Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 (VPCZ1) Official Owners Thread Part 2

Last time I went into my Z, I put loctite on the hinges and tightened them up. Hopefully they won't come loose any more...

But, while I was in there I went ahead and broke off the little tab on the switch that turns the wireless on and off. Now that switch can be slid back and forth and it does nothing.

As far as I'm concerned the only purpose for that switch was to ensure that your wireless would get turned off when you least expected it. That switch would get bumped occasionally, just enough to be irritating.

I mention breaking off the little tab just in case anyone else dislikes having that (@#$%!) switch there.

 

The Z is a great laptop but I notice one thing .. there is this narrow sweet spot where the screen is bright. Move your head up or down and you will see it. This is bad for such a expensive laptop!

Do you guys see it?

 

I think a "narrow view angle" was one of the things we all agreed on was a fault of the Z. In any case, that's the problem with TN screens, if this screen were IPS, you'd get better viewing angles, but consumers want cheaper and TN is cheaper.

IMO, however, i don't find this to be a problem as a 13" laptop is not really meant to be shared with another person (that's what i got my 25" external monitor for ). Especially considering the fact that the resolution is so high, it'd probably be hard for anyone else to see it.

 

Hello fellow vaio z users...
I am recent owner of the vaio z 128gg/q which has quad ssd and core i7 chip with 8gig ram and 1gig of graphics card with full HD display.Due to consistent use I noticed some greasy appearance( on some keys and would like to remove it to maintain the uniform appearance.
Is there any DIY treatment that you can recommend for such, would a solvent such as rubbing alcohol or even acetone would help?

 

Why would you even ask this? You know what acetone does to paint right?

 

^ I just use a damp cloth every other day and the oily stuff comes off very easily. Hey it's still new and I like to keep it new-looking. Before I start I look for the 5 most greasy keys as these get extra cleaning (can't see which ones are greasy when all the keys are already damp during cleaning). A few months from now I'll be cleaning once a week. A year from now it'll be once a month. After that I'll just buy a replacement keyboard because it's beyond cleaning ha ha (hey I did that before two laptops ago). Or will buy a new laptop because it's time to do so before something on the mainboard inside crashes Bye.

 

...and anyone using acetone will also be buying a replacement keyboard... much much sooner!

 

Hello guys!

I just got my i5 Vaio Z and I wonder about the noise.

It isn't as bad as I thought but I still have one question: is it normal if on idle the noise sounds a bit metallic, as if the blades had a hard time rotating?

I am used to desktop PC's fans and when they work a low speeds you just can hear the pushing of the air. It seems like the piston needs grease...

 

That's why I am asking about it as I know acetone is a very effective grease stripper.........but seems sarcasm got ahead of it.......? <grin>

 

I had the same problem. I think It was mostly due to me chaning the power saving settings on the USB hub. I think I had set it to switch off to save power. I changed this back to the default and My wifi is good now.

 

The main problem with acetone (besides its ability to strip off paint so well) is that is makes a really great solvent for plastics. That means it dissolves them, completely and thoroughly. So stay away from that on anything plastic. Also alcohol is generally not to be trusted around plastic items.

Best, if plain old water is insufficient, is a diluted dish soap solution. Dip a towel in diluted dish soap, squeeze it until nothing more can be squeezed out, then use that to wipe off any and all finger oils easily.

 

OxyClean should work. Damp cloth with a a few drops of OxyClean should do the job. It's a stain remover, but effective as laundry degreaser.

 

Hey mate it doesn't sound right to me. Take it back to Sony for them to have a look. My i7 machine is virtually silent.

 

Got the exact same problem with my Z received few days ago...

 

I recorded this sound. As I was close to the fan exhaust, the sound is higher than what I hear (as if you stuck you ear to the exhaust).
But the "tone" of the noise is close to what I have.

Here is the recording : Vaio sound
If you listen to it from your Z, put the notebook volume at half and what you hear will be close to reality.

