Sony VAIO FX-103 Problem

[ahmedjohnson]

Hi Gang,

I have a major problem with my FX103 V aio.

When I power it up, either nothing appears on the screen, or if the Vaio motion logo finally appears it hangs on the subsequent screen when it comes to loading up the Windows ME software. On some occasions I am starting to see some sqaures dotted around the screen.

I tried after three hours to succesfully get it to reinstall the software using the recovery cd, but then it started to act funny again as when I asked it to restart following it finding and installing some hardware drivers, it hanged on the shut down screen. On some occasions when I have managed to get into the BIOS I cannot use the keyboard as it seems like it has locked me into the bios and the only way round is to power down and restart. I have restored the BIOS settings to default to see if that makes a difference, but to no joy.

Does any one out there know what could be wrong, has the video memory gone on the unit? I have had the unit since 2001 and it has never given me any problem until today.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

Many Thanks

Ahmed

[Eugenepang]

when you do the recovery (original status)does it give you problems? or only after you install some other software that causes the problems?

Any funny sound from the HDD?.. any problems with your vaio memory?

[ahmedjohnson]

It gives me problems the moment the moment I turn on the machine. Either it will show me a blank screen, or if it doesnt it will show me the Sony Vaio logo and then attempt to load the op sysyem only to hang. Some occasions it will go as far as taking me to the desktop but only then to freeze, rendering me to power off.

When I tried to do a full system recovery with the CDs, it first hung on 21%, I then turned off and turned on again, and it successfully reinstalled everything only for it to hang when it prompted me to restart.

My thoughts are that it cant be the hard drive that is gone or it wouldnt have let me install the sofware in the place, or even the processor. At a push I think it might be the memory.

What do you think?

[kee-lo_]

Oh this is a difficult one...

For a start, make sure all the vents are clear, and the laptop can breathe. Also press the reset key under your laptop, this will reset the BIOS and CMOS, so then you can set them to their defaults.

If this doesn't help, then you might have to change the hard disk.

[rich912]

This IS a difficult one but there is always the possibility that the CMOS battery is on the way out.

[kee-lo_]

Yeah could well be, specially if it's getting on 4 years.

[ahmedjohnson]

Thanks for the input guys. I have replaced the CMOS battery, and I also changed the BIOS back to the defaults when I had the chance to get into it.

However, the screen is still showing nothing on power up, and on the very rare occasion it does get past the Vaio Logo screen it halts half way through the operating system loading up.

I took out my 128MB ram and put in another stick of of same capacity just to eliminate the ram but the symptom was still present.

Do you think this will have to be booked into a lab to get a full diagnosis done on it, and if so do you guys have recommendtations where I take it to, and where I wont get fobbed off with a high bill. I live in the North West of England.

Many Thanks for all your continued support

[kee-lo_]

I think that there are good VAIO repairers on the Waveatree Technology Park in Liverpool, otherwise Manchester will probably have one.

yell.co.uk is probably a good start

Make sure you get a quote.