SSD upgrade for VPCZ126-GG

Greetings to all,

I have VPCZ126-GG for last 2 + year and still going strong. However, i feel the HDD needs an upgrade as 128 gb kinda sucks!!

What are the options available to me? Can i do it at home? Sony Service station people will not do it, already asked them and they refused.
Many thanks for pointing me in right direction

Thanks in advance

 

I bought a E series laptop a few weeks ago. The first thing I did was take a screwdriver and remove the hdd and replace it with a Samsung 840 250GB SSD. I had no experience but it was very easy. If there is a seperate compartiment for the hdd, you just remove that, otherwise you have to take the whole back out. All you need is a screwdriver and you'll be fine.

Reinstalling Windows 8 was no problem. Installed the drivers from the Sony website and everything works fine.

 

Thanks Danny606, i'm bit confused as which SSD to look for? 1.8" or 2.5" from where to get it? there are various configurations/ connectors for it..... thanks to help me out....

Regards

 

There is a good thread on this topic - check it out.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/702265-upgrade-ssd-vpcz2390x.html

 

hi there,

the vaio vpcz1 is a great ultraportable. vaio e series and VPCZ2 (successor) are completely different regarding construction.
VPCZ126GG : Z Series (VPCZ) : VAIO™ Notebook : Sony Asia Pacific

there are 3 options for the VPCZ1:
read well the threads and guides!! Also see the difference between Micro SATA and mSATA!!

1) easiest way, but the optical drive will be replaced:
2nd hard drive / SSD caddy - Sony VAIO Z, Z11, Z12, Z13, VPC [SONY-2BAY-Z11] - $43.00 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks
(no need to reinstall windows, because it is still on your current ssd)
-> 2.5" ssd or hdd with 9.5 mm height!

2) Micro sata 1.8" ssd instead of your current ssd:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/511578-how-replace-ssd-vaio-vpcz11-vpcz12-non-sony-ssd-15.html
-> small amount of possbile ssd's i think (see the thread)

3) msata ssd 1.8" ssd instead of your current ssd:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/677936-new-crucial-ssd-drive-vaio-z-fit.html
-> with new connector cable for 2 connections and 2 adapter you can use 2 msata ssd's like me (see the thread)


Here you can find a dismantle video:
Vaio Z11 Dismantle on Vimeo
VPCZ11, VPCZ12 and VPCZ13 look the same on the inside. this book already is equipped with bay caddy (see option 1)

hope you find somethin usefull and again read carefully. Dismantling is not a big deal.

 

Yes. It is the reassembling that's tricky.

Nice post, mal.ente.

 

mal.ente, vestasan

Thanks a lot for your help.

mal ente your post is really helpful especially about the video. As i understand you have replaced your SSD with crucial SSD drive.... was that easy? do u have to purchase something else also?

thanks for helping

 

yep, two crucial msata ssd's are still running in my Z1. after replacing the ssd in my Z1 successfully, i noticed this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/677936-new-crucial-ssd-drive-vaio-z-fit.html and replied.

what you have to order additionally to the msata ssd:

1) Micro SATA to mSATA adapter:
mSATA to Micro SATA Adapter - mSATA - Adapters & Converters
you can install up to 2 msata ssd's and you need one adapter for each msata ssd.

2) micro SATA connector cable (provides 2 connections):
THIS depends on your needs and you have to check it!
A-1781-464-A - Sony Laptop Miscellaneous Parts (see option 2 thread first page)
the VPCZ12 already has a micro SATA connection cable for storage drives, but i'm not sure. by the way, the VPCZ11 like mine does not have micro SATA so i had to order the micro SATA connector cable anyway.
in your case it should be one micro sata connection for 128 gb ssd (2*64 gb, raid0). you will see it when you dismantle your Z1, maybe for practice.
so for installing 2 ssd's you most likely need this micro SATA cable. one mSATA ssd should work without it.

replacing of ssd:

replacing the ssd requires some handiwork to the adapter. only when you want to install two msata ssd's = http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/677936-new-crucial-ssd-drive-vaio-z-fit.html#post8825726. i can not say it is difficult. there is not much you can do wrong to the adapter. well but this was just my experience with the handiwork. one msata ssd including the adapter should be very loose in the Z1 case unit. here you have to be creative and focus it somehow.


just ask if you need further information.

 

mal.ente........thank you very much!!!!!! it is really detailed......i'll start odering things one by one and open the laptop to see how things can be done......

Again a biiigggg thank you for all your time...

Geo

 

Hi,

and thank you for all the contributors especially mal.ente.

The SSD of my VPCZ11 was almost dead so I was desperately trying to find how I can change it.

It was a bit long to receive all the components especially the micro SATA connector cable COMPL PWB FPC-217(SSD_TOS) (S) (sony ref : A1781464A) (for french people, now available on http://www.pop-informatique.com/Prix/COMPL-PWB-FPC-217-SSD-TOS---S-411977.html)
but everything work fine now.

I bougth two plextor M6 mSata 128 Gb each. I doubled the SSD capacity of my VPCZ11.

Cheers

Coolatsa