My notebook won`t boot unless it is very cold

[mike1333]

Hi..I`ve got a PCG-GRV616G Notebook and have been using it without any problems for 2 years.Now a very strange thing has happened...it won`t boot under normal room temperature !! So what I do is putting it outside for 5-10 minutes which is getting it realy cold because it`s winter,then take it in and it boots and works normally......This sounds crazy but it`s no joke..I went to a computer repair shop but they had no clue what to do about it.
Is there anybody out there who can help me or has had a similar problem ??

[rich912]

The boot process doesn`t start at all....the green light goes on, you hear the engine running , but the screen stays black...

In that case it could be a memory problem. Either one of the modules or, more likely, one of the slots. Try a single chip in each slot for all permutations.

[robpaxton]

I tend to agree with you Richard. This could be the infamous GRX/GRV series memory slot problem in another guise.

[kee-lo_]

Not that again.....

[rich912]

This could be the infamous GRX/GRV series memory slot problem in another guise.

It is high time that Sony put there hands up to this one:smileysad:

Funnily enough, on the temperature issue, a couple of years ago I had a reverse problem with a chip in my car. If it was frosty the engine refused to start. Through experimentation I discovered that a hot air gun under the bonnet for 10 minutes sorted things out. My local Renault dealer, although sympathetic, was completely flummoxed.

As luck would have it the problem reoccurred on a day trip to France. The AA called out a local garage (not Renault), towed me in, plugged in the computer and `hey presto¿ back on the road in 30 minutes. A bad seating on a chip was the problem apparently, and the temperature thing was all to do with coefficient of expansion.

No relevance to Vaio¿s, I know, but interesting tech stuff.

[seb21__]

No relevance to Vaio¿s, I know, but interesting tech stuff.

But you have hit the point.:smileyhappy:

[kee-lo_]

Rich what a coincidence too, in France with a Renault, you'd be in good hands, as they have the parts in the country and they're really common

[mike1333]

The boot process doesn`t start at all....the green light goes on, you hear the engine running , but the screen stays black...
 

In that case it could be a memory problem. Either one of the modules or, more likely, one of the slots. Try a single chip in each slot for all permutations.

Hi Richard....that sounds interesting.I also don`t think it`s a ventilator problem because in that case the notebook would switch itself off after some time of running and as I said, when my notebook has booted, it runs normally for hours.
Could you please put what you were saying into PLAIN English ?? Also, what should I do exactly about this memory slot problem ??

[mike1333]

here is a manual, to open the a PCG-GRV.

But it's a 516G and its in german. May be the pictures helps.

Danke für das Manual. Wusste garnicht das det so kompliziert ist son Laptop zu öffnen !!!

[ndalikan]

Hello. I had the same problem. Apparently, I had to send my Vaio to Sony where they replaced the whole motherboard and charged me 350 GBP as it was out of warranty. After that, it works perfectly

It sounds as a general issue so I suggest we all raise it as it may be a make malfunction.

I hope this helps,
Nikos

[rich912]

Could you please put what you were saying into PLAIN English ?? Also, what should I do exactly about this memory slot problem ??

Firstly have a look at your notebook manual, this will explain how to access and remove the memory modules.

Remove your battery and disconnect from AC power.

Remove one module and try booting.
If this fails swap the same module over to the other slot and try again.
Follow the same procedure with the other module.

If you do manage to boot normally with any of the combinations then you should have enough information to deduce whether the problem is with one of the chips or a slot.

If it is a slot then you will either have to replace the motherboard, settle for less memory or fit a larger module in the good slot.

I hope that this helps, good luck.