HOW TO: Install RAM on your DELL notebook

This guide is to give a basic overview of the process of replacing the RAM modules. I know the guide is pretty long, but I just wanted to make sure I was thorough about the process and I used simple terminology so it makes sense. English is not my native language, so feel free to correct whatever.

It is meant as a guide that you can choose to follow on your own free will. I am not liable for anything that happens to your notebook.

Preparation – I used rubber gloves, you don't have to so long as you ground yourself by touching bare unpainted metal before you start fiddling around.
Tools – Plastic scribe (I used a metal one). So long as you're careful, you shouldn't damage the maintenance lid with scratches. You can pick up the scribe (metal) and the screwdriver at any local walmart and I'm sure you canget them elsewhere as well.


The process -

1.
Shut down the unit and remove the battery. Flip unit so the bottom of the unit is facing you.

2.
Using the screwdriver, unscrew the screw that holds the maintenance lid down.

3.
remove the maintenance lid to review the module in it's housing slot.

4.
as you can see in this picture, there is a two metal pressure clips that hold the unit down. One on each side. The pressure is pushed inwards and not downwards.

5.
To relieve that pressure, you must use your fingers on the clips to pull them OUTWARDS (not down, up, or any other direction). Once you pull it outwards, the module itself should pop open. The picture shows the RAM module relieved.

6.
Pull the module towards you.

7.
you just keep pulling until the unit comes out!!

8.
Now align the NEW (this is a new module) RAM module into the slot. Notice it should be at about a 35 degree angle like so.

9.
In this picture, you can see that there is a slit inside the RAM module (Right below where it says REV A00 in the yellow sticker). You're supposed to line this with the grey line that you see in the picture. This lets you know that you've installed it the correct way up. Once you've line it up, don't be afraid to push it in so it closes the gap between the slit on the RAM module and the grey piece. They are supposed to connect.

10.
Once it's in, it will look like this.

11.
Using two fingers, apply sufficient pressure to the two corners.

12.
Once you've applied enough pressure, the two metal spring pieces will snap back in (towards each other) and hold the Module down!!! Put the maintenance lid back on and screw it tightly to hold the lid on.

13.
Flip the notebook around, so the keyboard is facing you. Extend the monitor 180 degrees like so.

14.
Using the scribe...

15.
insert it like so, into the crack of the maintenance lid. (don't worry, you're not damaging anything. That little gap is made for this specific reason).

16.
Make sure you got it deep enough in there to ensure good leverage. Once you've done so, lift up.

17.
run your fingers along and push up to pop the maintenance lid out. Don't be afraid to break it, it's a very flexible piece.

18.
keep going buddy!

19.
Once near the end, pop it out of place and remove it.

20.
Here is the resulting view. You have three screws you need to remove. One on top of the ESC button on the upper left. 2nd on the middle on top of F7 button. 3rd on top of the PAUSE button. Unscrew all of those.

21.


For visual reference, I've pointed to the screws.

22.
lift up on the keyboard like so. Don't worry, you won't break anything.

23.
the other corner as well.

24.


flip the keyboard down like this. The three consecutive pictures are to show you the motion.

25.
There will be a PIN that holds the keyboard down. But then there is also another pressure clip (in light baby blue) that holds the keyboard cable down as well.

26.


there's a black plastic piece that is holding the pressure of that baby blue clip down. Move the black plastic piece outwards and that will make the baby blue piece pop up.

27.


lift the baby blue piece up like so.

28.


grab onto the sky blue ribbon and pull the connector UP.

29.
The result. A mobile keyboard that you can remove to give you access to the 2nd module.

30.
Keyboard removed.

31.
zooming into the 2nd RAM module and slot.

32.


Same principle, pull the two metal piece away from one another to relieve pressure exerted onto the RAM to hold it down. Once you've done so, the module should pop up allowing you to remove it in the same manner as the first.

33.


Lining up the slit with the slot once again, push the unit in and make sure the slit is connecting to the black fin piece (under the keyboard, it's a black fin not grey) on the slot.

34.



Once again, using the same method, apply pressure onto the module until it snaps back into place. Don't worry about the metal side pieces, they will move on their own.

35.
put the keyboard face down like so.

36.

Lift the sky blue piece up so you can make room for the keyboard cables.

37.

line the connector up and then push down firmly to ensure proper fit.

38.


Bring the sky blue piece down.

39.
spread the black piece out so you can fit the sky blue piece inside, then release the black piece and it should clip neatly over the sky blue piece to make sure it doesn't pop out.

40.


Line the keyboard up, screw em down!

41.


Put the maintenance lid back on! Put the battery back on and turn the baby on!

42.

Once turned on, pass the security features (if you have it of course), it should say the system has detected a different amount of memory blah blah blah press something to continue.

THAT'S IT, you're done.

 

Very well written guide. Great job!

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read it, I appreciate it and hope it will be helpful to others.

 

Again, Very well written. This is the perfect way for a step-by-step pic guide to be done. props

 

Holy ****! 42 steps - thats like laptop surgery! I'm never buying a dell

Good job tho; dunno where you get the patience

 

It's really not that hard, I just wanted to be very thorough so my guide could explain everything without having to ask questions.

Maybe it was actually a fault to make it this long...

 

Good thread very helpful for the non computer savy!

 

No. Don't change it - seriously. If I were to actually do this procedure, I'd want all the pictures I can get. You have no idea how frustrating it is when a guide is super detailed, and all of a sudden it's like - "just finish putting in ___ and you're done" - and I'm sitting there with my mouth open going... what?

I'm not kidding, you did a good job!

