Defective NVIDIA Graphics VAIO Z Windows 7

Hello all,

I recently installed Windows 7 Professional 64bit onto my UK Z21WN. Having first flashed the BIOS to R2170M3 I installed all drivers including the NVIDIA driver 8.16.11.8735.

When I rebooted i came up against this:

Image 1

Image 2

The laptop did not POST but instead I was greeted by a screen fading from black to white to black again with coloured vertical lines as in the above pics. Laptop was completely unresponsive to any keyboard input, dead, doo doo, RIP...

So I sent the laptop in to Sony Support. I got a call yesterday from Support confirming it was the graphics card and I have had my motherboard replaced.

I'm now waiting for Mr DHL to deliver my repaired laptop.

However, I also noticed another user, ( lydhig, in his post here) who had the exact same issue as me and also had a Z21WN.

Two things really:

1. Does the Z suffer from the faulty NVIDIA chip problem as with other VAIO models?
2. Has anyone else experieced this?

Would appreciate anyones input on this.

Thanks!

 

It's possible.

See the top of my first post here; notably the part concerning the G92, G94, and G96 chipsets.

The early Z's were suspect although I'm surprised to hear about the failures so soon in the product's lifespan.

Please keep us updated in the other thread. Others have shared their photos and customer service experiences; this may help you when you call about getting your notebook serviced.

 

Isn't 9300M GS a G98 core? Have just confirmed this on wiki.

Upon my first time booting into Windows 7 64-bit after the Win7 install/setup, I got that problem too, just vertical lines pretty much like in your pictures. Baically, you know that part where the 4 swirly lights flying around and forms the windows logo, instead of that, I got the coloured vertical lines. It then restarted by itself after some 20 secs I think, got the POST screen and all, then it was normal, Windows 7 loading screen showed up.

I did a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit under SPEED mode.

 

It's just a new VAIO "Z" BIOS issue, and looks like you have some problems with this BIOS update, or may be this is just a coincidence.

I have similar problem after update BIOS to R2170M3, but only when I try to use Windows XP, Vista or Linux in "Speed" mode. With Windows 7 - everything Ok.
Also - you can update your BIOS to R4043M3, it seems more stable, and you can use it without any limitations.

Or local (russian) SONY VAIO tech support told me "R2170M3/R4043M3 BIOS'es is only for Windows 7".

 

Hi All,

Updating the Bios to version R4043M3 worked for me well with a Z-710DD. The original BIOS updated available at sony esupport website for Windows 7-Pro-64Bit was M4041M3. The M4041R3 version did not work with the latest nvidia driver which is available for the Z860 CTO model. Sony needs to update their driver list for at leats my model and from what I can see on the forum, many other models are affected.

I did upgrade all my drivers through the Upgrade DVD that came with the Windows 7 upgrade from SONY in SPEED mode. Then, installed the NVDVID-00208041-764 nvidia driver, no video drivers were posted by SONY for my model.During and after installation, the screen did something similar to what is described here. After installation was completed and after restarting, I installed the BIOS M4041M3, restarted and everything went well afterwards.

Brightness control works, nvidia works, no device driver conflicts showing in the device manager. It worked for me and I hope it will work for everyone. Good Luck.

 

You like what temperature component on your Z-mode speed.
this is what gives me everest after an hour of non-intensive use (surfing and video):



in intensive use, the processor can climb to 80 degrees and gpu 100

 

OK guys, time for an update!

I recieved the laptop repaired from Sony, they enclosed a sheet stating that the motherboard had been replaced and the BIOS had been updated. They even included a handy cleaning cloth as a nice gesture - woo! So far so good!?

So, I started up the laptop and managed to boot into XP (I had installed Windows 7 as a dual-boot with XP). Desktop loaded fine so I rebooted to see what BIOS version Sony had put on.

I entered the BIOS which showed BIOS Version R2166M3 was installed (hardly a BIOS update!). Therefore I needed to flash to R2170M3 again in order to successfully run Windows 7.

I then booted into XP and downloaded R2170M3 from the Sony UK support site and flashed the BIOS. I then rebooted...

...Only to encounter the SAME PROBLEM I HAD BEFORE!!! Black screen fading into white then black again - d'oh!

I got on to the phone to Sony again stating what had happened. The support guy sent out a delivery man to collect the laptop again, yesterday. He also recommended NOT to use the BIOS on the UK site just yet!

What's going on Sony??

Perhaps Nifty is right:

Does this mean the Sony Windows 7 BIOSes can only be used on a machine running JUST Windows 7?

Anyone else dual-booting with Windows 7?