Vaio freezes on start-up

[matt_s]

Hi.

About an hour ago, my Vaio froze on me. I couldn't move the cursor or anything.

I decided to turn it off and reboot it. When it got to the Microsoft Windows XP loading screen, the blue progress bar started going as normal, but after a while it froze. Now I simply cannot get past this splash screen.

I can, however, boot up in safe mode.

Can somebody please advise me on what steps to take?

Thank you for your help

[rich912]

Hi matt_s,

Have you installed any new programs that are set to load at startup?

The first thing I would try is booting in Safe Mode and carry out a System Restore to a date prior to the problem (at least a couple of days before preferably). Then try a normal boot.

If the problem still persists then boot in safe mode and disable all startup programs. To do this Click Start > Run and enter “msconfig” (without quotes) in the Open dialogue box and click OK.

On the General tab click ‘Selective Startup’ and uncheck ‘Load Startup Items’. Apply and click OK to close the window and reboot.

If Windows then loads normally you will have narrowed the problem and can then re-enable each statup program one at a time, followed by a reboot, until the culprit is identified. This will be a longwinded process I’m afraid.

Best of luck.

[matt_s]

Hi Rich, thanks for the reply.

I have tried all that you suggested, but the problem persists. I have adjusted the start-up options and tried multiple system restores, but the computer still freezes at the Windows splash screen.

I have now tried to do a hard disk system recovery, but when I click on the "Vaio Recovery Tools" option, I get a pop-up saying that my computer is not recognised as a Sony Vaio computer!!

Any more suggestions...or is my computer frazzled?

Thanks again,

Matt.

[rich912]

Hi Matt,

Try restoring the BIOS defaults (tap F2 at boot when you see the Vaio logo) and then try either the recovery disks or the HDDR (F10 at boot) to recover the system.

Prior to this action you could try disabling all but the Windows services (msconfig again, but the Services tab > check the box ‘Hide all Microsoft Services’ and then disable the rest and reboot.

I assume that you have no peripheral hardware attached when booting?

[matt_s]

Hi Rich, thanks again.

I implemented your tips again, restoring the defaults and executing a recovery. After the disk recovery was complete, it went about booting up Windows...and, again, the little green progress bar on the splash screen froze after a few seconds.

System recovery really was my last hope. I mean, if the system is technically back to its factory default and is STILL playing up, then does that make it more likely to be a hardware problem?

Matt.

[rich912]

Hi Matt,

I’m afraid to say that yes, after a system recovery (without any peripheral devices attached), this would not appear to be a driver problem and more probably hardware related.

One further suggestion. Boot in Safe mode and again enter msconfig > on the Boot.INI tab check /BOOTLOG and then attempt a normal reboot. This will fail, but then reboot in safe mode and have a look in the system root folder (normally C:\Windows) for a file named ntbtlog.txt. – is there any info there that may help to identify the problem?

[matt_s]

Unfortunately I don't even have the option of Safe Mode any longer 😞

Since I did the system recovery, booting up in Safe Mode results in a pop-up box saying that Set-up has not yet been completed...and to reboot.

Given that the laptop is around 2 - 3 years old and past its warranty, I think it will have to be scrapped. Just when I'm short on cash, too! Sod's law!

[rich912]

Unfortunately the installation of XP does not complete until after Windows restarts, which explains the message you are receiving when trying to enter Windows in Safe mode.

This is not looking good and would certainly seem to be hardware related, but if you can get to Safe Mode with Command prompt then try running Chkdsk /f. followed by a further system recovery. This should at least eliminate the hard drive as a possible cause of the hang.

I’m grasping at straws now, but If that has no effect then try to borrow a standard XP CD and use this to format the C drive (not the entire hard drive). And then try a further system recovery. I hold very little hope that this will make any difference as the Vaio recovery process should format the C drive anyway, but you have nothing to lose….