Using the Ultimate Boot CD

Hello, this is my first time posting. :wave I have the UBCD and it works in my laptop as far as being readable once I turn on the power and hit enter, it pops up the blue page with menu choices. The menu is plain to read to me and I have searched and played with several programs. The problem I have is I want to learn how to diagnose what's wrong with my laptop before I send it to a repair service. I have a Sony Vaio VGN-AX580G from 2006 (no more warranty) runs Windows XP Media Edition, Has an Intel Pentium M processor, 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz. I have recently paid a repair service $425 to fix it because it would shut down after several hours of use, just power off. I would normally be working in Adobe Photoshop CS2 or 3 when this happened. It's a powerful program requiring lots of CPU juice from the machine. Well, the guy said he fixed my laptop, he said my hard drive failed and he replaced my main HD with a 250 GB Toshiba. He restored all of my data also except he was not Sony authorized so he did not put back in Sony's drivers for some unique programs like Biometric fingerprint sensor and the same Windows I had before. Here's the problem, although the repair service said it was fixed and running fine again, it wasn't, it shut down the next day after a few hours use. It was the same problem it had before and what I asked the guy to fix the first time. I called the guy and he said to bring it down and he would fix it for free. Unfortunately, I waited a few months because I was right in the middle of moving and life was hell at the time. After I settled into the new place I called the guy again and he said he would not fix it for free. :cry I reminded him that he told me that he would and he said it might be the motherboard or processor and he would not do the work for nothing, it would cost another $400 to $500 maybe. rolleyes Now you see why I just do not want to bring in my laptop to someone and trust them again. If I had known this guy would be such a ripoff, I would've sent it to Sony to begin with and paid more but got it fixed right. But they take 6-8 weeks and I didn't want to wait that long. It's been sitting here in my office for months now while I use my very old 1998 desktop that just won't quit although runs like molasses. I want my laptop back and running again.
So, the laptop turns on and there's the initial page with the Vaio logo and Windows opening tune, then it turns to a black screen with a blinking cursor at the upper left corner. It won't do anything but that unless I slip in the UBCD, hit cntrl,alt,del to reboot and wait for it to open up the UBCD and I hit enter, then theres the menu. I have done tests and it sees the hard drive, the processor and says the hard drive is fine, no bad sectors. But when I hit Boot First Hard Disk from the main menu, it doesn't do anything. I am thinking it is the processor, is there a way the UBCD can diagnose if it is fried? This machine runs very hot and I worked it hard for 3 years. If anyone can tell me how to diagnose it with the UBCD or another boot type CD, please let me know. I have not been working and funds are not what they used to be. I am trying to sell some things on eBay to raise enough to send this out to a Sony authorized repair service in Ohio. I will not send it to Sony because they want a flat $699 which I do not have. I wish I could fix it myself, I heard from someone who said the processors on some earlier Sony Vaio F series laptops were not electronically configured in voltage to run on the AC Adapter so they overheated. My laptop has a heat crack underneath also. The only other thing I think it could be is a virus, but I had virus protection. I really think it's a mis-configured processor problem and shouldn't cost much to replace. I will download the freeware to cool it down once I get it repaired and
buy a cooling mat. I hope I can pick up some savy advice here. I went to the UBCD website and asked months ago for help using the programs in it and did not get a reply. Is this knowledge sacred only to repair service geeks? I want to learn more about how the laptop functions and how to correct problems. If I had the money I would just purchase a new one with a 3 year extended warranty. No go right now. Thanks for the long read! :major

 

Ok that was some WOT...

If your laptop is getting so hot it has got "heat cracks" then you have a heating issue without a doubt.

Yyou need to look at your fans, do they need cleaning? maybe they need replacing or upgrading, this is a job you can do yourself fairly easy, or a simlpe job to instruct any shop to do for you.

I may be wrong but it sounds like this shop just took you for a ride and sold you a HDD you didnt need, but he is probably within his rights to refuse to fix it for free with you having waited months to take it in after reporting the fault. however this will vary depending on what country you are in.

 

Thanks Q, I appreciate the advice, I learned the hard way about asking for a guarantee or warranty on the service. I am in the USA, I have been advised to report this guy to the Better Business Bureau.
About the fan, I was informed by the Ohio repair people that it may just be a fan. Still, I don't know why it won't boot up. The repair people in Ohio said the processor might be fried or just a fan. They are Sony authorized and can put in a refurbished one for $200. I have learned a lot about laptops and their delicacy, it's not all about being careful not to drop it or jar it. I was good about that, never dropped it or spilled anything on it. They do need extreme care to keep them running cooler. I think this machine still has a lot of life left in it, so I will ship it out and trust someone once again. This time I will ask for a warranty on the parts. Thanks again!

