Do these upgrades myself?

[Billmanweh]

I have a couple of upgrades that I would like to do, and I'm just wondering if I should try them myself or turn in over to a pro. Basically, three things;

I currently have 1GB of RAM and want to add a 2GB stick for a total of 3.

I want to swap out for a larger HD. I have a Hitachi 200GB HD, an external HD to use for the swap and a copy of Acronis True Image. From what I understand, I use the Acronis software to make an image of my current HD on the external drive, then install the new one and reverse the process? So I have an exact image of my old drive on the new one?

And due to a couple of minor spills, I've got some sticky keys. So I need to clean up my keyboard.

So, is all of this something a novice could do? Or send it to someone who knows what they're doing? How bad could I screw things up? If I try it myself, in what order should I go?

[ZaZ]

Yes, all are very easy to do. Consult the hardware maintenance manual for your machine to see how do to it. The support and training site can be a big help too. Good Luck.

[Harryc]

RAM, is easy to do, in fact you have to remove the palmrest to upgrade RAM on a T6X machine, so you're half way there. It's only (4) screws. Sticking keys....is the machine still under warranty? As far as cloning, you have it backwards. You put the new drive in the Thinkpad, the old drive as an external USB attachment, then use an Acronis boot CD to clone the external (old) to the internal (new).

[sktn77a]

Shouldn't be an issue - remove the palmrest (4 screws) to get a the memory and keyboard and then just one additional screw to remove the keyboard. Cleaning it may be challenge. There's no consensus how this should best be done but you can check this link:

http://www.laptoppartwholesale.com/Eblo ... aptop.html

[Billmanweh]

I think I might still be under warranty, and I have the onsite option too. Were you thinking they might do something about the sticky keys or maybe help me with the upgrades?

Yeah, I'm confused about the Acronis process. I take out the old drive, put in the new one and then make a boot CD? First don't I need to copy my current HD to the external HD? So I can copy it back?

Should I do the RAM and keyboard, put it back together and make sure everything is running before I tackle the HD?

[Harryc]

If it's still under warranty have Lenovo send you a new keyboard before you do anything. Acronis...while in windows booted up on the old drive, create an Acronis boot CD. Then follow what I said above. No need to do any 'pre-copying'.

[Billmanweh]

Ok, I'll give them a call tomorrow and check on the warranty status.

[Billmanweh]

Ok, I guess I can start another thread on the Acronis software. But just to be clear, right now the external HD is blank. If I don't copy the old internal HD to the external drive, how am I going to copy anything onto the new internal drive once it's installed? Or maybe I'm just completely misunderstanding how it works.

[yak]

Ok, I'll give them a call tomorrow and check on the warranty status.

You can lookup the status yourself:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... -WARNTY#sw

[Harryc]

... how am I going to copy anything onto the new internal drive once it's installed? Or maybe I'm just completely misunderstanding how it works.

You'll need an SATA to USB external enclosure or an SATA to USB adapter cable to hook the old drive to the laptop. Boot Acronis and clone the external to the new target internal. You will not be successful moving or copying images between drives via a third external drive if that is what you are attempting to do. If the third drive is SATA to USB though...there's your new enclosure. Remove what's in it and put your old drive in there.

[sktn77a]

Were you thinking they might do something about the sticky keys or maybe help me with the upgrades?

They won't do any upgrades for you. They won't give you a new keyboard, either, if you tell them the keys are sticking because of spills - that's not covered by warranty (unless you have the Thinkpad Protection warranty). Now, if a key were to pop off...............

[Billmanweh]

Ok, I might be beating a dead horse here, and if that's the case let me know and I'll move on.

I have three drives. My original HD in my thinkpad with all my data and OS installed. I have a new Hitachi HD that I want to install and it's blank. I also have an external Western Digital HD that's also blank. And I have a copy of the Acronis software installed on my laptop.

This is what I thought I needed to do;

Using the Acronis software, clone a version of my HD onto the external WD drive. Then take out my original HD and discard it (or whatever). Put the new Hitachi drive into my laptop. Then clone the version that is on the external HD onto the new Hitachi drive.

I think the process you're describing is with two drives, rather than three. If I'm understanding you correctly.

[Harryc]

No, your new drive will not boot unless it is installed in the Thinkpad first, and then do a clone from the external old to the internal new drive. I've said this three times now. Make a boot CD first from your existing Acronis install before you remove the old drive. If you do not clone this way there is a chance Acronis will destroy the boot sector on the target drive and it will not boot. Don't take my word for it though, experiment yourself. You have plenty of drive space to experiment and nothing to lose.

[Billmanweh]

No, your new drive will not boot unless it is installed in the Thinkpad first, and then do a clone from the external old to the internal new drive. I've said this three times now. Make a boot CD first from your existing Acronis install before you remove the old drive. If you do not clone this way there is a chance Acronis will destroy the boot sector on the target drive and it will not boot. Don't take my word for it though, experiment yourself. You have plenty of drive space to experiment and nothing to lose.

Ok, I think we're saying the same thing. You were mentioning using an enclosure and adapter cables and I thought you didn't know I had the third drive to use. I think we're on the same page.

[hellosailor]

I know Acronis has a great rep, but my results using the OEM versions supplied by Seagate and Apricorn have both been very mixed. Following their instructions to the t (or perhaps that is "theta" because Acronis don't make good YnGlitch on their menus) and double-checking in each case with the OEM's tech support staff, I followed instructions to CLONE the old drive to the new one.

In each case, the new drive works just fine--but the old drive is no longer bootable, so IT WASN'T JUST CLONED. And that's a vital difference to me, because I had wanted to use the old drive as a "hot spare" fully bootable and ready to go in case the new one failed later down the line.

Can a total newb do it and use it, yes. I just no longer can trust Acronis--at all--because what they are saying and what they are actually DOING are in fact two very different things. I just don't know a better choice to recommend at this time.

[And PS one of these days I will get the time to use a retail Vista disc to try seeing if the "repair" options will make that first drive bootable again. But can't do that anytime soon.]

[Billmanweh]

They won't give you a new keyboard, either, if you tell them the keys are sticking because of spills - that's not covered by warranty (unless you have the Thinkpad Protection warranty). Now, if a key were to pop off...............

I called yesterday afternoon and mentioned that I had some sticky keys and UPS delivered my new keyboard this morning. Thanks for the tip!