I have a dead computer about to go into the closet until I find a need for a large paperweight.  Since the problem was a bad main board and processor, I am sure the hard drive and memory sticks are OK.  Before I assign this metal box to it resting place I thought I might remove the memory and install it in another computer.  The question is How do Ido that.  I know the physical process, I think, but once done is there something I will need to do to adjust the start up process?  I am guessing that Windows will find the added memory, but what about the initial computer startup?  As a general rule I don't open the box, but thought I might make an exception in this case.  An suggestions will be appreciated.

   Just take them out of the old computer and put them in the other computer.  That is all.  Your computer will do the rest.
   They have to be the same type (but they should not fit if they are not the same type).  Be sure not to touch the leads without being grounded because static can ruin them.  If the computer does not startup correctly with them in there, they probably are bad.  In that case, just take them back out.
   One of our issues of Ray's Computer Tips describes that - http://superwin.com/RaysComputerTips/Issue4.htm

The memory must operate at the frequency of the front side bus [FSB] of the new computer or higher.
Older computers, prior to about 1998 or earlier, operated at 66 MHz or lower.
Now, typical FSB frequencies are 400 MHz or higher. Obviously, old memory would be useless in one of these computers.
So you need to determine what frequency your old memory operates at and put it in a computer with the same or lower FSB speed.

I hope no-one will mind if I add my two-penn'orth here. People often say you should earth yourself when doing things inside a PC, such as adding or removing memory. This is basically true, but it's important to realise that the actual requirement here is to be sure that you (your body) is at the same electrical potential as the equipment you are working on. As we all readily build up large amounts of static electricity just by walking around, especially on carpets (I often draw a spark between my finger and a metal door-knob or a retaining screw for a light switch), this has to be discharged and kept that way throughout the operation. Thus it's no good at all just to touch a radiator, as some suggest. For starters, it's probably painted, and paint is usually an insulator; and in any case you can't be sure the radiator is earthed. Here's what I do: I stripped about 6 inches of the insulation from the end of a flexible wire; I attached the other end to the earth pin of a mains plug (without the other wires that carry live and neutral), and wrapped the long bare end around my wrist. With the PC plugged in to the mains (but switched off, of course), I am now sure that my equipment is safe. (You can also buy an earthing band from a shop, but why spend money when you can do it yourself?)

Dear alanturk

WARNING

I am extremely unhappy with your suggestion of earthing the wrist on a live AC outlet.
IF someone follows your suggestion and plugs into the hot pin, his or her memory could be lost forever! Even for careful people the wall outlet could be wrongly wired, according to accident statistics this has happened before!

NEVER ground yourself at a hot wall outlet, just NEVER !

I can imagine what you actually meant to say: Ground yourself at the chassis of the PC in question. So you will not introduce a differential voltage between your hand and the memory you are going to touch. This could well be done by using a mains cable connected to the PC, not to the wall outlet.
(Now... I look at my desktop and realize, that it carries a outlet plug too. Oh my... someone could plug the writsband into that and fall dead, also not a good idea)

So again, ground yoursefl to the chassis, find a individual way to do that, and make sure beforehand that the PC is disconnected from the mains: By unpluging the mains-cable on both ends.

It is wise to try not to touch components and lines on the circuit board at all times.
Good luck, should be no problem!

Thanks hpoehrli for your concern. I hear what you are saying loud and clear. Having worked in various electrical companies for many years I have become very cautious about how I connect things, and I'm sure I would never fall foul of the problems you mention. However, I should have taken into account that many others do not have my background and could be unaware of the potential danger, so I fully accept your reprimand!

   Yes, always unplug the computer before working on it.
   To ground yourself, just make sure that you are touching the metal frame of the computer with one hand at all times.  If you have a wrist band that connects to the frame or you make one, that makes it easier and gives you use of both hands.