520 Series SSD Incompatible with Sony Vaio YB Laptop

[idata]

Hello,

I am trying to use a 240 GB 520 SSD with a Sony Vaio YB laptop (VPCYB16KG). The two seem to be incompatible.

I cloned the original hard disk (WIndows 7, 32 bit) with a full version of Acronis (the same software as supplied for the SSD). The cloned SSD started to boot, displayed a message that the Intel migration had completed, then hung. Subsequent boots caused various behaviour. It always ran very slow and repeatedly tried to fix the drive, again very slowly. The startup never completed.

I tried to use the Vaio recovery disk (Windows 7, 32 bit), but it could not access the drive. I forget the error displayed, but I searched for it and found some hits, but none provided a resolution.

I tried to do a fresh install of WIndows 7, 64 bit from a Microsoft disk. It failed at the drive format with an error 0x80070057 "Failed to format the selected partition". Again I searched and found hits, but no resolution.

I formatted and tested the SSD on another computer and it was fine. It has since been installed successfully in a Dell laptop, so it doesn't appear to be faulty. The Dell has the smae processor and, I think, the same chipset.

Another person has reported the same experience here. http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony-owners-lounge-forum/552876-official-y-series-11-6-owners-thread... post9055525 Official Y series 11.6 Owners' Thread - Page 44.

Can anyone shed light on our experiences? Has anyone else experienced incompatibility with the 520 series? Does anyone have a possible explanation? Any help would be appreciated.

I can try an SSD from another manufacturer, but I would prefer to understand the problem first. I don't want to spend more money and find the same problem repeated.

Message was edited by: Howard Viccars

[idata]

Does your Sony laptop have a EFI Bios?? If so it will also have a GPT partioned HD.

To clone the GPT, HD in the laptop to your SSD try HDcloning which is free and has full GPT support.

http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html# freehttp:// http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html# freehttp://

[idata]

Paul, thanks for your reply.

I don't believe the laptop is using EFI. I'm not sure, but I searched and found various suggestions including the following three clues. There is no EFI folder in the C:\Windows\Boot directory. The partition type for the original disk working in the computer is MBR. It is running 32 bit WIndows 7.

[idata]

I tried the Acronis software and then even bought the retail version and it would not work for me either.

Try the HDClone freeware it was much simpler to use.

[idata]

Paul,

Can you confirm that the HDClone software worked with an Intel 520 and the Sony YB please?

I also tried to do a fresh install of WIndows 7 32 bit from the Sony recovery disks and a fresh install of Windows 7 64 bit from a Microsoft disk and neither worked, so I don't think the only problem is Acronis. The recovery disk worked with an old 64 GB Toshiba SSD that I borrowed, so that seems to eliminate everything but the combination of Intel 520 and the YB.

I have ordered a Samsung 840 Pro in the hope that it will work.

Thanks