topic Uh-oh, this doesn't look good! in PCs & Accessories

Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

joncats — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:47:34 GMT

Just two months after buying my FZ11E notebook, I got the following screen:

That doesn't look good, does it

Tomorrow I'm going to call the store to see what their opinion is about this. Unfortunately, Sonys e-support has some problems recognizing my serial number, so it will take some days before they'll contact me. Does anybody of you have a clue what exactly could be wrong with my notebook? After the blue screen, I just took out the battery and started up again, and for the time being everything is functioning well...

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

Blencogo — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:10:56 GMT

Hi joncats.

Have a read here: -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315223

This is either a hardware fault or a driver is damaged. Have you added any hardware recently? Have you updated any drivers?

The most likely hardware cause is a damaged memory module. You could try taking one module out and seeing if thet fixed it - if not try swapping the modules. Here is how to get at the memory sticks: -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/tutorials/memory/memory.asp?m=2664&site=voe_en_GB_cons

As you said, you will have to try the vendor or phone Sony Support here: -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/contacts/contacts.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&tp=vaio&cm=phone&cc=UK

There is a Microsoft Diagnostic Tool for checking memory here: -

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

joncats — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:24:11 GMT

Thanks a lot!
Microsoft didn't detect any errors in the memory of my computer, and there weren't any external drives connected at the time I got the blue screen.
Confusing, isn't it?
Would you maybe have any idea what else it could be?

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

Blencogo — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:33:04 GMT

Most likely a dodgy driver. What version of the nVidia driver are you using?

How often does it happen?

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

joncats — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:42:09 GMT

Thanks for your help Blencogo!

I'm at work now, but i'll try to find it out asap! I hope replacing the driver for my graphics card would solve the problem, since that would also explain why my screen turns yellow at start-up (I posted a topic about it a few days ago).
Thanks!

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

joncats — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:21:38 GMT

Most likely a dodgy driver. What version of the nVidia driver are you using?

How often does it happen?

I got the blue screen yesterday for the first time, but I have also a problem with my display when starting up: the first 30 secs it's yellow, or partly yellow.
I have a Nvidia Geforce 8400M GT card, with the 7.15.11.111 driver from 10-4-2007 installed. I tried to install the new drivers today that I downloaded from the Nvidia website, but for one reason or another it won't install because it doesn't recognise my 32-bit vista as a 32-bit system..
Frustrating, very frustrating!
To make things worse, for one reason or another e-support doesn't recognise my serial number, so I'll be contacted asap (which is not happening of course)!
In 3 weeks I'll be moving from the Netherlands to London, so I'm a bit stressed out about the whole situation.

Do you have any clue what to do next? Thanks a lot!

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

Blencogo — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:36:34 GMT

Someone else had that 'yellow-screen' but could not find a solution. I would try to install a new driver first and if that fails you need to talk to Sony.

You cannot install the nVidia drivers because they do not configure them for laptop 'Go' graphics. However, the drivers are identical for every nVidia chip so it is possible to install them.

Read this Tutorial on installing new non-Sony nVidia Go Drivers: -

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11997

Pick a recent Driver from here: -

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista

163.44 is only 5 days old!!

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=14564

You can easily roll-back to your old driver if it is unsatisfactory. I would particularly like to know if the yellow colour is a driver or a hardware problem!!

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

donndiablo — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:12:20 GMT

Hello Everybody,

I had this same problem 5 times now and Sony changed a lot(bin to Sony already 4 times)dvd drive,optical part etc.
They did a reset of my BIOS still the same problem.
I have a extra memory placed by the store both memory´s been tested to all means.
Now the ball is in the Sony park and I´m waiting what the solution will be.
If you have still your warranty send that thing back to Sony and maybe U can tell them that there are more users with the same problems.

Greetings Donndiablo

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

joncats — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:42:57 GMT

Thanks again Blencogo!

Unfortunately, installing the updated drivers didn't work, the screen is still yellow afer startup. However, I haven't seen the blue screen again after my first encounter with it.

I was wondering, the screen ususally only turns yellow at startup when the computer has been turned off for a while. It leads me to believe that it could have something to do with the 'warming up' of the system. Is that possible? Could it have something to do with the physical make-up of the graphical card?

Re: Uh-oh, this doesn't look good!

joncats — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:33:49 GMT

Mmm... I've sent it back to the store... Now Sony is going to try to repair it.
I don't have a lot of confidence in them, having read some other stories here on the MB.