Hardware Analysis Community Forums http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/ 2008-09-05T21:50:50-05:00 http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/ http://media.hardwareanalysis.com/halogo.gif text/html 2008-09-04T20:44:52-05:00 robin mcmahon http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#544510 i have a vaio also that won't reboot. first the mother board was replaced, then there was an issue with the display. of course, it's not rebooting again but the warranty is expired. i used to have a sony before this and it worked perfectly for over 6 years. it never stopped working actually i just decided to upgrade. now i have switched to mac. <img src="http://media.hardwareanalysis.com/smilies/smile17.gif" width="14" height="14" border="0" alt=">:o" title=">:o"> text/html 2008-09-04T00:26:02-05:00 Josh Deuley http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#544433 Jas,<br /> <br /> There is a slide plate on the underside of the case where the hard drive is. You can also by a usb laptop hard drive external enclosure. Pull the hard drive out and install it in the external drive then use another computer and pull the data you need off. Hope this helps. text/html 2008-09-03T13:50:02-05:00 Mohit Mittal http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#544401 Hey Jas,<br /> <br /> i experienced a similar prob few months back with sony vaio.<br /> I pushed hard the back of the laptop where battery is attached and thn it did worked for me , sometimes i use to take out the battery and place it back again , howevr now it works only with Power not with battery ... u can try these things ....<br /> <br /> God save Sony and its customers!!!!<br /> <br /> Mohit text/html 2008-09-03T11:03:58-05:00 rijoshp pb http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#544397 Jaspal Hayre said: <div class="quote">Greetings from the UK !<br /> <br /> I have a S150 / PCG-6C2L which I bought off <a href="/action/r/http://www.ebay.com/">eBay</a> (that'll teach me) a month ago thinking things can't go wrong with a Sony. They have a huge reputation for reliability etc over here.<br /> <br /> Well my laptop has stopped booting up. Get the power led etc but wont even display the bootup splash screen.<br /> <br /> I have tried removing the second memory Dimm and padding the memory dimms but this has not helped.<br /> I have also tried removing the battery and power adaptor for several hours and trying to bootup but nothing.<br /> <br /> I am halfway through a project and desperatly need to get data of the hard drive. Cannot anyone tell me how I can do this ? <br /> <br /> If anyone even knows where the hard drive is located in the chasis this would be a help.<br /> <br /> This is very urgent.<br /> <br /> Thanks in advance<br /> Jas</div><br /> text/html 2008-08-26T18:26:01-05:00 Roberta Morris http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#543866 I have a Sony Vaio laptop VGN-T350P. About a month ago, I replaced the battery. About a week ago, the laptop started turning off completely for no apparent reason. It would start back up fine, but it was annoying. Today, it won't start. When I push the power button, both it and the battery idiot light on the left above the key baord begin to flash on and off. I've tried removing the battery (which should have been at 100% charge) and the same thing happens. I've tried unplugging it from the wall and the same thing happens. One tip-off may be that the brick doesn't seem to be getting warm, although its green light is on. Any ideas? Thanks.<br /> Roberta text/html 2008-08-23T00:58:29-05:00 Josh Deuley http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#543616 Sounds like it could be an overheating issue. I know that some laptop manufactures &quot;glob&quot; heat sink compound on top of the CPU, which eventually causes overheating. Happened to me before just like you described. Clean the compound off the CPU and reapply the correct way. You could fry the CPU if you don't correct the heat issue. Hope this helps. text/html 2008-08-21T20:30:09-05:00 Mihailo K http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#543540 I have similar problem.<br /> Model: VGN-FJ3S (PCG-7Q1M)<br /> <br /> It started with Shut Downs, after half an hour, 10 minutes, 2 minutes, on Windows XP Logo.<br /> In Safe Mode it took longer. Precisely, I think it never happened. I’ve tried PC Doctor Test in Safe Mode and after an hour I’ve got “Error in Batch Mode” message.<br /> <br /> After this test, I couldn’t Power on the notebook.<br /> Symptoms:<br /> Battery Mode: Lights (NumLock, Power, Battery, no HDD light) lit for a few seconds, and then stop. No fan.<br /> AC Mode (without battery installed): Lights (Power, Battery, no HDD light, and no NumLock) lit for a few seconds, and then stop. No fan.<br /> <br /> I’ve opened Vaio (Tip: there are 3 hidden screws above DVD. Can’t open with DVD inside.). Nothing visible. I’ve replaced memory, tried just one in both slots, check HDD connection, even check with other Sony Vaio battery. NOTHING.<br /> <br /> Any Tips? If nobody can help, can you please try to answer on following two questions:<br /> 1. Is my motherboard dead? How can I check it?<br /> 2. Does somebody know location of CMOS battery? I didn’t find anything similar to desktop CMOS here.