Has anyone tried...

[MDX-400]

Just curious I guess, but I was thinking that since HDD based DAPs use small (1.8") HDDs in them usually of the Toshiba variety (e.g. the HD1/3/5 should all use the same Toshiba MK2004GAL 20GB drive), has anyone ever tried to change the HDD size in the player? I.e. use a different sized 1.8" drive in place of the 20G that is in there?

Would the firmware handle it, or would it give error messages and/or use 20GB even if more space is available? We all know there is an HD5H, could it be that it is really just a [regular] HD5 with a 30GB drive in it, or would the firmware be different?

Now I'm not really trying to get more capacity myself or anything (20GB is doing fine for me right now), but it would be interesting if the capacity could be [reasonably] increased using a bigger HDD in the unit. Whether this would be a worthwile or cost-effective upgrade or not, it would be interesting to know if it would work.

Anyone have any info regarding this?

[Guest Stuge]

One thing I can confirm that HarD Disk used by Sony in HD3 & HD5 are same i.e Toshiba MK2004GAL.

I don`t think there will be problem using higher capacity .As specifications of those discs are also same ..except disc size

You can look here

http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=8100...000659C000026BD

I haven`t done this b`coz hard disc available in my market are quite costyl.

[Ishiyoshi]

Anyone have any info regarding this?

I know it can be done safely for the VAIO Pocket; but I have yet to try it.

[MDX-400]

^Really eh? So this works? Well I guess the VAIO Pocket is a little bit different so still no guarantee...

I haven`t done this b`coz hard disc available in my market are quite costyl.

Well it seems [here in NA] you can get a 40GB Toshiba 1.8" drive for about $130 US + shipping on eBay, from what I can see. That's about the same as I paid for my HD3 to begin with. Still I don't think it is that bad, especially if you could resell the 20GB drive for even $50 US. I mean it isn't a great/easy solution (still not guaranteed to work even, lol) but not bad. Again, I don't need the capacity myself but might be worth a try for someone that really likes their Sony player but wants more capacity...

[SimonGrafftey]

It is possible to replace the hard disk in the HD1/3/5 - I did it successfully with my HD5. The HD5 is the easiest of the three to take apart, and the hard drive is connected by a small multiconnector. The disk is automatically formatted when the machine is restarted.

The drive must be the same physical size - the 20GB drives in Sony HDD walkmans are single platter and 5mm thick. Toshiba now make a single platter 40gb drive (MK4007GAL) which is 5mm thick which has the same connector. I fitted a 30GB drive (MK3006GAL) into my HD5.

The NW A3000 is manufactured with two drive alternatives - they either come with an Hitachi drive or a Toshiba one. The Toshiba 20GB drive (MK2008GAL) has a new type of connector, ZIF (zero insertion force). There is a compatible 30GB drive (MK3008GAL) which is 5mm thick and could be used in the NW A3000. The process is more tricky than for the HD1/3/5 models because 4 pins have to be desoldered to get access to the drive which is a bit fiddly.

The other practical issue is getting hold of replacement drives. The demand from DAP player manufacturers is so high that not much stock reaches the retail market.

[Guest Stuge]

SimonGrafftey,

Do you still have 30GB hard disk in your HD5 ?if yes How it is working ??

[SimonGrafftey]

Actually I sold the unit a few weeks ago, but the 30GB replacement disk worked fine and I never had any problems with it.

[Guest Stuge]

Actually I sold the unit a few weeks ago, but the 30GB replacement disk worked fine and I never had any problems with it.

Oh No ..Damn

[Tiesto]

No way!... a new hard drive will be a 100% plug&play hardware for the HD5, that's great. So the problem would be just the disk change, however the disk should be 40gb at least to worth the money.