Copy of Windows not genuine, Build 7601

Arc · 09 Jul 2015

We have enough reason to think that the HDD is failing; but we cannot ask you to replace that without testing it. And that is why the HDD test is required from our part.

We can suggest you straight to change the HDD, but that will not be a qualified response but hitting around the bush.

Your BIOS allows to change date and time only??

Let us see a camera snap of the Advanced tab of the BIOS? I never used a VAIO (I havent used laptops other than Dell) but I watched some videos on youtube and a number of guys having E series have fore functionality in BIOS than that you are saying.

We will keep away form crash dump analysis at this point, that will be some worthless duplication of work and will not add anything positive to the solution of the issue.

Only one thing is needed now, the HDD test result. And nothing else.

So, no more dump upload till asked for it again please.

tzxlyd · 10 Jul 2015

Arc,
Not a problem on the dump files -- I only thought it would give you some indication on whether the crash was caused by my

attempt to convert to IDE drive and windows did not like that since it does not operate within that environment. I was hoping

to get better lighting for the camera shot of my bios and also I found another drive test I will attach the documentation for

your review as I am not familiar with that tool so if it is decided that it works just as well perhaps that will determine if the

drive is failing. This is my first VAIO as I too am more familiar with Dell and Acer -- it seems odd to me as well that I cannot

change the driver controller. Below is the link to the homepage of the tool but I will not have time to review all of this

documentation today as I have to get some items out to clients as a result of my meetings on yesterday. The documentation

seems to be very detailed so I am certain it will take me some time to review it all and make sure it works accurately to

determine if the drive is failing. The camera shot of the advanced bios will be coming shortly but I have to convert the picture

files so that requires me to connect a card reader to my computer so I wanted to get this post to you just in case it causes

another BSOD -- they were happening so frequently yesterday I though it best to shutdown the system for awhile.

smartmontools

gregrocker · 10 Jul 2015

What about the test Arc specifically asked you to do below?

Arc said:

My first suggestion to you ..... test the HDD using Seatools for DOS, taking the Long Test.

SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use

* Before starting, pay attention to these:

To Run Seatools For ODS, you need to change the storage controller mode to IDE, as DOS does not read AHCI.
The test will take a few hours, be patient.
When the test is finished, take a camera snap of the seatools screen and let us see the image.
When all done, Change the storage controller mode back to AHCI, otherwise windows will not boot up.

We will decide the next step after seeing the result.

Also, why are you adding the annoying line spacing into your posts now?

tzxlyd · 10 Jul 2015

Greg,
I cannot change the controller because VAIO will not allow me to make a change to my drive type. I believe I saw that in this forum yesterday but my computer keeps crashing so I cannot get it to stay working long enough to complete a post response. Now I am trying to send a camera shot of my bios to Arc. The annoying double spacing was requested from me to make it easier to read -- I do not remember who asked but that is the reason and because there is no double spacing on the post I have to do it manually. Unfortunately, this is not WYSIWYG so what I see when I do it manually is not what is the end result. So, I was trying to find a tool that would work on my computer and I will need to learn how it works. The problem is that the computer will not stay on long enough for me to complete a thought let alone research issues or read the documentation. I will have to use my 10" tablet and that will be no fun. I was just offering that tool as a work around but if there is another option I am all for it. I have to leave shortly for an appointment so to say my stress level is increasing is an understatement. I am getting messages about corrupted files now from IE -- I believe "prefetch" with of course C:\System32\, etc.

Additionally, the computer is now corrupting even the pictures I took so they are not viewable and I cannot even load them because I keep getting a message the "site may be under maintenance" and when I refresh the attachment screen I get "Invalid Post specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator" -- they are JPEG so that should not be a problem. The computer is BSOD so often now that I have spent more than 2 hours trying to get this response out and I have work deadlines to meet today. The apps keep crashing (Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, etc.

I was more than certain I saw somewhere that others found the same limitations with making changes in BIOS within this forum. I hate to point to other forums but I Googled the issue and below are users who said the same thing about the lack of ability to change the ACHI controller to IDE. In fact if you Google how to change the controller to IDE on a Sony VAIO you will notice that no one is trying to do that but instead only trying to change IDE to ACHI. I hope that is sufficient for Arc, since I am getting a repeated message that I cannot send the attachments.

