Are you not satisfied with the current performance of your laptop? Does it lag too much? Does it take forever to boot up? Is it slowing down your work speed? Well, there’s a simple solution: upgrade your laptop’s RAM!
Never done it before? No need to worry! Everyone has their first time, right? I’ve replaced RAMs for several of my laptops and believe me once you know what you’re doing, it’s a cakewalk!
I’ll explain the complete process of replacing your laptop’s RAM so stick with me if you want to enjoy the enhanced speeds.
Must-haves to replace the RAM
- A small Philips head screwdriver
- A plastic pry tool
- An anti-static wristband
- Safety gloves and goggles
- A compatible RAM
Some safety tips before we begin
- Make sure that your purchased RAM is compatible with your laptop. If you’re having a hard time looking for the right laptop RAM, look it up on HP’s official website or contact customer support.
- Always wear protective goggles and gloves to avoid any injuries in case of an accident. Safety comes first!
- You need to be very gentle with the RAM module and try not to touch the gold parts. Because they’re extremely fragile and may get damaged before you know it.
- Wear an anti-static wrist wrap to save your laptop from any static electricity damage.
Upgrading your HP laptop’s RAM: a step-by-step guide
Got the tools? Now, I want you to carefully follow through each step to ensure a perfect RAM upgrade, alright? So let’s get going!
- Check the compatibility and go for the right RAM
First, you need to look for a compatible RAM. already have it? Well then, brilliant! You can move on to the next step.
But, if you haven’t, then go to HP’s official website and click on customer support. Now enter your laptop’s serial no. in the search field and enter the search result that matches your laptop. Click on the manuals, and then tap into the Maintenance & Service Guide or Hardware Reference Guide. Here, you’ll all the information about your system’s memory.
To calculate the amount of memory you need; subtract the amount of memory already installed by the maximum amount allowed. Or you could go for the maximum memory allowed and replace it with the older one altogether.
Protip: if your laptop has two RAM slots then I’d suggest that you install the same type of RAM in both slots for a smoother performance.
- Power off your laptop
Once you have the compatible RAM, it’s time to start! I’d suggest performing this task in a clean and well-lit space. The coffee table in your living room would be perfect.
Now before you open it up, make sure your laptop is turned off and unplugged from the power source. If you have a removable battery, go ahead and take it out.
- Remove the back lid
Flip your laptop on its back and remove all the necessary screws at the base with the screwdriver. In some of the HP models, there are rubber feet at the bottom that keep the laptop elevated. But the annoying thing is, there are screws under the rubber feet. So you’ll need to remove those strips first, to get to the screws. This is where the plastic pry tool comes into play. I wouldn’t suggest using a screwdriver for this job as you may scratch the back. And you don’t want that, right?
Gently peel off both the rubber feet with the pry tool and place them face up beside your laptop. Once all the screws are out from the bottom of your laptop, gently remove the back cover using the pry tool.
- Locate the RAM slots
Once the cover is off, you need to look for the RAM slot. It should look similar to the one you have on hand. Can’t find it? Well, it means your model has a small panel covering the RAM. You’ll have to unscrew that panel to expose the RAM slots.
- Take out the old RAM
Found the RAM? Now, to remove it, you just need to push outward on the metal clips on the sides and this will allow the memory to pop out. Then you can gently slide out the old memory. Piece of cake!
- Insert in your new RAM
Grab the new RAM by the edges and slide it into the RAM compartment at a 45-degree angle. It’s important that the notch lengths at the RAM module match the ones at the RAM slot or it won’t fit. Once you’re sure that the RAM is in place, gently push it until it snaps into the metal clips. You do want to make sure that the memory is installed correctly because it’d be quite hectic to go through the process again.
- Re-install the bottom of the laptop
Place the RAM cover back and screw it up. Now put the laptop on its side and fit the bottom of the laptop back on. Then put all the screws back in and slide in the battery (if you removed it).
- Power up your laptop
So, the moment of truth! Power on your laptop and check if it recognizes the new RAM. You can do that either by going to Settings > System > About (installed RAM section). Or by pressing Windows+R to pop up the Run dialog box, then type “msinfo32” and hit enter. The “System Summary” will show up where you can check the “Installed Physical Memory” amount.
- Test the new RAM
You can also do some tests by using tools like Mem Test86 or the built-in Windows diagnostic tool to see if the RAM is working at its full potential.
Some common issues after installing the new RAM
Is your laptop not turning back on after installing the new RAM? Or it switches off by itself after a few seconds then here’s what you can do.
- Reseat the new RAM again
- Use a can of compressed air to clear off the grooves in the RAM compartment
- Take out the new RAM and try to power up your laptop. If it works fine then re-check if your RAM is compatible or not.
- If the problem persists then place back the old RAM and confirm if the laptop works in the original configurations
Final thoughts
Told you! It wasn’t as difficult as it seemed now, was it? I hope this guide proved to be helpful and I’m sure if you precisely follow all the steps and take all precautions, there’s no chance you could fumble it. Good luck upgrading your RAM!
Muhammad Allayhan, a gaming and PC hardware virtuoso, breathes life into pixelated worlds. A legendary overclocker, he unlocks hidden power in gaming rigs. Navigating from 8-bit realms to today’s masterpieces, Muhammad’s words immerse readers in an ever-evolving digital odyssey. Join him as he reveals the secrets of gaming’s cutting edge.
