I just upgraded my netbook from 1 GB RAM to 2, and since I’m not the only one with an asus netbook in the lab, I figured it was worth writing up. Also, this should help alleviate any lingering skepticism about just how easy this is to do (I’m lookin at you, Josh)

Step One:

Backing up your stuff… This is the boring part, but it’s also very worthwhile and important any time you’re pulling out the ol’ screwdriver.

Step Two:

Clean environment. Nobody likes spilling drinks on their motherboard, and crumbs can be very crummy.

Step Three:

Flip that laptop over, it’s time to pull off the battery. There are two latches, and they must be done in the correct order. Right one, then left one, with the bottom of the laptop facing up. Pull the battery off, and try not to forget where you put it. We’ll want it again later.

Step Four:

 

Screwdriver O’ Clock. Be gentle. The two screws you’re gunning for should be rather obvious, but once they’re both unscrewed, getting the back cover off is a little tricky. The last thing you want to do is force it and break a little plastic peg or something. Once the screws were out,  my back cover was easy to tilt and slide off. Again, be gentle. Congratulations, you’ve passed the hardest part. Screwdrivers are tricky.

Step Five:

The memory is latched in below the harddrive, but both are visible once the cover is on. The two latches on both sides of the memory are the only thing preventing the stick from popping upwards, so once you pull those latches apart, the memory will be visibly ready to be removed. Pull straight out, we don’t want to muck up our slot in the process.

Step Six:

Your new memory stick will need to be ready to go in now, so get it out of the packaging without any static shock incidences. It will slide in at the same angle as the old stick came out, and will latch in the same way as well. This is another step where you really don’t want to force it, and it’s important to follow the intended angles while inserting/removing memory. No broken slots. Also, be sure you don’t have the memory stick upside down while putting it in. There is a dividing line in the memory that can help be your guide to make sure it isn’t flipped over by mistake.

Step Seven:

Start working backwards. That means sliding the back cover back into place, again being kind to the little plastic pegs, putting those two little screws back in (hopefully you haven’t lost them at this point), and putting your battery back on.

Step Eight:

Hit that power button, cross those fingers, and know that if anything has gone wrong, I absolve myself of any and all responsibility.