Braden, I hope you achieved your memory module goals.
Here's how I removed and reinserted memory modules, for an upgrade, for my mid 2010 iMac.
Of course, follow Apple's instructions for disconnecting power, all cabled connections, and laying iMac on a non-static surface to access the bottom Memory Module slots.
- test your Ohm Meter's operation and cables by shorting the test probes/clips to each other, End to end, from the meter's GROUND/COMMON port to it's OHM test port, the meter should display a ZERO(0) result.
- test your static grounding wrist strap with the Ohm Meter. End to end from strap to alligator clip, your Ohm Meter should register a High Resistance. Mine measured almost 1M Ohm.
- attach 'static grounding wrist strap' to your wrist
- attach 'static grounding wrist strap alligator clip' to the, now unplugged, ground peg of your iMac's 3-peg power plug port. This safely sends transient, and undetectable to you, static discharge to that ground peg. Leave the
'static grounding wrist strap' attached to your wrist and the iMac's ground peg throughout all invasive work on your iMac's interior. Only, disconnect the wrist strap's alligator clip after you've reinstalled the Memory Slot cover. It helps to have all your tools and work materials easily within reach before starting this job.
I had the same problem you experienced; the Memory Module Tabs slipped from my fingers when exerting all the force I could grip. The below method, safely, worked for me:
- Observe your current Memory Module position in it's slot; you'll need to know that position to recognize when your new module is properly seated.
- wrap the barrel of a small gauge 'non static' spudger, or another 'non static' small gauge barreled driver around the Module Ejection Strap; be sure to wrap the strap onto itself. Grasp the spudger/driver at each edge of the Module Ejection Strap to keep the strap from slipping. Now you may pull with greater, steady, force while gently shifting that pulling force from end to end of the strap. In other words, I slightly wiggled the module until it ejected.
- grasp each new memory module, only, by the back edge which you'll use to press the module into it's slot. As you might expect, the force required to seat the new module will be much the same as ejecting the last module. It took steady thumb pressure to seat my new modules which did not click on insertion. Instead, I felt each module seat when I could push no further and I could see the new module was in the same position the previous module occupied before removal.
Yes, there are other ways to isolate static discharge. I recommend the 'tested' wrist strap method because each of the proper tools to do this job are available for purchase online.
