Dropped Vaio laptop, hard-drive issues?

prettycrazy

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Mar 24, 2014
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About 2 weeks ago, my mother gave me her laptop telling me that my sister had dropped it (I'm guessing while it was turned on). I haven't had much time to work with it, but I have accessed a few things..

The computer will startup fine, but it gets stuck at the blue screen with the flower and the wavy lines, and just sits there with the cursor active. From that point, you can't do anything besides moving the cursor. This happens on both 'Start Windows Normally' and 'Startup Repair' options. I've tried reinstalling windows, and doing anything HDD related takes a ridiculously long time, but it wont actually install windows.

I had a backup hard drive I took out of my PS3 when I upgraded it. Using that HDD I get the same results, but a different error message when I try and install windows. I know it would help to post that error message, but I don't have an install disc with me to replicate it at the moment.

Besides that everything else looks fine. There's no cosmetic damage from a fall, the screen works fine, I can get into the bios (and it recognizes the HDD) and boot to a DVD/CD fine, and I checked the RAM and everything is seated properly. If anyone has anything to contribute, I would appreciate it.

It's a Sony Vaio VPCEB32FM, with Windows 7.
 
Hi

You need to extract the hard disk and test it in a USB tray with sata to USB device or connect to eSata if available
Then run hard disk diagnostics
For windows WD data life guard works with other brands
Manufacturers seem to be moving away from bootable cd images to bootable USB diagnostics disks
Seagates works on other brands as well

If your hard disk fails you will need a replacement hard drive or SSD
Contact Sony to purchase a recovery DVD set
It's a lot cheaper than a new oem system builder disk from Microsoft

If the hard disk passes the test then maybe a combination of chkdsk
And startup repair using a system recovery cd or windows DVD ( or USB versions )
May help
If not a data recovery of c:\users\user name and other user data then a format & reinstall using windows recovery DVD set or a new windows DVD + all drivers + office etc

The manufacturers recovery DVD set should have been made shortly after purchase and put away in a safe place for this sort of emergency
And does a much quicker job of getting things back to normal
(Apart for a day or so of Microsoft updates)

Regards
Mike Barnes


 
Dropping the laptop has almost certainly damaged the hard drive physically, so a replacement hard drive is required.

Windows PC cannot read hard drive from PS3 since file system is incompatible. To install Windows on it you first have to delete all existing partitions on it, then create new partition, then format it. Windows Setup should then run okay.
 

prettycrazy

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Mar 24, 2014
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Unfortunately I do not own an sata to usb connector. I do have the factory disks and I have it sitting in Recovery now. It's been trying to locate a windows installation for the past hour.


I've already formatted the Hard-drive and created a new partition to install to, but when I try and install, it gives me an error message telling me it can't install to that hard drive either. Later tonight I'll try to replicate that error message and post it.

I'm assuming there's something else on the mobo related to the hard drive connectivity-wise that's the culprit to this. I was hoping that someone had some relative experience to a similar issue like this and could provide quick insight.
 
Hi

You need a new or second hand drive which has had the partition cylinder or start of hard disk erased. And is known to be in good condition after a test using diagnostic software

Then windows will think it is a new hard disk
Start the partition process probably 2 or 3
The format then the re install process


Try the diagnostic software with the drive in the Sony and booted of a cd or USB containing the diagnostic software so you are testing the interface connector is not damaged

Regards

Mike Barnes