Do Laptop Repair Shops Keep Your Info Private

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Due to their meaty size, laptop computers are far less modifiable than desktop computers. Typically, at that place are three things yous can upgrade on a laptop: the RAM memory, the hard drive, and the video/sound cards. This manufactures describes the general steps yous'll demand to take to upgrade a laptop, but if you get stuck, you'll desire to check with your computer manufacturer's documentation.

1. 1

   Wait for your laptop'southward make and model number. Laptops volition often take the manufacturer, make, and model number printed on the laptop itself.

   • The make and model number is often printed on the bottom of the laptop, but is sometimes also printed to a higher place the keyboard on the inside of the laptop.

2. ii

   Observe the laptop's manual. In a search engine, type the manufacturer, make, and model number of your laptop, and so blazon manual . Amid the search results, you'll notice a link to the manual itself or to a folio on the laptop manufacturer's website where y'all can download the manual or maintenance guide.

   • You can also get directly to the manufacturer'south website to get your laptop's transmission or maintenance guide.
   • If it'south available, download the laptop'south service and maintenance guide, because information technology will have detailed information nigh the specific hardware y'all can use to upgrade your laptop.

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3. three

   Determine how much memory your Windows Vista or Windows 7 laptop is using. Click the Start menu, right-click Reckoner, and then click Properties. In the System department, Installed retention (RAM) shows how much retentiveness you have installed.^[1]

4. four

   Decide how much retention your Windows 8 laptop is using. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and so click Properties. In the System section, Installed memory (RAM) shows how much retentiveness you lot accept installed.^[2]

5. five

   Determine how much retention your Mac laptop is using. Click the Apple menu, and then click About This Mac. In the Nearly This Mac window, Retentiveness shows how much RAM yous take installed.

   • For more information, click More Info , and then click the Memory tab.

6. six

   Decide if you have the maximum RAM or non. In the laptop manual you downloaded, cheque the system specifications to see if y'all're already using the maximum RAM or not.

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1. ane

   Determine the kind of RAM your laptop uses. In the laptop manual yous downloaded, look for the section on memory modules.

   • If you tin't notice the information in the laptop manual, there are tools online that will show you the correct RAM for a specific make and model of laptop. Click here for an example of one of these tools.

2. ii

   Purchase the RAM you need. You tin can buy the RAM yous need in many different places. Once you lot've identified the specific type of RAM y'all want to buy, in a search engine, type the specific RAM type, and then choose an online shop where you'd similar to purchase the RAM.

   • If you're using more than ane RAM retentiveness module, you need to make sure that they're each the same size. For example, you tin't apply a 2 GB RAM module with a 4 GB RAM module. They'll both demand to be 2 GB, for example.

3. 3

   Before opening the computer or handling the RAM, ground yourself. Static electricity tin can destroy computer components. The simplest way to exercise this is to touch a piece of metallic before handling computer components, but at that place are methods you can use too.^[3]

4. 4

   Utilise a screwdriver to open the RAM memory admission console. On many laptops, this console is on the lesser of the laptop case and secured with one or more screws.

   • Your laptop maintenance guide will have very specific instructions on how to do this.

5. five

   If you're replacing your old RAM completely, remove the old RAM memory. If you're calculation RAM to an empty memory slot, y'all won't demand to remove the old RAM first.

6. six

   Install the new RAM memory. Button the RAM gently, but firmly, into place Practise not forcefulness the RAM if information technology isn't going easily. Practise not do touch the RAM chips—hold the RAM but on the edges of the module.

7. seven

   Employ the screwdriver to close the the access console.

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1. ane

   Expect for your laptop'south make and model number. Laptops will often have the manufacturer, make, and model number printed on the laptop itself.

   • The brand and model number is oft printed on the lesser of the laptop, merely is sometimes also printed higher up the keyboard on the inside of the laptop.

2. 2

   Find the laptop'due south manual. In a search engine, type the manufacturer, make, and model number of your laptop, and so blazon transmission . Amidst the search results, you'll detect a link to the manual itself or to a folio on the laptop manufacturer'southward website where you tin download the transmission or maintenance guide.

   • Yous can also become straight to the manufacturer's website to go your laptop's manual or maintenance guide.
   • If it's available, download the laptop's service and maintenance guide, because it will have detailed information about the specific hardware you tin can use to upgrade your laptop.

3. iii

   Observe out what difficult drives are compatible with your laptop. In the user manual or maintenance guide, determine the hard drive models that are compatible with your laptop.

   • In a search engine, search for the specific models of hard drives that are compatible with your laptop.
   • If the hard bulldoze isn't the correct concrete size, it won't fit in your laptop.

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1. ane

   Plugin the laptop with its power cord and turn information technology on. Backing up a hard drive can take more fourth dimension than a laptop battery has charge. If you plug it in, you won't demand to worry about how much battery life yous have.

2. 2

   Backup your laptop's hard drive. Before installing your new hard bulldoze, copy the contents of your laptop's current difficult bulldoze to the new one. This volition salve some time, because y'all won't have to reinstall all of your applications.

