I have a VGN - S150. If my battery is in, it will boot up and immediately go to hibernation even though the A/C adapter is attached. However, I found an odd work-around -- If I take the battery half way out (so that one of the contacts is still touching), then the computer will stay on and works perfectly.

What the heck is going on? Do I just need a new battery (it's the original - holds a charge for about 10 minutes)?

So, it only holds out for 10 minutes while it's fully charged?

Sounds like a bad battery. But you should contact Sony's customer support before anything goes wrong.

Would a bad battery cause the situation I described? Where, even while powered by an A/C adapter, it would immediately go to hibernation mode upon start-up? And, the only fix is partially taking the battery out (but leaving one half of the contacts connected)?

Seems so odd.

try using the laptop on ac mode with the battery removed and if it doesnt cut out then its probably a battery, if the problem is still there i would update the vaio and if that doesnt work id say its either a power jack problem or the daughter board is gone faulty,