Laptop woes....advice needed..

[djglenn]

Basically my laptop has given up the ghost, well its gone wonky you could say.

It started a while back in uni, one day when I was completing my coursework for my finals, when I turned it on it said "Windows cannot start properly, blah blah blah". I had to install a 2nd OS on it to get my coursework off, and then re-formatted it.

From that point on, it was slowish, freezing at stupid things, and now and again would freeze for 5-20 sec periods whilst making a clicking noise.

I have ignored it for the past 5 months, but finally thought, hmmmm, perhaps i should fix it..... When I turned it on last week, it didn’t start properly, the screen going a grayish colour. It started on the 3rd attempt.

Now, using my limited experience (and limited intelligence) I assume it is a problem with the HDD, but am worried that it is something more serious.

To fix, or to flog on ebay as a non working laptop…that is the question.

It’s a Sony Vaio PCG-FXA53 btw.

Got any opinions as to the source of the problem?

[killie99]

There is a pretty well known issue with Sony Vaio's where the dimm connectors start coming away from the motherboard - I know 2 people that this has happened to and both were quoted £400 for it to be repaired by Sony. HAving said that their symptoms were a bit different from yours, their machines would just shut themselves down.
Your problem sounds like a cpu overheating problem, may be worth opeing teh unit up and cleaning out the fans and air intake slots.

[alanwarwic]

cheap hard drive for £30. Remember that a USB 2.5" case costs less than £10 so you have a pocker drive if this does not solve anything.

clicking does point to a hard drive problem