Sony VAIO VGN-FS640W Notebook - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

make sure its the latest avi player, or why dont u chek out the windows media player, or vlc player, or cyberlink power dvd, or windows media centre, there are loads of softwares u can use to play your dvds

On laptops, it is common for crumbs and dust/debris to get under the keys on the keyboard. Try giving the keyboard a clean with a vacuum cleaner. If this doesn't work, you will most probably need to replace the keyboard, it isn't difficult or expensive.

Try cleaning the fan, vents and heatsink for starters. Has it been overheating? There are a few things you can check, Take a look at this video to help troubleshoot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yi6GNFcP3w ALSO this: http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-home.pl?mdl=VGNFS640_W AND: http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docTypeID=DT_KNOWLEDGEARTICLES_1_1&docType=kc&externalId=C270032

For more information about the Sony laptop keyboard: http://www.2deals.net/Keyboard/Sony.html

Most laptops do not have a BIOS button to reset the BIOS settings.To reset the BIOS just remove the BIOS battery and wait for approx.20 mins for the battery charge to discharge then replace the battery.ORAfter removing the BIOS battery just short out the battery terminals on the motherboard with a paper clip, the replace the BIOS battery and go into the BIOS setting to change the Date and Time etc.There isnt a fuse for the LCD screen.If your laptop appears to boot up and the hard disk LEDflashes, then the problem is probably a back light fault. This can be a faultyinverter or a faulty CCFL lamp. Please click on this link and follow myinstructions to identify the fault and possible fix :- http://www.fixya.com/support/r3598095-faulty_laptop_lcd_screen

The main battery needs to be replaced, or the charging ciruit on the motherboard is not working, remove main battery get a stiff toothbrush and clean terminals in the laptop incuding the battery, if no change! check the device manager to see if battery is present, if no! reset bios to factory default.

Sony Vaio PCG and some Vaio VGN Series use the last 7 digits of the laptop serial number to calculate the bios master password. The serial number for a Sony Vaio is often located on the bottom of the laptop on a white sticker. The serial number may also be found by removing the battery and checking in the battery compartment. The link to unlockbiosrecovery.com below works on the following models:
PCG-C, PCG-F, PCG-GR, PCG-GRS, PCG-GRT, PCG-GRV, PCG-GRX, PCG-GRZ, PCG-N, PCG-NV205, PCG-QR, PCG-R, PCG-SR, PCG-SRX, PCG-TR, PCG-V, PCG-VX, PCG-X, PCG-Z, VGN-B, VGN-FS, VGN-S, VGN-T, VGN-TX1, VGN-X
I use http://www.unlockbiosrecovery.com/Unlock_Sony_Bios.php
For $20 they use the last 7 digits of the laptop serial number to calculate the bios master password and then email it to you in an hour. They guarantee it to work and you can call them if you have a question.

1. Go to Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Power Options.
2. Click on "Change plan settings" for your laptop's selected power plan (either Balanced or Power saver).
3. Now edit your plan settings by moving the sliders next to "Adjust plan brightness" at the bottom. You'll be able to change the brightness for when your laptop is On battery power, or when it's Plugged in.
4. Once you've adjusting the brightness settings to your liking, then click on the 'Save changes' button.

To output video from your laptop you will need to use VGA out.

What you want to buy is a VGA to S-Video adapter, making sure that both the VGA and S-Video have male connectors.

This solution will not output audio.

go here

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/index.aspx?l=en_GB

and put in you seriel number to get the manual

I am guessing the Vaio you have is a Canadian model, which has alternate keyboard drivers for English and French. On these models, it seems the alt car key only works with the French keyboard (durr). To switch, press the LEFT control key and RIGHT shift key at the same time, then release. Now if you use the alt car key like the shift key, i.e. hold it down then press another key, you should be able to access the pink characters. To return to English keyboard, press left-ctrl and right-shift together again.

hth!

Okay, I know this is an old question but when i searched for the same problem recently, it was the nearest I could find. So in case others are having the same problem:

The Vaio you have is a Canadian model, which has alternate keyboard drivers for English and French. The alt car key only works with the French keyboard (durr). To switch, press the LEFT control key and RIGHT shift key at the same time, then release. Now if you use the alt car key like the shift key, i.e. hold it down then press another key, you should be able to access the pink characters. To return to English keyboard, press left-ctrl and right-shift together again.

hth!

