Help! Restoring system to factory default, getting no display

[BiscuitTin]

Following Sony's instructions I'm doing a factory restore of drive C using the backup DVD created using Sony's restore tool.

I can boot from DVD and the restore runs and the system runs through the Sony driver installation and then re-boots. When the system re-boots, you get a Vista desktop and the installation continues. The system re-boots once again. When it re-starts you get the Vista progress bar, but when the system should switch to the desktop, I get a blank screen and there is no drive activity.

If I re-boot (only possible by pressing the button) and select the safe boot option, I get a message telling me that install cannot continue in safe mode. I re-boot back into normal mode but the same blank screen problem occurs.

I've tried raising a case on Vaio Link but the site is currently down for maintenance hence my posting here.

Thanks.

[Blencogo]

Hi BiscuitTin.

It sounds like the DVDs are faulty or the recovery software is faulty.

Try recovering direct from the Recovery Partition. Remove all DVDs from the drive and re-boot. At the first Vaio Logo screen press F10 continuously to start the HDDR recovery.

Follow the screen instructions for a Complete Recovery. This should return your Vaio to factory settings.

[BiscuitTin]

Blencogo, I didn't get the Vaio screen you mention, just the Windows Vista startup. Pressing F10 takes me into an option to edit the startup menu?

[littlebucko]

there are a few other ways of getting into the recovery
they are as follows (some work on diffrent types of computers)
f1 (hold on power up )
f2 (hold on power up )
f12 (hold on power up)
esc / del (keep pressing on power up)
f11 (i see you tryed this one)

[BiscuitTin]

I think it was F8 that eventually gave me a screen with advanced startup options. On the list was an item to start the display in low res 640x480 mode. I tried that and got int the Windows destop. I was abe to finish the windows config and set the display resolution maually. It would seem that the sysem set a resolution/frequency that my monitor - that is my TV - couldn't handle.

Thanks for the replies.

PS. to get the Vaio logo up I had to disconnect from the power supply and hold the power button down for a few secs to discharge the remaining power in the system.