Is it easy to replace the hard drive on this older laptop?

[LABachlr]

Is it relatively easy to replace the hard drive on a Compaq Presario 1600-XL145? If so, what's the easiest way to go about it?

It's an older laptop, and has a cpu of only 500MHz. It has a 6GB HD, which is nothing nowadays. So I figured I would replace it.

Also, the specs say that it can only take up to 128MB of PC100 CL2 RAM. Do you think it would take a 256MB chip? I had an older Compaq desktop with the same speed processor, and the board was able to take a 256MB chip, even though the specs said that it could only take up to a 128 chip. The main reason that the specs ususally say that is that there was no 256MB chip back then, and they never updated the specs, or they never tested it with a 256 chip.

 

[TheCanuck]

Some websites like the one below say a 256mb stick will work with that model. I had a presario 12xl-3 that had only 32MB ram built in and it was able to take a 256mb stick (was a celeron 600). No guarantees though...maybe take it to a local computer shop and see if you can "test out" a stick.

http://www.directron.com/c01064.html

Hard drives are usually pretty each to install on them. Mine came with a 6GB and I upgraded it to a 20GB. Just need to remove the screws at the back, pop off the keyboard and then the top casing needs to be gently pryed off as well. Looks like this right?

http://www.hp.com.hk/pcorner/images_release/1600.jpg

Mine had the same shell. Just make sure you remove the battery first and I think theres a small screw near the opening of the battery compartment (been a few years since I took one apart). If the top cover gives you some hassle double check that you've removed all the screws (can't remember completely but there may have been a screw or two underneath the keyboard that keeps the top section in place as well).

 

[LABachlr]

Cool. Thanks.

Yes, that's exactly what it looks like. I'll see what I can do with it. Thanks for the tips.