HomeIn this guide I explain how to add more RAM aka memory into a Toshiba Satellite A45 laptop. If you search for memory slots on the bottom of the laptop, you will not find any because both memory slots are hidden under the keyboard. Yep, in order to access both memory slots you’ll have to remove the keyboard. Don’t worry, it will take about 5 minutes even for inexperienced users.
Before you start, turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery and of course, proceed at your own risk. 
STEP 1.
Insert a small flat head screwdriver between the keyboard bezel and keyboard and lift it up.
STEP 2.
Continue removing the keyboard bezel with your fingers until it’s completely separated from the laptop.
STEP 3.
Remove three screws securing the keyboard. Also, remove the metal plate/bracket under the screw in the middle.
STEP 4.
Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below and place it upside down on the palm rest.
STEP 5.
On the picture below you can see both RAM slots. The slot 1 has one memory module installed. I’m going to remove the original memory module and replace it with a larger one.
In order to remove the memory module from the slot you’ll have to spread latches on both sides of the module until it pops up at a 20-30 degree angle.
The memory module popped up.
STEP 6.
Now you can grab the memory module by the edges and pull it from the RAM slot.
On the picture below you can see the original 256MB memory module installed into the laptop.
According to specifications a Toshiba Satellite A45 laptop will take up to 2GB RAM total. You can install up to 1GB memory module into each slot. You should use PC2700 (DDR333) SO-DIMM RAM modules.
You can use different size memory modules in different slots. For example if you have an original 256MB module in the slot 1 and install an additional 1GB module into the slot 2, the laptop will detect 1.25GB RAM total. No additional configuration needed. You simply install new memory and start the laptop, it will be detected by the BIOS automatically.
If your laptop will not start after you added more memory, make sure the memory module is seated correctly.
Static electricity can kill your laptop. I recommend wearing an anti-static wrist strap while working with internal parts of your laptop.
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January 17th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Hi: I seen your address in a Fujitsu disassembly guide, I will like to share with you this problem in case you have any suggestions…Thank you for this great guide, I was trying to open my laptop, I will send some picture later, in my model there are some variations, ex, in the plate that holds the keyboard there is a metal plate just ahead the support of the screen, half circle shape that you need to remove and will show a screw that you need to remove before the plate is removed.
I’m opening it sionce I do have a problem that my laptop doesn’t want to do a restore, everything looks OK, memory, ps, no errors, BIOS ok, had replaced the drive but it did fails to restore, I did format the disk etc. all ok.
I will really apreciate any suggestions about it, I also did try to install other windows but when doing so the system comes with the error that not drive is installed, however remember it does all the steps and get to the point to it says remove the restore disk and press Y to start windows, when this happens I get the windows logo and stops forever.
Thank you
Alfredo
January 20th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Alfredo,
Did you check if the new hard drive is supported by your laptop? Maybe your new hard drive is too large and the laptop just cannot handle it properly.
Last morning I had a similar problem with a Satellite A45 laptop. I attempted to replace the original 40GB dirve (failed) with a new WD 120GB drive. The restore process ran smoothly and it looked like everything was going to work just fine, but the laptop couldn’t boot from the new 120GB drive. I don’t know why, I guess it was too large and the older laptop just couldn’t handle it. The restore process went through from the beginning to the end and asked me to remove the CD and restart the laptop. I did but the laptop didn’t boot from the hard drive.
I installed a smaller 80GB hard drive and reimaged it again. The laptop started properly with a 80GB drive.
By the way, did you run diagnostic tests on both hard drives? If you are getting errors on both drives (including a new one), there could be a problem with the IDE controller on the motherboard.
March 4th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
how i can add additional ram to hp compaq presario V6000
March 5th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Lorena Puentespina,
In a Compaq Presario v6000 memory modules could be accessed through the door on the bottom. There are two memory slots.
You can find step-by-step instructions in the maintenance and service guide, here’s the link. It’s about 4MB pdf file, so it might take some time to download. Take a look at the page 126.
You can install 2GB RAM total, up to 1GB RAM into each slot. You should use DDR2 PC2-5300 (667MHz) SO-DIMM modules.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Cheers for the guide ! Quiet informative…
Can the same procedure be applied for Satellite M70 215?
March 15th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Kml,
It should be way easier for a Satellite M70 laptop. You’ll find both memory slots on the bottom. Take a look at http://www.irisvista.com/tech/
There is a guide for a Satellite M70 laptop.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:07 am
Morning,
I was sonfering if you would be able to tell me where the CMOS battery is located in an A45 toshiba satelite laptop. I can’t get past the boot up password and I wanted to try removing the battery. Thanks for any help you could provide!
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Tom Newman,
Removing the CMOS battery will not clear the BIOS password. But you can use this Toshiba BIOS password removal device. If you build it correctly, it should work with a Satellite A45.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Great guide. I have decided to add RAM to my laptop (toshiba satellite A45) and now I know how to do it. The problem now is that stores in my area only have 1 Gb DDR 400 Mhz memory modules. Would this module work?
April 13th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Alejandro,
DDR 400 memory also known as PC3200 should be backward compatible with DDR333 PC2700 memory. I think you can use PC3200 module in your laptop.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:09 am
Thank you for this walk-through. I had no troubles popping off my keyboard and replacing my ram. Thank you!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am
Can you post instructions for a Toshiba Tecra M10? I can’t find the 2nd memory module!
Thanks,
June 24th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Amre,
That’s a newer laptop and I haven’t seen it yet. It must have two memory slots. If there is only one memory slots on the bottom, most likely the second one somewhere under the keyboard. Maybe your Tecra M10 is similar to this Tecra M9 laptop? Take a look at the step 7, it pictures the second memory slot under the keyboard.
July 12th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
hi i am emsi and i have the satelite a45 but on the 1st step when you remove the speakers thing i have buttons next to the power button will this make a diference?
also does the plastic speaker thing just snap back in place? if not how do you install it
July 19th, 2009 at 12:53 am
emsi,
It shouldn’t make any difference.
Do you mean the speaker cover? Yes, it just snap back in. There are small plastic latches holding it in place.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Where is the best place to get ram for the Toshiba a45-s151. Also, how much should I get. I currently have the standard 512 that it came with.
Thanks in advance,
Brian
August 9th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
How do you install ram in a Satellite 1800-S204? Thanks
August 9th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Wes,
In a Satellite 1800 both memory slots can be access through the bottom of the laptop. Take a look at the step 2 in this guide.
This model will take up to 512MB of RAM. You can install up to 256MB RAM module into each slot.
You’ll have to use PC133 SDRAM SODIMMs.
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 am
Hi
I have a Toshiba SA40-231, which seem to be built pretty much the same as the one in the article. I found this article while looking for a description on how to get access to the fan, in order to change it. Your article is the closest I have got that describes how to access at least the memory slot.
Could you please discribe how I could continue to remove the keyboard, the motherboard and other things needed to get access to the fan? Must I remove the memory slot, keyboard with cable and other things from the motherboard first?
I would really appreciate it. I’ve had my Toshiba for years now and I love it.
I got a system warning about problem with the fan system and the computer starts to work extremely slow. Have already cleaned the hetsink and other things. But I still get a system warning about the fan system and the computer begins to work extremely slow after a few minutes. Installed SpeedFan. All values seems to be okej now, cpu, hard drive and ACPI. However, three tiny grey plastic pieces dropped out from within. They may come from the fan, but don’t manage to detect this. The fan seems to work okej.
May it be an erroneous message that still makes the system to work slower. I updated the bios, but it didn’t change anything. I also looked for the cmos battery to reset the values, but could find it.
/Martin