I purchased the above model approx 13 months ago in the UK. Recently it began to run hot then it wouldn't start up except in safe mode. I thought it was a viris then began reading problems with Sony re overheating. Not the same model but nonetheless.

When I contacted Sony Customer Service they tell me the computer is Japanese model so Europe will not assist with my problem. They tell me to find someone that can speak Japanese (as the Japan site will not accept English e-mails)

When I start up the screen comes up black with the letters a all over it. It then switches to a blue and blackvertical stripe with the Vaio logo instead of the all black screen. In Safe mode it will run programs. I have also run the online anti virus from F Secure but no virus is being found.

The strat uprepair willnot function properly as it says it cant assist and whilst it allows me to send info to microsoft no response has been received.

I assume now the laptop is overheating or that something has occurred due to this problem unfortunately I am now in a country with no Sony dealer.

has anyone experienced similar problems? is this part of the overheating issue? or has anyone knowledge of a virus that effects computersthis way?

Hi Mduncan,

Have you progressed in your failure analysis?

Yes I have the same issue. And I may know where it does come from.
My PC is a VGN FZ11E , equipped with the"famous" NVIDIA 8400M GT chip: I say famous because you will find information (even official from NVIDIA themselves) about the heating issue of series of this chip.
So yes you probably guessed right.
The NVIDIA probaby losts some pin soldering after overheating and probably causing the main board to warp a little (in fact I should use BGA partial desoldering -BGA stands for Ball Grid Array, instead of pins , look at WIKIPEDIA if you are not familiar with that term).
As to the symptoms, clearly there appear blue vertical stripes, the graphic mode is disabled , in my case the NVIDIA driver cannot load, since it freezes the system (dead Graphic chip). This explains that the safe mode may run (it does not use the graphic chip at all). The bios mode should also run safe (no graphic chip used, and even less graphic features used).
If the diagnostic is this one, very little possibilities, I fear:
- use your warranty if you are lucky,
- have the board changed (costly is done by an agreed repair house),
- buy a pulled used board from an unofficial retailer (Asia, some in EU, are they sure the board is not just temporally working when they proceed for a one mn test?). Do it at your own risks and be sure you are skilled enough). Take apert unofficial manuals somewhere on the web.
- and -don't laugh - if the full stuff is destinated to the trashbin, you can even pull out the main board, remove the processor, cooler etc. and place the board in an oven during about 1 to 2 mns at about 150 degres Celsius, NVIDIA chip on top, and immediately press gently on the 4 corners of the chip PCB after removing, in order to try to - probably temporariily - resolder the balls around the chip. I never did it myself, I have seen this recipe on the WEB by a number of people who claim they got success ( with other types of boards, quite similar anyway). Just check on the WEB if you want to share their experience. But please, don't complain against me if you ever try this desperate attempt after deciding your PC is worth nothing, your oven temperature reliable enough and yourself capable of doing it without hurting yourself.
- In addition if you ever take apart your PC, dismount the fan and cooler since they probably swallowed much dust which needs to be removed to cool back the PCb later.

As to the recipe, I can just tell you that it is the poor man's resoldering method. Iin my engineering life, I have had BGA resoldering done several times to save a million $ prototype chip when the BGA were not properly soldered, but in this case this is a complete process (Xray detection of the faulty balls, proper desoldering in a controlled oven - local infra red beamer or something similar - full re-soldering of new balls on the chip, controlled board re-flow, resoldering on the board , ... worth much more than a tens of high range PCs....)

I would be very happy to share some testimonies and maybe experience with those who encountered similar issues with their graphic chip or chipset. Who would like to join our discussion?

BR