Sony Vaio PCG-K25 Dim Monitor

A couple of days ago I closed the lid on the computer and went to lunch. Like others that I read about when I came back the screen was dark. I've had some problems with the switches a few times and usually can open and close the lid and screen comes back, but not this time. I can connect an external monitor and works fine. I thought I might have some problem with Windows XP and since I needed to clean up the hard drive copied what I wanted and formated the hard drive.

Tried loading XP again but still had problem with screen being dark, can barely see items on screen and this makes me lean towards the inverter or the lamp. However, before I jump into some repairs, here is something odd. If I use a disk management program, which loads drivers and such into the PC the screen lights up like it should. Also all of the instructions and writing that comes up with a bootdisk is normal. I cleaned out XP and then I loaded Windows 98 I get a lighted screen, however the 98 screen is small and I can not get it larger by changing drivers either on the monitor or adaptor.

I'm new to the forum and hope someone may have some idea on fixing the problem.

Thanks,
John

 

sounds like it's the switch and when loaded with a vesa driver from a bootdisk it ignores the monitor open/closed switch.

 

Don't think it's the switch. Let me put out a little more info.

1) Had just installed IE8 and closed lid and went to lunch.

2) Came back and when opened screen dark. I've had this problem before and just had to open and close one or two times and came back, not this time.

3) Hooked up external monitor and could see everythings so knew video driver okay.

4) Decided to set back to a restore point. I tried a couple but IE8 still there and problem with video still there.

5) Decided to reinstall OS. Then I over thought and decided to do a Low Level format, I'd had been getting some wierd things coming up and thought might be good to do a clean install. Forgot or ignored Sony recovery mode and wiped out Sony recovery mode along with everything else.

6) Loaded XP and get VAIO logo and little bit of flashing cursor and the screen goes blank, okay on external monitor.

7) Did some troubleshooting and thought maybe it was inverter, so bought another. If I had just thought a little more would have remembered that when using some utility disk that load basic drivers, video is good. Anyway I now have a spare good inverter.

8) Can load Windows 98 and works okay, but display is about 1/4 normal size and can not be adjusted by display properties.

9) Just for giggles loaded Ubuntu 7.10 (after seeing a post with same problem) and full screen video but not good because some of the software I want to load does not work under this OS.

10) I think I have a motherboard chipset problem. Used a utility I have and found the chipset is a ATI RS200/RS200M. I've downloaded Sony's driver and don't think it is the one I needed or not getting to the chipset. Tried several sites that say they have the correct driver, but they want to sell a bunch of other junk to, so have not found free download of the RS chipset driver yet.

So, that's where I'm at now. I'm having fun trying to fix and not without a PC infact I have at least 3 I can use but would like to get the laptop back.

P.S. Forgot to tell that I bought the Sony Vaio PCG-K25 recovery disk and installed all of it as per instructions, along with a new XP and still had the same problem. This would be 7a. I guess.

 

Still sounds like the switch to me.