Laptops are more difficult to upgrade than desktop computers due to their compact internal architecture as defined by the laptop manufacturer. However, you can upgrade your RAM, hard drive, video, and sound cards (depending on your laptop brand).
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Upgrading your RAM
Step 1. Determine the maximum amount of RAM that your laptop can support (you may already have the maximum amount of memory installed)
To do this, read the laptop manual or find this data on the laptop manufacturer's website.
Step 2. Determine the type of RAM used (in the laptop manual or on the laptop manufacturer's website)
You need to purchase the same type of RAM.
Step 3. Open the panel on the back of the laptop case
Step 4. Disconnect the memory module (s)
This is necessary if all RAM slots are occupied, or if you are installing enough memory (such that old memory modules must be removed).
Step 5. Install new memory module (s)
Do this carefully but securely.
Step 6. Close the panel
Method 2 of 3: Upgrading your hard drive
Step 1. Plug your laptop into a power outlet
Before installing a new hard drive, you need to copy the contents of the current hard drive to it. While many laptops can run on battery for a long time, the battery may not be sufficient to copy information from one drive to another.
Step 2. Back up all data to ensure that it is safe in the event of a failure during the copy process
If you are planning to reinstall your current operating system on a new hard drive, or if you are planning to upgrade to a new operating system (for example, from Windows Vista to Windows 7), do not follow the instructions below. Instead, reinstall the programs and then copy the data from the backup to your new hard drive
Step 3. Connect the new hard drive to the USB port of your laptop
This is done using a SATA-USB adapter or by installing a new hard drive into an external hard drive enclosure.
Step 4. On the laptop, install the disk cloning software
Some hard drive manufacturers include such programs in the drive software. Or use a similar program. You may need to restart your computer after installing the software.
Step 5. Start the copying process
The disk cloning software will scan your old and new hard disks and let you choose between automatic and manual copying. In most cases, you can select automatic copying mode. However, if the current hard disk is partitioned, manually copy the data to preserve the partitions.
When copying manually, you will have access to additional options, such as maintaining the current size of the partitions, automatically increasing the size of the partitions in proportion to the size of the new hard disk, or manually setting the size of the partitions. You can select the proportional increase in size only if none of the partitions contains information for system recovery; in this case, when copying, keep the current sizes of the partitions, and then resize them manually using the system utility or another similar program
Step 6. Turn off your laptop and unplug it from the outlet
Wait about a minute and then continue (to avoid the risk of electric shock).
Step 7. Remove the battery to avoid the risk of electric shock and reach the hard drive
Step 8. Remove the old hard drive
You can access the hard drive through the battery compartment. On other laptops, you may need to remove the keyboard. Some laptop models provide direct access to the hard drive through a removable panel on the back of the laptop case.
Step 9. Install a new hard drive
Step 10. Assemble your laptop and turn it on
If you want to correct disk partitions or reinstall software, do so now.
Method 3 of 3: Updating your graphics card
Step 1. Remove the swivel covers
Do this carefully so as not to break them.
Some expensive laptops provide direct access to the video card through a removable panel on the back of the laptop case
Step 2. Remove the laptop keyboard
To do this, unscrew the screws on the back of the case (find the necessary screws in the laptop operating instructions), lift the keyboard and disconnect the corresponding cables. Sometimes the keyboard is secured with latches to avoid loosening the screws. Step 3. Remove the screen.
Remove the screws holding the display and then disconnect the associated cables. Step 4. Remove the optical drive tray.
To do this, press down on the tray latch with a thin rod. Step 5. Remove the laptop's upper case by unscrewing the corresponding screws. 6 Remove the old video card. 7 Install a new graphics card.
Do this carefully but securely. Step 8. Assemble the laptop in the reverse order of disassembly.
You can update your laptop's sound card using a similar procedure
Advice
- Some components of the laptop cannot be updated. For example, in the case of an optical drive, it is better to buy an external drive that connects to the laptop via the USB port.
- When loosening screws and removing other parts, put them in a safe place (so as not to get lost) and sort them correctly. Labeled paper cups for each step of the disassembly process can help you with this (or use an empty egg box).
Warnings
- You can upgrade your desktop computers with components from any manufacturer. In turn, laptops are usually updated with components from the manufacturer of a particular laptop.
- While you can upgrade your laptop with the above methods, don't buy a laptop with an upgrade in mind. It is better to buy a laptop that meets your requirements from the start than to buy a weak laptop and try to upgrade it.