Sony VAIO VGN-P31ZRK/G, VAIO VGN-P31ZRK/W, VAIO VGN-P31ZK/R, VAIO VGN-P31ZK/N, VAIO VGN-FW51ZF/H Troubleshooting Manual

Contents
Finding what to do .......................................................................	3
Recovery and backup..................................................................	4
What is recovery and backup? ............................................................................	4
Creating recovery discs.......................................................................................	6
Recovering your computer ..................................................................................	8
Creating a hard disk partition ............................................................................	11
Backing up and restoring your data...................................................................	14
Erasing all of your data on your built-in storage device.....................................	24
Troubleshooting.........................................................................	25
Troubleshooting for recovery problems.............................................................	25
Troubleshooting for common problems.............................................................	27
Quick reference .........................................................................	30
What to do in case your computer does not work .............................................	30

2

Finding what to do

Before you get into trouble

Create recovery		Back up your data		Update your
discs				computer
1 page 6		1 page 14		1 Quick Start Guide

If you are in trouble

See the		Restore your		Reinstall
Troubleshooting		computer using a		programs or
or the VAIO online		restore point		drivers
web site
1 page 25		1 page 21		1 page 23

If you are still in trouble

Recover your computer

1 page 9 or page 10

Create a hard disk partition

1 page 11

Restore data from the backup copy

1 page 17

Erase all of your data

1 page 24

3

Recovery and backup

What is recovery and backup?

Recovery

What is recovery?

Recovery is to restore your computer system to its factory default settings.

There are two ways to recover your computer: recovering from the recovery discs and from a recovery partition.

When do I have to perform a recovery?

Recover the computer system in the following cases:

Your computer has been unstable.

Your computer has been infected with a computer virus.

Your computer system is experiencing problems which cannot be solved through troubleshooting.

You have formatted the C drive on your computer by mistake.

Why do I have to create recovery discs?

Recovery discs are used to restore your computer system to its factory default settings.

If Windows does not start or if you have deleted the recovery partition, one way you can perform a recovery is to use recovery discs. Create recovery discs immediately after the computer is ready to use.

See “Creating recovery discs” on page 6.

What can I do with VAIO Recovery Center?

VAIO Recovery Center offers various recovery and backup functions explained in this guide.

Creating recovery discs

Backing up your data

Restoring your data with the backup copy

Recovering your computer system

Checking your computer hardware

Erasing all the data on your built-in storage device

4

Backup

What is a backup?

A backup is to make a backup copy of your data stored on the built-in storage device (hard disk drive or solid state drive) and save it to another location.

Depending on the purpose, there are several ways to back up your data. See “Backing up and restoring your data” on page 14.

Why do I have to back up my data?

Due to unexpected events or computer viruses, you might lose various data stored on your built-in storage device, such as documents or pictures. To restore the lost data, its backup copy is needed.

It is strongly recommended that you back up your data regularly.

5

Creating recovery discs

Notes on creating recovery discs

Recovery discs are compatible only with the computer in which the discs are created.

You cannot use the recovery discs for your computer with any other computer.

You may not be able to recover your computer system from the recovery partition in the following cases due to modifications of the recovery partition and may need to purchase the recover discs at your own expense.

You have modified the recovery partition with software designed for data modification.

You have installed an operating system different from the preinstalled operating system on your computer.

You have formatted your built-in storage device without using VAIO Recovery Center.

Do not touch or soil the surface of the disc. Fingerprints and dust on the surface may cause read/write errors.

Recovery discs can be purchased. Visit the VAIO-Link web site for the contact details in your country/area.

6

To create recovery discs

You can confirm the number of necessary discs and types of media you can use for recovery disc creation in the following step 6.

You cannot use Blu-ray Disc™ media, DVD-RAM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs as recovery discs.

1 Download and install the latest updates on your computer using the VAIO Update software.

To download and install the updates on your computer using the VAIO Update software, it must be connected to the Internet. For information on how to connect the computer to the Internet, see the on-screen User Guide.

2 If your computer is not equipped with a built-in optical disc drive, connect an external optical disc drive (not supplied).

3 Click Start , All Programs, and VAIO Recovery Center.

4 Click Create Recovery Discs and Start.

If the User Account Control window appears, click Yes.

If you are currently logged onto your computer as a standard user, you may be prompted to enter an administrator name and password.

5Read the on-screen instructions carefully, and then click Next.

6Select the disc you want to use.

7Follow the on-screen instructions.

