My Sony laptop is behaving strange

[jamesp5551]

Hi, I have a 4 year old top spec Sony laptop, windows 7 ultimate upgraded from Vista ultimate, AVG free for virus protection. My problem started with a jerky pointer then when i type anything with the keyboard even if i press one key a line symbols appear. If i try to back space they reappear. I cant do searches, enter passwords etc.Now if i try to start up it hangs until i do a circular motion pressing the keys around the enter key, then it will load slightly and i do the same until im into my profile. I cant turn it off either i have to disconnect the power and take the battery out. Being a good boy i did burn the restore discs from new which puts it bk to Vista ultimate but im having major probs getting it to work. I have to keep doing my little trick with the keys ( the circular motion ) which brings on the the hard drive activity light then the system moves along a little. I had the same issue about a year ago and had to restore it many times until it worked ok, but it would not work with sony update and every time i turned it on i get a message saying that the raid orray drive is failing. As far as i know there was no raid orray system on my laptop. Its bugging me as ive been religious with my virus software and i dont go to many dodgy sites. I will be grateful of a solution thank you, Jim

 

[Golden]

Jim,

Lets see if any underlying system file corruptions might be present.

Do this:
1. Click Start

2. In the search box, type cmd
3. In the list that appears, right-click on cmd.exe and choose Run as administrator
4. In the command window that opens, type sfc /scannow and hit enter.

Report the output from the command window once it finishes.

More detail: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[jamesp5551]

Jim,

Lets see if any underlying system file corruptions might be present.

Do this:
1. Click Start

2. In the search box, type cmd
3. In the list that appears, right-click on cmd.exe and choose Run as administrator
4. In the command window that opens, type sfc /scannow and hit enter.

Report the output from the command window once it finishes.

More detail: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

I would try that if I had any control over keyboard input. I have sore fingers now getting it to boot. As I said ive attempted a full reinstall from the discs so it is trying to boot as a new vista installation. I managed to get to the regional settings screen, as the defaults were correct i pressed next which brings up the user profile name and password screen, but at this time no key press works at all so i cant put in a user name so cant continue.I got into the boot menu but I cant select any options so let it count down on the highlighted option ( the system repair one ) which with the disc in brings up the Vaio Recovery Centre. At this point I have control over the pointer and able to select options. If I had been able to get as far as the command window i very much doubt it would let me type sfc/scannow.Im using another laptop to comunicate on here. As I reply I have the Vaio Recovery centre open which gives me a list of program options.1 Vaio Hardware Diagnostics.2 Restore C: Drive.3 Restore Complete System.4 Rescue Data.5 Wipe and Erase Data. When I got it working last year I tried alot of things but I think I removed the HDD drive and reformatted it using a caddy and another laptop, but im not sure if this is what allowed a successful install. Im sure this is some form of third party invasion.
thank you,
Jim

 

[Bumpkin]

Beg, borrow or steal a USB keyboard, too see if another keyboard solves your input problems.

 

[jamesp5551]

Beg, borrow or steal a USB keyboard, too see if another keyboard solves your input problems.

That's worth a try thanks as last night I took the D drive out leaving just the SSD being the C drive and went for a reinstall from the discs I made from new. I thought a virus might have been hiding on the D drive. Still no better, I wish I could remember exactly how I got it working last time. I was hoping this was a common infection so a good fix was at hand,
Jim

 

[jamesp5551]

Beg, borrow or steal a USB keyboard, too see if another keyboard solves your input problems.

Well I got hold of a USB keyboard and at first it seemed better as I managed a few letters to get me into the desk top which is now Vista Ultimate but that was it. Tried the search box hit c once and a continuous line started, bk space would clear them until released. If I typed another letter it would then go on continuously then all kinds of weird stuff starts and then It wouldn't type at all.
I'm stumped, help, help, help, please.

 

[Golden]

Time for a reinstall?

 

[jamesp5551]

Time for a reinstall?

