Sony Vaio SVP1321C5E: flickering screen on battery power after Windows 10 update

I have been using my Sony Vaio Pro 13 SVP1321C5E for many years with great pleasure. However, after updating to Windows 10 I have the following problem: When using the laptop on battery power, with lower battery values (say <60%) and somewhat higher processor load (say> 40%), the screen flashes very fast (say 5-10Hz) & irregular. Very annoying and I expect that it must be a software problem, but I can't figure it out. What I have already done:

1. Reinstalled Intel HD 4400 graphics drivers, also tested different versions (Intel / Sony);
2. Completely new clean installation of Windows 10 without any additional apps / programs installed;
3. Energy management schemes & various variables tested, set as "balanced" as possible;
4. Display settings at lower resolution / lower brightness (75%) / no night light set with battery use;
5. Device management all fully installed, except for NXP5442 (NFC), because it does not work in Windows 10.
6. Vaio update & Vaio care fully checked, gives no problems & battery condition is seen as healthy.

With the above options all still the same situation. I read on the internet many with similar problems:
https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/pcs-accessories/sony-vaio-svf13n2c5e-flickering-screen/td-p/2260621
https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/6vxs27/sony_vaio_pro_13_backlight_flickering_when_on/
https://forums.tomsguide.com/threads/laptop-screen-flickers-mostly-when-unplugged.100550/
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/sony-laptop-screen-turns-black-flickers-when-unplugged.25350...

Does anyone have any more suggestions what I can do? I really getting tired of this issue ...
Thanks in advance for any help & suggestions!
Roy.

 

Hi everybody ... nobody a clue what to do? Thanks for your suggestions!!!

EDIT: I tried some extra things: while in really low power (<40%) I see the flickering is also present in "safe mode" and even in the BIOS. I did not experience that yet ... but would that mean it is a hardware issue anyhow ...?

EDIT2: I even opened up the laptop, got out the battery for a while, did a power reset (20 seconds power button), and put in the battery again. no luck.

So, I now can only think of to try another battery or something? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Roy.

 

Hi all, really nobody any other clue that I could do? Thanks ....

 

If it does it in the BIOS and in Safe Mode it most likely is a hardware problem that is not related to Windoze 10. Does it occur with an external monitor? Does it change with the lid positioned at various angles?

 

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it! It does not occur with a external monitor. And the hinge position does not matter at all.

I understand your reasoning about a hardware failure, but why does the flickering NOT happen when the battery is >80% or connected to the charger? So to me, IF it is a hardware issue, it is not the screen but the power circuit that cannot keep up at a lower battery charge (<60%).

The flickering is only at higher CPU loads, and the flickering pattern looks like the harddrive yield / behaviour.

So what failure could it be? And still strange it really started to occur right after upgrading to Windows 10.

Again thanks for your commitment!

 

Definitely an odd situation. Never have seen anything like that with respect to the lower battery charge. Also interesting that while it happens in the BIOS and Safe Mode, it does not happen with an external monitor.

It might be some kind of glitch in power management at a firmware level. Have you tried re-flashing the BIOS? Not sure what else to suggest... Really strange.

 

Hi Mr. Fox, thank

Hi Mr. Fox, thanks for your suggestion. Re-flashing the bios did not help, unfortunately. Also I tried another (new!) battery, no solution either.
Yes, really strange situation here ... hope that anybody here has another suggestion to try? This laptop is still super for me, even at its age !

Happy holidays everyone!
Roy.

 

Hello Troxelke, I have the exact same problem as you with my Sony VAIO Pro 13, where it starts flickering when the battery drops below 80%. It does not do it with the external monitor. I also changed the battery and that did not help. Were you able to resolve your issue?

 

Hi all, I have the exact same problem. Screen flickers below 80% battery and turns totally dark around 60% (just the backlit, one can still see the screen graphics by shining a light on the screen). No problem at all with external monitor. I have tried everything including 2 new batteries, full update of all possible drivers and use of TrottleStop to clock down the machine.

 

oh and flashing the bios of course...

 

Hi, no also lost with this issue, done the same things as you indicate, drivers, bios, new battery, nothing helped. Now using the laptop with power supply or until it starts flickering ..

 

Following up on this, I made sure that the flickering occurs in the BIOS as well so it is definitely not Windows (unless the installation of the OS messed up something). Booting in legacy mode from the BIOS does not solve the issue either. When the battery is low, the screen is pitch dark from the very beginning (VAIO logo) so definitely something to do with insufficient power going to the backlight LED when the battery is low before even the BIOS loads. I used a couple battery monitoring software and reports on battery from command prompt but everything seems normal. As the battery slowly goes down from full charge, flickering begins when operations using CPU are carried on so I think there is power conflict between screen and CPU. Below 80% it flickers continuously and below 60% it starts shutting off. At 50% the screen is totally dark but the graphics can be seen by shining an external light on the scree.
Anyone has an idea?

