The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is it pretty simple to replace hdd drive?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by gandamu78, Dec 27, 2006.

  1. gandamu78

    gandamu78 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have a problem with my laptop Sony Vaio vgn-s560. I brought it to microcenter where I bought it, and they told me I need to replace hdd drive. They're charging me $70 for labor fee. I'm trying to save money so do you guys think is it pretty simple to replace hdd drive? I have built several desktops but not the laptop. Should I pay $70 for labor fee or should I do it myself?
     
    gandamu78, Dec 27, 2006
    #1
  2. jetstar

    jetstar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,095
    Messages:
    7,034
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Replacing the HD is one of the easiest things that one can upgrade on a laptop.
     
    jetstar, Dec 27, 2006
    #2
  3. moon angel

    moon angel Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    2,011
    Messages:
    2,777
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    56
    As Jetstar says, it's quite easy. Depending on the model you will have to unscrew some very small cross-head screws to remove the cover, then usually slide the drive out of it's place. Depending on whether it's IDE or SATA you then might have to swap over a little piece of plastic that connects the pins to their right places.

    I'd definitely save the money. It's easy and quick to do yourself.
     
    moon angel, Dec 27, 2006
    #3
  4. Dylan255

    Dylan255 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Like everyone says it is pretty much a pain less process. Once you remove your hard drive, slide the new one in. Of course you need to get one that matches the Controller type on your laptop, IDE or SATA. What you may also want to do is get a hard drive enclosure for the old hard drive because it is probably still useable, this will save you time because you won't have to back up your data onto removable media.
     
    Dylan255, Dec 27, 2006
    #4
  5. gandamu78

    gandamu78 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I need to replace sata hdd drive. But my manual doesn't have any instruction for upgrading hdd drive. Is it going to be pretty easy anyways? And Dylan what is hard drive enclosure? Actually the guy from microcenter told me my old hard drive is no longer usable but I really need to back up my files.
     
    gandamu78, Dec 27, 2006
    #5
  6. gandamu78

    gandamu78 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    gandamu78, Dec 27, 2006
    #6
  7. jetstar

    jetstar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,095
    Messages:
    7,034
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    The hard drives you listed are all good. Just make sure you get a 5400rpm or 7200rpm HD. Getting faster 7200rpm will result in faster Windows boot up times, as well as programs/games loading faster.

    Yes, it is pretty easy to replace the HD even without a manual.:)
     
    jetstar, Dec 27, 2006
    #7
  8. boon27

    boon27 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    340
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    hard drive enclosure is like an external hard drive but except it no hard drive in it. This way you can put your old hard drive in it to connect thru usb.

    to save money for a highest capacity you can still buy 100 gb with 5400 rpm instead
     
    boon27, Dec 28, 2006
    #8
  9. Dylan255

    Dylan255 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    To follow up: a hard drive enclosure takes an existing hard drive and makes it like an external hard drive. Again you must provide the hard drive. You'll just need to find an enclosure that accepts a 2.5 and depending on your current hard drive either ide or sata. Then this enclosure which come with most of the cabling and the power adaptors will connect to your computer via a USB or firewire connection. And there will be no need to install any drivers. You can search newegg for enclosures or go to Tigerdirect, I have bought 2 3.5 enclosures from them and I amd quite satisfied. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=2214&Nav=|c:1204|&Sort=3&Recs=10
     
    Dylan255, Dec 28, 2006
    #9