What is the exact model for your Sony VAIO ?
In Post #48 you stated "mine is a VPCC2 model", but i don't see that model on this Sony support site:
Sony eSupport - Drivers & Software Updates - Select a Model
Also what is the exact BIOS (version) information for your VAIO ?
I filtered (searched) your link in Post #48 for sony vaio hard drive and it seems like there are specific HD's for specific VAIO's.
Amazon.co.uk: sony vaio hard drive: Computers & Accessories
Hi. It's a VPCCW2S1E. Bios is R0170Y7. It seems to be the latest one on the support site for this model. Maybe VPPC2 doesn't include VPCCW2?
Thanks for that search - yes I saw those and wasn't sure if they were correct/reliable when Sony said it needed to be the same size drive - wasn't sure which drive to get so I got the nearest to the current drive. Do you think those drives advertised as suitable will have some firmware on then? They also seem to be unbranded drives - not sure if that matters.
At least this one isn't running quite as hot as the other two. I left the install from the recovery discs on just in case it had something that worked on the drive.
At the moment I'm having problems with Windows Updates. Service Pack 1 installed ok and the next round appeared some hours later but don't seem to be downoading. I'm just downloading two at the moment of about 5mb and they've been downloading for half an hour and still showing 0%.
I can remember having issues here back in the early days of Windows 7 with a member with a HP where you had to have a partition for the OS of exactly 30GB for it to work correctly during restore, it would not work if you tried to to restore to any other size. - but never any of the overheating issues if things were not to spec.
I'm starting to wonder if Microsoft has cut back on the bandwidth allocated to Windows 7 Updates since it went into Extended Support and the expectation that the demands would be less. If they have a reduction in update speed would be inevitable especially when you do a clean install.
Doing a search for Bios R0170Y7 i'm finding hits showing this version has Improves thermal management
Sony eSupport - Electronics - Drivers & Software
BIOS Update version R0170Y7 : Download : Sony Asia Pacific
Makes me think they have/had known thermal issues and fixed some, but maybe not all as you're seeing now.
I know - all very strange - I think they just want you to buy a new laptop when the hard drive goes. I don't think it's going to overheat and shut down this time but would rather leave it running during the day than at night so I can sleep without risking burning the house down. The updates are there - been running it all day - but they're not downloading. I just ran Windows update troubleshooter and that's been running for ages as well! Before that I tried one update of 47kb and it spent 15 minutes and still didn't download/install.
Actually had the same problem on another computer last week with the latest round of Windows updates - I still haven't managed to get them to download/install.
I last did a full install in about October last year and didn't have problems with Windows Updates then - do you think W7 owners are being pushed into getting another OS?!!
I hear you about not wanting to let it run overnight, if you're patient enough just let it run while you are awake and can keep an eye on it.
Yes, I think MS is pushing to get W7 users to W10.
For me checking for Win 7 Windows Updates after Patch Tuesday updates are published now takes 30-60 minutes.
It should only take a couple of minutes (it use to).
After they are installed, i can scan for more updates in 1-2 minutes.
With Win 8.1 i have no problem scanning for new updates in 1-2 minutes, anytime.
With Win 10 i have no problem scanning for new updates in 1-2 minutes, anytime.
This is all on my Legacy triple boot PC, so the hardware, bios, and network connection are the same.
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