FX-301 Video Fault...?

[felix]

Hallo,
I've been happily using my FX-301 for quite a few years now, and after many initial problems with batteries etc I finally got it in a very stable condition. However, I have some concerns that it has a fault hidden somewhere internally.

It has happen several times time - with about 2 months flawless operation in between. The fault: for no obvious reason when I powered up the video was blank. Right from the vaio logo (so it must be hardware related) - the screens backlight was on but no video. Linking it up to an external monitor was fine - perfect video through it. I was almost resigned to take it to be repaired; when the video on a powercycle sprang back into life!

I have since realised that it has something to do with power and batteries - as taking the batteries in and out, leaving it without any power have helped when the problem has reoccurred. Could it be a loose connection somewhere?


There is a 2nd phase to this however. Once the laptop has fixed its video Windows XP Pro hangs - with 100% cpu on SVCHOST. I first thought it was unrelated, but now I see that there is some connection as whenever I have the video problem I've had the hang. Again, I've found the fix in removing batteries and/or popping the cd out and in. Sadly, I've not always found this to work and have used drive image to put it back to a state that I knew was ok. I've managed to boot the system in safe mode and normally with all startup app turned off, however - I really think that there is something in the hardware that is creating the hang.

If anyone can help me - or point me in the right direction that would be great. I'm not keen to take it in for a service without something obviously wrong. What do you think?

Many thanks,

Felix

[Blencogo]

Hi Felix and welcome to Club Vaio.

A long shot - but there was a well known problem with some FX and GRX Vaios where the memory slots were badly soldered producing intermittent boot and memory associated problems.

http://www.sparkybruce.com/sony_info/vaiomemskt.htm

Check your sockets to see if this could be your problem.

Big, big thread here: -

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449/?o=0

[felix]

Hi!
And thanks a lot. I think this must be the hitch. It's funny but I didn't mention in my post that I did actually open the memory slot after i got things functioning again. I was prompted because I got the system to un-hang by literally shaking/tapping the backside of this little beast, tick-tick - hdd activity... oo me thinks there's a wire loose And so I opened it.

[ Just fyi (other people with this problem) - Thinking back I remember noticing that there was above average heat comming from the bottom of the laptop... just about where the memory slots are!!! ]

So thanks a lot - if it ever hangs I'll remove the 2nd chip. Strange I've been using both chips happily for several year - but I've been carrying the unit in my bag much more now so maybe that knocked the 2nd slot.

One day I'll try to fix it. For now... VAIOs are the best

Cheers,

Felix

P.S. SONY - do you think you could at least put think on Vaio Link's FAQs - under boot/hardware problems??