Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

I repaired a friends Sony Vaio - VGN-SZ55GN notebook - the hard drive had died, unfortunately this was the 2nd hard drive and the first replaced drive didn't have a restore partition etc...



So I got my Vista DVD out and did a fresh install (mind you I wish Sony would take a page out of Dell's book on how to access hardware - getting to that HD took forever!).



Anyway - problem - the keyboard and touchpad now no longer work.



In order to do the install I had to use a USB keyboard and mouse - in windows the system recognizes that there is a keyboard and mouse as part of the system, however it won't use them, also I can't use them in DOS.



So I'm guessing that there must be a setting in the BIOS to enable these??



Can anybody throw some help my way? I can't access the BIOS screen, I have no idea what button Sony hid that under!!



Any and all help appreciated!

Reply 1 : Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

Bump - Anybody?

Reply 2 : Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

Go to esupport.sony.com and download all the drivers for the model in question.

Reply 3 : Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

Would drivers affect a non functional keyboard in BIOS? I thought it was only an OS that required drivers?



Plus still doesn't answer my question in how to access the BIOS from boot - would really appreciate that one!

Reply 4 : Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

Are you saying that you can't even use the keyboard to access bios (by holding down F2)? Does the caps light even work? If you can't access the bios screen, it sounds like you have a hardware error. When you replaced the hard drive, did you have to open the PC? If so, is there a possibility you may have touched the keyboard/touchpad cable?

Reply 5 : Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

EDIT: Ignore my post below - the problem won't be a mis-seated cable if Windows recognises the keyboard and mouse! Next time I'll read the post properly before I reply...



Both the keyboard and touchpad have ribbon cables into the motherboard - I'd defo make sure those are seated correctly. If I remember correctly, both are ZIF connectors so make sure the ribbon is in as far as possible when you click the latch down. For the touchpad, make sure the connector into the touchpad on the underside of the palmrest is correctly inserted too.



Hope that helps... it's a 7 screw job (1 for keyboard, 3 underneath, 3 on base for the palmrest).

Reply 6 : Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

Right, had another think about this.



Built in keyboard and touchpad are not responsive in BIOS or in Windows. Windows recognises both the them - are you sure it is the built in ones and not the USB ones that are being recognised by Windows?

Next question is whether or not a USB keyboard will be recognised by the BIOS - I would presume since USB can be used to boot from in BIOS so it must know what those devices are and handle them. F2 is used to enter the BIOS in the SZ series.



Drivers are used by the OS, the chipset has a different mechanism for recognising input, a much simpler and reduced set of functionality, so that things like the Fn keys do nothing. From the symptoms, not having BIOS react sounds hardware based, but having Windows recognise the devices sounds driver based...



If it were myself, I'd grab a live CD or USB stick OS and see if that can recognise the keyboard and touchpad as input devices. If so, then I'd reinstall Vista and write it off as a hiccupped install. If not, then I'd think it was a hardware problem and reseat the cables/check all the stuff is plugged in as it should be. Once upon a time, I spent days playing with Audio drivers when I forgot to reattach a daughter board...



Good luck!

Reply 7 : Keyboard/Touchpad HELP!

Thanks for the input guys!



I removed the keyboard etc, and then re-connected them into the board to make sure it wasn't a connection issue.



The keyboard is as dead as a doornail on boot - the only way I've been able to work on the laptop has been through the use of an external keyboard and mouse in the USB ports.



I know the keyboard works in BIOS as I had to use it to do the clean install of Vista.



The problem is even with the external keyboard I can't get any access to BIOS regardless of which F key I tried (and I've tried them all!).



Its times like these I'm cursing my mate for buying a Sony - they always make life so difficult, wish they were as simple as a Dell!

Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

This is nuts, awesome deal from Best Buy, VAIO SC - i5 2410/ 4G/ 500G Hybrid drive/ blu-ray combo/ push2tv (WIDI adaptor)/ WiMax radio, all for just $949.99!



May 1 release, pre-order at best buy starts from today.







Best Buy slaps Blue Label on Sony and Toshiba laptops, packed to the exhaust vents with extras -- Engadget

Reply 1 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

Interesting. So the VAIO SC series is a BestBuy exclusive!?!?!

Reply 2 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEEDwithJJ Interesting. So the VAIO SC series is a BestBuy exclusive!?!?!

no, the deal is exclusive, SC is available in Canada as well. best buy's SC comes with Push2TV and 2 year warranty, that's not available anywhere else.

