Memory Failure on Sony Vaio PCG-GRX316SP (UK Model)

[gruuvebot]

Hi All,

My VAIO: Sony VAIO PCG-GRX316SP, 1.7 GHz Pentium M, 512 MB Ram

I have been noticing over time my Vaio getting slower/sluggish and some unusual 'minor errors' at boot up, and in the general the system being a little shaky.

Recently, I notcied that the system was reporting only 256MB of RAM ( !!!). More unfortunately my VAIO has passed its one year warranty.

I have tried reseating the memory modules, and I have also tried exchanging them from their original slots to see if there was a particular chip that was dead. But it boots up either way and reports 512MB ram.

I understand that their are other threads for the MP model, but I thought that I would start one for SPers.

Has anyone found a fix for this memory slot problem other than wedging something in between the cover and the chips? Sony Support is really expensive and often completely unhelpful. If anything it seems from all the posts that I have read that it may even be something engineered into the laptop - like the use of low quality solder or components for chip seats.

If you have any advice it would be much appreciated.

Damian

[robpaxton]

In the UK, anyone who has this problem should take note of the following - it may be of use:

The Limitation Act 1980 says that an action can be brought up to six years after the contract has been entered into, except if the damages include personal injury, in which case the period is three years.

In other words, if you pay £1,500 for a state-of-the art TV, you would reasonably expect it to last several years. If it breaks down after three years, for example, you can reasonably expect a contribution from the retailer towards the cost of repair or - if repairs are uneconomic - reasonable compensation for the use you should have enjoyed for the remainder of the equipments expected lifespan.

Trading Standards departments and the Office of Fair Trading say consumers should think carefully before buying extended warranties on goods, claiming they often give the buyer nothing more than they already have under their statutory rights.

Claims under this act must be directed to the retailer.

[kee-lo_]

Thanks Rob, that's a very useful document. I think Alan told me about this too.

[robpaxton]

Yes - unfortunately it probably means making a claim in the small claims court but it would be well worth it in this sort of case where the expected repair bill is well over £1000

[kee-lo_]

Yeah well if it means a working notebook I can say it's worth doing, unless you get the 6 figures tonight

[robpaxton]

Now that would solve a lot of problems

[kee-lo_]

Oh yes it would :smileygrin:
I would go back on holiday for 1 month

[hindlek]

My Sony VAIO PCG-GRX416SP, which is about 16 months old, stopped working last week. I am now unable to boot it at all. When booting without the battery pack the HDD light is lit initially but then only the green light comes on. There is a faint sound of HDD & CD-ROM drive but nothing then happens. Fan is on.

The same applies when the battery pack is installed but a light is also present for first battery LED. When the power button is pressed & held both Battery Pack LED's light up & there is a slight flicker of HDD light then they all go off.

I found some information on US sites regarding removing memory & swapping it but none of this has made any difference. Someone has suggested that it is probably a problem with the motherboard. I have seen elsewhere on this site that if this is the problem I can expect to pay £1000 to get it fixed. As I paid £2400 for the laptop in the first place I am not impressed if this is what I will have to do to get it repaired.

One of the reasons that I bought SONY because I thought they were reliable products. I now have a problem with both the digital camera and the laptop.

Can anyone suggest an alternative solution or how I should approach SONY about this?

Many thanks

Kate

[tellingd]

I checked an American forum and some of the people there were talking about a similar problem. They all had US versions of the GRX316. They came up with 2 solutions:

1. take out one of the memory modules (2nd I think); or
2. take off the cover to access the modules and put a piece of card (or 2) between the modules and the cover. This applies pressure to the 'dud' module.

The problem apparently is that one of the modules comes loose, i.e. the fitting breaks.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am NOT any kind of hardware specialist and anyone trying either of the 2 'solutions' mentioned above does so at their own risk; in other words - don't sue me, I'm lost too.

[hindlek]

Unfortunately that didn't work for me.

[tellingd]

 Unfortunately that didn't work for me. 

Unless someone who has some hardware expertise on this forum can help I can only suggest you try Sony and see what they say. I understand that their support is not as good as perhaps it should be though

Sorry couldn't be more help.