Hardware Analysis Community Forums http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/ 2009-11-24T22:59:40-05:00 http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/ /images/halogo.gif text/html 2009-11-15T19:30:25-05:00 Blake Bockhold http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#569394 I hate to sound like a broken record but again, I no longer have any of the CD's associated with my laptop...VAIO, XP or otherwise. I moved a few times during my time at University, and I'm afraid I was careless and misplaced most of the things that came with the computer when I bought it.<br /> <br /> Is my computer a lost cause, or can I get a new copy of XP and repair or re-install the software per your advice? Again, thank you so much for your help. text/html 2009-11-15T17:29:25-05:00 M Riad http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#569382 I think you have a virus that corrupted your operating system. That is why I say re-install or repair. You will need the Windows XP fresh installation CD to fix it not the Sony CDs. <br /> Good Luck,<br /> Mike text/html 2009-11-15T17:14:55-05:00 Blake Bockhold http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#569381 Thank you for your reply, Mike.<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, I no longer have the CD that came with the computer. Is there any other way I can resolve this problem (i.e. download the files that come on the CD from somewhere on the web)? My roommate has the identical computer, but is also without the CD...are the files from the CD on his computer perhaps?<br /> <br /> text/html 2009-11-15T16:49:09-05:00 M Riad http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#569379 Blake,<br /> This seems to be a software issue. Re-install or repair the windows boot sector using the CD and you should be fine.<br /> Mike text/html 2009-11-15T11:49:08-05:00 Blake Bockhold http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#569373 Hello,<br /> <br /> I have a VGN-FS640/W which I bought a little over four years ago. Until yesterday the computer seemed to be working fine, but this morning I have been unable to boot it up. I am not very tech savvy, but here is my best explanation of the problem:<br /> <br /> -When I power the machine on, everything seems normal; the 3 lights at the top right corner of the keyboard turn on, and all the lights at the bottom right corner of the keyboard are functioning as well. <br /> -The VAIO screen pops up, per usual.<br /> -I then get a black screen notifying me that Windows was incorrectly shut down. I am allowed to choose between 5 options on how I would like to restart the computer: 'Safe Mode', 'Safe Mode with networking', 'Safe Mode with command prompt', 'Last Known Good Configuration', or 'Start Windows normally'.<br /> -No matter which option I choose, the computer first shows the 'Windows XP' screen that comes up when Windows is loading (for roughly one minute), then the screen goes black for about 15 seconds, then it brings up the VAIO screen once again and brings me back to the same black screen with the aforementioned prompt...unless I power down the machine, it is a never-ending cycle.<br /> -Also, when I attempt to restart using the 'last known good configuration', A blue screen pops up (after the black screen and before the VAIO screen in the previous description) for only one second at most. It is difficult to read, but I think it is this message:<br /> <br /> STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}<br /> The registry cannot load the hive (file):<br /> \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE<br /> or its log or alternate.<br /> It is corrupt, absent, or not writable. <br /> <br /> ...It also says something about dumping physical memory...but again, the screen is only up for a split second so it is difficult to read. Just to reiterate, this blue screen is only visible when I use the 'last known good configuration' option...When I try to restart normally, it goes through the usual steps I've mentioned without showing a blue screen at all.<br /> <br /> Thank you in advance for any answers you may have. Like I've said before, I'm not tech savvy and would definitely appreciate it if any answers were dumbed down....unfortunately, computers are not my area of expertise!<br /> <br /> Blake text/html 2009-11-12T19:41:21-05:00 Lalit Kumar http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#569208 Hi Allan, <br /> <br /> I have the same problem with my FZ11S. Were you able to fix your laptop in the end. Could you please let me know what was the fault and how you fixed it?<br /> <br /> Lalit text/html 2009-10-22T02:09:36-05:00 Meats_Of_Evil http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#567777 i don't know if this has been posted before since I haven't really read any of the previous post but... have you tried using the laptop without the battery attached? Just plugged in by the power cord? It has work before on a friends Sony Vaio where he could hear the computer running but not get any response from it. text/html 2009-10-22T00:23:38-05:00 Asa Marokus http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#567765 Hi, I have the same problem as you mentioned, i.e., my laptop will go to battery power unless the cord is in the exact position. Did you have any luck? <br /> <br /> Thanks! text/html 2009-10-07T19:12:06-05:00 Robert Wharton http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#566909 I can't believe this website is still going. I was ranting over three years ago about my VGN-FS660 laptop, which I bought in 2005 crashing. At that time, Sony replaced the motherboard TWICE and for some reason that seemed to do the trick.<br /> Well, it's finally gone out again. Lights come on showing power and battery. The three lights on the top right hand side of the board are all on. Nothing is blinking and I hear it boot up but nothing happens on screen. F8 produces nothing. I don't even have the VAio symbol come up and cut off.