Forum Topic

Do-It-Yourself Laptop and Notebook Upgrading, Modding and Repairing

  • Good pm mga Master ! Planning to use my old lappie for my daughter’s home schooling in senior high due to budget constraints (MSI GE60 ONC, i5 3210, 8GB ram, GT 650M video card, 15” monitor). Worth it pa po bang i upgrade yung HD nya to SSD, at kaya pa kayang mag Windows 10? Currently using Win 7, which I believe ay wala nang suppport. Basic Office applications lang po gagamitin. Thanks sa honest opinions.

    -- edited by bb2hot4u2c on Apr 03 2021, 10:33 PM

    -- edited by bb2hot4u2c on Apr 03 2021, 10:35 PM

    -- edited by bb2hot4u2c on Apr 03 2021, 10:38 PM
  • ^Yung dati kong MSI GX660 (2011) naka Windows 10 and wala naman akong naging problem performance wise, pati sa games. Mas bago yang GE60 so I'm sure kayang kaya nya Windows 10 :)

    As for SSD, malaking difference talaga ang speed nya compared to HDD, as in night and day. Kung merong budget, I suggest getting one para na din mabilis ang response ng laptop. Ang alam ko merong mSATA slot ang GE60, pero check mo na din to make sure.
  • ^ yes kaya pa yan. Worth it na worth it pag nagupgrade ka from HDD to SSD. Bibilis yang laptop mo. Mine has slightly lower spec and it can still play Dota 2 bago masira yung motherboard. Yung sayo, tatagal pa yan ng ilang years and Yes it can handle Windows 10 with no issues.
  • ^
    @bb2hot4u2c
    Yes, you can upgrade to Windows 10 from Win 7. Did that to my Thinkpad X220.
    I did have to do two things after creating the Win 10 installation disk:

    1. Create an ei.cfg file to specify that it's an OEM install.

    2. Enter the Win7 product key (found on the sticker under the laptop) after Windows 10 is installed (not during the installation).

    Upgrading to SSD is always a good idea. I don't suggest buying an mSATA SSD though, because it's too expensive per GB. Get a decent 2.5" SATA SSD and replace the hard drive.
  • ^ up sa mga nag comments,

    Note on the mSATA slot. it might not support storage function (hit or miss). I have an extra sa Acer 7750z (HM65 chipset, 2nd Gen processor) but the mSATA drive did not work. Nasa mSATA to SATA adapter na lang.
  • It really depends on the laptop model. AFAIK the majority of Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge laptops do not have mSATA at all.

    Besides, mSATA SSDs can be hard to find locally (had to order from Amazon), and prices are too high.
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  • Nabuhusan ng tea ang laptop ng son ko kagabi. Binuksan ko ang back and pinunasan ko lahat ng basa saka itinutok sa air outlet ng air purifier. May pag-asa pa kaya ito? Hindi kasi nai-off agad.
  • @redisol: mas mabuting ipabaklas nyo sa gumagawa ng laptop para matuyo lahat. May pag-asa pa yan.

    @spash: more likely yung original 45w charger ang may problem.
  • mga boss, mag pagasa papo kaya magawa yung luma kong asus laptop na nasira po yung onboard RAM nya, 4gb yun. lagi nag eerror, BSOD. problem din po sa memtest. may way po ba na madisable yung RAM at externa RAM po ang gamitin ko. salamat
  • mga boss, mag pagasa papo kaya magawa yung luma kong asus laptop na nasira po yung onboard RAM nya, 4gb yun. lagi nag eerror, BSOD. problem din po sa memtest. may way po ba na madisable yung RAM at externa RAM po ang gamitin ko. salamat
    malamang sa malamang need tanggalin yong built-in RAM modules. it would require a desoldering workstation or temperature controlled heat gun + flux + and insulating tapes (to protect nearby components).

    hindi ko sasabihing dalhin mo sa technician kse DIY thread ito ^_^
  • malamang sa malamang need tanggalin yong built-in RAM modules. it would require a desoldering workstation or temperature controlled heat gun + flux + and insulating tapes (to protect nearby components).

