Official Sony VAIO F Series Owners lounge *PART 2*

jacksjw: thanks for that tip. It was going a bit nuts with going dark and light. I saw the summarized "tips and tricks". A new color profile is the next thing on my list of things to tweak.

 

Besides the two monitor profiles & Brightness tips found in the Unification Post #2, check also Vaio_F_Series Monitor Profiles Roundup to get 11 more profile choices by 3 other F users.

 

The answer you have all been waiting for - The US/Canadian Glossy Screen model number

SHARP LQ164M1LD4C

 

Great info, thanks!

Now all we need is the monitor brand & model number for the superior EU Premium Matte 1080p.

EU F owners, do you have a screwdriver & 10 minutes of spare time?

 

The display on my F11 keeps flickering and shutting off. It won't restart after shutdown, (sleep, hibernate, or even shutting the lid) unless the "Display off" and Fn F6 are pressed repeatedly.

(sigh,) dumping stuff now, I'll have to send it in Monday.

This is a unit that was working properly so far, now I AM pi**ed off!

 

Sorry to hear that. Mine gave me much shorter notice.

 

Sorry to hear that.

Just curious, have you tried connecting an external monitor & running Vaio_Care?

I know your F is defective.

I had an_Acer that had a loose LCD connection and was flickering or going black. Lightly tapping on the bottom of the bezel would fix it it for a while. But it was always starting contrary to yours. Actually sometimes it was starting but the screen was black & by shining a flashlight on the LCD, I could see that it booted normally.

Good luck with the repair and take some before repair photos of your_F11's cosmetic state maybe?

 

The display has gone completely, now I'm using the (Reliable!!) Asus N10. I guess I'll have to ask for the money back unless they can put in a new screen immediately. I'll buy the Asus G51. Or wait to the July F11 refresh with incentives.

Damn, all that software I'd put in: games, movie captures, Premiere project under way, Excel data....

And I mentioned the scratches this machine had developed, not serious ones though.

AND remember I only received this Canadian CTO with GT330 after waiting for two months, they gave me free accessories for waiting.

 

It's EXACTLY like a bad flourescent or a flourescent fixture with a bad ballast, so literally it will be the Cold Flourescent backlight or the invertor. There's no mechanically-sensitive aspect to the fault.

If they just need to change the invertor then that's fine, though the Sharp display itself had nasty shading.

Yah there IS an image on the LCD, and sometimes just the right side of the display is lit. It works in safe mode, but still flickers, I assume that's because the backlight is "full on" - full voltage to the invertor or no switching waveform to phase-dim the display.

Just confirmed with testing with an external monitor, this is NOT a software problem.

 

It could be the inverter, I noticed on lower than full brightness mine is a buzzer, kinda hints that the quality on them is kinda.. eh..

I'm sorry, I feel like a broken record, but I must ask this again. When you have your machine on, plugged in, and the battery is full... does your PSU light flicker?

I'm well aware it's normal for the brightness of it to change depending on if the machine is on/off, or charging the battery, or sleeping.. but this is a very violent flickering from bright to rather dark, and if I plug it in next to a normal lamp it'll cause the lamp to flicker with it.

Generally, it links up to hard drive activity, but it doesn't happen if I start to stress the machine. Weird! [Eg, it'll be perfectly normal if I'm playing 3 youtube 1080p videos and charging the battery].

I'm asking if it's normal because the local best buy's rep believed it was. *sigh*

 

Other way for me.

The initial order said 12th - 19th, that then changed at the production stage to 15th - 20th. The production finished and I was advised it would be shipping on the 18th. On the 19th I contacted Sony Sales to see why I hadn't received a shipping tracking number, they said to call on Monday (22nd) and they should be able to give me a more accurate update as it's currently somewhere between Japan (the assembler) and the Netherlands (their logistics center). So I have no idea what their "Ships on the 18th" was all about.

Looks like it's going to be quite a bit longer than I thought

 

Yes the green LED on the power brick is flickering as I write this. Normal computer activity, not charging. The bedside lamp (a flourescent plugged into the same extension cord) is also flickering slightly

 

Got it back yet?

 

That's very worrisome.

I'm beginning to think a call to Sony on Monday is a good idea lol.

 

I'm not sure about that. Maybe you could check with_Sony or some F11_owners with a 4GB configuration could confirm that.

My BB USA VPCF115FM came with 6GB:

DIMM1: Samsung M471B5273BH1-CH9 4GB

DIMM2: Hynix HMT125S6BFR8C-H9 2GB

On Fleabay Hynix HMT125S6BFR8C-H9 2GB can be found for as low as $55 while the Samsung M471B5273BH1-CH9 4GB starts @ about $137 & up.

