topic Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN! in PCs & Accessories

Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Vamp1387 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:04:03 GMT

Hi everyone!

If you have recently bought a new VGN-CS11 series notebook, I'd ask that you take a moment to read this post.

Since I unboxed the new notebook, I have been experiencing strange noises from the fan unit evey time it operates. Before, it used to be simply that every time the fan stopped working, it made a soft "growl" noise (probably due to some internal vibration) for a mere second or two. Recently, however, it has also begun to make a strange, barely audible "clicking sound" as the fan starts up and operates, accompanied by the "growl" at the end, like before. At first, I was led to believe that it was just the normal operating noise that the fan made (although quite annoying!), but due to these recent developments, I am more and more convinced that this is some problem or malfunction that perhaps, will only get worse with time.

Other CS11 users have already posted in the thread "Problem with fan!!" that they also experience this problem, and, from what I've been able to gather, it does not seem like an isolated problem... but this is what we need to confirm.

That is the purpose of this thread.

I would like to ask and encourage all CS11 users to post in this thread if they also experience the same "problem" with the fan (abnormal noises that are clearly distinguishable from normal operation) or anything fan-related, especially if you have experienced them since you bought the notebook and haven't done anything that could "provoke" them (like dropping the notebook or hitting it in some way, blocking the ventilation vents, etc...). This is to have a general scope that this is not an isolated problem that is only happening to a few, and that way, perhaps Sony will take an interest and take the necessary measures to correct this problem if this, in fact, turns out to be a generalised problem.

I have already created a new case with e-Support regarding this issue. Note that these are brand new laptops that have been out on sale for barely a month, and now would be a good time to correct any problems that may arise. If this turns out to be a common problem for most CS11 users, then we should all contact Vaio-Link or e-Support and report the problem, so that Sony will take this problem into consideration if enough people have it.

Remember: the sooner, the better!

Also, perhaps it would also be of interest that those CS11 users that DON'T experience this problem also post in this thread, to see how many DO and how many DON'T... it may be interesting to also know.

Ok... without taking any more of your time, I leave this thread to fellow CS11 users and to anyone that might be able to lend a helping hand. Thanks!!!

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Skyberia — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:15:16 GMT

Hi

Mine is also a VGN-CS11S bought last month. The fan spins normally but when it stops spining I hear this click sound, which is not very loud but it worries me a bit. There is no problem with the computer, it seems to work fine, but I think this sound is not normal.

New threat was a good idea, makes it more visible, cheers

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

pezbaerchen — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:51:01 GMT

same problem here, i think it is a general issue... i also found this thread - http://www.computerbase.de/forum/showthread.php?t=503402

i hope sony does something about it, because it's really annoying.

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Thalamus. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:09:42 GMT

i hope sony does something about it, because it's really annoying.

Hi all,

Sony are, as far as I am aware, currently troubleshooting the fan issue with Vamp1387..

Hopefully when a solution or explanation is found Vamp1387 will share this with you all..

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Vamp1387 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:32:55 GMT

Hi!

I contacted eSupport but still haven't gotten a straight answer. They've told me to restore the BIOS settings to default, run the VAIO hardware diagnostics and restore Windows to the last "known" instance when the fan was working properly. I've done all that and I've still got the same fan issue . There was no fault found in the hardware diagnostics and, how can I restore Windows to the last known point when the fan was working correctly if the fan has been doing this since I bought it?

Nevertheless, I'll call them tomorrow morning and hope to get a more detailed and "final" answer.

I'll post here what I get from them and if any solution has been reached.

I've been doing some web surfing and also found more evidence that this is a generalised problem with the VAIO CS, and not only in Europe, but in the US and Canada too. Just take a look at this thread, it'll make an interesting read:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=312303

I have also found similar complaints on the CS fan in the Spanish forum.

I really hope that this problem is solved, since I really like my CS (both on the inside and outside) and it works perfectly fine to my needs apart from this ever-so-more annoying fan issue!! If it's a faulty fan, then we're in our right to have it replaced with a better quality one.

Ok, I'll post as soon as I get any new relevant info .

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Vamp1387 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:57:33 GMT

Hello again!

I got off the phone a while ago with the VAIO-link technician and he told me to follow these instructions:

1) Turn off the notebook, disconnect the power cable and take out the battery.
2) Press and hold the "on" switch for about 20 seconds.
3) With a vacuum cleaner, apply it to the fan vent to see if there's anything stuck or loose inside.

