Xp Crashing My Vaio

[dumbchit]

I just installed XP on my laptop and crashed it. I took it to best Buy where I bought it 4 or 5 years ago and they can't figure it out.
I runs fine on win 98 but as soon as XP goes in, its all over.
I also had them install a 40 Gig HD for space and up-graded the Bios.
Can anyone help me?

Sony Vaio PCG-F420
PIII 450 MHz
128 MB SDRAM
was 6.0 GB now 40GB HD
V.90 56K
256-bit graphic chip
24X max CD-ROM drive

[Trout]

I just installed XP on my laptop and crashed it. I took it to best Buy where I bought it 4 or 5 years ago and they can't figure it out.
I runs fine on win 98 but as soon as XP goes in, its all over.
I also had them install a 40 Gig HD for space and up-graded the Bios.
Can anyone help me?


More system specs might help
Ram?
Processor Speed?
Other devices?
Model Number?

[dumbchit]

Please see up dated info.

Thanks....

[Ferrit]

First thing i look to in these cases is ram
Find goldmem ram tester and run a memory tester on it

[Reddman]

Hi Dumbchit and welcome to Windrivers! I have a few questions...

What kind of "crash" occurred?
Did WinXP install successfully?
Was this an upgrade or clean install of WinXP?
Does XP boot at all?
Does it bluescreen?

Ferrit has an excellent suggestion, test your RAM. Even though Win98 may have had no issues, it doesn't mean your RAM is not defective. Try Memtest86 at www.memtest86.com

Keep us posted!

[dumbchit]

Hi Dumbchit and welcome to Windrivers! I have a few questions...

What kind of "crash" occurred?
Did WinXP install successfully?
Was this an upgrade or clean install of WinXP?
Does XP boot at all?
Does it bluescreen?

Ferrit has an excellent suggestion, test your RAM. Even though Win98 may have had no issues, it doesn't mean your RAM is not defective. Try Memtest86 at www.memtest86.com

Keep us posted!

Hi,
Xp installed ok the first time and ran for 2 days before the crash.
It was an upgrade from 98 2nd addition.
Will boot now but loss of mouse and funcion keys.
Thanks for your support....

[Reddman]

Thanks for the info...I still have more questions.

Was WinXP installed prior to the 40GB hard drive upgrade?
Does XP still crash even though it can boot now?
Do any devices in Device Manager have exclamation marks next to them?
Are the loss of your mouse and function keys the only issues you're experiencing?
When your system "crashed" did your old hard drive make any "grinding" or "clunking" noises?

Sorry for all the questions, but it helps us better understand the situation and make informed recommendations.

[dumbchit]

Thanks for the info...I still have more questions.

Was WinXP installed prior to the 40GB hard drive upgrade?
Does XP still crash even though it can boot now?
Do any devices in Device Manager have exclamation marks next to them?
Are the loss of your mouse and function keys the only issues you're experiencing?
When your system "crashed" did your old hard drive make any "grinding" or "clunking" noises?

Sorry for all the questions, but it helps us better understand the situation and make informed recommendations.

No noise with the first crash, it just froze.
It does crash when you try to use certain function keys aside from not working.
XP was installed 2 days before crashing and was reinstalled again after the original software and win 98 was reinstalled to the new 40GB drive by best buy tech.
I don't know about the excamation marks, I have to ask them tomorrow.
Thanks

[techs]

If I am reading you right you keep reinstalling XP as an upgrade AFTER you installed Win98 and your programs. Try doing a clean install of XP. To do this you run the WinXp upgrade disk and delete any partitions. Then instal WinXP into a partition you create using the ntfs file system. When WinXP sees that there is no win98 already on the drive it will ask you where it is. Take out the Winxp disk and put in a Windows 98 disk. It will read the disk and then ask you to put the winXP disk back in and you are good to go. If you don't have a win98 disk you can borrow one. Then install your programs. After it is installed be sure to get all the WinXP updates, including driver updates.

[garthg]

I just installed XP on my laptop and crashed it. I took it to best Buy where I bought it 4 or 5 years ago and they can't figure it out.
I runs fine on win 98 but as soon as XP goes in, its all over.
I also had them install a 40 Gig HD for space and up-graded the Bios.
Can anyone help me?