 

I pray that the inspiron 1520 isn't setup like this (on the location of the RAM part) if I decide to buy it.

 

Excellent post! Next I'd like to see a HDD swap guide (on the D630).

 

I don't think any 15-inchers are like that.

 

I agree!! Thank you Sirius_GTO. Well Done!

Dell should add this pictorial to their website.

 

Nice write-up OP. I get my D830 in 2 days and will report if the 2nd slot is under keyboard or not. My old D610 had two slots on bottom and none under the keyboard.

 

The E1505 is like that, the M1210 is like that,the D630, and the D830 is like that. Thanks guys.

 

Really? Now that is too simple

 

Nice work. VERY detailed.

I hate it when notebook makers req. you to remove the keyboard to do small upgrades. When i did this for my ibook(course back then i was only adding 128megs of SD ram) i was never able to re-seat the keyboard properly... Course this dell has a much better mounting system(3 screws right into the frame)

 

This is very helpful. I am sure a lot of people will appreciate this.

 

I wish I had this guide before attempting this...

 

Hehehe, you should have told me

 

Meh, "So it goes."

 

Hey.. great guide - I just had a few questions.

1) Does the inspiron e1405 have the ram under the keyboard as well or are both at the back?

2) If one is under the keyboard, can I just put a 1GB stick replacement for the back one only for a total of 1.5 GB? (the one i ordered is 512 MB x2)

I plan on using corsair valueselect DDR 533 either 1 or 2 sticks depending.

Thanks!

 

1) E1405 has both in the back.

2) You can do that, but optimal performance comes with two matching "sticks".

 

Inspiron E1405 is for home use only, and provide easy access memory slot location on the buttom of the notebook computer. I think this design is much better than many Latitude for business/commerical use which has one slot on the buttom and another under the keyboard.

I don't know why Dell has such poor design. If you do not allow consumers to change memory themselves, you can put all the memory slots under the keyboard like Thinkpad. In this case, heat dissipation efficiency will be improved.

 

The E1505 Inspiron has both sodimms located on the back of the laptop. There is no need on this unit to remove the keyboard. I know because I did this upgrade for myself three days ago. I would also look at the .pdf service manual that DELL provides on its website for your individual computer for step by step instructions. The guide posted here is indeed excellent for the quality photos and great explanations for that particular model

 

Yes you can do that, but you will not be running in dual channel mode as I understand it.

 

Sounds good. I still cant decide if I want the e1405 or e1505 though. The main concern I have is the e1505 on an airplane, does that fit on a tray table well enough to view? I will be having a few flights per month for work.

I like the e1505 because of the free graphics card for the occassional game when on the road. Also, its got WXGA+.

I will definitely be using 2gb of ram though if its that easy to install.

 

This guide is VERY detailed - and i think that is good. I have built several desktops from scratch (never even opened laptop tho) and i still appreciate its extreme thoroughness. Excellent work.

 

Have you considered a D630? I know it seems like I'm pushing these lately

 

The latitude series build quality is leaps and bounds above the inspiron...

I really like the latest latitudes!

 

fusion - they are

 

thanks for this guide Sirius_GTO,
i just ordered a d630 and will definitely upgrade to 2gigs of ram

 

I just followed you here (metaphorically, sort of) from FrostKnight's review... very detailed guide with great pictures!

 

haha thanks!

 

This should be a sticky in the Dell Forum.

 

Fabulous guide! The manual for the m1210 doesn't even bother to mention that one of the memory slots is underneath the keyboard. So I'm sure I would have been tearing my hair out trying to figure that out. Thanks for going to all the trouble.

 

Great work Sirius GTO..!!

The second RAM slot (the one at the back) is at present empty in my D630. So there won't be any need to operate a "surgery" in the near future.

But whenever I need to, your guide will be very handy. It couldn't have been more precise. Thanks for your effort. Much appreciated.

 

Very nicely done. lots of great high res (macro lens?) pictures, the closeups are very nice.

what camera did you use to take them with? and also, you might want to consider throwing those steps into an instructable ( www.instructables.com)

we could get it out to the semi-mainstream audience.

 

Thank's Mcarroll -

It was done with a Rebel XTi with 18-55mm lens.

I'll research that website more tomorrow

 

Another reason why I wouldn't like to install my own RAM... but good guide though! A picture is worth a thousand words and you got plenty of pictures!

 

Like I've said, it's really not that difficult at all. Maybe the numerous pictures intimidates some, but it is there to provide more clarity. Thanks grace.

 

How could I save this thread as a Web Archieve page on my hd ?
I need a copy of this for my future reference.
When I try to save it as Web Archieve (mht file), it says "This web page could not be saved to the selected location"

 

Why don't you just open up the page you want to save, go to File > Save Page As, then name it and save as an HTML?

(I'm using Firefox)

 

yep firefox will export all the images and such... or you could bookmark the page, its not like its going away...

 

I've been reading that upgrading your ram to 3gb improves performance of the 8400M GS dramatically (that's basically an NVS 135M, right?)

Will this 2gb Patriot ram stick work in a D630? Also, is the price ($110) good/decent/bad?

 

That's as good a price for 2gb ram that I could have imagined. I wonder if it will work in an m1330.

 

Anyone have any idea if the inspiron 1520 has one behind the keyboard or are they both on the back as the 1505's were?
Or is there no way for anyone to know yet since no one has actually gotten their 1520 yet?

 

One module is behind the keyboard and the other one is at the back.

 

Hopefully for the people like me who ordered 1.5GB, they put the 1GB behind the keyboard.

 

I believe they don't.

 

Then I'll be looking forward to using your guide.