[ebhutton1717]

Thanks for the information, though it was not the answer I wanted, it lets me know what I now need to find out. I have a SONY VAIO 2GB Intel Processor Model No. VGN NS 110E with Windows Vista Operating System.

I received a message to run a disk scan, received a message there was a problem and recommendation to run a disk repair. Windows was unable to run a disk repair and recommended calling Sony Support.

I got much mis-information regarding the program from several calls and had a recent difficulty regarding my security system that did not resolve the problem after a long call and them removing a security system via online.

I ran the option, not informed to me from the Sony techs to rescue data. I ran this program several times and it keeps stopping on the same file, not at the exact same point. I had been erringly told from a Sony Tech that the program sitting on the same file for over an hour was normal and that it could take all day to rescue a mere 12GB of data.

The goal is to rescue/save to external drive the data that the c disk recovery program on the computer will cancel out when I do the c disk recovery which will put my c disk to the point of factory installation. The program states that other partitions will not be affected and my memory from years ago personal and main frame computer experience tells me that my documents and other files will not be touched and the partitions operate like a buffer protecting both the start up of the operating system and the computer from problems with those files and those files from problems with the c disk or operating system. I need this verified or not.

I want to know how to save the 12GB of files that the program says exists and can be transferred to an external drive during a data recovery when the program keeps stopping on a certain file that may be the file causing the problem and preventing the computer from starting. I do not need all these file – there are some I had not saved to my external drive yet and would like to save some of the ones in the other partitions if possible in case the verification I am seeking above is a no.

Sony requires this program to be run before accepting it in for repairs if the c disk recovery program does not solve the problem.

Another possibility is - is there a way to restart the computer at a date prior to the problem with the c disk, after the work I did that may be included in that partition or before the security system was changed, though not as far as to factory installation, which seems rather drastic.

AT THIS POINT, THE COMPUTER WILL NOT START AND I DO NOT HAVE A MANUAL WHICH EXPLAINS VERY SIMPLE PROCEEDURES THAT USE THE FUNCTION KEYS TO GET INTO THE COMPUTER EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT STARTING – SONY DOES NOT PROVIDE THEM, WHICH MAKES THE CONSUMER RELIANT ON THEIR SUPPORT TECHNICIANS WHO ARE, AS IS NOT ALWAYS THAT UNTYPICAL, NOT THAT SUCH IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY TASK, OF EITHER COMMUNICATING EFFICIENTLY AT THE CONSUMER'S KNOWLEDGE LEVEL, ACCURATE REGARDING THE SPECIFIC MODEL OF THE COMPUTER OR SIMPLY COMPETENT AT ALL.
IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE I HAVE TAKEN A COMPUTER CLASS AND I AM LEARNING THAT THE ISSUES WE WERE TAUGHT TO CONSIDER OF WAYS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN DOCUMENTATION AND VERBAL COMMUNICATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION FROM THE TECHNICAL SOURCE TO THE CONSUMER HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED IN ALL CASES. THIS TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION SOURCE ON MY VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM IS NOT VERY GOOD, WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT AS A CONSUMER TO LEARN RATHER SIMPLE THINGS TO HANDLE SUCH SITUATIONS.

AND I KNOW FROM PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE THAT THE OLD DESIGN OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE THE BETTER AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND ARE NOT VERY DIFFICULT TO INCLUDE IN A PROGRAM.

THANKS

[philthomas]

OK .... just to clarify, you have a SONY VAIO VGN NS 110E Laptop that wont start up and the Sony Recovery hangs, when run.

A few questions :

Can you boot into Safe Mode ?

Have you got or can you get hold of, borrow, beg or steal a Microsoft Vista installation CD ?

How confident would you be, removing the Hard Drive from the Laptop ?

[ebhutton1717]

The data rescue program keeps stopping on the same file. I am attempting to do a data rescue before doing a c disk recovery that will delete files.

Yes, on a Sony VAIO VGN NS110E

I was, until Sony Support had me make changes in the BIOS able to get the system running till the point of logging in, Now is stops completely immediately after attempting to run a start using the reboot from last known successful configuration.

I attempted a cable with two accurate USB connections and my Toshiba laptop would not recognize the Sony laptop so I could attempt to get into the system that way. I have a data transfer cable on order with a program that enables two Windows Vista Operating Systems to interact and transfer data. Will that help?

I can get an installation cd if I can find it in my storage unit. I plan to attempt to do that tomorrow. I did not try before because Sony Support said I did not need it - that the information was saved on a certain area of the system.

Since Sony Support had me change BIOS, the system now asks for those cds when before they did not. Will reinstalling those cause me to lose data on my c disk? There are some things I want to save that I did not get a chance to get on my external drive nor onto my Toshiba because the data transfer cable was still on order.

No way would I feel comfortable removing the drive - atleast not at this point as I am to frazzled after dealing with SONY....as a last resort, later - maybe.......

[philthomas]

OK .... first off, I would forget Sony Support and only ever use that as a last resort. All too often these guys are just box tickers and have very limited experience.

Unfortunately a USB Transfer Cable is not going to help you in this situation, as it will require the installation of a small piece of software, on each machine, which of course, you cannot do at the moment.

