Anybody else have massive problems with the screen and general stability?

So I bought an X205-S9359 back like last Feb or whenever CompUSA closed. I have had nothing but problems from this machine. Out of the box, Vista was not stable and I had to move down to XP by locating all of the X200 drivers online and making my own custom CD.

Well I've had the machine have numerous issues. Initially I sent it to the depot center for a burnt out HD-DVD reader/DVD burner, faulty graphics card (8700m GT displaying artifacts in any 3D application after just a few minutes), and memory issues. They have my machine for two weeks, sent it back, and the drive still didn't work but now, my screen was flickering.

I immediately called Toshiba and reported the issue and they said I would just have to send it back. I denied that and decided it wasn't terrible and I would just deal with it. About a month ago, the screen started flashing at least 1-2 times a minute. At this point, I called again. Once again, take it to UPS and send it to the depot. I told them I was not doing that, they gave me an authorized service center.

I take it to the service center (Zettalogica) and they immediately see the flickering and assume its a GPU issue. Motherboard and GPU get replaced again. Issue is still there. They also replaced my drive for me since they couldn't replicate my issue. Now they ordered a new laptop cable, inverter, and LCD from Toshiba. Toshiba took 4 days to ship the thing out to them and the guys still aren't sure that it will fix the problem because they tried angling the screen to induce the flicker and it didn't change and also because of the graphic distortion on the screen when it flickers. That screams GPU but that's been replaced twice now.

So Zettalogica has had my computer for two weeks so far. They're putting in the new LCD today and will call and let me know if it fixes it. I called Toshiba corporate, got an extremely rude woman named Karen (she was so rude she CUT ME OFF while I was explaining what was going on with the laptop) who said that they won't replace it and that if the authorized service provider can not fix it, I am going to have to send it to their corporate repair depot and be out ANOTHER two to three weeks while they try to figure it out and if they deem it irrepairable, they will send me a new one.

Just do an advance exchange like any other reputable company offers. Jesus christ, all of my college is done online. I HAVE to have my laptop. RIDICULOUS!

Anyone else have an X205 or other Toshiba laptop with horror stories to share?

 

I'd call them back again IF the LCD replacement, along with inverter doesn't fix it. I think it will, though, actually. You're right... if the machine is stable with the new motherboard/gpu which they're replaced twice, Except for the screen flicker, it's probably the connection between the mb and the lcd or the lcd itself.

IF however you still have trouble, call them back and require that they let you speak to a manager. Be polite. Try to be really nice, but very dogged (don't give up) with them. Tell that since you took the laptop to a Toshiba Authorized Repair Center, that if that center can't fix it, they need to deem it irrepairable. There should be no reason at all to have to send it to a corporate repair depot if Toshiba has certified Zettalogica.

 

Ive heard horror storries about Toshiba Satellite 6100 Pros, they had some class action lawsuit to repair them beyond the warranty period. Personally never had a problem with one of my own, but i generally dont keep a laptop for more then six months before i sell and buy something else

 

Well I got it back from Zettalogica today. The screen is still flickering. They are at a loss as to what is causing it. It is nowhere near as bad as it was when I took it in but it does it in both 2D and 3D mode. They're thinking its drivers... I doubt it because I'm using official nVidia WHQL drivers for Windows 7.

I'm going to roll it back to Vista tonight and see if its still doing it... Anyway, corporate has already told me that the only people that can deem it irrepairable are those in the corporate depot in Irvine, CA and that I will have to be without my laptop for another 2 weeks or so.