Can't access C drive or download files after refresh?

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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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Apr 25, 2013
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I was recently forced to refresh my Vaio E14P laptop because it got stuck on a black screen after the "welcome" screen. However, after refreshing it I was not only unable to access the C drive, furthermore I couldn't download any of the files I had lost through the recovery process from the Internet. Please help!
 
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I had the exact same problem and same symptoms. Wouldn't boot, did the refresh, which wiped installed apps from the system. I could boot to windows and log in but couldn't access my C: drive (where windows was installed) but I could access other drives no problem.
Hard drive is fine as was able to boot widows. So this felt like a user permission problem.

Indeed I was able to gain access to C: again with the following method.
1) go to desktop and open file explorer
2) right click on Computer->C: and select properties.
3) Click the Security Tab
Here's where my memory is getting a little foggy but you essentially need to add "Users" back to access list for C: drive.
I think there was a couple of steps I had to do here to enable me to...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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We have two different statements and issues here:
I was recently forced to refresh my Vaio E14P laptop because it got stuck on a black screen after the "welcome" screen.

Did the refresh actually work?

...after refreshing it I was not only unable to access the C drive, furthermore I couldn't download any of the files I had lost through the recovery process from the Internet.

What led you to believe that your files would be accessible through the internet?
When you click on 'My Computer', what happens? Backing up a little...what happens when you turn it on?
 
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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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The refresh did as I hoped, since I was able to get past the black screen and access my desktop.

I was trying to download the applications I'd lost in the refreshing process such as google chrome and Steam. I'm able to access My Computer with no issues, but when I try to access the C drive it says it can't access it.

When I turn my computer on now, it goes to the welcome screen then log-in screen as it should, and I can log in fine.

EDIT: What's more, whenever I try to access the Settings from livetiles, it crashes and sends me back to the livetiles screen.
 
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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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I just tried this and was greeted with the error "the disk check could not be performed because Windows can't access the disk."

EDIT: I also got a notification from "action centre" recently, and when I clicked it I was shown two things: one said I needed to enter m most recent password, but when I pressed the "sign in" button, the settings app crashed and I was sent to the livetiles screen.

The other thing in the action centre said I had to scan for errors on a drive, but pressing "run scan" had no effect whatsoever.

 
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dodger46

dodger46

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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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When I right click and choose "run as administrator, I'm sent o the desktop but the application doesn't open. When I don't un as administrator, I'm told that I don't have sufficient privileges.

EDIT: I've been noticing something else strange: when I right click my desktop, choose personalise ad try to set a desktop background, no matter what the desktop background won't change. I also managed to download an image from the Internet successfully, but wasnt able to set that image as my background either. It's like my computer doesn't want me using it!
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Frustrating. Need to try some diagnosis outside the normal Windows environment. 1st see if it behaves at all in Safe Mode. Restart your PC from the Charms Menu with the shift key held down. Choose 'Troubleshoot' 'Advanced' 'Startup Settings' then 'Restart'
On restarting choose 'Safe Mode' (Option 4)
Try the disk scan again... only this time try sfc scannow from the cmd prompt as before.
 
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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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I just tried this, but my computer said it was not able to repair itself, and now every time I try to restart it or just continue to the start, it tries and fails to go through automatic repair. I tried doing this sfc scan by choosing Command Prompt from advance options, but it said it couldn't start repair service.
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Do you have the means to create bootable media? Need to try some diagnostics outside the Windows environment completely.
It's just possible that you either have a virus, a failing HDD or a very corrupt Windows installation.
Bootable antivirus
http://www.avg.com/gb-en/avg-rescue-cd-download
http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/rescuedisk
HDD diagnostic
http://www.seagate.com/support/internal-hard-drives/consumer-electronics/ld25-series/seatools-dos-master/
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=606&sid=3
You should be able to restore your laptop to Factory condition utilising the Recovery Partition on your HDD, refer to your User Guide.
 