Sony Vaio PCG-F420
PIII 450 MHz
128 MB SDRAM
was 6.0 GB now 40GB HD
V.90 56K
256-bit graphic chip
24X max CD-ROM drive
__________________________________________________ __________

What the problem is with that laptop is the drivers for the Firewire that is built into the unit. If you start off without any OS on the system it should work. I have a PCG-F270 and I had the same problem. But if I didnt install the drivers for the firewire it worked fine. What I had to do was go back to windows 2000 for the support of the firewire. But if you dont want that then just wipe and install from a clean Harddrive. A upgrade will have many problems.

Gary
Goss Computers.
Goss@wolfstar.no-ip.com

[dumbchit]

__________________________________________________ __________

What the problem is with that laptop is the drivers for the Firewire that is built into the unit. If you start off without any OS on the system it should work. I have a PCG-F270 and I had the same problem. But if I didnt install the drivers for the firewire it worked fine. What I had to do was go back to windows 2000 for the support of the firewire. But if you dont want that then just wipe and install from a clean Harddrive. A upgrade will have many problems.

Gary
Goss Computers.
Goss@wolfstar.no-ip.com

I need the fire wire for my camera hook-up. That's why i had to upgrade. So do i have to buy a whole new XP for this machine?
Thanks,
Mitch
P.S. I'm upgrading from 98 not 2000

[techs]

I need the fire wire for my camera hook-up. That's why i had to upgrade. So do i have to buy a whole new XP for this machine?
Thanks,
Mitch
P.S. I'm upgrading from 98 not 2000
No, you can do a clean install using the upgrade disk. See my post above.

[garthg]

I need the fire wire for my camera hook-up. That's why i had to upgrade. So do i have to buy a whole new XP for this machine?
Thanks,
Mitch
P.S. I'm upgrading from 98 not 2000


No its not the windows xp. Their are no drivers for windows xp and the firewire cards that are in the laptop. You will find some for windows 2000 but not windows XP. The drivers for windows 2000 will crash windows XP. Thats why you are having the problems of the system crashing.

Sorry

You need to check with sony to see if there are updated drivers for the unit for XP and I dont think you will find any.

Gary

[NooNoo]

The firewire is supplied from a cardbus card? What make and model?

[drivers]

I am currently running the same setup minus the bios and hdd upgrade and mine is running fine. Are you sure you have a good copy of XP? After those upgrades does it still run 98 right?
I just installed XP on my laptop and crashed it. I took it to best Buy where I bought it 4 or 5 years ago and they can't figure it out.
I runs fine on win 98 but as soon as XP goes in, its all over.
I also had them install a 40 Gig HD for space and up-graded the Bios.
Can anyone help me?

Sony Vaio PCG-F420
PIII 450 MHz
128 MB SDRAM
was 6.0 GB now 40GB HD
V.90 56K
256-bit graphic chip
24X max CD-ROM drive

[DownBeachBreeze]

I left you a message on the usb to serial db15 adaptor. However, your message was posted last May. Did you ever find a solution? I cut and pasted half the message here:

I found the RM-203 USB GAMEPORT CONVERTER, $13.00, Total with Shipping $18.66 from PCCABLES.COM. The serial input device is a box which is set to send a signal in different modes which are set by the user.
Below is a cut and paste from the above website showing the setup instructions.

USB Type A Male to Joystick Box DB15 Female.
Converts USB to a joystick port to hook up external Joysticks.
Has Switch for different joystick types.
M1: Thrustmaster FCS Compatible
M2: CH Flightstick Pro Compatible
M3: 4-Axis, 4-Button Joystick Compatible
M4: Sophisticated 2-Axis, 8-Button Joystick Compatible

Windows 98 Installation: Follow Instructions in Box

Windows 2000 Installation:
THE INSTRUCTIONS AND DISK SUPPLIED WITH THE RM203 ARE FOR WINDOWS 98 ONLY.
FOR Windows 2000 IGNORE BOTH.
1. SET A MODE ON THE RM203 1,2,3 OR 4 AS SUITS YOUR JOYSTICK REQUIREMENT.
2. START UP THE COMPUTER (shut down running Programs).
3. PLUG THE RM103 INTO A USB SOCKET. WINDOWS 2000 WILL SAY, "NEW HARDWARE".
4. PLUG YOUR GAME CONTROLLER GAMEPLUG INTO THE RM203.
5. GO TO YOUR GAME MENU AND CALIBRATE YOUR CONTROLLER AS NECESSARY.

Windows XP Installation: Follow Windows 2000 Installation.

Negatives:
Will not operate MIDI Devices
Will not operate DIGITAL Joysticks eX. MICROSOFT Force Feedback

Sincerely,
DownBeachBreeze