Member Avatar for pcguy

Have a Sony Vaio PCG-FR130 (Model PCG-9H4L on label on bottom of unit) which does nothing at all when the power button is pressed. Have checked the switch on button and seems ok. I have also removed the CMOS battery from the unit and still no change. CMOS battery is 3V. The AC adapter is outputting 19.48V DC. I have tried with no battery and AC and battery only.

The laptop was working fine one day and then the next there was nothing when the power button was pressed.

Any other suggestions where to look or a service manual for this laptop would be appreciated. Thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Jupiter 2

Dani AI

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The combination of a completely dead power button, RAM checks that did not help (see ), and the visible heat streak reported on the board near the power input by points away from an OS or hard-drive issue and toward a failure in the DC-in power path: the barrel jack or its solder pads, the input/fuse area, or the primary power regulator(s). ’s note about the jack being a common failure is relevant.

Diagnostic checklist (best-return order):

  1. Verify the AC adapter at the barrel tip with a multimeter (match the adapter rating) and check the barrel/center contact for mechanical damage.
  2. Perform a careful visual inspection of the DC jack area and surrounding traces with magnification; look for lifted pads, burnt solder, or cracked traces.
  3. With battery removed and AC disconnected, test continuity from the jack + pad to the board’s main input fuse or fusible resistor. Check the main power rail to ground with a multimeter/diode test for a near-short.
  4. Reapply AC only (battery still out) and measure voltage at the jack pad and at the first regulator input to see where the rail drops. A voltage at the jack but not past the fuse/trace isolates the fault.
  5. If a hard short is present, use a current-limited bench supply or remove suspect MOSFET/regulator devices to isolate the short before powering for long periods.

Repair options and cautions:

  • Common fixes at this point are replacing the DC jack assembly, replacing a blown SMD fuse or fusible resistor, reflowing/repairing lifted pads, or running a small jumper to bypass a burnt trace. These are standard board-level repairs but require steady hands, the right soldering tools, and ESD precautions. Do not apply mains power if the board shows heavy visible damage.

Data/OS note:

  • An "operating system not found" symptom (see and ) is a separate storage/boot issue to address only after reliable power is restored; imaging the drive before attempting reinstall preserves recoverable data.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for James1216

I am having the same problem but if it is not booting at all then it is normally the memory has come loose. it may have happened if you have knocked the pc. or if youve overclocked it then it may be fried. try taking out the memory cleaning the connection (try to touch it with your hands as little as poss). Also there is some information on other threads that you should try because alot of people are/have been having the same problems and if none of that works then post again.

Member Avatar for pcguy

Well I tried one memory stick and then the other and no difference. I have removed the MB from the laptop as I noticed a noticeable high heat streak on the + lead on the motherboard power plug.

Member Avatar for NickThanos

i have a sony vaio PCG-FR130. When i turned it on the other day, I get a message operating system not found. What might be the problem.
I pulled the hard drive out & re installed it, but same message.

Member Avatar for Alxandro

Getting the same thing with or with the hard drive means either your hard drive gave out or the operating systme is corrupt or lost. I would install a new hard drive, install your OS (Windows?) using your recovery disks, then install your old drive as a slave/2nd/backup drive to see if you can recover your contents.

Member Avatar for Jupiter 2

I have a Sony Vaio but no problems. Perhaps the DC Power Jack Plug has been "wiggled" and has become disconnected to the Notebook. Since you can buy a Jack Plug, there seems to be a reasonable #### that it could be faulty. This fault is common with Gateway notebooks/laptops.

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