Reply 3 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

How awesome is the deal really? Basically you just get the push and kaspersky for free.

Reply 4 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

Interesting....

How do you put something up for pre-order, and it doesn't even tell you what CPU model, screen resolution. or ports? Do Best Buy customers not care about those things? The Vaio looks like VGA, HDMI 1 USB 3 and 2 USB 2 - no eSata.



----

update - I found some of the specs clicking back to the model pages through the cart - Vaio 2410 CPU I assume 768 res since not mentioned.

Reply 5 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddieaus no, the deal is exclusive, SC is available in Canada as well. best buy's SC comes with Push2TV and 2 year warranty, that's not available anywhere else.

In the USA, SC is Best Buy exclusive, yes.

Reply 6 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0j1 Interesting.... How do you put something up for pre-order, and it doesn't even tell you what CPU model, screen resolution. or ports? Do Best Buy customers not care about those things? The Vaio looks like VGA, HDMI 1 USB 3 and 2 USB 2 - no eSata.

No. Think about it. A lot of people that go into Best Buy stores don't know anything about computers- that's why there's Geek Squad there. I told one of my friends to check out the Vaio SB at the Sonystyle store and he goes to Bestbuy and buys the only Sony model in stock- a last gen F. He was then telling me about how he got $50 off Geek Squad service etc etc. People like him are the typical Best Buy customers. They want a new computer so they go to the store and buy one there. There's no searching around the net for the best deal, no reading up on the models on forums such as these, basically "blind" purchasers that are at the whim of the salesperson or some tech savvy friend.

Reply 7 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

Quote:

How awesome is the deal really? Basically you just get the push and kaspersky for free.

You also get a Blue ray reader and a hybrid HDD. Those two features alone are worth a few hundred dollars. If only WiDi let you play the Blue ray...





Looks like a great value. It also has a hybrid HDD, which is a good fit for this mid-level laptop/price.



It lacks a fingerprint reader (no big deal.) It has lesser graphics (6470) which is a big bummer. The 6630 is much better than the 6470. It also does not list the graphics as switchable. If not switchable you would lose out on the HD graphics better battery life and rapid video encoding.

Reply 8 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

Quote:

Originally Posted by tktk You also get a Blue ray reader and a hybrid HDD. Those two features alone are worth a few hundred dollars. If only WiDi let you play the Blue ray... Looks like a great value. It also has a hybrid HDD, which is a good fit for this mid-level laptop/price. It lacks a fingerprint reader (no big deal.) It has lesser graphics (6470) which is a big bummer. The 6630 is much better than the 6470. It also does not list the graphics as switchable. If not switchable you would lose out on the HD graphics better battery life and rapid video encoding.

Is the hybrid HDD in use in that VAIO SC series the Seagate Momentus XT HDD?

Reply 9 : Best Buy exclusive: VAIO SC with Blu-ray and Push2TV for $950

I wouldnt bet my money on the hybrid drive, there was a ready to ship model that came with it, when no one received it, they simply removed the hybrid mention

Audio out while using internet@tv

I was just told by Samsung support that audio out jacks (on my new 55" series 7 tv) for my sound system does not work while using internet@tv. We like to watch movies on vudu and other sites and to not be able to listen to quality sound as the speakers on the tv suck is hard to understand.Do I have any recourse? Anyone know of a way around this.

Really disappointed.

Reply 1 : Audio out while using internet@tv

I see in the quick guide that the analog output cable is not supplied. I wonder how you have this hooked up.
Bob
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/UN55D7000LFXZA

Reply 2 : Audio out while using internet@tv

The Audio out connector is supplied,the rca extension cable is not. That is not the problem. The problem is that when using internet @ tv the sound does not go to the Audio Out jack, hence I can not run it through my Home Theater System. We really enjoy the quality of the HD Movies from sites like VUDU and not being able to run the sound through my sound system is unexceptable. This TV is suppose to be top of the line. So we get to watch HD movies with the bad quality sound that the tv speakers supply. How can this be? Looking for alternatives or an answer why this is not stated in the manuel?

Reply 3 : Audio out while using internet@tv

"If there is no video signal, both the TV's speakers and the external
speakers will be mute."

Since the internet is not a video signal I wonder if some programmer took that literally.
Bob

Reply 4 : Audio out while using internet@tv

Will the digital audio out on the TV send the sound from internet@tv to my sound system?

Reply 5 : Audio out while using internet@tv

Worth trying.

