Sony Vaio F304 turns itself off

[m.maur]

Hi Folks,
this is quite a strange thing my Vaio F304 does: I start win98 and after a
few minutes the Laptop turns itself off. It seems like it changes into
Standby od Hibernation Mode, but I cannot wake up the PC again by pushing a
key. So I can only shut it down by holding the Power-Button for the 4 sec. I
checked the settings for the Power Management in Windows and in the BIOS and
everythings seems to be OK.
I also tried to install Win98 (the one that came with the Vaio and a normal
version) again, I tried to install Win2000 and WinXP but nothing helps, the
Problem is always the same: the Laptop turns itself off, the green LCD-Light
on the left keeps on shining, but thats all.
When I run the Laptop with MS-DOS it works, and when I run it in Win98-Safe
Mode it works as well. Furthermore the PC does not turn itself off when I
start Win98 in Normal Mode and stay at the Login-Screen (this means I do not
enter a password oder push Enter on the Login-Screen)

Does anybody have an idea, what the Problem might be? Or at least if this is
a hardware or a software problem? Please help, because I suppose a repair
will be very expensive.

thx

[cptnkirk]

I Have a Similar Problem with my Presario.Sounds Like A driver Probelm since
it works fine in "Safe Mode" or
in DOS.My problem, is mine shuts down(completely) if I do a Soft reboot from
Windows.If I do a Soft reboot
and boot to safe mode after second reboot all it Fine.
Also Works Fine in DOS reboot with control-alt-delete reboot.I found out
mine was a driver problem,cause I did a Fresh install of Win ME and after I
intalled it,I didnot Install the Sound and Video Drivers yet.I Soft rebooted
a few times and No Shut down during boot up.Once I installed the Video And
Sound Drivers,I did a Soft reboot and Upon Boot up,the computer shut itself
off.I still don't now if it is the video or Sound driver causing this(but I
know it's one of them),Since I intalled both at the same time before
rebooting.I even got the latest drivers and still does it.I Just live with
it since I don't do many soft reboot.If I have to reboot cause of system
changes.I Just completely shout down and then turn the computer back
on.Which the computer reboot fine this way.
But your's is a more Serious/Bothersome problem.I hope this might give you
some insight to what your problem may be.

"m.maur" <a960...@unet.univie.ac.at> wrote in message
news:9r8ugi$5tk8$1...@ftp.univie.ac.at...

[Michael Naumann]

Hi "suffering companion",

I have had exactly the same problem with one of our F305.
I didn´t try to check it with an other OS but I followed the recommendation of
Sony support
and recovered the Win98 SE - with no effort.
After Sony support picked it up and checked it the cost estimation (8 months
after guarantee)
was 4.480,07 DM (four-four-eight-zero) for a new mainboard.
Our intervention had no effort too and they sent back with renouncement of the
247,30 DM fee for
transport and checking - quite generous!
Last friday (26/10/01) the second F305 showed the same failure....... and we
have 4 further F305.

I think we should walk together, change informations and watch the newsgroups
for similar problems.

Mike

"m.maur" <a960...@unet.univie.ac.at> wrote in message
news:9r8ugi$5tk8$1...@ftp.univie.ac.at...

> Hi Folks,

--
Posted from obelix.bti-dresden.de [212.111.239.45]
via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

[Barry]

I also have the same problem with a PCG-F360. Our office has 3 others but
haven't seen this problem as yet on the others. Some help or ideas would be
greatly appreciated.
"Michael Naumann" <nau...@bti-dresden.de> wrote in message
news:131de29827796fc8b43...@mygate.mailgate.org...

[Markus Schulze]

Hi folks,

I also have the same problem with a PCG-F305. Sony support told me,
they surely
have to change the mainboard. The cost will amount about 5000 DM to. I
tried Win98, W2K, Linux and DOS. Its always the same problem. The
notebook turns off a few seconds after reboot most times. If it starts
correctly, it turns off in random situations. Some times when there is
access on the disk, some times when I touch the mouse. I think my
company will kick the notebook to trash. Thank you Sony !

