Copied from Sony's Web Site
Q: The computer will not start up from the System Recovery CD, but will startup from the hard drive.
SOLUTION:
Follow this procedure to troubleshoot the notebook computer when it will not start to the System Recovery CD but will start to the hard drive.
IMPORTANT: If another CD/DVD drive is being used, it must support bootable CDROMs and be 100% ATAPI compliant. If the drive does not conform to these requirements, a recovery may not be possible.
Clean the System Recovery CD with a soft dry cloth to ensure it is not dirty or damaged.
If another computer is available, try starting to the Recovery CD on that computer.
NOTES:
If the second computer does not recognize the Recovery CD, the disc may need to be replaced.
If the computer starts to the CD and produces an error message stating that the CD is not for that computer, then the disc works properly.
Reset the BIOS defaults.
IQ Knowledge Base Article C94679
How to reset the BIOS to its default values.
SOLUTION:
Follow this procedure to reset the BIOS to its default values.
Restart the computer.
At the SONY screen, press the F2 key.
In the PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility window, press the RIGHT ARROW key until the Exit menu is selected.
On the Exit menu, press the DOWN ARROW key until Get Default Values is selected.
Press the ENTER key.
In the Setup Confirmation dialog box, press the ENTER key.
In the PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility window, on the Exit menu, press the UP ARROW key until Exit (Save Changes) is selected.
Press the ENTER key.
In the Setup Confirmation dialog box, press the ENTER key.
IQ Knowledge Base Article C150343 at
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/
contains full instructions concerning system recovery
good luck