So depending on stock & wholesale prices, Sony_may choose to put 2 x 2GB sticks inside a 4GB configuration which is cheaper than one 4GB.

So if you get a 2 sticks configuration, you could ebay a 2GB stick to recoup some of the cost of a 4GB replacement.

It's easy to change the memory sticks. From the Vaio_F11’s User Manual:



Step 3 & 7 are funny!

 

Step 3 is funny, are you supposed to run with scissors or something in the meantime? XD

 

I added the scissors, do you like them?

 

Nope. They said they were expecting to receive the thermal module jst this last week. I will try calling them Monday to see where they're at with it.

 

I got that but Vaio_Care > Troubleshooting > Hardware Test > Video > "Video Test will only work for internal LCD" > OK.

Does it detect the fault?

 

Just bought this computer, but during opening I noticed two fingerprints on the screen... is it certain that this has been used before or could it have happened during manufacture/packaging>?

 

Oh cool... I thought maybe I'd missed it.

 

C.S.I.? ----

 

I really really feel you pain. Takes a couple of weeks to get to the point where you have all the apps running the way you like it and suddenly this. Makes my blood boil.

I agree with your diagnostics, in my case too it seems like the fluorescent lamp died. All connectors where in place and no broken cables. Although I had 1600x900 maybe the CCLF is the same for both screens. For this reason I think either the CCFL batch is defective or not designed to be too mobile.

Sony did a great job designing this machine and integrating it with the software but did a very lousy job selecting their parts vendors. Hopefully they fix the problems for the next gen of F11 until then I won't take the risk of getting the same machine. Is just a Russian roulette.

 

It crashes; when running hardware video diagnosis "Hardware Diagnostic has encountered an error and cannot continue" I reinstalled several drivers including Chipset and Nvida, and still got that error.

I've used VAIO care for other things without problems.

 

Sorry, it's obviously you, not the computer. *hides*

Just kidding

 

Seriously Kayron, a couple of fingerprints?! The screen is a fingerprint magnet, there are bigger fish to fry.......

I'd bet that most of the F11s currently shipping have been back to the mill for a redo, Human worker Grunts and all.

 

Thanks. I was curious about the capabilities of Hardware Diagnostics. Do you mean that the OS crash or the Hardware Diagnostics > Video test?

--------------

For those who would like to learn more on the LCD backlight subject:

Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL)

CCFL inverter

How to replace CCFL tube (backlight lamp) in Sony_laptop LCD screen

Video:

- How to replace an iBook_G4 backlight

- Inverter replacement for displays with one tube (Laptop)

 

Well well well well well....... I'd tried repacing the Nvida driver, nada, and the Intel drivers, not much difference, so I just did a complete reinstall of ALL drivers and VAIO software, guess what? No more display problems, no flickering. I notice though that without the spider profile loaded the overall cast of the screen is now orangey rather than the distinct blue it was before - more accurate colorimetry though.

So, if it looks like your display is dying, try reinstalling all base software BEFORE writing a nasty letter to Sony.. (Sigh, now I have to send an Email cancelling my RMA request..)

'course, question is WHY did the software need reinstalling? This is not the first time it's been required to be so.

 

It could be a coincidence that restoring all back to factory settings seems like it is fixed.

In my case I din't update any drivers and my machine was overall very clean. Just vmware player. With such a powerful machine is great to just run VMs with the different projects this way machine remains very clean and you van be messy on the VMs.

 

LOL Trust me step 7 is necessary for some people!!
Thank you so much for looking this up for me. You are right about Sony deciding to use 2x2GB instead of 1x4GB stick even though their config states they will install 1x4GB.

Anyone out there with a original 4GB config? or did what I'm thinking about doing?

Thanks

 

Don't get your hopes to high, a reddish tint could be a sign of a dying CCFL as I saw on some laptops.

I tried to run my colorimeter on such a screen & it reported that the colors were too out of norm to be able to proceed. Maybe you could try yours on it?

Video: How to tell if you have a Bad LCD Bulb. Laptop or monitor.

Did you run again Video test?

"I'd tried repacing the Nvida driver, nada, and the Intel drivers, not much difference, so I just did a complete reinstall of ALL drivers and VAIO software, guess what? No more display problems" - maybe you just reset to factory state settings by doing so.

Had you installed Nvidia Tools & overclock the video card for games?

 

Even if one user with a 4GB config has only 1 4GB stick, it's not a guarantee that yours will be the same.

I tried to send you a private message but you did not: Enable Private Messaging in your Profile > Edit Options > Messaging & Notification > Enable Private Messaging (via Notebookreview's system)

You can do that will keeping "Receive Email from Other Members" (via your private email) disabled.

