Does anyone know or would hazard a guess if it's possible to install Vista on a solid state disk that I put in the express card slot?
Vista doesn't permit installation on SD cards, under normal circumstances, I think.
But if one could do what I suggest, you'd get the best of both worlds: fast and quiet operating system on the SSD, and lots of storage on the built in hard disk.
My laptop is the Vaio SZ61WM.