When I mentioned a Microsoft Vista Installation Disk, I was referring to a Genuine Microsoft Vista Installation Disk (1 x Disk), not Sony Disks.
With a Vista Installation Disk, you can boot with the disk, which will give you the option to carry out a Vista Repair, on a non booting system.

A simple and quick way to recover your data from the HDD, would be to remove it, put it in an external Enclosure and hook it up to another PC, to back up the data. If the System is not repairable, this may be your only option.

[ebhutton1717]

Will that drive work on the Toshiba? How do I get a copy of a genuine Windows Vista installation? Obvious I figured out too late that the Sony version was not the real thing - I had many indications and this situation merely confirms my suspicions - and, as typical, after the 30 unconditional warranty ran out at Radio Shack, HP e-mails with sales on their laptops with "genuine Windows Vista Operating Systems".

Will a genuine windows vista operating system run on the Sony?

I think Sony techs may have made things more difficult for me when they insisted I change the BIOS settings to default - did they? Before that I could get the operating system to atleast run through a disk scan and attempt at repair and get to the log in point. Since then, I can not get past the install the installation cds or start windows from last known successful configuration - I do the later since I do not have the cds - thought had them in storage and memory was not accurate - it was a security system installation cd - and then I remembered that I called Sony regarding the installation cds the computer asked for and they said this was not necessary - it was all on the computer acting as if they had great new technology - I knew from the old days that always keep hard copies of these things and got busy with other things and did not get around to trying to get a copy of them. WHEN I RUN THE OPTION FROM THE LAST SUCCESSFUL CONFIGURATION THE OPERATING SYSTEM STOPS COMPLETELY - THE LITTLE LIGHT DOES NOT EVEN FLICKER A SMALL AMOUNT WHEN BEFORE IT KEPT GOING WITH OUT DOING ANYTHING - I SUSPECT STOPPED ON THE SAME FILE THAT THE DATA RESCUE PROGRAM STOPS ON.

[philthomas]

Well ..... Sony are probably no better and no worse, than any of the other big manufacturer's. Most of them pre-install Windows and dont supply a Windows Insatallation Disk. Instead they offer their own System Restore feature, which is often based on Data stored on a hidden partition on the HDD.
In theory this works fine, but obviously when a problem or corruption of data occurs on the HDD, this method falls down miserably and the user is left with little option but to purchase a genuine Microsoft Disk.

As you have not tried a Recovery yet (only a Rescue), it's a bit difficult to know whether your Recovery partition/data is damaged/corrupted, so you really need to recue your vital Data, using another method and then try the Recovery.

If you remove the HDD and put it in an 2.5" External USB Enclosure, the Data on the drive can be read from any PC or Laptop, that has a USB2 port .... assuming of course the HDD is not physically damaged or corrupted.

[ebhutton1717]

How much will one of those cost me and what is the risk of removing the internal drive and what kind of tools are needed? I know that they can be removed - obviously - repair people remove and replace them - how bad are the connections - in terms of auto repair, which I have done - will there be all kinds of connections you have to remember what went where or a few simple ones?

Last time I saw one of those removed on a personal computer they were pretty large relatively and I do not remember from so long ago how bad the connections were - I need to prepare myself for this - I do o.k. at technical repairs at things I do not have experience at if I am feeling well enough - if I am too tired or not feeling well the chance of error increases. Relative to automobile repair - alternators are easy, transmissions awkward and many parts designed to be difficult - rate it will you....

[Carbon]

Computer parts are about as difficult as Legos - relative to automotive repair, it's very very easy, things can only go in one way and don't look similar.

Essentially all you need is a screwdriver, open the case, unscrew the drive, pull out the connectors, screw it into the new enclosure and hook up power and data: power is a large flat connector with an L shape, and data is the same but significantly shorter. Hardest part will be lining up the screw holes.

Since your drive is a 2.5" SATA, something like this will work fine. Pretty much zero risk unless you throw it on the ground or remove it while it's running or something :)

[ebhutton1717]

I have just now looked through the files that have been recovered from the rescue attempts. I have the following dll files SS0Srv, SXBios, sonychk and SnyUtil - will they do any good. At this time, Windows can not open them and gives the option to search programs on system or internet that will open them. To help avoid having to remove the drive - I do not want to interfere with my warranty - if the drive needs replaced, I want Sony to do it for selling such a poorly manufactured over-all product and it is one of their stupid useless programs I have not ever been able to get to operate efficiently - there have been several - that the data rescue keeps stopping on - I thought it was a file sent over on the internet with out my permission since a security system on the Toshiba had just blocked several that someone had attempted to download when I had both computers on the internet at the same time and Sony Tech Support had just removed a security system from my sony claiming that would solve a problem it did not and because on the screen during the data rescue it had "bearshare" - the file it stopped on is part of the Sony/Windows movie maker that does not work accurately.

I do not know who are the actually culprits, Sony or Microsoft or both since I know enough about operating systems to know that if they simply programmed their operating systems and programs accurately then the consumer would not have the difficulty it does when these things occur - simple programming to give the option during a data rescue/recovery to skip or delete a program that is causing a problem during rescue/recovery - did this regularly as an operator - except then the backups were done more diligently since we were getting paid to do them so there was less risk......

[philthomas]

.dll files are System files and cannot be run on their own .... they are Direct Link Library files, so unless you are an experienced programmer, they will not be of any use to you.