Official Sony VAIO F Series Owners lounge *PART 2*

Joe Bleau already posted a link to an after-market parts dealer and, using the Sony parts site links he also provided, I posted links and prices.

Only a few pages back.

But you might want to read what I posted above your last post, too.

Or not.

Good luck!

 

I'm sure you can get one from an after-market for less (one reason why they don't post prices but make you email for more info at some of the sites). Try laptops4less (if I recall correctly) and the link from (or discussed by) Joe Bleau from screentek, for example.

I just cannot imagine that that matte screen will cost less than $700. After all, Europeans are paying more for that RGB laptop version.

I take it you did not buy it with AmEx or an MC, darn. They also extend the manufacturer's warranty automatically with purchase for up to a full year.

As for ADH and upgrades, all you have to do is have a Best Buy geek install whatever for you and you do not invalidate any warranties from Sony. Granted, a screen replacement won't be too cheap, but putting in a new drive is likely about $50. So, if you got the part cheap and it corresponds to an option offered by Sony (and therefore tested on the model), the installation is an extension deposit on your warranty.

Good luck!

 

Hi, if you are not in a rush, I would suggest calling Sony Style directly and seeing if they will give you a 10% discount. I was able to successfully get them to give me one.

 

Here is a picture of my "shot" screen....

 

Vaio Care message has started to pop up on a regular basis asking if I want to run it. Do not wish to have this pop up. Anyone have knowledge on how to disable? Thanks.

 

Thanks. Joe's subsequent post did a price search with the actual screen model# and the prices that came up were in the $230 ballpark.

FAR more reasonable than the Sony prices. Now if only we could get the EU screen prices (not the Sony price but the actual part's price via the aftermarket), after tracking down that model#.

 

I just purchased a Vaio F11KFX at Frys and when press the button to open the CD/DVD tray, nothing happens - it won't open. Only way to get it to open is by going to computer>drive D> right click eject. I am assuming this is a defect and not a Sony idiosyncrasy. This is my first Sony, so I know very little about them

 

Still waiting for my laptop to be repaired... they had to order a motherboard in after it fried itself after a week. Anyone else in the UK getting their motherboard replaced? Seems to be taking forever.

 

I did a little research and found this:

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/11/not-all-lcd-panels-are-created-equal.html

The cheap "TN" LCD technology explains why all of the Sony screens perform so much worse than my brother's 4 year old Dell which doesn't suffer from narrow viewing angles or color inversion. From what I've seen in stores, it looks like many manufacturers are using TN screens now.

 

Look on the bright side: There is even the possibility that these after-market screens will actually be better than the defective lot that Sony has been using in the North American market.

One thing I noticed at the other official Sony parts supplier site from the one Joe Bleau searched is that for the FW series there were different frame/bezels for screens from different manufacturers; some parts were labeled for AUO LCD or for Sharp LCD -- for the same model computer. I don't think I could get the F or the FW5s to show up in that database, though.

Now find out how much Best Buy or some other official Sony-authorized repair will charge to install it so you can consider not invalidating your original warranty.

Good luck!

 

Glad you liked it. I don't know about the holidays.

 

God's way of telling you its time to get the Z?

 

Yeah, but I wish the EU Matte screen's part#/manufacturer was available, so that I could kill both birds with one stone. Get a replacement screen and get a full-Adobe screen in one shot.

Based on the prices Sony charge for these screens, the matte Full-Adobe-RGB full-HD screen is sold for around $50 more than the glossy full-HD screen. So we are not talking about a huge price difference here.

 

Ha, ha....but that will be an expensive fix for the problem.

 

AFAIK Dell never made a PVA or IPS laptop screen, so the tech in your bro's Dell laptop is probably TN or a predecessor of such.

TN screens aren't always that bad. I've had some desktop ones where it wasn't that easy to tell between them and IPS. In fact, the full adobe screen everyone's drooling over, is probably a TN screen as well.

Oh, and nobody's laptop LCD can't be had for less than ~$300-400. Not unless Sony was the sole supplier and REALLY didn't want you to have one.