 

hmm don't see a enable private messaging option, just a Receive Email from Other Members option

 

Can you explain why the bedside lamp is flickering?

I ask this because a friend's FW had strange screen phenomena which -- surprise -- stopped happening when another (same model) adapter was used.

If the draw from the adapter is uneven, wouldn't that affect the lamp plugged into the same extension cord?

And why are you using an extension cord anyway? From Vaio to surge protector to direct outlet plug -- that's the best ticket.

Let us know what color the screen has when you eliminate the extension cord, for starters.


P.S. Glad you put your avatar into a posting so we could see what was being referred to because, yes, your avatar is GONE under your name.

 

How can you generalize & wite things like:

- "Although I had 1600x900 maybe the CCLF is the same for both screens (ref. to MelodyMaster's 1920 x 1080). For this reason I think either the CCFL batch is defective or not designed to be too mobile" and

- "Sony_did a great job designing this machine and integrating it with the software but did a very lousy job selecting their parts vendors."

Sony_surely receives the Sharp's or other brands' LCD's with the CCFL already mounted in it. It's a wild guess to write that the tubes would be from the same batch and are identical parts for both 900p & 1080p displays.

Sharp, LG, etc, are huge display manufacturers but as all mass produced things, there is a normal percentage of defective units.

In my Vaio_F11, there are parts from respectable world class manufacturers like Samsung (HDD & memory stick), Hyundai (Hynix), Nvidia, Intel, Ricoh, Realtek, MATAS*HITA (Panasonic ODD), etc.

I really don't think that they are "lousy" parts manufacturers.

Again: Everything is relative:

 

Oh no! Your profile is broken.

Click on my user name on the left to see the option enabled.

 

Hi everyone,

Just an update on my effort to get my defective LCD resolved. Two weeks ago I called customer service about the status of my complaint and they said that the pictures and email were sent to a higher level and I would be contacted within 36 hours. A week later without any phone calls or e-mails, I called customer service again and the complaint is still being reviewed. This is now over two months since I ordered my computer and I'm sure Sony's going to drag this out until I give up. If I don't get any kind of resolution next week, I'm thinking that I may have to go through VISA which has introduced a new "E-Promise" program:

http://www.visa.ca/en/personal/securewithvisa/epromise.jsp

Have any of you heard of this program?

 

"Lies, damned lies, and statistics".
My own stats.
100% good IBMs. 2
100% good HPs. Over 15 for me and my employees.
100% good Acers. 1
100% good Apples. 1
100% good Toshibas. 2
100% bad Sonys. 1 Came with defective webcam. Screen died. (2) defects...

 

I didn't notice the avatar was gone, Ok, this is my last posting, you can find me in Audiokarma.org and EPhatch.com. My Email is [email protected].

The reason that the light may be flickering is due to a phenoma of switching power supplies, where they send a spike of current BACK to the feedline that is out of phase with that of the source AC. This is why an electronically regenerated isolated line, such as in Hospitals and broadcast stations, (and UPS's I guess) can only accept a total load of maybe 30% of the line rating if all connected devices use switching supplies. (--if I explained that correctly.) The F11 supply is sending large spikes BACK into the AC as it changes power level, that's why the flicker. The F11 supply is behaving normally, though not ideally. I've used a 19 volt 140 watt NON-switching HP printer supply on the F11, and it works fine, though I'm guessing it's less efficient.

I'm using an extension cord because the whole setup is temporary, we're clearing out the house preparatory to a move - after 41 years.

The screen doesn't change colour on the supply, wherever it's plugged in, or on battery.

So farewell, Im going to stick to hanging out in forums where the Mods have common sense and intelligence above that of a Gibbon.

.. Steve ..

 

I generally use surge protectors, not extension cords. So far, I've found that my computer + power supply exhibits the flickering issue regardless of where I use it, that includes:

1. Various places in my house, with and without different surge protectors and on different circuits.

2. A couple of buildings at the college I go to (here's a trip, I saw the ceiling lights on one side of the room start to flicker when I had my computer on) ... XD

3. Best Buy, where the "geek squad" guy started arguing with me about how he saw nothing wrong with the machine as the power brick was flickering away in his face.

Mine also makes "click click" noises when it does that, they have a peculiar sound that definitely comes from the brick, and not the hard drive.

So you guys generally don't experience this issue, yes?

0912G A is on the bottom of my brick.

It worries me, because it's not as if the machine is doing that once a day, or once an hour.. mine does it every time it hits the hard drive..

Think about that. I don't even need the HD access light, in fact I can tell my computer is hitting the hard drive just by looking at the lamp next to my desk lol.

