44 replies to this topic

[rokytnji]

[attachment=47226:attachment][size=1] I have refurbished this laptop to running condition-Windows 2000 pro,Plll 500 mhz, 128 mb ram, 20 gig harrdrive. I want to upgrade the ram without going through Amrel for reasons here: DAL COMPUTER HELP I Have done the Crucial scan, Ran Everest, CPU Z, and have surfed the web hitting every Amrel website TO NO AVAIL. tHE ram SPECS LIKE PC133 OR 2100, PIN SPECS 168 or 200, are a closely gaurded secret. I searched your site and like DAL Computer help I am the only person to ask this type of question and Broni, I kept Jephree up all night with me on this one. I don't wish to pull the existing ram stick in fear of breaking laptop. If I spike the stick for whatever reason I wish to have the new stick or sticks ready. I am hoping I am not the only guy on planet Earth that has a working version of this laptop and also knows how to work it. Its a kickass brand only sold to military and cops and can be upgraded out the yazoo. You can also wear it as a flak vest. So if anybody out there has one of these or tells me to try something I haven't already tried I'm Game. Jephree at Dal couldn't crack this nut, maybe you guys can.[attachment=47226:attachment]

[Broni]

Just you wait, and one of our hardware wizard will be with you.

[rokytnji]

[attachment=47228:attachment] http://www.smartestc...tyle_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif YEEHAA and COWPATTY. Can't wait till it happens. Been delving into this for a month now.

[Smokey]

rokytnji, on Feb 27 2008, 05:16 PM, said:

tHE ram SPECS LIKE PC133 OR 2100

First of all, on laptops, PC133 is 144 pin sdram and 2100 is 200 pin DDR. These memory modules are completely different. It's either one or the other.

I would pull the memory cover and see if you can see the label on the ram.

I understand that you are worried about taking out a module but you're going to have to do that to change it anyway. It's easy and safe. It's held in by 2 spring loaded clips. Push them away from each other and the module will pop out without damage.

If you don't want to do that we need more info on the laptop like make, model number, serial number etc.

[Smokey]

Did some checking. Looks like it takes sdram. You still need to know the speed of the ram that installed now. Is it PC133 or PC100? You also need to know how much ram can be installed on that lappy. I'll do some more checking.

[Smokey]

One more thing that you need to know? How many empty memory slots are available on your laptop?









http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....amp;name=PC+133

[rokytnji]

Hi Smokey, Sorry to say no model number is available for this laptop other than RT 686. Its not an EX just a regular RT 686. No serial # is available also. Only Stckers on it is on battery (Disposal info, Lithium info). I have a printed users manual I downloaded from amrels site but all the info is pretty generic, how to move around in bios, how to swap modules(CD ROM, FLOPPY, HARDRIVE) and when it tells you about the RAM it just states SDRAM 128 mb exapandable. I dodn't even ghave intructions on what cover I should pull underneath to access the RAM. Earlier after I posted this thread I turned over the laptop and tried to pull the only accessable looking cover fastened down with 10 4-32 phillips screws located near the pcmcia slot and when I went to lift it up, (it has 2 slots on lid to lift with 2 screwdrivers), it felt like I was lifting out a Cinder Block size module,not a plastic lid so caution being the better part of valour I replaced the screws since I'm not sure whats underneath. I work on Harleys and know how easy you can break things when you don't know what your doing. The module didn't feel like it wanted to come out because I exerted controlled force trying to lift it out and I'm using proper tools, (Rubber Gloves, Jewelers screwdrivers, Ice pick even), and the way these arew built they are made to stand open ocean voyages,desert sand and heat, pretty much anything you can throw at them. So they're sealed pretty good. Sorry I can't supply more info.

[rokytnji]

Probably 1slot at minumum extra with a total of 2 if you count existing RAM.

[rokytnji]

Tried calling Amrel and talk to 2 representatives I know there in Cali. but one is out till next week and the other was in an end of the day meeting. I weon't be able to get ahold of the 1 till tommorrow.

[Smokey]

Can you take a digital picture of the bottom of the laptop? If you can, post it here. I'm going home pretty soon so I probably won't post anymore tonight.


It's likely that the maximum memory for that lappy is 512mb total. 2 of these modules[attachment=47234:attachment] replacing your modules will work best for you.

