Replacing Hard Drive on Vaio Laptop

Steevo

Hello,
I've got a Vaio VGN-B1VP (PCG-5B1M). I'd like to replace the hard drive because a S.M.A.R.T failure has been predicted, and also because I got an ipod for Xmas so could do with a bigger drive for my tunes. Apparently its easy to change the HD on these models, but I cant find anywhere on sony websites how you actually do it. Can anyone help please? Also, once the drive is changed, is it simply a case of inserting the Windows XP OS disc into the CD drive to install the operating system onto the drive?
Thanks.

intel

Flip the laptop over are there two small screws that holding the drive in place

And here is the XP work around to get XP to work on another PC because of HDD Change

If Drivers are not on the Restore CD
Yes you can use an XP disc on another PC, But before you do make a note of all the drivers on the PC to be fixed, i.e., Right click my computer icon, Properties, Hardware Tab, Device Manager or download and use Everest Home Edition http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html to see what drivers you have got for Sound, Modem, Display/Monitor and write them down, now go to https://www.driverguide.com and register free and then download any drivers you need and burn them to a disk for reloading onto the restored PC if Necessary.

How to
Ok so You popped the XP CD in the PC to be redone/restored to factory settings, restart the PC and follow the onscreen instructions, if the CD don’t boot up you will have to change the boot sequence in the Bios so the CDrom boots first. Usually hit Del on start-up and then go to advanced features Boot Sequence and change the Boot to CDrom A:\ (if applicable) and then C:\ by using the + and - symbols on your keyboard.

Ok exit and save settings if you had to change the boot sequence in the Bios as described above.

Now ok so you installed XP on the other machine, now you get a pop up saying please register XP, go to register it but DO IT BY PHONE when you get through to an operator tell them you replaced the hard drive and the motherboard and that you cant register the XP disc they will talk you through some steps so it can be registered, One thing to make sure of is to have the PCs product key handy it should be a label that is on the side or under the PC you are fixing.

Steevo

Thats great, thanks a lot. I see the hard drive is a 4,200rpm fujitsu. Is it wise to replace with the same make of a bigger capacity, or are there better quality drives available. Is there much advantage to a upgrading to a 5,400rpm drive, and will any 2.5" drive with the same interface (ATA-6) be compatible? Also, I see that the OS on the laptop at the moment is XP Pro, but the OS I have on CD is XP Home that i bought for an old laptop and never used. It looks like if i want to buy XP Pro it will cost me about £100. Am i right to assume that the ones on ebay for about £10 will be copies and that there would be problems registering them (is it even necessary to register the OS)?
Sorry for all the questions, as you can see I'm a bit clueless about all of this!

intel

Their are differnces between Pro and Home its a question of do you need them.
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

A CD from ebay maybe more difficult to register but I would stick with the Home
disk you have if you can live without the reasons on the above link.

If your drive at the mo is 40gb ask yourself how much freespace is left I mean did you
use all of the drive as a massive drive just means more area to scan so a miniscule
amount of increased time is used for searching the drive.

Make sure you get the same drive compatability.. check the sony site
also the serial number can be matched.. what is the drive make and serial number?

Steevo

Thanks again, main reason for getting a bigger drive is i've just got a 30Gb iPod, so will need extra space for tunes. Assuming I eventually fill up my ipod, that wont leave much space on the 40gb viao hard drive for everything else! The current HD is a Fujitsu MHT2040AT. I guess if i go for the MHT2060AT or 2080AT there shouldn't be any probs with compatibility.
Cheers.