Comments on: How to take apart Sony Vaio Z1 series notebook http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/ Do-It-Yourself laptop and notebook repair tips and tricks Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:50:25 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Laptop Tech http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-38841 Laptop Tech Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:28:30 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-38841 Chris, <blockquote>I’ve noticed something though; as soon as I disable the wireless from the switch below the monitor, the xp loads okay. However, as soon as I connect the wireless. the blue screen of death reappears.</blockquote> Maybe the wireless card is going bad? You can try uninstalling the wireless card drivers in Safe Mode and after that restart the laptop in normal mode. Will it work? Chris,

I’ve noticed something though; as soon as I disable the wireless from the switch below the monitor, the xp loads okay. However, as soon as I connect the wireless. the blue screen of death reappears.

Maybe the wireless card is going bad? You can try uninstalling the wireless card drivers in Safe Mode and after that restart the laptop in normal mode. Will it work?

]]> By: Chris http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-38834 Chris Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:03:40 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-38834 Thanks for the advice, I checked hard drive by installing Knoppix and it all works fine, so I assume neither the hard drive nor the motherboard or graphics are faulty. I've noticed something though; as soon as I disable the wireless from the switch below the monitor, the xp loads okay. However, as soon as I connect the wireless. the blue screen of death reappears. Could it be that I found the problem? What can cause the wireless switch to damage the system in such a dramatic way? Thanks. Thanks for the advice, I checked hard drive by installing Knoppix and it all works fine, so I assume neither the hard drive nor the motherboard or graphics are faulty. I’ve noticed something though; as soon as I disable the wireless from the switch below the monitor, the xp loads okay. However, as soon as I connect the wireless. the blue screen of death reappears. Could it be that I found the problem? What can cause the wireless switch to damage the system in such a dramatic way? Thanks.

]]> By: Laptop Tech http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-38825 Laptop Tech Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:56:23 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-38825 Chris, <blockquote>Am I right these symptoms indicate a hardware failure, motherboard or graphics? How could I test and find this out?</blockquote> It's possible you have a faulty hard drive. You can try booting your laptop from a Live Linux CD. I use Knoppix and here's a good explanation how to boot your laptop with Knoppix CD: http://www.datarecoverytutorial.com/how-to-recover-files-from-laptop-with-crashed-windows/ If the laptop works fine with Knoppix, I would assume the motherboard and video card works properly. It's possible you have a bad hard drive. Try testing it with Hitachi's drive fitness test. It works fine for most hard drives. Chris,

Am I right these symptoms indicate a hardware failure, motherboard or graphics? How could I test and find this out?

It’s possible you have a faulty hard drive.
You can try booting your laptop from a Live Linux CD. I use Knoppix and here’s a good explanation how to boot your laptop with Knoppix CD:
http://www.datarecoverytutorial.com/how-to-recover-files-from-laptop-with-crashed-windows/
If the laptop works fine with Knoppix, I would assume the motherboard and video card works properly.
It’s possible you have a bad hard drive. Try testing it with Hitachi’s drive fitness test. It works fine for most hard drives.

]]> By: Chris http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-38783 Chris Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:16:16 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-38783 I have the pcg-z1va and it first started to give me randomly blue screens of death. Lately however, as soon as windows xp loads, the blue screen appears and the laptop restarts. I can only access the xp in safe mode, where it can stay on for hours or days. As soon as I try to load windows normally, I'lI get the screen of death. The error that keeps appearing is 'irql not less or equal'. I tested if for memory errors with Memtest86 and it gives me no errors. Last resort, I decided to use the Vaio recovery cds to reinstall the system on the C drive (thinking it was drivers error). The installation worked until disk 3, when I'm asked to restart the machine to finish the installation. Obviously (in hindsight) this cannot be completed because the blue screen appears and pc restarts. What's worse, if I load it in safe mode I get the message 'installation not complete' so it asks me to complete installation: impossible! I'm left with a half installed xp and no way of fixing the blue screen error. Am I right these symptoms indicate a hardware failure, motherboard or graphics? How could I test and find this out? Thanks. I have the pcg-z1va and it first started to give me randomly blue screens of death. Lately however, as soon as windows xp loads, the blue screen appears and the laptop restarts. I can only access the xp in safe mode, where it can stay on for hours or days. As soon as I try to load windows normally, I’lI get the screen of death. The error that keeps appearing is ‘irql not less or equal’. I tested if for memory errors with Memtest86 and it gives me no errors. Last resort, I decided to use the Vaio recovery cds to reinstall the system on the C drive (thinking it was drivers error). The installation worked until disk 3, when I’m asked to restart the machine to finish the installation. Obviously (in hindsight) this cannot be completed because the blue screen appears and pc restarts. What’s worse, if I load it in safe mode I get the message ‘installation not complete’ so it asks me to complete installation: impossible! I’m left with a half installed xp and no way of fixing the blue screen error. Am I right these symptoms indicate a hardware failure, motherboard or graphics? How could I test and find this out? Thanks.