If what you had explain here is true the hard drive is toast. A replacement is needed.

Try upgrading the BIOS firmware. that should correct the issue.

contact [email protected] for options. Reliable service and reasonable prices. Saved me 200 on a toshiba MB

I went to the Sony Vaio support site for your model specifically and they mention a battery recall. There is a place on the site requiring specific information about your system and your battery to see if you are eligible for the recall. I would try this route to see if it resolves your issue. If not, I would say it is a blown transistor and you need to replace the motherboard. This means buying a new system, as Sony VAIO laptops are very proprietary and hard to find parts for.

Good Luck,

NOLA Tech

5 have the sa0e *r6b3e0 as y64 can see.

i have the same problem as you can see. i have no idea how to fix it either

· First troubleshooting - When you turn the laptop on, are you able to see the splash screen? This would be the computer manufacturer's screen display that usually shows a picture but may also be text and usually appears right before the Windows logo screen. If the answer is yes, then more than likely, the operating system is corrupt. This can be caused by several things including viruses, power surges or hardware failure. If your computer hits the windows screen and reboots back into a loop, this is also signs of Windows being corrupt.

Solution - Take the hard drive out of the laptop and slave it to another working desktop computer to retrieve your data. You may need a special cable for this because the laptop hard drive is smaller than the cable in a desktop. This process can be done, taking precaution that both computers are off while slaving the hard drive. After you attach the hard drive, turn the desktop on, it will read it like another drive and you will be able to pull all of your information from it. You only want to grab the user files, not other data and run a scan to rid of viruses. Then attach the hard drive back on and reformat it.

· Second troubleshooting - If you hear the operating system chime but do not see a picture and all the lights are on, then this would indicate that the back light on the screen is out. You can test this simply by hooking the laptop up to a monitor and see if you get a picture. If the computer screen shows on the monitor, then your back-light is out. If it doesn't show up then your video graphics card is out.

Solution - If the back light is out, it is easier to order a new screen (new or used) from eBay and just switch out (simple process and you can find a replacement for under 50 dollars on eBay). If it is the video graphics card, then you can also purchase one from eBay and switch out (a little tougher because you have to take the top of the laptop off). You can get assistance with this from the manufacturers website (service manual) and pull specs for free.

· Third troubleshooting - To test the battery, take the battery out of the laptop and turn on with just the adaptor. If it boots, then the battery will need to be replaced. There is no way of testing the power adaptor but 85% of the time, this is the problem. Even if lights come on, the adaptor sometimes gets so overheated that it silently goes out but gives just enough power to make the lights come on. The power adaptor can be found on eBay for under 20 dollars and is cheap enough to replace (first) to make sure that is not the problem. The battery can also be found on eBay for under 60 dollars.

· Fourth troubleshooting - If you do not hear any beeps and the above solutions did not work. Then your motherboard has failed. This can be caused by surges or dust. You can purchase a replacement from eBay for a fraction of the cost and replace (this is tough and I am not sure if they have specs for this). You can do it yourself, just be sure and put everything back together as it was.

What generally happens to connectors, especially exposed to air is they oxydize.

Buy a can of "Contact Cleaner" from a local Radio Shack and spray it (through the thin tube usually provided) into the jack. One quick push, dont flood it. Take the earphone jack and insert and remove it several times, wiping off excess, which sould clear contacts and it should work normally again. If not it would have to be replaced which is no easy matter requiring an experienced Technician or Factory. Sometimes it cannot be replaced without damaging the Mother Board. This however sounds like a common problem the Contact Cleaner will fox

Cheers,

Good Luck :)

I have a laptop that has been doing exactly the same. It started off with a fine pink line. After almost a year it now has gotten wider and has white lines and all other colours. It could work like that for quite a long period. It is a conection in the bottom of the screen but is so delicate... Only way to REALLY fix it is to have the screen replaced which could be quite an expensive thing to do