This week’s email newsletter articles are:
- Speed Benefits of the Hardware Upgrades to My Noteboo
Last week I wrote about upgrading my notebook from 4 GB of RAM to 8 GB and from a 5200 RPM hard drive to a Solid State Drive (SSD). I got stopped in the upgrade process by a need to get a Windows 7 install DVD (as opposed to a Recovery DVD).I ordered a retail copy of Windows 7 Home Premium to install on the new SSD. That arrived on Monday Love that Amazon Prime!
After installing Windows 7 Home Edition 64-bit version on the notebook, the real fun began. Fun? Well, I needed to load a bunch of software all over again, plus add copies of configuration files from my desktop or old laptop. But, the amazing thing was the difference in speed.
Now, this Intel Core i3 notebook seems as peppy as my desktop[...]
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This Week Online — Blast From The Past
Articles Newly Posted Online
These are new articles this week on my Terry’s Computer Tip web site that were originally part of my email newsletter.
- Hardware Upgrades to My Notebook
At one time, my main computer was a Dell laptop. When I finally decided it was upgrade time, Dell had decided to join everyone else and stop offering Operating System DVD’s, choosing to supply only pre-built Recovery DVD’s. They tried to get too cute in the order process, so I cancelled my order for a very expensive Dell top-of-the-line desktop-replacement notebook and plans for a smaller Alienware for portable use.Instead, I saved a fortune by building my own desktop and buying a cheap notebook. I’ve written before about my notebook computer — and how it was a pleasure to be able to find one that was small, light, fast and cheap. All four! (The old adage was that you could pick three of the four.) [...]
I love the redesign of my Terry’s Computer Tips web site — it makes article posting and maintenance much easier than before. I’m glad I switched to WordPress and the Genesis Framework. On my Terry’s Computer Tips site, I’m using the base Genesis Framework with a of child theme of my own to customize it.
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While upgrading / adding RAM is easy enough in this case on a laptop getting involved opens a can of worms. As you said because the OEM windows came with the laptop microsoft will require the purchase of a new Windows license. Add in the work of reloading all the software. We are talking time plus money AND the SS drive you are putting in does not even have as much storage as the drive you took out. An easier compromise is to just enable ready boost. Pick up a good USB drive of double what you have in RAM and format it to NSTC file standard. Plug into a USB port and this will cache / mirror things from the HDD and speed things up quite well. I found this has helped alot and could be purchased at the corner drug store / office supply store locally. Save the windows License cost ESPECIALLY with windows 8 coming full steam down the track. Use the stock HDD until it quits and by then it may be time for a new Laptop in a future time windows 9 or whatever is being pushed is on the market.