Cracking open my Sony-Z laptop
Samsung sent me a Samsung PB22-J 256GB Solid State Drive (SSD) to review last month. That’s 256 gigabytes of blistering fast flash-based storage for you. Only when it was in transit did I realize that my Sony-Z16GN laptop was quite different from other laptops. You see, there was no friendly, user-accessible compartment underneath the laptop from which to remove the hard disk drive unit! None!
Instead, I came to the belated conclusion that a disassembly was in order before I could even see the hard disk. I love technology, but I’m no technician or engineer. Time to call for help.
Sony PR in Singapore responded initially, and then my request to speak directly to a technician fell into a black hole. Could have been the mention of the Samsung SSD, but I can’t really be sure now.
At my wits end, I turned to Google, and thankfully managed to find a copy of their actual technician’s manual that documented the process of opening it up. Yes, I cheated.
Anyway, before I could snap the above picture, I had to take out 10 screws, remove the battery, use a modified paperclip (my idea) to shift two hidden, sliding locks into release position, and begin a careful, heart-wrenching pull to forcibly release the keyboard from their snug plastic indentures. Ouch.
Seriously, I would have permanently damaged my laptop without the technician’s manual. So don’t try this at home.
In the meantime, do check out the rest of the pictures (I’ll spare you the exciting screw-removing portions) I took of the process!
Before the pictures, here is the outcome of the upgrade – Window Vista now shows the maximum score of 5.9 for the disk data transfer rate:
Click on the pictures for my comments. You will have to click a second time for a close-up though; apologies while I try to fix the image gallery.
Related posts:
- Protecting your laptop with BitLocker I decided to bite the bullet last weekend and activated...
- Using the Apple wireless keyboard with my Sony laptop Just bought a new Apple Wireless keyboard to use...
- HD Tune Hard Disk Utility Benchmark Ran the Benchmark in the HD Tune Hard Disk Utility...
Hey Paul, nice work! Quick question… I have a SR series laptop, very simialr to the Z, and I need to get my keyboard out…. I have a nice cover on the backside that allows me to get to the harddrive, but it’s the keyboard that I need out… Could you elaborate on the sliding lock mechanism for me perhaps?
Thanks!
Jason
Jason, let me email it to you.
Hello, Paul. I really enjoyed your Z columns. Do you happen to know what SSD maker and model Sony currently uses for orders if one asks for 256 or if one asks for 512? Is it the old slow Samsung or the newer faster model you critiqued?
Hello Paul,
I am going through the same process to change my drive to an ssd drive and it has taken me 2 days and I still can not figure out on how to remove the keyboard.Is there any chance in email me the technical manual as well?
Great post and very useful, is there any chance you could email me a copy of the manual please? I’ve got 250GB of SSD goodness I’d love to put in
Thanks in advance!
Could you post a link to the disassemble manual? Great stuff.
Hey…where is the link for the disassemble for the Z ….i just bought the samsung 256gb rebranded by dell for $400…awesome deal thanks to bing.
I need it to do a install when it comes, dont wanna mess my baby up…also i was thinking of upgrading my p8400 to a p9700….you think it is worth it???? I also did a windows 7 install…major pain…because my Z is a Z590…all the drivers needed are for the Z690…ALSO you need to do a bios upgrade before you install win 7 64…the new bios for the z690 gives virtualzation so xp mode is working great once turned on in the bios. the Z590 to win 7 64 ultimate was a pain in the but…but i have everything working in tip top shape…thank goodness all the Z needs is bios update and new model drivers to get it to work since sony isnt showing win 7 love for the original z’s