Laptop screen distorts, then blue screens

[Erad]

Right, my trusty laptop of about two years has started playing up, pictures describe this well so i'll make a story using them (Apologies for any sideways images).

I'll turn the laptop on, browse for a few minutes, then bam this happens:



After a few seconds it will either just hang on that, or most commonly go to a distorted blue screen, with the error: NMI: Parity check/ memory parity error



The screen distorting probably points towards a graphics card issue (8600M GS i think is mine) or after a bit of research the memory associated with it. But i can't really find anything solid, especially since i can restart the laptop and use it fine for a while.

The only thing i've done significantly different before this happened was install my iPhone.

Beer vouchers are at hand

Thanks in advance!

-PS its a Sony Vaio vgn-fz31s

[_Belial]

I'd say your GPU is goosed mate, could be overheating, does it happen all the time? I had a dell recently which had served me well for about 5 years with a 7800 on it, that suddenly one day started doing same thing. Could possibly b fixed by opening up, applying some better thermal compound to the GPU cooler, depends on whether you have a cooler of course

[DJ OD]

Defo dodgy graphics card/chip.

HP/Compaq did this a fair bit with certain models and there may have even been a recall. Might mean a new motherboard mate.

If you connect lappy to external display does it do the same? Also play music in WMP or similar and see if it still plays after the screen has gone to shit. That will confirm the graphics card is borked.

As belial says usually caused by overheating, so opening it up and seeing if there's anything you can do to aid airflow/cooling. Unblock vents, thermal paste. MAY help, but prob find the graphics chips are already damaged.


DJ OD

[Erad]

Defo dodgy graphics card/chip.

HP/Compaq did this a fair bit with certain models and there may have even been a recall. Might mean a new motherboard mate.

If you connect lappy to external display does it do the same? Also play music in WMP or similar and see if it still plays after the screen has gone to shit. That will confirm the graphics card is borked.

As belial says usually caused by overheating, so opening it up and seeing if there's anything you can do to aid airflow/cooling. Unblock vents, thermal paste. MAY help, but prob find the graphics chips are already damaged.


DJ OD

After a bit of research if that would be the problem, a new motherboard would be the solution as the graphics card is integrated. However, finding a new motherboard for a sony vaio seems to be an impossible task, even finding out what motherboard i have is impossible. I wonder if it would even be economically viable to do this?

I'll try and aid cooling, i'll redo the thermal paste on the heatsink and see how it goes, so far im expecting the worst case scenario.

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated

[evilsatan]

If you havnt opened it yet then don't! I will check when I get home if your model is one that Sony repair out of warranty.

[evilsatan]

Just checked mate and this has been flagged as a known issue on your model of laptop. Call Sony support, get taken to the repair team and say your unit is suffering the known graphics issue and check that it is a free repair out of warranty as different repair centres may try to mug you off.

Insist it is the GPU at fault and make sure you are firm when you say it is a known issue with your model. Sony issued a list to the repair centres about this and your model is definitely on it.

Just hope there is no physical or liquid damage to the unit and no signs it has been opened before or it will be chargeable.

[Erad]

Just checked mate and this has been flagged as a known issue on your model of laptop. Call Sony support, get taken to the repair team and say your unit is suffering the known graphics issue and check that it is a free repair out of warranty as different repair centres may try to mug you off.

Insist it is the GPU at fault and make sure you are firm when you say it is a known issue with your model. Sony issued a list to the repair centres about this and your model is definitely on it.

Just hope there is no physical or liquid damage to the unit and no signs it has been opened before or it will be chargeable.

Magical, i will give them a call, havn't got round to opening it i was a few minutes away

Can't thank you enough for that one, might have saved me alot of pennies!

[evilsatan]

No problem mate, these companies are very slippery when it comes to these repairs but as they have admitted it is an issue you should get it sorted free off charge just make sure you stand your ground.

[Erad]

No problem mate, these companies are very slippery when it comes to these repairs but as they have admitted it is an issue you should get it sorted free off charge just make sure you stand your ground.

Will hold my ground, and i hope theres no liquid damage

[DJ OD]

Excellent stuff. Well done evilsatan.

Good luck Erad!


DJ OD

[Erad]

Little update, have to wait till monday as their telephone lines arn't open on the weekend.

However, i found the 'article' on their own website (after a lot of digging) saying the fault and the model list, so will use that against them if they try to argue

For any future reference if anyone ever searches this topic, the article is:

http://genesis.sony-europe.com/instr...GB&m=VGN-FZ31S

[WRATH OF BOD]

dont take no crap from sony as every one says its a known issiu with that model
ha thats the same sony i have just rote off.
mobo gone.lol.
blu-ray works just fine in my laptop.lol

[plug1]

By the looks of things the gpu needs reflowed not uncommon in laptops .
iv just noticed my fz11 has the same inherant problem , yet its not shown up on it yet
its santa rosa models that afected with nvidia gfx.
this fz11 heats up like fook.
I think ill phone them see what they say.
if i say its intermitent do you think they will recon the housing when they send it back
Plug

[evilsatan]

by the looks of things the gpu needs reflowed.

Yes it does but a replacement system board would be the far better option than a temp DIY fix.