CPU Upgrade for Acer Laptop

Hi guys, I was wondering if I could get some feedback on a CPU upgrade I want to do to my older Acer Aspire 5002WLMI laptop. The laptop was purchased in 2006.

Specs:
AMD Turion 64 ML-30 processor (1 MB L2 cache, 1.6 Ghz)
100 GB Hard drive (4,200 rpm)
DVD-Dual (DVD RW/CD-RW)
1 GB DDR SDRAM - 333 MHz
SiSM760GX graphics card
Windows XP home.

I want to upgrade to a dual core AMD processor:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 / 1.8 GHz

The Processor comes from a Compaq Laptop with a dead operating system (Vista).

The question is, can it be done? if so what do I need to do to prepare my laptop? I've watched a few how to guides online, so I know it's a simple process and I feel I can perform the change without any issues.

 

Nnnope. Your Turion 64 ML-30 is designed for Socket 754, which is what your system has. However, the TK-55 uses Socket S1, which is incompatible.

The fastest CPU for your Aspire 5002 is the ML-44 at 2.4 GHz (no dual-cores were released for Socket 754). But then again, you might be better off saving your sheckels for a whole new laptop.

 

Why don't you just reformat the Compaq and use it? It seems to be a pinch newer.

 

You know, I've tried fixing it but I can't even reinstall with the recovery dvd's, and when I try to recover from the hard drive it tells me that the files cannot be found. Sorry for the silly question, but how do I reformat? the computer starts but as soon as windows starts, it stars an automatic file check and it never finishes, it overheats then it shuts itself down.

 

How long has it been since you last cleaned your laptop?
This might be the actual cause of the system overheating and shutting down.

I recommend you either vacuum the airvents, or use a compressed air in a can to clean out the dust.

As for formatting ... forget recovery dvd's.
They will likely install a ton of bloat on top of everything else.

Since you had an XP Home installed, what I'd recommend is that you try getting your hands on XP Home with SP3 slipstreamed onto it, and then install using the OEM key at the back of your laptop for activation.

As for how to reformat.

Simple, when you first activate your laptop keep pressing the F2 button (this is before the BIOS POS screen appears).
You will enter the BIOS, and you have to locate the boot devices for it and set the DVD reader to be the first device to start (followed by the HDD, etc).

Once you've set that, save the changes and exit the bios.
Make sure you put the XP install disc inside the dvd reader.
As the computer begins to boot past the BIOS POS screen, it will tell you to press any key to load from the CD/DVD.

After that, you should be put into the XP installation and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Make sure you format the C partition (where the previous OS was installed) into an NTFS format.
A quick format will do, although if you want to wait, you can also do a full format.

After that just read the on-screen instructions and that's it.

A tip:
Try locating the XP drivers for your Acer on their website and put them onto a USB for example so you can install all of the device drivers properly.

 

Thanks, but the laptop I was asking about was the Compaq, since the other member had asked me whey I didn't try to fix it instead of swapping the cpu with the acer. The Compaq has the dual core processor with windows vista. I don't have any dvd's for it other than the recovery ones Which the computer will not read for some reason. And yes, I have cleaned the laptop, so that is not the issue, I thinks the error in vista prevents it from starting. Any ideas? sorry, I am kind of a newbie when it comes to computer troubleshooting, I can do other things but on this particular case I am in the dark.

 

Simply get a modern XP Home disc. E-bay will sell them if nowhere else does. Then follow the re-format/installation instructions given in detail by deks above. This will get rid of vista currently on the compac completely and allow you to start from scratch with a much better OS too. XP is far better than Vista on mid-range laptops especially. As for drivers for the compac it will be easy to find everything you need from the internet once XP has finished installing.