I want to open the case of a Sony Vaio PCG 505 series laptop so that I
can replace a crashed hard disk. I need to know where the screw
releases are. Oddly enough, it's not obvious and I clearly don't want to use
force to open the unit up.

arakawarobert,

Thank you for your question. It appears that disassembling your
computer is quite the task.  Bear in mind that taking the machine
apart will void your warranty. One thing is determining which model
you have.  A chart describing each model can be found at
http://frijoles.hungry.com/c1-info/faq.html#0.1

Detailed instructions on disassembly of the C1XS and C1XE can be found
at http://frijoles.hungry.com/c1-info/disassemble.html

For the C1/R/X/F/S model:
http://www.farstand.com/cgi-bin/pcg-c1/Old_Forum/Forum.exe?0609

Additional information on upgrades, etc, can be found at
http://frijoles.hungry.com/c1-info/faq.html

If you need any additional clarification, please let me know.  Good
luck!

Regards,

-THV

Search Strategy:
disassembling Sony Vaio PCG 505

---

Clarification of Answer by tar_heel_v-ga on 27 Dec 2002 20:27 PST

arakawarobert,

I am sorry the informtion I provided did not meet your needs and/or
was for the incorrect model.  Had you posted a request for
clarification stating that, I would have had my answer pulled and you
would not have been charged.  I can assure you that I did not
intentionally post incorrect information.  Please feel free to request
a refund of your question fee. You can find the steps for a refund
request at http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=refundrequest

Again, my apologies for the incorrect information.

Regards,

-THV

The answer was unresponsive and to another model of Sony. Screw
locations are not equivalent. I finally found the answer myself--see
the response I posted. I appreciate the response, but I also think
I've seen that answer elsewhere, as if the person who replied just cut
and pasted anything into the answer. More helpful might have been to
atleast point to Vaio Village, a mboard dealing with Sony's Vaio
series. I don't even think Google-ing came up with that. ar

Nice try but no banana, tar_heel_v-ga. The response is totally
unresponsive and you don't deserve any stars much less $4.50. Your
answer is about about another PC series. So you got paid for cheating.
In the meantime, there is an answer which I finally located at
http://modular.fas.harvard.edu/z505he/apart/. Some Harvard student has
kindly posted a page on dissembling the Vaio 505 series laptops,
replete with step-by-step images. The final two screws are really
hidden. If anyone disasembles the Viao body they really need to take
care not to rip cables and wires out when dissembling the case. Once
disassembled, you realize how elegant the insides are. You also
realize how cheezy some of the plastic parts are too.