# Question about Laptop

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 21-Dec-2014 23:48:39

Hi, guys. Picked up a laptop from Ebay for relatively cheap. Initially, when I received it, it only had 2 GB of ram (maxed this out at 8GB). While I did notice a speed increase, Jaws still takes about 9 secs to open. The processor is an Intel Core I3 U330 at 1.2 GHZ; it is a Dell Inspiron 11Z-1121. Hoping that programs will open faster, I just purchased a 256 GB SSD for the computer, along with a dedicated drive duplicator/cloning station, which can also be used as a storage station. It supports 1 2.5 inch and 1 3.5 inch drives. Not sure if these can be used together as external drives, but that would be nice. Anyway, it has a dedicated cloning option, where you just press a button and cloning begins. Obviously, I cannot see the progress indicator, but I'm glad this can be used as a duplicator and a docking station for internal laptop/desktop hard drives. My question is, will it be faster? I put another SSD in a Lenovo, though the processor was at 2.00 GHZ, instead of 1.2 GHZ like this one.
Nathan.

## Post 2 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Monday, 22-Dec-2014 13:39:57

Post the *exact* model of drive that's currently in there. Look it up in device manager.

## Post 3 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 22-Dec-2014 17:03:34

The SSD if it is an internal install will make the machine faster.
I don't know what you paid, but seems to me you probably could have just gotten a machine already set up.

## Post 4 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 22-Dec-2014 23:07:00

an SSD will always make it faster, but is it worth it for an older puter?

## Post 5 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 23-Dec-2014 3:11:14

Thanks guys. Don't know if it is worth it. Will have to get back to you regarding the exact model of drive.

## Post 6 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 23-Dec-2014 16:41:29

Couple of reasons why knowing the model of drive is important:
1. Some of the smaller machines use 1.8 drives, 7MM 2.5's (instead of the standard 9.5MM) or drives that are just flash memory soldered to the motherboard. Needless to say compatibility will be a problem there.
2. The hardware cloners only look at the drive at a block level which means that cloning a larger drive to a smaller one won't work - E.G. 500GB spinner to a 256GB SSD won't usually be possible. Even if for example you only have 50GB used on the spinner, because cloners usually don't understand file systems they will have no way of knowing that this is the case so just won't let the cloning start.
NB: hardware cloners in my experience are just single board computers in an enclosure running DD. If you really want one build one yourself using an old computer; much cheaper & much more educational.

## Post 7 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 23-Dec-2014 16:45:51

Just checked & it looks like it takes a standard 2.5 9.5MM SATA drive so you should be good.

## Post 8 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 23-Dec-2014 16:47:32

Yeah, but to buy a machine like this, then boost it, is sort of a waste of money.
Many of the lower cost machines are built oddly, and are difficult to upgrade.

## Post 9 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 24-Dec-2014 21:51:59

Thanks for that information, B3N. Actually, I purchased a hard drive duplicator/docking station, so I don't have to use a computer to copy the contents onto another drive. However, when trying to remove the keyboard screws (the hard drive is under the computer keyboard on this model.), the screws were and are stripped. Now, I'm not sure how to remove the screws. YouTube videos indicate to use a drill; however, my families suggestion was to take it by Best Buy and have them remove the screws, which would cost money. Is it even possible, once the stripped screws are out, to find new keyboard screws at an electronics store like Best Buy? I don't think it is. Secondly, any ideas would be appreciated, because I don't want Best Buy charging me a bunch of money.
Nathan.