Will installing additional memory help with startup problem?
mid-2010 iMac 27" desktop; unable to access specs due to startup trouble; i5 2 cores; "used memory" very close to full capacity; have appropriate memory cards to add (currently 4 GB [2-2GB] --> will add Crucial 8 GB kit [2-4GB] = 12 GB total [16 GB is the maximum per Apple]); current operating system is Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.8
Unable to startup computer, as it shuts itself down when progress bar initiates and reaches about 1/4 of an inch
(same result in "safe mode"). Prior startup attempts have been mostly successful, but required restart after using the computer for awhile due to freezes, slow response time, and/or spinning beach ball icon. Unable to use "Finder" became a problem most recently when startup successfully progressed to display desktop files.
I have delayed adding new memory chips because I do not have a current backup due to a problem with external back-up drive. Am I foolish to believe that adding memory might fix the problem? Please advise - any suggestions or comments will be much appreciated. Thank you!
iPod touch, Mac OS X (10.6.8)