Member Avatar for JustJessica

Every time I turn my Sony VAIO laptop on it comes up with two options:

Launch Startup Repair (recommended) and Start Windows Normally

I click on the Launch Startup Repair (recommended) option, the screen goes blank and the white arrow pointer enlarges and seems to have the same affect on the screen. A message appears in a box;

VAIO - Recovery Tools are being launched. Please wait.

I wait and another message appears in a box;

VAIO - Copying of the folder failed. (button that says OK)

I click the button that says OK, wait and my laptop completely shuts down.

Why is it doing this? How can I resolve it? Do I have to get a new laptop?

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Dani AI

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Short summary and practical next steps for (and anyone seeing the same VAIO recovery failure): the “copying folder” stage failing almost always means the recovery data the VAIO is trying to use is unreadable — that can be damaged recovery files (partition or discs), a failing hard drive, or an optical-drive/read-error problem. Similar rebuild errors have the same root causes in VAIO threads and repair reports. (justanswer.com)

Do not run a factory restore yet. A factory restore will erase everything; Sony’s recovery wizard explicitly warns about data loss, and it’s essential to copy off personal files first. If Windows will not start, boot a Linux “live” USB (choose “Try without installing”) or remove the laptop drive and attach it to another PC to copy your Documents/Pictures/etc. to an external drive. This preserves data before any destructive repair. (sony.com)

If you want to attempt repairs first (after backing up): try Safe Mode as suggested — if that fails, boot from a Windows repair/installation disc or a system-repair disc and open the Recovery Command Prompt. Run a surface/file-system check with chkdsk C: /r (may take many hours) and then try rebuilding boot data with the Bootrec commands (bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /rebuildbcd). Those are standard, supported recovery steps when Startup Repair cannot complete. Be aware chkdsk /r can cause data loss on badly damaged sectors, which is why the backup step comes first. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the repair tools report bad sectors or SMART shows failing attributes, run the drive maker’s diagnostics (or use CrystalDiskInfo / smartmontools), and replace the drive if needed — recovery will repeatedly fail on a failing disk. If the recovery partition is corrupted and you do not have working recovery discs, Sony’s pages explain ordering recovery media or using the VAIO Recovery Wizard when the partition is intact; scratched discs or a bad DVD drive can also cause the copy-to-disk errors, so try another optical drive or recovery media if possible. (kb.plugable.com)

Practical priorities: (1) back up immediately; (2) run non-destructive tests (SMART, chkdsk read-only pass if needed); (3) try repairs from a Windows repair disc; (4) if hardware failure is indicated, replace the HDD and then restore from backup or recovery media. If uncomfortable with these steps, a local repair shop can image the drive and recover data before any factory restore.

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Member Avatar for Liam100uk

Have you tried running in safe mode? That should work, if it doesnt then i suggest doing a complete format.

Another option is to press F10 or F8 and do a complete Factory settings restore.

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To get into safe mode, first turn off your computer by the button, that says power.

Then when a menu comes up, use the arrow keys to go to, Safe mode with networking, go to your file and it should work.

Member Avatar for Stefano Mtangoo

what about CDs that came with vista?

Member Avatar for Bleach fan

Why Sony vaio is acting weird. I will boot up fully but it won't show my home page with the screen saver and all of my shortcuts.

Any help is appreciated

Member Avatar for Bleach fan

Sorry the why is so post to be a my

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