Windows 7: Do I need more ram?

I have a HP Probook 4530s laptop with Intel i5 processor, 4 gb ram, and 500 gb hdd.
It is a decent computer, but lately I have been having issues. I am an amateur photographer, and use Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom 4 often. I need to perform a lot of big tasks while editing pictures, and lately whenever I do this my computer goes to shit. These Adobe programs slow my computer down to unusable speeds, I often need to restart more than once, and lately I can't get anything done. It is only when using these high-memory programs, Photoshop and Lightroom.
Would adding more ram help or not? I am new to updating hardware, so I don't know what to do. But I would much rather fix this computer instead of buying a new one. Speeding up my workflow would help me a ton.
Thanks for any help

4gb should be enough for most things.
Are you even using 64 bit windows with this computer?
As you've listed your operating system as Colorado I'm having a hard time coming to a conclusion on that, and my magic eight ball just keeps saying ask again later...

A SSD would probably be the largest speed boost you could get for the specific applications you are talking about. Improving the amount of memory could provide a minor boost to speed as well. Based on what I've heard from others that use photoshop heavily a solid state drive makes a massive difference with it.

The best way to determine if ram really is your bottleneck would be to wait until it's being slow while one of said apps is running then pop to the performance tab of task manager to see what the memory usage looks like at that moment.

The attached is a example shot of what I'm talking about. Obviously even my backup machine is beefier than the vast majority of laptops, but that little bar there is measuring the memory in use.

Yep, I have 64 bit. I must have thought operating system meant location for some reason.

Adobe recommends a multidisk environment for their PS and PR products, perhaps an external disk plugged in the usb3 header for scratch and temp files?

So what did you find out about your RAM usage per Maguscreed's recommendation to look in Task Manager?

More RAM won't help if all current RAM isn't being used, and we don't know if it is.

With the type of work you are doing, you will benefit greatly from a SSD.

You will also benefit from using the maximum amout of memory that the laptop permits.

Quite often, the various programs that startup, that run, that are scheduled to run are a problem.

Please carry out following:
Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button


UPLOAD, as an attachment, the startup.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

Well usually the memory says about 1.5 gb, when I was running photoshop it was about 2.3? So it might be a different problem other than memory.

Photoshop version OS version Maximum amount of RAM that Photoshop can use CS4, CS5, 32 bit Windows 32 bit 1.7 GB CS4, CS5, 32 bit Windows 64 bit 3.2 GB CS4, CS5, 64 bit* Windows 64 bit As much RAM as you can fit in your computer Optimize performance | Photoshop CS4, CS5, CS6
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Just though this information might help.