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