topic Re: Problems with A295HP in PCs & Accessories

Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 21:32:06 GMT

I'm having two problems with my notebook.
The first one, my dvd drive isn't burning Dvd's. It works fine when it comes to Cd's but with Dvd's, it just stops at 2%, with a fixation problem. I've updated the Firmware but it didn't make any difference.
The second problem, my Windows version that came with the notebook has some kind of bug because it keeps stalling the system whenever i connect to the internet. It's not spyware or anything because i've tried everything and it still happens.

Re: Problems with A295HP

rich912 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 21:52:37 GMT

The infamous DW-D56A drive strikes again!!
Have you tried different brands of media?
There a firmware update available on Vaio Link for this drive but I don’t hold any great hope that it will resolve the problem judging from the reports from other users.

I am not sure about your second problem, have you checked your firewall settings?

Re: Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 09:13:24 GMT

About the DVD drive, i've updated the firmware but it didn't help. About my second problem, i've checked everything. My laptop is a copy of my desktop but it doesn't work right. It has to be a problem from windows, or the laptop itself. I'm gonna give you a step by step demonstration of the problem.

Step 1: WIndows starts.
Step 2: I connect to the internet. It connects (doesnt matter which type of connection, the results are the same).
Step 3: I try to load Firefox/IE. I try to load Msn Messenger. Nothing happens. I try to open a bunch of other programs, like Media Player, Word. I try to open "My computer" folder. Nothing happens.
(three to five minutes later)
Step 4: Every program that i tried to load in the previous step starts to open, all at the same time.

As this is a problem that has always happened, i' ve figured out a way to "escape it". Before i connect to the internet, i open every application that i'm gonna use. Browser, Media Player, Word, Outlook. And then, i connect. Because only the applications opened after connecting to the internet don't work for those five minutes. The ones opened before, work just fine.

Re: Problems with A295HP

rich912 — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 09:47:16 GMT

I know that you say that it is not Spyware etc. as you have checked everything, but these are classic symptoms of just that.
Have you tried running an on line virus scanner such as
HouseCall?

Re: Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 13:22:13 GMT

i know it has the symptoms...but i did several clean recoveries of the system, installed an updated firewall and antivirus - Zone Alarm - and only then connected to the Web...and it happened again...so...what else can i say - i want to try to install windows, but not the one that came with the laptop - but then, how can i configure the volume/brightness buttons?

Re: Problems with A295HP

rich912 — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 13:57:58 GMT

If this is happening after a system recovery then you are right, it is not spyware related.

It you choose to install your own copy of XP the original drivers and utilities can be downloaded from Vaio-Link and installing these should not prove a problem – I have done the same and all is working just fine. Have a look here for the correct sequence and application to install to get each utility functioning correctly

Installing the Sony programs is also possible but can be a bit torturous.

Good luck.

Re: Problems with A295HP

kee-lo_ — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 14:22:26 GMT

Are you using the internal modem or is it an ADSL modem?

Re: Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 19:22:47 GMT

Rich912
Thanks for the info. I'm gonna try that.

Kee-lo
It happens using any kind of way to connect - Internal, Adsl, Wireless.

Re: Problems with A295HP

rich912 — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 19:25:31 GMT

Rich912
Thanks for the info. I'm gonna try that.

Kee-lo
It happens using any kind of way to connect - Internal, Adsl, Wireless.

Let us know the result. Best of luck!

Re: Problems with A295HP

kee-lo_ — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 20:46:54 GMT

Thats odd
Have you tried turning off the firewall completly?

Re: Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 09:23:06 GMT

yep. I've tried everything.

Re: Problems with A295HP

slaurence — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 09:36:32 GMT

What if you try shutting down the explorer.exe process just after you have started the machine. If the explorer shell does not restart immediately after, press ctrl+alt+delete, then start a new explorer.exe process. Then try to connect to the internet etc and see what happens. It will be interesting to see if the problem re-occurs as I have come across this problem before, not on my vaio but other machines and it turned out to be a process that was running, something like MSN version 4.5 after I had updated to version 7!

Re: Problems with A295HP

Silu — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 11:00:51 GMT

Tipsy

Going back to your optical drive issue, I too have thgis problem. I have sent the notebook back to Sony and they returned (supposedly having replaced the drive) but the exact same problem remains. I have reloaded the firmware upgrade on their advice but still no joy.

They now want me to send the thing back for further repairs which I am not at all happy to do. Instaead I am trying to fight them either to replace the notebook (which apart from this problem is good) or give me my money back.

The additional problem I have is that I purchased the VGN-A497XP through a reseller (PC Business World) who say it would be difficult to get my money back as it is a Sony thing. But talking to Sony they say it is PCBW!!! So at the moment I stuck between a rock and a hard place.

That said I would urge you and anyone else who is suffering this to make as much noise as possible to Sony in an attempt to make them own up and do something properly about this!

So if anyone out there knows of the Sony MD's email or postal address please could they share it!

Sorry to go on but this really makes my blood boil - once again the consumer is left to suck bricks!

Re: Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 02:34:55 GMT

to slaurence:

I think we're going somewhere now. I've done what you said and it worked fine. I've tested again and every time it solved the problem. But now, the thing is, how can i find out which process is responsible for this issue? Am i condemned to close explorer and run it again every time i start the laptop? hope not. if you could help, i would be very grateful.

to silu:

i know. we are the "weakest link", except for the moment they try to sell us anything. i know i'm gonna be in trouble with the guys at vaio-link because they don't admit that this particular DVD drive is not very good, and has several issues. Hope that Sony behaves well or else, they'll "never sell" another vaio in my country - they don't sell that many already.

Re: Problems with A295HP

rich912 — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 09:01:23 GMT

tipsy,

This article will help you to troubleshoot the problem.

Re: Problems with A295HP

Silu — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 13:51:58 GMT

to slaurence:

I think we're going somewhere now. I've done what you said and it worked fine. I've tested again and every time it solved the problem. But now, the thing is, how can i find out which process is responsible for this issue? Am i condemned to close explorer and run it again every time i start the laptop? hope not. if you could help, i would be very grateful.

to silu:

i know. we are the "weakest link", except for the moment they try to sell us anything. i know i'm gonna be in trouble with the guys at vaio-link because they don't admit that this particular DVD drive is not very good, and has several issues. Hope that Sony behaves well or else, they'll "never sell" another vaio in my country - they don't sell that many already.

Tipsy

Just to close this loop from my perspective, after many telephone calls to Sony and PCBW they have combined to agree on replacing my notebook! Although very reluctant to do this for me the thought that I was requesting a full return of my money and to also take this up with the media, seemed to tip the balance. Still feel I shouldn't have had to go through this, but at least it seems to have been worth it (that is if the replacement works)!

Hope you solve all your problems!

Re: Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 02:59:45 GMT

News about the internet connection problems:

I've made a clean recovery of the system, using the windows that came with the laptop. It works fine...until i start downloading updates from microsoft . One of the updates is responsible for the problem. How can i identifie it? Should i not update my windows? What can i do?

Re: Problems with A295HP

tipsy — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 21:05:48 GMT

So i've installed a new windows version - no the one that came with the laptop. Works fine. I've installed the Vaio drivers/utilities and it's running perfectly. What i need to know now is how can i erase the vaio recovery partition and use that 7gb in windows? And by the way, i'm gonna ask Sony for a new windows software...as anybody ever had the same situation?