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Old 08-16-2013, 08:30 AM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,813 posts, read 32,267,495 times
Reputation: 38559

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Hi all,

I have an old HP Compaq laptop - about 6 years old, I'd guess. I'm not a techie, so bear with me if I give stupid information :-)

It's got (taken from the old original sticker on the computer):

Compaq Presario V6105NR Notebook PC

Intel Celeron M Processor 430, (1.73 GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 533 Mhz FSB)
512 mb system memory

100GB (5400 rpm) hard drive

I'm running Windows XP

It's just slow now, and can't handle upgraded software programs, and freezes up a lot, needing to be rebooted.

I really can't afford a new computer. I'm retired and on a small fixed income.

Is it possible to upgrade this one? What should I buy? About what would it cost, roughly? Would it be worth it?

I don't do any gaming. I watch Netflix, I surf the internet, that's really it.

Would love your advice and opinions.

Thanks!
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Old 08-16-2013, 09:14 AM
 
Location: Wandering.
3,549 posts, read 6,632,361 times
Reputation: 2704
Quote:
Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe View Post

512 mb system memory
512 MB was barely enough memory when XP was new 12 years ago, but is nowhere near enough to run anything today.

Changing the amount of memory will get you the most bang for your buck, should be fairly straight forward, and should cost less than $50 for that machine.

Go to the following link and download the system scanner:

Use the Crucial System Scanner software to find out what type of memory is in your computer

It will find the correct kind of memory for you. Ideally you should get 2 GB (as 2 modules).

Once you have those modules, the replacement instructions are here:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00780325.pdf
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Old 08-16-2013, 09:30 AM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,813 posts, read 32,267,495 times
Reputation: 38559
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skunk Workz View Post
512 MB was barely enough memory when XP was new 12 years ago, but is nowhere near enough to run anything today.

Changing the amount of memory will get you the most bang for your buck, should be fairly straight forward, and should cost less than $50 for that machine.

Go to the following link and download the system scanner:

Use the Crucial System Scanner software to find out what type of memory is in your computer

It will find the correct kind of memory for you. Ideally you should get 2 GB (as 2 modules).

Once you have those modules, the replacement instructions are here:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00780325.pdf

Oh, I could just kiss you! Mmmmmmwwwwahhhhhh! I'll go check this out right now!
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Old 08-16-2013, 10:14 AM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,813 posts, read 32,267,495 times
Reputation: 38559
I just ordered 2GB memory cards from the above link. Only $39 with tax!! They even have a video that shows how to do it. I think I can handle it fine. I'll probably have to buy a tiny screw driver, and that's it. Can't wait!

Thanks so much again!
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Old 08-16-2013, 03:23 PM
 
10,923 posts, read 21,876,815 times
Reputation: 10562
Back to the hard drive, upgrading to a 7200 RPM drive will give you a speed boost as well, and considering the laptops age it would be a good excuse to do a format and reinstall of XP at the same time to regain some lost performance due to the age of the OS.
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Old 08-16-2013, 03:34 PM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,813 posts, read 32,267,495 times
Reputation: 38559
Quote:
Originally Posted by NHDave View Post
Back to the hard drive, upgrading to a 7200 RPM drive will give you a speed boost as well, and considering the laptops age it would be a good excuse to do a format and reinstall of XP at the same time to regain some lost performance due to the age of the OS.
Thanks so much!

Two questions:

1) Where would you suggest I buy the hard drive from? I live in Santa Clara, so I'm sure there's lots of places I could take the computer around here. Or is there a good deal online? I'm assuming I'd have to ship it somewhere? Or leave it in a shop?

2) I didn't get any disks for XP. Is there a way I can somehow reinstall it without having to buy it again? Could I copy it to a disk somehow and then reinstall it? Just curious. I'd probably have this done by whomever puts in the hard drive, since I don't know what I'm doing obviously. Just wondering if I'd have to spend the money on buying XP again. It came loaded on the laptop. I think I bought it from Best Buy.


Again, thanks so much!
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Old 08-16-2013, 03:39 PM
 
10,923 posts, read 21,876,815 times
Reputation: 10562
It's likely you have a recovery image on the hard drive, so the simplest solution would be for the shop to image the old drive to the new drive, back up your data, then run the recovery to reload Windows, then clean up all the bloatware and restore your data. All that work might cost more than the laptop is worth however.
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Old 08-16-2013, 04:28 PM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,813 posts, read 32,267,495 times
Reputation: 38559
Quote:
Originally Posted by NHDave View Post
It's likely you have a recovery image on the hard drive, so the simplest solution would be for the shop to image the old drive to the new drive, back up your data, then run the recovery to reload Windows, then clean up all the bloatware and restore your data. All that work might cost more than the laptop is worth however.
I see your point. I did some research and found an article on replacing the hard drive, and a link to free software for backing up my computer:

How to replace your laptop hard drive | News | TechRadar

I guess I'll start by installing the new memory. I watched the video on how to do that, and I feel confident I can handle it. I'll see how that improves things, then decide on the hard drive.

Thanks again so much for your help!
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Old 08-16-2013, 06:14 PM
 
Location: SF Bay Area
13,520 posts, read 22,003,444 times
Reputation: 20234
SkunkWorkz and OP sitting in a tree ...
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Old 08-16-2013, 07:52 PM
 
Location: Silicon Valley
18,813 posts, read 32,267,495 times
Reputation: 38559
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaypee View Post
SkunkWorkz and OP sitting in a tree ...

LOL! You want one, too? Mmmmmmmwwwwwahhhhhhh! LOL!
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