Sony Vaio Help

[Adie]

Some of you might remember I had a lot of trouble with my laptop harddrive amongst other things over a year ago. So I bought a new Sony VAIO.

I've had it a little over a year now and a few months ago the screen started to go blank and would not go back on or let me do anything. Turning it off then back on worked for a while untill the screen became pixellated on start up. It would then run a diagnostic check and say there was a hardware error and shut itself down to prevent any further damage.

I took it to the tech guys at PC World to fix. But after having it for 2 weeks they told me that because it was a Sony they could not repair it as Sony only have the parts and do not sell them. They only repair Sony in-house but it was likely to be a graphics card problem (rgb thing??).

I phoned the Sony number to be told that they could pick it up and repair it. But as it could be a graphics card fault it would need replacing and subsequently so would the motherboard.

As the laptop is over a year old (only just) it is out of the warranty and for pick up and to fix the problem would cost me £691. The laptop a little over a year ago cost me £800 brand new. So I'm not going to pay that to fix it when I could buy a new (not Sony) laptop for that price anyway. Buying an expensive Sony laptop I thougth it would last me more than a little over a year. It has not been damaged in anyway, only a manufacturer hardware fault.

Does anybody know anywhere that could fix it other than Sony or is it only Sony that can do it?

TIA

[Parthiban]

Have you tried contacting Sony customer services? They're usually pretty good with goodwill gestures, be polite and express your disappointment and they may well fix it for you "under warranty" as a gesture of goodwill - how far outside the warranty is it?

To be honest you really should have gone straight to Sony in the first place. On a side note, that is ridiculous to charge £700 to repair an £800 laptop! What exactly needs replacing, sounds like almost the entire thing at that price!

[Geoffers]

Does everything else appear ok, just the screen? Does an external screen work still when this has gone down?

Sony had issues with their power supplies for a while (well, the regulation internally to the laptop, not the mains unit) - have Sony said its the graphics controller or just PC World? I can't remember which voltage lines go down but a couple stay up giving you the impression it is only the screen, making you think it would be either the graphics card or backlight issues.

HERE is a company claiming to repair them. Might be worth an estimate or even just a chat.

[Adie]

Cheers I'll check them out. I tried hooking up the HDMI cable when the screen was down but it still didn't work.

[RayKhan]

Contact Trading Standards or whatever it is they are called now as the warranty for a year doesn't apparently mean much now. You have a right to make a claim on what is an expected life expectancy of goods and I am sure they and Sony would agree that a Laptop should last for well over a year.

The number should be in the phone book.

[WylieCoyote]

Sony may well be sympathetic to the problem and agree to foot the bill. I can't see how £600 odd to replace a 1 year old laptop that is now worth a fraction of that price can possibly be justified. You could buy a better spec laptop for that kind of money now rather than repair - not the point though I know.

[Lexus2D]

Iv got a Vaio & had 2 screens in now not due 2 Sony but tempers in my house

The 1st time i phoned Sony & the price was through the roof even just 2 pic it up so claimed on insurance thought it would b a rite off due 2 Sony parts but did get repaired by a non Sony company so there is hope u could get it sorted else where

The 2nd was just in warrenty so they collected even provide there own box & came back in less than a week with txt messages 2 keep u up 2 date on what was happening so be good if u can get them on a good will basis ;)

Best of luck

[Adie]

Finally found the receipt for the laptop. I didn't want to phone Customer services untill I was sure of how far out of the years warrenty I am. The laptop was bought for £899.99 on 29-08-07. So I've had it a year and 2 months!! Now to give them a ring..

[Adie]

Anybody know the number for Sony customer services? Can't find it anywhere, Cheers :)

[Steve ( West Mids )]

Telephone: +44 (0)08705 111 999

[Adie]

Thanks buddy :D