Sony Vaio laptop from PC World broken from day 1

Frugal_Foxy

Dan, the error codes vary, but mostly STOP: 0x000007F. Yes, I've googled, but there's so much out there and the answers don't seem definitive.

I don't think I can attach screenshots here...

Frugal_Foxy

Dan, just go this back on a Windows 7 forum:

""
This one may be trouble.

Your 7F means:

Bug check 0x7F typically occurs after you install a faulty or mismatched hardware (especially memory) or if installed hardware fails.

Since it has been happening since they built it I would consider having them fix it. I dont often give up on a thread and I am not on this one but I have googled both the 7F and the event ID 106 source diagnostic. Both come up with cpu issues.""

So I'm gonna try factory restore and then take back to shop. Keep then crossed for me.

Thanks to everyone.

Esqui

Fun fact - you can also boot a Vaio laptop into recovery by turning it on using the 'assist' button rather than the power button

alvinlwh

Hi, I got the same problem with a HP laptop. It is the crapware that comes preinstalled on these laptops that kill the system. Sony is the worse of them all. I will suggest you take/send it back and get one without as much crapware.

BTW: The return reason I used is faulty Windows and I got my money back.

Heyman_2

Frugal_Foxy wrote: »

Dan, the error codes vary, but mostly STOP: 0x000007F. Yes, I've googled, but there's so much out there and the answers don't seem definitive.

I don't think I can attach screenshots here...

STOP errors are generally memory or in some cases CPU.

If it's been doing it since installation then it's odds on to be a hardware issue.

Either way, it's been supplied in a faulty state so refund shouldn't be an issue!

dan_l

Heyman wrote: »

STOP errors are generally memory or in some cases CPU.

If it's been doing it since installation then it's odds on to be a hardware issue.

Either way, it's been supplied in a faulty state so refund shouldn't be an issue!

Agreed, these do tend to be hardware errors. I would restore it to factory just so you can tell them you have done it but I would be surprised if that fixed it.

sabz3008

I've worked in PCWorld before...If it was my branch you took it back to, we would happily refund the entire thing as opposed to imposing you exchange it for a new one...But not all PCWorld managers are and customer service staff are cool like that.

Most likely scenario:

They'll turn it on and find that it's working fine and the hardware is completely okay, they'll then say that they'll either:

1. If you're very lucky, they'll offer you a replacement on the spot
2. They'll most likely tell you that they'll reinstall Windows for you

... Unfortunately, because you've 'opened the box' they're unlikely to offer you a refund unless they actually see a fault at the time they 'inspect it'

If you then want a refund, then best bet is to contact customer services , explain it to them and see what they offer.

Always depends on the TechGuy that you go and see.

- Edit:
But obviously if you can demonstrate it's a hardware fault, - perhaps take screenshots of some of the posts above, etc...
They'll happily refund you ... Probably a better choice than accepting them to reinstall Windows, which you can do yourself anyway but experience the same problems a few weeks or days down the line.

Good luck!

CoolHotCold

either way, keep us posted on how knowhow handles it.

dan_l

sabz3008 wrote: »

I've worked in PCWorld before...If it was my branch you took it back to, we would happily refund the entire thing as opposed to imposing you exchange it for a new one...But not all PCWorld managers are and customer service staff are cool like that.

Most likely scenario:

They'll turn it on and find that it's working fine and the hardware is completely okay, they'll then say that they'll either:

1. If you're very lucky, they'll offer you a replacement on the spot
2. They'll most likely tell you that they'll reinstall Windows for you

... Unfortunately, because you've 'opened the box' they're unlikely to offer you a refund unless they actually see a fault at the time they 'inspect it'

If you then want a refund, then best bet is to contact customer services , explain it to them and see what they offer.

Always depends on the TechGuy that you go and see.

- Edit:
But obviously if you can demonstrate it's a hardware fault, - perhaps take screenshots of some of the posts above, etc...
They'll happily refund you ... Probably a better choice than accepting them to reinstall Windows, which you can do yourself anyway but experience the same problems a few weeks or days down the line.

Good luck!

Each time the computer bluescreens it should create a minidump file which the PC World staff can check/analyse, they shouldn't be allowed to just fob the OP off with a "we've not seen a fault so there is no fault" attitude.

OP - push for a refund or replacement, I can see this dragging out if you/PC World just try software fixes ie reinstalling Windows - I'm pretty sure this is a hardware fault, most likely RAM.

If the PC World engineers want proof of these crashes, tell them to check the minidump files, they should know what you mean by this and know how to check them.

CoolHotCold

A Lot of people seem to be pushing this out of context.
As it stands OP hasn't been into PcWorld yet everyone is saying PcWorld will fob them off.

Standard practice is do destructive restore, if problem persists then its hardware problem = replacement / refund
If Destructive restore fixes issue then it was Software problem.


Yes 0x000007F is usually hardware related, but it takes 30 minutes to a hour and a half for the destructive restore and it tells you almost definitely if its hardware or software