BSOD - and cannot boot

[gerik]

My laptop is over five years old and it is used rarely. Running XP prof. From switching on, I go through 'sony' to 'windows xp' but then to the blue screen headed 'unmountable-boot-volume'.

It is a Vaio PCG-R600HFP and has neither inbuilt CD nor FDD. I can use each of these using USB cable.

The problem is that I cannot use either of these drives to boot. Within the BOIS 'boot' menu I have the option of using

Hard Drive
CD-ROM Drive
Removable Devices
Legacy floopy drives
Network boot.

From what I've read, I believe I should also have the option 'via USB '. I have tried all options, but always go through to blue screen. I've tried returning to original settings in BIOS, and then I get through to the screen for 'starting normally', 'safe mode', etc. None work. BLue screen again.

Having a blue screen, I don't know if the hard drive is shot, but I can't try replacing until I know how to boot.

I have considered buying an adapter fro my PC HD to Lappy HD [I don't know if that even makes sense].

Does anyone have an idea if my laptop is fit for anything else but landfill?

I'm very disappointed that such a scenario should occur in a Sony. It's not something I would have expected at all.

Thanks

Ger

[waterside]

Hi Ger

Having a Hard Disk failure isn't as rare as you think, and though your laptop probably contains a quality made item, they are probably the most failure prone component in the laptop. Either the disk has failed or something more serious has (e.g. the disk controller will be more expensive to fix because it's on the motherboard). Your best bet is to replace the HD to see if it's the cause of the problem. Your local friendly computer shop (or nerd, if you have one handy) should be able to do this without much trouble (I assume considering the age of the machine that you're not going to send it back to Sony) and if it's just the HD, it won't cost an arm or leg. BTW, I guess that 'Removable Devices' covers a bootable USB drive, though I've had no experience with making one of these. Google search 'bootable usb' for info.

Paul

[gerik]

Yes, I know how prone hard discs can be to failing - the scenario I was referring to was the lack of facility to reboot.

I can replace a hard drive. That's not the problem. But what's the point of having a new hard drive if I still have to get windows onto it from another source?

And 'Removeable Devices' does not include USB. And I have exhausted my searches on Google.

A computer shop did actually take the machine in, probably, I believe, because they didn't believe what I was telling them, or that I couldn't possibly know what I was talking about. They practically patted me on the head and told me to go home and make my husband's dinner!

They gave it back to me [red-faced] a week later, telling me exactly what I had told them seven days earlier.

So I'm hoping someone here will have the knowldge to help me deal with this problem.

[haines17]

Have you tried to boot from the original xp pro cd? (or if you didnt have one yourself, from a friends).
and try running the repair console, as it may be something as stupid as a missing\corrupt file from the startup (boot), if that doesnt work or you have already tried it then the way i would sort it as follows:
buy an adapter which will go from 3.5 drive conection to a 2.5 (pc to laptop size), as well as a replacement 2.5hdd.
use the pc you talked about in your previous post reply and connect the 2.5hdd using the cable you purchased.
change the boot sequence to this drive then install the bare essentials of xp pro (or your chosen os)
i would try this on your old drive first, after formatting as you wouldnt have had to take the replacement hdd out of the packet to try this.
if this works, you can send the new drive back, and it would of cost you a sum total of about £10 for the cable.
or the other option if this worked would be to use the second hdd to ghost a complete image of the rebuilt os onto some removable media, (the new hdd, dvd or externall hdd).

hope this is helpfull.

Haines

[Blencogo]

Hi geri k and welcome.

The PCG-R600HFP was sold with the option of a docking station with DVD Drive incorporated (PCGA-DSM5 CD-RW/DVD) or with the optional CD Drive (PCGA-CDRW52 CD-RW) which connected via the PCMCIA slot.

Have a look here: -

Docking Station - http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/pc-accessories/sony-pcga-dsm5-cel/

CD Drive - http://www.dealtime.co.uk/xPF-Sony-PCGA-CDRW52

I'm not sure if you will find one. A new one will probably be expensive - try eBay.

[gerik]

HAINES - No - can't get recovery CD to run - the boot thing has put a block on everything.

Your idea about adapter is what I had suggested in earlier post [ok, so it probably looked a little vague], but having someone agree with me makes me much more confident about trying it. When I had mentioned that idea last weekat the shop, I got one vague look, and one shrug accompanies by ' I doubt it would work'.. And these guys make their living repairing PCs? Your idea of buying a new HD at the same time makes perfect sense, and I'm going to do just that. THANK YOU

BLENCOGO - I had no idea about docking stations; it at least explains why there's no way of booting within the machine. I'm going to keep my eyes open for a second-hand one of these. THANKS for the link and the info.

[gerik]

UPDATE - for those who have helped me so far. I now have docking station and new hard drive.

Just need to know - is there any help you can give me about replacing a hard drive? Haven't been able to find a repair manual, and although I've built, stripped and repaired PCs, I've never even thought about attempting to open a laptop. Can't say I'm looking forward to the task.

Any advice will be greatfully accepted.

Ger

[kee-lo_]

Hi

It should be in a caddy on the right hand side, I know the GRX316MP has it there. If you need more details I suggest asking over at www.vaiovillage.com as they're a lot more into tweaking than here, mainly because of it's official status.

Before you start all that though, I suggest using Knoppix Linux (http://www.knoppix.org) as it's able to mount dodgy disks. It saved me a lot of hassle. The only problem though is if your optical drive is damaged you might have trouble running it, hopefully the docking station will help you.

[gerik]

Kee-lo, not too sure what the knoppix can do for me. Do I just download it to a CD and use as a boot?

Oh, I'm just not fit for this.

Changed the hard drive easily enough, but I'm still getting the same error when I try to restore using the sony disks. It gets to 18% and gives me a critical error [Abort, retry,......] .

How can I be so unlucky.

Any suggestions? Is it likely to be the CD, or could it be another piece of hardware?

I'm off to lie down in a darkened room.

Please....anyone..?

[Blencogo]

You are not having much luck.

Have you tried copying the CDs on another computer? It sometimes helps to copy to a new disc.