New Seagate 7200 RPM Drive in Sony SZ 120p Notebook

[ccarrtiger]

The hard drive is fairly easy to change out. Just a delicate process.
I chose the seagate because it's the exact drive sony used except it's 7200RPM.

First you'll need to create recovery CD/DVDs if you want or need a set.
After that you can swap out the hard drive.

I Created the Disk but I also opt. to make an exact clone for backup reasons.

Here's what I used:

Seagate Momentus 7200.1 100GB 2.5" Serial ATA150 Notebook Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822146226
SABRENT SATA-C35U Serial ATA (SATA) to USB 2.0 Cable Converter Adapter - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812156014

Acronis Migrate Easy 7.0
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...s/migrateeasy/

Here's a Picture guide that I found
http://forum.notebookreview.com/newt...=newthread&f=8


1. Cloned the new drive with Acronis Easy Migrate Easy and the Sabrent Drive plugged in.
2. Power down the SZ. Remove the battery and the power cable.
3. Remove the single deep recessed screw that is just to the left of the docking connector.
4. Remove the three screws that are along the bottom front edge.
5. Take a credit card or something similar and push back the black plastic retaining springs that are located above the F1-F2 and Insert keys. You have to wedge the card in-between the spring and the keyboard. You have to gently (GENTLY) pull the keyboard up at the same time. You have to pull gently or you'll risk bending your keyboard. If you bend it it won't fit right and may flex on you. Do both retaining springs. The keyboard should hinge forward. Move it out of the way enough to get to the three stainless screws which hold the palm rest on.
6. Remove the three palmrest screws. Then slide the palmrest forward and then sit it out of the way on top of the keyboard.
7. Now you'll see the hard drive on the bottom left side. Remove the three screws which hold down the hard drive.
or see 10. for alternate
8. You should see two ribbon cables and connectors just above the top right of the hard drive. Gently pry the tape that connects the left cable to the right cable. It's a fabric type tape. A hobby knife works well here (don't cut it just use the edge to pry up a corner).
9. Pop off the left connector from the motherboard.
**This is the delicate part (step 10)**
10. The hard drive shock sensor (accelerometer) is mounted in between the right connector and the motherboard. It is adheared to the motherboard with a piece of double sided foam tape. You need to to pry the tape from the motherboard (not the sensor from the tape). It's not hard just use something to pry up one corner and then work your way back. IF YOU PULL ON THE CONNECTOR WITH THE SENSOR STILL STUCK TO THE MOTHERBOARD YOU MAY DESTROY THE SENSOR. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
10. Alternate: I decided instead to unscrew the far left screw near the Memory stick slot and flexed the left side panel a little. This was just enough to get the drive out.
11. With the sensor free of the motherboard go ahead and disconnect the right connector from the motherboard.
12. Remove the hard drive.
13. Remove the hard drive attachment hardware (attached with two screws per side) one side at a time. In other words take off one side then attach it to the new drive. Then do the other side. That way you won't get confused on how it's mounted. Don't forget to swap the plastic insulator and the drive cable.
14. Slide the hard drive back into the machine.
15. Reverse the steps above. Make sure you give the right connector a little press to reseat the sensor if used method 8,9 instead of alternate 10

I have seen an awesome performance boost! Here's the numbers from HDTune:

OldFactory Drive - Transfer Rate: MIN-17.4MB/S, Max-34.2 MB/S, Avg.-27.6 MB/S, Access Time: 16.6ms, Burst Rate: 95.7, CPU Usage 2.7%

7200RPM Drive - Transfer Rate: MIN-30.2 MB/S, Max-45.4 MB/S, Avg.37.2 MB/S, Access Time: 15.1ms, Burst Rate: 92.6, CPU Usage 3.6%

Although th Access time seams higher than the rated 10ms this is still an improvement over the factory drive in real world applications.

While Benching I did not notice either drive getting any hotter than the other while monitoring them throgh HDTune. Pretty much stayed around 35 Degrees Celcius

I hope this helps.
Now If I can only fix my Space bar.....HMM....

Thanks,
Tiger

[ProphetX]

Hey the picture guide link doesn't work.

And thanks alot for this guide.

[ccarrtiger]

Sorry guys....thanks for the catch Prphet

http://www.wretch.cc/album/album.php?id=UNIGO&book=2

[ccarrtiger]

I also wanted to add that all one has to do to fix the spacebar issue is put a slim piece of double stick tape about the size and shape of an eraser from a pencil in the middle underneath it. Popping it off is easy and harmless just be careful popping it off. There are 4 places it pops into place 2 on the sides and 2 in the middle. Do like the the following video except use some 3m


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8s0qTjNFKQ

[ccarrtiger]

I wanted to add, that when I meant size and shape of eraser I only meant the circle size. Obviously it has to be very thin.

[FenderP]

The process I did was similar, but what I think is easier is to get Acronis True Image, back up to a USB drive, then change out the HD, boot using Acronis, and restore the image to the drive.

Either way, it's not a bad process. More time consuming than anything else.

[ccarrtiger]

I was going to do that but since the engine for Migrate easy is the same all I did was cone it and it booted right up, no issues

[FenderP]

Originally Posted by ccarrtiger

I was going to do that but since the engine for Migrate easy is the same all I did was cone it and it booted right up, no issues

The issue really is the SATA to USB cable. It's not in any store I've seen (brick & mortar), so I did my method because it is the only one if you want instant gratification Plus, I have a ton of USB HDs with space.

If someone getting a SZ now knew ahead of time, this may be a great method.

[ccarrtiger]

Sweet, seems like a good idea. Maybe I just needed a reason to purchase more SATA toys......Now I just need Silverstone or someone good to produce a SATA external enclosure

[FenderP]

Originally Posted by ccarrtiger

Sweet, seems like a good idea. Maybe I just needed a reason to purchase more SATA toys......Now I just need Silverstone or someone good to produce a SATA external enclosure

That was my big annoyance - no 2.5" SATA external enclosures are available. I didn't know before I bought the SZ. I saw plenty of 3.5" SATA enclosures. So hence my methodology.

I figure we're a few months off from more SATA stuff as soon as more laptop manufacturers adopt SATA.