Usually they're in the $250 range.

 

Noob question but how do I reformat with no disc?

 

http://www.guru3d.com/news/wd-velociraptor-600gb-6gbs-10000rpm-hdd/

For those looking to add or change a hard drive this was released today by
Western Digital.

 

What happened? Did you not create recovery discs from the start? You need the disc.

 

Please provide the pics to do the LCD removal/replacement....retaliation notwithstanding.

Using your earlier video, I removed the 2 phillips screws at the top right and left and separated out the bezel at the top by unsnapping the fasteners, even though the bezel at the bottom still held fast....I then decided to back out, since I did not want to mess anything up by experimenting. It did seem easy enough though, to be quite frank.

Wonder if there is a way to get to know who the manufacturer of the EU premium matte screen is, and what the model# would be.

 

I've got Just Cause 2 up:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5986590&postcount=449
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtZaZTpJVN8)
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_DgPWX2IXI)
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlFlyq-8Yd0)

I tried to go through as many environments as I could to give you guys an idea of the performance. Generally, without FRAPS, with the settings below, I get 25-60FPS (usually around 35 FPS).

IN-GAME SETTINGS
Resolution - 1280x720
Texture Detail - High
Shadows Quality - Medium
AA - 4x (AA is practically free in this game - no performance hit whatsoever)
AF - 16x
Water Detail - High
Objects Detail - Medium
Decals - On
Soft Particles - On
Vsync - Off
Hi-Res Shadows - Off
SSAO - Off
Point-Light Specular - On
Bokeh - Off
GPU Water - Off

 

In your shoes, I would do the same & try to upgrade to the EU 1080p Premium matte.

"... (EU Premium) is sold for around $50 more than the glossy" - Where did you see that?

First, I would stop using the F with it's damaged LCD for fear of toasting the video card. Your photo shows severe damage & gel leak. You could use the F with an external monitor & turn off the on board LCD to create ASAP a System Image which contains a copy of Windows and copies of your added programs, customized system settings, and files with Windows Backup or an other backup utility. My most recent full system image size is 116GB so way to big for DVD's. An external drive should be used for this, preferably connected to the F via eSATA or Power Over eSATA vs. the much slower USB port.

This is an essential safety step if sending your F to anybody for servicing as Sony_does not guarantee your data & often wipes the HDD to eliminate users tweaking induced problems.

Then I would call your Sony_support & get an estimation for the cracked LCD replacement. While you are at it: explain your thinking & ask if you could get the EU display instead. If they say no way, ask if they could give you the brand & model # of the EU screen. As Derrida pointed out, ask if a DIY LCD replacement would invalidate the warranty.

Some good suggestions posted by Derrida:
- "...Try to get the EXACT model number of the F11 in Europe that has the matte RGB screen from some of the European Sony sites. THEN try the after-market online screen dealers in Europe to find the part number. THEN cross-check on an American screen dealer site (or the official Sony sites) to see if that part number is the same part number for your current North American model". So contact a Sony_EU support site or call using Skype & try to get the Premium brand & model #, not only_Sony's part #.

Try calling the Sony_Parts and Accessory Sales Site. "We carry over 120,000 hard to find parts and accessories..." sounds promising.

- "Now find out how much Best Buy or some other official Sony-authorized repair will charge to install it (EU LCD) so you can consider not invalidating your original warranty". I would do the DIY anyway but evaluate the DIY savings vs. lost of warranty, if any.

I will update the Vaio_F_Series: How To Remove the LCD post with additional photos & how-to steps in about 30 minutes.

*****

Re: ODD Not Ejecting w/ Button?

That's not specific to_Sony. Try ejecting the CD tray via the OS, grab it firmly by the sides & make sure the bezel is snapped in fully against it. Be careful, do not touch the laser reader part. If the button still does not work, unfold a paper clip & insert in the pinhole next to the button. If it works then remove & reinstall the bezel. While the bezel is removed, try pressing the eject button directly on the tray to see if it works to rule out a bezel/tray eject button interface problem. BTW, are you pushing the button deep enough?