Reply 6 : Audio out while using internet@tv

cheftom2,

(on my new 55" series 7 tv)

What is the actual model number?

And have you changed the audio option to "External Speakers" in the Audio menu?

--HDTech

Reply 7 : Audio out while using internet@tv

If you use ARC on HDMI slot 2 and select TV on your home cinema I have sound from the internet and it is in 5.1 and sometimes 2.1 but your AV receiver must support ARC for it to work.

nc4000 not posting

I've got a HP nc4000 in front of me, that had a few problems. Numbers were scrolling on the screen for 5 minutes, and then it POSTed but Windows wouldn't boot



First thing I had to do was enable QuickBoot, which was disabled in the BIOS. Fine, it now POSTs fine. XP still wouldn't load. So I tried booting it normally, and it hung on a black screen.



Rebooted, and it's just a black screen, no POST, nothing on an external display, but the fans are still spinning, and power is going to an external ODD. I thought it might be overheating, and have given a quick blast with compressed air, and the problem is the same.



Any suggestions?

Suggestions on a laptop cooler

Hi all,

I'm looking for suggestions on a notebook cooler.
Some of the features I'm looking for are:

1) As thin as possible
2) Ventilation ports on the side (not underneath other wise they would be blocked sitting on my lap)
3) Quiet and Lightweight
4) Small, my notebook is only about 30cm wide by 22cm long...so something that fits it snugly.
5) Shippable to Canada

A USB hub would be nice but hardly necessary.

The closest one I'm looking at this is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834981001

But I'm a tad put off the negative comments. If anyone has a suggestion, let me know!

Thanks.

Reply 1 : Suggestions on a laptop cooler

Tronman I think youre on the right track here. The product youve got listed there looks pretty good, but the negative comments are a bit cautioning.

Personally, that USB hub inclusion would be great as I can never seem to stop finding things that require a USB hub.

Id just keep an eye out on New Egg or at Frys if youve got one near and go with your gut.

Cheers,
Ron
Windows Outreach Team

Reply 2 : Suggestions on a laptop cooler

Hi RonS,

Thanks for you reply. I've already ordered a Vantec LapCool 3 for myself: http://www.vantecusa.com/front/product/view_detail/4.

It seems to have all the features I want (minus the USB hub, but I have another small hub anyway) and the reviews are fantastic (http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16262&vpn=LPC-401&manufacture=VANTEC). Just waiting for it to arrive!

Thanks,
Tronman

Reply 3 : Suggestions on a laptop cooler

Awesome! Make sure to post your thoughts about it in here after you get it. Im actually in the market for a new cooling pad as well.

Cheers,
Ron
Windows Outreach Team

Reply 4 : Suggestions on a laptop cooler

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=belkin+laptop+cooling+pad&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8355142536892925454&ei=PFj_Sa6DIdCrtgfI9KDFCg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4#ps-sellers

Don't know if this fits your bill, but I have used one of these and they work great.

Reply 5 : Suggestions on a laptop cooler

Hey, thanks for the suggestion, but I rejected that one before because of the other side of the fan on the bottom...plus I wanted something flat to be comfortable on my lap

Thanks again.

Reply 6 : Suggestions on a laptop cooler

the best cooling thats inexpensive is take your laptop apart and blow it out just doing that i reduced my temps by 15c and a good laptop cooler

Multiple Digital Monitors - anyone running?

Hi



I'm considering a Dell XPS15 laptop (or any Dell laptop). I'd love to run 2*HDMI monitors.



Is anyone doing this successfully? Maybe run the HDMI and the miniDisplayPort with a converter? Can I run both at 1920*1080?



Cheers



Dave

Reply 1 : Multiple Digital Monitors - anyone running?

This is possible, both at 1080p. dont forget to get a display port adaptor

Reply 2 : Multiple Digital Monitors - anyone running?

Nice one thanks.

Reply 3 : Multiple Digital Monitors - anyone running?

In fact, with the XPS 15, you can have 2 external monitors plus the laptop display.

planning to buy HP Pavilion dv6-3052tx laptop

I am planning to buy HP Pavilion dv6-3052tx laptop..



In some other site i found this model was discontinued..



Why it is discontinued? Whether i can buy it from other vendors.? Is it safe to buy?

Reply 1 : planning to buy HP Pavilion dv6-3052tx laptop

The model you were trying to buy is the 3rd generation of the dv6.

It have been discontinued because the model has been superseded by 3 generations, the dv6 6xxx. which is the 6th generation.