Hi Travis,
I took have a Sony Vaio (Model VGN-FW139E; July 2008) and have rebuilt it several times on the Vista it came with. Recently I have rebuilt it on Windows7 Ultimate, and had many problems weird problems we can discuss later. Right now, I have some ideas for you to try and some questions to ask. I repair computers for a living these days, used to design them, so see what you think.
The #1 reason that laptops over 3 years of age fail is due to failed hard drives. You may or may not know this. When drivers that came on the laptop from the Factory once worked but no longer worked, this is almost always the cause about 85% of the time. The other 15% of the time it's some sneaky hidden virus that's causing the problem or simple human error in not correctly reloading Windows on the computer.
With that being said, is the laptop that came with your Vaio the original hard drive? Or has it been replaced?
Also, it sounds like you are the original owner of this laptop; is this correct? Or did you buy it used online or from a friend, Craig's list etc.?
If you
HAVE replaced the hard drive; did you replace it with a new drive or a used one? This is critical that you answer this question.
Since it's only 4 years old, let's go with the assumption that you've
NEVER replaced the hard drive and go from there first.
Have you tested that hard drive? If so, with what Diagnostics, and what specific results? Next have you tested your RAM memory sticks? Again, if so, with what Diagnostics and what result?
Sounds like I ask a lot of questions, right? Think of me as the Computer Doctor in the ER for the moment. I have to ask all these questions to get a good diagnosis.
Ok, even though you don't think it's a hardware problem, I think you've left some troubleshooting you've done out from your post. Or perhaps you just haven't done those items.
Using the
Sony FACTORY RECOVERY DISCS is always a good idea; since if the built-in
RECOVERY PARTITION that is on most modern Vaio's can become corrupted since it also lives on the hard drive that came inside your laptop. Did you attempt to run the built-in
RECOVERY PARTITION? If so, did it fail and that's why you ordered the
FACTORY DISCS from Sony?? If this is the case, it's
HIGHLY likely that your entire hard drive failed.
I'll suggest some tests you can try here in a minute to make that determination.
From your Post, I noticed that you did
NOT mention whether or not you did a low-level format over the existing Windows8 partition prior to reinstalling the Windows7 from the Vaio Recovery Discs. This is also a possibility as to why it's failing to recognize drivers. Windows7 Recovery Discs cannot overwrite the special codes that Microsoft writes into Track0 and Track1 of the hard drive with a Windows8 load. You need to use special Linux tools to low-level format the hard drive in order for that to work. Most home Users are not aware of this. Microsoft does this to protect their software licensing against piracy. You didn't mention whether the Windows8 disc you used was a
LEGIT media or not, but if it's not and it didn't come in Microsoft retail boxed packagin or is a copy from a friend's; it's quite likely it's no good. These are things you will have to tell us. Folks don't often mention if they are using
LEGIT M$ media or not unless we ask them directly--it's just assumed. After you run my hardware tests, you can use Derik's Boot & Nuke to low-level format your hard drive (if it passes the tests) and it should then work. You can download free via Google or as part of the UBCD disc from UBCD.com.
Next, here are the suggested hardware tests you need to run.. First download the free
SEATOOLS drive test program from
seagate.com and create a boot test disc. The
SEATOOLS program is in ISO file format, so you will need to download the free
IMGburn program to burn the
SEATOOLS ISO file onto a blank CD or DVD disc. Once you do this, you may wish to test it on another working computer. Change the boot order preference on your machine to boot from your CD/DVD drive and run the
SEATOOLS program. Ensure that you run
BOTH short and long tests. If
SEATOOLS returns any errors, your hard drive has failed and must be replaced.
Next, download the free
memtest86 program (you can google), and create a bootable disc with
IMGburn in the same fashion you did with
SEATOOLS. Run
memtest86 on each stick of RAM that your have individually; in other words, remove all RAM sticks and test with
memtest86 1 stick at a time for a
minimum of 8 passes. Repeat for each stick. If
memtest86 returns any errors, that stick of RAM has failed and must be replaced. Finally, reinsert all RAM sticks back into their Motherboard slots (1-2 slots typically) and run
memtest86 1 more time for
minimum of 8 passes. If
memtest86 returns any errors; you could have mismatched speeds or types and will need to replace your RAM sticks in matched pair sets. Continue to run
memtest86 until you have all sticks running for 8 passes without error.
**be aware that if you have 2GB RAM sticks or larger it may take 12-24 hours to achieve the full 8 passes. Of course longer with all your RAM sticks installed on the Final test; so be patient** If you have replaced any hardware per above test recommendations such as hard drive or RAM stick(s); you will of course need to reload your Windows7 from your purchased
SONY RECOVERY DISCS as before. If you replaced your hard drive with a brand new drive; you should have no problems reloading Win7 and everything should now work.
If however, you replaced your hard drive with a used drive and you don't know what was on it; e.g.: Win8/8.1/10 etc. you will need to run the
DBAN (Derik's Boot & Nuke) program to low-level format the drive first! Then load your
SONY RECOVERY DISCS and all should be well.
There are a couple of gotchas I've told you about, and this will require 1-2 weeks to do all the testing and answer all my numerous questions.; so be patient! If you cannot, or cannot wrap your head around all this I have a quick solution for you to try.
**Remove your existing HDD, replace with a BRAND NEW HDD, and reload Win7 from your SONY RECOVERY DISCS. If it fails to work, it's most likely you have a failed Motherboard. Repair cost is $175-$400 US or more at that point.** Very simple.
I suggest if you have more time than money to solve this; answer back my questions, and run my hardware tests. Replace any failed hardware (hdd or RAM) and reload your Win7 from
SONY RECOVERY DISCS. It should then work! If it doesn't you probably have a failed Motherboard as per discussion above.
Let us know how you are doing and we will advise your further.
Best of luck to you,
<<<BIGBEARJEDI>>>