topic Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s in PCs & Accessories

Flickering Display pcg fr215s

pickledjudge — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 08:33:18 GMT

Hi Does anybody have an idea what could be wrong with this laptop. When first switched on the display flickers to the point of total whiteout, back to just slight shimmering very rapidly. Clean install of windows xp pro. BIOS update to ro103k7. ATI update from sony website, all carried out. After 5 to 10 minutes gradually settles down to solid display, sometimes flickers briefly during first hour or so then is ok. Any advice gratefully recieved, Thanks. Almost at point of ripping hair out!!:smileycry:

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

TygerTyger — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 10:15:08 GMT

This is a well known problem although I'm not sure yours is quite like the others. At any rate as far as I know Sony have replaced all the screens that have flickered free of charge if it's under warranty still so best to go to their support really.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

tOnGAs — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 11:12:44 GMT

I too have a very similar problem with my PCG-K215S.
After some time, the display flickers really wild for a few seconds, then gets back to normal.

Id did no update except a clean install (and a partition resize) using the recovery disc, and then removed all the unnecessary software (at least for me) : SonicStage, MoodLogic, Drag'n Drop CD+DVD, Click to DVD, Works 7.0, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, PictureGear Studio, Norton Internet Security 2004, Adobe Premiere Standard...

The problem occured while I was working on battery power only, and later during a re-charge.

Let's hope this is no hardware problem. I only bought my notebook a few weeks ago.

Any help or advice is welcome. Thanks.

PS : sorry for my bad english.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

TygerTyger — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:01:24 GMT

I'm afraid it is a hardware problem, it comes up quite a lot on the forum here. As I say, as long as it's within warranty Sony fix it for free so don't worry too much. It's just a few days without your computer unfortunately when it gets sent off.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

kee-lo_ — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 14:36:07 GMT

It's quite bad p[ractice to have so many of these units coming back isn't it?

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

Ysanne — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:02:32 GMT

Hi,
I've seen this problem on my dad's old Siemens notebook, twice. First it was shortly before the display broke off where it's connected to the keyboard. Most notebooks of that series had this problem, so he just got a new notebook for free. This new one is starting to do it again, and tech support says that this is a sign of the flatband cable breaking that's bent everytime you open/close the display, and therefore a hardware error. But our warranty has run out so no new display... 😞
Anyway, I would have Sony replace this kind of flickering stuff.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

TygerTyger — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:39:07 GMT

Hey now that's interesting. I wonder what causes it to happen to new laptops then? Can't be wear and tear unless the componants are just cheap.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

kee-lo_ — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:51:46 GMT

Wouldn't put it past them Tyger.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

TygerTyger — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:55:06 GMT

Um really? I don't know what to say to that I assumed perhaps rather naively in retrospect that because they were expensive they were at least well made with good parts.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

kee-lo_ — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:55:58 GMT

Some bits are a bit cheap mind you...

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

tOnGAs — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 12:22:32 GMT

I'm afraid it is a hardware problem, it comes up quite a lot on the forum here. As I say, as long as it's within warranty Sony fix it for free so don't worry too much. It's just a few days without your computer unfortunately when it gets sent off.

Hello and thanks for your answer.

Last evening I had to work with my Vaio for a very long period of time. The "flicker" problem came up again and again. Each time with much worse results. I had urgent work to complete so I didn't give up. At one point, I was able to painly access the control panel and change the screen resolution... and *poof* the flicker was gone ! I did that about 2 or 3 times.

I'm beginning to suspect a more software-related problem. Every time the flicker showed up, I was using the same program. Now that my work is done, I will try using the notebook for a long period (with a game for example).
And then, I'll try again with a complete different OS (Knoppix live-Cd).

See you later for more updates !

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

kee-lo_ — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 14:49:14 GMT

Using the notebook in a native resolution is recomended.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

TygerTyger — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 20:34:58 GMT

If you set the resolution higher than it is supposed to go then things are probably going to get funky in one way or another. You might even do some real damage.

Re: Flickering Display pcg fr215s

kee-lo_ — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 21:01:30 GMT

Best having it looked at under warranty.