I must have done a reinstall 6 or more times whilst posting. Each time the same. If this is some kind of attack where is it hiding to keep coming bk. When i do the reinstall every now and then it seems to stall no action etc so i do that circular motion as i described before and it seems to make things move on. Im so perplexed. I thought this would be something making the rounds. Usually when im looking for a solution loads of folk have had the same prob and there is a fix. Using the USB keyboard did get me to the point of getting the windows 7 upgrade disc to run, but it wont fully install as it needs a restart to finalize and hangs then fails.
Jim

 

[Bumpkin]

What happens when you boot into Safe Mode? Do you still have input problems?

Did you install the SSD, or did it come installed from Sony? If Sony installed both drives, it might be setup as Raid. Look in the bios and see if Raid is enabled.

I second Golden's suggestion, it's time to go with a Clean install. But first I would run Diskpart on the SSD. Follow this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html?ltr=D Notice that Diskpart wipes the disk, not just a partition so you should remove the hard drive and be sure Raid is not set in the bios.

Do not install the HDD until you have W7 installed on the SSD, sometimes W7 will put the boot manager on the wrong drive!

 

[jamesp5551]

What happens when you boot into Safe Mode? Do you still have input problems?

Did you install the SSD, or did it come installed from Sony? If Sony installed both drives, it might be setup as Raid. Look in the bios and see if Raid is enabled.

I second Golden's suggestion, it's time to go with a Clean install. But first I would run Diskpart on the SSD. Follow this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html?ltr=D Notice that Diskpart wipes the disk, not just a partition so you should remove the hard drive and be sure Raid is not set in the bios.

Do not install the HDD until you have W7 installed on the SSD, sometimes W7 will put the boot manager on the wrong drive!

I cant select safe mode as the default is boot windows normally. I have not refitted the HDD yet and I have removed the battery as it was impossible to turn off. I then pull out the power to turn off, which then brings up the something went wrong when you last shut down screen when i turn it back on. I can see the safe mode option and if i press lots of keys sometimes the selection will move to highlight safe mode. But if i do that the 60 second count down timer disappears and nothing happens and as you know enter is not working.Is the way to get into my bios to hit escape as i switch on, if it is then i wont be able to get into that either.Could this thing be in my bios. You wouldnt believe Im using an 8-10 year old sony running xp to reply and apart from it being slow it runs fine.

 

[Bumpkin]

Go to Sony Support and find out which key enters the bios, there might be more key options when booting to boot from a boot disc or USB drive, or check hardware.

When the computer is starting up, the keyboard is controlled by the bios as the OS has not started up yet. If the keyboard won't let you access the bios, you have a hardware problem.

If you can enter the bios, set the DVD drive to boot first, or whatever F key Sony uses for boot options and then boot using your W7 disc.

 

[gregrocker]

Test the hardware then work through the other steps in Troubleshooting Win7 .

 

[jamesp5551]

Go to Sony Support and find out which key enters the bios, there might be more key options when booting to boot from a boot disc or USB drive, or check hardware.

When the computer is starting up, the keyboard is controlled by the bios as the OS has not started up yet. If the keyboard won't let you access the bios, you have a hardware problem.

If you can enter the bios, set the DVD drive to boot first, or whatever F key Sony uses for boot options and then boot using your W7 disc.

Thanks for ur advise, last night I started over with my vista reinstall discs and im bk to the first time start up screens but as per i cant type in a name or a password to log in so cant get into a profile. My windows 7 disc is an upgrade disc from Sony as i bought my laptop in the 7 crossover period with the free upgrade offer. f only i could get into the bios

 

[gregrocker]

You don´t need to install Vista first. Why dont´t you work with us instead of ignoring advice and just going off merrily on your own doing unnecessary steps. You did come here for our help, right?

If youre going to reinstall then use the latest official installer for your version with SP1 in the Reinstall tutorial below, follow the rest of those steps to get a perfect install - if you can.

When you boot the installer it will see another OS to allow use of Upgrade version key, but those Win7 Upgrade kits were mostly OEM which ties to the mobo and doesnät require Vista to be present.

