My sister-in-law has a Vaio VGN-NR18OE and she is having major issues with the laptop. It's having trouble booting and I just want to restore it to the factory fresh state.
I am hundreds of miles from her so I can't see the screen and I have never even physically touched this laptop. I'm hoping somebody on here can help out. Below are some details of this laptop:
purchased at the end of 2007
Core 2 duo 1.5 ghz
1gb RAM (too little for Vista, I know)
Vista Home premium
200gb hard drive
did not come with any discs
Since it did not come with any discs, I'm assuming there is a recovery partition on the hard drive but I cannot find anything in the user guide (or any where else for that matter) on how to ACCESS this partition and start the restore process.
On my old Gateway laptop, I would just put a disc in and it would start the process using the partition. My Lenovo just has a second power button that directly accesses the partition.
To day i found new Vaio Z show off in my country (Thailand) it come in stores 4 days ago here is specification of top model
VPC-Z117GG Intel Core i7-620M 2.66GHz - 3.33GHz DDR3 8GB Quad SSD 256GB Nvidia Geforce GT330m 13.1 Screen at 1920x1080 Windows 7 x64 Professional Weight 1.4 Kg Battery 5hrs Local warranty 2years Inter 1 years Price 94,900 Baht (Approx US$2899)
New palmrest design is looking more better than the picture, the 1920x1080 screen does not look too small at all because it set font size to 125%. Text look a little bigger than the 1600x900 at font size 100%
When i set the font size back to 100% the text is small but not too much i think many people can live with that size.
After that i download some benchmark programs to test the device but in final the sale really don't want me to do that. So i took a picture in hurry and this is the result.
I've been having some difficulty with my vaio and am thinking about doing the F10 Vaio Recovery to restore the C: Drive. I'm not all that computer savvy, and would like to know from those who have done this what to expect. How does this work? What happens? Will I have to reinstall windows along with everything else?
i got ( vaio , vgn-cr320e ) , i installed win xp but there is some files in the win xp cd are missing so i had to install a win vista ultimate , ( what you have to know is : when i installed win xp , i chosed to format the hard drive ) now when i press ( f10 ) on the win start up , in vaio logo , some balck screen come in it...............
I didn't make the disks when I first bought the computer (not sure why not) but I want to make disks for just in case I need to reformat in the future. What are the steps I need to take to do so? I am using Windows Vista Business.
My mother's laptop had some issues, so I decided to completely restore the system. Restoration went through, however when it booted for the first time after restore, it gave me an error message that some file is missing or corrupted. I did second restoration...same problem but different file, tried 3rd time....same problems and different file.
I decided to do restoration without "value added" stuff, it went through, booted fine into windows vista, went through all the vista configurations, booted into Desktop. Desktop was all black, and right away I got the error message, something to do with "hardware shell". Did hadware test - everything is fine.
Finally, I ordered restoration CDs directly from SONY. First try using Sony's own CDs - error, file is missing or corrupted.2nd Try - same thing, 3rd try - same thing.
And finally, after multiple tries, it boots into Vista Green Background with small rotating circle (Vista's HourGlass). Nothing happens afterward.
I was planning to buy FW 490, but since FW 590 came out with Win7. I'm about to buy FW 590 CTO. I don't live in the States, so I'm not able to go Sony shop and check FW series. I've a few questions. I'll really appreciate your quick answers.
1-Sony used to call the cheaper lower resolution screen as 'ECO' screen. But now they call it 16.4" VAIO Display (1600x900). So those are both Eco?
2-Can anybody who has seen fw590 (with 1600x900) closely tell me please? As far as I have read from some posts of the forum, it says the colours are pale and it is dark. Is it really that bad? Isn't it a glossy screen? or is it just that, the people think 1600x900 is bad in comparison with a full hdresolution?
3- I will be using the laptop for gaming, So which resolution should I choose? (1600x900) or HD display (1920x1080)?
I know if I choose HD display, 1920X1080 will make the text very small and it will be very difficult to read. I don't mind that. I've read all the pages but I'm still not decided between the two res screens.
I just tested my new European Z11 model with full HD and Core i7 for a couple of days and I'm a bit concernd about the full HD panel. Here are my thoughts:
Pros: + very bright and sharp + very nice colors + viewing angels are good
Cons: - visible areaways at the bottom of the screen - uneven lighting - very small fonts, even with DPI scaling of Windows 7 .....
