Official Sony VPC-Z2 (VAIO Z 2011) Series Owners' Thread

I remember the z2 service manual as a big Excel file that had all part numbers in embedded documents. Also search this thread for it.

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I'm on Windows 8.1, all works fine except for the Fn Brightness buttons. I did have trouble installing the drivers though. It is really important you install the Catalyst Control Center (AMD Drivers) Whilst it is connected, otherwise it will not work correclty. Once you install the drivers whilst it is connected a green install icon will appear with no log errors instead of a Ambar one. That is from my experience, here are the drivers from my model (VPCZ23C5E):

Sony : VPCZ23C5E updates | Download updates for VPCZ23C5E

Good luck, if you need any further assistance just let me know.

 

Hi all,

Anyone experienced the second battery not fully charging?
Until now both batteries charged 100%.
Then I had 86% both.
Then 100% main and 86% second battery
I used the laptop on battery power and got the second down to 15%.
Placed it on External POWER to recharge and second battery olny went to 83%?
In Power setting I have it on High performance and no other things enable.
I have changed that to Balanced.
When click on battery icon it says Second battery plugged in and charging but still sitting on 83%?

Do I take second battery off and then run, plugged in with main battery and then deleted the Battery power management in device manager, turn off PC, watch it reinstall automatically and then install second battery to see if it will charge fully?

Edit: Well I left it off for a week and it charged to 87% in 3 hours? Still says charging but does not seem to move up?
I took the sheet battery off while power on and reconnected, also deleted one of the ACPI and it charged to 88% now.....
Will ring Sony store see if they can suggest something....

 

If anyone has a 256GB SSD, preferrably Gen 3, for sale, could you PM me please?

 

Anyone knows how to find the good motherboard replacement for vpc-z217GG? Also, what is the part number of the motherboard.
Thanks in advance

 

I'd like to know part number for 22agx/b LCD too. thanks.

 

Anyone ever reapply thermal paste to their Z2? worth the trouble?

 

they change it to my Z2 at Sony service. I had my cleaned and keyboard changed (from a little accident )

 

anyone knows whrere i can get screws that connect battery with laptop? (those with rubber)
thanks

 

Hi, I have extra brand new in the box 4400mAh/49WH Genuine Original VGP-BPSC27 Extended Sheet Battery if anyone interested. I sold my Z2 a few months ago and no longer need this.

I also have original Sony charger no longer needed.

Please PM me if you are interested.

Thanks!

 

Same problem here. Slice battery won't charge. Let me know if you figure this out.

--
mtb

 

My slice battery failed in a similar manner.
At that time the Z2 was going out of stock and it was apparently very hard for my local Sony store to find a replacement but eventually I did get one.
I tried all sorts of methods to get it to charge but if I remember correctly I could only charge it up to a certain point (43% or something odd like that) but no more.

 

I bought a Sony Vaio VPCZ21C5E from the UK back in 2011 and the keyboard is wacked the return and delete keys don't give bounce feedback and stick, the delete key is just gone. I can't find replacement keys and my only option was to order a Backlit keyboard for my Z22 from the U.S. I've tried to fix the individual keys but its no good.

I remember years ago reading that the Z21 keyboards are hard to replace, opening up the Z21 I can see that it will be a tougher job than replacing my keyboard on my old Z11 back in the day.

Has anyone got any tips or guides or hazards when taking your Z21 apart ? I cannot find a service manual for it. All I can find on Youtube is this Asian Engineer assembling his Vaio Z21 in record time which is not very useful. When I try I will video myself each step of the way so I remember how to reassemble but PLEASE could you give me help and advice on how to DISASSEMBLE my VAIO Z21 ? Thanks...

 

I, too, need help with assembly/disassembly.
I need to replace my shattered screen, but can't find any information on how to open it up.
Any help greatly appreciated!

 

Z2 opening guide: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ape2hF6Gg58

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Hey guys I'm currently having a small issue with the PMD.
I recently purchased a mechanical keyboard that I'm hooking up to the laptop itself. The problem is this: while playing Diablo 3 RoS, the PMD will shut itself down automatically for 3 seconds, then start up again.
This happens only while I'm on D3, and since the computer was using the gfx from the pmd, my entire laptop freezes. I've never had a problem like this before.
Would the problem come from the fact that I added the keyboard? Or is this because my PMD is overheating?
Thanks,
Nono.

