Hard Drive Install

BlueOvalFitter

BlueOvalFitter

Member
I currently own an HP laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium. It's 64 bit, 3.00 GB (stop laughing).
As some of you know, a new Star Wars movie came out this past weekend. Me being a HUGE SW fan, I had to go look for the spoilers. I'm still going to see it, but, when it comes out on disc.
I heard from somewhere that if you went to some Mickey Leaks website, you could watch the movie, but, in Spanish. I know a little bit of Spanish, so I went to look. WRONG!!!!!!!!! My LT received so many viruses, it just blacked out my start up screen! After paying $75 today to have it fixed, computer dude suggested I upgrade to some kind of T-REX SS TIN HD (I have no idea what he said). He said it would make my LT as fast as light (not really, but, you get the point)!
My Q?; Being that he charges a flat rate of $75 (parts extra) to install said magic HD, can simple minded me install it? If I had someone here walking me through it, or, giving me instructions and I can copy them?
Look, I'm poor! I lost my lower rt. leg in Desert Storm and I live off of $791 a month. I have a few dollars saved (thank God I did to pay that tech $75) and with someone here to guide me, I think I can do this. I was going to ask if we could exchange numbers so someone can help me over the phone.
But first, I need the HD! Keeping in mind that money IS an object, but, I want more storage and to go faster, what HD do I need?
Thanks to anyone that replies and helps me! :)
 
Not sure what you're talking about, but if you invest in an SSD and a little more RAM it will definitely improve your computer speed.
 
What's an SSD? And RAM? And, where do I find it? Is it hard to install? Why can't I just install the HARD DRIVE computer tech dude suggested to me?
 
First of all. Thank you for your service.

An SSD stands for (Solid State Drive). These hard drives (HDD) are non-mechanical. It's like a super huge chip to put it frankly that stores data instead of on a spinning platter like the HDD you have now. Installing a HDD is a piece of cake. Just unscrew the one you have mounted now and replace. But you will want to clone your current HDD to the SSD so it will be like nothing ever changed. Otherwise you will have to back up your data and reinstall Windows. I wish I lived near you, I'd do it for free. I've done this many, many times.

If you run the program HDtune, what speed do you have now? You may not even need a new hard drive. How old is the computer? Get the free for personal use towards the bottom. http://www.hdtune.com/download.html

What anti-virus do you have now? You might benefit from Rollback Rx. It will create snap shots of your current computer state and if something goes FUBAR you can reload a good computer state from the boot option when you boot your computer. You would use the arrow keys and Tab key.

Note that if anyone else plans to use Rollback Rx, it can't be used with Truecrypt or Veracrypt, etc. It will mess up their boot loader. Bitlocker should be fine.

Back on topic, this is what a normal laptop hard drive looks like.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236873

This is what a SSD looks like.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147360

They are essentially the same size, except mechanically different. The SSD is much faster.

Far as RAM goes, you in all honesty have plenty. I use 3.5 GB of RAM myself using Windows 7 in my laptop. I have a Dell Optiplex 780 with 2 GB of RAM running Windows 7. Both function perfectly fine. You would want to upgrade your RAM if you use programs that can benefit from it. Like Photoshop.
 
Before we go any further, what is the exact model of laptop you have? If its one with a low end cpu, not sure how cost effective adding ram and an SSD would be to someone thats on a limited income. Also, on some laptops its harder to access the hard drive and ram. We need the exact model number to determine accessibility of hardware.
 
johnb35 said:
Before we go any further, what is the exact model of laptop you have? If its one with a low end cpu, not sure how cost effective adding ram and an SSD would be to someone thats on a limited income. Also, on some laptops its harder to access the hard drive and ram. We need the exact model number to determine accessibility of hardware.
Click to expand...
HP 2000-299WM Notebook PC
Celero R-Dual CPU
3.00 GB
64 BIT
 
Yeah not sure how cost worthy that is. It has a celeron processor which sucks and you would have to remove existing ram to install 2 sticks of 4gb. I would actually use what you have and save money up for a new machine.

Replacement of ram and hdd is easy in that model, best to reinstall windows fresh to an SSD though then copy personal data over. To be honest, I think you would be spending almost the full price of the laptop to upgrade it and its not worth it since it doesn't have great specs to begin with. But thats just my .02 cents.
 
johnb35 said:
Yeah not sure how cost worthy that is. It has a celeron processor which sucks and you would have to remove existing ram to install 2 sticks of 4gb. I would actually use what you have and save money up for a new machine.

Replacement of ram and hdd is easy in that model, best to reinstall windows fresh to an SSD though then copy personal data over. To be honest, I think you would be spending almost the full price of the laptop to upgrade it and its not worth it since it doesn't have great specs to begin with. But thats just my .02 cents.
Click to expand...
This is basically what computer tech dude said. He stated that I should just buy a new LT, because in (2) years Windows 7 will be obsolete.
Help me to find a laptop;
I don't play games AT ALL!
I just surf the interweb.
I use my LT to pay my bills.
Every now and again I will watch you tube videos.
I don't down load or watch online movies.
I would like to upgrade to a 17" screen if they are not that much.
Should I buy new, used, refurbished?
I know, my life is dull, but, I make that up in collecting firearms and shooting them.
HELP! :(
 
If you really want a 17" screen then you are looking at around $400 or more for new. I'm not one to buy refurbed if I want it to last me a long time. How much money are you willing to spend? Probably would want at least an I3 cpu, they work pretty well.
 
Sorry, but I can't recommend HP. But its a quad core at 1.8ghz with 8gb ram and 1tb hard drive. Have you read the reviews on that machine?
 
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Given what you stated you do with a computer. isn't your current LT sufficient? It might not be the fastest computer on the block but it should be able to handle what you say you use it for.

If you really insist on buying a new computer, I'd wait for the AFTER Christmas sales to see what kind of deals are available.
 
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