Markus

"Barry" <bar...@kscable.com> wrote in message news:<v0HD7.358048$ME2.38...@typhoon.kc.rr.com>...

[Harvey Louzon]

I had the same problem and trashed the computer. Many Sonys for sale on
ebay have exactly same problem.

Want to start a class action lawsuit?

h

"Markus Schulze" <markus-...@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:60fd2665.01112...@posting.google.com...

[Dean B]

I have a F250 which does the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!.. Why wont Sony issue a recall???
Will never buy a Sony again.

[Harvey Louzon]

"Dean B" <dean...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:ba9b40d7.01112...@posting.google.com...

> I have a F250 which does the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!.. Why wont Sony issue a
recall???
> Will never buy a Sony again.

You get these kinds of testimonials and then some jerk (don't make me say
who) will come along and make an idiotic statement that people diss Sony
because they're jealous of them.

What a bunch of B.S.

h

[Anita]

I have posted a few days ago how I managed to solve this exact problem on a
Sony Vaio PCG-F250 running Win98SE, still won't work under Win2k or XP.
Check on old messages by me GZO.

The basic idea is to deactivate all ACPI and APM stuff on Windows 98 or
98SE.

good luck and post if you get it working too.

GZO

"Markus Schulze" <markus-...@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:60fd2665.01112...@posting.google.com...

[GZO]

Ok, this is my original post, check the first "significant clue"...

Hi there,

I have a Sony Vaio PCG-F250 (Celeron366 / 160MbRAM / bought by the end of
1999) that shows the following behavior under Windows XP or 2000:

After booting up without problems, if the computer is left alone (no
applications are oppened) so that it can lower the power usage, the laptop
shuts off the LCD and hard drive, the green led stays on and after a while
the fan speeds up again. The computer will not respond to any key or
anything else, only sliding the power switch for a while will turn it off.
Afterwards on the reboot sequence, windows will perform the disk checking
routine, continue to boot up and repeat the behaviour.

The only significant clues to the problem seems to be:

- When running Win98SE (or also Win98) if I completely deactivate ACPI and
APM, the computer will run "hotter" since the fan will speed up after a
while and never slow down too much (compared with ACPI), but the laptop will
function wiothout any problems for as long as I want.

- The Sony BIOS update (they recommend it for Win2000/ACPI) was flashed in
but the problem behaviour did not change.

- An interesting one is: When running Win98SE without ACPI/APM if I run the
program Rain (a cpu cooler prog) the fan will slow down as the processor
cools and after a while the laptop will shut of exactly as with Win2000/XP.

What I am trying to do...

- Clean installed WinXP modifying the setuptext.sif file in order to
deactivate de ACPI hardware abstraction layer. Certainly looks like it did
so because windows doesn't see the battery anymore and thinks the computer
is a Desktop, BUT the problem is still happening as before (shutdown after
some inactivity time). I think if all ACPI/APM can be deactivated in WinXP
(same as I did in Win98SE) the problem could dissapear.

I have tried to describe the problem as clear as possible, Sony support was
clueless about it (as usual) and the want me to take the computer to Canada
(where I bought it) for a check, but they would not accept it to be mailed
in from Overseas where I live, also Sony Europe will not take it because it
was not bought in Europe.

Really appreciate any help from you people, I have seen other users with
having the same problem but no fixes to it yet.

Thanks,
Gonzalo
===============================
"Anita" <NOS...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:9u15dd$mno$02$1...@news.t-online.com...

[Brian Delicata]

I have the same problem with a PCGF-290. I just called Sony here in
Canada and they asked for $1500 CAD to replace motherboard. Anybody
knows from where i can buy one at a resonable price - I do not want to
throw away this machine!

