The pressure dependence of the electrical residual resistivity was calculated for a series of disordered Au-Pd alloys by using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential approximation and the Kubo-Greenwood equation. The changes of the density of states and of the Fermi surface caused by an external pressure applied to the alloy are discussed and related to the change in residual resistivity. The volume coefficient of the residual resistivity is calculated from the pressure-dependent resistivity and found to be in accordance with experimental findings. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.