Need help figuring out if my SZ is a lemon so I can return it or not

So this laptop has been pretty buggy and I am worried that it is lemon, but it could also be vista.

Several times the computer has booted up very strangely. One time it was just a black screen with a frozen cursor and I had to just hold the power button. ANother time the backlight never came on until i restarted it. Quite often the whole thing will freeze then suddenly come back saying the video card driver failed and was restarted (im using 100.40 but it has happened with the original drivers too). And whenever I open and close the laptop lid, the screen will go crazy for a second then appear with the wrong resolution then suddenly snap back to the correct resolution (kinda messing up any icons i put on the right side of the screen). Again this is with both the original sony drivers and the 100.40s.

Are you guys experiencing these problems?

 

I didn't have any problems like that with my SZ460; it does sound like more than the typical Vista problems.

 

oh crap. i wonder how difficult this is going to be

 

It shouldn't be that difficult, as long as it's within the return period. You might also just see about having Sony fix it.

 

I've been wondering the same thing about my laptop, but I've decided to assume it's Vista for now. Switching to XP seems like too much of a hassle, esp. when the updates are all for vista
I've also gotten a blue screen of death...twice

 

Jeez, I guess I am just lucky... I have been using Vista Business for some time now and have not had any problems to date (knock on wood). I actually prefer Vista to XP for the user interface...

About the issues you described with the graphics, based on the driver version you listed, it appears you are using the nVidia chipset... Do these same problems occur with the Intel graphics? Wonder if the problem is truly Vista or the buggy drivers that nVidia has released.

Don

 

Well the problems of the screen shutting dont happen with the integrated card, but the integrated card has its own problems. When I first boot up, the screen is tiny (like 25% of the total screen). This messes up all my icons. Then after like a minute it goes to the normal resolution. Its such a nice computer, its a shame. But I will just ask for an exchange. They will want to fix it though, not sure how they can but Im sure they will try to say they can. Also I hope they dont hassle me for the engraving I got. It was a free option at sony.com which they say precludes returns if you dont like it, but I just want an exchange really. not sure what to say

 

does the sz's camera not take videos? bc the button is greyed out...

 

it should take vids

 

ok theyre giving me a huge hassle because they want to repair the laptop rather than replace it. I tried to do a return then, but they wouldnt let me because i got the free engraving (huge mistake) so now i guess im screwed and limited to hoping that they can repair the machine, despite the fact that all the problems are intermittent and they wont even notice without using the computer for an extended period. ugh... plus the help people are infuriatingly rude

 

That sucks. Well, hopefully they'll be able to repair whatever the problem is.

I've always kind of wondered why anyone would bother getting their Vaio engraved; aside from the problem of returns, it seems like it would be a big hassle if you ever wanted to sell your laptop later.

 

well i was planing on keeping this laptop for a long time and thus resale wasnt important. I shouldve read more carefully about the engraving and returns.
THe engraving was free so I thought why not; it looks kinda nice. Im in college right now and at the very least i hoped it would deter theft.

obviously a huge mistake haha

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Sony execs actually decided to offer the free engraving just so customers wouldn't be able to do straight-up returns.

On a positive/hopeful note, Sony is very good (in my experience) with quick turnaround times for shipping/repairs. Hopefully they'll identify your problems and get everything fixed and working to your satisfaction.

 

yeah the problem is that the problems are very intermittent. I mean it took me 3 weeks to find all the problems and duplicating them is hard. Any tech guy looking at this laptop would have to look and wait for a long time to find the problems. maybe there are loose connections though. i think i will try a reformat and if the problems are still there ill send it in.

 

Sorry if this sounds rude because I am short on time, but please lookup the lemon law. Your SZ is nowhere near a lemon right now.

I returned mine because of a faulty wireless adapter and got a new one because I didn't get it engraved because it says right there on the site when you choose the engraving that engraved laptops cannot be returned.

It's a nice machine so I hope you'll get it back right