 

You mentioned that the shop never installed the "same Windows" did they give you the windows disc they installed from?

Also $200 seems a lot for a fan being fitted to me.

 

Q, the $200 is for a refurbished processor, they didn't quote me on the fan, although they said if it is just a fan it wouldn't cost much at all. I don't see how a fan will get a computer to boot, I'm just not aware how it functions in relation to starting up a computer.
The Windows that Sony installed did not come with a disc, it was bundled with a few other things pre-installed. I do have the serial number attached to the bottom of the computer I just realized. I wonder if Microsoft will allow me to download it when I get it back up and running. The former repair guy told me I would have to buy it to keep a disc. This is a Media Edition Windows XP. I will check with Microsoft's website to see if they honor a download of it.
Thanks

 

edit: didnt see your post plodr.... i think the problem is his fan has stopped performing properly and the lappy has been cooking and has caused the HDD to freak out leaving windows goosed,
[so aswell as reinstall he neeeds a new fan as i said earlier]

Hey tech, oh $200 for a processor fitted sounds great, but if UBCD is booting up and running scans and whatnot then your processor must be working and does not need replacing, it sounds like you need to re-install windows or at least do a repair install, but if you havn't got a disc im not sure what you can do, maybe somone else has an idea?

btw: i highly doubt microsoft will give you a free copy.

 

plodr & Q, you confirmed what I suspected, it really isn't a bad processor if it is processing information on the UBCD. I hate being taken advantage of when money isn't easy to come by lately. If I tell the repair people I ran tests and know from experts like yourself that it isn't a fried processor, then they will have to do the basic stuff to fix it.
I am afraid of opening this delicate puppy up and installing a fan myself. I did install a few things before on my desktop. I can follow instructions exactly if there was a link to show how to do it.
As far as Windows XP Media Edition 2005, I could search for it on eBay. I still think that I'm better off letting the Sony authorized repair people fix it. It's one of those cross your fingers situtations and pray they don't overcharge me for parts that I really do not need. I appreciate your intelligence and giving answers I desperately needed to hear.

 

I cant find a guide or any pic's of your model and each lappy is it's own little world of fun inside, so if you have no problem sending it off then send it to sony, but i recommend finding a reputable local small shop and instruct them to replace just the fan, then buy your copy of windows, and do the install yourself, it wil be done in a day probably.

It's entirely a personal choice though

One last thing, you shouldnt be using it even with the UBCD until the fan is spinning, it could overheat badly and fry the CPU!

Q

 

Good morning Q, I turned off my Vaio yesterday after I realized that it might get too hot. I felt it and it wasn't hot though. I am not going to fool with the UBCD anymore, I got what I needed off it to know it's a working machine still.
Yes, this Vaio came with some specific hardware and programs that the former repair guy lost in replacing the main drive. Only Sony or a Sony authorized repair service shop can install the biometric finger print sensor driver back in which I liked. So, that is what I have been told by Sony and the authorized Sony repair people in Ohio. In that regard, I am better off sending it to the authorized guys in Ohio since they charge tons less than Sony corp repair which is $699.
All the local people want $55 to $100 down just to look at a computer, it's quite the racket in southern Calif. The average layman doesn't hold a chance in knowing what is really wrong. They credit the money down towards the repair if you choose to have them do it. There's just too many people with computer problems in this crowded metro area.
The Ohio people have direct access to Sony's bank of drivers and parts and I am sure they have a Windows XP Media Edition disc lying around in their shop they can install for next to nothing. Then when I get her back, I can buy the disc and have it handy.
Gotta go for now.

 

It is quite the predicament your in tech, i wish you and your wallet all the best luck in getting your issues resolved

Q

 

hmm. after reading this you might want to rewind a bit....

first off, what program on ubcd did you use to check the health of your hard drive?
I don't know if there's one specifically for toshiba ( i checked their site, and i don't see one listed either)

as for your driver question(s), sony has the thumbprint reader drivers listed for your device here, along with alot of other drivers as well:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGN-AX580G&region_id=1

I'm thinking that your problem is not the hard drive, but just a windows problem. A reinstallation or running chkdsk /p in the repair console should correct it.

there's also a bios update on the sony support site, and one of the fixes improves thermal fan control.