 

Same exact problem here, it's a real shame because my nice, light, portable Vaio now has to stay tethered to external power to be any use. Has anyone found a solution yet?

 

Had same problem, screen flickering when battery reached 75%. Bought new IPS-panel from aliexpress and that fixed the problem.

 

How much dit it cost? Thanks

 

43€ including shipping. Beaware that you need some special tools like heatgun or powerful hairdryer to warm bezel so it can be removed easily, also thin prying tools used to repair mobile phones are quite usefull.
But overall it's not that bad job, just remove display assembly from bottom base and remove bezel, swap panel glue bezel back and it's done.

 

Hi Stepi, I am the original topic starter and did not yet solve my issue. Now I read your answers, so in your case it was the panel itself.

Just to rule out, you also had the situation where on AC power the display is fine, and only when on battery and below a certain percentage (in my case below 75% or something), the screen starts flickering especially under higher CPU load? Or was your situation something else? And, did you rule out it was not only the flex cable (that is much cheaper / much more easy to change)?

And if it is really the screen to replace, could you send me the link where you purchased it? Are there variants I should be concerned of, or is there only 1 Vaio Pro 13 screen with 1920x1080 res?

But in any case, thanks for your help and replies!!

Best regards!
Roy.

 

On AC power display worked just fine, even when on battery power and screen started flickering connecting AC adapter stopped flickering.
I noticed that there were clicking or crackling(don't know how to describe it)sound inside top cover at same area where sony logo is on bezel. Also when there is no problems at all when using HDMI-port it ruled out that there is motherboard issues. Cabling issues usually occur when moving display and this wasn't the case here so i decided to order just new screen.

I'am not familiar with sony laptops so i don't know how many variants there is from this model. I udes aida64 to identify display and it's manufacturer and model, ordered similar display from aliexpress and have been quite happy vaio owner afterwards. Actually so happy that i'am searching mainboard upgrade becaus this is just i5 and 4gb model and it's quite low mem for windows 10, seeking now cheap i7 8gb model mainboard.

 

Super thanks for your reply! Okay then I will also go for the screen replacement. Do you have the link to your order or name of the shop?

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32757564307.html?spm=2114.13010708.0.0.4a624c4dYKunX5

That's the place where i bought mine.

 

Great, thanks. Last question (I hope), which tape did you use? Which thickness and width?

Would the tesa 61395 be an option?

 

Where usable used old and b7000 glue

 

Ok thanks! Ordered the screen, looked at the DIY in YouTube, ordered the 61395 tape and hope for the best .

 

Just be careful with bezel, it's really thin and fragile. Using heat gun or hairdryer for warming and softening tape/glue makes it much more easier.

 

I've got a sony vaio pro 13 as well (SVP1322C5E), with identical issues which started for me as well after upgrading from win8 to win10. I've tried restoring the original image with win8 but the issue remains. I was convinced the issue was soft/firmware related but after reading this thread I'm in doubt. Can you please share your results after you have installed the new screen, I'm really curious.

Robbin.

 

Check the inverter under the bezel, this kind of series had some issues with it, so the backlight started to flicker.

 

I will do, I have the screen now at home, now find some time to fix it!

Ahh thnx! So how can this inverter be fixed?

 

The only way to fix it, is by replacing it.

 

I am sorry it took a while before I found some time to replace the screen .... but YES it solved the flickering of the screen! I am very happy!!
It took me about 2 hours, as I had never done this before. The tape is pretty sticky, but with proper opening tools it is pretty easy (with some patience haha).
Just be very very careful on the flex that goes to the digitizer/touchscreen part, that is on the bottom center (so in middle of bottom bezel).
I got a lot of help by a DIY movie: just search on Youtube for "Sony Vaio Pro screen replacement" for a good video to support you.

Roy.

I now changed the screen, and now it is solved! Is the inverter part of the screen, so that is why it is solved?
Thanks again for your help!

 

I am not sure if there actually is inverter at all on this display, if i remember correctly there is no invertes on led displays. But anyway, I am just happy with my non flickering display

 

it started happening to me also but with a vaio duo 13

anyone knows if there are replacement parts for this one?

 

Great news that you laptop is fixed. I will try to get a replacement LCD as well and maybe some tools. I found the youtube clip you mentioned so it should be able to manage. Thanks for your help.

regards Robbin.

 

Hey guys, I`m having same issue with my Sony Vaio laptop now. So is there anyone fixed the screen flickering by the replacing the ribbon of monitor?