Has anyone replaced A190 HD?

I just got an A190 and it is very nice, but I will likely want to install 1GB of RAM and a 7,200 RPM drive. I found Sony's directions for adding RAM, but could not find any clues for swapping disks.

All help appreciated.

Ira

 

Ira,

I bought a 7200rpm hard drive for my A170 as well, but haven't figured out how to exchange it. I read in some forum that someone succeeded opening the laptop. He said he removed the screws on the bottom and pulled out the cover very carefully (the one on top) in order not to tear out the extra button cable, keyboard cable, and touchpad cable. I tried to replicate these steps but to no avail. If you are more successful you will find the HDD underneath the left palm rest.

If anyone else already swapped the hard drive, it would be great to get specific instructions how to go about it.

axelhi

 

BUMP

Has anyone figured out how to up the A190? I have managed to remove all the screws, remove the keyboard and ribbon holding it in. There is another screw that I believe needs to be removed under the keyboard.

But I am now stuck. There seems to be something under the power button holding that in. I don't want to break the notebook.

Has anyoe done it?

 

I did replace it, and it is a pain in the neck.

First, remove the power cable and battery! You have to remove all screws on the bottom, some are longer, make sure to remember which one goes where. Remove the keyboard. There are two more screws underneath. Remove the broad touchpad cable (carefully!) and the one for the buttons underneath the F1 key. Lift the cover, There are five hinges close to the display that will make a scary noise

Then there are five more screws to get to the hard drive underneath the left palm rest. Lift the memorystick component, you don't need to remove that cable just flip it over. Be careful, there is another switch with plastic that might break.

Then remove the HDD vertically because it is attached on the right side. After that you can remove the metal parts around the HDD, keep in mind what goes where and then put everything back together.

Someone posted nice pictures how to do that on a German-speaking forum. You might check that out, it is really helpful. http://www.user2user.info/forum/notebook/viewtopic.php?t=2259

And be really careful with those cables.

I exchanged the HDD with the Hitachi 7K60 and the computer is noticeably faster. There is only one problem, I can always hear a high pitch sound, and it's really getting on my nerves. You might consider getting a 5400rpm drive that is quieter, like the Fujitsu or Hitachi.

Good luck!

 

that looks really really easy.... hahahaha

krlock

yep... thats me.

 

Hey thanks for the link with the pics and your instructions. Replaced my 4200 80GB with the 7200 60GB. What a huge difference as I expected. It was a 20 minute job due to this thread. Did anyone notice the difference in the current draw between the 4200 and the 7200? .5 amps compared to 1.1 amps! That’s a pretty big jump. Hope it does not make too much of a difference in the already not so good battery life. My guess is that while it will obviously make some difference, it’s the screen on these guys that are the real current hogs.
Take care and thanks again.

Joe

 

Yeah, the 7200 drives do pull more power... still, this doesn't necessarily mean that they are going to drain your battery faster as they are more efficient in their data transfer... read Tom's article for more:
Fast And Furious: Notebooks vs. Battery Life Drain
http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20031031/index.html

Also, I've posted another thread with some useful upgrading tips for the A-Series notebooks... go here:
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?p=469839#post469839

hope this helps...
-s

 

Yeah, saw that post last night. Hope to do the bluetooth and wireless mouse upgrade myself. Appreciate the research you did on all that.

Joe

 

I replaced my harddrive to a 7200rpm on my A170 and wanted to give some feedback. The only thing that I have to add is that in removing the broad cable it is pulled straight out. Use some flat nose pliers, invest in some quality ones as well as the cost is minor compared to the cost and hassel of replacing a cable.

Evenly grip the broad ribbon cable and pull it out slowly. I lined my pliers with some pvc tape so as not to damage the cable.

Initially i was trying to remove the plastic clip that the ribbon cable inserts into, big mistake!

 

I'm doing a swap on my new A270, but I think I'll pay a tech to do it for me.

Steve

Sony A190 WUXGA

http://clydestale.blogspot.com/

 

I just successfully swapped out the HDD on my A170. Everything went as described, thanks to everyone for simplifying the process. Just wanted to add that the flat ribbon cables for the touchpad and special function buttons also pulls out directly (without removing the "connector"). I spent a good 5 min trying to figure out how to pull out the connectors lol.