Recently I had the chance to upgrade Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 with RAM and SSD hard drive in order to get better performance.

As always, before I start any work, I tried to find what Google says on this subject, but there was very little information.

Before the changes, boot to the working status of the operating system (Microsoft Windows 7 Professional) lasted almost 3 minutes.

So, I shut it down and get to work.

Recommended Tools

  • Small flat-blade screwdriver
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Plastic scribe

Before Working Inside Your Computer

  • Turn the computer over.
  • Slide the battery release latches to the unlock position.
  • Lift the battery out of the battery bay.

Removing the keyboard

  • Remove the three screws that secure the keyboard to the computer base.
  • Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible.
  • Slide a plastic scribe between the keyboard and palm rest, and pry and lift the keyboard to disengage it from the tabs on the palm rest.
  • Carefully lift the keyboard and slide the keyboard tabs out of the slots on the palm rest.
  • Turn the keyboard over and place it on the palm rest.
  • Push the connector tabs up and disconnect the keyboard cable from the system board connector.

Removing the Hard Drive

  • Remove the screw that secures the hard-drive assembly to the system board.
  • Using the pull-tab, slide the hard-drive assembly to the side to disconnect it from the connector on the system board.
  • Lift the hard-drive assembly out of the computer base.
  • Remove the four screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.
  • Lift the hard-drive bracket away from the hard drive.

Removing the Palm Rest Assembly

  • Remove the three screws that secure the palm rest assembly to the computer base.
  • Disconnect the power button cable from the connector on the system board.
  • Lift the connector latch and pull the pull-tab to disconnect the touch pad cable from the connector on the system board.
  • Remove the three screws that secure the palm rest assembly to the computer base.
  • Using your fingertips, gently ease the palm rest assembly from the computer base.
  • Lift the palm rest assembly off the computer base.

Removing the Memory Module

After all this, we can remove the RAM, so use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory-module connector until the memory module pops up.

Replacing the Memory Module

This is easy step:

  • Align the notch in the memory module with the tab in the memory module connector.
  • Slide the memory module firmly into the slot at a 45-degree angle, and press the memory module down until it clicks into place. If you do not hear the click, remove the memory module and reinstall it.

Carefully replace the palm-rest and now you can install the new SSD drive.

Replacing the Hard Drive

  • Remove the new hard drive from its packaging.

NOTE: Save the original packaging for storing or shipping the hard drive.

  • Place the hard drive in the hard-drive bracket.

NOTE: Because SSD drive is thinner than mechanical hard drives, set the SSD in the line of screw holes that hold the drive bracket. The empty space between the bracket and the SSD did not affect the work.

  • Replace the four screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.
  • Place the hard-drive assembly on the computer base.
  • Using the pull-tab, slide the hard-drive assembly into the connector on the system board.
  • Replace the screw that secures the hard-drive assembly to the system board.

Next is replacing the Keyboard

  • Place the keyboard upside down on the palm rest.
  • Slide the keyboard cable into the system board connector and press the connector tabs into the connector to secure the cable.
  • Slide the tabs on the keyboard into the slots on the palm rest and lower the keyboard into place.
  • Gently press around the edges of the keyboard to secure the keyboard under the tabs on the palm rest.
  • Turn the computer over and replace the three screws that secure the keyboard to the computer base.

Now, put the battery back, and if everything is done correctly, the Mini will run perfect.

In the end, I did a clean install of Microsoft Windows 7 Professional with basic applications like MS Office, antivirus, media player and browser etc.. and the results were more than expected.

I recommend migrating to SSD drive.. Does wonders 🙂