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VAIO VPCEA46FM won't boot any OS and gets hung/stuck when trying

Tags:
  • Computers
  • Hard Drives
  • VAIO
  • Boot Failure
  • Hardware & Software
  • Sony Vaio
August 8, 2014 7:55:00 PM

Hello, my wife recently smashed the screen of her VAIO (VPCEA46FM) by accident and then bought a new laptop. I wanted to salvage it, so I ordered a replacement screen. Here is an outline of what happened:

1) Accidentally blew fuse on backlight.
2) Found info on forums, and soldered the fuse.
3) Backlight works (yay!)

Here is where things took a turn:
1) I am unable to get past the Windows splash screen (it freezes every time)
2) I tried to reset the BIOS (didn't work)
3) I have tried to boot Windows 7 (the original OS) from a thumb drive and then a CD (didn't work). Each time it would freeze after the splash screen came up.
4) I tried to use AVG Rescue CD. It would freeze in the middle.
5) I ran MemoryTest86+ . My memory was 100% error-free.
6) Just to be sure, I took out the RAM, cleaned it, and tried to boot with only one stick in, alternating sticks, and also alternating the RAM sockets (there are two). (didn't work)

I took more drastic measures:
1) I took out the HDD and attached it to my desktop. I ran Seagate SeaTools, where it did have a few errors. I did scandisk and fixed those.
2) I ran Webroot and found a bunch of viruses and eradicated them.
3) I double-checked and re-ran tests. I got 0 errors on all fronts this time.
3) I put the HDD back in the VAIO and repeated steps 1) through 6). (didn't work)
4) I connected the HDD back to my desktop and tried to run Windows 7 from it (I have Windows 8.1 on my main SSD drive for the desktop).
5) It had errors with BOOTMGR.EXE, so I did research and cleaned the partitions, remade the partitions, etc.
6) I ultimately decided to FORMAT the VAIO drive and start fresh. I successfully installed Windows 7 on it and was able to boot from it in my desktop (yay!).

Back to the laptop...
1) Still having problems freezing, even after trying recovery CD, USB, and AVG again.
2) I got creative and installed Ubuntu (Linux) via my desktop and tried to boot from it.
3) I was able to get a screen that asked me if I'd like to run Ubuntu or Windows. Neither option would let me get all the way in (freezes!)
4) I wiped Ubuntu and now have one usable partition that is around 500 GB, with 90GB or so unallocated (640GB is the listed total size). This 500GB has the base Windows 7 that still runs fine in my desktop.

I have worked so hard to try to fix this problem! lol I am running out of ideas. Windows worked fine when the backlight was out when I connected it via an HD TV, and you could see it working if you shined a light directly on the screen. The only motherboard hitch I have had is connecting all those tiny ribbons back. I gave up on the touchpad, but I don't think that should matter in this case because the keyboard and other ribbons still work. Thank you in advance for reading this! :)  long-winded problem!

Edit (08/11/2014): I swapped my HDD for a SSD I had in my desktop (I cloned it to a bigger drive and took the SSD out to try on the laptop). I put the SSD in my laptop. It had Windows 8.1 installed. It asked me if I wanted to boot Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 (recovered). The Windows 7 options had been there when I was booting the laptop HDD in my desktop for testing. Just to make sure, I tried the WIndows 7 options, but both had errors for missing files, as I expected. Anyway, I tried to boot 8.1 normally and from Safe Mode, but it froze at the splash screen once again. Thank you again for you help!

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