Upgrading laptop

[Moldiver]

Hi.

I have a sony viao 40gb laptop and I need to look at upgrading it. I've been told that laptops are difficult to upgrade and some can't be so I thought I'd ask here.

Ideally I need to get another 60-80GB and up my ram to 512mb.

Can I do all this via external drives at a reasonable cost?

Thanks

[pompeyfan]

Actually, Hard-drive and RAM are about the only two easy things to upgrade on a laptop.

Check the specs, but any 2.5" 9mm internal laptop hard-drive should fit, and if you have USB2 or firewire then any external hard-drive (USB2 or firewire) should be fine.

For RAM, put your model number into the memory selector at Crucial (http://www.qksrv.net/click-582776-5032991)

HTH

[Moldiver]

Thanks. I just tried that site though and it lists just about everything except my laptop. The model is PCG-FR315B

[pompeyfan]

You could try ringing them - I did that once when my laptop wasen't listed and they found the right memory to order.

[Moldiver]

ok, ta

[Moldiver]

ok called them today. They recomended me this:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.asp?imodule=CT6464X265&WSMD=CT6464X265&WSPN=CT6464X265

Now, my next question is this. Can I change this with ease? I know sod all about doing this stuff and I need to know if a novice like me can open this up and replace it or should I seek help? If so is that going to be costly?

[pompeyfan]

Have you got the manual? It should tell you in there as memory upgrades are usually user doable. It may require the keyboard removing or there may be a hatch underneath where RAM goes.

[Moldiver]

Nothing about upgrading listed in my booklets. I'll have to ring them

[Moldiver]

Just found this:

http://www.vaio-link.com/tutorials/memory/memory.asp?l=en&m=1390&c=0

[pompeyfan]

Yep, same way as on my old Acer - hatch underneath. You shouldn't find it a difficult job at all.

[Moldiver]

Well, thanks a lot for your help. Much appreciated. :)