<br /> Can I safely assume the motherboard has bone out again? I'm quite sure Sony won't replace it this time but even though the machine looks and otherwise seemed to work fine. Unless somebody has another diagnosis which I can send for repair or try myself I guess I'll just trash it this time. <br /> <br /> I don't think I'll buy another sony laptop. The cheaper laptops that others in my family bought about the same time seem to be working without all of this hassle. text/html 2009-10-06T14:39:43-05:00 SEBASTIEN GEROME http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#566816 Joe K said: <div class="quote">HI Chris, <br /> <br /> Yes, the well known VGN-FS boot issue will produce a VAIO logo and halt there or not produce ANY video and keep the 3 LEDs next to the power button lit. <br /> <br /> There is damage under the S Bridge BGA chip. The chip needs to be removed, and the damaged traces need to be Micro welded and the BGA chip needs to be re-mounted to the board. <br /> <br /> Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. <br /> <br /> I've repaired probably well over a 100 units with this problem. The more you flex and apply any pressure on the board or case the more damage you're doing to the problem area and possibly other areas of the board. <br /> <br /> <br /> </div><br /> Hi,<br /> bga need rework ??Is it the intel bga ?<br /> thanks<br /> text/html 2009-10-05T14:13:47-05:00 Joe K http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#566750 HI Chris, <br /> <br /> Yes, the well known VGN-FS boot issue will produce a VAIO logo and halt there or not produce ANY video and keep the 3 LEDs next to the power button lit. <br /> <br /> There is damage under the S Bridge BGA chip. The chip needs to be removed, and the damaged traces need to be Micro welded and the BGA chip needs to be re-mounted to the board. <br /> <br /> Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. <br /> <br /> I've repaired probably well over a 100 units with this problem. The more you flex and apply any pressure on the board or case the more damage you're doing to the problem area and possibly other areas of the board. <br /> <br /> <br /> text/html 2009-10-04T19:29:05-05:00 philtec http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#566708 Get some thick teflon tape to cure your melting problem text/html 2009-10-04T16:12:48-05:00 Chris Tinker http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#566697 I'm currently using my VGN-FS500b, and haven't shut it off for days because of this problem..<br /> <br /> I have NO memory problem, either bank, and it is not an overheating problem (or it wouldn't have stayed on this long for as many times as it has.)<br /> <br /> When I shut it down.... It WILL come back on, but often to the VAIO screen or to just POST lights until;<br /> -I press down on the bottom left hand corner while holding the laptop level, at the same time pulling up slightly on the upper left corner.<br /> <br /> I have found that this tends to get me past even the frozen VAIO screen. The laptop just &quot;remembers&quot; that it was booting and goes on doing what it is supposed to be doing. This even works when it hangs on POST. It's a pain in the butt to do every startup, even though the computer will make it in to windows and then often has NO problems once there.<br /> <br /> I have taken this computer apart from top to bottom and now can reassemble it faster than any military man can reassemble a gun from individual pieces. I have found a possible source of what I have come to believe must be a short in the board. It is underneath the board, where the bottom &quot;X&quot; stablizer part of the CPU heatsink is located. One of the screwholes for the screw that holds the keyboard in place passes very near to the stablizer and actually comes in contact with it if the heatsink is screwed in too tightly. Covering this erronious contact with electrical tape placed on the board (you'll have to gently push the heatsink stablizer bracket through the motherboard so you can tape the place where it contacts the board) solved my problem almost completely until the tape melted from heat. I am waiting for my non-conductive kaptan tape from dealextreme, but they take a while to send some things, it appears....<br /> <br /> Could this be the short that Joe K was mentioning in the FS series???? text/html 2009-09-29T00:04:33-05:00 Billy Lo http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#566231 im really starting to think my MB or CPU is fried... text/html 2009-09-28T00:03:36-05:00 Billy Lo http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=2000#566131 hi fellas.. i have a VGN-FZ430E laptop. I didn't have a problem with my laptop until just the other day when I noticed there was some lagging happening while I was browsing online, and so I decided to restart it, and haven't been able to boot my laptop back up since. After the Vaio Logo, just goes right into a black screen. I've read through about the memory slot and the video card issues, but I can't find a solution to even boot up anything. No safe boot, no recovery, and what's sad is even now, my computer is telling me that it can't find my winload.exe file to boot. But regardless, I was reading on another article about using Unbuntu to try and get some files off my harddrive, but I used the mem test on Unbuntu and found out that i'm getting errors all over the place with my memory. I've had this laptop not long at all, but long enough to be out of my warranty now, and this is really starting to get really frustrating. I've also tried using Spotmau powersuite, because at first I thought that it was just my OS that messed up. Well anyways, I'm lost. I can hear the harddrive spinning, but it doesnt seem to be reading or booting off of it anymore. and with Spotmau, I've been able to get a little bit of some important stuff back, but what do i do? Could it be that my memory slots or memory sticks are bad?<br /> <br /> any help would greatly be appreciated.