**READ EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING **
** Enable network boot in bios, set the boot order for network to boot first, this is not in the video but may help other models, press ESC when booting up, then F10 to enter bios, go to “System Configuration “ then “Boot Options” then enable “Network Boot” then scroll down to “Network Adapter “ and hit F6 until it is at the top of the list, then hit F10 again to save and exit**
You made it!
If you are here you searched the internet and found a whole lot of nothing on upgrading this laptop, and most of what you found said that it can't be done, well that is wrong, it can be done! These laptops out-of-the-box are generally not very good, the operating system takes up most of your RAM and hard drive space, and installing even a few apps will max out your hard drive and give poor performance, so we are going to bump up those numbers to give you a fairly decent laptop for about $100 (give or take current prices and tax).
[Please like and subscribe if this video helped you in any way! Maybe I'll be a youtube partner some day lol]
*** IF YOU HAVE A MODEL THAT IS NOT THE 14-CB116 THIS MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU, BUT, PLEASE CHECK THE PINNED COMMENT FOR A POSSIBLE WORKAROUND FOR OTHER MODELS. ***
Confirmed working models:
14-CB116
14-CB103-CA
14-CB164wm
14-CB172wm
14-CF2112nm
14-DS0004NF
14-CB008NA (ssd useable but not bootable, network boot may be a workaround, share any feedback!)
14-DS0020DS (enable network boot, change boot order to network boot first in bios)
14-AX005NA (see pinned post)
14-AX0XX
14-AX1XX
*If you tried this mod on a model not listed and it worked let me know I'll add it to the list!*
So here are the steps in a nutshell:
1. Update bios to F.16 Rev A (Super important, won't work without it, newer versions will work too the F16 was what was available at the time of making this video)
2. Remove old ram and install old ram (You can go up to 16 gb, I just went with 8 on this budget)
3. Remove WAN/WLAN Card (enable network boot, set network boot first in bios boot order)
4. Install SSD and M.2 A+E Adapter (You can go bigger than 250gb, once again, budget, see the ** below it’s important!)
5. Install the Nano Wifi USB Adapter (This is a really cheap adapter, it works decently though)
6. Re-Install Windows*** (Your other hardware will retain your activation, neat!)
7. Partition the old eMMc hard drive (Use the extra space for other things!)
Total process should take about 45 minutes to an hour, please make sure to insulate the SSD part of the adapter as shown in the video or it just won't work right, it's very important.
Here is my parts list (outside of the adapter you can go bigger/better with any of these):
1. 8GB 2400mhz DDR4 SO-DIMM www.amazon.com...
2a. M.2 (NGFF) nVME SSD to M2 A-Key www.amazon.com...
2b. Sintech version if 2a is not available
www.amazon.com...
2c. eBay Sintech version if 2b is not available
www.ebay.com/i...
3. ADATA Swordfish 250GB SSD NVMe www.amazon.com...
4. TP-Link Nano AC600 USB Wifi Adapter www.amazon.com...
**MAKE SURE that your adapter and ssd has enough room to not be pressed on by the case, pressure on the adapter/ssd will cause it to not seat correctly and give really low read/write speeds or BSODs, I used 4 washers on the rear screws (superglued to the case not the frame) and put in some plastic spacers with 3M black/red double sided tape under the battery spacers on the frame, I also removed the battery clip points on the case next to the battery spacers like that one nub we cut off. Pictures are as follows:
ibb.co/xLRT535
ibb.co/wBVDQQ8
ibb.co/ZXjW3kG
*** Heres the link to creating a windows installation USB, scroll down to "download tool now" and make sure you have decent size USB (16gb should be fine)
www.microsoft....
**** If your model matches this videos confirmed working models and or your laptop doesn’t see the nvme adapter, unplug the battery for 15 seconds from the motherboard then hold the power button, then plug the battery back in, this resets the CMOS for hardware listing
7 мар 2021