 

Have the guy at the store swap the brick and see if it still continues. Yes, it could be hardware in the notebook but, again, always start with the outlet and work your way back to the machine. That means swapping out the brick to see if it isn't defective.

Heck -- this wouldn't be the first line of Sony adapters to have problems. You're told all about one line of defective adapters in the States the minute you call tech support.

 

No sir, I'm on topic: it's a Vaio_F_Series. (thanks for the French)

Even more in the suggestion, no?

"...are we all kids here?.." - yes, that's why we like to talk so much about our Vaio_F11 toy & also like to play cats & mice with the mods.

You lied BTW, you posted again after your "last post".

Do you want us all to post: Please don't go MelodyMaster!

No problem, I did it. Now it's your turn guys.

 

So my laptop is done setting up windows 7 on this (weird that I have to do this, while I see guys on youtube doing a first boot up and getting straight into windows 7).. So is there a guide to what the useless software are that sony pre-installed for you? Don't want to accidently delete a good program. Tried the unification post, but couldn't find much on this?

 

It's useless until you need it.

" Tried the unification post, but couldn't find much on this?" really? Check this found in said Unification Post & follow the links in that post:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5924807&highlight=clean+install#post5924807

 

I am sorry, perhaps I should clarify things about myself. I am quite a noob when it comes to computers. Before this I have been using a crappy desktop with winxp for a year of 5 and all I do is multimedia and downloading and watching stuff.

So only after googling it up, do I have a slight understanding of the term... so I did not know what to look for in the unification post... I checked the link actually, but it does not mention what software should be uninstalled or not...

 

I have one question that I need to ask to ease my mind. I have bought a european model of the Sony Vaio F11S1E/B. Because of the issues mentioned in this thread before there have been quite a few returns to stores and it wouldn;t be the first time for stores to put these straight back to shells and sell it as new.

So being the noob I am and using a laptop for this first time (realize my noobness: during unboxing I was checking for the windows 7 premium disc and searching the box thinking I'm an item short!) I booted it up... and after having chosen english instead of dutch as the language to go for it tells me it is RESTORING my operating system and afterwards "this part of the process restores your computer's C: drive to that of the original factory condition. Bla bla" with a bar filling up to 100%...

Now first of all, on youtube videos I see american/british users (no european users for this on youtube yet) doing what they claim a first bootup and entering straight into windows 7... mine is RESTORING and installing for 45 minutes, setting up windows.

Second of all, why is it talking about RESTORING it to the original factory conditions... that would imply the laptop had been set up before, otherwise the lappy should already be set at the original factory conditions.

Any European users able to tell me they had the same thing during their first bootup?

 

Well you probably ordered with Dutch, since you chose English, it is reinstalling the OS in English as only Ultimate has language packs that let's you change anytime to OS representation language by logging in/out like mine does: English, French, Spanish & German.

"why is it talking about RESTORING it to the original factory conditions" because it's doing so. That's OK, just fire up & play a while before asking more questions.

About "bloatware" & saving disk space, see: Sony_VAIO_F C: Drive Partitions & Recovery Trick.

Just a tip for usability of this thread: >>> When posting: Go Advanced > use relevant keywords in your message subject line.

 

My Sony F (VPCF111FX) is doing the same thing, but only when it is running Windows 7, I have a dual boot system and most of the time I am running Ubuntu 9.10. The power brick or the lamp attached to the same outlet does not flicker while in Ubuntu. I am only expressing an opinion but this may be related to a driver issue in Windows as I only notice it flickering there when the battery is fully charged while in Windows 7.

 

My F power adapter flickers at times depending on the power demanded by the F which is normal. I do not plug any lamps or other stuff in the same outlet as my A/C adapter brick.

If you reboot, sleep, hibernate and wake up in Ubuntu, does it flicker a little bit like mine normally does in Win 7?

Does the CPU Turbo work in Ubuntu?

Do you have any other feedback about your VPCF111FX besides the brick? Like, dislike, general impression?

 

Thanks for the patience and the tips! One more thing is unclear though...

I'm playing with it and the whistling sound people are talking about rarely rears its ugly head here and it does not bother me that much anyway... great first impressions so far.
However these questions I'm asking are simply things I need to know in order to determine whether I will exchange it or not asap. Don't know about others, but I won't accept people selling me second hand things for the full price. So bear with me and make me happy or stress me out:

So it's normal for a completely unused laptop to be talking about restoring to the original factory conditions during its first boot up? It does not necessarily imply that someone's set this comp up before and therefore it needs to be ''restoring'' things first before it can install windows 7?


Last noob question for the night, I promise