Thanks Oldfogy. Perhaps that was a stupid question. Told you I am a dinosaur. . To answer your questions:
1. Present size is 60GB. Free space C: - 3GB and D: - 7GB and yes I would like to increase the size.
2. Partitioned 20GB (C:) and 40GB (D:).
3. DVD +/- RW (I have a Vaio VGN-S56GP that I bought from Singapore). Not sure if a cloning software exists for Vaio laptops.
I tried to find the max install size of the hard drive for my model but couldn't find any info. Not sure how to get this info.
1. To be honest if your figures above are accurate, then "possibly" one reason for the excessive noise is that your drive is full and your OS is finding it hard to find information that is required quickly.
2. Not that it really matters, but 20Gb + 40GB will not give you a 60GB HDD.
3. The manufacturer of cloning software is not relevant to the make of drive/laptop you have (any cloning software will do)
However, with the size you say your C: drive is, you would be better trying to find some way of connecting your old HDD to a external drive, possibly with using a USB caddy of some sort and doing a direct clone from there once the new drive is installed.
Maybe/hopefully someone else may be able to advise on the max size of HDD that you can install.
(Although you could try phoning Sony or even PC World and ask if they know)
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edit
Specs from the page below seem to suggest you could possibly increase the HDD size to 160GB.
http://www.upgradecomputermemory.com/ram.cfm//memory/S/Sony-VAIO/Sony-Notebooks-VAIO-VGN-Series/VAIO-VGN-S56GPS-S56GPS/160GB-Notebook-Hard-Drive-for-the-Sony-VAIO-VGN-S56GP-S-S56GP-S-.htmlOther indications are that the original specs show the HDD as being 80GB, so it's also possible you have a hidden
drive partition, "possibly containing manufacturers restore files"
If you go to disk management you will be able to see the exact partitions you have by:-
Right click My Computer then select Manage from there you can then select Disk Management.
If you do have manufactures re-store available then it would be well worth keeping for future use.