Video: How to replace a bezel on a Laptop DVD Burner. It took me about 15 sec. to remove the F's bezel.



*****

Re: All F Screens are Bad?

That's why the Sony_F_Series Owners Display Poll was created. I was fed up reading blanket statements like this one.

104 votes so far.

*****

Re: Vaio_Care automatic pop up?

Are you talking about Window's 7 Action Center Flag or Vaio_Update or Vaio_Care itself? In either cases, you could click the ▲ icon on the taskbar > Customize > Hide Icon & Notifications. Some icons customization options only appear when said icon or notification is active.

You could run once Vaio_Care w/o making any modification to your system. You may be surprised by what it could find & some reminders like make a backup makes sense.

You can also easily disable Vaio_Update auto update by going to it's options. Could you explain exactly (or screen capture) which notification you are seeing?

 

All desktop LCDs are TN unless you specifically look for a PVA or better and expect to pay twice the price. TN use has increased in DESKTOP displays, but has been the norm in laptops.
Wide angles are the exception for laptops. The techology in VAIO laptops is no different from anyone elses, and is NOT the reason F11 seem to be exceptionally poor.

 

One reality check here Joe, and I guarantee this based on thirty years in technical service dealing with what happens to be my favourite manufacturer (still), any replacement of the screen by a third party will void the warranty, any use of an OEM screen will void the warranty. Sony will ONLY honour the warranty against future problems if you pay them the $200 labour and their listed price of $800 for the screen. That's the way it is. Roweraay should get on the phone and negotiate, and if he wants to keep the warranty without excessive charges he will have to accept whatever Sony gives him.

 

Hence my suggestion to call_Sony & this comment: "I would do the DIY anyway but evaluate the DIY savings vs. lost of warranty...".

I don't care about the warranty if I can save $100 & up. And that's not taking into account the shipping & time w/o the F, 6 to 8 weeks @ best in my case. I'm a gambler & like DIY's.

 

Oh come now, just buy an LCD that fits (whether it be the EU or US one, if the EU one fits), and carefully replace it. If there aren't any warranty void seals on the speaker grille, then you'll be fine.

Chances are if you're clean, they'll never know. By that I mean, if you eventually had to replace an optical drive or power supply, they probably wouldn't be pulling apart the LCD assembly to see whether you replaced it or not.

Of course, I'd have to compare other companies against Sony for experience here, but I've done warranty claims on machines that I had completely disassembled before, for issues that were clearly not a result of the work performed. [Usually stuff such as dead hard drives].

Good luck And seriously why hasn't anyone with a european F11 and that fancy HD screen tried finding out what model it is?

 

I had the automatic Vaio Care Checkup set for every month at 1AM yesterday. When I started computer this morning it kept asking if I wanted to run. Forgot about that setting. Went to the toolbox icon in Vaio Care and unchecked. Thanks Joe you jarred my memory.

 

Yes, MelodyMaster is correct. But it is also likely true that the cost of the repair will still be half the price of a new laptop.

Now, I told Roweraay to check laptops4less but my memory was faulty; it's http://www.lcds4less.co.uk/models/s...ony-vaio_vpc-vpc-f_series-laptop-screens.html (I was shooting from the hip at the time).

And here is the UK site for a pre-configured model that uses the European premium screen: http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vn-f-series/vpcf11z1e-bi

Now, one caveat: Note that lcds4less is listing a Sony-manufactured but glossy FullHD for the model -- probably simply because it is compatible (or it's a typo, but I doubt it): http://www.lcds4less.co.uk/SonyLaptop__Sony_Vaio_VPC-F_Series_VPC-F11Z1E~BI__laptop-screens.html.

To be sure, the lcds4less site is also searchable with the Sony part number (but we don't know what the part number is for the European matte premium screen). Here's the site with prices for all over-15" Sony screens anyway: http://www.lcds4less.co.uk/sony-laptop-parts.shtml and the only 16.4 FullHD listed there: http://www.lcds4less.co.uk/Sony-laptop-lcd-screens/A1617803A.shtml

Note that the first screen linked in the paragraph above simply lists pixels but the second states "backlight" and 2CCFL. So the first one could be LED. Maybe roweraay could use the site's chat and discuss the whole situation, find out if there's an RGB LED, get pricing, etc. and get back to us all.