 

Hit the same thing gaming, definitely an overheat. Using MSI Afterburner helped quite a bit with this as the dock fans are pretty powerful. Make sure the intakes and exhaust aren't blocked in any case as well.

 

I have a quick question. My z2 has sim slot. Does that mean it is wwan ready where only the card is needed?

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sounds like it

 

Nice

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Still the same issue with Slice battery not charging.
I have found that both will only charge to 80% on travel pack charger.
With the Dock pack Charger it used to charge the main to 100% but the slice would charge to 83% then 87%... highest is 94-97% I think.
Then I I found that the Dock charger would not charge the main battery to 100% with the slice battery attached....remove the slice up to 100% the main goes.
I rang Sony support and they suggest 1. Rollback/restore to previous date(did nothing) and then clicking on the 50% charge for both battery "Enable Battery Care Function", running batteries down then back up to see if reaches 50%, then turning the function off to see it go back to 100%. I have already tried this with 80% and it did nothing and concerned that if I try this it will STAY on 50% in future(others have reported).

"Is it possible to remove the main battery and just left the sheet battery docked below? Will it then yield full charge?
Rather than booting into Windows, leave the laptop in BIOS mode. The idea is to let it run on battery power to see if you can completely run it flat, so no power saving/mode setting gets applied from the OS."
Have not tried this and concerned it will not start up again....but it's an idea.

The other idea I have read was to do a completed wipe and reinstall from the original backup disks...but again I have read this has not been successful for others.

Anyone here in Omaha, Miami, L.A or Hawaii as visiting all in May....let me know if you have this system or battery to test\buy.

Edit: Well I connected the sheet battery after being off the system for some time and it was at 82% it has now charged to 89% in 30 minutes but I think stopped even though it says charging.
I still have this issue: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...-z2-vaio-z-2011-series-owners-thread-324.html Number 3235
Attempts to update Sony Vaio care to the latest on this site: http://www.sony-asia.com/support/product/vpcz228gg
Installing the latest Vaio Care Update Manually has fixed my SYSTEM tray issue that is in the above link......only took a year!
Other updates have been successful when manually installed!


Regards

 

Hi everyone, I'm a new user of this forum.
I'm sorry for my poor english, I hope someone can help me.
I have a VPC-Z21V9E.
After a travel in China, maybe for the low quality of electrical source, my primary battery is not detected.
After I buy a battery extension but also the Battery #2 is not detected.
Anyone knows if the battery extension works without the primary battery?
How I can understand if is only a battery problem or I have other problems?

 

Do any of you guys have problem charging your laptop battery?

I remove the battery care fonction, but my main battery wouldn't charge over 80%, as well as my extra sheet battery too. I have the latest version of all softwares including bios. I even removed and plug back the battery of the laptop, both batteries, but still no luck.

 

There are many instances of this noted in the thread....and no reliable solutions.

What operating system are you on? This machine was designed for Windows 7 and Windows 8 has caused all sorts of problems with the Sony utilities package which among many other things controls the battery charging. If you are on win8 a backup followed by a clean install paying VERY careful attention to installation (and the ORDER of installation) of the Sony drivers and utilities may be in order.

One of the things the R0173H5 was SUPPOSED to fix is an issue where "•The computer intermittently does not charge the battery." If you don't have this BIOS...try it.

To diagnose whether you have a software or hardware problem (and you are using win7)....back up your entire drive....MOST ESPECIALLY YOUR DATA....then restore from the factory restore partition and see if this solves your problem. If the Sony utilities package has been corrupted in some way it could cause your problem. If it still fails to charge even after the factory restore....I would then diagnose a bad battery.

 

My Sony Vaio SVZ1311C5E has stopped working. It does not turn on at all. The laptop is under warranty but Sony have said that all data on the drives will be lost after repair. Is it possible to extract the data from the drive(s) in this unit? From my research it appears that the SSD(s) installed in this unit are manufactured with a proprietary connector in raid 0.