8After creating the recovery discs, follow the on-screen instructions to write down the names of the discs on the disc labels using a soft-tipped pen.

It may take some time to display the current status of the procedure.

Do not press the drive eject button while creating a recovery disc, as doing so may result in a failure of the process.

Keep the recovery discs in a secure place.

7

Recovering your computer

Before starting the recovery process

What is a recovery partition?

A recovery partition on the built-in storage device contains data for a system recovery and an application recovery. Normally, you cannot modify or delete data on this partition. You can, however, modify or delete the data with commercially available software applications designed to modify partition information.

Important notes on recovery

Recovering your computer system will delete all the data on the built-in storage device even if the built-in storage device is encrypted with the Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption (BitLocker) feature. It may take several hours to complete the recovery process.

On models with a fingerprint sensor, recovering your computer system will delete all the fingerprint templates on the built-in storage device.

Disconnect all peripherals from the computer except the power cord or the AC adapter before recovering your computer system.

Recovering your computer system will delete all the data on the drive you have selected and restore all the settings on the drive to the factory default settings. Make sure you have a backup copy of your valuable data.

Be sure to perform both a system recovery and an application recovery. Your computer may become unstable if you do not perform the application recovery.

If you have set the password to protect your data, you may not start the recovery process without entering the password. Be sure to write down the password so as not to forget the password.

If you have forgotten the password and cannot start the recovery process, contact VAIO-Link to reset it. A reset fee will be charged.

Notes on software

Recovering your computer system can restore the preinstalled software applications only (except certain software applications). It cannot restore software applications that have been installed on your own or the data you have created since purchase.

Recovering your computer system cannot restore the Windows operating system individually.

Certain preinstalled software applications include options that allow the applications to uninstall or install themselves.

The software applications installed or uninstalled by using such options may not work properly on your computer.

Installing a software application to modify partition sizes may disable a system recovery or recovery disc creation.

8

Recovering your computer when you cannot start Windows

If Windows does not start, you can recover your computer system from recovery discs or from a recovery partition.

The recovery partition on the built-in storage device contains data for recovery. You can recover your computer system from the recovery partition faster than from recovery discs.

To recover your computer system using recovery discs

1 Insert a recovery disc to the drive while the computer is on, turn off your computer, and turn on the computer again.

If you are using an external optical disc drive (not supplied), press the F11 key several times when the VAIO logo appears after you restart the computer. The Windows Boot Manager is displayed.

2 Press the M or m key to select Start VAIO Recovery Center and press the Enter key.

3 Select Restore C: Drive or Restore Complete System and click Start.

4 Read the information about software or features to solve the problems, select Skip if you have already tried all of them, and click Next.

5 If warnings are displayed, read them thoroughly, select the I understand check box, and click Start.

6 Follow the on-screen instructions.

To recover your computer system from the recovery partition

1 Turn on your computer.

2 Press the F10 key when the VAIO logo appears.

If the Edit Boot Options window is displayed, press the Enter key.

3 Select Restore C: Drive or Restore Complete System and click Start.

4 Read the information about software or features to solve the problems, select Skip if you have already tried all of them, and click Next.

5 If warnings are displayed, read them thoroughly, select the I understand check box, and click Start.

6 Follow the on-screen instructions.

9

Recovering your computer when you can start Windows

You can recover your computer system by using VAIO Recovery Center if you can start Windows.

Be sure to remove an optical disc from the optical disc drive before following the steps below.

To recover the C drive

1 Click Start, All Programs, and VAIO Recovery Center.

2 Select Restore C: Drive and click Start.

3 Read the information about software or features to solve the problems, select Skip if you have already tried all of them, and click Next.

If the User Account Control window appears, click Yes.

4 Read the warnings thoroughly, select the I understand check box, and click Start.

5 Follow the on-screen instructions.

If you have changed partition sizes and created another partition other than the C drive on your built-in storage device, the data on the partition will remain unchanged even after recovering your computer system.

For instructions on how to create a hard disk partition, see “Creating a hard disk partition” on page 11.

To recover your entire computer system

1 Click Start, All Programs, and VAIO Recovery Center.

2 Select Restore Complete System and click Start.

3 Read the information about software or features to solve the problems, select Skip if you have already tried all of them, and click Next.

4 Select Skip and click Next if you have created the recovery discs.

If you have not yet created the recovery discs, see “Creating recovery discs” on page 6.

If the User Account Control window appears, click Yes.

5 Follow the on-screen instructions.

10