]]> By: Laptop Tech http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-38701 Laptop Tech Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:14:22 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-38701 Bob, <blockquote>I am told my graphics card is failing on Sony Vaio PCG-Z1RMP looking at comments this looks like its intergrated and new MOBO only option. Any recomendations for sourcing this without buying shares in the company.</blockquote> Not really, you'll have to replace the motherboard. Unless... you want to try this trick: http://www.insidemylaptop.com/fix-video-failure-hp-pavilion-dv2000-dv6000-dv9000-notebooks/ I don't know if it works in your case and never done it myself, but if you have nothing to lose... :) Bob,

I am told my graphics card is failing on Sony Vaio PCG-Z1RMP looking at comments this looks like its intergrated and new MOBO only option. Any recomendations for sourcing this without buying shares in the company.

Not really, you’ll have to replace the motherboard.
Unless… you want to try this trick:
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/fix-video-failure-hp-pavilion-dv2000-dv6000-dv9000-notebooks/
I don’t know if it works in your case and never done it myself, but if you have nothing to lose… :)

]]> By: Bob http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-38528 Bob Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:03:16 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-38528 I am told my graphics card is failing on Sony Vaio PCG-Z1RMP looking at comments this looks like its intergrated and new MOBO only option. Any recomendations for sourcing this without buying shares in the company. I am told my graphics card is failing on Sony Vaio PCG-Z1RMP looking at comments this looks like its intergrated and new MOBO only option. Any recomendations for sourcing this without buying shares in the company.

]]> By: Laptop Tech http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-34117 Laptop Tech Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:43:06 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-34117 Kapulica, <blockquote>My question: Where can we obtain a reliable replacement that won’t cost us an arm and the leg, have buggy BIOS and be hiddenly damaged? (Sony wants to set us back for at least $600!!). Any ideas? I love this unit for its 4:3 matte screen, a rarity these days.</blockquote> Search for a sticker with the motherboard part number. Probably you can it in the memory compartment. Find the part number and google it. Kapulica,

My question: Where can we obtain a reliable replacement that won’t cost us an arm and the leg, have buggy BIOS and be hiddenly damaged? (Sony wants to set us back for at least $600!!). Any ideas? I love this unit for its 4:3 matte screen, a rarity these days.

Search for a sticker with the motherboard part number. Probably you can it in the memory compartment.
Find the part number and google it.

]]> By: Kapulica http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-34094 Kapulica Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:11:10 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-34094 PCG-Z1VA has integrated video on mobo. I have the same problem with my 4.5 yrs. "new" machine. Unfortunatelu, the only way to fix this is to replace the mobo (yikes!). My question: Where can we obtain a reliable replacement that won't cost us an arm and the leg, have buggy BIOS and be hiddenly damaged? (Sony wants to set us back for at least $600!!). Any ideas? I love this unit for its 4:3 matte screen, a rarity these days. My Problem: "The two screws holding the keyboard" -- I do not see them on Z1VA !! I see four tiny ones in the back, that's all. :-(( PCG-Z1VA has integrated video on mobo. I have the same problem with my 4.5 yrs. “new” machine. Unfortunatelu, the only way to fix this is to replace the mobo (yikes!).
My question: Where can we obtain a reliable replacement that won’t cost us an arm and the leg, have buggy BIOS and be hiddenly damaged? (Sony wants to set us back for at least $600!!). Any ideas? I love this unit for its 4:3 matte screen, a rarity these days.
My Problem: “The two screws holding the keyboard” — I do not see them on Z1VA !! I see four tiny ones in the back, that’s all. :-( (

]]> By: Bob http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-31930 Bob Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:32:09 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-31930 What is the easiest way to determine if my Z1 laptop has an integrated video card or can be replaced? What is the easiest way to determine if my Z1 laptop has an integrated video card or can be replaced?

]]> By: vGigolo http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-31737 vGigolo Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:42:09 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/take-apart-sony-vaio-z1-series-notebook/#comment-31737 Model: Sony Vaoi PCG-Z1WAMP My question pertains to running Windows Media Center on Windows 7 Ultimate. I upgraded my RAM to 1G and hardrive to 150G, but my factory video card only has 16M of memory. WMC requires a minimum of 64M of video memory. Can anyone please recommend some compatible video card that will let me run WMC and perhaps the aero effect, also. Or, is there a mod that will allow me to do this with the existing factory video card. I am on eBay searching for a used replacement for under $50, money is a bit tight now. Thanks in advance. Model: Sony Vaoi PCG-Z1WAMP

My question pertains to running Windows Media Center on Windows 7 Ultimate. I upgraded my RAM to 1G and hardrive to 150G, but my factory video card only has 16M of memory. WMC requires a minimum of 64M of video memory.

Can anyone please recommend some compatible video card that will let me run WMC and perhaps the aero effect, also. Or, is there a mod that will allow me to do this with the existing factory video card.

I am on eBay searching for a used replacement for under $50, money is a bit tight now.

Thanks in advance.

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