XP ate my laptop!
- Thread starter milltech
- Start date
BrendanS
Well-known member
John,
upgrading memory is quite cheap these days, so probably worth the effort. As others have said, eBay probably not the best source.
Not particularly difficult to do if you are handy with a screw driver etc (if you have any concerns, just holler, you are only a few minutes drive away). The key thing is to understand how many slots you have available, and what you are replacing - what exact model laptop do you have, and what RAM is in there at the moment?
upgrading memory is quite cheap these days, so probably worth the effort. As others have said, eBay probably not the best source.
Not particularly difficult to do if you are handy with a screw driver etc (if you have any concerns, just holler, you are only a few minutes drive away). The key thing is to understand how many slots you have available, and what you are replacing - what exact model laptop do you have, and what RAM is in there at the moment?
milltech
Active member
[ QUOTE ]
what exact model laptop do you have, and what RAM is in there at the moment?
[/ QUOTE ]
Compaq Armada E500, Intel P3, 646mhz, 128MB RAM, just to add the full nine yards - S/N AE5 P3650T4X12VC6458
what exact model laptop do you have, and what RAM is in there at the moment?
[/ QUOTE ]
Compaq Armada E500, Intel P3, 646mhz, 128MB RAM, just to add the full nine yards - S/N AE5 P3650T4X12VC6458
BrendanS
Well-known member
OK, it's expandable to 512Mb and has two memory slots, so no probs there. What none of the sites say is whether your 128Mb current RAM is in one slot or split over the 2. With any luck, it's on one slot, so if you buy a 256Mb upgrade, it will add to the 128 current, rather than having to remove a 64Mb (if that makes sense)
HeadMistress
New member
Re only one USB port: that problem can be solved by adding a USB hub. Although some device mfrs warn against using their device with a hub, that can also be solved with a powered hub--one that must also be connected to an electrical outlet. I paid $28 USD for a powered 4-port hub for my desktop (which has 2, but on the back of the tower, which makes 'em a major PITA to use for anything that doesn't remain permanently connected) and have had no problems using any devices with it.
Re adding memory to a laptop: are you sure that you can add enough? My old Toshiba, which came with only 32, can only accept an additional 64, or a 128 replacement...no more. And only the memory made for it will fit, so buying additional "generic" memory for it wouldn't work. The same is also true of most older laptops--IF they can be upgraded at all.
(What a nice break to discuss something other than boat toilets for a change!)
Re adding memory to a laptop: are you sure that you can add enough? My old Toshiba, which came with only 32, can only accept an additional 64, or a 128 replacement...no more. And only the memory made for it will fit, so buying additional "generic" memory for it wouldn't work. The same is also true of most older laptops--IF they can be upgraded at all.
(What a nice break to discuss something other than boat toilets for a change!)
BrendanS
Well-known member
see my last post. John's laptop is upgradeable to 512Mb, and there are plenty of suppliers for this particular upgrade
HeadMistress
New member
Oops...missed that, Brendan...sorry!
Btw...question re adding hard drive space.... There are flash drive USB "sticks" now that hold more than a GIG. I haven't tried moving entire programs to mine--it's only 512, not big enough--but I wonder...would one or two that do hold at least a GIG be a better, less expensive (or maybe not) solution to increasing storage capacity than a new larger HD...would that even work at all? Or would there be configuration issues if you tried to use a stick for anything but data files?
Btw...question re adding hard drive space.... There are flash drive USB "sticks" now that hold more than a GIG. I haven't tried moving entire programs to mine--it's only 512, not big enough--but I wonder...would one or two that do hold at least a GIG be a better, less expensive (or maybe not) solution to increasing storage capacity than a new larger HD...would that even work at all? Or would there be configuration issues if you tried to use a stick for anything but data files?
BrendanS
Well-known member
The flash sticks are pretty good, and will act just like a normal drive (if you look in 'my computer' or whatever similar on your OS, they will show just like a hard drive) so you can use them as backup etc.
