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At long last, upgrading my Alienware m5790 - Page 2

post #21 of 35
5/11/08 at 8:26pm
I'm interested in pics and text on how the upgrades go.
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post #22 of 35
5/11/08 at 10:30pm
Thread Starter 
Sure thing, I'll post something in a week or so, if I'm not too busy.
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post #23 of 35
5/12/08 at 8:13am
Now all you need is a blu-ray drive
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post #24 of 35
5/13/08 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
Heh, I think the blu-ray drive is a way's off at the time being. While I'm here though, when I install the HDD (Which shipped last night and will be gettting here later today), do I use the Respawn Disc to get Vista back on the new HDD, or one of the other discs that came with my computer? And is it as simple as putting the HDD in, starting up the computer and inserting the Respawn Disc? Anyone who has done this before and who might be able to wlk me through this, your assistance is appreciated. (There is already a walkthrough on AW on how to physically install the drive, so I know how to do that, but to reinstall windows, I can't find much.)
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post #25 of 35
5/13/08 at 12:24pm
Mine came with XP. It had a respawn CD that you booted from. Then you inserted the respawn DVD to do the actual restore. It will prompt you. Then your system will be back to the way it was the day you got it. If you have important files that were created or put on your drive after you got your system, make sure you save them off before you swap drives.

If you had a good backup/restore program like Acronis True Image you could backup your current drive to an external drive or DVD(s). Then restore it after you swap out the drive. You wouldn't need to respawn.
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post #26 of 35
5/13/08 at 11:57pm
rive - where and how much did you get the Bluray drive for?
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post #27 of 35
5/14/08 at 2:06pm
PRICE DROP - This same drive is now $127.02 from AW shipped if you have an account with them. A 2.5" 250GB 7200 RPM drive you won't find on newegg at this time. Great price!

Quote:
Originally Posted by linuxguy View Post
Brixton, for $8 more you can buy a new 250GB 7200 RPM drive just by calling AW Customer Support and telling them you want to purchase it and request the 10% discount. I purchased one for my m5550 from them a few days ago. Total was $172 and change shipped. Not bad at all for a drive that has that much space and speed.
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post #28 of 35
5/15/08 at 5:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjdart View Post
I'm interested in pics and text on how the upgrades go.

There isn't much to upgrade on my laptop but it would still be nice to have some references.
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post #29 of 35
5/15/08 at 6:16pm
Thread Starter 
I'm about to swap out the HDD and RAM, pics should be up tonight, if not tomorrow. Thanks again for all your help.
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post #30 of 35
5/29/08 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koshinn View Post
rive - where and how much did you get the Bluray drive for?

I got mine HERE for $519, but you can get a internal/usb new blu-ray notebook optical drive (BD-ROM/BD-RE) from $199-$400 now.
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post #31 of 35
5/31/08 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry I haven't got pictures up yet, I've been busy with work lately. Unfortunately I only got pictures of swapping out the HDD, because the RAM was a little more hands-on, and I was helping my friend to make the swap. If anyone is interested in seeing the HDD swap-out, let me know and I'll put them up.
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post #32 of 35
6/1/08 at 2:22pm
Huh, may be bad drivers? Check this out:

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread205385-2.html
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post #33 of 35
7/19/08 at 1:43pm
Upgrading the m5790 is very easy. Walkthrough isnt really needed, but If anyone needs help, just pm me and I'll walk you through it.

I upgraded the following:

Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 (full 64-bit signed driver support)
4 GB DDR2 PC5300
Blu-ray 2X BD-RE UJ-220
HP digital Tuner TV Express Card (w/adapters/cables/connections/digital antennae for Over-the-air HD, analog cable/digital cable, satellite)
200 GB 7200 RPM HDD (hardware RAID 0)
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post #34 of 35
8/23/08 at 1:25pm
Updated info on Blu-ray drives notebook dives:
(m5550/m5700/m5750/m5790/m9700/m9750/m15x/m17) and other notebooks using a 12.7mm optical drive (standard) and that can support blu-ray.

New BD-ROM drives from $199 (panasonic UJ-120) (cheaper than Alienware is currently selling the BC-5500A BD-ROM for)

http://cgi.ebay.com/UJ-120-Laptop-Bl...d=p3286.c0.m14
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post #35 of 35
8/23/08 at 7:22pm
thanks for the info, rive. I might consider getting blu-ray once it gets more mainstream.
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