<br /> <br /> Thanks anyway.<br /> text/html 2008-07-30T10:11:35-05:00 T Simms http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#541866 Thanks for the response, but thats not the issue, I contacted SONY and they had me bring it in to a SONY Authorized Repair Center in Greenwich, CT.<br /> <br /> after the repair center having the laptop for 2-3 days, they contacted me and told me that the motherboard was no good. text/html 2008-07-30T04:51:11-05:00 Larry Curtis http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#541860 UPDATE to last post [by me]<br /> <br /> THe Vaio boots 95% of the time if i press down on the left side. So I seem to have the same issue as others with loose memory. When I have time I will try the heat shrink solution used by other posters text/html 2008-07-24T18:19:03-05:00 Larry Curtis http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#541495 Just joined this thread due to my Viao FS640 exhibiting same problems as most of the rest of you. And thanks to all that had some strategies to get going again.<br /> <br /> My unit is refurbished, bought 18 months ago. It ran flawlessly until 2 days ago and I got messages on startup varying from memory shortage, paging problem etc. Then I got blank screens after the Viao start up screen. I was able to get the Viao booted up today after leaving the battery out for a day, but I did other things too that could have affected the outcome. For example I had the battery out, unplugged external power, and held the power button down for 30 seconds (is this the reset for this unit, there is no reset hole on underside). Then I replaced battery and it started up OK, except it now found new hardware: APCI something or other. This was actually &quot;found&quot; on my last successful reboot 2 days ago.<br /> <br /> So...I have little faith in the unit's ability to operate correctly and consistently going forward. I am going to pull off all the user files right now and plan to replace the laptop. I have two older <a target="_blank" href="/action/r/http://www.dell.com/">Dell</a> laptops that have worked flawlessly for over 4 years.<br /> text/html 2008-07-16T02:01:24-05:00 T Simms http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#540687 I have the Sony Vaio VGN-S260P and had the same problem, so months taking it to several repair center, I decided to contact Sony to find their authorize repair center.<br /> <br /> I brought it to the repair center store and after 2 days I get a call from them stating that the motherboard was bad, so if your having this issue it's most likely your motherboard or call Sony and find their Authorized repair center where your located. text/html 2008-07-10T01:06:19-05:00 Matt Lee http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#540133 hmm text/html 2008-07-10T00:19:16-05:00 philtec http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#540131 Try running with only one stick of memory.<br /> Remove one if that doesnt work put back and remove the other. text/html 2008-07-09T23:35:30-05:00 Daniel Estrada http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#540128 I am experiencing similary problems. When i try to start it up, it wont even take me to the login screen. I tried running it in safe mode/last known best configuration and no dice...still same problem. I removed the battery, unplugged the power cord and let it chill there over night and repeated the steps mentioned...still nothing. anyone have any suggestions? I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks and take care. <br /> <br /> Daniel text/html 2008-07-02T12:35:56-05:00 paul anon http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?l=1#539374 Dave Osborne said: <div class="quote">My laptop was showing the same signs by simply freezing and needing a reboot but it would always come back up - just with half the ram that I paid Sony for. Went through their tech support BS (which was of NO help whatsoever) All of this happened 2 months outside my warranty......BOTTOM LINE FIX: Open the bottom cover with a small phillips screwdriver - it seems that the majority of the failures are coming from memory slot #2 (the one closest to the back of the computer) - buy a short length of heat-shrink wrap ( the kind you would use on about 12ga wire) - cut 3 short lengths of it and place it in between each of the memory chips (the theory is that when you put the cover back on - it pushes the chip down) I did this and it shows my full amount of ram again.......Don't spend the $600 that sony wants to fix it......Actually.....don't ever buy Sony again.......</div><br /> <br /> badgers nadgers...<br /> <br /> my grx316sp was showing same problem only 256mb showing (seemed like one chip had failed) google directed me here, tried Dave's suggestion (used 5 but will try 3 in a mo...) and its now showing full 512mb ram. Thanks Dave... and this forum for hosting old topics still... cool <img src="http://media.hardwareanalysis.com/smilies/smile11.gif" width="14" height="14" border="0" alt=":cool:" title=":cool:"><br /> <br /> what a crap design fault... on a premium laptop (it cost me a fortune about 6 years ago...) I'd tend to agree that maybe avoid sony from now on... it was overpriced and under performing....