. A few people seemed to have increased performance and no adverse effects. Nobody reported adverse effects, but most were reluctant to try going above specs. I ran Belarc - which tells me I have 2 slots - currently with 256 and 512 MB chips - but Belarc doesn't say how large a chip it can take.

PPS - if I get the security updates installed and keep this computer - and if it's slow, I may try removing McAfee and installing AVAST instead.. Raven - I'll check back with you for links if I get that far. Thanks.

How about going to the Dell site? There are forums about all their computers. Type in the model# and see what comes up. Also they have a free chat support. Maybe you could post those questions.

I wouldn't give up just for the MS updates. Sounds like you could have a nice running machine for your daughter.

Jane

that is a known issue when you reload xp then put on sp1 and sp2 you can not do that. you must put on xp reboot the pc, put on sp1 reboot the pc a few times, put on sp2 reboot a few times then you should be able to get your other updates. I have a post here somewhere on a thread with directions for thatI think it was on one of the many sp3 threads as a caution for those wanting to wipe clean then put all 3 on immediately. so remove sp2 first and leave sp1 reboot a few times and put sp2 on and see if maybe that works if not you will have to take both sp1 and sp2 off and start from there and reboot as I said after each.

Listen Lynn that tech that did your work should NOT charge you for this if he knows anything he should well have known that you can not install them that way it has been a known issue since sp2 and again showed up with sp3. The fact he was trying to hide malwarebytes and said that makes me leery.

As to the amount of Ram the pc will take I have no clue other than what dell and belarc have to say. I guess you could try doing an online chat with dell and ask not sure they would tell you anything other than what their specs sheet says.

Checking out the Dell forums is a good idea - I'm not sure that Dell support itself would say anything different than the docs (I think I recall someone on another tech forum mentioning that he did contact Dell - and they pretty much recited the spec sheet).

Raven - thanks again. I think the news on this computer guy is not as dire as I indicated - but not all great either. I think he's fairly knowledgeable. He has a reputation in my area for being one of the few good guys - knowledgeable and ethical. But I also think he doesn't want to give away the farm - so he's not likely to convey free things (like malwarebytes). It's also possible he had something slightly different - or what I suspect is a more potent version that he didn't want to give away - and he wants to stay needed. (He has offered various short free phone time over the last few years - and I think he's basically decent- but a bit grumpy.) He did reboot after loading sp1 (not sure how many times - but it's definitely installed and showing up in my program list). Then he started the download of sp2 - but it was taking a long time - and rather than sit in my house and charge me for the time, he suggested that when it was finished downloading, I should reboot - then go the microsoft updates site and check for more recent updates and download them (he even told me to avoid sp3 - which I knew from here, but good that he would know too). He did not say to reboot several times after sp2. And perhaps he only rebooted once after sp1.

You have me convinced that I should try to remedy this myself and not use him. - He did mention that one complication of removing XP and starting again (I think he meant if the original XP home version from 2002 was corrupt), that I would also have to reinstall the drivers. When he was here I did not know I had gotten the driver disk from the guy who sold this to me. So he went online and found all the drivers and downloaded them (that also took some of the time). Since he was here, I found all the original disks - including the original XP 2002 disk that came with the computer - and the drivers.

And one more piece of information. When I go to add/remove programs, I see windows installer 3.1 and SP2 listed in the programs - but if I click on it for more information, it does not list that it is taking up any space. All the other programs list the amount (MB's) of space it takes up on my hard drive - those 2 programs don't list anything - it doesn't say zero - it has no number. Does that mean that somehow they haven't installed - or perhaps those are corrupt. SP1 does show up with the size of the program listed. I gather this means that the download of SP1 was successful. This is the part the computer guy was here to check - and maybe he saw all was well with SP1 - and began the download of SP2 - that's when he left and the rest did not work.

So let me check if I'm clear on the steps here:

1- leave SP1 as it is?
2- remove sp2
3- should I remove windows installer 3.1?

If I remove windows installer 3.1 - what should I do next.

Reinstall windows installer 3.1 first - or sp2? Should I leave the original XP as it is? Is it safe to assume that disk was fine since SP1 seems to have installed successfully?

If I remove sp2 (and windows installer 3.1), should I also look for those downloaded but uninstalled more recent updates (82 high priority ones)?

