Last night my computer was running fine, no problems with anything. My gf shut it down and we went to sleep. This morning when I tried to turn it on: nothing. I hold in the power button and it just doesn't turn on. I tried using a different power cable and nothing. It was powered into a surge protector, and all of my other accessories (monitor, speakers, etc.) work fine so I doubt it was a power surge. I opened up the case and there is nothing visibly wrong and there is no burning smell or anything like that. If ANYONE can fix my computer, I will pay them whatever amount they think is fair. I really don't know that much about the internal workings of computers so I am hoping maybe there is some kind of starter or power supply that I need to replace? Anyway, I really need it to be fixed as soon as possible (I am moving away from Raleigh on Tuesday). Please call my cell phone at 704-591-3876 anytime tonight after 10:30 (calling late is fine, but I work from 3:15-10:30 tonight so I won't be able to answer between those times) or send me a PM. It has never given me any troubles like this before. Here are my basic comp specs:

2002 Sony VAIO
2.0 GHz Pentium 4
60 GB HD
512 MB RAM
Windows XP Home
(if there are any other specs that you might need, just ask and I will answer to the best of my ability)


I also have an ATI Radeon 9600 XT video card, a wireless network card, and a USB 2.0 hub installed internally in the PCI slots. These haven't given me any problems in the past.

8/6/2005 1:18:45 PM

I would say that most likely the power supply has gone bad. You should be able to replace it locally for around $30.

8/6/2005 1:24:00 PM

Yup, power supply more than likely. You can fix it with a screwdriver. Take off cover, unplug all the connectors, take out 4 more screws. Lather rinse, replace with an equivalent.

The catch might be if it's a proprietary power supply.

8/6/2005 1:30:12 PM

Dude if you still need help then AIM me (mfetimine). I can swap out your power supply and see if it fixes it. If it does, Ill sell you the power supply for $20.

Make sure the cable from the computer to the surge protector is working. Another problem I have seen is the actual power button gets off track and when you push it.

http://www.mlcompany.net/pcrepair.shtml

Ill do half price for NCSU peeps.

8/6/2005 6:53:08 PM

how's business lately?

8/6/2005 7:05:44 PM

Steady all summer.

8/6/2005 7:07:38 PM

Aren't you worried about an ass woopin if they watch you put in ram for $75?

8/6/2005 8:11:39 PM

No way. I do most of my work for companies and that $75 aint shit compared to the money they feel they are loosing from not being able to work. I got one Client 100 miles away and they know it will cost them $100 just to get me there.

It is kinda like the Doctor and the Lawnmower. The Doctor can pay a guy to mow his lawn for $40. All the neighbors thinks he is crazy for paying that much. But while his lawn is being mowed he is at work making $200 an hour. So if he mowed his own yard he would loose $200. Which is more than the $40 he pays someone. Macro Economics at NCSU.

[Edited on August 7, 2005 at 9:56 AM. Reason : .]

[Edited on August 7, 2005 at 9:56 AM. Reason : ..]

8/7/2005 9:54:50 AM

I'm just surprised nobody does it for less. It strikes me as a job along the lines of babysitting, except with less difficulty and responsibility.

8/7/2005 11:51:43 AM

Well putting in ram doesn't take someone an hour to do.

8/7/2005 12:15:10 PM

Well so far I have been unable to do anything. I went to Best Buy and got a new power supply. I asked the Geek Squad guy there if it would be compatible, and he said it would. So after taking it back and opening it up, I find that not only are the physical dimensions of the power supply wrong, but it had a four pin connector where it needed to be a three pin. Anyway, this was listed on the side my old one that stopped working:

NMB Model Number MJPC-270A1
NMB Part Number SN005J270PCW-3
Customer Part Number 146860122
Serial Number L19084

AC Input 100V-240V ~4.2A
50/60 Hz
DC Output +5V 25A Max
+3.3V 13A Max
+12V 15A Max
-12V 0.2A Max
Aux +5V 1.8A Max
+5V, +3.3 V Total 146.3 W Max
DC Output Total 268.9 W Max

Physical Dimensions ~ 170x70x150 mm



If anyone has anything lying around that would be compatible with this, PLEASE give me a call at 704-591-3876. I won't be able to be reached online in any way due to said computer problem.

[Edited on August 7, 2005 at 3:46 PM. Reason : ]

8/7/2005 3:33:25 PM

Vaios don't have standard power supplies...at least mine doesn't look like your normal 4 screws and replace. If you decide you can't fix computer, and the motherboard isn't broke/fried then I'll buy Motherboard from you!

8/7/2005 7:42:21 PM