Note that the site actually sells Sony-branded screens (they identify the manufacturer for each part). BUT there is only one Sony screen listed that is FullHD on the parts number list. I'm betting Sony is only letting the regular European FullHD (and not the RGB) screen out on the street.

(Feel free to give me some "rep", of course, for my "spec"-ulations.)

In the meantime, someone should go out on a UK Sony forum to get someone to tell us what the part number is on their premium F screen, too.

Now, if you bought a Sony European screen from this site and had Best Buy install it from an unopened Sony box, and if it came in for less than whatever Sony will negotiate for it on the phone, then you'd still have your warranty.

Good luck.

 

Email:

To: [email protected]
Subject: Description mistake: SHARP LQ164M1LD4C

Hello,

I have a SHARP LQ164M1LD4C on my Vaio VPCF115FM & it's 1920 x 1080 contrary to your description here (1920 x 1200):

http://www.blisscomputers.net/sharp-lq164m1ld4c-laptop-lcd-screen-16-4-wuxga.aspx

Could you double check & tell the correct specs?

 

I just updated my posting above Joe Bleau's with more details on the European screen sales site, lcds4less.

 

Joe, Derrida, MM, OoTLink and others.....thanks for the helpful comments. Seems like I cannot give out any more reps to you guys, since I seem to have already given reps to all of you !

Incidentally, I was doing some google searching with the Sharp part# that Joe posted earlier and found a reputable-sounding Canadian company who seem to be a major dealer in laptop LCDs, as below:

http://www.laptopscreen.com/English/

They have listed the F-series glossy screen for $199 as below:

http://www.laptopscreen.com/English....php?section=products&part_number=LQ164M1LD4C

I have emailed them if they would be able to source the matte full-HD screen and awaiting their response (hopefully will arrive tomorrow).

Either way, whether I lose the screen warranty or not, I am leaning towards the matte Full-HD screen. We'll see.

 

Seems like a laptop that is designed around CCFL, cannot be upgraded to LED directly, as per the site I linked above.

Quoting from their FAQs:

http://www.laptopscreen.com/English/section/FAQ/

-------------------------
Upgrading from CCFL to LED backlight:

Currently there is no possible way to upgrade from screen that uses CCFL backlight to LED. LED and CCFL laptop screens are not interchangeable since they use different connectors, as well as power sources. Laptop's motherboard will have to be replaced in order to upgrade the laptop from CCFL backlight type to the LED backlight type.
-------------------------

So based on the above, I doubt the EU screen is LED and is probably a dual-CCFL arrangement.

 

Can someone link me real quick to the safe guide on what programs can be stopped or uninstalled for this model laptop? I saw it, searched, and then googled but had no luck.

 

A couple of UK models that contain the Matte Full-HD screen are as follows:

VPCF11Z1E/BI
VPCF11S1E/B

While the model# below does not have the Matte "premium" display:

VPCF11M1E/H

Based on: http://www.sony.co.uk/comparison/vpcf11z1e-bi.cek/vpcf11s1e-b.cek/vpcf11m1e-h.cek

Searching in the link that Derrida sent earlier, both of the above models that have the Matte "premium" display, are present in the link below, even though the screen is described as glossy (probably a mistake on their part):

http://www.lcds4less.co.uk/models/s...ony-vaio_vpc-vpc-f_series-laptop-screens.html

Maybe worthwhile contacting them, I guess, since if we go into their descriptions, all 3 of the above models listed (2 of them "Premium" full-HD and 1 of them non-premium full-HD) have the exact same descriptions on their site (a mistake, I assume).

 

I have constantly been trying to draw people's attention to the fact that the lack of backlit keyboard option on the EU (and the Japanese!) F models is a sign that the wiring may indeed be different. And LED was used to describe some F-precursor FW screens on the Sony UK site in the last refresh. Also, someone in Australia posted here that his international warranty won't help him because the American F was made with different parts from the Aussie version. (Duh.)

