Comments on: Replacing a VAIO laptop (TR2MP) hard drive

By: Pedro

Pedro — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:37:23 +0000

For accessing data form removed HDs, I instead use a ATA/SATA 3.5/2.5 adapter that I got from some website.

David says:
That’s what I have used previously as well but now I find external HD enclosures more convenient. I got tired of opening my PC case and connecting IDE/SATA cables.

By: Pedro

Pedro — Fri, 04 May 2007 23:04:54 +0000

Ohhh… the squeak of death (click-scratch-click). What if your drive dies before you managed to restore the data?
This happened to me before with an IBM Deskstar (I mean, DEATHSTAR) HD… Luckily I was able to revive my HD by replacing the logic board (for the non-techies: the external circuit bit where you connect the cables). But you must be able to get a circuit board from another EXACT HD (i.e.: same model/revision) which is often quite hard!
Luckily I managed to find a guy in the US who had a brand new HD which was the same model and revision. In fact it was even from the same BATCH (same manufacturing plant and month/year) — it as like my old’s HD lost Siamese twin.
As soon as the new HD arrive, I swapped the circuit boards and voila! I could fetch all the data from the old revive HD to a brand new SEAGATE Barracuta 500GB Serial ATA. After the operation was complete, I re-swapped the logic boards from the IBM disks, dumped the trashed IBM on the bin and kept the new IBM drive wrapped for “future use”. But really, should I use a drive that is VERY, VERY likely to fail? Perhaps I could sell it on ebay to other unfortunate deathstar owners.
To avoid problems like these, I am currently reviewing Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions with RAID. I think I might go for an IRFANT NAS RAID system.

David says:
Pretty good story, reminds me of how lucky I was to repair a broken CPU pin.
By the way, I realised a great way to retrieve data from the removed HD (as long as it is in working condition): external 1.8″ or 2.5″ USB hard drive enclosures.
They are only £10 on eBay, shipping included!

By: Laptop Repair Tech

Laptop Repair Tech — Tue, 01 May 2007 11:11:42 +0000

“Don’t attempt to take of the top completely because the keyboard is attached to the bottom part and you don’t want to mess with those connectors. Just lifting it will be enough to get at the drive.”
You have to be careful with that. If you split the laptop case too much, you can disconnect the keyboard or other cables and the laptop will not function properly. In this case you’ll have to take it apart in order to reconnect cables, so be careful.
It’s not very common to have a hard drive buried inside the laptop, usually it’s easily accessible from the bottom.
Here’s some help for Toshiba laptop owners. I’ve created over 50 Toshiba laptop disassembly guides, you can use them if you want to repair the laptop yourself.
Toshiba laptop disassembly guides
My guides are free and you can use them at your convenience.

David says:
Looks like a nice site about laptop repair, shame I did not find it before repairing our VAIO.