Slow and eager to upgrade!!

[Jaye]

I'm in the process of upgrading my computer. Currently, i have an IBM T20 2647 with 6gb hard drive 320mb that can be upgraded to 512mb (4200rpm 3.5" cache memory 512mb). I would like to upgrade to a decent amount of memory where i'm able to freely put my programs on and surf the web. I also intend on adding music, game and book files. Not to mention a decent firewall, spyware and antivirus. Right now, I'm lucky to be on the net with no problems cause my system always freeze and I have to press ctrl+alt+del for "a quick shut down and restart" which still at times takes forever to do. My system right now is so slow i can go to the store, come back & it just got to the welcome screen lol ..My O.S. is windows xp home edition with sp2. Also, I have avg (latest edition) antivirus, yahoo toolbar (for the spyware) and of course my windows updates. Right now, my space is so limited I had to stop my updates and delete my prefetch files everyday Also, had to stop second and third party cookies. My current I.P. is explorer 6. All including music is saved on my u.s.b. card. With all that being said, my question to everyone is I want to upgrade my computer to a 120gb hard drive. But, i'm clueless as to what would be the max for my memory size.. What is considered a good size memory for 120gb?? Once I installed my memory and hard drive, I'm downloading Firefox monkey trails or google chome (which ever is best) along with Zone alarm (unless u know of something better) I heard the program itself is decent. Right now, I have no firewall except for what windows provided me with . Another question is should I upgrade my video card?? personally, I don't think it's a big deal because my main concern is to have the computer move faster along with an increased memory. But down the line, i will get that taken care as well if needed . My modem is intel pro/100 mobile combo adapter is that ok?? Last night, my comp went into virtual memory (whatever that is). PLEASE HELP ME SOLVE THIS ISSUE. thanks for your time.

[Harryc]

The T20 Laptop takes the PC100 SDRAM SODIMMs. You can upgrade your memory to up to a maximum of 512 MB. The system has 2 sockets to install Memory, so you'd want to install 2 X 256MB for a total of 512MB. The T20 is picky about RAM density as well, so you want low density modules with 8 chips per side. Since you already have one 256MB module, you'd need to get one more. The video is not upgradeable because the GPU is soldered onto the systemboard. Most of the symptoms you are experiencing are happening due to low or no free hard drive space.

[Jaye]

okay thank you for the vaulable info is it okay to upgrade my hard drive to 120gb??

[Harryc]

Sure, you can go larger if you want to. The largest 2.5" IDE laptop hard drive is 320GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136379

[Jaye]

WOW this is great news!! I'm gonna go for gusto and max it out with 320gb.. Watch out computer land here comes speedy Thanks so much!! Ur a TRUE LIFE SAVER!! you made it possible for my comp to breathe again... one more thing how do i move my stuff (xp,avg all the necessary program files) to the new hard drive?

[Harryc]

Use a drive cloning utility like Acronis True Image. You will also need an external USB/IDE enclosure, an Ultrabay 2000 2nd HDD adapter, or a USB to IDE cable. IMHO, your current build sounds broken. I wouldn't be in any hurry to clone it.

[Jaye]

I would like to purchase the hard drive that was suggested for me to buy. The item is "deactivated" meaning the item may be discontinued . Is their another hard drive that you can suggest that's just as good or better? thanks so much also.. can i boost it to 7200 RPM?

[RealBlackStuff]

Here it is in stock:
http://www.compuplus.com/i-Western-Digi ... 58i12siw2v
You can go to 7200rpm, but modern HDs like the above WD @5400rpm are just as fast (and develop less heat and noise).