Vaio Z freezes up when returned to AC Power

Anyone else having similar issues? (Or more to the point, has anyone solved a similar issue?)

I have a Vaio Z550N and although it was working perfectly until this point, now I am having the issue of the computer freezing up (completely non-responsive) when I re-attach it to the AC adapter after having had it on battery power.

It doesn't happen every time... but it is enough to be exceedingly irritating. The only major change I have made to my computer recently is upgrading the BIOS to the latest version from the Sony Support site.

 

Have any of your power settings changed? I assume nothing ever happens when you disconnect AC power? Maybe try reverting back to the old BIOS version?

 

Were you watching hulu.com on battery power?

 

I've got a Z555DN and have the same issue as well, but mine began before I did the BIOS upgrade. I've found that it happens a lot less when I'm in Stamina mode using the Intel graphics card, but if I'm using the NVidia, then my Z tends to lock up more often whenever plugging back into AC power. One trick I found was that it (relatively) consistently does not lock up if I'm returning to AC Power in the Maximum Battery profile, so I'll sometimes switch to that profile, plug in and then switch back to Optimized.

 

Thanks for the feedback - I'll try that, tough I hate to go through the hassle.

Does anyone know how to revert back to a previous BIOS version? Where can I find the old files?

 

You know, I think I only have this problem when using max. battery profile and after viewing hulu.com on battery. Put the machine to stand-by/sleep and then plug in and then wake it up is good enough to address this occasional hiccup.

 

I'm just curious - did any of you guys find a permanent solution to this issue? I've been getting it more consistently, despite taking any 'precautions' to prevent the freezeup...

 

I found another thing that seems to help is to make sure no bluetooth device is waking up at the same time -- I have a BT mouse and when I take the laptop away I may not use the mouse, so it becomes a stand-by state. After realizing the standby trick and the suspected BT, I have not encounter this problem anymore.

 

If I hit the power button on my laptop (so it starts booting) and then plug in the AC adapter, it will freeze in the middle of the post. Long before I get to my Windows power settings. I also see freezing in Windows when plugging in my power adapter as others have listed on this post. Since this happens before I even start booting my OS, it is clearly a HW issue, not an OS/Driver issue.

Has anyone contacted Sony support about this? This is clearly a hardware or bios flaw and they need to fix the issue.

 

Hi Folks,

I'm having the same problem and finally found a group of users who are having the same problem. I noticed today that it happens much more frequently when in 'speed' mode which i'm rarely in. However, it has been happening more and more recently. If anyone has a solution or can share what Sony Support says, that would be terrific.

Damon

 

Hi,
I have those problem when I used Vaio Z for the first time Z550.
It always freeze up when I am using speed mode, not when I am using stamina mode. I have this problem a few hours after I turn on the new vaio. I have not install any software except vista update and kaspersky internet security. I have format the computer 3 times using back up file and I have install fresh windows vista (microsoft vista CD, not the one that come with recovery disc).
I spent hourssss talking with Sony support about this problem. After being transfered around from technical support level 1 to level 3, FINAL DECISION that sony support told me that there is video card problem. It is hardware problem and not software. They asked me to sent the laptop for repair.

Since this is a new laptop, I ship the laptop back to the seller from amazon.com and exchange it to Sony Z591U

It has been about 4 months since I am using z591 and I do not have those kind of problem anymore.
In my opinion, it is factory defect since many people experience the same problem. Hope this help.

 

From what the sony tech suport told me that you can not downgrade your bios. Even you have the older bios file, it will not allow you to update since your installed bios is newer than your file bios. The only way to do it is to flash bios outside windows which I do not know how to do it.

 

Hey all,

I've been experiencing the exact same problem with my Vaio Z620D, it has even happened in the STAMINA mode.
However, I do not recall having this malfunction the first 2 weeks using it.
Just to help myself and everyone else out there with the same problem, here are some facts about my particular Vaio Z:

Software installed:
-Kaspersky Anti Virus 2009
-nVidia 9300 GPU driver update
-Firefox web browser
-PowerISO
-Windows Live Messenger
-various games (Steam, W3...etc)

Others:
-I use a bluetooth mouse
-my wireless switch is always on
-I have modified many power saving preferences via Vaio Control Centre and Power Options
-no disks are inserted when Vaio freezes

If anyone has managed to solve this problem please help us out.

 

Same problem here. when it happens it's a total lock-up. I always run on Speed mode. Unplug Z downstairs in the evening and go upstairs and plug back in upstairs. And that's when it happens. Z570 since October. Maybe happened 4 or 5 times in 6 months. Happened on old bios, and happens on new bios. mystery.

 

It is not a mystery. Read my upper post. Sony tech support told me that it was a Video Card problems. It is a hardware problems and not software problems.

 

My Z590 is running on Vista Business 64bit.
I don't have those problems either in Stamina or Speed mode.
I am with newest BIOS, R3052M3.

 

Wondering if anyone has figured this out. I just got a new Viao Z620. Same issue.

If it is indeed a hardware problem relating to the video card Im wondering if it would be best to just return it for a refund while I still can.

 

it shouldn't be the problem of the video card, as it has been happening to my laptop on the STAMINA setting.

do you happen to have any match with the facts that i listed in my previous post? ie do u use a bluetooth mouse?

 

Same Problem here, on a VGN-Z41WD with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.10. Extremely annoying I think it happens more often in Speed mode, too.
For people running Ubuntu 9.10, too: I modified sony-laptop.ko to power down the GeForce.

 

the same thing happened to me after I installed win-7 ultimate in my machine. I dont know about hardware problem but it never happened when i was using vista for the past 6 month on my Z570N, the problem started when i install Win 7. out of desperation, I format the entire thing and install new bios and reinstall the drivers so far so good it has been 2 month trouble free (cross my finger).