[rokytnji]

I'll take pictures tommorrow after my wife gets off work in the morning. She works nights. Its her camera so I won't have access to it till tommorrow afternoon.. She's the one thats the computer whiz and got me started on this stuff, She'll be the one to help me post pictures in my postings. I can hook up the Amrel to my modem , (everything works and it has Everest Home on it), if that'll help. The pictures aint gonna give ya much but I'll send em.

[rokytnji]

Smokey, not to purposely stray from this subject, but I read your piece at top of Hardware forum on using Norton Ghost and when I tried to download Ghost Diskette by clicking :Here , I received an error saying no website and to retype url in case I reached this message in error. Thought you'd like to know.

[rokytnji]

[attachment=47239:attachment] Been jawjacking with Jephree over at Dal Computer Help tonite and he came up with an hypothisis that I hadn't thought about. That these Amrel laptops are designed to witthstand moisture, Concussions from explosions while with soldiers in warzones,and Law enforcement crashes and mishaps that components inside are intregently sealed off to prevent jarring loose so maybe the only way to upgrade my laptop is changing out the motherboard. I wil try to confirm this or unconfirm this when I talk to Zeng at Amrel. Pictures posted later tommorrow also. In the Wind. roky

[Smokey]

rokytnji, on Feb 27 2008, 10:21 PM, said:

I read your piece at top of Hardware forum on using Norton Ghost and when I tried to download Ghost Diskette by clicking :Here , I received an error saying no website and to retype url in case I reached this message in error.

That link is now fixed. You can also download the file below.

[attachment=47240:attachment]

[Smokey]

rokytnji, on Feb 28 2008, 03:06 AM, said:

Been jawjacking with Jephree over at Dal Computer Help tonite and he came up with an hypothisis that I hadn't thought about. That these Amrel laptops are designed to witthstand moisture, Concussions from explosions while with soldiers in warzones,and Law enforcement crashes and mishaps that components inside are intregently sealed off to prevent jarring loose so maybe the only way to upgrade my laptop is changing out the motherboard.

I kinda doubt that but you never know. I look at it like this, if there is a memory access panel then it's probably for changing out memory. Ram is a weak link that often needs replacement. Ram modules are not only removable for upgrades. It's my guess that the memory access door has an "O" ring that is stuck. When you tried to remove it, was the computer hot from using it? If it was, set it outside in the cold so the o-ring shrinks, then try to remove the door.

[Smokey]

rokytnji, on Feb 27 2008, 09:33 PM, said:

I'll take pictures tommorrow after my wife gets off work in the morning. She works nights. Its her camera so I won't have access to it till tommorrow afternoon.. She's the one thats the computer whiz and got me started on this stuff, She'll be the one to help me post pictures in my postings. I can hook up the Amrel to my modem , (everything works and it has Everest Home on it), if that'll help. The pictures aint gonna give ya much but I'll send em.

To upload pics to your posts just take the pic, save it on your desktop and uoload it to your post using the "browse" button when replying to another post.

[Smokey]

I found some more info on your lappy. I realize that this info is a little different than the hardware info that you posted at DAL but that's all we have for now. If we had a serial number or a complete model number it would be different.

[attachment=47243:attachment]

[rokytnji]

[attachment=47259:attachment] [attachment=47260:attachment] pictures for Amrel Bottom.

[rokytnji]

http://www.smartestc...tyle_emoticons/default/blush.gif Sorry it took awhile to post pictures. You can see the one access panel underneath with all the screws. Thats the one I tried to remove and scared me. Since you work on laptops just give me some reassurance about lifting that panel out without me causing any damage in the process, I very methodical and careful, and I'll give it a go. Good idea about it cooling down. Thanks for repairing the link. I gonna use your tutorial to update this desktop I'm on from the 40 gig drive thats been growling when I delete cookies and temporary internet files to a new 200 gig maxtor. The desktop is an IBM M41 Net Vista, 1.8 ghz process., 1.12 gig Ram, 40 gig IDE. Thanks for all your help in this Smokey. Your the best. ROK

[Smokey]

rokytnji, The pic's that you posted were a little large so I resized them.

Once you take the screws out get a wide standard screw driver, insert it in the "pry slot" and twist back and forth. You won't break it. The o-ring has just expanded over the years and is stuck.

[attachment=47261:attachment]