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Thread: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

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    Default Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    My lil Vaio is sick. I think it's pretty bad. (Model = VGN-TX610P)

    It'll work for awhile, but it randomly reboots, after which it tells me that the system has recovered from a serious error. The error reports say that a device driver caused the Windows OS to stop unexpectedly (a stop error). But one time today, the error report said something like, "Unfortunately, the error report was corrupted and could not be read. This is very rare and usually indicates a serious problem with your computer..."

    So, is it best to just randomly pick a repair place out of the yellow pages? Will they all charge pretty much the same? (One guy quoted me an estimate of about $175 for labor, I think.) Should I take it to Best Buy or is that a bad idea?

    It's not under warranty anymore and so the Vaio support people wouldn't even talk to me over the phone unless I paid them 30 bucks on the spot.

    I also have very little of my work backed up, and the computer-repair guy said I should quit using it immediately or risk losing everything. And yet, here I am, posting on SW. But I always get good advice here, so I thought I'd risk it.

    Thanks in advance! Let's see if it hangs on long enough for me to check the responses!
    "Doc still loved true things, but he knew it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress." - John Steinbeck, Cannery Row


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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Well I've never fixed laptops, but if it were me I would immediately back up all documents or things you wanted to a DVD, CD, or USB flash drive and go from there.
    Simple google search said a stop error can be caused by almost anything. Did you recently install a new program, use something for the first time, etc..?

    The most drastic solution is to reformat the hard disk and reinstall from original or windows installation DVD.
    You can search based on the error number.
    Or you can try fixing by running anti-spyware, removing programs, or getting latest drivers for everything.

    Do you have WIndows xp? how old is the laptop?
    For me I would rather reformat everything, install from scratch, and see if it happened again before paying the $175 to have it fixed. If it still happened could be faulty memory, bad hard disk, power supply, etc..
    The google search first result for corrupted error report had a guy with bad memory. He ran memtest, a free downloadable program. chkdsk /f on command line to check hard disk.

    Just today there was an article about how any attractive woman who went to best buy repair, the repair guys would go through all of her photos.
    Last edited by space_Cadet_28; 07-23-2007 at 07:00 PM.

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    A sudden reboot with no error or blue screen or any warning is what Windows does when it encounters a hardware problem. The error log sounds like a driver for some piece fo hardware.

    Right click on "My Computer" > Properties > Hardware tab > Device Manager button > there is now a big list of hardware. Are any of the items expanded, and do any of them have a red "X" on the icon? Those are problematic devices, and depending upon what it is you could either try to update the device driver or disable it (but don't go disabling something really critical).
    Quote Originally Posted by _Avery_ View Post
    omg, why is it so huge?!! lol lol

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Check the Event Viewer for errors. If you see any errors then double-click on them and note the Source and Event ID. Post those in this thread.

    Here is how you get to the event viewer:

    *Right-click on the MY COMPUTER icon.
    *From the pop-up menu select Manage
    *You will now be in Computer Management. Look for Event Viewer on the left side and then click on the "+" sign next to it. This will expand it.
    *The two logs you want to look at are System and Application.

    Note the ones that are errors. These are the ones I would like to see the Source and Event ID on. Just post that info here.

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Have you tried the last known good configuration?

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

    Also, yellow exclamation points in Device manger are devices that while able to work, are not speaking the correct language and need a new set of drivers to work properly.

    If worse comes to worse, and you can reinstall your applications consider this method. I'm not 100% sure it will work with a VAIO due to the compactness. Any other laptop or computer it sure beats the hell out of $400+ to a repair shop.

    Phase 1

    1 Old hardrive pulled from your laptop.
    1 HD to USB casing.

    -Mix together and you still have all your data

    Phase 2

    Purchase new HD
    Install into computer
    Use restore disks to put an OS on the blank HD.

    Cost should be somewhere less than 200

    Time varies on computer speed, difficulty of getting to the HD, and how many applications you have to reinstall.
    I've come a long way since I believed in anything, and I've come half way around the world.

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Last Known Good Configuration is a good tool. But if she has logged into Windows again (since the crash) then that configuration has changed to whatever it is now (even if it is a damaged configuration).

    I get the impression she has logged back in since the crash. Is this true?

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Quote Originally Posted by crizgolfer View Post
    Last Known Good Configuration is a good tool. But if she has logged into Windows again (since the crash) then that configuration has changed to whatever it is now (even if it is a damaged configuration).

    I get the impression she has logged back in since the crash. Is this true?
    WIndows keeps many restore points typically. Mine was initially set up that went more than a month back and I login in and start up every day. Something easy to do that may very well fix the system. Push F8 when computer starts and I believe it gives you a menu with a choice to restore an old configuration and if selected then shows a calendar showing different dates. Choose one from a while ago.

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Quote Originally Posted by crizgolfer View Post
    Last Known Good Configuration is a good tool. But if she has logged into Windows again (since the crash) then that configuration has changed to whatever it is now (even if it is a damaged configuration).

    I get the impression she has logged back in since the crash. Is this true?

    Still worth the time, and sometimes it does click back even after a successful startup. Really how long does it take?

    Going into safe mode may also work. If the computer can not stay in normal windows stably, often times the limited nature of safe mode will allow it to operate.
    I've come a long way since I believed in anything, and I've come half way around the world.

    Where you come from is gone.
    Where you thought you were going to was never there,
    and where you are, ain't no good unless you can get away from it.

    -Quote from a mix of Ministry's "Jesus Built My Hot Rod"

    Help this cat on his quest for World Domination!

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Quote Originally Posted by cherryripeboyII View Post
    Still worth the time, and sometimes it does click back even after a successful startup. Really how long does it take?

    Going into safe mode may also work. If the computer can not stay in normal windows stably, often times the limited nature of safe mode will allow it to operate.
    Safe mode is definitely an option to get in and troubleshoot. Restore points may also work. Both are good points.

    Check the event logs first and see if it gives any clues as to what is the specific problem though. Just a recommendation.

    Man, I hate PCs & laptops. Servers and network hardware are so much easier...and more fun.

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    ...use a stanley hammer for stubborn errors.
    "Peter, did you take Stewie to a strip-club? He smells like sweat and fear." - Lois and Stewie (Family Guy) ... "Through early morning fog I see, Visions of the things to be, The pains that are withheld for me, I realize and I can see..."

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    Quote Originally Posted by WiseGuy_TX View Post
    ...use a stanley hammer for stubborn errors.

    Aaah...yes...the Hammer of Justice....Makes all things right!

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    Default Re: Sick VAIO--Geeks to the rescue?

    ^^Thanks, guys!!!!

    Can I just say that SW rocks?!!! One of our Resident Superheroes has come to my rescue. I dunno what magic was worked, but Little Vaio seems much happier now. yay!

    but to clarify a couple of things--I had tried restoring it to an earlier configuration, but it didn't seem to help much. Also, it crashed repeatedly, but it would always start up again and usually work normally for awhile before rebooting again. Sometimes it happened when I tried to open word, sometimes it happened when I physically moved the computer...It was pretty random. Sometimes the blue screen saying to run a diagnostic would flash so briefly that I couldn't read it; usually after that it would restart itself. But sometimes it would just freeze, or the screen would go black suddenly, or fade to black, and then I would have to turn off the computer and turn it back on again. Resident Superhero says maybe a memory issue--i.e. not enough RAM?

    MANY THANKS TO SUPERHERO!!!!
    "Doc still loved true things, but he knew it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress." - John Steinbeck, Cannery Row


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