My Sony laptop is behaving strange

[Bumpkin]

I have a New screen which might be the one you wanted all along its locked so I cant make any choices but i will describe it to you. 1. Create RAID Volume is high lighted as default when entering this screen
Matrix Storage Manager option ROM v8.0.0.1039 ICHM-E Cpyright (C) 2003-8 Intel Corporation
MAIN MENU
1. Create RAID Volume 3. Reset Discs to Non-RAID
2. Delete RAID Volume 4. Recovery Volume Options
5. Exit

Option 3 Reset Discs to Non-RAID is the option Greg wanted you to change. This might default to AHCI or give the option to change to IDE or AHCI.

If you had both SSD's installed when you loaded W7, you may have to remove one SSD if the PC won't boot, then run startup repair, or do another clean install

 

[jamesp5551]

I have just noticed when I post on here it seems to change the layout of what I have typed as I used spaces to allow for headings to show how things looked on the screens i saw. I will check again but when I removed the HDD it looked like the 2 SSD's I left in were one piece but I will check and see if I can remove 1 of them, but I will have no idea which one I have removed so it will be trail and error.

 

[jamesp5551]

well it doesnt like me using just one of the SSD's which might be because i cant turn the raid off no matter what i try trick wise. Ive found which one shows an error and have tried the other in each of the SSD slots and it cant find an operating system on either SSD. If I put the ISO dvd in when I get to the where do want to install Windows. When I press enter I get the message ( Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the Setup log files for more info. Well my head hurts ive been at it all day now so im going to lie down in a dark room with my plastic knives lol.

 

[jamesp5551]

I had one last go and got to set it to non Raid and it is now allowing me to install onto the one 64gd SSD. I still deep down think this fault is caused by an infection in the BIOS as it was still being weird with one SSD connected so the only place it could survive would be the BIOS. I have a reasonable grasp on things but would a BIOS update wipe anything already in the BIOS, if so I see a cure. Getting rid of RAID0 should stop stop the error messages i was getting.

 

[Bumpkin]

Check the Sony site for any bios updates for you computer.

If you don't find what is causing the keyboard problem there is not much point if worrying about the OS.

 

[gregrocker]

The whole point was to set SATA controller to AHCI instead of RAID. Did you miss that?

What did the installer show on the drive selection screen for partitions? Did you delete all partitions as instructed then create and format new, or let the installer do it for you by clicking Next to commence install?

Only if the HD is wiped can you say nothing could transfer over.

I hope you followed the other steps in Clean Reinstall tutorial for handling drivers, etc so you have a perfect baseline install to judge from. Are all rounds of Important and Optional Updates installed? There may be performance updates or drivers affecting your PC model. There also may need to be drivers imported after all Updates are done. Any of this could affect the performance the way you are describing.

However if you can't resolve the quirkiness then you may have hardware problems, and can reflash the BIOS if you want. Do you have the latest version?

 

[jamesp5551]

The whole point was to set SATA controller to AHCI instead of RAID. Did you miss that?

What did the installer show on the drive selection screen for partitions? Did you delete all partitions as instructed then create and format new, or let the installer do it for you by clicking Next to commence install?

Only if the HD is wiped can you say nothing could transfer over.

I hope you followed the other steps in Clean Reinstall tutorial for handling drivers, etc so you have a perfect baseline install to judge from. Are all rounds of Important and Optional Updates installed? There may be performance updates or drivers affecting your PC model. There also may need to be drivers imported after all Updates are done. Any of this could affect the performance the way you are describing.

However if you can't resolve the quirkiness then you may have hardware problems, and can reflash the BIOS if you want. Do you have the latest version?

Hi Greg if you read article 32 in my posts you will the answer is yes, and every thing I have been doing since is to get to the stages suggested, I have not gotten ridden RAID so I have only a single 64gb installed. In doing that I had to do a clean install with the ISO on the disc I made is the other install was in a RAID0 so it would see an operating system without both of them being in there was an error noted on one of the SSD's which I posted on page 4 here. All the time I was installing the ISO on the good SSD it was behaving just as badly as before. When I got to the final set up screens for user name and password, the bxes were filling with information on its own just junk and I wasnt touching the keyboard. So I had to pull the power cord. If go to Sony website will i be able download an updated BIOS on my other laptop and burn it to disc. will that work.

