How to upgrade Dell Mini 10v memory
As opposed to simply providing a removable door (like they did for the mini-card) to upgrade the memory, Dell decided to make it difficult by requiring you to dismantle the entire laptop… (but what do I know, maybe it would affect structural integrity or something to add a door?).
So, in light of this fact, here is a step-by-step how-to video (and pictures) on how to upgrade the memory
While following this video, I would highly recommend having the Dell created service manual to follow along in case anything shown here is unclear/etc:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins10v/en/sm/memory.htm#wp1180987
Since YouTube caps videos at 10 minutes, I broke it up into:
Taking it apart and adding the memory:
and then another putting it all back together:
Or, or those who prefer a guide using pictures as opposed to video:
1. Start out by removing the battery by sliding out the battery lock clips, and then pull the battery straight out. Then remove the (3) screws holding in the battery and the (1) screw securing the mini-card door, and remove the door.
2. Remove the mini card. Gently pry off the two antenna cables by, for example, placing a small screw driver underneath the cables where the gold metal and cable meet – then softly prying it up. Then, remove the single screw holding the mini card down, then pull out the card.
3. Remove the keyboard and it’s ribbon cable, as well as the ribbon cable for the touchpad. You’ll need to basically use a very thin flat head screwdriver, credit card, etc in order to ‘pry up’ the keyboard from the center near the screen. Once you are able to get your fingers underneath it, just pull up on the right and left sides until the laptop is free: 
(there are small clips holding the eayboard in on the right and left, just pry the keyboard up as if there is a hinge at the palm rest and it’ll come loose). Don’t pull the keyboard too far from the chassis as it’s still connected via it’s ribbon cable: 
With the keyboard free, remove the ribbon cable(s) by sliding out the left and right grey “clips” holding the ribbon cable(s) in. (they will “slide out” about 2mm or so) 
4. Remove the palm rest. This can be a bit frustrating, but basically you want to use your thumbnail / thin creditcard to start prying from the left and right edges, where it meets the bracket:
5. Prep for palm rest bracket removal. First, go ahead and remove the 1 screw holding in the hard drive, and slide it out (blue). Then, unplug the 3, or 4 if you have bluetooth, cables (green). Finally, unscrew the 4 screws securing the palm rest bracket from the top (red). 
Turn the netbook over and remove the 5 remaining screws securing the palm rest from the bottom:
6. Actually remove the palm rest bracket. Dell suggests starting from the hinges and working down, but I was unable to undo the clips here to start. So instead, I started at the speakers (which are already loose), and started prying off the bracket from here. Basically, just start pulling the entire bracket up, working your way from the palm rest area up towards the hinges, until it is removed. (that being said, once I started getting the bracket unclipped half way to the hinges, I was able to pry off the hinge-area):
7. Prep system board (motherboard) removal. Almost there! Now you need to unplug the 3 remaining cables (green) and 2 screws (red). It may not matter, but when removing the display cable (top right), pull from the middle of the cable, as that’s where all the wires are bunched: 
8. Remove the motherboard. The board is now completely loose from the chassis and can be removed! Be careful not to nick it on anything while pulling it off, but it’s relatively easy not to. Flip over the board, release the memory and pop in your 2GB stick:
9. Put everything back together. Basically, just follow all theses steps in reverse, power on the system, and enjoy your 2GB Dell Mini 10v!
Have any questions or run into problems? Find an easier way to pry apart the palm rest bracket or etc? Let everyone know in the comments!
For those of you who haven’t bought a 2gb stick yet, there are plenty on amazon that would work fine (too bad prices for ddr2 memory aren’t as cheap as they used to be) – I will keep this list updated with the cheapest amazon memory prices as I see them:
And for those interested in the products I used to help create this post:
Tags: dell mini 10v, diy, how-to, netbook, upgrade memory
Excellent work, I’m done without a scratch. A computer toolkit I picked up had some plastic pry-bars which helped. Now where did I put that Snow Leopard disk:)) Cheers!!
This is for mark on feb.2, 10. i was trying to get that ram for $35 from dell, but having trouble. was that a past promotion and no longer have it anymore? PLeasse reply, thanks!
Hi, this is a great article. Just an idea, what about giving the size of the places where to drill in order to people who could want to cut a memory door? Great work over there, Daniel.
Thanks for this!
Why they made this so difficult is beyond me.
Just a note, on my refurbed 10v, the screw was stripped on the wireless card, so I couldn’t get it out.
I was able to wiggle the motherboard out without taking out the wireless card, after disconnecting the antenna wires. There’s a piece of plastic you have to pull it around though, so I pretty much had to bend the board a bit to get it out and back in. o.O
Works great now though! Thanks! Running Snow Leopard with NetbookInstaller and it’s awesome!
Thank you so very much for the video. You are a lifesaver! Direct and fast forwarded at all the right sections. Great work.
Great howto. Worked like a champ!!!
This was an awesome breakdown. I saw another video or two on youtube of how to do this, but yours was really simple. Thanks! I followed along at home and it worked like a champ. Rocking 2GB now.
What a great guide. Thanks for this! But if you (or anyone capable reading this) would indulge an utterly newbie sort of question: What type of memory module do I need? Dell lists the built-in module als DDR2 533MHZ. Now, I know that my 2GB module will also have to be DDR2 to work, but does it have to be 533MHZ? Or could I also use the 2GB DDR2 333MHZ module that I have lying around from my previous laptop? Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks for this, clear and easy to follow. Wish when my HR manager asked if it was easy to upgrade memory in a laptop I had said no however!
Shame on you Dell……
Awesome video. I have never added memory to a computer and because of your instructions I was able to do it in 40 minutes. Appreciate the time you put into this.
Thanks for the video’s… Very helpful and the 2gig made a HUGE difference when surfing the web on the 10v
Great instructional video and guide. I was wondering, Is there a way that a Dell mini 10’s RAM can be upgraded to 2gb? I’ve heard its been soldered on the motherboard and would the whole mini 10 system can accommodate the 2gb RAM?
great guide! I used a kingston DDR2 PC6400 (800Mhz) module as it was cheaper and it works perfectly.
Great tutorial! I just went through your instructions and had zero questions. The only thing I ran into was the screw that holds the radio in on the bottom was too tight and got stripped. Not a big deal though since it really didn’t need to come out. I bought the 2GB RAM from Crucial for $47.99 which was only a couple of bucks less than Dell but the Dell rep had no idea what she was doing and then kept trying to sell me an extended warranty the whole time we were on the phone.
Anyway, the Mini 10v netbook runs much better with the 2GB installed. Now I just hope my wife will be happy.
perfect walkthrough, thanks mad life nice and simple
my understanding is that this motherboard like many atom n270’s is limited to the pc4200 ddr2 speed so you can use pc 4200, 5300, or 6400 but not the lower speed mentioned above.
any corrections? else i am going to save some moola and put in the pc4200.
nice job above. after the third set of internal screws, i was thinking … can i use my dremel and create a memory access door :)
Thank you, worked perfectly!