Brian

dean...@aol.com (Dean B) wrote in message news:<ba9b40d7.01112...@posting.google.com>...

[AJ]

>I have the same problem with a PCGF-290. I just called Sony here in
>Canada and they asked for $1500 CAD to replace motherboard. Anybody
>knows from where i can buy one at a resonable price - I do not want to
>throw away this machine!
>
>Brian

Sometimes people get the same model from ebay, that has a bad screen.
With a bad screen they are worth very little.

AJ

[SPAMbdeli@sympatico.ca Brian Delicata]

would a Vaio F304 motherboard work on a PCG-F290?

Brian

"AJ" <aj...@hotmail.comremove> wrote in message
news:3c112be2.2637018@news...

[AJ]

>would a Vaio F304 motherboard work on a PCG-F290?
>
>Brian

Sorry, I don't know.

[F.Free]

All -

I was beginning to think I was going nuts.

So, ...

A F304, PCGF-290, and now my PCG-F350.

I had loved my vaio, but now I think have answered my own
question about whether I'd buy another, or recommend them to
friends.

Thanks for the help.
F.

PS - Anyone else got a story to add? Maybe Sony should address
this themselves.

[Larry Gold]

check the power settings in the control panel, the h/drive is set to switch
off after 15min, and the pc will also go into inaction

--
Larry Gold
Arsenal For Life
hen...@btinternet.com
larry.gold.@ntlworld.com
"F.Free" <fre...@konnect.net> wrote in message
news:3C1C7D53...@konnect.net...

[F.Free]

Larry -

I can't speak for everyone else who's been having this
problem, but, that's not going to fix the problem _I'm_ having.

I have turned all those sleep functions off. And this problem
just started happening about 2 years after purchase. And, the laptop
can't be re-awkened without restarting (losing work).

And, ... sometimes the PC shuts off while still booting up, or
mid-keystroke while I'm working. It's very frustrating. The laptop
shuts off within seconds or minutes of startup.

And, ... prospective Vaio buyers: Sony does not even answer my
Sony helpdesk postings/emails asking for help.

It's a shame. I really enjoyed this laptop. But unless they fix this
known, documented problem, I'll never buy or recommend another.

Thanks for the thought though.
F.

[shipdadip]

where is it documented?

"F.Free" <fre...@konnect.net> wrote in message

news:3C2FE515...@konnect.net...

[JHEM]

Two things to check. Remove all added memory and see if the laptop will
remain on. Sometimes duff memory will cause random shutdowns.

Check the fan, if your laptop has one. Could be a processor overheat problem
forcing a shutdown.

HTH,

James

"F.Free" <fre...@konnect.net> wrote in message

news:3C2FE515...@konnect.net...

[F.Free]

Ship - This thread 3. Others have had more.

[F.Free]

James -

Thanks. Tried both those. Fan works fine. (And that really should not
overheat while still booting). And shutdown continues with or
without the added memory installed too.

Also tried disconnecting battery (and then power cord, with just the
battery power), floppy, DVD, sound/PPK buttons, touch pad/mouse, PCMCIA
cards.
Same result using Win98 (as preinstalled) and with Linux (dual boot
now).

Any other ideas?
Thanks for helping.
F.

[Harvey Louzon]

Had the same problem with my F350 Vaio.

I found that throwing it in the garbage eliminated the problem entirely.

h

"F.Free" <fre...@konnect.net> wrote in message

news:3C32F650...@konnect.net...

[atticus]

aj...@hotmail.comremove (AJ) wrote in message news:<3c112be2.2637018@news>...

Solution to the problem below
I have a Vaio PCG-f305 with exactly the same problem.

Switch off Advanced Power Management support (APM)
Go to Control Panel, System
Select device manager tab
Select system devices
Select Properties
Check disable in this hardware profile

Sony were no help, they won't even give me drivers for the computer
without proof of purchase etc. etc. Needless to say I won't be buying
any more Sony products.