Windows problems after Vaio service center change the fan...

My Vaio Z has just come back from service, having had the fan changed. I took the SSD out before sending it and I've put in back now - and now I have problems with Windows.

The service center updated the BIOS, but I can't see that causing this...

Problems;

1. Sony Power Management now thinks I have an optical drive. I have an extra icon in my tray, telling me "The power of the CD/DVD/BD drive is on.". Nothing else in the OS thinks I have an optical drive. Anyone else had this? how do you get rid of it?

2. The Realtek sound chipset has disappeared. I have no sound - the chipset isn't showing up in Device Manager. Reinstalling the driver makes no difference. Suggestions for a fix?

 

As an aside, when I first booted, the screen res was 800x600 - Windows didn't recognize the display. On second boot, things were okay. I get the feeling something fundamental changed and Windows adjusted to most of it - but somehow the Realtek chipset didn't make it.

 

You could try flashing the BIOS again.

 

Hmm! nice idea. I'd have to get hold of the BIOS I originally had - I don't know what version it was, or where to get old versions from. Also I suspect Windows has reconfigured itself a fair bit now... I have a PING image, though, which I can use.

I think I can prolly have Sony send me old BIOS versions, given they caused the problem.

It'll be the BIOS the machine had when I bought it, since I never upgraded the BIOS, which is prolly enough to find out which version I need (the original BIOS file isn't on the Sony site - only the current, updated version).

 

What BIOS version did you have? You could try downgrading to another say on the US website and then upgrading to the most recent version on the EU support website again.

 

As Rachel said, try and BIOS down-then-upgrade and post your results.

Though I'm curious about your symptoms. It sounds like as if the entire motherboard has been changed. From what I've experienced in the past (with a desktop though I'm sure this applies to all PCs), I've tried sticking a HDD onto a completely different machine for the purposes of file recovery. It threw up fits of warnings and errors regarding hardware and drivers as soon as it reached the log-in screen. Though it still booted in one piece, in NORMAL mode (not in SAFE mode).

One of the notable things was the video, usually an Intel, stuck into a setup with a discrete ATI, and it started up with a 800x600 res and 256 colour (when the HDD had a native running res of 1080p with 32bit colour).

If Rachel's method was not to work, I would recommend a completely clean install. That is, I would be doubtful your backup image would work properly any more. Though if it ever comes to that, try your image first and see how it goes.

 

My suspicion is that to change the fan, you need to change a combined fan+motherboard unit. (They seem very tightly coupled - perhaps even bonded). That would mean a new mobo...which in theory is identical to the old mobo - but I wonder if Windows still notices they're different and gets upset? and perhaps this mobo even had some minor differences, hardware revisions, etc - and maybe it even has a fault, where the audio chipset is broken?

I've had exactly the same experiences as you, changing a mobo under an Windows installation. I'm suspecting a fresh Windows install may end up being required - which is ***REALLY*** annoying. I sent the unit back for a fan change. I did not expect - NOR SHOULD I - that my Windows install would be damaged enough that it needs reinstalling.

 

I've downloaded the latest version of the Realtek audio driver - it's showing an error on install, which my earlier version was not. Maybe I'll find some info from this...

 

Looks like there's a bus driver somewhere which is screwed, which Realtek depends upon. Instructions on the interwebs are uninstall that bus driver, reboot, it'll auto-reinstall, then install Realtek and it should work.

Looking like the mobo has indeed changed under me.

 

That bus driver doesn't seem to exist under Windows 7 - or it's not present on my install. I'm spending more time tracking down this problem than just reinstalling. Might be time to cut my losses. Bloody Sony.

 

Actually. My VGN-Z has had its fan AND motherboard replaced in the past, though in seperate instances. Well, in regards to my mobo, Sony 'said' it was replaced but I saw no evidence of that when I got my machine back and opened her back up to inspect the quality of the job.

My history of said repairs:
The fan replacement. More recently my Z was (and still is after the so-called repair) making high-pitched sounds at the fan area, but only when the fan tries entering a moving state from a stopped state (I won't bother going into detail here). Anyways, I asked for a entire mobo replacement as the sounds resemble that of bad capacitors, but Sony 'engineers' said there is no sound and the thing sounds normal. Sony also had a record of my past repairs and saw I had a 'new' motherboard fitted in (read further down), and said I don't need a new mobo as a result. So they went and changed the fan only. I got my machine back with the exact same issue (still making sounds) and with a reset CMOS clock but that was it. Just re-set the clock in BIOS and the OS. And had to give my machine some load to get the new thermal paste to settle in. But after that all was well, except with the same sounds from my fan as before the so called repair. Well, my Z is still alive and kicking so I can't complain. Just scared it might die on me when I need it most though... (and if Rachel's reading, a reason why I've put on hold my planned mods).

Now going back a few more months for my motherboard repair. That was when I sent my machine in for a bad DVD-writer (the black circular disc holder fell off the motor shaft). And Sony in their infinite wisdom changed the motherboard for some reason. There was nothing wrong with it; all I needed done was a DVD drive replacement. Not that I complained. A new motherboard; why not? I got my machine back and again, a reset CMOS clock. Though again, no issues with the OS unlike yourself...

Try out a BIOS update and see if that does solve the issue with the sound (though I have my doubts there). I would recommend a clean install, but again, try out your recovery image incase that works. Better than not knowing and spending a few good hours re-setting the clean install to your preferences.

 

So, my experiences with Sony customer support have been wholly negative.

I have asked them *one* question, which is if the motherboard was actually changed.

They have not actually even *acknowledged* the question.

The and the ONLY reply I get from them is "we recommend you reinstall Windows - please let us know if this fixes the problem".

I'm *disgusted*.

Imagine you sent your car for repair and it came back with a broken rear window; and you ask the garage, what the hell? how did THAT happen? and they say - "we recommend that you replace the rear window".

That's *not* the conversation that should be occurring, but that IS the conversation with Sony customer support.

I also discovered that my 3G SIM has gone missing. It was in the machine when it was sent the UK and it's not in the machine now. It could have been taken out and not put back in - or the motherboard could have been changed.

When I realised it was missing, I emailed customer support about it.

*They completely ignored it*. They didn't even say a WORD in their reply about the fact my SIM had gone missing.

Appalling. Utterly appalling. All they're doing is stonewalling.