   • On Windows viii, System Image Backup is the plan you tin use to backup your hard drive. On Windows 7 and before, it's called Backup and Restore.^[4]
   • On Mac Os X 10.5 or newer, you can apply Time Motorcar to support your hard bulldoze. You can besides employ the Disk Utility to back up your hard drive to CD or DVD.
   • If yous want to start fresh with your new hard drive, don't backup to the new hard drive. Install your operating system, and so install and copy over any files that you demand.

3. 3

   Connect the new hard drive to your laptop'southward USB port. Y'all will need a SATA-to-USB adapter to connect the two difficult drives. Yous tin can besides put the new difficult drive into an external hard drive case which will accept a USB connection.

4. four

   Install the cloning software on the onetime difficult drive. Some hard drive manufacturers include their own cloning software, which may already exist on your computer. Yous tin can also utilise a tertiary-party application.

   • Clonezilla is a multi-platform, costless, open source disk cloning utility.^[5]
   • In that location is a big number of cloning software for all of the major operating systems.^[6]

5. 5

   Clone the onetime difficult bulldoze onto the new hard drive. Earlier cloning the hard drive, be certain to read the help files to make sure yous empathise the process.

   • The cloning software will bank check to make sure the new hard bulldoze is large enough to clone the quondam hard drive to information technology.

6. half-dozen

   After the cloning is finished, close down the laptop and unplug it. Be sure to unplug and turn off the new difficult bulldoze too. Await at least one minute for the electricity in the laptop to dissipate before continuing.

7. seven

   Remove the laptop's bombardment. If the battery is in the laptop, it tin can requite you an electric daze. You may likewise demand to remove it to reach the laptop's hard drive.

8. 8

   Take out the old hard drive. As noted above, you lot may be able to reach the difficult drive through the battery compartment. On other laptops, you may have to have off the entire outer instance or disassemble the keyboard. A few laptops offer direct access to the hard bulldoze through an access panel on the bottom.

   • If you're not sure how to get to the hard drive for y'all laptop, refer to the user manual or maintenance guide for your laptop.

9. ix

   Install the new hard bulldoze. Put the new hard drive in, simply practise not force it.

10. 10

    Reassemble the laptop and kicking it up. If you're starting up with a bare hard drive, you lot'll need to reinstall your operating system.

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1. 1

   Look for your laptop'southward brand and model number. Laptop'southward will often accept the manufacturer, brand, and model number printed on the laptop itself.

   • The make and model number is frequently printed on the lesser of the laptop, but is sometimes likewise printed higher up the keyboard on the inside of the laptop.

2. 2

   Find the laptop'south transmission. In a search engine, type the manufacturer, make, and model number of your laptop, and then blazon manual . Amid the search results, you'll find a link to the manual itself or to a page on the laptop manufacturer's website where you can download the manual or maintenance guide.

   • You can also go directly to the manufacturer'due south website to get your laptop's manual or maintenance guide.
   • If information technology's available, download the laptop's service and maintenance guide, because it will have detailed information virtually the specific hardware y'all can use to upgrade your laptop.

3. three

   Discover out what video and sound cards are compatible with your laptop. In the user transmission or maintenance guide, determine the video and sound cards that are compatible with your laptop. In some cases, yous won't be able to upgrade your video or sound bill of fare. The user manual will accept that information.

   • In a search engine, search for the specific video or sound cards that are uniform with your laptop.

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1. 1

   Before starting, unplug the laptop and remove its bombardment.

2. 2

   Consult your laptop'southward maintenance guide. Due to the wide variety of laptop models, the process for getting admission to the video or audio bill of fare tin exist quite dissimilar. Your laptop's maintenance guide volition have detailed instructions on how to do this.

   • For some high-end laptops, removing a panel on the bottom will provide admission to the graphics carte du jour. For the rest, you'll demand to follow the remaining steps to go to the graphics card slot.

3. 3

   Detach the laptop'southward keyboard. For many laptops you can become admission to the video and sound card by removing the keyboard.This ways removing the screws from nether the hinge embrace, and so lifting out the keyboard and unplugging its connectors.

   • In society to go along track of the dissimilar screws, use clear adhesive tape to tape related screws to a piece of paper or paper-thin, and then label them.
   • Some laptops secure the keyboard with latches that let y'all detach the keyboard without having to unscrew information technology.

4. four

   If necessary, remove the screen apparatus. For some laptops, y'all'll demand to remove the laptop screen in order to get admission to the video and audio card cables. Have out the screws that hold the display assembly in place, then unplug the video and wireless antenna cables.

5. five

   If necessary, remove the CD/DVD drive. On most laptops, this means pushing in the release latch and sliding out the drive bay.

6. 6

   If necessary, remove the laptop's upper shell. Have out the screws that hold it to the base of the laptop.

7. 7

   Remove the quondam graphics menu.

8. eight

   Install the new graphics card in its slot. Push the card in straight, but firmly. Practice not force it.

9. nine

   Reassemble the laptop. Reverse the steps you followed to install the new carte du jour in order to reassemble the laptop.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Is it worth ownership parts to upgrade a laptop?

