topic Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP in PCs & Accessories

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:09:56 GMT

When I press start button the laptop tries to start, the VAIO screen comes on but I then get a black screen saying Error loading operating system.

I have tried all the Troubleshooting tips from Sony - tapping F8 gets same error message. When I tap F10 i get:

My laptop seems to have died as it won't load Windows after switching on. I have tried pressing F8 but that page won't load. When I press F10 I get - Windows is loading files then a black screen whic says:-

'Edit Boot Options"

Edit Windows boot options for: Vaio Recovery Environment

Path: \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe

[ /DETECTHAL /MININT /REDIRECT RDIMAGEOFFSET=8192 RDIMAGELENGTH=3161088 R

DPATHmulti(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)sources\boot.wim

Is my laptop recoverable or is it totally dead. Anyones' help would be much appreciated.

]

I HAVE TRIED USING RECOVERY BACKUP DISCS AND IT SAYS - WINDOWS IS LOADING FILES WITH THE MOVNG GREY BAND UNDERNEATH BUT THEN IT JUST HANGS WITH A BLUE/GREY SCREEN AND NOTHING HAPPENS.

IT IS A WINDOWS VISTA OS.

Message was edited by: hamlet35

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:37:25 GMT

Hi hamlet35.

It sounds likely that your hard drive has failed.

When you turn the Vaio on, tap F2 repeatedly when you see the Vaio logo. This will open the BIOS Screens. Look to see if the BIOS recognoses your hard drive or does it say 'Hard Drive not present'?

If the drive is still recognised, connect to mains power and try again using F10 during start-up and when you get to the 'Edit Boot Options' screen just press 'Enter'. Select 'Restore Complete System' -> 'Start' -> 'Skip' -> 'Next' and follow screen instructions.

If the drive is not recognised in the BIOS, you will need to replace the drive and reinstall the Operating System from your Recovery Discs.

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:25:43 GMT

Hi Blencogo

Thanks so much for replying. I have followed your instructions and yes the Hard Drive IS recognised in the Bios. I then pressed F10 and pressed Enter, the window then went black and showed - (C) Microsoft Corporation at bottom of screen with the little yellow bars going across but after a short while it goes black and I can hear a quiet ticking sound from inside. The hard disc light is on but is not flashing.

I hope I don't need to buy a new laptop as I know my expensive Creative MP3 player is no longer supported, so I cannot get drivers for later Windows OS.

Any further ideas would be much appreeciated?

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:58:47 GMT

Hi hamlet35.

I fear it is a broken hard drive - the BIOS recognises it is there but the system seems unable to read or write to the drive.

If you have a set of Recovery Discs, a new replacement SATA 250GB drive will cost around £45 plus fitting.

http://www.dabs.com/products/samsung-250gb-spinpoint-m8-sata-3gb-s-8mb-5400rpm-2-5--hard-drive-7LP7.html?refs=450720000-52450000&src=3

How handy are you with a screwdriver: -

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/disassemble-sony-vaio-vgn-nr-laptop/

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:54:56 GMT

Hi Blencogo

I have now got another error message - Windows failed to load because the HAL is missing, or corrupt.

Path \Windows\system32\hal.dll

Is this info of any use? It sounds as tho it might not be the hard drive. It also says to use the system discs but I have already tried that.

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:24:48 GMT

Hi hamlet35.

It may well be corrupted boot files causing the problem.

When you turn the Vaio on, do you see a Vaio Logo Splash screen before it tries to load Windows?

If yes, try tapping F8 repeatedly as soon as you see the Vaio Logo. This should open the advanced boot options window.

Using the up/down arrow keys, highlight "Repair My Computer" then press . After a few options, the 'System Recovery Options' window should open.

Select 'Startup Repair' and see if that helps.

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:05:58 GMT

Hi Blencogo

Yes I get the VAIO screen but when I tap F8 all I get is - Error loading operating system. We seem stumped every time. Do you still think a new had drive will solve the problem?

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:09:51 GMT

Thanks a lot for your help.

Message was edited by: hamlet35

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:12:35 GMT

Hi Blencogo

Yes I get the VAIO screen but when I tap F8 all I get is - Error loading operating system. We seem stumped every time.

Do you still think a new had drive will solve the problem? Does it sound impossible to repair or should I take it to a PC repair shop. I have files and photos which I, stupidly, haven't backed up

Many thanks for your help in this

PS If anyone else in the forum has any further ideas, I would be extremely grateful.

(What would we do without such helpful people and forums . I belong to a spinal health forum which has helped me with my back problems.)

Message was edited by: hamlet35

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:38:18 GMT

Hi hamlet35,

The only other thing to try is to boot from a Vista Installation disc and try to do a 'Repair' installation. If you cannot borrow a disc, it may be best to ask a repairer to do it for you.

However, because other things do not work, you may have to face the prospect of having to replace the hard drive.

Depending on how important the data is on your old drive, you will have 2 options: -

1. Buy a cheap external hard drive Caddy which connects to a working PC by USB. You may be lucky and be able to access your data from the old hard drive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/IOMAX-External-Enclosure-Laptop-Powered/dp/B001EEQQ8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337117494&sr=8-1

2. If the data is very important, you can pay a data recovery company to try to retrieve your data. This is an expensive option.