I bought Full HD display, but I was dissapinted when I connected it to my laptop and found out that i cant set the full hd resolution and that only other 16:9 is 1366x768 which is the same as the laptops display.
Is this hardware problem (TZ240 does not support full hd resolution) or is something wrong with my video drivers?
For maximum battery life, can the Z run full 1080p Bluray on the integrated graphics card and not use the 'external' graphics card? This is query for both old and new Z.
Trying to get rid of these questionably useful programs -- but I don't see entries for them in add/remove programs in the control panel (or for any of the other useless VAIO software packages that come on OEM machines sans "fresh start")
I lost the restore partition on the original SSD that my Yoga 13 shipped with. Â Is there a collection of drivers and whatnot that would allow me to restore it to factory defaults on my own with a fresh windows installation? Â I have the win8 key from the BIOS but don't want to lose out on all the required drivers if I were to just reinstall windows myself.
Just to state first and foremost, this is not an issue I have. This is a preventative post for anyone that may ask down the line. (as I've seen it asked on multiple other forums.)
I had this issue with an inspiron 1720 I just got. It had an issue, so I installed vista from a Vista RTM disk. It didn't fix the problem in the end, so I sent it into dell and got fixed, but I wanted to a fresh restore from the restore partition because on restarts, I'd get the blue screen of Death. Fun stuff right?
Well, Unknowingly, when I installed vista off of the cd, that removed the ctrl+F11 option from the dell. This is stated on many forums, and it seems that most answers to this issue is to format and install a fresh install from cd again, or call dell and get recovery disks. I figured "Heck, If I still have the restore partition, there is not reason why I can't get it to restore with some effort."
Some other people I've seen have just had viral attacks, or just want to sell their laptop and need a fresh install. This is for those people that need it. The answer to the question of what if Control and F11 don't work.
So, Here I am with the fix. There is one required bit of software that's required, and that is simply a dos boot cd. You can find many iso's for dos on the net. All you have to do is burn a copy and boot from it. [EDIT] IMPORTANT: I was wrong about dos. As stated below ( http://www.notebookforums.com/post3049150.html ) you have to do it from a 32 bit environment. You can get through one in the XP repair console (on the install cd) or through one of the options in vista's setup.[/EDIT]
Ok, so this is going to be dumbed down a bit, and I'll explain what the dos commands do. First off, after booting into dos, you need to change to the restore partition. This isn't hard at all, all you do is type "D:" and press enter. After this, you need to find the restore file. This is a file with the extension of *.wim. This is an image of windows from dell factory.
Generally this file is found in d:dellimage and is called Factory.wim. Just to double check, I'm going to tell you to change the directory. Type in "cd dellimage" and press enter. In dos, CD means Change Directory (or enter a folder). Now, to list all of the files in the directory type in "dir" and press enter...............
I just need a quick verification about something. My FZ21S recently bit the dust due to that nVidia error that Sony in all
fairness repaired free of charge when it happened a few weeks back (out of warranty also).
Now very recently my screen overheated causing some damage apprantly this was due to the graphics card again but this time even though they will repair
the motherboard free of charge again, they will charge me for the screen....£756 .....
Anyone out there, help me please. I have a Sony Vaio VNG-C2S Laptop, which I have just had a new Hard Drive fitted. Unfortunately I have lost the contents of the C: Drive (Windows Vista) and the hidden restore section.
I made a restore CD when I first Purchased the Laptop. I am now not able to restore the contents of the restore DVD back onto my Laptop
I'm getting my new soon with the SSD. The SSD is fast and would like to keep it that way. Since there's no trim support and defrag is really bad?
What should I do to keep performance up? Been following all the threads, but there doesn't seem to be a clear cut way to restore the SSD to out of factory state.
Wouldn't a restore to factory defaults using the restore discs do this? Whats the best way?
Got a used VGN-SZ650N last nite, installed with Vista Business Edition, seller already burn me a set of recovery DVD to restore back to Vista Business Edition. This morning I wipe out my C drive partition and installed XP professional from scratch and leave the recovery partition (hidden) alone. Tonight my wife changed her mind and want me to put Vista business back to this laptop. Now I have XP on C Drive and a set of recovery DVD, what is the quickest way for me to restore Vista Business back to the laptop.
