Problems starting Sony laptop

Computer Manufacturer: Sony
Computer ModelCG-FXA59
Operating System:XP Pro SP2
CPU:Mobile AMD Athlonâ„¢ XP processor 1500+ at 1.3 GHz
Hard drive size:30 Gig
Amount of memory installed:512 MB SDRAM
Sound card:Vaio onboard
Video adapter:ATI RAGEâ„¢ MOBILITY graphics chip with 8 MB SDRAM
When did the problem start: A few months ago
What you were doing when the problem first appeared:Trying to startup the laptop.
Any new software or hardware installed recently:N/A
Any other information you think might help: Here is what I have tried.
(1) Removed memory from 2nd slot (no help)
(2) Switched memory from slot 1 to slot 2 (no help)
(3) Attempted to boot into safemode (nada)
(4) Attempted to boot into BIOS settings (nada)
(5) Attempted to boot to Windows XP Pro CD (nada)
(6) Attempted to boot to a statup floppy (no joy)
(7) Disconnected the AC power removed the battery, turned the laptop over and held in the rest button for 60 seconds (per Sony support) reconnected the AC power and tried to start it up (nada)
(8) Did the same thing again except this time I put the battery back in and tried to start it up, once again (nada)
I'm open for suggestions folks, at this point I have a very expensive paper weight so if anyone has suggestions I'm all ears.

 

Here's what you need for starters. Since you said this has been happening for several months, I'll assume the characteristic behavior that you forgot to mention was that you've been experiencing random lock-ups and freezes. Now the only problem is, you have to get that thing started one way or the other (Duh) in order to run this fix. Have you tried starting up with an XP CD in your DVD/CDRW drive bay?


edit: I see you tried that - nada (sometimes I read faster than the brain works) Can you get your hands on a known good battery pack? Have you tried starting with no battery pack installed? 2nd edit - see you tried that too. I'll pause ........

 

Hi,

My experience with laptops...nada (hope nada means none )

Great background!!

If I may ask What does it do?
Any lights flash?
Anything on the screen?
If it starts up, at what point does it stop?

Matt

 

Ok I get lights when the laptop is turned on and I can hear or feel the hard drive spin up. Also if I put a CD such as my Windows XP pro CD or my recovery CD in the cd rom and hit the power button they spin up as well but I get nothing on the screen, just a black screen. I've also connected the laptop up to a known working monitor from one of my PCs, still no joy. I'm all out of ideas if anyone has any further suggestions I would appreciate it.

 

Lets review what you've said here from a little different angle.

You've had an as of yet undescribed problem for a few months until finally your laptop no longer boots. You called Sony suppport and whatever they told you didn't work. Now you have come here for help but we still don't know (can only speculate as I already have) what the original symptoms were.

Personally, I'm going for the throat early on this one as I think one has to take your laptop apart to clear CMOS in order to get it to boot up. My recommendation is to reach into your pocket and say goodbye to a few guiteers - ship it off to a certified Sony repair center. This is any easy machine to work on, but laptops are a little tougher than your average desktop computer. You sound like the "experimenting type" so I'll tell you quit while you're ahead and send it out before its too late. When you get it back, do the fix I posted earlier because this machine with SP1 or SP2 installed will not run for **** without it.