what does my hard drive look like?

Roger Hassenforder · 20-12-2014 4:35pm #1

I've my bust ass Vaio pulled asunder.

is the hard drive about the size of a pack of fags, inserted in from the rear ? What i thought was the HD turns out to be the DVD drive...when i googled the part number.

Obviously, I'm not entirely hopeful this endeavor will result in a working lap top again, but sure hope springs eternal.

biko · 20-12-2014 4:36pm

This page shows the hard drive
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/upgrade-hard-drive-sony-vaio-pcg-v505dxp/

cml387 · 20-12-2014 4:37pm

Roger Hassenforder · 20-12-2014 4:39pm

cml387 wrote: »

nice one.
that looks like it
twas a bit easier to take off then i expected so i thought it couldnt be it, so i kept going, and now have the whole thing in bits on the kitchen table!

Roger Hassenforder · 20-12-2014 4:47pm

so this is it:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=492983197436086&id=120533387971584

any thing the learned members would recommend that isnt too expensive?

i hoovered out the fan which was full of ****e and dust, so hopefully that will help stop the thing overheating.

cml387 · 20-12-2014 4:48pm

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

nice one.
that looks like it
twas a bit easier to take off then i expected so i thought it couldnt be it, so i kept going, and now have the whole thing in bits on the kitchen table!

Taking it apart is the easy bit.

Roger Hassenforder · 20-12-2014 4:51pm

cml387 wrote: »

Taking it apart is the easy bit.

im starting to put it back together, and it looks like im going to have a lot of screws left over!

IrlMonk · 21-12-2014 3:16am

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

I've my bust ass Vaio pulled asunder.

is the hard drive about the size of a pack of fags, inserted in from the rear ? What i thought was the HD turns out to be the DVD drive...when i googled the part number.

Obviously, I'm not entirely hopeful this endeavor will result in a working lap top again, but sure hope springs eternal.

What are the issues your having?

Roger Hassenforder · 21-12-2014 9:21pm

it freezes and then crashes. of late though, the black boot up screen wobbles and flickers, and nothing loads.

im reluctant to toss it out yet

IrlMonk · 21-12-2014 11:05pm

Have you thought about doing a fresh install of windows?
sounds like a driver issue as well.
If you can do a fresh install and update all drivers everything should be fine.

Roger Hassenforder · 22-12-2014 12:44am

IrlMonk wrote: »

Have you thought about doing a fresh install of windows?
sounds like a driver issue as well.
If you can do a fresh install and update all drivers everything should be fine.

might try that.

IrlMonk · 22-12-2014 12:57am

Hi,
yes start the troubleshooting with the least expensive methods.
when you go to install the fresh install choose the custom install which will create an "oldwindows" folder. that way you don't have to worry about backing-up any important data that was on your HDD.
Update the drivers and let us know if it fixed it or not.
Also reseat the RAM modules as the modules may have become loose.
GL

Roger Hassenforder · 31-12-2014 4:10pm

IrlMonk wrote: »

Have you thought about doing a fresh install of windows?
sounds like a driver issue as well.
If you can do a fresh install and update all drivers everything should be fine.

As the DVD drive is broken, can I buy a replacement, change it and will it work without having to install drivers, which I can, as I can't get into it?

IrlMonk · 31-12-2014 4:34pm

Can your pc boot from usb?
Check the Bios boot sequence and see if Boot from USB is available.
Ya don't necessarily need a dvd drive.

IrlMonk · 31-12-2014 4:39pm

Before doing any fresh installs, do you have a recovery disk? Is there a recovery partition pre-installed on the laptop

Roger Hassenforder · 31-12-2014 5:16pm

IrlMonk wrote: »

Before doing any fresh installs, do you have a recovery disk? Is there a recovery partition pre-installed on the laptop

I have all my recovery discs but the DVD player is knackered (thing in the middle that holds the disc steady is gone)
Don't know if I have a recovery partition.

Roger Hassenforder · 31-12-2014 5:17pm

IrlMonk wrote: »

Can your pc boot from usb?
Check the Bios boot sequence and see if Boot from USB is available.
Ya don't necessarily need a dvd drive.

What do i need for this to work?

IrlMonk · 01-01-2015 12:13am

Try this Roger:
Start up computer and immediately start tapping f10.
This will take you to a black screen with white writing.
Hit enter.
The next screen gives you two options:
- hit the skip button.
Next screen check the box and hit next.
Your computer will be restored to it's factory settings in about 20min.
Make sure your computer is plugged in.

Hope that helps

syklops · 01-01-2015 12:16am

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

it freezes and then crashes. of late though, the black boot up screen wobbles and flickers, and nothing loads.

im reluctant to toss it out yet

Would you consider asking someone who knows what they are doing to take a look at it?

IrlMonk · 01-01-2015 12:21am

Steve Jobs: "The Journey Is the Reward"

IrlMonk · 01-01-2015 12:34am

@ Roger, just remember that once you start tinkering with your system there may be no way back.
So prepare a backup plan: A bootable USB stick with the OS on it, etc...etc...

Roger Hassenforder · 02-01-2015 12:10am

syklops wrote: »

Would you consider asking someone who knows what they are doing to take a look at it?

if i had done that all my life, I'd never have figured out how to put my car's brakes back together!

IrlMonk wrote: »

@ Roger, just remember that once you start tinkering with your system there may be no way back.
So prepare a backup plan: A bootable USB stick with the OS on it, etc...etc...

back up plan is f**k the thing out!
I've nothing to lose I reckon.

syklops · 03-01-2015 4:20pm

Im sure we are all dying to know the fate of the computer. Did it get f%^ked out or was fresh life breathed into it anew?

Roger Hassenforder · 03-01-2015 9:03pm

syklops wrote: »

Im sure we are all dying to know the fate of the computer. Did it get f%^ked out or was fresh life breathed into it anew?

no joy!

did this:

IrlMonk wrote: »

Try this Roger:
Start up computer and immediately start tapping f10.
This will take you to a black screen with white writing.
Hit enter.
The next screen gives you two options:
- hit the skip button.
Next screen check the box and hit next.
Your computer will be restored to it's factory settings in about 20min.
Make sure your computer is plugged in.

Hope that helps

but got as far as this:

IrlMonk wrote: »

Try this Roger:
Start up computer and immediately start tapping f10.
This will take you to a black screen with white writing.
Hit enter.

is seemed to be doing/trying to do something, but the screen stayed very dark blue (might be black, I'm colourblind). Looked like something was going on though. After ages I turned it on and off again, to try again, and it looked like there was another screen lurking behind (like a log in screen).

what does my hard drive look like?

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