Finally, I do not want to put the cart before the horse but if it is determined that the drive is failing another problem I saw is the way Sony sets up there partitions, so the clean install will not be so easy. If only I knew then what I know now about Sony VAIO. The good news is that I have found another travelstar drive of the exact type for like $35 but I am sure I will have to act soon to get it at that price as it is the last one available. I gotta run I am running late and at least I got this message out --I hope.

Enabling AHCI on sony vaio [Solved] - SSD - Storage

VAIO AHCI mode option not in BIOS - BIOS - Storage

How To Enter The BIOS On Your Computer

gregrocker · 10 Jul 2015

If Seatools will not run when booted from CD, then you can try running it from Windows: SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use - Windows 7 Help Forums

If not then you can run Partition surface test with Partition Wizard. Download the Partition Wizard ISO and then burn to CD with Windows Image Burner, boot and follow tutorial in blue.

I think Derek was referring to double spacing between paragraphs rather than double spacing the post text.

If the hard drive passes then what's left is to do the Clean Reinstall Windows 7
since there is no point in fumbling any longer with the worst possible install of Win7 one can have. If doing a perfect reinstall doesn't solve the problem then you'll know for sure it is hardware.

Do the reinstall slowly. After you get online, Check for Updates then install in small groups starting with drivers. Test performance before each group of Updates. Then do same with programs and settings. Test several browsers.

tzxlyd · 10 Jul 2015

Ok but i got a thank you from someone for the dbl spacing. Now I am racing against BSOD so I am trying to respond as quickly as I can before the response has 2 b retyped and my train of thought is gone by the 3rd attempt to type the response. I have been having 2 switch from PC to tablet and now I'm on a Samsung Replenish because I forgot the 10" Tablet rushing to my meeting. Seatools does load but it will not see my drive to run the test although when I do the scan it sees it so I assumed that is because I must change the controller to IDE.

With regards to the requests if I misunderstood I apologize but I know I have only 1 rule in helping anybody and that is just don't make it harder to help you than it already is. That is my motto and I was just trying not to make it harder for anyone who is trying to help me here. So, whatever I can do to make it easier to help resolve this, that is what I will do even responding to you on this 3" screen -- that will probably lead to my going blind by the time I send this response .

Arc · 10 Jul 2015

So it is apparent that you cannot take the HDD test, whereas the HDD is the prime suspect and we have enough hints that it is failing. The test is needed to convert the hints to a fact. But as you cannot do it at all, your bad luck.

You may try Seatools for Windows for sure, but I doubt that you computer will remain stable for the time required to complete the long test. But as you cannot do the DOS test, the windows test is the only remaining option in hand.

Do you have access to any other HDD/SSD?

If you dont have one, borrow one from friends or family. Even you may buy one, HDDs are cheap nowadays. Apply it and see how it goes.

tzxlyd · 10 Jul 2015

Arc,
To be clear you and Greg are saying replace the Internal HD and do a clean reinstall of Windows. Do not run any other HD tests?

Arc · 10 Jul 2015

The HDD is Hitachi. So the basic test should be WinDFT, which did not work.

Seatools works for all HDD brands, that also did not work.

So there is no more valid option of testing the HDD in depth, other than the surface test that Greg suggested (that does not test the HDD at that depth as WinDFT or Seatools for DOS) and Seatools for Windows (I doubt that the test will not be completed due to BSODs).

The only valid way left there is to nullify the probable cause, that is the HDD. And that is why we are suggesting for another HDD.

Hope you understand us now.

tzxlyd · 14 Jul 2015

Arc,
So I am just getting back to this today. I had begun the test on Friday before your response about the length of the test and I was afraid to look before today because I did not have time to work on this. My fear was I would be thinking about this if it failed although I would not be able to do any work on a clean install. Well, I turned it back on from the test and it passed the generic long test of Seatools for Windows.

If it is not hardware failure causing the problem does that automatically mean this is software? Does the test look for corrupted files on the HDD or just spinning of the drive to determine if it will fail soon based upon how the drive spins? I do not know anything about the Seatools test and I am trying to understand the significance of the HDD passing the test. Does this mean that I should do the clean install because now we know the HDD will not fail during the process?

Unfortunately, there was another BSOD earlier and all of the apps went away from the computer start menu as IE was not responding just before it crashed. Do you want to see the BSOD file log now that we know the HDD passed the test?