Is My New Z2 Already Dying?

I got my z2 a couple months ago, or whenever it was that they first came out and I'm already having a really annoying problem with it.

Basically, every so often, with no particular pattern - the screen will not turn on, and the internal fan sounds like a F16 fighter when this happens.

This is what happens:

1) Turn it on. The little green light on the button shows the power is on. The backlight on the keyboard is also on.
2) Screen does not turn on.
3) 3-5 seconds later, the fan starts to gradually wind up.
4) By about 15 seconds after turn on...the fan has wound up to full blast and it's really loud.
5) Still nothing on the screen.

I don't do anything to make it work again, I sometimes have to wait until the next day for it to work again, and sometimes it will work 5 minutes later.

No rhyme or reason.

I'm kind of scared because I just got this thing for work and it has everything on it, and from what I've heard about Sony support..this could be a complete nightmare to get fixed.

Any ideas?

Edit: Now that I think about it...I do remember installing the latest windows update just before this happened. I had to restart after the update...and that's when it started this mess. I don't know if it's related but it kind of makes me think.

 

Definitely weird.

Pull the update. If you are so inclined, might try a factory restore before shipping it to Sony.

 

Is there a way to do a factory restore without the screen being on?

Also - if I do have to send it back to Sony - any idea on how long it takes them to fix it or do they usually just ship a new one?

 

Try hooking up a monitor via the VGA or HDMI port, and no way to tell. They'll likely service it as-is.

I recommend doing all you can to avoid Sony Service. Machines tend come back in worse shape than they left. It is to the point that I don't buy extended warranties anymore. I service the machines myself, but I'm a bit of a freak in this regard.

 

hooked it up to a separate monitor, and still nothing happened. I don't even think it's trying to boot up, otherwise I'd hear the HD and all that when it usually boots up. Perhaps it could be the RAM? I remember having defective RAM on my desktop and it doing something similar to what this is doing.

Either that, or the video card. Hmmm..

Can I even try to service it myself? The Z doesn't seem very service friendly.

 

If you can't even POST, you may be forced to send it in.

As I understand it, the issue is intermittent. You can try to troubleshoot with what you can.

All shots in the dark, but...

• Boot without the PMB or power cable
• Boot without PMB with the power adapter attached
• Pull the battery, using a coin to remove the screws. Remember where each goes, some of the screws are longer than others. Let it sit overnight, replace the battery and try booting again.

If it is RAM, you are out of luck. It's soldered to the mainboard and isn't user serviceable.

If you send it in, take lots of pictures of the machine from all angles to show how it looked originally.

 

Make sure you have booting from external drives turned off and you don't have anything connected.

 

If the display doesn't even turn on and you don't get an image when connecting an external monitor you'll have to send it in for repair. I doubt there's much you can do about it.

 

I'll see what happens at work tomorrow with the PMD connected. I don't have it at home it stays at the office.

What's weird is if this were broken...why would it work sometimes...and other times not. Electronics are weird.

 

I was lucky...the extended warranty got me a brand new Z2 when my Z12 wass in the shop for 30 days...worth it? Yup

 

30 ...DAYS? Does it really take that long? Ugh...