If you could spell out the steps, I'd really appreciate it. Is it sufficient to do add/remove programs for these or will I also have to look elsewhere to remove stuff?

Thank you.
Lynn.

well if he did reboot between each one then that may not be what is causing the problem.
that is normal for sp2 and windows installer to show nothing over there in add remove programs mine is the same way so don't let that worry you.

It sounds like your updated windows auto update tool did not get installed. There was a change in that between original windows and sp2. It may be that the specific windows update for the updater could be applied. when you go to windows update page ( not using the little shield in the taskbar) and have it scan your pc, then choose custom, does it do all that ok?

I am glad to hear the guy did better than it originally sounded.

Ok lynn I think this is the MS KB article dealing with that issue, I had to go searching my data base for it. I think we can do a real simple edit to fix this
Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you perform a new Windows XP installation or you repair a Windows XP installation

Try doing it this way first which is basically what I told you earlier about going to the actual update site. follow this.
How to automatically obtain the latest Windows Update Agent

if that does not work this is the other thing to do.
Start -> Run -> regsvr32 wups2.dll [Enter/OK]
copy and paste that command into the run box then hit the enter ok button.
Or follow method 1 listed in that MS bulletin I just gave you. That should fix you right up.
This is the issue which crops up when reloading xp or the service packs it usually happens when installing them with out booting between each.

Just got home from a late Board meeting. Raven - I'll work on your suggestions tomorrow.

I was going to the Microsoft update site itself (and not just going through the yellow shield on the task bar). I hit "custom" and it brought up sp3. Then I asked for other updates, and it brought up 82 (plus a few optional ones - maybe another 12 or so). When I click on the individual ones for more information, it said that it was already downloaded (and stated that the update took 0 KB space and would take 0 minutes to download). Some times this is all it would say - and when I hit install, it didn't. Other times it said that if I hit update now (or install now) it would install them. Then it slowly goes through one at a time to "install" - and after each update is "installed" it would say "done" and then move on to the next one. After a while (somewhere between 15-30 minutes, I think), it would be "done" installing all. I'd reboot - but the updates were not installed. If I go back to the Microsoft update site and check for updates again, it reports the same updates are missing. If I hit show update history, it shows that a grouping of about 5-7 updates failed to install. It doesn't list all 82, so I'm assuming these few groupings may include several individual updates each. If I run Belarc, it says I'm missing 69 security updates. If I use the links on Belarc to get these updates, it takes me to the Microsoft update site again - and the same thing happens.

I've probably done this cycle half a dozen times or more. So tomorrow morning (maybe afternoon), I'll resume my efforts.

If anything I've described above gives you other ideas, please let me know. Otherwise I'll check back tomorrow.

thanks.
Lynn.

Lynn in my post above I gave the directions on how to go to start > run and enter a command to re-register your update tool please do that now. then reboot the pc and you should have the new update tool.
copy and paste that command there is a space after 32 so if you just copy it from here you will have it in the correct format.
regsvr32 wups2.dll

Hi, Raven. I did the re-registering my update tool - but it didn't work. I rebooted - then went back to microsoft updates and saw that I was still missing 32 updates - which were downloaded but not installed. I hit "install" - and it seemed to do that - for about 10 minutes - and then reported that all the updates failed.

Should I try method 1 from your link above?

Also, I think I noticed that somehow sp3 snuck in there. I kept choosing custom install - and would uncheck sp3, but it may have gotten in there. the update site checks my computer and says it's downloaded but not installed. I think I need to get it off my computer before I proceed and install the other updates. Am I right? If I successfully get the update tool working, it will also install sp3 - which I don't want.

I'm not sure where to find this downloaded but uninstalled sp3 and remove it. Can you guide me?

Thanks.
Lynn.

go ahead and do method one see if that makes any difference. It is sounding like there may be some other problem.
You can do a search on your pc for sp3 go to start> search all files and folders sp3. Does it show up in add remove?

It is likely in a temp folder somewhere waiting. Clean out all your temp folders, use disc cleaner or if you have ccleaner try it to clear out all temp folders.
or you can use ATF
ATF-Cleaner

Lynn lets try re-doing a few more just like the other one you did do all of these.

