Upgrading RAM and drive storage on an Acer Aspire 3 via crucial.com

[ChrisGreaves]

My goal is to make one upgrade to maximize disk and RAM capacity. One visit inside the case, rip out the HDD and swap in the SSD, and insert the 8 GB RAM chip, and then this laptop should be maxed out for hardware storage for a long time.
Confession: My fingers slipped when I ordered and received the Acer laptop a year ago. RAM is too small and the SSD is too small for my images and audio files.
Research: I have checked the system specifications with “MSInfo32” and reached the conclusion that I should take in the maximum upgrade that I can.
Confession: My days of dis- and re-assembling XT chassis are long gone, and I approach the removal of the case of a laptop with trepidation. But something has to be done.

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The scan by CrucialScan.exe and/or web page reports that my Acer laptop is unknown. So I Called the help line at Crucial 1-800-336-8915 x3
I was asked to run MSINFO32 and read back specific fields.

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(a) The 1-800 seemed to say I had 4GB of RAM installed and a slot for an 8GB.
    (i) Part number CT8G4SFRA32A out of stock at Crucial, around $15 at Amazon.
The 4GB of RAM (thought to exist) plus an 8GB chip would give me 12 GB of RAM.
        QUESTION: But if I really do have 8GB and add 8GB, won’t I then have 16 GB RAM
        (b) The 1-800 said they had 2 TB SSD and a 4 TB SSD, and that the 2 TB would work, but that the 4 TB might not.
The current HDD is nominally 250 GB. So increasing to 2TB is sufficient for me. But 4 TB would be better.
    (ii) Part number CT 2000 P3 SSD8 $124 at Crucial
    (iii) Part number CT 4000 P3 SSD8 $226 at Crucial.
        (c) If I buy the 2TB it will work, and is way more than my current 250 GB
        (d) If I buy the 4TB and it doesn’t work, will it be just unrecognisable or:-
Question (a) Might be possible to partition it into two 2TB partitions and use it that way?
Question (b) Perhaps only 2TB of the 4 TB will be useful, so I’ll have a 2TB drive anyway?
Question (c) I might be able to hang on to the 4 TB, order the 2 TB, and have a spare 4 TB of SSD?
Question (d) Might that 4 TB SSD be used with a case as an external drive?

Crucial has several videos to guide me through installation. I assume that once I unscrew the eleven Phillips screws on the base of the laptop everything will become evident; I’ll do that tomorrow morning when I am fresh.
Thanks for any tips, comments, answers.

I am not asking for any guarantees here, just a bit of general re-assurance.
Thanks, Chris.

[JoeP]

According to what I was able to find you have 4GB RAM soldered and 4 GB RAM in a socket. In my experience, Crucial is almost always correct in what you can put into your PC. If they say you can put in 8GB RAM, you'll most likely end up with 12GB. As far as the disks go, you need to see what ACER says it will support for your PC. If you get something bigger than supported, it won't be recognized. Otherwise, do what you think fits your needs and budget best.

[BobH]

Here's a link to a good video on upgrading and SSD on a laptop. There are others that address RAM upgrades.

[ChrisGreaves]

... In my experience, Crucial is almost always correct in what you can put into your PC. ... If you get something bigger than supported, it won't be recognized. Otherwise, do what you think fits your needs and budget best.

Joe, thank you for this valuable re-assurance. Regarding the 2TB vs. 4 TB I did some thinking last night,and I suspect that given my need for comfort, etc I am best off going with the 2 TB and not trying to push the envelope with 4 TB.

The current SSD is a mere 250 GB, so 2 TB is eight times that.
My old Win7 DELL is using 450 GB of a 500 GB HDD, so moving to a 2 TB SSD is four times the capacity.

In short, a 2 TB SSD is plenty big enough for me without the frustration of discovering that the 4 TB, once it arrives, won't work.
Thanks again.
Chris

[ChrisGreaves]

Here's a link to a good video on upgrading and SSD on a laptop. There are others that address RAM upgrades.

Thanks for this video link, Bob.
I did look through it.
I will need to buy an SSD enclosure (sigh!) but that will be re-usable until enclosures go out of fashion (probably in three weeks time )

If I do this right, I should be able to put the 250GB in this old Win7 DELL and lengthen its life.
Or look inside 3 or 4 other laptops and see what drives they have to offer.

I feel young again!
Cheers, Chris