Trouble w/ Laptop...Can Someone Help?

[Ratmaster]

(I couldn't find anywhere else to put this...so if a mod knows better, please move this for me)

I have this laptop which I have had for approximately 1 and a half years, and I've never had a problem with it. Today, I came home and turned it on, logged in and everything, and sometime after the desktop appeared, the screen went black. The flashing activity light (don't remember the proper name for it) was quiet as well, but the fan and the HDD were still running.

I have attempted multiple times to turn it back on, but nothing ever appears on the screen. The HDD and fan begin running, and the activity light is lit for a few seconds before the light shuts off. The first time it is turned on, it will turn off after this happens and try to reboot, unsuccessfully. After this attempt, the activity light will turn off, but the computer will not attempt to reboot, and the fan/HDD will still be running. The only way to shut it off is to hold the power button for 10 seconds.

I've tried the hard reboot method by removing the battery/power cable and holding the power button for 30-60 seconds to remove all excess power, and then attaching the chord only and attempting to boot it that way. That had the same result. Putting the battery back in and turning it on again does nothing different. I don't believe the battery is dead, as it hasn't shown any signs of deterioration.

I've also tried rotating the RAM, taking one out, alternating them, etc. That does not work either.

This problem does not have anything to do with the laptop's screen. I've attempted using an HDMI cable as well as an external monitor. Neither have any effect.

I'm not sure the specs have anything to do with a solution, but it is a Sony Vaio with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, some Intel processor with 2.0 ghz, 250 GB HDD, 4 GB RAM, and some other stuff. Please let me know what else you would need to know.

(If anyone actually gets me a workable solution, I would be glad to give them 100 NP$)

I'm probably going to get a new laptop anyway, but I would be better off if this one worked.

Thanks.

 

[HostMantis]

Seen this issue with an HP Mini notebook recently and what fixed the problem was clearing CMOS by removing the CMOS battery and replacing it.

It was a pain to do, due to having to disassemble the notebook to get to the CMOS battery though.

If your CMOS battery is easily accessible or you have the technical ability, you should give it a try.

 

[Ratmaster]

I googled the CMOS battery and I see two solutions, replacing and charging the battery. Would you suggest charging it? The website advises leaving the computer on for 24 hours to see if the battery charges. (How to replace the CMOS battery.)

I attempted opening my laptop, but after I unscrewed everything and attempted to remove the case, it was stuck and there are no latches that hold it, and it seems that (with all the creaking and bending I am hearing) it isn't very user-friendly.

Just another question, is there something I could use to access the files in my hard drive? I have several important items I need out of it, and I'm wondering if anyone knows any good products I can attempt this with.

 

[HostMantis]

What needs to happen is clearing your CMOS memory. In order to do that, you need to remove all power sources and the CMOS battery itself.

Accessing the data on the drive will require either the system being bootable or removing the drive an installing it as an external drive on another PC or internally as a secondary drive on another PC.

 

[Ratmaster]

It turn out that attempting to open the laptop was not the best idea. Actually, I'm not really sure this contributed to the problem, but now the laptop's fan/hard drive are not functioning. Went over to Best Buy to have a guy from the Geeksquad look at it. They told me it would cost $70 for a diagnostic, but the guy was kind enough to tell me that there was no chance in it being repaired without the repair costing more than I paid for the laptop. Though I must say, I love the customer service that the store has. That is not sarcasm.

Thanks for the attempt at help though. I probably caused the fan/HD to stop functioning. The CMOS battery (in this laptop anyway) is actually located under the keyboard, which would require me to open the laptop from the bottom and dislodge the keyboard from inside. I've decided to just get a new laptop. Sent you 25 NP$ for the thought.

Thanks for the help, unfortunately I am not very good at opening things. If a mod wants to close this thread or something, please do so. Can't really do anything else with the laptop...maybe sell parts? :D

 

[HostMantis]

The techs at Best Buy are not exactly what you would consider highly experienced computer technicians, so I wouldn't rely on their diagnosis if I were you. :]

If you do decide to just go with a new laptop, if it's not too old, you should be able to sell it for parts. Ebay possibly?

Thanks for the NP$!

 

[liquidcherry]

Ratmaster...could it be possible that you have an HP DV6000/9000 or a TX1000/2000 or an other HP crap???

If your answer is yes just visit HP Lies: The nVidia Defect, have fun reading

Cheers

Liquid

P.S: i cannot believe you went to Geeksquad???? shame on u....

 

[Ratmaster]

I went to Geeksquad because I don't know any other computer repair people in my area, and basically I was just wanting to know whether or not my laptop could be fixed. (I'm using a Sony Viao btw) I also asked a friend who had a Vaio as well, and he had a problem with an older one he had and he told me that the motherboard on his was fried. Oops.

As for parts, I have two 2GB RAM sticks, not sure what kind. I'm sure that is worth something...? Maybe if they are compatible, I could put them in my new laptop, I think it has 4GB RAM expandable to 8GB. I should make sure they are the same kind though.

The guy saw how clumsily I put my laptop back together so he thought I dropped it, but when I told him I tried to open it, he got kind of annoyed.

The new laptop I'm getting is sort of a desktop replacement...It's an Asus. Is that bad?

 

[u8l2]

Download a free copy of linux. Burn it to a cd and boot from it. You should have access to your harddrive if the problem isnt your cmos battery. My mate owns a viao and it worked for him. As a matter of fact he liked linux so much he decided to keep it on his laptop and do away with windows

 

[Ratmaster]

Download a free copy of linux. Burn it to a cd and boot from it. You should have access to your harddrive if the problem isnt your cmos battery. My mate owns a viao and it worked for him.

Nothing would show up. I couldn't boot from anything. And right now, the computer doesn't even power on.