Question/Problem: Last week, when I shut my computer down, it didn't come back. I got the Vaio splash screen, then a blinking cursor in the upper left hand corner. I could get into the BIOS, and I have the restore CD. It took a lot of googling, since the computer wouldn't load from the restore disk at first, but I got a successful reformat. Last night, after only five days of working, the computer died again, same way. Got the splash screen, reformatted the drive, and then after two hours of it working this evening, it said that there was a corrupted file in Windows, and it needed to be reformatted. Currently in reformat #3 right now... My boyfriend used to do tech support for a living, and he's at his wits end on this one too.

Operating System, Version and Service Pack: Windows XP Home, Service Pack 3. I've got a Sony Vaio Laptop VGN-FJ290.

Web Browser and Version: Firefox 3.5.2
Your level of experience: Intermediate

When did the problem start? Has it been going on constantly since then?: Started a week ago, the computer worked fine for five days, then it died twice today.

Any steps you've taken to troubleshoot?: I bought a new internal hard drive (the old one was full), tried that, got a successful system restore once, then again for an hour or so this evening. BIOS has been updated.

If you are receiving an error message, please include the entire text of the message. Didn't get an error message the first time, the third time a Windows file was missing and it refused to boot. Not sure what Windows file, and it's currently reformatting. I was trying to get my internet to read Japanese/Chinese characters, which it wasn't doing as it usually did when I installed the word processor, and after restarting, it said the windows file was missing.

In the past, I've had issues with the fan, but I unclogged it and haven't had any serious heating issues in months. The power jack was also recently replaced.



Any insight would be deeply appreciated. We're at our wits end here, and beer supplies are running low.

Okay I got a new computer at Christmas, erm I have alot of problems. I had alot more when i got it but i solved them myself

- I need a way to make it run faster,
- as  i have so much on it. Filled up a 60g hardrive, but luckily it has two because it is a duel core processor but i need a way to make that one the default one as whenever i try to install something it just says there is not enough memory.
- Recently i installed Black and White 2, whenever i stop playing it, it can't get rid of the RAM meaning my computer just slows down as all the RAM builds up and i can't run anything
- Whenever i have to turn it of, new updates need to be installed, however out of the 3 computers in our house with VISTA mine is the only one that need updates constanly and everyday.
- It makes a strange loud noise kinda like a broken motor. In order to repair i have just turned up my music, but it is kinda getting louder.
- itunes doesn't work with Firefox, without slowing down my computer a ridiculas amount
- Windows DVD maker won't let me turn off Data execution protection, meaning i can't make any DVDs

Done to Troubleshoot - downloaded all recent updates, cleaned up my main hardrive, not used itunes (used Real insted) Tried to turn of Date Exectution Protection but it says it can't run without it.

OS - Windows Vista home premiem
Web browser - Firefox 2
Ram - 1gb but the graphics card uses 300mb of that so it is only 767mb
Model - Aspire M1100
Processor - AMD aAthlon(tm) 64 X2 Duel Core Processor 400+ 2.10GHz

Computer ability - Intermediate, but i know hardly anything about . Software normally i can do
System Type - 32 bit operating system

 

Question/Problem: I have a custom built laptop, and recently it has gone caput. It's just barely over a year old and running WinXP SP2 (or, at least, it was). Without any indication that something was wrong, it stopped working. When I turn it on, it goes to the screen where it tells me what buttons to push for posting or to get into the bios. When I try both, neither works. It just sits on the same black screen with the bios logo, but never loads anything (including the keyboard/mouse/rom drives).

I'm reasonably sure the motherboard (and perhaps the hard drive) needs to be replaced. The main problem I'm having is that I can't send it back to the shop where I bought it (they went out of business). I can build a PC desktop with no issue, but laptops are a foreign land to me.

Can someone recommend a place to help me do this? I found a place called LaptopRescue.com, but I've never used them and wanted to get the advice and opinions of someone else who knows. If it helps, I'm in the (east) Bay Area of California. I don't mind if it's not local, as long as they do mail-in services.

Your level of experience: Seasoned

Duration of problem: 3 days

Any steps you've taken to troubleshoot? None; it won't do anything, so neither can I. =\

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.