 

[mohavepc]

I hate to intrude but have you thought about disconnecting the keyboard on the laptop and using Just the usb one? It sounds like a hardware issue that I have run into a few times before. Either a failing bios, Motherboard or (not implying anything) a previously Wet keyboard. The keyboard should be fairly easy to remove just google or youtube a search on keyboard replacement for your model.

Just a thought.

 

[jamesp5551]

I hate to intrude but have you thought about disconnecting the keyboard on the laptop and using Just the usb one? It sounds like a hardware issue that I have run into a few times before. Either a failing bios, Motherboard or (not implying anything) a previously Wet keyboard. The keyboard should be fairly easy to remove just google or youtube a search on keyboard replacement for your model.

Just a thought.

Dont you think if Plug in a USB keyboard as I have been doing would do the same thing or would there still be a conflict. And no problem with the intrusion after all I'm looking for help.

 

[jamesp5551]

Ive been on the Sony site the number on the BIOS is the same as the one I have installed is possible if I download it to disc that it would replace the one already on which might fix the issue. Or if I could find an older Bios as I know it was upgraded since new as i remember doing it some years ago.

 

[jamesp5551]

Check the Sony site for any bios updates for you computer.

If you don't find what is causing the keyboard problem there is not much point if worrying about the OS.

Hi Bumpkin thats what ive been trying to do from the start here. I put what was happening and asked for help. I only did the reinstalls as thats how I got my system up and running about a year ago. But I didnt know which one of my actions was the fix as I tried so many.
Do you know the answer to my last question will a BIOS upgrade wipe the old BIOS. The risk of attempting it with the system stalling as it does could be disastrous if its not the cause and it
Thanks,
Jim

 

[mohavepc]

Plugging in a usb keyboard will not Disable an onboard keyboard. I have tested this numerous times with various models. (In fact it's a mean joke among office workers to use usb wireless kb and or mouse to mess with co-workers).
If there is an Issue with the Bios then perhaps reinstalling the same version would work. I hate mucking with the bios and usually refer to others when it is involved. Personally I would start with disconnecting the onboard KB first. You never know what you might find under there

 

[jamesp5551]

I was hoping some one would know if it were possible to get an infection in the BIOS

 

[gregrocker]

You're working hard James and making some progress. I have been traveling abroad until the middle of this week and not able to study this as deeply as I'd like as it is a most interesting case. But be assured we will stick with you until this is resolved.

Have been watching for the threatened BIOS infections to show up here but never seen one. I came to believe it was more a scare campaign to get business into Secure Boot with Windows 8, but they didn't feel threatened either and are almost all doing final XP migration to 7. But we should keep the possibility open, and may consult our Security experts on the question after keyboard and RAID issues are resolved here.

Meanwhile you have good suggestions about keyboard workarounds. If you could get the installer working it has an on-screen keyboard which would help determine what's at fault, but you still need to be able to disable the keyboard to compare. Work with Mohave to determine the keyboard status with certainty, as a first priority.

You unplugged the PC when you thought the BIOS change to show RAID controller wasn't taking, but when you plugged it back in the change was made. So maybe you are not waiting long enough and need to give that more time. It is always risky to cut power when in BIOS mode, especially making changes or updating which is often fatal.

I'd want to test the HD's to see if either are failing using maker's http://www.carrona.org/hddiag.html extended CD scan.

Then I'd try further to disable the RAID, set SATA controller to AHCI or SATA, try install to primary HD only.

If this is not possible and secondary HD tests OK then I'd try reinstall to the RAID. You can browse in if necessary to see if files can be resued using the installer with http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html.

Again delete all partitions and create new as you please, or just click Next to let the installer do it for you and begin.

 

[jamesp5551]

Greg I did persevere and managed to turn off the RAID but I didnt find a menu for changing to SATA or AHCI side of things so I did a clean install on the good SSD which still ended up with the stalling and keyboard issues. My new trick is the same circular motion on the laptop keyboard whilst hit the key I need on the USB keyboard. That's how I got into the RAID menu and same to turn it off. Can you tell me what changing the drive format will accomplish please. Im learning more and getting further all the time. Its strange though sometimes I have more joy with the USB keyboard than others. It works fine on the pc I borrowed it from and the laptop is to modern for PS2 or serial keyboards. I have been to set the BIOS to default and have saved and restarted to no effect yet I know it accepted what I did as when I go back into the BIOS the settings are the same as when I selected default.