    hindi ko sasabihing dalhin mo sa technician kse DIY thread ito ^_^


    salamat po. not sure kung kaya ko ito ma DIY hehe pero atleast may idea nako. salamat
  • Use Kapton tape to insulate the components surrounding the RAM chips. Some even go further by putting aluminum foil on top of the Kapton to further reduce the amount of heat that reaches the surrounding area.
  • How much to upgrade my Asus x453m laptop. 2gb lang ram nya and gusto ko sya mapabilis. Thanks sa sasagot
  • @moseragc
    The X453M probably has DDR3L RAM, but check the RAM type via CPU-Z to make sure:



    Based on this disassembly video <click here for link>

    There's only one RAM slot. So buy what you need. Prices for DDR3L vary quite a bit, some 8GB ones are available below 2k, but most are closer to 3k.
  • Hi, curious lang ako magkano niyo bibilhin yung ganitong 2nd hand laptop:

    Acer e5-475G (bought July 2016)
    i3-6100u
    940MX
    1366x768
    8GB DDR4 (2*4)
    256GB M.2 SATA SSD
    1TB HDD
    w/ Optical Drive
    Battery still working but needs replacement, can only last for around 30mins
    Charger is working pero maluwag sa dc-in ng laptop
    idk if factor din ba, but disclose ko na rin that mobo was replaced in 2018

    pinag iisipan ko ba kung ibebenta ko siya, or ikeep ko na lang as back up device. Thanks

    -- edited by KSolomon on Sep 05 2021, 10:14 AM
  • anyone tried to disable secure boot ng HP elitebook (2560p ang sakin)
    upgrading WWAN card para magka 5g na sim sana kaso block ng uefi setting agad
    upon restart
  • ^Ang trick ata diyan is to put in a password para ma disable ang Secure boot.
  • @KSolomon

    Maybe 15-17k.
  • Hi guys, medyo di lang makapagbackread if may nakapagtanong na. Any decent laptop for a budget of 35k max? Will be used mostly for online school and office works.

    Thank you!
  • I have old toshiba laptop gusto ko installan ng ibang os (linux lite if possible). Problem is sira yung screen and is connected lang sa external monitor.

    Pwede pa kaya? Bagal na kasi sa Win10.
  • 1. Find the correct key to press to enter BIOS setup for you particular laptop model (Google is your friend). Spam that key the moment you power up the laptop to enter the BIOS setup. Configure the following settings:

    - Initialize display first: external/VGA
    - Boot mode: Legacy/BIOS or CSM --> while most Linux distros already have UEFI support, some desktops and laptops have buggy UEFI implementations, so it's better to stick to the tried-and-tested BIOS mode.
    - Boot sequence: USB-HDD, or remove the internal HDD altogether from the boot sequence.

    2. If the external monitor still doesn't display anything, you may need to disconnect the LCD cable. If you do so, make sure that the battery and charger are disconnected, and remove the LCD connector on the laptop's system board, not on the LCD panel. Some laptops will blow a fuse if it's powered up while the LCD cable is connected to the system without an LCD.

    Alternate installation route
    Remove the HDD from the laptop and install it temporarily on a desktop PC. Disconnect all the other HDDs. Install linux on that HDD, ensure that it's working, then put it back on the laptop. 75% chance it will boot properly.

