wicked cool tc1100 upgrade - hard drive and RAM

**twr7cx** · 03-16-2007, 08:41 PM

Last night I pulled apart my TC1100 and swapped the 1GB RAM I had in the user accessable slot for the 256MB fitted in the factory unaccessable slot. Have ordered another 1GB stick so soon I will have 2GB!
Also swapped the HDD for a 7,200rpm unit at the same time.
Have reinstalled everything and it's all working fine.
I did take some photos, so I'll post them up when I get a chance to load them to a host later!

**twr7cx** · 03-18-2007, 01:04 PM

Hmmmmmm...

Here I was thinking I was the man for achieving this and no responses - lol!

Ah well, here's some pictures for anyone who cares.

First is my drawing of the back of the TC1100 and the screws sitting in there place so that I could get it back together - http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/4502/dscn1785ko3.jpg

The motherboard and that, this confirmed that mine was replaced underwarrenty as there was a sticker on it to that effect - http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/932/dscn1786th4.jpg

Back of the screen - http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5278/dscn1787yh5.jpg

My work area - http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/115/dscn1788bk9.jpg

The internal nonuseraccessable RAM slot with a fresh 1GB sitting in it now - http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9966/dscn1789wy5.jpg

Motherboard with the metal cover back on - http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/797/dscn1790jj8.jpg

**WNewquay** · 03-18-2007, 01:24 PM

Thanks for all the pictures twr7cx. I guess the tricky part is getting the back off after you've removed the screws.

Any tips?

**twr7cx** · 03-18-2007, 03:44 PM

Yeah, don't be scared, took me about an hour as I was so worried about breaking something. Ensure that you have all the screws out first, there are 15 of them (around half are Torx and half philips) couple tricky ones (1 under the kweyboard release switch, have to push it forward to get to the screw, and the second under the top stand/foot peg, two also require you to remove the wireless card as they are underneath this).

Once you've got all the screws out, it's a matter of carefuly, but firmly prying/pulling the two peices in half. Makes some creeking noises and such, but the reality is, it's not gunna come apart unless you pull. Be careful not to wildly yank at it as if you pull hard and suddenly it lets go and they seperate you might damage the cables between the screen and m/b etc.

Also remove the HDD and undo the connector that is underneath the black padding that sits below the HDD.

Aside from that it's actually not a very hard job at all.

**bmhome1** · 03-18-2007, 04:39 PM

I grabbed all the pictures and posts for reference and don't even own an 1100 (yet).

Don't let the lack of feedback deter posting, the membership currently is shy. I know how it feels weird investing hours and getting seeming indifference back. The value of your report is immense for 1100 buyers seeking information here, frequently these exact details.

**WNewquay** · 03-18-2007, 07:06 PM

Thanks twr7cx,

It's great to know where all the hidden screws are. I know that I would not know where to look and would not have guessed to look under the release latch.

**twr7cx** · 03-18-2007, 07:26 PM

Cheers for that guys.
bmhome1 - main reason for doing it was for myself, as a i love to tinker, but b. this laptop could do with some more speed, with the 7,200 rpm HDD and 2GB of RAM now, it absolutely ****s all over factorry, there is definately a noticable difference!!!

Here's an image of System in Control Pannel showing the 2GBof RAM - http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6451/2gbramhs7.jpg

So, I don't think there's anything that really upgradablee left in this thing -- different wireless card? Next move is Vista, been reading about it and I'll give it a go during Uni break in the next few weeks as I don't want the computer down when I am needing it!

**bmhome1** · 03-18-2007, 09:23 PM

tw,

I upgraded my Motion 1300's 2100 WiFi card to 54kb Intel 2915 very inexpensively with nice boost:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Pro-Wirele...QQcmdZViewItem

Reliable and fast shipper, sealed OEM.

Vista is fabulous on my 1300's nearly identical specs. Setup a dual boot partition to have both. Home Premium OEM from newegg only $119.

Check out vLite freeware to cut Vista size in half installed and significant benefits for low (1Gz minimum to even install Vista) end hardware. I had a long, long post about vLite experience lost in last hack. I have archived and can repost it.

**MathSw** · 03-18-2007, 10:52 PM

quote:Originally posted by bmhome1

I grabbed all the pictures and posts for reference and don't even own an 1100 (yet).

Don't let the lack of feedback deter posting, the membership currently is shy. I know how it feels weird investing hours and getting seeming indifference back. The value of your report is immense for 1100 buyers seeking information here, frequently these exact details.

Well, I appreciate it! Probably I will be happy with the newly installed extra 1GB in the easy slot, for a total of 1,5. But it's still interesting.

**AndyK** · 03-19-2007, 07:40 AM

Two tipps:
if the back keeps sticking in the area of the hardware buttons, it is just the black plastic part between jogdieal and buttons, that hangs. Apply a bit of pressure there and it will come loose.
Be carefull when flipping the screen aside - there are paper thin connectors that can easily be damages when you're not carefull enough.

Aside of these you just need to keep track of the screws placement (I had one left over in the end, but it was a bit too long to replace the battery fixing screw that was missing on the other hand... ;)