I still haven't tried this, and probably won't be able to until tomorrow, but I highly doubt that this will fix the problem. However, the most important thing that's worth mentioning here is that when I told him that this seems to be a generalised problem due to the evidence we've been seeing here and elsewhere on the net, he was surprised and said that they haven't received any report from Sony commenting this. He said that when there's a design flaw or general problem on a particular model of laptops, that they get the call from Sony and all of them are made aware of the problem. Nevertheless, upon my insistance, he said that he would talk to his superiors about this issue.

Therefore, I would ask all of the fellow CS users and owners now, more than ever, to report this problem (if you have it, of course :smileywink:) to Vaio-link ASAP, either through the net (eSupport) or by phone (in the end it's the same thing), so that they may begin to realise that not only a few of us have this problem (don't forget to tell them that you're not the only ones with this issue!!)

Please keep posting if you have this problem, even if it's just to say "hey! the same thing happens to me!". The more of us that insist on this issue, the sooner Sony will be forced to admit it and take measures to correct it.

Cheers

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

lewchenko — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:19:39 GMT

My new CS pink laptop does exactly the same. Its annoying as hell, and Ive raised an e-support ticket too. Looks like they have used a cheap fan with dodgy bearings, or have mis volted it so it doesnt start or stop properly.

Im really disappointed with this purchase as its a christmas present, and Im now going to have to explain this fault to my wife on christmas day, who will probably be wishing that I had bought her a macbook instead.

Will post back IF I hear anything from Sony. This issue needs to be more widely known .. I read a review of the CS laptop and it didnt mention this issue at all. Im giving it till the end of the week before I spam the likes of amazon etc with negative reviews telling people to be warned... faulty fans experienced by many buyers of this laptop... Sony has no comment.

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

lewchenko — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:12:28 GMT

A bios update released 18th Dec 2008 seems to make the fan come on a bit less, but doesnt change the 'errrring' noise.

It seems to help though, even though the bios fix doesnt list anything to do with the fan.

Still a problem, but slightly less so.

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

maja-rossi — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:20:01 GMT

Mine does the same! The whirring fan noise is killing me, every time it stps spinning it makes this 'wrrr' noise, from the very first day! 😞 it was also a present and I feel so disappointed; I contacted Sony and they were v.rude, they said that it must be 'normal'. I have been to some shops and listened to other CSs, the fans did the exact same noise...however, I have not heard any complaints from people who have the upgradet versions with blueray (whch come in red and black), does anyone have it?

WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THE NOISE IS ANNOYING and it is a brand new laptop from a brand new series.....

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Vamp1387 — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:40:16 GMT

Hello,

Sorry for not posting sooner, it's just that I haven't been able to get on the net. About the thing I said about the vacuum? It doesn't work. At least for me. The VAIO-link guys don't know anything about a generalised problem with the CS, and there's no word from Sony.

The fan noise is getting annoying, it's not just that "err" at the end, it's the noise it makes while it's operating that's driving me nuts!!!

I don't know what else to do... Anyone heard anything from their open cases from VAIO-link? Any word from Sony at all? Why are they ignoring us like this? THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM!! THIS FAN NOISE CAN'T BE NORMAL!!!!!

Thanks for posting all those that have, with each post we're seeing that this is not just a few isolated cases, but a massive fabrication or design flaw in one of the key components of a laptop!!

Regarding the red and black CS, I wouldn't know. I didn't buy it because I thought that it would be just like the rest but with a blu-ray reader, that's all, and I figured that it wasn't worth the money. It would be helpful if anyone with one of these CS11Z would be kind enough to let us know if they have the same problem.

Merry Christmas, and keep posting!!

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Skyberia — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:42:51 GMT

Hi everyone

Something strange: Hold your laptop up and turn it clockwise 90o and wait for the fan to work (not joking) you'll see that there will be no weird noise. It makes me think that there must be something on the left side of the fan that gets in its way as it slightly changes position for a second when it starts and when it stops spinning. But then again I could be wrong. In any case, this is not normal and Sony doesn't seem to pay attention. The fan mechanism of VGN-CS11 is problematic.

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

txuse — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:30:47 GMT

I have the same problem!
I have bought Vaio CS11 and it has got the same problem. In few days I called SonyStyle and they told me that they will send new notebook. When I recieved notebook, it had the same problem.

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Vamp1387 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:37:51 GMT

Hi again everyone!

Just a small thing... another fellow CS11 user has uploaded on Youtube the noise that his CS makes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdpRrRsAdc

Is this the same noise you all experience? That's how mine sounded for the first week or two; later, while it's operating, on top of the normal airflow noise, I get a constant, high-speed "clicking" sound to go along with it... Before, it only did it occasionally, but now it does it all the time, apart from that "err" sound, of course.