 

[jamesp5551]

Greg You did mention of my possible impatience with the laptop moving on, but I am allowing time for processes to move along, earlier I went and had a shower and when I came back the process hadnt move along at all. I then did my circular motion trick and hey presto off it went, but I do understand where ur coming from ive seen folks hiting keys repeatedly when things are going slowly only to make it worse. I know installing windows is no quick thing. This thing seems to lie dormant for a while possibly from cold. Looking at the install description for the BIOS on the Sony site it doesnt look like any keyboard input is needed, I just need to click on the .exe file and it should self extract and install.

 

[jamesp5551]

This is where I'm at RAID is turned off Windows 7 from the ISO has been clean installed on the good SSD which is now the only disc installed on the machine, but havnt been able to get into windows yet as couldnt type a user name or password due to these fields being constantly filled letters symbols without my touching anything. I cant find anywhere in the BIOS to change the SATA controller. Is it an important thing to do ? as I thought I would look at the BIOS on this working laptop which is also a Sony and I couldnt see any options in that BIOS either. So what I need to know is am I missing some thing or is it not in the Bios but some where else I was supposed to be to make these changes.There is no heading or option for HDD controller in my BIOS even on my working laptop. Physically disconnecting the keyboard on a laptop is no easy task if its the same as this laptop. I tried to remove the one on this laptop when it had a mother board fault last year it was connected with a ribbon without a secure connector block on each end so it looked like the ribbon itself needed pulling out which I had not the balls to do. the other laptop is much larger so may have a proper connection unless some one knows the proper method to disconnect these ribbon cables.

 

[jamesp5551]

Plugging in a usb keyboard will not Disable an onboard keyboard. I have tested this numerous times with various models. (In fact it's a mean joke among office workers to use usb wireless kb and or mouse to mess with co-workers).
If there is an Issue with the Bios then perhaps reinstalling the same version would work. I hate mucking with the bios and usually refer to others when it is involved. Personally I would start with disconnecting the onboard KB first. You never know what you might find under there

yes mohavepc if feel like some one is having a joke with me as it feels like some one else is controlling my machine. Ive done so many installs etc and there cant possibly be any connection to the internet on that machine currently so I dont see that being possible. As Greg says there has been no factual BIOS infections recorded which blows my theory. Hardware seems to be the only possibility how does that explain me fixing this same issue about a year ago with identical symptoms and i dont mean similar. After I have had another attempt to get into Windows so I can try to install the copy of the BIOS I downloaded last night. I will set to removing the keyboard. You dont mean disconnecting the keyboard by a switch or in the software do you.Do You mean physically unplugging it.

 

[gregrocker]

There should be a SATA controller setting somewhere in the BIOS. Can you post back camera snaps of each BIOS tab so we can try to spot it?

Were there no other options for RAID but on or off?

Look also in BIOS setup for the keyboard as you might be able to disable it.

Have you run the HD diagnostics yet on both HD's? It will tell you in Device Manager what is their model - google if it's a string and that will tell you. Since the RAID controller said the second HD was in error, it needs to be tested to see if it might be interfering. Bad code could even be causing the problem, which is why I asked you to disable it if you can find that setting in BIOS.

Win7 doesn't much like RAID as all we see here are problems with it, so the attempt was to see if that solved your issue and try an install to one HD saving the other for storage and backup perhaps even another OS. But after that it does start to point more directly to the keyboard so I would try to disable it in BIOS, disable it in Device Manager, or google for a disassembly or replacement video for your exact model to see how you would access it's wire to unplug.

 

[jamesp5551]

I thought I would try Gregs suggestion.(I'd want to test the HD's to see if either are failing using maker's Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure extended CD scan), but couldnt find anything remotely like my SSD's model No. on the Samsung link and the other link no longer exists. Ive heard RAM can do weird and wonderful things, any chance I could have overlooked this as a possibility there is 2 x 4gb installed.