New RAM=OS Reinstallation?

[osprey4]

The computer is a Dell Inspiron 8000 with a long history of problems, pretty much from day 1. Dell decided to send replacement RAM, then told her she needed to reinstall the OS (ME).

Under what circumstances would replacing the RAM require reinstallation of the operating system?

This has been frustrating to me since the owner is fairly computer illiterate. For example, I cannot determine if Dell told her to format, then reinstall, or to reinstall over the old copy, which would make no sense.

[jrock]

They are not related. But possibly BOTH are corrupted. I could see that. I don't think Dell would tell you to reinstall your OS unless necessary - that is generally a final option for them....from my experience. Data corruption could have been caused by the bad ram - and could have affected the health of the OS in question...

[dunbar]

If this was my own PC and I had installed an OS and the PC developed problems from day one and then I concluded the RAM was toast since day one, I'd want to reinstall the OS, the assumption being the RAM might have generated an error during OS install, as the data was being buffered.