notebook shuts down when NOT running on batteries

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Hi all,

I have a sony VAIO R505DL notebook (Pentium III), with this weird problem:
I can run it fine on batteries, no problem at all.
But if I plug it in, after about 5 minutes it shuts down. I mean,
the screen goes dark, system stops, no warning at all, just as if
the power has been switched off.
Now, I imagined it could be that when running on batteries, the processor
is slowed down to preserve power and hence runs cooler; and that
when plugged in it runs full speed and overheats and then shuts itself down.
But I tried all combination of power schemes, and even applets that switch
the processor speed, and the result is the same:
batteries -> no problem (even with processor at full speed)
ac -> problem (even with processor at lowest speed).

Any one has any idea of what the problem may be ? or where to go to get
it fixed ? (not sony, they will likely charge $700)

Many thanks,

eduardo
 
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Hi,

> But if I plug it in, after about 5 minutes it shuts down. I mean,
> the screen goes dark, system stops, no warning at all, just as if

Does this symptom still occur if you pull the battery and run on AC
only (not charging the battery, in other words)?
 
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Eduardo Tabacman wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have a sony VAIO R505DL notebook (Pentium III), with this weird
> problem: I can run it fine on batteries, no problem at all.
> But if I plug it in, after about 5 minutes it shuts down. I mean,
> the screen goes dark, system stops, no warning at all, just as if
> the power has been switched off.
> Now, I imagined it could be that when running on batteries, the
> processor is slowed down to preserve power and hence runs cooler; and
> that
> when plugged in it runs full speed and overheats and then shuts
> itself down. But I tried all combination of power schemes, and even
> applets that switch the processor speed, and the result is the same:
> batteries -> no problem (even with processor at full speed)
> ac -> problem (even with processor at lowest speed).
>
> Any one has any idea of what the problem may be ? or where to go to
> get
> it fixed ? (not sony, they will likely charge $700)
>
> Many thanks,
>
> eduardo

Get a can of computer dust cleaner at any computer store. Blow out the
fan inlet and the exhaust ports thoroughly. It might help. BTW, can
you hear the fan run at full speed just before it shuts down? You might
also access BIOS setup (F2? just after POST) and check that the power
management settings are what you expect and that you haven't unchecked
PnP Operating system, if that is an option.

Q
 
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On 30 Apr 2004 11:12:00 -0700, edutabacman@yahoo.com (Eduardo
Tabacman) wrote:
>Any one has any idea of what the problem may be ? or where to go to get
>it fixed ? (not sony, they will likely charge $700)

I'm spit-balling here, but the problem sounds to me like it's heat
related as well, but it might be a broken solder on the motherboard
near the DC subcard, rather than an overheating CPU. Try running it
with the battery to drain it a bit, then plug it in; after a few
minutes, is it still charging, or does it charge only when the laptop
is off or suspended?
Emanuel
 
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larwe@larwe.com (Lewin A.R.W. Edwards) wrote in message news:<608b6569.0404301618.1718a398@posting.google.com>...
> Hi,
>
> > But if I plug it in, after about 5 minutes it shuts down. I mean,
> > the screen goes dark, system stops, no warning at all, just as if
>
> Does this symptom still occur if you pull the battery and run on AC
> only (not charging the battery, in other words)?

Yes, I've tried that. Even without the battery, it shuts down after 5 minutes.

thanks,

eduardo
 
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"Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message news:<HKWdnUHpP73TcA_dRVn-vg@comcast.com>...
> BTW, can
> you hear the fan run at full speed just before it shuts down? You might
> also access BIOS setup (F2? just after POST) and check that the power
> management settings are what you expect and that you haven't unchecked
> PnP Operating system, if that is an option.

The Power options in the BIOS setup are disabled (something about these
settings cannot be configured under ACPI mode). The PnP OS option is checked.

Thanks,

eduardo
 
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Eduardo Tabacman wrote:
> "Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message
> news:<HKWdnUHpP73TcA_dRVn-vg@comcast.com>...
>> BTW, can
>> you hear the fan run at full speed just before it shuts down? You
>> might also access BIOS setup (F2? just after POST) and check that
>> the power management settings are what you expect and that you
>> haven't unchecked PnP Operating system, if that is an option.
>
> The Power options in the BIOS setup are disabled (something about
> these
> settings cannot be configured under ACPI mode). The PnP OS option is
> checked.
>
> Thanks,
>
> eduardo

Take this problem to the unofficial Vaio forum and check the hardware
FAQs. There might be a known issue with this model.
http://pub173.ezboard.com/bunofficialsony

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"Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message news:<bJ6dnZhgxO2aswjdRVn-vg@comcast.com>...
> Take this problem to the unofficial Vaio forum and check the hardware
> FAQs. There might be a known issue with this model.
> http://pub173.ezboard.com/bunofficialsony

That seems like a good idea. I couldn't find anything on the FAQ, but
posted a message. If I get a good answer, I'll repost it here.

Thanks,

eduardo