"VAIO" difficult problem! Help please?

hulland · Joined: Dec 11, 2002 Posts: 14

Need to re-install Win XP onto a Sony Vaio laptop ( Pentium3 etc vintage)
Problem;-

Built - in CD drive woin't boot.
USB external CD won't boot
USB stick won't boot
Network boot disabled
Even PCMCIA card won't boot.
Small "Sony" drive wont boot ( like a camera card holder)

I HAVE tried changing the boot priority--the HD has a "+" against it, if I choose the CD drive I get a "!" against it, hit F 10 and it appears NOT to save. Apparently( searched all over) Sony don't offer a BIOS update or USB boot alternative!

Been all over the net--seems a common problem with older Vaio's-- can anyone tell me HOW to get ANY boot sequence to work EXCEPT the hard drive? ( I do have another partition on the hd but don't know how to make it bootable) Thanks for anything! Sad

goretsky

Hello,

It sounds like you are in the correct place in the BIOS to configure the boot order of devices, so I am wondering if there might be another problem, such as the BIOS being locked from saving changes or perhaps a problem with it being able to write new settings to CMOS memory due to the CMOS/RTC backup being low. Replacing this might solve the problem.

Have you tested the discs and USB solid-state flash drive you are using to verify they are bootable on other devices?

Do you have an external USB floppy diskette drive you can try booting the SONY VAIO from for testing purposes?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

hulland · Joined: Dec 11, 2002 Posts: 14

USB drives are all fine for booting ( 3 of them)-- about 4 years ago the Vaio booted fine from the removeable CD drive. No, I do not have a floppy drive.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

If that Sony is over four years old, you may be having CMOS battery problems.

If that battery is replaceable, and not soldered in, I'd be for replacing it.

If indeed you can replace it, that would need to be done with ALL power removed from the unit, including removing the large battery pack.

It's at least a place to start.
Those little CMOS batteries are only rated for about four years of service.

If you don't have the manual for that laptop, you can search for it at Sony's web site. You must have the exact model though,, not just Sony Vaio.
They've called every PC they've made for years, a Vaio, both laptops and desktops.

good luck,
The Doctor Cool

hulland · Joined: Dec 11, 2002 Posts: 14

The CMOS battery is standard and I replaced it last March

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Then I'd suspect that something has jammed up the CMOS.
**It happens!

I'd take all power off the system and then remove the little battery for about 20 to 30 minutes. That will totally flush the bios.

Then replace the battery (check it first to make sure it shows at least 3.0vdc on a digital volt meter.

That may bring your little 'puter back to life.

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

hulland · Joined: Dec 11, 2002 Posts: 14

New CMOS battery fitted---no difference in BIOS to before.....

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

It won't make any difference if you don't remove ALL power from the system for at least 20 to 30 minutes. It takes that long for the bios memory chip to loose all its electrons and stored charges.

I've resurrected completely DEAD pc's using this technique.

AC power and the main battery must be removed, for this to work.

Good luck,
Doc Cool

hulland · Joined: Dec 11, 2002 Posts: 14

I am sorry Drwho07, what I SHOULD have posted was I took out the old CMOS batt. waited overnight with no powerpack or CMOS battery in. Then fitted a new battery i.e. the correct way. It has made no difference. I have been scouring the net, and it seems that this vintage of VAIO ( P111) relied strongly on some back-up CD that was also a recovery disc--long gone now of course. many people are complaining that this BIOS is not only NOT compatible with USB, but that the CD drive "often disappears" too--Thanks for the suggestion though. Perhaps there is some way to modify the BIOS? I am in uncharted country with this though.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

There are today, mobo's that will not run Windows 98.
Similarly, there are old mobo's that won't accommodate USB and other devices or later OS's like XP.

It just comes a time when an old PC needs to be retired.

I have several PC's sitting around the shop that will only run Windows 98 and maybe ME, but that's it. None of them will work with my flash drives.
Sandisk put out drivers for Win 98/SE but they will work only with certain Sandisk Flash Drives....but, not all.

Beyond what we've already discussed, I have no further ideas.
Sorry!

The Doctor Cool

hulland · Joined: Dec 11, 2002 Posts: 14

Thanks anyway, and just to put my 2 cents in---I "found" a Pentium 1 with 64 MB RAM, and I fiddled with an XP Pro installation--trimmed to bare, bare metal it runs Yahoo messenger, Antivirus O Express, and works very fast, so all this about"need 1GB ram...." is just not true. Thanks for your concern.