SZ460N , Dim/Dark area on LCD, TWICE !

Here is the story, kinda weird!

I'm an overseas laptops buyer, I used to buy used/new laptops from eBay. 9 months ago I bought a used VAIO SZ460N and when I got it, the LCD had some large dark/dim area in the middle (from the bottom of the screen to the middle, as a large circle). I took it to many repair centers in my country and they all insisted that LCD has to be replaced by a new one (new regular LCD not LED one costs around $265). Only one center claimed that they can fix it for around $100 with a warranty for 6 months that the problem won’t appear. I just let them do that and it worked just fine.

On early September, I bought another laptop of same model but new, when I got it, it has the same problem !! yes it’s not that obvious like the previous one but it does annoy especially when the background is totally white ! it was like a dim/dark area from the bottom to the top of the screen of the left quarter of the LCD, see this one it’s kinda similar:



I took it to the same repairing center, I asked him to repair it since he knows the problem very well but I asked to stay while he’s doing that cuz I really know whats going on since I felt like I was fooled that time ! he said he will be busy so just leave me the laptop, I had no choice so I just left it to be picked in 1 hour.
An hour, a day, another day and he didn’t fix it and I was really upset, I picked it up and promised ma self to know the problem before I fix it since I usually buy VAIO SZ laptops (bought around 30 laptops during last 10 months)
I don’t have the laptop in hand since I sent to an expert friend to see whats wrong with it but I would see if anyone went through such a problem? Many repairing centers said it cant be the INVERTER which I suspected to be !

Mic is yours now, I’m listening : )

 

Could it be a faulty LED?

 

If faulty LED then it should cost much more than $265 which is the cost I paid for repairing last time. I guess it's something else : )

 

Same problem with a macbook pro that I have. Honestly, I've seen this in several LED lit notebooks. I think its a clear flaw and I think that your LED screen needs to be replaced. Apple is quoting me $310.

 

I think this is one type of that "famous" LED banding issue.....

 

LED it is. Inverter issue will cause the whole screen to get DIM.

 

I had this same problem with my z and Sony exchanged mine for a new one. This is the reason I will always buy my laptops from a retail store. It is so much easier to resolve issues when you buy from a local store. In my case, it was thin banding in the center of the display and you could only notice it on a white or very light background.

 

Can this happen with CCFL screen, such as FW laptop screen?

 

I talked to SONY and they asked to ship it back which means $200 only for one way shipping , i'm not sending it back.

Exactly, thats why they confirmed, they claimed it's a common matter on that model.

Thanks for the information.

what shall we do buddy, addicted to online shopping

I've no clue actually.

 

Lamp or inverter?

 

You can try inverter but worst cases this my require LCd replacement. Any crack on the screen or better check if hinges on the left side of your screen is not loose.

 

It is the first time I've seen a LED screen like that... half-blank, half-visible.