Topic: Warning from Sony - 535,000 Laptops at Risk of Overheating (Vaio F & C)

[Samker]

More than half a million Sony laptops sold this year contain a software bug that could lead them to overheat, the company said Wednesday.

Sony has recorded 39 cases of overheating among Vaio F and C series laptops that have been on sale since January.

A bug in the heat management system of the BIOS software is to blame. Sony is asking users to either update the software themselves or return their laptops so it can apply the update.

The fault affects 535,000 computers although Sony is asking a total of 646,000 owners to update their machines. The additional 111,000 machines are susceptible to several less serious problems that have also been found in the software, said Sony.

BIOS is present in every PC and runs below the operating system, controlling the most basic functions of the computer and interaction between major components. It's usually invisible to users except for a BIOS start-up message that is typically seen when a PC boots.

The problem affects machines sold both in Japan and the rest of the world.

Japanese models with the problem are the VPCF119FJ/BI, VPCF118FJ/W, VPCF117FJ/W, VPCCW29FJ/W, VPCCW28FJ/P, VPCCW28FJ/R, VPCCW28FJ/W, VPCF11AFJ, VPCF11AGJ, VPCF11AHJ, VPCF11ZHJ, VPCCW2AFJ, and VPCCW2AHJ.

Affected models sold outside Japan are the VPCCW25FG/B, VPCCW25FG/P and VPCCW25FG/W.

(PCW)

[Samker]

BIOS Update for “VAIO Personal Computer VPCF11 series and VPCCW2 series (30-06-2010)

Dear Valued Sony VAIO Customers,

Sony has identified a very limited number of VAIO Personal Computer VPCF11 series and VPCCW2 series launched in January 2010, which may, in rare cases, exhibit overheating depending on the usage environment. This is due to inadequacies in the temperature management function and may, at times, result in the deformation of the body of VAIO Personal Computer. If you happen to come into contact with an overheated unit, there is a possibility of being burnt.

Please click here to check the affected models: https://support.vaio.sony.co.jp/cgi-bin/notification/mbhi/en/check.cgi

If the unit you own is identified as being affected, please update the BIOS to the latest version.

More info's and download: http://www.sony-asia.com/support/announcement/404364

Hope this information will help you to avoid problems: