20 Most Recent Sony VAIO VGC-RA840G PC Desktop Questions & Answers

Joe is right on! I highly DOUBT if your mother board is bad! Your VAIO was working ~ the software got deleted and now it's not working... I suspect your Windows XP and DRIVERS need to be reinstalled. I also suspect you will have no other 'hardware' problems because it seems highly unlikely both would get trashed at the same time... ALSO... XP came in 32 Bit and 64 Bit versions... be SURE you have the correct version for your System! I provided a link for your VAIO drivers below. Anthony Sony VAIO Driver

Usually their is 4 sets of screws that attaches the heatsink assuming you know...? But if it is the intel version and attaches with the plastic Snaps those are more or less a pain to install but removal is fairly simple to a sense just twist each tab and pull up slightly. I hope this is what your looking for?? (never seen a heatsing run into the case before?)

I can't believe this has never been answered. yes, you can. you have to make sure it is pci, and only uses one slot. I put a EVGA Geforce GT610 in mine. Not superb, but runs what I need it to. An easy installation too. Good luck!

U try to update ur Bios it will helps u

Plz send me activation code

Order recovery disc from Sony esupport. They weren't included with the computer.

1. check monitor power is on.
2. check signal cable is connected.
3. Check cable for damaged/bent pins.
4. Check that correct interface is selected on the monitor. (VGA, HDMI, DVI etc...)
5. If you have more that one graphics card installed in your system make sure that you try all connectors on all cards as the integrated graphics might be disabled in the bios.
6. If your connecting your monitor to the CPU by a cabe other than a VGA cabe then try using a standard VGA (15 pin cable port is usually blue).
7. try another monitor.
8. Try a bios reset, usually jumpered inside the CPU casing, just make sure that opening it will not void any warranties.

If your still stuck let me know.

Hi,
Upon starting go to bios settings, click "F2" to access the bios, go to to exit, choose "Default Maximum setting", save upon exit....restart.
Hope that helps you out, msg. me is there are still problems.
Thanks for asking FixYa!

I have the same problem.

First of all it's propitiatory Sony & must go back to their repair center.

Cost after shipping and a month was $520.

Consider a new one.

go to help and support in the start menu at the lower left and perform the task SYSTEM RESTORE
that will bring your computer back to the day you purchased it

Have you got the DVD and Hard drive on the same IDE channel? You need to set the Hard drive to the IDE master channel (IDE 0) and the DVD to the Secondary master (IDE1) on the motherboard.
This way, if you need to ever re-install the OS you will not have any problems.

The only way , apart from a corrupted bios, that the DVD will read as master is if it is plugged into the IDE master socket.

I'm assuming you have the jumpers set to the master configiration on the DVD and the Hard drive? Schematic on the hard drive will show where it is and the DVD is set to master (looking at the back of it) when the jumper is on the rightmost set of pins.

If the above do not apply , or you have already sussed this, remove the bios battery for 2 minutes and press the power switch (computer unplugged of course) then replace. If this does not cure the problem, I'd download a bios update and flash the bios

According to specifications listed on Sony Vaio Support, the Vaio VGC-RA840G desktop computer uses a SATA harddrive.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=VGCRA840G

[Left-click on Marketing Specifications]

If you have four SATA headers on your motherboard, you can plug your SATA harddrive into any one of them.

The beauty of SATA is that once you plug into any SATA header, BIOS will find the harddrive. Doesn't matter which SATA connector. (Connector on a motherboard is referred to as a Header)

Photo of an average SATA header on a motherboard,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA

[Photo at top right of page. SATA header for this example is Red. Can be any color]

If you have any further questions concerning this, please post in a Comment.
JCV

Hi.

Click on the link below:

See All File Downloads Available for Your Model

If you also need printer drivers see: Printer drivers

Regards.

I had same problem after an upgrade but i simply found updated drivers from Microsoft Update which fixed my problem. If this doesnt work for you try the manafacturers website for updated drivers, even Vista drivers should work....cheers

for Win vista media center.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGCRA840G&upd_id=2439&os_id=28

This utility updates the VAIO® Media Center to version 6.0.00.10100 and provides compatibility with the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ operating system.

this sometimes happens with operating systems.nothing to worry just press and hold down the power button of the pc for 5-6 seconds and you will see that the system will shut down completely.then just turn it on the normal way you do and it should work fine.if it is vista then it may give you a prompt to start windows normally.just hit enter on that option.