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Some questions about upgrading a laptop...

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by judoug88, Oct 8, 2005.

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  1. judoug88

    judoug88 Formula Junior

    Dec 5, 2004
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    JD
    #1 judoug88, Oct 8, 2005
    I bought a Dell L400 laptop on Ebay a couple days ago (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6809168594&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT)

    Now I have a couple questions about making some upgrades for it.

    1) I was thinking about upgrading the hard drive (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-DELL-40GB-5K-Hard-Drive-Latitude-CP-CPi-CPx-CPt-LS_W0QQitemZ6808432846QQcategoryZ31567QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).Is this hard to do? It seems like it would just be swapping them out. The problem is that XP is preinstalled on that computer already, and they aren't sending the cd. I do have the XP cd from my computer, can I use this to reinstall it or will it not work since it's already on my pc?

    2) I was also thinking about upgrading RAM (and maybe if I'm ambitious the processor. Again, how hard is this to do, and is it really worth it? I'm just planning to use this laptop for internet and Word, Excel, Powerpoint. Would I be better off and also saving money by just downgrading to windows 2000 so that it doesn't tax the processor as much and it runs faster?

    3) Lastly, the computer doesn't have a built in CD drive. Apparently you need a cable, but some guy is selling drives he has "reshaped" so that they fit, but there are also drives on ebay that are supposedly compatible (http://cgi.ebay.com/8X-R-RW-24X-ROM-LG-8080N-FOR-DELL-LAPTOP-MORE-NERO6-80N_W0QQitemZ6809118775QQcategoryZ38116QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Is there a place where I can just stick one in? If I can't put a new one in, I don't really want to buy an external one. But if I don't get one, that raises my truly last question.

    4) Is there a way to connect this computer to my desktop (a Dell Dimension 4600) so that I can use the cd drive on my desktop to install windows on to the laptop?

    Thanks for the help!
     
  2. bottomline

    bottomline Formula 3

    Mar 10, 2004
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    Bijan
    #2 bottomline, Oct 8, 2005
    I'd like to know this as well....

    So... bump!
     
  3. youngtifosi

    youngtifosi Karting

    Jun 6, 2004
    90
    #3 youngtifosi, Oct 8, 2005
    This should give you the info you're looking for.

    Upgrading a laptop: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11381_7-5506183-1.html?tag=txt

    Create a Windows CD for PC's that don't have one: http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,122487,00.asp (I think you'll have to bite the bullet and buy the drive w/ cable, just make sure you can make CDs with it so that this can work)

    Windows/Office product key finder (need this for reinstallation since you don't have the CD): http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

    Here's a bunch of relatively cheap external drives: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=478&Nav=|c:87|&Sort=0&Recs=10

    Dell: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/DellPartsCategory.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&ManufactSelection=Latitude&ModelSelection=118153&ModelName=Latitude+L400+Series&RPU=1
     
  4. judoug88

    judoug88 Formula Junior

    Dec 5, 2004
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    #4 judoug88, Oct 8, 2005
    Thanks for the links, that C-Net article was exactly what I needed....is there a limit to the processor size I can have? I know my laptop can only have 256 of ram but what about a processor? Is there a limit on that too? If I up the processor to say 800mhz, should I upgrade the RAM to 256mb as well, or can I leave it at 128mb? Thanks!
     
  5. youngtifosi

    youngtifosi Karting

    Jun 6, 2004
    90
    #5 youngtifosi, Oct 8, 2005
    I think you'll need to upgrade the memory to the maximum amount for the computer to run well. XP needs 256MB minimum, but only runs well with 512MB and up. Memory is always the most effective upgrade for any computer so get the 256. I'm uncertain on the processor upgrade, maybe you won't need it since the tasks you need the comp for don't require a lot of power. Consider getting Windows 2000, its pretty solid when fully updated and will probably be more suitable for your specs. Here's the all the manuals for the L400: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latl400/en/index.htm. When you get it up and running, go to www.filehippo.com for some great free software. Good luck
     
  6. judoug88

    judoug88 Formula Junior

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    #6 judoug88, Oct 8, 2005
    Youngtifosi - Thanks for all the help, I just bought some RAM, and am looking for a hard drive. I have one final question for you if you don't mind. Do I have to get a specific type of hard drive (I had to get a specific kind of RAM, not sure if have to do the same with the hard drive)? Thanks again, you've been a great help!
     
  7. youngtifosi

    youngtifosi Karting

    Jun 6, 2004
    90
    #7 youngtifosi, Oct 8, 2005
    The hard drive will depend on the operating system you use and the system BIOS that you have, as well as how much you're willing to spend. http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=notebook+hard+drive&btnG=Search+Froogle, www.apricorn.com. I think that 20GB will fit the bill. Try to get the fastest drive (~5400rpm-7200rpm) with the highest buffer memory (~8MB). Make sure to upgrade the system BIOS to the latest version (off of dell.com) and go from there.

    Cheers
     
  8. dantm

    dantm Formula 3

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    #8 dantm, Oct 8, 2005
    The CPU probably cannot be upgraded easily (if at all)....I second what the other guys are saying, with one exception -- for the OS I'd still use XP if you get the memory and hard drive upgrade -- Microsoft is phasing out their support for Windows 2000 (if they haven't done it already, I am not sure). And if you already have Xp on another PC there's nothing better than being very consistent and keeping the same across all your computers...

    Plus -- I am sure you'll want to network the two systems together at some point and it really sucks to have to deal with the network settings across two different Operating systems...
     
  9. judoug88

    judoug88 Formula Junior

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    #9 judoug88, Oct 9, 2005
    I never thought of it that way. I probably will keep XP on there then. I'm also still kind of skeptical of trying to upgrade the CPU myself. I probably won't try unless the computer is agonizingly slow.
     
  10. dantm

    dantm Formula 3

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    #10 dantm, Oct 9, 2005
    Yeah the issue may be that some of these CPUs are soldered onto the motherboard; I may be wrong, but I've seen cases where the CPU/mobo/video/etc. is one board only and you'd have to replace the whole thing.

    Regarding the XP, it should work provided you throw in enough RAM in there. 512 Mb may be limit on older systems, but it should suffice. Hard drive I think you can go as high as you want but probably 20-30 Gig is a very sweet spot and you can get budget 2.5" drives in this price range.
     
  11. youngtifosi

    youngtifosi Karting

    Jun 6, 2004
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    #11 youngtifosi, Oct 9, 2005
    I really think that XP will be unbearably slow on this particular notebook given the specs (256MB max ram, 400MHz processor). I have a couple of similar IBM thinkpads (600X) that have pentium III's and max ram and 20GB HDs. They're fast enough for what they're used for, but they run Windows 2000. An SP4 rollup update for Win2000 was recently issued, but I have no idea when it will be phased out entirely. What I've told you is from experience. Go with what you want, and if it doesnt work then I guess you'll have to change your game plan.

    Cheers
     

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