Sony Vaio laptop broken!!!

chocs · 09-01-2008, 12:01 PM

hi i'm in a real emergency right now cuz my laptop is broken and i start school in 2 days and i really need to fix it by then!!

my computer had a virus (my windows logon was weird) in the beginning of the summer and 2 days ago i finally found my norton CD to delete the virus and i guess the major important files got infected too cuz they got deleted and when i had to restart my computer, i logged on and it logged right back off. when i try to start in safe mode a black screen with a bunch of words show up and windows doesn't start.

i don't have the windows xp cd so i dont' even know how to do the recovery or anything. someone please help!! i would like to know how to get my computer back because i have some important stuff on there but if it's not possible, at least find out how to reformat the system.

thank you so much in advance!

**TriggerFinger** · 09-01-2008, 12:04 PM

If you still have the recovery partition in tact try F10 or F11 when Vaio logo appears. That should give you access to the recovery partition.

What model of Sony Vaio is this?

chocs · 09-01-2008, 12:09 PM

its the VGN-FS640/W.
when i go to the recovery mode and recover the C drive.. would all my files be deleted?

**TriggerFinger** · 09-01-2008, 12:17 PM

yes... it will install fresh copy and bring back factory default applications.

chocs · 09-01-2008, 12:20 PM

hm.. so is there no way to bring my files back??

**TriggerFinger** · 09-01-2008, 12:22 PM

You have to use another PC for that. Move your laptop harddrive into an external enclosure and connect that via USB on another computer. From there you should be able to access your important files.

chocs · 09-01-2008, 12:25 PM

sorry for so many questions! but how do i move my laptop harddrive to the external enclosure?

**TriggerFinger** · 09-01-2008, 12:32 PM

You have to remove it physically. For safety reasons you should use a service manual as a guide. Usually the HDD is located on the underside. You have to turn your laptop over to access the drive.

Another way is to use BARTPE/XP CD. But then again you will need an XP CD to build one of these. You can also use Knoppix linux live CD or PCLinuxOS whichever will work well with your laptop. But with these, you will need a USB flash drive to copy your files into.

Either way you will need some 'not so easy' steps to do what you want to do... not to mention you need tools such as an enclosure, XP or Linux install or live CDs, etc. If you do not have these, then your best bet is a repair shop.

chocs · 09-01-2008, 12:33 PM

ah okay~
thank you so much for your help!!!
it's greatly appreciated!!

09-01-2008, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
chocs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: winxp	Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! hi i'm in a real emergency right now cuz my laptop is broken and i start school in 2 days and i really need to fix it by then!! my computer had a virus (my windows logon was weird) in the beginning of the summer and 2 days ago i finally found my norton CD to delete the virus and i guess the major important files got infected too cuz they got deleted and when i had to restart my computer, i logged on and it logged right back off. when i try to start in safe mode a black screen with a bunch of words show up and windows doesn't start. i don't have the windows xp cd so i dont' even know how to do the recovery or anything. someone please help!! i would like to know how to get my computer back because i have some important stuff on there but if it's not possible, at least find out how to reformat the system. thank you so much in advance!

09-01-2008, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,144 OS: Windows 7 Beta, Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! If you still have the recovery partition in tact try F10 or F11 when Vaio logo appears. That should give you access to the recovery partition. What model of Sony Vaio is this? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Everest HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

09-01-2008, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
chocs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: winxp	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! its the VGN-FS640/W. when i go to the recovery mode and recover the C drive.. would all my files be deleted?

09-01-2008, 12:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,144 OS: Windows 7 Beta, Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! yes... it will install fresh copy and bring back factory default applications. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Everest HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

09-01-2008, 12:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
chocs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: winxp	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! hm.. so is there no way to bring my files back??

09-01-2008, 12:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,144 OS: Windows 7 Beta, Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! You have to use another PC for that. Move your laptop harddrive into an external enclosure and connect that via USB on another computer. From there you should be able to access your important files. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Everest HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

09-01-2008, 12:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
chocs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: winxp	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! sorry for so many questions! but how do i move my laptop harddrive to the external enclosure?

09-01-2008, 12:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,144 OS: Windows 7 Beta, Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! You have to remove it physically. For safety reasons you should use a service manual as a guide. Usually the HDD is located on the underside. You have to turn your laptop over to access the drive. Another way is to use BARTPE/XP CD. But then again you will need an XP CD to build one of these. You can also use Knoppix linux live CD or PCLinuxOS whichever will work well with your laptop. But with these, you will need a USB flash drive to copy your files into. Either way you will need some 'not so easy' steps to do what you want to do... not to mention you need tools such as an enclosure, XP or Linux install or live CDs, etc. If you do not have these, then your best bet is a repair shop. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Everest HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

09-01-2008, 12:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
chocs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: winxp	Re: Sony Vaio laptop broken!!! ah okay~ thank you so much for your help!!! it's greatly appreciated!!