 

Hi Tompim, I'm sure the recorded sound is a bit distorted, however my opinion is that it does sound a bit 'metal'. I believe that your fan is a 'bit' defective. But, that's just my opinion.

 

I've been contemplating the Z13 for a few months now. Finally pulled the trigger and got one this week. (8gb RAM, 256 SSD, HD screen, blu-ray, i7)But...

I made recovery disks after installing the latest sony and windows updates. It took like two hours to make the recovery disks. Is this normal?

I installed ESET NOD32 antivirus trial software, which I've used on multiple other computers without a problem.

I installed Word 2010 home and office.

I installed a driver for my Canon MP610 printer.

Then I shut it down and took a nap. When I restarted the computer, it loaded Windows and I got the home screen, but nothing will open. I will click on an icon, and nothing happens. I clicked the network icon, and it won't open, and then turns itself off and it won't turn back on. I tried to run diagnostics to see what was wrong, but the files won't open from the start menu.

after a minute or two, it just starts beeping at me when I try to open any program from the start menu. I tried to uninstall Word and the antivirus, it would open the folder with the list of programs, and I would right click the program and select "uninstall" but nothing happened. It's like it is frozen. I've restarted and shut down several times, without avail.

I am now using the aforementioned recovery disks to try and start over, but I am wondering what this problem sounds like to you all, and whether there is somthing else I should try, or should just send it back?

This is a bit disheartening for the first 5 hours I've owned the computer.


thanks,
sad in st louis...

 

Thanks for that info.....seems to work with mine
Happy New Year!

 

is it recommendable to enrobed the expensive VAIO Z it n G-mask coating to help protect it from surface damage and help maintains its flawless appearance just liike what is applied by users on their iphone, psp player and other devices including .laptops


http://www.gmask.com

Does anybody here have experience with their VAIOS being protected by this plastic coating?

 

Hi Cutter,

I have ESET4 (nod32 + firewall) installed and office 2010. It works without a problem. It can be a driver problem with your Canon printer. Did you download the latest driver?

When their is a problem with your laptop when entering windows like you have had. The best way is too first do a safe startup by pressing F8 before the windows boot screen. The first time choose the option "Last known good Configuration". The previous good working registry is loaded instead of the faulty one. In most cases this gives a working system. If not choose the option safe mode. If your systems loads correctly in this state it's in most cases a driver problem or sometimes a fauly program which runs on startup.

You can use the windows program "msconfig" which is included with windows 7 to disable programs on startup. Hope this helps.

 

My Z also has a "loud" fan. It doesn't bother me much. No metallic sound. Laptop received 15/11/2010.

 

The best wishes for 2011! A happy and healthy 2011 from a misty and rainy Holland.

 

Thanks for the help! it seems to be running fine now with the restore, I guess I have a couple of weeks to determine if I'm going to keep it or not... I do have another stupid newbie question though- since I did the restore, it wiped out the WORD 2010 I had installed. I have three licenses to use. If I install it again, will that use a second install, or will it recognize it as the same computer?

thanks again for the help

 

Does it use a serial number? If so, you can keeping using the previous one after installation.

 

it has an activation key. i want to install office again, but if my computer crashes again I'm going to send it back, and don't want to have used up all my licenses in the process if that is what actually happens....

I was also curious if there is some program other than the Vaio Care that can assess my hardware to make sure there isn't something faulty. Does anyone know how long it took to make their recovery disks? it took me about 2 hours (with the 'verify it was done correctly' box checked). I guess I'm nervous about something crashing again, and it becoming a chronic problem-

I just watched a few minutes of AVATAR on bluray with the headphones- amazing picture quality- even the DVD looked pretty good, although I could definitely tell a difference b/t the bluray and the DVD.

thanks-

 

I think if you got Win 7 ultimate, people were reporting that the creation of the recovery disks hangs for a while and that you just got to leave it.

