Advice needed adding more RAM in XP

[needhelp]

I have a computer that is running XP and recently I tried to run a program that drained all the resources on the comp and told me that 256Mb of RAM was not sufficient to run this particular task that I had tried to do.
I would like to add another 256Mb stick of RAM to improve the performance of the computer but was a bit worried about the activation thing in XP as to when it detects this change in my comuter if it will work okay.
Should I just go ahead and install the RAM or is there a problem doing this.
I have had the computer for close to 12 months and the only other changes made during that time is a new DVD burner and a DVD player. This went without any hitch.
I would have went ahead and done it but recently my friend actuall took out a stick of RAM from his computer and couldn't get the computer to work again.Couldnt even get it to POST just a black screen. Put the RAm back in that he had removed and still no success. He ended up scrapping the computer.Any advice welcome

[ktkendall]

Activation should not be a problem, Actualy that is the one thing I've never had to reactivate XP with is adding or subtracting memory.. The big thing is to try to get a module as close to your existing one as possible. (ie. same brand and specs) That is probably what happened to your friend is he bought another module that was incompatable with the existing module..

[blue60007]

You'll be fine adding memory. Memory I don't think is a factor (or at least not very big) in XP's WPA system. I think you have to at least change the motherboard. That was enough for me to have to reformat and reinstall.

[Statica]

You need to do something like 6 changes to activate. And even then, reactivation either automatically or by phone is not a big deal.

[needhelp]

Thanks guys. went ahead and did it following your advice and it works like a treat, no problems with activation.

[kev7555]

XP will run well with 256 RAM but it runs a lot better on 512 and above. If XP is already activated, adding another RAM card will not effect it. I regularly make changes to hardware in XP systems and have never encountered any activation issues.

This usually happens when installing XP in an entirely different computer (or re-installing on a different drive) and even then, if you explain the circumstances to MS properly they will still usually allow you to activate it again.

-Kev

[ktkendall]

I've had to reactivate XP because of just changing out the vid card on my system..