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    Sony Service and Repair Manuals

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Mamba, Nov 24, 2006.

  1. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    To my fellow Sony notebook owners: we need to get our hands on the Sony Service and Repair Manuals so that we can mod our machines.

    In my own case, I'd like to disassemble my VGN-A600 to remove the palmrest / wristrest. It needs to be repainted because the paint has worn off the plastic wherever my hands or bracelet touch the chassis. A common problem, I have heard.

    Disassembly of these machines is not a trivial task. Disassembling a Sony like this requires the removal of over 20 screws from the back, then a hidden screw or two under the keypad, then little hidden clips, then delicate ribbon cables. In short, if you don't know what you are doing with a teardown, you're toast! :mad:

    My Dell is no problem. Dell at least have detailed online instructions for tearing down their machines.

    As usual, Sony score zero in comparison.

    If anyone has a service manual or repair manual for any modern Sony notebooks, or knows where they can reliably be obtained, PLEASE SHARE!
     
    Mamba, Nov 24, 2006
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  2. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    And even if you can get a Sony Repair manual, this is all they give you to help you disassemble your notebook (this diagram is for another VGN model, not mine).

    [​IMG]

    Interesting exchange found on Usenet:


     
    Mamba, Nov 25, 2006
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  3. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    A few months later, this same poor fellow posted:

    A tri-wing screw is (g) below.

    [​IMG]

    A bit of history: Tri-Wing head has a triangular slotted configuration. They were used by Nintendo on its Game Boys to discourage home repair.
     
    Mamba, Nov 25, 2006
    #3
  4. Duckfart

    Duckfart Notebook Evangelist

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    Duckfart, Nov 25, 2006
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  5. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    That's interesting, thanks, but it doesn't work for the VGN-A600

    [​IMG]
     
    Mamba, Nov 25, 2006
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  6. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Mamba, Nov 25, 2006
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  7. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Mamba, Nov 25, 2006
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  8. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Repair Manuals you can't get, screwdrivers that are difficult to find ... caveat emptor.
     
    Mamba, Nov 25, 2006
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  9. outie

    outie Notebook Consultant

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    That's weird. All my vaios use normal (+) screws (PCG-N,R,Z1/VGN-T). Good luck with your quest.
     
    outie, Nov 25, 2006
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  10. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Have you completely disassembled them or just taken out parts from underneath?
     
    Mamba, Nov 25, 2006
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  11. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Long story short, I called Sony and they will sell me the Service Manual, which is actually just a few pages of disassembly blow up diagrams with no instructions about how to disassemble the pc, for about $7, with $3 postage fee. They would not mail it free (after all, the error is with the machine's finish and construction, so they should send it to me gratis) or provide me with an email link to what would be a small pdf document.

    I said no thanks.

    I've decide to fix my particular problem (paint rubbing off palmrest in several places) by getting some sort of opaque laminate to make it look nice again. Cheaper than a new palm rest at $110 + shipping.

    Anyone have any ideas about a very tough and sticky laminate?
     
    Mamba, Nov 27, 2006
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  12. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Something like this could help protect the hand rest area. This is from marware.com for the Mac. Any ideas? Am I the only one having these problems?

    [​IMG]
     
    Mamba, Nov 27, 2006
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  13. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Mamba, Nov 27, 2006
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  14. epsonfan

    epsonfan Newbie

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    epsonfan, Dec 1, 2006
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  15. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    No Repair or Service manuals for my model there :(
     
    Mamba, Dec 1, 2006
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  16. ultraviolet

    ultraviolet Notebook Enthusiast

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    ......or for mine, VGN-FE21S, unfortunately.

    ultraviolet
     
    ultraviolet, Dec 2, 2006
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  17. badboy_77

    badboy_77 Notebook Enthusiast

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    mine either, just the same crap that i got in the box
     
    badboy_77, Dec 3, 2006
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  18. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    Mamba, Dec 6, 2006
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  19. Nocturnal

    Nocturnal Newbie

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    If you don't mind me asking, what number did you call to get a service manual? I tried my local Sony and they said they don't sell service manuals.
     
    Nocturnal, Dec 13, 2006
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  20. Techquest

    Techquest Newbie

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    No luck with the list either.

    My brother bought my parents their first computer, a used Sony Vaio
    PCG-7F1L. I've been trying to hunt down a manual without success. Does anyone know which model the PGC-7F1L comes closest to? Maybe I can find a manual that will answer most of their questions.

    I've just found the following reference and the manual that goes with it:

    Sony Vaio VGN-FJ Series VGN-FJ150 (PCG-7F1L) comes Sony Vaio VGN-FJ Series VGN-FJ150 (PCG-7F1L), 14.1 ", 1280 x 800 pixels ("WXGA"), New, Call for price ...
    www.screentekinc.com/sony-laptops-lcd-screens.shtml - 493k - Cached - Similar pages

    I found the manual on the manualshark site using the VGN-FJ150 reference:

    http://www.manualshark.org/manualshark/files/4/pdf_5405.pdf
     
    Techquest, Dec 30, 2006
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  21. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    LOL! That's not the Service and Repair Manual. That's just the crappy User Guide.
     
    Mamba, Jan 1, 2007
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  22. Tholek

    Tholek Notebook Consultant

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    I'd love to see a service manual for the FS series. As a former Thinkpad owner, I really feel letdown by the lack of documentation.
     
    Tholek, Jan 1, 2007
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  23. Mamba

    Mamba Notebook Guru

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    As I said before, it's issues like this that will ensure I never buy another Sony product again (oh, and my $50 portable Sony radio that malfunctioned after a few months). Sony used to be a byword for quality. NOT ANYMORE.
     
    Mamba, Jan 2, 2007
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  24. aafuss

    aafuss Newbie

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    aafuss, Jan 20, 2007
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  25. Bish

    Bish Newbie

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    Can anyone help me with tear down of a VAIO VGN-T250P? TSA broke my LCD screen, and are, of course, not liable for any damages.

    I have a new screen from a supplier. Now to take the thing apart. I can't see where to start.

    Thanks y'all in advance.
     
    Bish, Feb 12, 2007
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  26. kavn84

    kavn84 Newbie

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    kavn84, Apr 4, 2008
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  27. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    hendra, Apr 5, 2008
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