Modify an MSI Wind

Andrew Spode Miller shows you how to open up an MSI Wind and add more memory, replace the hard drive with an SSD and even change the wireless card.

Asus' Eee PC may be grabbing a lot of column inches in the media, but MSI's Wind is a great alternative if you're looking for a low-cost, ultra-portable laptop. The Wind has a much better screen than the 7in screen of the original Eee PC, as well as Bluetooth support and a keyboard that doesn't require tiny fingers. This doesn't mean that the Wind wouldn't benefit from a few changes though.

In this guide, we'll show you how to replace the Wind's mechanical hard drive with a solid-state flash drive, making the machine much quieter. Plus, while the machine is open, we'll also show you how to upgrade the memory from the default allocation of 1GB.

However, these aren't the only components worth upgrading. If you want to stick Ubuntu on the Wind, it's worth noting that there are issues with its Realtek wireless card, as there are no official drivers. Many people have had some luck compiling unofficial drivers, but we've found them to be quite buggy, and most Ubuntu users aren't accustomed to fixing issues such as these with the command line. However, you can swap out the wireless Realtek wireless card for an Intel unit (£29 from www.kustompcs.co.uk - code 6770), which has brilliant Ubuntu support out of the box.

Once you've completed all three of these upgrades, you'll have a silent, Linux-powered super-machine that's primed for world domination. This is one of the easiest laptops to upgrade, so don't worry if you've never opened a laptop before. All the screws are the same length, so you don't need to draw any complex schematics.

Also, this mod won't void your warranty in the UK, although conditions do apply - check http://support.msicomputer.co.uk for more details.