Opening a Compaq LTE 1

[xwb]

Does anyone know what I need to undo to get at the memory on a Compaq 5300 laptop?

I have 2 Compaq LTE 5300 laptops, one with 32Mb RAM and one with 16Mb RAM. The one with 32Mb died recently. What I'd like to do is take the memory out of the dead one and put it into the working one. Only problem is I can't figure out how to open up the Compaq LTE to get at the memory.

I've removed all the screws with a KBD=> marking and the keyboard is still stuck to the chassis. There are 3 at the base and 4 on the inside after removing the floppy and the battery.

It must be quite a simple procedure - the last time I took it to a shop 10 years ago, they just replaced the memory chip in less than 5 minutes. That shop no longer exists otherwise I'd ask them.

 

[totot1976]

I do not know about this particular model but normally you unscrew one or two screws at the bottom of the laptop and remove cover to access the memory.

I have never seen getting to memory through the front - undoing the keyboard -

 

[xwb]

I've tried undoing all the screws I can undo at the bottom. I can't figure out how to get the base off. If I take off the floppy and the battery, I can see the base. There is a small clip on opening but I think that is for the clock battery. It is too small to fit memory horizontally and not deep enough to fit memory vertically.

Maybe there is a slot for the memory somewhere else. I've been looking on the net. Guess the machine is too old for anyone to create a howto guide. At most they tell me how much memory it will take and how to install the RAM (i.e. push it into the slot at 30 degrees and then down). I haven't found anything that tells me how to get to the memory slot.

 

[wahnula]

One thing I've learned about laptops...the screws on the bottom never do what you think they do! An old Compaq I worked on (Armada???) had an internal RAM slot under the keyboard.

I think the piece above the keyboard was a snap fit that could be popped out. Some keyboards have a retaining clip at the top or bottom that releases it when all screws are removed.

Have you tried emailing Compaq support for a service manual?

I found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-LTE-lapt...3564367QQihZ006QQcategoryZ60270QQcmdZViewItem

And this:

http://www.eserviceinfo.com/index.php?what=search2&searchstring=Compaq+LTE+5000

Tony

"Buy what you like, or you'll be forced to like what you buy"...me

 

[xwb]

Thanks for the link - I'll wade through the manual tonight.

I tried the Compaq/HP site. Guess my laptop is too old. Doesn't even feature on the site. I found the HP site too difficult to use for searching for old stuff.

 

[xwb]

The manual comes in 4 .rar files and all 4 parts have to be downloaded before the archive can be opened. It was absolutely brilliant. The memory is actually located above the docking port at the back of the machine: not where I thought it might be. Removing it is really simple too: just 2 screws and it comes out.

 

[wahnula]

The manual comes in 4 .rar files and all 4 parts have to be downloaded before the archive can be opened

Glad to hear it was helpful. Many times folks don't report back with their success or failure, thanks for the feedback.

Tony

"Buy what you like, or you'll be forced to like what you buy"...me