Hi,

My computer needs more memory since it came with just 256MB installed.  The guy at Radio Shack tells me they don't make 256 sticks, and I have to go to 512....but I have to uninstall the 256, or my computer will have all kinds of problems...up to and including the motherboard going out.  He doesn't have any memory sticks on hand.

The guy at Office Depot said I can just install the 512, and not remove the 256.  He looked up my make/model on his computer, and has the correct 512 for it.

My dilema is which one to believe since I don't know either guy.  So I came here for the expert advice from people I trust to know what they are doing.

Thanks guys for being here.  Appreciate the help.

Not sure what the Radio Shack guy is talking about, you're lucky he didn't have anything on hand since he obviously knows next to nothing about computers.
The guy at Office Depot is correct, you can install the 512 with the 256.
Only possible downside to doing this is if your motherboard supports dual channel mode [not likely with a 256mb module as original installation] it would not operate in that mode.
Other thing you might check is if the motherboard requires the larger module to be in a particular socket.

Bought the 512, installed it, and the computer runs fine...even is faster.  The only thing I had to do was uninstall the printer, then reinstall it.  Everything seems fine, so can I proceed on the assumption that the motherboard accepts the 512 in the slot next to the 256?  The computer's innards aren't going to burn up/out etc., are they?  That Radio Shack guy really has me worried.

I've run across some really dumb...as far as computers are concerned...people working in places that sell computers, and they are supposed to be the experts.  Sad thing is, people believe and trust them, and they don't know diddly about the job they hired on to do.  Then there ae the Tech Support people...they are scary too.

Ray, I can't tell you how much you are appreciated by those of us who were fortunate to find your web site way back when, and to purchase your products.  I will never forget how much help you gave me when I got my first computer.  Bless you.

   Thank you for your kind words.
   Thanks also go out to dlwolff0 for all of his answers and help in this forum.  He knows about the things that I don't know about.
   To answer your question about your computer accepting the 512, yes, it should work fine.
   I can understand the wrong advice from sales people.  Some time ago, I worked in the oriental rug department of a furniture store and people would ask me all kinds of questions about oriental rugs even though I was just a minimum wage laborer who knew nothing about oriental rugs when I was hired.  Luckily, my boss was an expert and I learned from the answers that he gave.
   The computer store sales people are the same way.  They get a lot of questions, yet they don't go through any training.  So they have to learn from what they hear or make something up.  It is not good for a sales clerk to say that he does not know the answer to your question.  That puts a bad image on the whole store.  I have found some sales clerks to have great answers and others not to.

Your problem reminds me of MY first experience with Radio Shack. 20 years or so ago I bought my first computer from Radio Shack. I hardly knew a computer from a typewriter. The computer had a 256Mb hard drive and the salesman ASSURED me that I would NEVER fill it up. LOL!! Yes, Ray and his staff are the best.