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    Sony VAIO PCG-7141L No Video

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Pareto Optimal, Dec 1, 2011.

  1. Pareto Optimal

    Pareto Optimal Notebook Consultant

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    I'm tryng to fix my cousin's laptop ...

    Sony PCG-7141L, VPCEF25FX running W7 Home Premium 64 bit.
    A child knocked it off a table a long time ago. From that point on there's been no video on the laptop's screen.

    Attaching an external monitor allowed full use of the laptop for years.
    Just recently, there's no longer video signal to the external monitor.
    The LCD lights-up but looks like cracked glass or crumpled black and white paper with blue vertical lines on the white part. Note that there are no cracks or breaks in the actual glass.

    I've tried Fn+7 to toggle between LCD and external monitor.
    I've cleaned the RAM and RAM slots.
    I've removed the HDD and scanned it externally with MSEssentials on my laptop. It found 5 thrreats. Three were serious. MSE claimed one sent info out to attackers and another allowed attackers to run software on her computer.
    I've tried to boot from a W7 64-bit disc while pressing the Fn7 to toggle between screens.
    I don't know the key sequence to get into the BIOS.
    I can't change the BIOS if I can't see it on any screen anyway.
    I don't have a tech manual.
    I'm downloading a Linux LIVE disc but, again, what good will that do if I can't see anything on any screen. Would a Linux Live disc send video signal to both the LCD and external RGB automatically?

    The specs of the computer are listd two posts below this one.
    It seems that it uses a PCIe video card.
    Sony told support email told me he couldn't find the card for this laptop.
    He advised me to call someone to ask which card. It's an ATI but Sony could have modified it. He said they don't recommend endusers to open the laptop. He advised me to take it to a Sony service center. I wonder if I could install it and what the cost would be or what the cost of having them do it would be. My cousin can't spend a lot on this. Never mind that we don't know if swapping the video card would solve the problem. Would Sony check it out for a nominal fee or for free and tell us what the problem is so she could decide if it's affordable for her to fix?

    I suppose the video RAM could be bad.

    Any help and links to technician's manuals would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Pareto Optimal

    Pareto Optimal Notebook Consultant

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    Update > It seems the model listed on the back, VPC-7141L isn't the model number. The Model listed on the lower right of the LCD is VPCEF25FX.

    Thank you for any help, direction to go, advice.
     
  3. Pareto Optimal

    Pareto Optimal Notebook Consultant

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    MPN: VPCEF25FXBI

    Key Features
    Weight: 6.7 lb.
    Laptop Type: Mid-Size Laptop
    Use: Home Use

    Processor: Athlon II Dual-Core 2.1 GHz
    Installed Memory: 4 GB (DDR3 SDRAM)
    Hard Drive: 500 GB Serial ATA, 5400 RPM
    Display: 17.3 in. LED
    Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

    Processor
    Processor Manufacturer: AMD
    Processor Type: Athlon II Dual-Core
    Processor Speed: 2.1 GHz

    Memory
    Installed RAM: 4 GB
    RAM Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
    Max Supported RAM: 8 GB
    Installed Cache Memory: 1024 KB

    Hard Drive
    Hard Drive Capacity: 500 GB
    Hard Drive Rotation Speed : 5,400 RPM
    Storage Controller Type: Serial ATA

    CD / DVD
    CD / DVD Type: Blu-Ray
    Optical Drive Read Speed: 4x (BD)

    Display
    Display Tech: LED
    Screen Size: 17.3 in.
    Display Max. Resolution: 1600 x 900

    Video
    Graphic Processor: ATI MOBILITY RADEON HD 5145
    Installed Video Memory: 512 MB

    Audio
    Audio Output Type: Headphones · Sound card · Speaker(s)

    Operating System
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

    Platform: PC

    Technical Features
    Expansion Ports: 4 x USB 2.0, VGA out, RJ-45 (NIC), HDMI
    Input Method: Keyboard · Numeric Keypad · Touchpad

    Networking
    Networking Type:
    Bluetooth · Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card · Integrated Wireless LAN
    Data Link Protocol:
    Bluetooth · Ethernet · Fast Ethernet · Gigabit Ethernet · Hi-Speed USB · IEEE 802.11b · IEEE 802.11g · IEEE 802.11n

    Battery
    Battery Run Time: 1.5 Hours
    Battery Technology: Lithium ion

    Dimensions
    Width: 16.1 in.
    Depth: 10.79 in.
    Height: 1.5 in.
    Weight: 6.7 lb.

    Miscellaneous
    UPC: 27242804166
    Product ID: 101254859
    Family Line: Sony VAIO
     
  4. Achusaysblessyou

    Achusaysblessyou eecs geek ftw :D

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    Sounds like a failure of the hardware. If you still have Windows 7, windows key + p will change monitors "projector". The screen might not be cracked, but the LCD inside can be damaged