Sony NS11J/S - Bios Problem Help Please

[Subversive]

Hello,

 

I am trying to fix a laptop for a friend, it is a Sony Vaio Laptop, model No NS11J/S.

 

She was updating the BIOS from Sony's website, half way through the Power Lead accidently came out, she even forgot to have the battery in the laptop.

 

Now it is sort of dead. When you turn it on, nothing comes on the screen, it is blank, no flickering, nothing.

 

BUT, when you turn it on, the power lights come on, the hard drive spins up, even the CD-ROM is detected.

 

I am quite confidant that it has a AMI Aptio Bios. I have searched on-line and a few websites suggest downloading the latest version of the BIOS, renaming it to AMIBOOT.ROM, putting it on a flappy disk, then turning the power on while holding the CTRL + HOME keys and letting them after you have turned it on.

 

Problem here is that I have no floppy drive, so I found a recovery sequence with CD-ROM, similar to the floppy drive recovery, but you put it on the CD-ROM, even tried it with a USB Flash disk.

 

I know there is something I am doing wrong, because some people have managed to recover their BIOS.

 

I went to PCWORLD, they say it can be recovered, but will charge in excess of £200.

 

So,I am here to ask if anybody has any experience with this type of problem.

 

Please help

 

Thanks

 

Sub.

[LinkindinkinPark]

really need specific knowledge of that machine, not really a job for a general help forum

 

one of the other forums you posted on gave you a link to biosman.

 

email them for advice

[Subversive]

What specific knowledge do you require?

 

Thanks, I'll be sending biosman a email

[Dalo Harkin]

If you have the recovery disks and a disk called tools and utilities or similar then on one of those disks it should give you an option when booting to recover the BIOS, it will be an old factory version but its better than none at all.

Alternatively you could buy a new BIOS chip from an old battered machine (Of the exact same model and replace the actual BIOS on the board, but this is for advanced users really as you need some specific kit to do it, it can be bought and its not expensive if the alternative is £200 :eek: FRAUDSTERS)

 

You should only update a BIOS is there is a feature on the update that you require for the PC to work, as you have found out it can be more hassle than its worth

[Subversive]

I'll ask her tonight if she has the recovery discs.

 

I am just wondering, if its not booting up at all, will it pick up the recovery cd?

[Dalo Harkin]

It depends, it should boot when you press the power button but then say there is an issue with the BIOS rather than just not booting.

 

Im not 100% sure its the BIOS thats the issue here, could be the actual MOBO, power socket connector where it connects to the MOBO

 

most laptops dont even support not having the battery in the lappy and running it direct from the mains, most need the battery to complete the circuit.

[Subversive]

Thanks.

 

I am sure the mobo is fine (but can't be 100% certain, 99% certain it is fine).

 

The power socket connector is ok, as when you connect the charger in, the charging light up.

 

 

oh well, the quest goes on

[Dalo Harkin]

If you are certain or fairly certain the lappy is fine, I would be looking at replacing the actual BIOS chip :) get on ebay or a specialist shop online and see what the damage would be

[Subversive]

No doubt I will be doing that Dalo.

 

Thanks for taking your time out to reply to my thread. Very thoughtful of you.

[Dalo Harkin]

No problem at all :)

Hope you get it sorted.

[Subversive]

Just wanted to let people here know, that I managed to get the BIOS chip replaced and its working now.

[KenB]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the feedback - good to know that your system is now running OK.

 

You must hold the record for the longest time between posts on the same thread ........... May 2010 to July 2012 :)