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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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I just tried booting from the disc I burned one of those HDD diagnostics too, but it said it "couldn't find OS". I will update saying if one of the anti viruses work.

EDIT: actually I set up the booting from disc wrong, but when I did it correctly from the UEFI settings, it just did the automatic repair all over again

EDIT: I wasn't able to install the AVG antivirus to my USB since my other computer is a MacBook, and the setup file is an exe. I tried using wine to run it, but it just crashed. Any other solutions?

EDIT: I managed to use my dad's PC to get the AVG antivirus onto a USB, but I just get a "OS not found" message
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Perhaps need to look at more fundamental items than the HDD. First prove your RAM is OK, if you have more than one stick, try removing one at a time and use different slots to see if that makes a difference. These UEFIs leave a lot to be desired, they are proving to be difficult, to say the least. The fact that you don't seem to be able to boot from a disk speaks volumes, time to look for your Service Manual, and try some different settings in the UEFI. Some problems have been solved by reverting to Legacy BIOS if you have the option...
 
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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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Putting it into other USBs had no effect unfortunately.

Also, I tried another solution I found online to let me get past automatic repair and now it's letting me choose between "two" operating systems: "Windows 8 on volume 5" and "Windows 8 on volume 5". I found it here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-system/windows-8-is-stuck-in-an-automatic-repair-loop/2310c795-d39b-460f-9e4c-c95008e5ce51

EDIT: I tried changing to Legacy, but was met with a blak screen and the words "Operating System Not Found".

And when I chose the second Windows 8 on volume 5, I got the error "CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED"
 
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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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i dont have a huge amount to use, since i only got my laptop last month and i spend a lot of my computer time on the internet being unproductive. Before i format though, could you tell me what ways there are of recovering my data?

EDIT: Also windows 8 was installed on my laptop when i got it
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Usual method is to create a bootable USB device with Ubuntu, which would then enable you to access your files. Another way is to purchase an adapter to connect your drive to another PC and retrieve files that way.
Meanwhile I can't read your Manual for love nor money, perhaps you'll have more success!
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/SVE14A3C5E/manuals
Was hoping to find the Recovery Procedure to restore your unit to Factory Settings.
 
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cybergreghu

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Hi, I have exactly the same problem just now. Sony Vaio E14, black screen after welcome screen, refresh Windows, two instances of Win 8 Volume 5, and now there's no access to drive C.
The good thing is that I can actually copy all the files from the HDD to an USB, I just can't open (or launch) them. So I can backup my files before reinstalling Windows. I just searched for other solutions online, but as I can't see, there's not much to do.

 
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liquidmountain

liquidmountain

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I finally got around to booting from Ubuntu on a usb, but when I tried to boot from it, I was just sent straight back to that Automatic Repair screen. I think my main priority now is to stop getting stuck in a loop of Automatic Repairs.

And it's very worrisome that you've had the exact same problem as I have. I just hope there's a solution.
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Ideally on another PC running Win 8, create a 'Recovery Drive' and use it to trigger a complete reset of the OS, hoping that the process won't ask for an Installation Disk. Meanwhile the machine is 'not fit for purpose', so I would consider returning it under Warranty...
For Recovery Drive, type 'Recovery' at the Start Screen and choose 'Create Recovery Drive' from Settings. In your case, I would check the box to copy the Recovery Partition, so you would need to be prepared with a 4Gb Flash Drive or a blank DVD disk.
You would then set up your BIOS to boot from the USB/DVD, this will give you access to the Troubleshooting screen when booted from your Recovery Drive and hopefully will be more successful in completing a System Reset.
 
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J

jimte

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Same here, but different vaio model. I am currently sfc /scannow'ing my harddrive.
I already refreshed my windows 8 , and i thought it was funny that i got errors from vim.exe directly after this refresh. I think it's connected to the permission troubles of the harddrive but still.
This however for sure is a software problem and has nothing to do with your harddisk or memory.
 
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