On your computer, click START, click RUN, type cmd. and then click ok
Type the following commands and press enter after EACH command (there is a
space right after the 32 in each command)

regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll

The first step I did was search files for sp3. There are 82 files with sp3 in them. I'm not sure which are service pack 3. Some ore gpd files, application extensions, setup information, security catalogue, psm file, dictionary file, and file folders. The dates are confusing. many of them were from 9/19 - last Friday when we downloaded newer updates for the original XP 2002. And they're all from 6:30pm - which is what I did after the computer guy left. There are about 15 of those. Some may be sp3 for office and not xp.

Which - if any- should I delete.

Should I do ccleaner - or clear temp files first - then check again.

I don't want to do the steps above before I'm rid of sp3.

Thanks.
Lynn.

I have no idea what the files would be there is indeed an sp3 for office also so may be part of that which you are seeing.
Are you sure windows sp3 got on there? did you uncheck it each time you told it to do the updates?
When you go to the windows update site and check your update history does it show xp sp3 listed as being installed to your pc?

I had the same problem after I used a Windows start-up disc. When I ran Belarc it said I had 80 updates that were not installed, mostly critical. I went through what you are describing, even trying to work with MS via email, That did not go well. This is what I did to fix it. Maybe it will work for you. I got this from the help desk at a computer mag that I subscribe to.

Try this: Visit: http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix#Mirrors.2Fdownload_locations.2C_and_articles and download the dial-a-fix tool to your desktop -> double click the folder -> open dial-a-fix.exe -> click Flush SoftwareDistribution -> click no on the message that appears -> wait for it to say ready in the status bar -> put a check next to "Fix windows update" -> click go -> wait for it to say ready -> now try the updates.

It worked like a charm for me. It looks like Greek to me now.
HTH
Janette

I checked for sp3 by searching update history and didn't find it. I did clear temp files - from atf cleaner and again from ccleaner. Then I went back to Microsoft update site and checked for updates - it told me I had sp3 downloaded but not installed. The number is KB 936929 - so how do I find it and get rid of it since clearing temp files didn't remove it.

Then I went through all the run regsvr32 steps Raven suggested. But I don't want to update and install other updates until I get sp3 removed. aFter I remove it, I will try updating again from from Microsoft update site. Then if that doesn't work, I'll try Janette's steps. Thanks Janette - I feel very fortunate that you even found this topic since this thread has drifted from it's original topic. (For those experienced forum members, should I at some point have started a new thread for this switch from upgrading memory to failed updates?)

Thanks.
Lynn

this may be the artilce about dial a fix.
Broken Windows Fixed Quick with Dial-a-Fix

dial a fix is a neat little tool and is used on the support forums, it is generally preferred that it be used with the guidance of support forum teams or from djlizards lunarsoft forum.
It does basically what we have been doing by typing in the commands in command line but it does all the typing for you which is good because it is easy to type wrong of course.
You can definitely try it just for this application.
If you want to check out their forum here is the link
Lunarsoft
and a link to his wiki about dial-a-fix
Dial-a-fix

Lynn you could try going ahead to windows update and running it again it might give you the option to uncheck sp3 (to not install) if it does not and looks like it is going to install it you can always just hit cancel.
OR another option is to go now and get that sp3 blocker tool I posted the link for in the sp3 thread and install that on your pc so that if it does try to install it that tool should block it.

Finally - success. I had to use the Dial-A-Fix and it worked beautifully.

Raven - I had tried the multiple regsvr entries but that didn't work. I did use the sp3 blocker. Then did the dial-a-fix - went to the microsoft update site and it listed that I did not have sp3 or the 81 updates. I passed on sp3 and just downloaded and installed the 81 updates. It was successful. Both the update site and belarc indicated that I'm up-to-date (except for sp3).

Thanks so much everyone.

Lynn.

excellent job Lynn! your persistence paid off! It is just such a pain that we have to go through this kind of ordeal however for something like this.

Lynn, Glad you finally got it fixed. I had spent days emailing back & forth with Microsoft with no success. He kept giving me stuff to do that didn't work, then when I said it didn't work, it was just as if he didn't hear me. I talked to this other tech and in 5 minutes he had emailed me the above info, and shortly thereafter, all the updates were installed. Makes you wonder about the other guys, doesn't it?