topic Re: Please help CD drive not working in PCs & Accessories

Please help CD drive not working

dsv — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 18:30:42 GMT

I have a problem with my Vaio laptop model PCG-GRX316MP. It hasn't had a lot of use, it's mainly used for demonstration purposes but now it's working incredibly slowly and the CD rom isn't working, every CD inserted is only recognised as a music CD - whether it's a DVD, or information CD or software CD. Someone recommended using an external CD rom and doing a system recovery.
I've borrowed another CDRW and had intended to use the recovery disks to restore everything to it's original settings but I can't seem to begin the recovery process, i followed the instructions on the Vaio help page i go through the Bios part but when the computer restarts with the disk in the external CD drive, it just starts up as normal going through to windows, it's not starting up from the recovery CD. Any help would be gratefully received.
dsv:smileyconfused:

Re: Please help CD drive not working

kee-lo_ — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 18:35:28 GMT

Sorry the link I posted here before was incorrect, please ignore this psot

Re: Please help CD drive not working

rich912 — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 18:55:22 GMT

....but when the computer restarts with the disk in the external CD drive, it just starts up as normal going through to windows...

Either your recovery CD is corrupted or you need to set the BIOS to read from the CD drive first before it tries other boot options - ie floppy, hard disk.
To access the BIOS settings press F2 repeatedly at boot.

Edit: Sorry, If it is an external USB drive it will not be recognised without first booting from a floppy contaning the necessary USB drivers.

Re: Please help CD drive not working

dsv — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 19:52:08 GMT

hi there
thanks for the reply, i've put the usb drivers on to a zip disk and installed them, on start up i pressed f2 on sony logo then f9 to reset defaults, then f10 to save and exit. but then it just starts up again as normal not from the usb cd. how do i change the start up so that it starts from the recovery disk?
i think the dvd/cd drive has a real problem. it's only showing any disk as a music disk but when you put in a music disk it sees nothing either.
i've done a system restore to one year ago which was way before the problems but it hasn't solved anything,
cheers

Re: Please help CD drive not working

rich912 — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 20:23:44 GMT

I am almost certain that the GRX series didn¿t come with a recovery partition on the hard drive so it will be necessary to access the recovery CD somehow.
I am confused as to what you mean when you say that you have ¿put the usb drivers on to a zip disk and installed them¿.
You need to create a floppy boot disk with usb support included, boot from this (to DOS) and then try to access the recovery executable on the USB external CD drive.
Have a look here for a guide to booting with USB support.
Bootdisk.com

Re: Please help CD drive not working

dsv — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 20:49:18 GMT

sorry i think i misunderstood what you said before,
having looked at your link, i haven't a clue what all that means or what i'm supposed to do.
"a floppy boot disk[what is this, i don't have a floppy disk drive only a usb zip] with usb support included, boot from this (to DOS) [how?]and then try to access the recovery executable on the USB external CD drive."
as you can see i "use the computer" but that's about it...i don't usually look under the hood!

Re: Please help CD drive not working

kee-lo_ — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 20:58:53 GMT

You really need to find a bootable drive which the VAIO supports.

Re: Please help CD drive not working

rich912 — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 22:16:25 GMT

Sorry, I assumed that your model came with a floppy drive.
I have no knowledge of USB zip drives, but in principle do you know if you should be able to boot from this?
In essence you need to boot to DOS (the basic Disk Operating System) with support for USB CD drives. Once the drive has been recognised in DOS it is a matter of changing to the necessary drive letter at the command prompt (e.g. type E: and hit return - where `E¿ represents the CD drive ¿ if E: doesn¿t work try other letters from 😧 through to F:
If and when you manage to connect with the external drive you then need to locate the recovery executable.
This is where my knowledge of your model and recovery system is lacking and please only follow the subsequent instructions at your own risk.
If you manage to get thus far try looking for 'drive letter:'\Support\Tools\setup.exe
To do this in DOS, at the command prompt type cd\support\tools and hit enter.
The command prompt should now be 'drive letter':\support\tools.
Type dir and hit enter. Look for setup.exe.
If you find this, at the command prompt, type `setup.exe¿ and hit enter.
This should, hopefully, take you into the install process.
I reiterate that I am not familiar with your recovery system and don¿t recommend this procedure unless you are desperate. Maybe other members are more familiar with your model and will be able to give better/further guidance.

Re: Please help CD drive not working

dsv — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 23:27:01 GMT

thanks for your replies, the usb cd seems t o be listed as drive F - i will try your suggestions.
many thanks
dsv

Re: Please help CD drive not working

cleo2006 — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 23:37:00 GMT

or u can contact Sony and if u still have the warranty they will help you without charging you anything. If u click on the link I have put there u will find a list of numbers and dial the one appropriate for you and they will tell you step by step what to do and if all else fails they will arrange for a pick up and see where the fault is and hopefully fix it for you. Good luck. I am giving this advice coz Sony was very helpful to me :smileygrin:

Re: Please help CD drive not working

rich912 — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 08:12:31 GMT

On checking, that is not the location of the recovery exe file. It might be in the Sony directory and called restorer.exe but I am not certain of this.
Proceed with caution.

Re: Please help CD drive not working

dsv — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 08:10:21 GMT

thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately this model isn't in the warranty period.
and i'm afraid the cost of repair is going to outway it's worth.
that's why i was attempting to check it out myself.
thanks for your suggestion though

Re: Please help CD drive not working

kee-lo_ — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:11:17 GMT

Look out on eBay, some guy was selling his VAIO for parts, went for £30, thats not bad just to get a working DVD drive!

Re: Please help CD drive not working

dsv — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 20:03:13 GMT

that's an excellent idea!:smileyhappy:

Re: Please help CD drive not working

kee-lo_ — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 14:10:28 GMT

Add it to your favourite search and ask it to email you when new ones come on ebay, then you won't miss out

Re: Please help CD drive not working

dsv — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:44:55 GMT

great - thanks!