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I have a Sony Vaio VPCCW17FX laptop. The computer crashed and Sony sent me recovery disks. As I go through the process per the instructions I keep getting a warning "The capacity of the C:drive is too small and cannot be resized..." What do I do now?
Already Tried: Inserted the disk; shut off the computer for 30 seconds; re-started;selected "Start Vaio Recovery Center";after files were loaded got a message "Recovery tools are being launched"; then chose "Restore complete system";elected to "keep the Vaio Value-added Contents and then got the message about the C;drive being too small
Hi,You will need to opt out of the Vaio contents if the disk is too small for the recovery. This should allow enough room for your Windows to be restored.J.
I do not understand - how do I do that?
Run the procedure again. When asked if you want to keep the contents, answer no.J.
Got the same message
Do you have a Windows XP CD?
no - but tis laptop has Windows 7
Okay - do you have the Windows 7 operating system CD?
I don't think so - would that have come with the computer?
Yes, it should have. Can you check?
not finding it - can I download it to another laptop? Isn't the ecovery disk supposed to re-install it?
It is supposed to install it, but it is failing because the partition on your disk is too small.Are you getting any other options during the restore process?
the initial screen says to choose between "Start Vaio Recovery Center" and "Repair Windows 7" it also gives me the option of hitting F8 for more choices
And once you start the recovery center, do you get any more options, or just the question about whether you want to keep the value added content or not?
the first screen has 5 options:
Vaio hardwqare diagnostics
RestoreC: drive
Restore complete system
Rescue data
Wipe and erase data
BTW, they sent me 5 disks - the only one the computer seems to be able to read is disk 1. On the box that the disks came in it has the number XXXXXXXXX Interestingly, the 5 disks begin with the last 2 digits starting at 26 and going through 30 - I don't know if that means anything (unless they sent the wrong disk(s))
The disks are fine - only the first one is supposed to be bootable.Are you expecting to get any data back from the drive, or is it okay if everything on it is wiped?
yes it is ok to wipe
Okay. So let's go for Wipe and Erase data. Once that's done, try the restore complete system again please.J.
It says to select the hard disk drive to erase but it does not give me any options where it says"Internal hard disk drive list" - there is just a big blank white box
Ah! So now we get to the bottom of the issue. I think your hard drive is dead, and this is why the recovery is failing. Tell me about what has transpired before - why did you even start going for a restore?J.
Very strange. The laptop was working fine. It may not have been shut off properly in that the lid may have been closed without going through the shutdown process (I am not sure about this). In any event, the next day I went to use it and could not get anything but a black screen, a flashing dash in the upper left corner and the message "A disk read error occurred; Press ctrl+Alt+Del to restart
Okay, so now I'm convinced. Your hard drive died, and this is why you got the disk read error, and also why you can't recover your system.You need to get a new drive and replace the defective one, and then the system restore will work.J.
thanks for your help. Last questions, if you know - is this type of failure typically a warranty covered issue? any idea waht causes this?
Yes, if your computer is still under warranty, it should be covered and they should give you a new disk at no charge.The disk drive is the most vulnerable piece of the computer, it spins 5400 times a second (or more). They do die quite easily, sometimes prematurely, like yours.J.
Experience: 20 years of experience building, fixing and servicing PCs and operating systems.