In a moment of madness I agreed to try and sort out a colleagues laptop PC, as it completely crashed on her. She was running Windows XP Pro, due to the crash happening when it was running Windows ME.

The system currently has 128MB RAM and 6GB hard drive (right you cann all stop laughing now!!). I am looking to increase the RAM to its max and replace the hard drive. Is it possible to install a 40GB or even 20GB hard drive in the laptop, and if so, has anyone got access to the manual on telling me how to open up the system to change the hard drive over. I have changed hard drives before in laptops, but this one has many screws!!

Also, as it was originally running Windows ME, I would like to endeavour to re-install it onto the system, but no where seems to sell this OS anymore, any thoughts be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...&lang=en&cc=us

They have instructions for changing the optical drive:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=95110&lang=en

You might be able to get a ME Recovery CD from HP/Compaq.

Hi there, thanks for the response, however having looked on the website this is for the modern up to date version of the Presario 1200, not the old 6GB one. I have managed to obtain a version of ME from eBay, so happy about that, but regardless of the system spec, can I upgrade the hard drive to any size I want, as long as I can access it, or are there limitations on laptops as to what size hard drive you can have? Thanks

These may or may not be the ME drivers: (from the same linkage as above):

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...=95110&lang=en

How old is this computer? Pre '01? I see the above drivers are '01.

Some motherboards do have limitations but I cannot find any precise info on your model. The limit of ME will be 120GB. Windows had that limit until XP SP1 came along.

From updating old desktops of the same vintage I'd say you'd be safe at 60GB and perhaps more (up to 120GB).