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What do you do when your computer needs more RAM installed but it won't be covered under extended warranty?

In late 2007, I bought a lap top using Vista, with 1 GB (2 x 512 MB RAM sticks installed) of DDR 2 667MHZ. I only really use the lap top for general internet use, and word processing/printing. Even though Vista uses (takes up) at least 512 MB of RAM, I have been told that despite non intensive use of my lap top (graphics, games, downloading video/s and audio) that computers using Vista, needs at least 2 GB of RAM to operate and run smoothly/well/optimumly. The Manufactuers Warranty (Hewlett Packard) that went for 1 year, expired in late December 2008, and it is now under a 1 year extended warranty done by Clive Peeters and Lumley (An Insurance Company) I have been told that if I add (install) any other RAM (different to the original supplied by the manufacturer, that I will not be covered if (say new RAM I buy, causes something bad to happen to the computer) Is there any way I can get around this? I don't know that you can find or buy approved Hewlett Packard RAM from anywhere/Australian retailers, and even if you could, it would be much more expensive such as $ 119 AUD for 1 GB of RAM, rather than buying any other/alternative/cheaper brand of RAM from anywhere. If I install the new/additional RAM myself, that would void the extended warranty too would't it? Even if something did go wrong with the computer with new/changed RAM in it, and turned off/unplugged the lap-top and replaced the New RAM with the original RAM supplied by HP, the company/companies who I bought the extended warranty from, would still somehow tell that a technical problem wouldn't be caused the originally supplied RAM (by HP) would they? What cheaper sticks of RAM are good and reputable for HP lap tops/notebooks, and which brands of RAM which I steer clear of? I heard Zeppelin is a bad brand. I can't afford to spend $119 AUD (or anywhere that sum/amount of money) on RAM

Public Comments

1. Go to www.crucial.com Run a scan on your pc and it will tell you every thing you need to know.
2. If sometning goes wrong and you go for warranty coverage just remove the ram and send it to them with the original ram installed.
3. Wikipedia search windows 7. It is the upcoming windows, predecessor to vista. I use it now, but it does not come out for a few months. it is easy to find the beta (what i use). This is relevant because windows 7 uses half the ram of vista.
4. The extended warranty says that you won't be covered if new RAM you buy causes dammage to the computer, I can't think of any way that this could be the case, so the new RAM shouldn't be a problem, as for manufactures, I've had a good experience with crucial http://crucial.com - they wouldn't know that the problem was caused by the RAM if you replace it.
5. If you want to retain the current warranty, you will have to get ram from them. Unless they will sign off on your choice of preferred ram. Contact them and see if there is this option and get it in writing before you choose that route.
6. Buy DELL !!!
7. I'm going to go with Upgrade and deceive if need be. Get yourself some RAM, slap it in, and if it goes plui, take the RAM back out, stick you pinkey in your mouth and give 'em your best "I dunno.. It just stopped" It would take a forensics person to know you replaced your RAM unless there are those idiot VOID stickers all over.