 

The SSDs are in fact a Samsung product but have a Sony proprietary connector. You didn't tell us in what manner the machine had "died" so it's hard to say whether data might be recoverable. Also I suspect you were running the drives in a RAID 0 array....that's the way they came from the factory. It's a great way to gain speed BUT if either of the SSDs fails all data is lost since it is chopped up into blocks and distributed between the drives. If some OTHER part of the machine failed the data may be recovered if you can find another Z2 or SVZ series (they use the same drives and connectors) to put them in. Sony will likely just replace the failed SSD....if that is in fact what's wrong. BUT no matter what the failure they will ALWAYS tell you that all your data will be lost to protect them from liability. It's also routine for them to re-image hard drives of machines that come in for service to rule out the software build as the cause of the problem. You could send in the lappy after removing the SSDs but that means that Sony won't be able to replace it if its the failure point.

Send more info and we can help you more.

 

unfortunately this is the case. RAID 0 is extremely unsafe in terms of data safety. It very stupid design decision to use it in this notebook or in any notebook. The performance improvement of RAID 0 when using SSD drives is completely marginal to average user. A failed RAID 0 is next to impossible to recover. Just send in the notebook to Sony for repair and recover your data from your backups once you get it back. You did backup, right?

 

Could anyone direct me to instructions or information on how I may go about changing the Keyboard on a Z21 2011. I've searched this forum for a couple of days and can only find part information i.e. removal of bottom cover.....it looks as if everything is built on the bottom of the keyboard...any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi , Since 2003 when I acquired my frst sony notebook (sr series I believe) I have never looked back on other devices. Since then I had all of ultraportables 10-11inch T, TX,TZ,TT after my foirst TT worn out I I coudnt find anything to compete with it,(so called replacement vpcx like a joke) so find mosf powerfull version of tt with 2x 1.66Ghz, 256GB SSD. its quiet, quite speedy (with win 7 most servises stopped) and jsut amazing to work with. No other Sony ultrportables I had comes close to it. No its time to upgrade for a bit faster machine.

My priotity list

1) Silent (no heat and no fan noise)
2) Solid feel
3) FHD screen
4)Integrated graphic instead of dedicated (less heat-les noise)
5)i3 or i5 core instead of i7 (les heat-les noise)
6) vey importan that it have external microphone input to conect precizion mic for measurements. (the newer one have combination jack-and I read there can be problem to conect external dedicated mic)
7) bigger screen could be a bonus (11inch is great but I am not sure if I want to have 11 inch full hd resolution)


So far 3 model comes in mind aftr looking , thay all are socond hand- dodnt likd newest vaio pro with sliding screen)

vvgn-z vpcz1 and vpcz2

vpcz1 look best, but I could choose any of it. which one are most quiet? also which models can not be upgraded with new SSD? I want to upgrade 512GB SSD

I hope owners would slide in for real usage advices. Many thanks

 

I had them all that you say. VPCZ2 is the most quiet of them but Vaio-Pro is almost the same and the weight make it the most portable of all three . But if you travel and you want WWAN the Pro is missing that.
Display for the pro choose matte non glare !! Skip the touch option and downgrade to win7 . Will run very fast and smooth .

And for the noise(again) these two are almost the same dB level .

 

Hi

May I ask, if someone here use the VPCZ2 with closed lid while the laptop still running? ( not for gaming purpose, and the power option : energie saveing mode, and the cpu temperatur at 50 - 57 celcius )

Thanks

 

Hi everyone!
I have a VPCZ22AGX with a serious problem:
It will randomly shut off without warning.

When plugged in or with full battery....

It will start fine, everything working as normal, then all of a sudden, it will shut off without warning. Sometimes immediately, sometimes after 5 minutes.

I was living in Thailand before and I took it to a repair shop, they said they can't fix it. Then I just moved to Germany and took it to a shop there and they said they can't fix it either.
since my language skills weren't good enough, I couldn't understand what their explanations were.

Maybe someone here can help me?

Thanks!

 

Does anyone know the dimensions of the speakers in the laptop? Mine are blown and instead of replacing with the same ones again, I was going to try and upgrade the existing ones with alternatives that are better.

 

Hi all, So now I have the laptop plugged in on power 24/7 at the moment.
I noted the orange light at the front when I turned the laptop off while on power.(Battery light) this is normally green?
Today the battery indicator shows 95% only?
The battery is in excellent condition as per Sony software...
Should I run laptop without external power?
I have had Path of Exile game stop the laptop and heard funny noises...has this caused damage to my laptop?
I have the external power bank and video card connect and run via an external monitor.....