Try, or get someone to try a 'Repair' installation first - it may be successful.

Good Luck.

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:06:59 GMT

I have ordered a cradle from Amazon and will try your suggestions. I will certainly buy a new hard drive if that fails. I am just a little worried that the problem is somewhere else in the computer. The error regarding the HAL.dll - is that on the hard drive? If so then that will be the best option.

Thanks again for all your help. I will let you know how I get on.

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:08:16 GMT

HI AGAIN

I have bought a cradle from Amazon but unfortunately, we couldn't get any data from ther hard drive so will just have to accept all is lost.

I now want to buy a new rep[lacement hard drive but the link you gave me:

http://www.dabs.com/products/samsung-250gb-spinpoint-m8-sata-3gb-s-8mb-5400rpm-2-5--hard-drive-7LP7.html?refs=450720000-52450000&src=3

is for a Samsung HDD, whereas my hard drive is a Toshiba `MK2546GSX. WILL THE SAMSUNG BE OK?

Thanks again for your help.

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:37:08 GMT

Hi again Hamlet35.

Any slimline 2.5 inch SATA Hard Drive will do. Whatever make you choose will be OK - it is a matter of personal choice. The only requirement is that it is not over 9.5mm thick - there are some drives that are 13mm thick and these are too big so avoid these.

If you prefer to have a Toshiba, that is your choice.

Just avoid any that say. 'Advanced Formatting'.

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:39:05 GMT

Hi Blencogo

I am having great difficulty locating a replacement Toshiba, I have only found one in US but do not want to order from there in case it arrives damaged.

Will the back-up discs I made when the laptop was new work ok with a different hard drive?

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:59:37 GMT

It is an old drive now and out of production so you will pay well over the odds for an inferior hard drive.

It does not make any difference what make you choose and your Recovery discs will install on any SATA drive.

Most people would recommend Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital, Hitachi or Fujitsu for the best laptop drives - I don't think Toshiba is in the top 10 these days.

Quite honestly, they are all very similar and you can't go wrong with any of the above but the Samsung will take some beating.

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:40:26 GMT

Ok, thanks. I will order it now and hopefully will be able to report back with "success".

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:23:36 GMT

Hi Blencogo

We have bought the new Samsung hard drive but sadly the computer still won't start, it can't seem to get anything from the Back-up discs. It tries to load files for ages then it says there is a problem with the hard drive or partition, as though it can't see it.It also keeps asking for thr backup discs but then can't load anything from them.

Is there anything further we can do?

Message was edited by: hamlet35

Re: Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:27:06 GMT

Hi hamlet35.

Are you doing this: -

1. Insert the Recovery Disc No1 into the DVD Drive and shut down the Vaio completely with the disc in the drive.

2. Start up normally so that the Vaio boots from the Recovery Disc and opens the Recovery Center.

3. Follow the instructions for a 'Complete Recovery'.

It is necessary to boot from the Recovery Disc to load the SATA drivers which will allow the hard disc to be recognised.

It may need the boot order to be changed in the BIOS to boot from the DVD Drive before the Hard Disc. If you continue to have problems, make sure the hard drive is recognised in the BIOS.

Come back with further details of what happens when you start up if you have no luck!

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

hamlet35 — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:49:51 GMT

Hello Blencogo

Tried everything you have suggested but stil no luck. Its as though the backup discs do not have an operating system on them. At one stage we were asked for the final backup disc (there are two) but still nothing happens.

It is as if we need Windows Vista OS but, of course, computer manufacturers do not supply the OS discs with new PCs as they used to so we do not have them. We do have thelicence and Product key underneath the laptop. Do you think we can get anything from Microsoft?

Message was edited by: hamlet35

Vaio Laptop VGN-NR32S STARTUP PROBLEMS - CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP

Blencogo — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:26:05 GMT

Hi hamlet35,

Are we talking at cross purposes here? I wonder if you actually have a Set of Recovery Discs - you will have been asked to make these when you first bought the Vaio as they are not provided with the laptop. This is the only way you can reinstall the OS and software in the event of a hard disc failure as you can boot from Disc 1.

Can you remember where these 'backup discs' came from?

Unfortunately, the Product Key is not a valid activation code for Vista as a 'full' version is not installed, only a Sony version.

Your options now would seem to be: -

1. Obtain a replacement set of Recovery Discs from Vaio Support. Unfortunately, they will charge for these as you should have made a set. See the section marked 'Important' in your model's Guide - Pages 2 & 16: -

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/manuals/RecoTS/2008Q2_TRG_EN.pdf

2. Download a copy of Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 and telephone the Microsoft Activation helpline, explain the situation and hope the operative is in a good mood and allows activation. This should not be possible but I have heard some people have success. Of course this will not reinstall the Sony Preinstalled software which cannot be downloaded. The basic drivers and utility programs are available for download, so basic functionality should be OK

.http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/VGN-NR32S_S/updates

3. Purchase an Operating System of your choice from any retail outlet.

4. As options 1 and 3 have a cost - I think Sony charge about £50 with courier delivery - and in the event that there is some other surprise fault waiting to bite you, you should at least consider cutting your losses and replacing your laptop.

I am sorry we have been unable to resolve this issue for you.