My Computer issues update

[NicoleScraps]

So I have been having problems with my computer on and off. I kept getting blue screens or just my programs would crash (IE, Chrome, PSE, etc) We thought it was a problem with the RAM, but hubby ran a memtest and that came back fine. Then we thought that it might have been a Vista problem, so he upgraded me to Windows 7. It worked perfect for about a week, then it started crashing again. So he reseated the memory, tried it all again, still crashing. Then he noticed that the memory sticks were mismatched. One is a 1 gig stick and one is a 2 gig stick. I don't know much about computers, but he said that is odd for them to do it that. So he took the 2 gig out and ran the computer with just 1 gig, now it really does work fine. It is slightly slow, but I have not had one program crash and no blue screens. I guess that the 2 gig stick was bad. I don't know. It came back fine on the memtest, but as soon as he took it out and reinstalled everything, it worked fine.
Now what do I do? Should I got get a 1 gig and run it with 2. Or go get two 2 gigs. I really don't want to continue running just 1g. PSE runs pretty slow, alot slower than I am used to. That is my main program that I love to use.
Also, we have read over and over again that Windows 7 has a history of randomly currupting files. The curruption suuposedly happens in the procress of windows turning them into thumbnails for viewing. Has anyone had any problems with this? We had read that they (MS) are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. I am really afraid to put any of my photos or digital scrapbook stuff on that computer until I figure that part out. I have just been putting them on the EHD and only viewing them through PSE not windows. Any thoughts on this? I hate doing it that way because it is so slow to open up anything through the network.

[Photologyst]

You have not mentioned anything about regular optimization. Do you "dust"?

[Quo Fan]

If you think the memory is the problem, then take out the 1 gig stick and put in the 2 gig stick and see what happens. My thinking is that it may be a memory speed mismatch, as opposed to bad memory.

I run Windows XP on most of my computers (except the server) and I have windows 7 on my laptop. I don't do any editing on my laptop, so I can't comment on win7 corrupting images, though it hasn't corrupted anything on my laptop yet (knock on wood).

[RecurrentNerve]

Just as a quick test, have you tried just running the 2gig memory stick? The problem might have been a conflict between the two sticks; there might not be anything inherently wrong with the individual sticks.

If you try the 2 gig and it's fine, simply get another 2gig stick (making sure it's the exact same type) and you're made in the shade.

[NicoleScraps]

No, we have not tried using the 2 gig stick alone. I am scared! This has been going on for weeks and now that it is running, I don't want to jinx it. I guess we should try that.

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

You have not mentioned anything about regular optimization. Do you "dust"?

I don't know what you mean by this.

[gturner]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

I don't know what you mean by this.

I would guess he is asking whether you dust the machine off. Dust in the fan, power unit, motherboard etc etc can cause these issues.

[tinton14]

I haven't had problems with Win7 corrupting my images, I've been running the Window 7 Pro 64bit and it hasn't given me trouble, I've only used PS CS3,CS4,CS5 on it though, not sure if PSE will make a difference. I would suggest trying the 2gig ram and see if that works, definitely get another 2 gig instead of going for two 1gig if you run a 64bit system, if it is a 32bit then not all of the 4gig ram will be used.