So, my guess is that these screens aren't yet crossing the Pacific to San Diego for a reason....

 

F11_Series: Installed Vaio_Software Comparison & Bloatware?.

A must read for this thread newbies: Unification Post #2

 

I have written to lcds4less.co.uk about the above laptops and screens and will verify if the "premium" Full-HD versions are CCFLs or LEDs, before ordering. Good catch.

Obviously, if they are LED based, then it simply cannot be fitted to the US F-series ! Either way, there are quite a few options that are not crossing over into San Diego, including the option in the Z-series to have a Full-HD screen in the CTO process.....something that is freely available in the rest of the world.

PS: The backlighting issue is across the board in the UK, I believe. In other words, whether for the glossy HD version or whether for the matte HD version, backlighting simply is not available. I doubt the lack of backlighting is related to this issue - Sony, in their infinite wisdom just decided to deny that option to the customers in the UK.

 

You can still use the LCD, but you have to pull the backlight module off and use your OEM module. Guh. XD

 

Updated with how-to steps & photos: Vaio_F_Series: How To Remove the LCD.

 

hi guys, ı have a question, ı have had a f11s1e and ı gave it back because of the fan noise. and now ı am waiting for the new f series has been announced that the FAN problems solved.
Question is:
ıs there anybody here who have the new series of VAİO F? is the fan noise problem continuing?

 

A must read for this tread newbies: Unification Post #2

Search this Thread (bottom or top right of this page) with: fan or: fan noise. Hours of fun read.

"... ıs there anybody here who have the new series of VAİO F?" - You are kidding, right? Search this Thread with: feedback.

 

no, ı read lots of pages. ı want to ask, NEW series? bought after april.

 

Maybe you missed my edit: Search this Thread with: feedback. Or: just received. Or any kw you can think of.

Or do they have to retype their posts?

 

Joe, thanks a bunch for this. This was really helpful. I am still trying to find a source for the screen and the Full-HD screen seems to be a hard-to-obtain piece and will replace the screen using your instructions, once I manage to get my hands on a replacement screen.

 

The following are the screens that are compatible with the Sony F-series laptop.

http://www.laptopscreen.com/English...on=products&model=VAIO VPCF11JFX/B&brand=Sony

Curiously, the Sharp screen in the F-series (which Joe referenced earlier), is a single-CCFL screen while there is a dual-CCFL version of the same Full-HD screen that is cheaper than the single-bulb version.

Either way, we are talking about a sub-$200 price and not the $700 that Sony is charging for it.

 

Kudos to you dude, that is awesome.

 

Hi All,

My Name is Nambi and recently I got VAIO F series (11GX, Windows 7 Professional clean installation) [US model]. When I installed Media Player Classic(MPC) with Codec pack it affected Corel BluRay and I couldn't play blu ray discs....

I checked with support but not much help to resolve issue, finally they asked me to do Full Recovery and I did the same to resolve the issue. Its Hard lesson to learn then only I came across this forum and I hope some one help here now.

Now I can play bluray in Corel since its fresh installation, I like to install MPC with codecs but I am afraid this may screw something else....did any body have suggestion as what would be ideal? I couldn't find much info using search here....

Thank you all.

 

2 people reported crashes with MPC in this thread and it froze on mine w/o crashing the system. Try VLC Media Player instead and no codecs needed, it works fine on my on Vaio_F11.

 

My new Sharp lq164m1la4a screen is on the way from smartmicrousa.com and should hopefully get to me tomorrow (being over-nighted).

The above model is a Dual-CCFL model and is different from the single CCFL model (sharp lq164m1ld4c) that Joe posted earlier. We'll see how it will turn out.

 

I am awaiting your results with baited breath. If it's a good screen without needing a hack install then I'll replace mine too. As has been pointed out, Sony doesn't have to know anything has been done to void the warranty. (Mind you, if they have to replace the whole computer to repair a warranteed problem then that would be unfortunate, oh well....)

 

So how do you get the brightness and other controls function keys to work???