 

Anyone know where to get replacement hinges? The one on the right side broke :/

 

Hi, the disk of my z21x9e is dead. I open to replace it but a nasty surprise - the disk (MZ-RPA2560/0s0) uses a custom flat cable. Has anyone figured it out how to connect a normal SSD? Any map of what is the correspondence between the pins of the normal SSD interface and the Sony custom one? If available I may forge an adaptor. Thank you very much

 

Not sure this is a sensible course of action. There are many 128gb mzrpa drives on Ebay for about $100. And i even saw a 512GB mzrpc ssd for $325 just now. This is the sata 3 version and much faster. Buying sony ssd prevents hassle even if second hand.

 

What's the latest graphics drivers now for the Z2? Still the SV13 US set?

I tried leshcat without much luck.

On a side note, I've been experiencing terrible jittery scrolling on browsers (Chrome, Firefox) whenever I have my PMD connected. Scroll is smooth using Intel graphics, though. Any solutions?

 

Who dares to be the first to try the windows 10 on his VPCZ2?

 

Help please?
My laptop is sony VPC-Z2. Motherboard is MBX-236.
The screen is dim. No backlight at all.I can see the desktop and icons with a torch light.
HDMI output works fine.Contrast is set high using Fn keys.
Thanks

 

Any one? who can can help me please?

 

Sounds like the backlight has stopped working. There were a number of threads where this was caused by the the fuse blowing when people changed their screens, as you'll see if you search in this forum. No idea whether it the fuse or the backlight itself, but if you can't see the bios setup screen then it would almost certainly be hardware issue.

 

Thanks for the reply Ashers.
I do think its the backlight fuse.I have changed the screen .no luck. The trouble is finding the location of the fuse. I have looked at the thread you mentioned. No luck with my model. I have put a photo and message in that thread. Hope somebody points me in the right direction.

 

Hey guys, can anyone know this issue:

- when I connect the docking station the system always crashes with blue screen

What should I do? Thanks!

 

Still a very excellent computer for it's time actually, i still prefer myself machines that are portable with removable batteries i am not impressed at all with these newer ultrabooks with the built in batteries i never had a problem carrying around a few batteries a day that actually lasted more than a person could expect.

 

Glad that topic is still alive.
Sometimes I'm thinking about a newlaptop, but cannot find an alternative.

I got two PMD docks, one with Blu-ray burner, second with DVD(though he can read BD's, I guess). I'm willing to sell either one, as I'm working on the go mostly, and barely use em.
I'm in Chicago area. PM me with offers if you need a PMD.

 

So my Z2 has a white mark on the screen. There is no scratch mark and it is in line with the J key. I attempted to keep it in perfect condition, using supplied dust mat always. Screen open when using dock to external monitor.
It seems to be permanent and only noticeable when viewing white\grey screen stationary webpages. Any video or game not notiable.
Anyone else had this issue?

Has anyone got an advanced video on adding the GPU update to this machine?
Looking for connecting mPCI to laptop.

This is all I could find on parts/performance and back removal

1. http://www.banggood.com/EXP-GDC-Laptop-External-PCI-E-Graphics-Card-p-934367.html
2. and
3.

I currently have vendor ATI driver 8.932 installed.
Has anyone updated the Video card drivers to ATI 14.12?

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/mobile?os=Windows 7 - 64

 

Hi, hopefully someone still manages/view this thread.

Does anyone know where I can get my hands on the z2 motherboard? My system is VPCZ228GG/X.

The sony centre in Singapore wants to charge me SGD1700 (USD1300) for it and that excludes the SGD180 (USD130) service fee!

 

Anyone getting Windows 10 install icon?
I'm not and are we even compatible with hardware features?

 

Greetings Everyone,

VCPZ228GG/X battery became undetected today without any warning. Vaio control center was showing battery was in excellent condition and battery care function was active at 80% and used to work 2+ hours on battery until today.
Now the battery has disappeared and the battery status on Vaio Control Center also gone. Can anyone of you could help me to recover/reset this battery and much appreciate a prompt reply.