Sony Vaio PCV-1102.

Problem is that it won't start up at all, simply get two blinking amber lights under the power switch, and unable to turn power off, must unplug.

Computer worked AOK about 3 days ago. No new hardware/software installed in past year.

Tried unplugging power cord, waiting awhile, plugged back in- same response. Also tried plugging into a straight line directly into wall outlet, bypassing surge protector.

Removed all connections to or from computer with same result.

Visited Sony site, went thru their online help guides with no results.

Contacted their Tech online chat site and followed their procedures with on results.

Searched Google and only found one suggestion which was to insert a memory card....tried that and still negative results.

Now I'm here, which seems to be the best site to help with my plight!!

If you haven't read my Intro Page yet, I must advise you all that I am an old fart and nearly computer illiterate !

HELP? ! !

Would have helped to say what Sony had you try. When you turn on the computer, does the power supply fan in the back turn on?

Hi there Grandpa...I am too and LOVE it!!

Yes the fan does come on......

and...sony had me do just about the same as I listed. The only thing left out was the had me disconnect power (yet again) and hold the power button down and then attach all cables to computer and hit power button....again, just got two blinking amber lights below the power button and could not power down.

By the way, thanks for responding to my plea!

Does anything show up on the monitor? When you turn it on, how far do you go in the boot process?

when turned on, the screen is blank (monitor is powered up and plugged into computer), nothing happens except for the fan coming on and the two amber/orange/yellow lights just below the power button blink constantly and am unable to shut the unit down without unplugging it. Not able to boot at all. I tried hitting every button on the puter; ctl/alt/del, escape to no avail.

I believe your MBR is hosed. Have a look here:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;314503

No help there........I will try and explain in a possibly more clear usage of words the actions or lack of actions that my computer exhibits: When I press the power on button the only thing that happens is: the fan motor runs, the monitor screen remains black, the two orange lights just below the power button blink constantly and nothing else happens or is allowed to happen to or by the computer...nothing, that's it, lights blink, can't open CD trays and pressing power button for any amount of time will not turn the power off. I must unplug the power cord. In further search on the net I read something about the possibility that the power supply may be malfunctioning... any ideas?

The purpose of this procedure is to bypass the motherboard to test the PSU.

Caution: This procedure will involve working with live 12VDC electrical potentials which if handled improperly may lead to electrical shock. Proper precautions should also be taken to prevent electrostatic discharges (ESDs) within the case of the computer. For safety purposes please follow the instructions step by step.

First, shutdown your computer. Then unplug the power cable going into your computer.

Once you have opened the case, touch the metal of the case to discharge any static electricity.

The connector of the PSU which connects to the motherboard is readily recognizable by the number of wires in the bundle. To disconnect it you will need to press on the plastic clip to disengage it and then pull the connector up and away from the motherboard. Please take notice of the location of the locking tab and the notch on the socket of the motherboard, this will only connect one way as it is keyed. This wire bundle will have a memory of the way it has been installed and will want to bend back that direction, you may have to play around with it to find a position that the connector will stay in the same position while you run the test.



From the top left to right the pins are 13-24, the bottom from left to right are 1-12.


Please notice that there are PSUs with 24 pin and 20 pin connectors, the location of the green wire in the 24 pin connector is #16, and the green wire in the 20 pin connector is #14. If you look at the connector with socket side facing you and the clip on the top the number one pin will be on the bottom left corner. This makes the pin out for the 24 pin connector from left to right 13-24 on top, and 1-12 on the bottom. The pin out for the 20 pin connector from left to right is 11-20 on top , and 1-10 on the bottom. If you look at the connectors you notice that these are sockets that fit over the pins on the motherboard where the PSU cable attaches, this is where you will place the jumper. For a jumper you will need a piece of solid wire about the size of a paper clip (20-22 awg), preferably a wire with insulation. It will need to be large enough to fit firmly into the socket so that it will not need to be held in place while testing. You are at risk of electrical shock if you are holding the jumper when you power up the PSU. Insert one end of the jumper into the socket of the Green wire, and insert the other end into the socket of any Black wire.

Once the jumper is in place plug the cord back in. If the PSU is working properly the case fans, optical drives, hdds, and LEDs should power up and remain on. I would suggest that you not leave this connected any longer than is necessary for safety purposes.

At this point you can use a DC Voltage meter to read the different rail Voltages. You will want to insert the black probe into any of the Black (-) sockets, and insert the Red (+) probe in the five different colored sockets, one at a time. Below are the five different colors and their corresponding rail voltages. The Voltages should be within about ten percent plus or minus of the given values.

Yellow +12VDC

Blue -12VDC

Red +5VDC

White -5VDC

Orange +3.3VDC


To reconnect the 20/4 pin connector unplug the power cord, remove the jumper, and reconnect the connector. Take a moment at this time to make sure that nothing has been dislodged inside the case.

hi dc3, thanks for the informative suggestion! tried all above... results all OK except no white wire in 20 pin bundle, found one in P2 bundle, unplugged P2 and read zero from white wire; also orange in P1 read nothing either. I also tried the gray wire just in case it took place of the white wire in the 20 pin bundle and read a +5. So where does that leave me?

Some companies have done away with the white wire


That means your 3.3volt rail is shot. Time for a new power supply

Okay! I'll look online for one. Again, thanks for the help; and i'll post when I install new power supply.

THIS MAY BE A DUPLICATE........This is a follow up for my post of Jul 30, 04:15 PM

I installed the new power supply and still have the same problem.

I sure hope that this ongoing problem isn't due to a fried mother board as suggested above, but if so, how can I be 100% sure? As I don't want to invest in another unnecessary piece of hardware!

John