Reputable shop/person to fix computer

[Big Boy]

Obviously i will back up first but how drastic is it, will i loose anything apart from settings?

Cheers for any info.

You will lose any data that you have stored on the computer. If you don't store anything, then there will be nothing to lose.

[buksida]

You could have a fried USB port, unplug all USB devices, start the machine in safe mode and see if it crashes.

If it is a hardware failure a format and re-install will not solve the problem.

[MrPlum]

You could have a fried USB port, unplug all USB devices, start the machine in safe mode and see if it crashes.

If it is a hardware failure a format and re-install will not solve the problem.

I'm a bit out of touch with all this but just wondering if disabling the USB ports in Device Manager will achieve the same result? He'll keep his screen resolution rather than dropping to VGA in safe mode. He could disable all of them, or each in turn, until he finds the culprit.

He'll become quite the expert at this rate!

[Dannie Boy]

Maybe a chance for RoyVer to come to russianrobert's aid, as he seems to be an expert on the subject and wants to meet people?

[russianrobert]

You could have a fried USB port, unplug all USB devices, start the machine in safe mode and see if it crashes.

If it is a hardware failure a format and re-install will not solve the problem.

Okay, this is what i don't understand.

I have the following ports. I assume the ones in the top photo ones are not USB is that right? There are other types of ports but i don't use them. The ports in the lower photograph are all working and the ones i used to attached all devices. How can they be fried if they are all working?

Cheers

[russianrobert]

Thought i'd add the messages i'm receiving too.
I get the blue screen, fig.3 when it crashes. I get fig.2 regularly. When i click on fig.2 i get fig.1

Cheers

[Big Boy]

You could have a fried USB port, unplug all USB devices, start the machine in safe mode and see if it crashes.

If it is a hardware failure a format and re-install will not solve the problem.

Robert,
When you've been around this forum for a while, you'll realise that buksida is usually correct 99% of the time. If he's saying that format and re-install will not solve your problem, you should listen. All of this faffing about is probably pointless, and you need to get the machine to somebody who knows what they are doing.

[buksida]

That error looks to me like it has been caused by a hardware failure ... ie a toasted port or problem with the mainboard. Have you actually tried it in safe mode yet? Formatting and reinstalling will tell you for sure, if it doesn't crash again then it was a software error - if not then it needs to be sent to the manufacturer for repair. As advised already back up your data first.

[MrPlum]

All of this faffing about is probably pointless, and you need to get the machine to somebody who knows what they are doing.

I would normally agree BB but his laptop is a Sony Vaio and I know, at least from my own experience, you end up having to take the machine to the Sony Service Centre in Bangkok, for hardware repair. I wouldn't risk doing this through a third party, who isn't an authorized Sony dealer, since you are using a middle man which introduces delays and probably additional cost. Robert seems capable of trying the ideas suggested and I don't blame him for exhausting the forum first.

If you resolve your problem, Robert, please post the solution to this topic.

[Jose]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/974410

Try the above hotfix, also disable all power saving options.

[russianrobert]

Well, i want to thank everyone for their help. It seems the problem now disappeared. I hope i'm not being premature but i haven't had a 'crash' or any unwanted messages since Friday.
After scanning and updating the drivers the laptop crashed again. I was then prompted to install several other software updates and now the problem seems to have gone away. I haven't run safe mode or restored factory settings. I just hope i've been lucky.

Cheers!

[Ralphsandbag]

Hi
Is there a Sony Laptop Shop in the town, for REapirs, or will I need to go to BKK...
Thanks
Ralph

[Ralphsandbag]

Hi
sorry did not check spelling.... That is ...Repairs.....
Cheers
Ralph