Upgrade your Vaio VGN-C1XX series!

Okay, this review is done from my Sony Vaio VGN-C190G.

First of all we're going to do something about the battery life:

http://search.stores.ebay.nl/ECHOBE...QsaselZ190580478QQsatitleZVGPQ2dBPL2CQQsofpZ0

This store gives you Sony Vaio Large capacity battery for about 20% the price of Sony's shop.
It'll extend your battery from 2.5 to 5.5 hours (average use); and upto 7.5 hours idle usage.
You can install the new battery simply by unlocking the buttons on the back, and removing the old battery.
The newer battery causes your laptop to angle a little; this is due to the 12 Cell internal structure (needs more space then the regular battery).

Second, let's look at the Vaio specs:
The specs of the VGN-C190 are here: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=VGNC190G
if you need another model, change the model on the right, and on the left click 'manuals-specs-warranty'.
Then click Marketing Specifications (CTO).

The specs say that the fastest processor run on the VAIO VGN-C190G is a Intel Core2Duo T7600.
Maybe the price is too high, you can always update it later on.
the processor is located on the bottom of the notebook, behind the largest removable plate.
unscrew the plate, remove the fan, and cooling, and switch processors.
Please note that any updating on Sony Vaio stuff done by non-qualified people could lead to the void of warranty!

3th: The Harddisk:
The internal harddisk (at least mine) is a Toshiba First gen SATA controlled 5400RPM HD.
It's held by 2 screws, one on the left of the HD, and one on the back (near to the largest removable plate covering the fan)
The internal drive has burst speeds of about 275Mb/s and sustained read/write of about 21/13MB/s
We can only switch it with equal or faster SSD drive!
SSD drives consume less energy, have faster access times, wheigh less and function longer (more then 1.000.000 hours on 2.5Gb/hour write).
Many SSD's are still very expensive, and with not that much faster readspeeds (36Mb/S).
But if you want to upgrade, this is a definate bang in the box! fastest SSD I've seen for under 400:

http://cgi.ebay.nl/Mtron-SSD-2-5-32...ryZ16178QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The other items sold by Samsung, Sandisk, on ebay and a few other unknown brands either don't have much price difference, but much lower speeds, or have less storage space. (16GB is required, 32 is recommended at least to install Vista + some office programs).

A good budget price for 32Gb SSD would be Transcend 32GB:
http://cgi.ebay.nl/Transcend-32GB-S...ryZ99247QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Though read/write speed is about 1/3th of the speed of the Mtron version!

4- let's enlarge the memory:
http://search.stores.ebay.nl/cellph...emoryQQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsaselZ32079752QQsofpZ0

Kingston memory is trustworthy, and works about at 95 to 97.5% of the original Sony memory modules (this due to CL2.5 instead of running at CL2 I presume); tested on a memory benchmark program http://www.passmark.com/.

You'll have to take a philips screwdriver and open a little square plate on the back on the opposite of the battery.
For removing and inserting memory please be sure to read an(other) manual. I'm just telling you what works on the 190 (and possibly the 140 too).

The adding of greater memory becomes important for your next upgrade (since it'll boost performance considerably compared to the standard 1GB RAM) nl: Windows Vista!

But first download some drivers:

5- installing procedures of the drivers
Here is the page with all the drivers:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNC190G

Now selecting and downloading the right drivers to install on your VAIO (best put them on a blank CD, or flashdrive like SD card or usb stick).

Here's the page with the info on how to install vista, and which drivers are necessary (scroll down on that page)
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?info_id=172

If you don't really understand what you're doing, you might as well download all drivers to be safe. Many drivers work both on XP and Vista.

6- windows:Installing of Windows Vista!
Buy Windows Vista Home Premium which is best compatible with this vaio at:

http://search.ebay.nl/Windows-Vista...flocZ1QQflsZ4QQfromZR40QQsaslcZ2QQsbrexpZWD2S

Why windows Vista? Because it's cool today!
Why an OEM version? Because it's cheaper, and you don't need the fancy box anyways!

Why a clean Windows install?
Since I read many reviews saying a Vista upgrade on an XP will give you the experience of VISTA but your pc will still boot slow. That's why a new install!

Maybe interesting to backup your harddrive to be sure.
I've Ghosted it with Norton Ghost; but there are many other programs available on todays market.

Okay, this is as far as I can go.
In order to check the videocard I needed to open my laptop, and I didn't feel like.
I hope when prices drop many will take benefit from this topic, and upgrade to a nice little (no-graphic) powerhouse!

Success!