 

Normally the activation server sees it as the same computer so only 1 activation is used. When you activate a license a hash (computercode) is generated with is based on your computer hardware and license key and some other stuff.
This hash is a unique identifier for your computer which is stored on the activation server.

 

Thanks! And, I tried to re-install my Canon printer drivers to use a network printer, and it caused everything to lock up again- weird. But, thankfully the people on this forum taught me how to F8 instead of having to do a full system restore!

But does anyone have suggestions on how to use the Canon printer if I can't download the driver without it causing the thing to crash?

 

Just recently received my new Vaio Z13 CTO (Core i5 460M, 6GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Blu-ray, 1600X900 display, Win 7 Pro 64-bit) and am loving it! Had a few questions that more savvy owners/users might be able to help me with:

1) Thinking about getting an extended warranty (any comments/opinions as to the value of extended warranties, w/ or w/o accidental damage protection riders are also welcome). Originally decided against it when ordering the Z, but now that I've found that Sony's standard laptop warranty is only for one year, I have considered getting a 3-year extended warranty. When I ordered the Z through Sony Style, there was an option for an extended 3-year warranty w/o accidental damage protection; $249.00, which I declined. Now, in going back to Sony Style and trying to get an after-the-fact laptop warranty, the only 3-year option is for one with accidental damage protection and it goes for $429.99. Does anyone know if the originally offered option for the $249.99 3-year warranty w/o accidental damage protection is still available to new owners (< one month) through Sony Style and how would one go about accessing that option? If it's not available, I may elect to go with a Square Trade warranty.

2) Still trying to totally figure out the defrag thing. I deactivated the MS Windows hard disc defrag task in the Windows task scheduler like JP$, and others have advised. $JP (post #104) also advised that it might be a good idea to disable it through Vaio Care, so that it wouldn't show as being still active in that module. Well I did that (I think), but the only defrag task I could find in Vaio Care was for a "Windows Registry Defragmenter". Now that I go back to Vaio Care to check that, I can't find where I accessed the defrag deactivation option in the first place. Any help in where to locate any defrag options in Vaio Care? Was the Vaio Care "Windows Registry Defragmenter" the right defrag program to deactivate?

3) I also noticed in Vaio Care a "Disc Cleaner" and a "Registry Cleaner" program besides the "Registry Defragmenter". Any value in either running (or deactivating/avoiding) those, or could they be potentially harmful to a SSD like I infer disc defragmenting programs might be?

Sorry for the noob questions, but any input will be greatly appreciated.

- da Choge

 

1) if you're in America, Squaretrade might be a cheaper option, especially if you have a cheaper Z. If you want, you can wait to see if they got a new years sale... although there's not one up now so probably not.

2) & 3) dont run a defrag on the SSDs, disable them all. If you want registry cleaner, etc. Use CCleaner (<-- google it and install it)

 

My Z was $2,500, so prolly a mid-priced one, but still money enough that I want to protect it for greater than Sony's standard one-year warranty. And I'm not one that's known to be kind to electronics, 'specially cell phones . Unfortunately, after checking, SquareTrade, for something that is in the Sony Z's class, is the same, and even more expensive if you're looking into accidental damage protection. For many other items, it seems to be a good deal.

I will disable all the remaining scheduled defrags and clean-ups, once I figure out where that can be done. Thanks for your reply.

And, good to see you're a UC Berkeley fan. I grew up in Kensington, California, just bordering Berkeley. My Dad was a grad student there and I remember going to see the games in that big (at least in my young mind's eye) solid concrete stadium; but that was many years ago. Still love my California roots, even though now I'm a Texan.

