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    Sony Vaio VPCEB17FG Consistent Crashing

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Sabbz27, Nov 16, 2011.

  1. Sabbz27

    Sabbz27 Newbie

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    Hi Everyone :)

    I've been having an issue with my Vaio ( VPCEB17FG ) for the last few months (warranty is void), from time to time (usually up to several times a day) the laptop will crash, and by crash I mean it will completely lock up; no BSoD, no Black Screen; mouse, keyboard and audio freeze. The only solution is to switch off.

    I'm running a stock Sony Vaio VPCEB17FG.
    (Specs, if you're interested:
    • Intel® Core™ i3-330M Processor 2.13 GHz (Intel® HM55 Express Chipset)
    • 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM
    • 500 GB*4 (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)
    • Blu-ray Disc™ Combo Drive
    • ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5650 Graphics 1 GB DDR3 SDRAM

    I have tried the following:

    • Memtest86+ (all the tests, zero errors),
    • Complete format reinstall,
    • Left the computer idling to see if it crashes (it doesn't),
    • Disk Defrag,
    • Disk Check,
    • Windows Repair and System Restore,
    • I've even taken the damn P.O.S. (lol) apart, cleaned it and put it back together again.
    • I have updated all my drivers, from Sony's, Intel's and ATI's websites,
    • I've lifted the laptop up, freeing the base of it and focused a large home fan at it (no luck, still crashed),
    • I try to keep the base as free as possible to assist in heat dissipation

    It MAY be overheating, but I'm not entirely sure on the "safe" and "unsafe" temperature levels for a laptop, at present it's sitting at:
    • CPU 45 Degrees Celsius
    • Motherboard 45 Degrees Celsius
    • Graphics 47 Degrees Celsius
    • and Hard Drive at 33 Degrees Celsius

    When playing games, the temperatures raise into the 60's and 70's. As a side note, the laptop crashes most frequently when playing the new Battlefield 3; theory: too much CPU/RAM/GRAPHICS usage?

    * Values provided by Speccy

    Current CPU Usage: 10%
    RAM (Physical):
    • Total: 3950
    • Cached: 571
    • Available: 2507
    • Free: 2050

    Additional: I'm thinking of buying one of those laptop cooler pad do-hickies (the ones with integrated fan cooling and heat dissipation things), though I am not optimistic about it :(

    I'm utterly clueless as to what to do from here, any help/advice would be appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Sebastien :)
     
    Sabbz27, Nov 16, 2011
    #1