How to Upgrade Your HP Pavilion
The two most common computer components to upgrade are the hard drive and the RAM. A larger hard drive allows a user more space to store files, whereas faster RAM increases the speed of a computer's processes.
Upgrading the hard drive and RAM in an HP Pavilion can be a struggle even for experienced computer users, since you are forced to work in a small, tight area with very delicate hardware. Some models, however, are easier to upgrade than others, since there are separate, easily accessible hardware compartments located on the bottom of the laptop.
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Instructions
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1
Turn off the HP Pavilion and remove from the power jack the AC adapter. Close the lid, then turn the notebook over.
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Wrap an antistatic bracelet around your wrist, or touch a piece of unpainted metal, to avoid damaging the delicate hardware of the laptop with electrostatic discharge.
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3
Slide the battery lock to the side, then remove the battery from its compartment. Remove the six screws securing the hard drive and memory panel to the laptop. The panel is shaped like an upside-down "T."
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4
Release any clips securing the memory modules in place. The memory is located above (or below, depending on which direction the laptop is facing you) the hard drives, and to the side of the Wi-Fi card.
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Slide the memory out from its slot. Line up the gold pins on the new memory modules with the empty RAM slots.
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Securely insert the memory into the slots. Lock any clips in place to secure the memory, if necessary.
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Remove the two screws located at the rear of the hard drive. Slide the drive to the side, then lift it from the HP Pavilion.
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Remove from the drive any motherboard cables attached to it. Loosen all of the screws securing the drive to the drive case.
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Place the drive aside. Insert the new drive into the case, then secure the drive into place.
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Connect the motherboard cable to the back of the hard drive. Insert the drive into the empty slot in the drive bay.
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Slide the new drive into place, then screw the drive to the laptop.
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Place the panel you removed previously back over the exposed hardware, then screw it into place. Turn the laptop over and plug the AC adapter into the power jack.
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Open the lid and press the "Power" button. Insert your Windows CD or HP recovery disk into the CD or DVD drive to format your disk and install Windows to the new drive.
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Tips & Warnings
The location and method of removal for your RAM and hard drive will vary depending on your HP Pavilion's model.
If your HP Pavilion comes with two hard drives, you can replace one or both. If you replace the secondary drive, you should be careful not to overwrite the contents of your primary drive.
Make sure you select the correct RAM and hard drive for your computer. Check your computer's manual if you are not sure what type of RAM or hard drive to buy, since this can vary based upon the model.
Upgrading or making any hardware changes to your HP Pavilion could void the warranty.
References
- Photo Credit ram 3 image by PeteG from Fotolia.com