- da Choge

 

I remember my Vaio Z having great battery life, but now my laptop is on stamina mode with lowest brightness and it is saying 95% 2hr and 53min. this doesn't seem right to me. I can't figure out why all of the sudden it seems low. I am wondering if perhaps it is displaying the wrong estimated time because it has been showing 2hr 53 min for about 10 min. is this possible? if not i have had it plugged in alot for the past 2 weeks. It has also been in pretty cold conditions, but not too cold. could these have been the issues. what should I do? thanks

OK I HAVE DETERMINED IT IS NOT SHOWING THE RIGHT ESTIMATE - HOW DO I FIX THIS. I PLAN ON LETTING THE BATTERY DRAIN AND THEN FULLY RECHARGING WILL THIS DO?

 

Click the gear icon in the upper right corner.

 

Did you install the latest 32bit or 64 bit drivers?

For Windows 7 x64 (64bit)

Canon U.S.A. : Support & Drivers : PIXMA MP610

For Windows 7 x86 (32bit)

Canon U.S.A. : Support & Drivers : PIXMA MP610

If the above drivers are the problem you can also try the build in drivers for your printer if Microsoft included them with Windows 7. I checked the Microsoft site and your printer is compatible with Windows 7

 

Ok now I noticed that when I put a CD into the ODD, it makes a noisy sound (the kind of dyer noise) for 5 to 20 seconds after I put it in. This sound is louder than the fan at full CPU charge.

Do you guys also experience this?

 

I'm sure you know that DVD's, and before them CD's, have been making the fan-like noise of a fast spinning disk, ever since they were invented. So what is the point of a question like that.

 

what is the best way to clean the screen?

 

I use a damp cloth
They make some screen cleaners but I haven't bought any.

 

Thanks! I installed the 64 bit driver for Windows 7. I could get the Sony to see my network computer, but it wouldn't print. grrr... it caused my network to stop working, and the computer locked up. twice. weird.

Otherwise, the Z is an awesome computer, I hope that nothing else happens so I can keep it!

 

Well in my previous notebooks, it did not make the whole PC vibrate like hell and the sound was way more isolated than in the Z.
I guess it is related to the Z being such a small notebook...

 

Well, of course I was responding to your original query about it making a sound that was louder than the fan (which is to say, not all that loud).

But now you are talking about it "vibrating like hell..."

Vibrating like hell might be related to a dvd disk that is not well balanced. Is it the same for any disk you put in there?

 

So.... When's the Sony Vaio Z getting a refresh with Sandy Bridge and new ATI/nvidia graphics?

 

Thanks, karnovaran. I'll give it a try once I get home tonight.

- da Choge

 

Hello. I just got a new VAIO Z. Specs are in my signature. Also, I just joined this forum! Looking to find out alot about the laptop, like full BIOS unlock. Hello.


SONY VAIO Z (VPC-Z 1390X) Core i7-640M @ 2.80 GHz, nVidia 330M @ 600/1320/800, 256GB SSD RAID 0 (128x2), 1600x900 Display, WWAN+GPS, Windows 7 HP

 

Try here:
unlock Z bios

 

Thanks alot!

 

In a month or two

 

Hmm, well if you're still interested, SquareTrade has a 30% off ($30 max) coupon at the moment (click here). There was a time where SquareTrade had a coupon that was 30% off no limit, but that was a while back...

Haha, glad to meet a fellow Cal fan . Although bad game against Stanford this year ><.

 

Anyone ever suddenly find that the touchpad goes unresponsive? This has happened too me about three times in the last 4 months (have had the laptop for 7). The odd thing is that it doesn't show a problem in the Device Manager, and I can't find any other issues, and when I plug a USB mouse in, that works fine, and the fingerprint reader works fine also. Just the touchpad. I can't really tie it to any particular activity; so far, I've mainly been doing extensive browsing (lots of chrome tabs open), photo editing, word processing, etc.
The only solution I've found is to restart. Does anyone have any ideas of other ways I might fix it without rebooting?

Thanks!

 

Mata UJ-242a. Back to the overtalked about issue, but is this the correct one for a Z1290X?

Wholesale NEW ThinkPad T400 T410 9.5mm Slim 4X Blu Ray Burner SATA Drive UJ 242 UJ 242A