 

[jamesp5551]

You don´t need to install Vista first. Why dont´t you work with us instead of ignoring advice and just going off merrily on your own doing unnecessary steps. You did come here for our help, right?

If youre going to reinstall then use the latest official installer for your version with SP1 in the Reinstall tutorial below, follow the rest of those steps to get a perfect install - if you can.

When you boot the installer it will see another OS to allow use of Upgrade version key, but those Win7 Upgrade kits were mostly OEM which ties to the mobo and doesnät require Vista to be present.

Sorry if it sounding like i wasnt listening to ur advise its just i thought i needed to do the reinstall from my discs with vista on before i could do the 7 upgrade disc. I thought all the sony drivers needed would be missing. I think it came from when i read the paperwork with the upgrade disc. By the way some where along this process im sure i was able to run a diagnostics off the discs and when i could get it to finish the test it said no faults.
Ive had a quick look at ur tutorial and fair play to you, you have put some effort in there. Bare with me as im slightly out of my comfort zone and there is much to do by the sounds of it, but maybe i will learn some good things here. Your advise is appreciated and you are right i was going round in circles going nowhere. Its just i cant see the wood for the trees. I couldnt follow some of the advise due to the keyboard issue, not being able get into bios, not being able to select a repair option, etc,etc

 

[madcratebuilder]

If your keyboard is wonky at boot then I would look at a hardware issue. Your keyboard controller chip may be doing it's death dance. The chip is replaceable and it's a cheap chip.

 

[gregrocker]

No problem, we're here to help. Keep us posted on how it goes.

Using the latest official installer from tutorial will save you hours of Updating time. But you still need to run all rounds of Important and Optional Updates to completion which is how many drivers will be supplied and updated.

Put your network adapter driver in your backup, from the Support Downloads webpage for your PC or Device. Plug in by wire which will be most likely to start up connected, or install the ethernet or wireless driver if its not supplied, then go right to Updating, especially drivers queued in Optional.

Do you have the Product Key on the COA sticker which should be on Upgrade Kit or disk?

 

[jamesp5551]

If your keyboard is wonky at boot then I would look at a hardware issue. Your keyboard controller chip may be doing it's death dance. The chip is replaceable and it's a cheap chip.

everything about it feels like an infection to me.One thing i havnt mentioned is every time i power up the Number lock light is always lit. would this chip have any control over the track pad and the 2 mouse buttons as they work and would also affect a USB keyboard which I tried but had slightly different problems as I managed to get into windows. The USB keyboard let me type letters but each key i pressed changed to that letter but kept printing the same letter as fast as i could back space. I got past that by hitting enter as quick as i could bypassing the password part which allowed the next to be active letting me into the profile created. When i reboot it hesitates until i do about a 100mm circular motion taking in keys starting with enter and i can go clockwise or anti. I do it till the hdd light comes on and the system moves forward. When it hangs again i do the same. I do this about 4-6 times to get into windows or i i have the disc in to get to the choices window.Also it will not shut down without pulling the plug.

 

[jamesp5551]

No problem, we're here to help. Keep us posted on how it goes.

Using the latest official installer from tutorial will save you hours of Updating time. But you still need to run all rounds of Important and Optional Updates to completion which is how many drivers will be supplied and updated.

Put your network adapter driver in your backup, from the Support Downloads webpage for your PC or Device. Plug in by wire which will be most likely to start up connected, or install the ethernet or wireless driver if its not supplied, then go right to Updating, especially drivers queued in Optional.

Do you have the Product Key on the COA sticker which should be on Upgrade Kit or disk?

I think the old laptop im using wont have dvd writing facility, but i can get use of one later in the week which runs on 7 also. yes the upgrade has the key. Ive recovered xp machines many times no problem due mainly to infections and bloatware. What happens if i do all this and its the same.

 

[gregrocker]

Tool is there in tutorial to write installer to bootable flash stick.

Delete all partitions during booted install as shown in tutorial which provides what works best in Win7 and not XP.