Operating System Not Found and Slow Computer

ThtGuyOvrThere · 03 Dec 2011

I've had this Sony Vaio VPCEE3WFX/BJ for about a year now. It was working fine until a couple of days ago. My little sister was on it and was playing Poptropica and that was the only thing she did on there. After shutting down the computer, I didn't turn it on until the next day. After pressing the power button, I got the Vaio screen or whatever the screen is called. After that screen has loaded, Operating System Not Found appears out of nowhere. I turned the computer on and off a couple of times but I still received the "Operating System Not Found" After I tried turning it off and on, I tried turning it on again but pressing F8 so that I could get some start up options. I was able to get to the screen and select "Start Windows Normally" From that point, I can get to the login screen and my desktop. The only problem with that is that it takes around 20 minutes to get to the login screen. Once I enter my password, it takes around 10 minutes to get past the login screen. Once past the screen, I get a black screen with the cursor in the middle. If I wait around an hour or so, the desktop will finally load and I will be able to do what I please with one condition. If try and open a program or anything it takes around 10 minutes to load it up and if I try to load a page on Google Chrome, it takes around 5 minutes just for one page.I was thinking about calling Sony to see if there was any way I could send in the laptop for repair before the warranty expires which is in just a couple of weeks.

I have tried Startup Repair but it was no help because I get errors when I try and click some of the solutions. ( I can't remember what the errors say)
Also, would re-installing Windows 7 solve the problem? The laptop did not come with a recovery disk or Windows 7 installation disk.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I ran 2 virus scans (one from AVG and one from Malwarebytes) and the results came out clean except a file that AVG reported was unsafe due to little known users using it. I ignored it but still deleted it because it was a program one of my teachers told me to download from the home website. (the program was Autodesk Inventor 2011)

theog · 03 Dec 2011

I would Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostic

Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

scrooge · 03 Dec 2011

you can also run (chkdsk) to see whats going on cause it sure sounds like the harddrive.

scrooge

gregrocker · 04 Dec 2011

What is the exact problem with running Startup Repair? How did you run it?

Make a System Repair Disc - Create.

Boot into it, accept any offered repair, if none are offered or the problem isn't solved, boot back in to System Recovery Options list to run Startup Repair repeatedly no matter what it reports.

Startup Repair automates many important tests and fixes including System File Checker, System Restore, and Disk Check. If it fails to fix anything, then run System Restore from the options list.

If Win7 won't repair, then you can run Factory Recovery from its partition on the HD by tapping the key given for it on first boot screen or in Manual which you can google to read. You can also order Recovery Disks from Sony.

Or you can use a Win7 installation DVD for your licensed version to clean reinstall without the factory bloatware using the Product Key on the COA sticker. Here are steps to get a perfect reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7
http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso Windows 7 Home Premium x64 English
Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

ThtGuyOvrThere · 04 Dec 2011

@theog Since starting up the computer takes around an hour, I pressed f10 before the computer started up and it took me to Vaio Rescue Care. Once there, there was an option for Hard Drive Diagnostics. I clicked it on it and it ran some scans for the Hard Drive. All of them failed and at the end of the scans it said "there are errors with this Vaio" I turned the computer off and back on but I could no longer press f8 to start windows normally like I usually did. Now all it comes up with is Operating System Not Found. I turned the laptop off again and today I turned it on to try your solution and I got "S. M. A. R. T. Hard Drive detects Error. Please consider to back up the hard drive. press ESC to continue..." No, I did not create a recovery disk which I knew I should of when I first started the computer :/
@gregrocker Thanks I will try your suggestion. Before you posted your reply, I had run the Factory Recovery Partition from the HD. I started it but it only got to the Formatting HD 4% and then I received an error that told me to shutdown and try again.
@scrooge Thank you, I will try that if I can get my computer to go past the Operating System Not Found

theog · 04 Dec 2011

I was thinking about calling Sony to see if there was any way I could send in the laptop for repair before the warranty expires which is in just a couple of weeks.

I would call Sony as the HD Drive neededs to be replaced.

rraod · 04 Dec 2011

It looks like your hard disk is dying. As you have only 2 weeks until the expiry of warranty, Please rush to the dealer from where you purchased and demand a hard disk replacement. In the mean time if you have any important files on that hard disk, take a backup pronto before giving it to the dealer.

gregrocker · 04 Dec 2011

I agree. Back up everything ASAP. If Win7 won't boot, try to get data out with Repair CD or Win7 DVD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Call Sony Tech Support to RMA the HD - all new computers have a one-year Tech Support and Hardware Warranty. They may want you to test the HD for them and will walk you through that, or they may consider the Vaio Diagnostics you already ran sufficient.

If you can enter Device manager to google the exact HD model, it may not be Sony so the actual HD maker's diagnostics /repair CD extended scan may be able to repair some problems if Sony won't help for some reason and you're stuck with replacing the HD yourself: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp

ThtGuyOvrThere · 04 Dec 2011

Thanks for all your support. I will call Sony Support Center and send them the laptop to repair.