  

  Matt Ham
  Estimator Repair Specialist

  Matt Ham is a Computer Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Figurer Repair Doc. With over a decade of experience, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Applied science from North Carolina State University and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia Academy. Matt has expanded Computer Repair Doctor to 7 different locations. He is also a Co-Owner of Repair Life, a full-scale marketing agency specializing in driving both online and offline leads to cell phone and reckoner repair shops and device retailers.

  

  Figurer Repair Specialist

  Proficient Answer

  It depends on how much money you take and how old your laptop is. If it'south only a yr or two old, it's probably worth upgrading some of the components if you want to improve the speed. If you lot've got a dinosaur on your easily though, it may be worth just replacing it.

• Question

  If I could replace one component, what should it exist?

  

  Matt Ham
  Computer Repair Specialist

  Matt Ham is a Computer Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Reckoner Repair Doctor. With over a decade of experience, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Applied science from Due north Carolina Land University and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. Matt has expanded Computer Repair Doctor to vii different locations. He is as well a Co-Owner of Repair Life, a total-calibration marketing bureau specializing in driving both online and offline leads to cell phone and computer repair shops and device retailers.

  

  Computer Repair Specialist

  Expert Answer

  If you don't have a solid-country difficult drive, that's probably the best pick. Switching from an old school hard drive to a solid state hard bulldoze is similar moving from a golf cart to a race motorcar. If you lot've already got a solid-land drive, I'd probably look at upgrading your RAM.

• Question

  How can I keep my computer from slowing down without ownership new pieces?

  

  Matt Ham
  Computer Repair Specialist

  Matt Ham is a Computer Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Computer Repair Doctor. With over a decade of feel, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State Academy and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. Matt has expanded Computer Repair Doctor to seven different locations. He is also a Co-Possessor of Repair Life, a total-calibration marketing agency specializing in driving both online and offline leads to jail cell phone and figurer repair shops and device retailers.

  

  Computer Repair Specialist

  Expert Reply

  Reinstall your operating organization every 18 months or so. A lot of people don't do this, and information technology's a great way to keep your computer from getting clogged up with junk and old files.

• Question

  How can you update your graphics card in a laptop?

  

  Getting the right drivers and making sure the computer runs as shine as possible can help. Or maybe make certain it's absurd enough for your laptop. Updating would just work if your laptop is able to get updated that way. Ordinarily laptops don't come with cards you can put in or take out.

• Question

  How do I upgrade to iOS ix on my HP xv.half-dozen laptop?

  

  You lot can't. It uses a Windows operating system, and Windows doesn't back up iOS.

• Question

  How do I upgrade to Windows 10?

  

  Purchase Windows ten and follow the installation instructions.

• Question

  Tin can a laptop be changed from Windows 7 to Windows 10 through the internet?

  

  You lot cannot upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 via internet. You must download the Windows 10 file from Microsoft and install that to your calculator.

• Question

  Tin I add a Bose speaker to my laptop?

  

  Yes. Just follow the didactics manual that came with the speaker.

• Question

  Where tin I purchase a graphics carte du jour for my laptop? I'm currently using a Radeon R7 M360 on my Lenovo z-51. Please aid me find the right one.

  

  Bryan Beege Drupe

  Community Answer

  If you lot're looking to buy a different graphics carte du jour, you may be out of luck. Laptops and graphics cards each have a specific form cistron, and the likelihood of compatibility between whatsoever capricious ii is unlikely. If you're looking to supervene upon the existing one with the same model, it should be relatively easy to discover the correct one based on the model number.

• Question

  I take Laptop compaq 58 Core i3, the difficult desk is 500 GB, can I supervene upon it by another that 2 TB?

  

  Most computers can exist upgraded to 2TB HDDs. Nevertheless, you demand to make sure that the HDD volition fit in your reckoner. PS: If you want more speed (faster boot ups) get an SSD.

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• While it is possible to upgrade a laptop in the ways described in a higher place, yous should non shop for a laptop thinking y'all can upgrade it later. In most cases, information technology is more price-constructive to buy a laptop with all the features you demand from the starting time, and perhaps a few more than than to buy a lesser automobile and upgrade it to the level you desire.

• While desktop computers ordinarily allow users to select RAM memory and graphics cards from any manufacturer, laptop computers usually require users to obtain upgrade equipment from the laptop'southward manufacturer.

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Things Y'all'll Demand

• Small, not-magnetic screwdriver (either regular or Phillips-head, depending on how the screws are slotted)
• Anti-static wrist strap (optional)
• Rubber mat or clean, not-static fabric (optional)
• For difficult drive upgrades, a SATA-to-USB adapter

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

ane. Find your laptop's exact model number.
2. Look up the maximum amount of memory and memory type.
3. Find out how much memory you have at present.
four. Add or supercede RAM.
5. Find out if you can add another drive to the laptop, and which blazon of drive it takes.
6. Add an external drive if desired.
vii. Upgrade the video and sound cards if they aren't attached to the motherboard.

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Upgrade-a-Laptop

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