Computers & Networking

[Jaycraw28]

For those of you who frequent Best Buy, you know this computer is a BB exclusive. I purchased this CPU on Dec. 18th and have till Jan. 24th to return it. I am leaning on returning it because of issues I can't seem to get resolved by Sony. My purpose of posting this is to see if any others who purchased this notebook have the same issues.

1. The computers cut off when coming out of standby. ( saw a user post this in his review of the notebook so I'm not the only one).

2 The screen sometimes does weird things when the color is faded and the text is not readable at all. ( no update)

3. There is a BIOS update that is available on Sony Support and it states it is for this CPU however it will no allow me to install. ( The messages say "This update is not intended for this CPU) I've spoke with Sony Tech support and a ticket was created so they can figure it out but, they never contacted me back.

I really like this CPU and it has the best features at this price point (949.00) but does anyone else have the same issues? 

[CrystalWoW Community Veteran]

It sounds like you should return it. If it was just one thing I could see sticking it out but not several issues.

[anealysr]

I also had this problem but would also reboot when starting up. I called Sony tech service but that really was no help. They wanted me to restore it to factory spec. Mine got so bad that it would reboot 4 to 6 times before I could get it booted up. By the way it booted up fine in Safe Mode. After cutting off everything in the startup it booted fine. I then turned on one thing at a time and I found that  Intel Anti Theft Technology Registration was causing the crash. I turned it off and all is fine.

I also have only had this machine about 3 weeks. I love this thing but it seemed as time went on the rebooting got worse.

Hope this helps others. 

[muj]

My previous laptop is VPCSC1AFM.  It never had any problems but after 4 months it  died.  To fix it, the motherboard was replaced, but Intel AT stopped  working and  could not be fixed.  So finally!!!,  got it replaced  (I have to give up BTP money though) with this new VPCSC31FM.  I got this Laptop on 01/18/12. This has only one problem out of what others mentioned. It reboots when resuming from Sleep/Hibernate ~50% of the time, but not always. One time it also rebooted during normal start. I installed only MS-Office, couple of browsers and  real player.

The Bios R2085H4 was installed manually by Sony remote agent by extracting files from the download and executing one single file.  Now the system shows new Bios version, but I can not say  for sure whether it is really working!  because the main problem remains. The Sony reps also made me install 'Sony Notebook Utilities', Restore system to factory settings couple of times but no use.  The last guy took remote access and defaulted power settings and asked me to check if the problem resolved.  I did not know what to expect or say!.  Of course it did not work.

As someone said it could be that anti theft software causing the problem but  it is not clear because the post said 'AT registration'.  Anyway I will remove AT and  test it later.

When the laptop reboots, it was displaying a regular message that we usually see, like if the laptop was not shutdown properly.  In this case you basically loose  what ever  you were doing.   But from the last few times I tried to resume,  it started displaying a different message Sometimes!, like the one below. If you select the 1st option here then it will resume from  the status before sleep/hibernate.  So now when I try to resume I would see either the regular message or the one below.

   THE LAST ATTEMPT TO RESUME THE SYSTEM FROM  ITS PREVIOUS LOCATION FAILED .  ATTEMPT  TO RESUME AGAIN ?

   (USE THE ARROW KEYS TO HIGHLIGHT  YOUR CHOICE.)

               Option1 -  Continue with system resume

               Option 2 - Delete restoration data and proceed to system boot menu

Recent change I made was probably re-installing Notebook utilties again.

Please help! to overcome this 'Sometimes story'.  I do not want to return this or send it for service (Geeksquad). 

[muj]

I wish you have returned the unit.  Otherwise Welcome to the Club.

BB return policy is only 14 days including the day you purchased.  I do not understand your date(s)

[muj]

Oops!, just recollected after posting.  You purchased during holiday season, so you can return by jan 24th.

[CrystalWoW Community Veteran]

It was the holiday return policy.

[anealysr]

UPDATE. Fix only worked for a day. Finally did have to re format and return to factory. Even that didn't work after the Sony updates. But the BIOS would finally update. After wiping it out 3 times I noticed something. It seems one of the VAIO care updates is causing the constant rebooting. I am so frustrated with wiping everything out that I may not do any of their updates again. Don't bother calling Sony as they will tell you it's a software problem and to wipe it out and put it back to factory specs. I guess they don't care that it "Their Software that is causing it." If it happens to me again I'll wipe everything Sony off this machine.

[Jaycraw28]

Wow..... I see there are many with some of the issues that I experienced.....To make a long story short I returned the vaio and got the mac book pro.... And I'm happy now...the vaio just had too many problems.. Which is sad because it had tons of potential.

[Jaycraw28]

I bought the computer during the extended holiday return period......the dates are extended.