    -- edited by awakeruze on Oct 01 2021, 09:18 PM
  • mga sir...

    ano kaya possible gawin kapag kailangan i-continuous press yung esc button para wag mag-off yung laptop?

    bigla siyang nagblack screen kanina habang ginagamit tapos ayaw gumana yung power button. pero kapag na-press yung esc button, magturn na siya. pero kapag binitawan, mamamatay na ulit siya.

    salamat po
  • ^display lang ba nawawala? check nyo power saving settings
  • display lang ba nawawala? check nyo power saving settings


    nag-ooff siya kapag binitawan yung esc button. meaning kailangan nakapindot sa esc button para magamit yung laptop or else bigla siya mag-ooff... as in parang appliance na hinugot yung plug. considering na full charge pa yung battery & wala naman issue sa battery

    -- edited by xxGILxx on Oct 21 2021, 08:20 PM
  • Hi, tanong lang po kung saan locally pwedeng makabili ng pre-programmed EC chips? Kailangan ko po kasi ng IT8225VG-128 para sa Asus GL504GW, kaso hindi ako sigurado kung auto-programmed sya ng main BIOS tulad ng ibang Asus na laptop. Medyo mahal din kasi bumili ng Vertyanov / SVOD4 kung para sa isang laptop lang.

    Maraming salamat!
  • May recommended po ba kayong budget / sulit na dual band wifi/bt card. Yung nakakabit kasi sa laptop na gamit namin ay single band 2.4ghz lang at medyo congested na rin dito sa amin kaya minsan disconnected yung anak ko habang nagkaklase. Either dual band wifi/bt card po ang option or kabitan ng LAN cable.

    Model: Asus X540UP-DM019T

    PS. pala
    Pagkabaklas ko nung unit, napansin ko na isang wire lang yung nakakabit sa wifi card para sa antenna. Ok lang kaya kung isang antenna lang for both 2.4 at 5ghz o talagang pang single band lang siya? TIA po

    -- edited by moyg on Apr 08 2022, 01:37 AM
  • WiFi cards are either mini-PCIe or M.2. You have to know which type is in your laptop. Laptops between 2006 and 2012 have mini-PCIe, 2018 onwards are most likely M.2. 2013-2017 laptops can go either way.

    Mini-pcie wifi card sample pic:



    M.2 WiFi card sample pic:



    I suggest the Intel 7260 AC, since most of these have Bluetooth built-in.

    Mini-pcie cards have screw holes at the upper left and right corners.
    M.2 cards have that C-shaped cut at the top center.

    The number of antennas doesn't determine if it's single or dual band. It will, however, limit the maximum connection speed-- for example, 300Mbps WiFi-N requires two antennas, while 450Mbps requires 3. With only 1 antenna, WiFi-N is stuck at 150Mbps.

    You can harvest wifi antennas and cables from dead laptops.

    -- edited by awakeruze on Apr 08 2022, 02:20 AM
  • I suggest the Intel 7260 AC, since most of these have Bluetooth built-in.


    The number of antennas doesn't determine if it's single or dual band. It will, however, limit the maximum connection speed-- for example, 300Mbps WiFi-N requires two antennas, while 450Mbps requires 3. With only 1 antenna, WiFi-N is stuck at 150Mbps.

    You can harvest wifi antennas and cables from dead laptops.


    For online schooling siguro pwede na po muna yung single antenna, basta pwede makakabit sa 5ghz. Better na medyo may limit sa speed kaysa sa disconnected lagi sa 2.4ghz band. Salamat po sa input.
  • I have an 8 year old Acer Aspire E14 E5-471G, bale replaced na yung battery nya last Feb 2022 ng replacement battery yung galing shopee/lazada (2nd time ko na to - last replacement was 2019), yung problema ko po recently is hindi mag boboot yung laptop kahit naka kabit pa yung battery at power adaptor. Hindi umiilaw yung power led kahit anong pindot.

    Aandar lng sya if tanggalin ko yung battery for 30secs pati na yung power adaptor then ikabit ulit - after that okay naman sya - works normally. Nanyayari to usually if over night naka patay yung laptop, then ganun na yung nangyayari everytime pag gising ko sa umaga para pa-andarin yung laptop. Need ko i-remove yung battery (buti nlng external sya) at power adaptor for 30secs, minsan I clean the contacts then power on ulit - then it will boot na parang walang issue.

    Tried searching sa google, madami din same issue pero parang walang exact solution. Ano kaya issue nito? Anyone experienced the same thing? Salamat.