When I try to restore C: partition by using Restore C: Drive option with my Sony Recovery DVD, I always get Error 403 message. The other option, Restore Complete System works fine but that will wipe out all partitions in the drive. The Restore C: Drive option only wipes out C: partition and leave the other partitions intact.
How do I get Restore C: Drive to work? I have FW190 CTO.
I comleted a factory restore on my FW, now I cannot connect to the internet.
Network Connections only shows LAN and Bluetooth options. Wireless mecha switch is on, Smartwi utility shows the wireless LAN is on. Of course, status is disconnected.
I can't find any wireless networks around me, including my trusty linksys G that would connect flawlessly prior to the restore.
I have just been given a VAIO PCG8A2M (GRX316MP) , i was told "it's broken but if you can fix it yo can have it" so having a quick look at it there's no sign of life on the display but the lights come on and i can here the HDD heads moving about.
Looking a little more i found that all the ram is missing , so now im not sure if its worth buying some ram to see if it works or not ? The lack of ram would prob explain the lack of display but i wonder if i should be getting POST beeps at least, which im not.
So my question is if a VAIO had no ram should (if all else was working) it be getting POST beeps ?
Just performed a successful XP downgrade on my Vaio Z520, but have noticed that on this copy of the Vaio Silver Desktop Theme/Appearance doesn't exist.
I had it on my SZ and loved it over the XP Blue. Is there a way to get it back? I still have the restore discs from the SZ.
Let me first start by asking your forgiveness if I have stuffed this quick little guide in the wrong spot. I spent a rather brief 10 minutes searching this forum, and I don't believe I am repeating a write-up someone has already done that follows this simple method. If I am incorrect, I ask a moderator to please place this post in its proper home. As you can see, I am not an avid poster here, and I really don't want to be slammed for not searching with enough gusto, etc.
Alright, on to the quick 'n easy...
I have a new VGN-AW235J, so proceed with courage and fortitude if our letters don't match. I found this as I was trying various ways to cleanse this beautiful machine of it's bloatware. It worked for me, and that is all I will claim.
This method requires that you create the restore DVDs.
If you don't have a handful of restore DVDs, go do that now and come back...and while you're up, bring a snack.
One more disclaimer: I didn't take the greatest notes while doing this, so my instructions may be sufficiently vague to cause minor trepidation on the part of the reader. With that being said, each step should be fairly obvious while in front of your machine...DVDs in hand..........................
I don't know whats the diference (besides the price), between VAIO TZ295N & VAIO TZ395N. Specs in all the websites I've checked say they have exactly the same components: Intel coreduo 1.33Ghz 2GB RAM DVD-RW and 64GB SSD Hardrive. I was wonder if the diference might be in the hard drive interface, with the TZ295N being PATA and TZ395N being SATA.
I'm wondering if the Blu-ray optical drive (Panasonic UJ-232A) of the (old) VAIO Z series will be able to fit into the (new) VAIO Z series? I would really appreciate it if anyone is able to answer my question.
The reason I'm asking is because I'm seriously thinking of selling my VAIO Z690 & just buying the base Sony VAIO Z (VPCZ112GX/S). I may just be able to afford that base model & the icing on the cake will definitely be the UJ-232A drive being able to fit into the (new) VAIO Z series & work.
Am planning to get a sony laptop for me. The design simply rocks I am getting mixed reviews about cw and E series. But i made up my mind to get one.
My budget is aroung 40000rupees. Thats around 800$. So suggest me a better one between these two for occasional moderate and less(mosltly) demanding games. I dont care whether its 14 or 15 inch.
Am looking at lower end versions of both the models.
Only difference is CW uses Nvidia Geforce 310 and the E series uses some Radeon 5000 series one. CW has 14 inch screen whereas E series has a 15.5 inch screen. In the models which i am looking at both have matte finish and both has WXGA:1366 x 768 VAIO Display.
which one should i go for. whether the screen quality will be on par to Inspiron one atleast? ( I dont need HD).
im planning on using the laptop for videos, photoshop and a bit of gaming, maybe even a bit more gaming :-)
The Vaio F Series only has 330M Nvidia Graphics Card with i7QM and up to 8GB of Ram and up to 256GB SSD.
The E Series has ATI 5650 (a less powerful version, reduced clock speed) combined with a i5 520M with up to 6Gb of Ram and up to 500GB of HDD ? Why can i not choose SSD ?