However, and here is a big but, they are susceptible to being erased or corrupted quite easily. Only ever pull one out of USB socket after using 'safely remove hardware' utility that is part of your OS. There are numerous accounts of data being lost when the stick is pulled out of socket. Crewgirl can testify to this
They are great bits of kit, and wonderful for moving files around between computers, or to take with you (powerpoint presentations without having to take a laptop with you for eg) but don't replace a proper back up strategy in my mind
However, and here is a big but, they are susceptible to being erased or corrupted quite easily. Only ever pull one out of USB socket after using 'safely remove hardware' utility that is part of your OS. There are numerous accounts of data being lost when the stick is pulled out of socket. Crewgirl can testify to this
They are great bits of kit, and wonderful for moving files around between computers, or to take with you (powerpoint presentations without having to take a laptop with you for eg) but don't replace a proper back up strategy in my mind
G
Guest
Guest
I didn\'t know till shown ...
XP is recc'd for 128 min, optimum min 256MB memory ..... BUT there is an option built in to install a reduced version that one of my Inspectors proved ran on a much less memory machine .... cant remember exact mem - but was about 98MB.
Honest it ran fine .... but darned if I can remember how he got it to install so small .... it was only about half the total MB's in drive use as well .....
To the guy who said XP home is crap ............ I have pc's in my company with Pro, Home, 2K etc. etc. .... and I say to you sir that we do not really notice any practical difference in performance other than security between Home and Pro. In fact most users in my company prefer Home as it has not the levels of stupid security that pro has been installed with ....
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
XP is recc'd for 128 min, optimum min 256MB memory ..... BUT there is an option built in to install a reduced version that one of my Inspectors proved ran on a much less memory machine .... cant remember exact mem - but was about 98MB.
Honest it ran fine .... but darned if I can remember how he got it to install so small .... it was only about half the total MB's in drive use as well .....
To the guy who said XP home is crap ............ I have pc's in my company with Pro, Home, 2K etc. etc. .... and I say to you sir that we do not really notice any practical difference in performance other than security between Home and Pro. In fact most users in my company prefer Home as it has not the levels of stupid security that pro has been installed with ....
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
G
Guest
Guest
USB sticks ...
We used these for increased capacity and then changed to USB external cases holding 2.5" Hard drives. These are fantastic and well worth the effort. The one I'm using at moment .... Notebook is Acer with 30Gb HDD, piggy-backed USB HDD is 60GB from my former notebook PC .... still with OS on etc. - so if I wanted to I could put it back in and use it ... I've saved all my files without having to copy / transfer etc. It reads as an additional hard drive etc. Power is supplied via a second USB or a PS2 port .... so no need for external power.
Sticks - we consigned those to less imprtant jobs as we found they were unreliable on contact after a while and needed to be wiggled ever so often to regain contact.
One last point before I forget ..... checking my Acer manual tonight ... for another point actually - I found that they recc'd removing the battery after charge if the notebook is to remain on AC power for significant period .... !! Never saw that written before - even though I do it on boat to reduce power required from boat battery's ....
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
We used these for increased capacity and then changed to USB external cases holding 2.5" Hard drives. These are fantastic and well worth the effort. The one I'm using at moment .... Notebook is Acer with 30Gb HDD, piggy-backed USB HDD is 60GB from my former notebook PC .... still with OS on etc. - so if I wanted to I could put it back in and use it ... I've saved all my files without having to copy / transfer etc. It reads as an additional hard drive etc. Power is supplied via a second USB or a PS2 port .... so no need for external power.
Sticks - we consigned those to less imprtant jobs as we found they were unreliable on contact after a while and needed to be wiggled ever so often to regain contact.
One last point before I forget ..... checking my Acer manual tonight ... for another point actually - I found that they recc'd removing the battery after charge if the notebook is to remain on AC power for significant period .... !! Never saw that written before - even though I do it on boat to reduce power required from boat battery's ....
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif