Laptop memory

[Platypus]

Except when I went to install windows it got 57% through and shut itself down

That sounds like the RAM is still bad. I know from past painful experience that bad RAM = Windows won't install.

Seriously: try some Crucial memory. If that doesn't work, you have a more serious problem (i.e. motherboard)

[suityou01]

Thanks for all your responses.

I have ruled out dirty contacts.
I have ruled out cosmic rays.
I have ruled out sunspots.

I have discovered that when replacing RAM in a laptop, one should :

First remove the battery.
Second depress the power button for 10 seconds (this resets the CMOS)
Install memory.
Replace battery.

Off and running.

Windows installed, but the HDD keeps reporting itself as varying sizes so maybe the SATA controller is naffed. I note it had been overheating so I dismantled it and "hoovered" it out. This stopped the overheating and allowed Windows to be installed, but during the installation process it wants to reboot and then it won't come back up. I let it cool and then booted and it said missing operating system, when I actually expected it to move to phase 2 of the windows install.

Any machine that misbehaves when it warms up must have had some heat damage IMVHO.

Conclusion, I bought a rucker.

Frakin ebay.