I've got my own recordings, but they're pretty low quality and they're pretty hard to hear, so Youtube's outta the question, unless I do some serious filtering (which, btw, I don't know how to do ). Anyway, there's probably no need to hear mine, since it's something we can all hear for ourselves on our own laptops... surely each will sound slightly different, but it all comes down to the same thing: a faulty fan.

Besides, with this good recording I pointed out on Youtube we can all have a good reference.

Cheers!

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

hugpache — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:15:39 GMT

Hello,

I was getting worried about this sound, first I thought there was something wrong with the HDD, and now it's even worse because everyone is getting it..

I don't really like customer support people that talk to me like I'm a begginer or something, telling me that if I use the Recovery Disks everything will be back to normal, so I don't really know what to do now..

Any advices? Anyone got a reply from Sony regarding this issue?

Thanks,

Hugo

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

SHAZ47 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:30:40 GMT

Hi, I bought a Black CS11S on 27 december, and the fan keeps coming on all the time, everytime I click on something, don't know what to do

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Thalamus. — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:59:52 GMT

Any advices? Anyone got a reply from Sony regarding this issue?

As far as I'm aware they are still waiting for Vamp1387 to agree that Sony can pick-up of his Vaio..

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

hugpache — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:50:16 GMT

Any advices? Anyone got a reply from Sony regarding this issue?


As far as I'm aware they are still waiting for Vamp1387 to agree that Sony can pick-up of his Vaio..

hmm, ok. I hope they admit the issue and take the appropriate measures to fix it quickly, my laptop is an essencial tool for me

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Vamp1387 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:57:54 GMT

Hi

Due to all the reports we've been getting here and elsewhere regarding CS users that have returned the laptop and received another one with exactly the same issue, I've told vaio-link that I don't want to send them my laptop until a notice is made public addressing this specific issue. Besides, the technician I spoke with told me to wait, since all they would do if I send it in now for repairs is perform a series of standard diagnostics and return it as it was, they're not gonna open it up and fix the fan unit or anything. Besides, I need my laptop for work and can't afford to be without it for a couple of weeks, knowing that it will be returned the exact same way it was when I sent it.

I won't send it until they tell us that they recognise this issue and that every CS laptop that will be sent will have the fan unit fixed or replaced.

Vaio-link has not contacted me in all this time and I have not bothered to contact them, since they seem to know nothing and only offer the typical "restore your system" solution.

Therefore, sorry for not being clear on this issue, but to all effects, my vaio-link case is on "standby" until what I've mentioned above is recognised. I am not currently waiting for anyone to pick up my laptop or otherwise. I must've forgotten to mention it!!! Sorry! :smileyd_oh:

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

Vamp1387 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:30:42 GMT

Just a quick thing... vaio-link has just called me and the most important thing that's been said is that they're not currently aware that this is a generalised problem. I have told them about it and the technician has said that if EVERYONE with the problem were to call and report it, THEN SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE, they'd go "hey, we've got a general problem here!!".

So please, I would ask all those that have this problem (which seems to be just about everyone) to open a case with vaio-link and describe it!!! It's the quickest way to get this problem solved and be heard!! Please describe the noise and don't forget to comment that everyone who's bought a CS has the same problem, not just you.

I will continue to post anything I get from vaio-link.

Cheers

Re: Attention VGN-CS11 users and SONY!! Problem with FAN!

hugpache — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:30:15 GMT

Just a quick thing... vaio-link has just called me and the most important thing that's been said is that they're not currently aware that this is a generalised problem. I have told them about it and the technician has said that if EVERYONE with the problem were to call and report it, THEN SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE, they'd go "hey, we've got a general problem here!!".

So please, I would ask all those that have this problem (which seems to be just about everyone) to open a case with vaio-link and describe it!!! It's the quickest way to get this problem solved and be heard!! Please describe the noise and don't forget to comment that everyone who's bought a CS has the same problem, not just you.

I will continue to post anything I get from vaio-link.

Cheers

Ok I registered on e-support and opened a Case detailing my problems.

By the way, about one week ago I sent an email to Vaio-Link asking some questions about Vista 64 and my VAIO and I got an answer looking exactly like this:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
fromcustomersupport.en@vaio-link.com
tox@x.com
dateMon, Dec 29, 2008 at 3:42 PM
subjectVaio-Link email [Case ID #: xxxxx]

hide details 12/29/08 (4 days ago) Reply

--- Original Message ---

info about Vaio
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is this normal or did I miss something? the case ID# isn't listed in VAIO e-support (I hadn't an account when I sent that email) so is there a way to check their answer?