Upgrading a Laptop: Swap HDD for SSD, Add RAM or Another Hard Disk to Acer Aspire 5100
Hello everybody!
In today’s video, I’m going to show you how to replace a hard disk, random-access
memory, cooling system or other components in a laptop.
You will see how to do it and what difficulties you may encounter in the process.
I will also say a few words about making a smart choice of a hard disk for
your laptop.
Let’s begin.
Generally speaking, there are two reasons making laptop owners think about replacing
a hard disk: they either want to boost the computer’s performance and expand the disk
space or get the laptop back to work because the old hard disk got out of order.
If you go for high performance, it’s better to replace the old HDD with a good solid-state
drive: the read and write speeds are considerably higher.
Yet if you mean more space, choose a conventional hard disk.
Yes, they can be a dozen times slower than any SSD, but they are so much cheaper.
Besides, hard disks are more reliable than solid-state drives in terms of keeping your
data safe.
Recovering data from a faulty HDD is almost always possible as long as the disk platters
are intact.
On the other hand, there are certain difficulties you may encounter if an SSD stops working.
In our channel, there is an impressive playlist of videos about recovering data from both
conventional hard disks and solid-state drives.
If you are interested, please follow the link below:
Before you buy and mount a new storage component, you need to decide what kind of disk you need
and make sure it fits your laptop.
Ideally, connection interfaces for the new and the old disks should be the same.
Almost all modern laptops support disks with the SATA interface.
The only exception is ultrabooks and netbooks with integrated flash memory - the kind of
storage that smartphones and tablets are sporting - or portable computers that only support
slim SSDs with mSATA and M.2 interfaces, but we are not going any deeper now.
This is what a SATA connector looks like.
If your old hard disk has the same interface type, there is no problem to find a replacement.
Old machines produced before introduction of SATA have wide ribbon cables with IDE (PATA)
interface.
These days, finding a new hard disk of this type is next to impossible, so you’re more
likely to end up using a SATA disk with a special adapter.
However, bear in mind that such replacement only makes sense if the original disk is broken.
No matter how fast the new SATA drive is, it will still exchange data with the rest
of the laptop at the same miserable speed of the IDE interface.
Form factor and thickness (height).
The actual dimensions of a hard disk determine if it’s going to fit inside the portable
computer.
Standard hard disks for laptops come in two form factors - 2.5” (conventional) and 1.8”
(small - for netbooks and ultrabooks).
2.5-inch disks can be 9.5, 7 and 5 mm high.
The last type - 5 mm - is very rare to find.
To replace an old disk, you need to find a new drive in the same form factor and with
the height being the same or less.
However, in the second case, some kind of gasket has to be used to eliminate vibration.
And finally, how to take out the old hard disk and install a new one.
Replacing the hard disk is one of the easiest operations involving the laptop hardware.
It doesn’t require any serious dismantling - in most of the cases, you will have to open
the underside cover and take out a few screws that hold the disk in place.
Then take out the old one and put inside the new one.
Many models have a special cover for the hard disk unit.
It makes the entire process even simpler and in 3 to 5 minutes the new disk is ready for
work.
The only tool required to replace the hard disk is a Phillips screwdriver.
However, if you have never taken your laptop apart before (for example, for cleaning it
from dust) make sure it’s no longer in warranty.
If it’s not clear how to find the disk, search online for a service manual or a video
tutorial on taking your model apart.
Now let's get down to work.
First of all, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery.
This is an important part.
After that, use the screwdriver to take out screws holding the disk cover and open it.
Take out any screws used to fix the hard disk in its place, if you see any.
Some models do not use the screws, but the hard disk is just firmly fitted into the compartment.
On the opposite side of the data connector, there may be a kind of latch to release the
hard disk.
If there is one, pull it for the disk to slide back a little.
Now taking it out is much easier.
The disk could be sitting inside a sort of metal or rubber frame.
Remove that and put it onto the new disk………..
Put the disk into the compartment, use the screws to secure its position, and close the
covers, using corresponding screws to ensure it sits firmly.
Everything is ready.
If your computer has an optical drive or there is a special compartment with a special cover
on it, you can use this space to install another HDD or SSD.
The necessary requirement is to buy a special adapter.
The steps for connecting and installing it are usually shown on special stickers you
can find on the adapter.
Even without them, the task is not so difficult as it seems.
After you try a do-it-yourself approach in replacing a hard disk in your laptop, adding
another disk will be as easy as eating a piece of cake.
When everything is over, put the laptop together in the reverse order.
As soon as the last screw is finished and the battery is back to its proper place, turn
the laptop on and install Windows onto the new hard disk.
Talking of installing an operating system, there is another how-to playlist you can enjoy
in our channel.
I will give the link in the description:
To replace the system memory, the cooling system or Wi-Fi module of your laptop, you
will have to take some other covers away.
In my case, for laptop Acer Aspire 5100, remove screws and open one more cover on the underside.
However, in some models you can remove the underside in one piece, but the entire procedure
is not so simple.
Under the cover, you can see everything you need.
Here’s the RAM stick.
To take it out, open the clips and the stick will turn up.
Take it out of the slot carefully.
Do the same to the other stick if your RAM comes in two modules.
Put the new stick into the slot and press slightly to have the clips spring into place.
Talking of choosing a new RAM stick: • The new module has to be of the same type
as the old one: DDR2, DDR3, DDR4 and so on.
You can find this information on a sticker placed on the memory module.
• Also, pay attention to the maximal memory size that the central processor of your specific
laptop can support.
This information is usually given in the CPU specifications.
That is, you are unlikely to replace two sticks of 512 Mb each with two sticks of 8 Gb each.
In the same way, remove the Wi-Fi module………
This is what it looks like.
The model name and number is usually specified on the component.
When choosing a new Wi-Fi module, read its description attentively.
Usually sellers specify laptop models where a certain Wi-Fi module could fit, and the
models which don’t support it.
There are even laptops where there is no way to replace the wireless network adapter.
They have a kind of association recorded in BIOS, and the laptop only works with the network
adapter which it had originally installed at the factory.
It is typical for HP and Dell devices.
It is in my next video that I will tell you how to eliminate the problem of overheating.
But as long as this cover is open, you can also see the cooling system.
If, for some reason, you want to replace the cooling fan, follow the simple steps:
• take out the screws holding it; • disconnect the power cable;
• take the fan out.
When you need to replace a faulty cooling fan in your laptop, you should find a new
fan of the same type and model, because other models will certainly differ by dimensions
and pinouts.
Besides, laptops with dual-fan cooling systems have different coolers for the right and left
sides, which cannot be used interchangeably……………
The fan model is usually specified on its body.
When you want to put back the module you have removed, follow the same steps but in the
reverse order.
Watch my next video about cleaning a laptop from dust.
Step by step, I will show you how to take out the motherboard, the cooling system, and
replace the thermal paste on the central processor and chipset.
That is all for now.
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Leave comments to ask questions.
Thank you for watching.
Good luck.