Sony Vaio Z screen problem

My VPCZ1390X developed the attached problem: View image: IMG 0743



The screen is dim in the little shape towards the lower center. Admittedly, this is most apparent in gray backgrounds such as the Gmail warning screen, and no pixels are dead. But they are constantly dimmer, and on a monster machine of this caliber I just spent a fortune on merely a few months ago, the distraction is very inconvenient.

What caused this? Can I fix it? Can I get it replaced?

 

I think that you should send it Sony to get it fixed under warranty,

 

a dying backlight maybe?

you yourself? probably not.

call in and argue. That's your best bet. If it doesn't work, hang up and call again. CSRs are all different within Sony, you could get a nice one. you could get a bad one.

 

This looks like pressure damage. Calling Sony for service is probably your best bet.

You can replace the screen yourself, but the procedure is relatively complicated and not for the faint of heart. The screens are expensive too.

 

Thanks all.

I have a hard time getting word from Sony online. I'll try to call them, but I really cannot afford to send the machine in for repairs if it will be just shipped back to me in 8 weeks untouched. Since I reside in Turkey, where the "worldwide" warranty doesn't hold, there's no good way to get a solid answer.

 

If you need a screen, shoot me a PM.

 

Should be changed under warranty, had the same problem at my VPCZ11, a bit further up and a bit bigger than your, visible at bootup and during Bios settings (the Sony support asked me to check if it was visible during Bios settings). They picked up my notebook and I had it fixed and shipped back in 2 days (Sony in France). They also tightened up my loose hinge. No questions or discussions about pressure or damage, must be a known problem

 

well, by telling how deep of a line you've got to the left of the ambient light sensor, it's safe to say that that damage is probably caused by pressure. Try getting it fixed by bringing it to Sony.

 

Hey, I happen to need a screen for my VGN-Z.

 

Search "LCD Bruising." I had my FHD screen replaced under warranty. Figure it'll keep happening over time unless I'm really careful. That means always put an LCD cloth between the screen and keyboard and find yourself a rigid case for transporting. I'm currently using an STM Turtle 15" outside a Vaio neoprene, and it protects pretty well.

 

Thanks guys, very helpful. Sony forums reported the below, and I'll call in for support. I'll keep you posted.

 

I use to have a Z and the screen is just too thin and it flex and it get scratch easily against the keyboard. From that day onward on all my new laptop, I put a cloth on inside when I close it.

 

Warranty repair / replacement from pressure-damage (aka, bruising), is a tricky thing it is... As to whether you will get the warranty repair depends on who you are talking to and how they are feeling. For all they care, you could have applied excessive pressure hence voiding the warranty and thus a free repair.

Had 4x points of bruising appear on my VGN-Z during a year or so of ownership. Being under a two year warranty and the random nature of the bruising, I thought I'd risk dropping by the service centre to get a warranty repair. I baby my Z like crazy and was NOT responsible for the bruising; they just appeared one day, patch after patch, and started getting progressively darker.

Anyways, the LCD was replaced free of charge under warranty. That old LCD was just over a year old when I had it replaced (with it developing the said problems when about 6 months old). My current / new LCD has been for a year and 3 months now and not a single bruise. Though a slight hair-line and pin-head scratch which it came back with for an unrelated repair a while later...

My LCD however has slight bit more light bleed on the upper parts than the former. And it doesn't look as matt as the older screen did. But it ain't glossy. So that to me proves it's a proper, genuine replacement.

 

I am about ready to part with my computer, so I called Sony today. I have extended warranty including accidental damage, so I didn't expect any problems, and they didn't give me any. I will report again when I ship & get the product back.

 

I actually had this display replaced within the first year for a dead pixel cluster, and this new LCD which is probably six months old is now showing a few bruising spots and the screen automatically dims and then usually goes back to normal. It is strange.

Anyone else deal with when the display all of a suddern overly saturates and dims and then goes to normal?

 

I get both of those problems (though not at the same time):

- When my brightness is on auto, sometimes the screens dims as if I'm not using it (even though I am using the PC at the time) and it doesn't increase the brightness (even when I press the F6 (brightness-up) button). The only solution seems to be to turn automatic brightness off and then back on again.

- sometimes the screen oversaturates (and as if the brightness/gamma setting on the PC is really high) - it then often goes back to normal by itself a little later. This seems to be a problem with the intel driver and switching it to speed and then back to stamina will get it back to normal.

I've not been able to stop either of these things from happening, but they don't happen very frequently, and they're only a minor annoyance.

 

For the Intel graphics thing, try disable the following: http://puu.sh/iQWX

 

For me I don't have auto switching and it always happens on Intel. I will try the fix above.