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    BIOS limit on drive size? VAIO PCG-R505GL

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Chris Thorne, Mar 4, 2007.

  1. Chris Thorne

    Chris Thorne Newbie

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    Working on a machine here for a friend. It is a VAIO which she got at second hand, model PCG-R505GL. I have upgraded the originally scant memory and installed a new(er) HD in it, and she has been using it happily for a couple of months. Not a speed demon, but it is okay as a browsing and music machine.

    It's the music that is the issue now. She has stuffed the drive with MP3s.

    I figured I would just go buy the largest reasonably priced Travelstar I could find that was ATA interface compatible. (There are now 160GB units for well under $1/gig.) However, I am also aware that many older laptop BIOSes have compatibility issues with big drives.

    My own machine is an IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad, and they have traditionally been good about providing upgrade information. Sony's VAIO support site simply says, "Upgrading the hard drive is not supported." Period. End of discussion.

    Any ideas here? Am I wasting my time trying to fit in this modern HD? Thanks!