Sony Vaio and Windows Vista. EVERYTHING you need in this thread! Hotkeys fix, official patch from MS. Whine fix, make your VAIO run silent!

[loathsome]

Hi all.

I've recently set up my VAIO notebook to fully, 100%, support Windows Vista. Took me some time, but it was certainly worth it

Okay, here's what you need:

- Drivers. Go to the VAIO Vista Upgrade web site to download these. What you'd want to grab from that page:
~ Setting Utility Series
~ Shared Library
~ Utilities
~ VAIO Event Service
These are the most required ones. You MUST download and install these.
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Further, the following aren't necessary, but very useful:
~ Alps Pointing-device for VAIO (for your touchpad to work properly)
~ FlashMedia (if you're using the media readers/writers)
~ MemoryStick Icon Registry patch (nothing important, just a nice icon for the MemoryStick to show up in Computer, like this:



Also, if your VAIO notebook has built hardware such as a camera, bluetooth etc., grab the proper drivers for them as well.

Graphics driver are NOT necessary, as all versions of Vista supports the Intel GMA-chipset. I would neither recommend installing the VAIO Power Management, as Vista also has this built in.
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Hotkeys
Probably one of the biggest "losses" in Vista. I see lots of post asking how to get the hotkeys to work. Here's the SOLUTION with an official patch from Microsoft:

You MUST install the following:
~ Setting Utility Series
~ Shared Library
~ Utilities
~ VAIO Event Service

After installing, reboot your notebook. Then grab the Sony Notebook Control Device update from Microsoft at this link:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3-19990518/cabpool/7816_2_a5db7ce11f55024ce049b...
(sniffed by me, loathsome) edit, added; I've attached a mirror of the Sony NCD. Look at the bottom.

After you've downloaded, open up Device Manager and install them for "Unknown device". Your hotkeys should work immediately. If not, try rebooting.

Whine fix
Some users, included myself, notice a small, high pitched noise coming from the notebook. This is extremely annoying if you're in a silent enviroment. I've come up with a solution to this. Download RMClock, and under "Management" enable "Run HLT command when OS is idle". Restart the program and the sound is gone - for ever. You can also make it start with Windows, so you'll never have to bother with it again. This WILL shorten your batterylife, but only with 3-7%, according to my tests.

That's all, enjoy Windows Vista! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me,
loathsome+

[dazagro19]

did anyone try to install these utilities on pck k 115s?

[fabricio]

Excellent stuff!!!

Many thanks

[matrixfede]

I think that you have forgotten one thing... the problem with the lid..How to fix it and keeps all functions?  

I'll try to expalin better..

Some people have problem with the lid, when close the lid and reopen it the screen remain black, only fix for this is to change the driver for the ACPI lid with another one but in this way windows do not reconize the lid and we lost all functions about the lid I.E. standby when close the lid and others..

Another problem is with VAIO Power Management... In windows xp when VAIO Power Management was on, when someone disconnect the power supply screen reduced the light and other functions, on windows vista i can't see the effect of vaio power managment...of course i've installed VAIO Power Management and it seems installed well but dosen't work..
Some one have an idea?

Sorry for my english   

from italy  

Federico  

Nobody have this problem?

[BeoWulf_Ger]

Unfortunately, i have the same problem with my FE31M. Whenever i close the LCD and reopen it, the display remains dark.
But i have no solution for this problem, yet.

[panosxxx]

I have the exact problem with my FE31M !!! I just hope and pray that it will be fixed with the announced end of March releases !!

[BeoWulf_Ger]

Yep! Four days to go, but i don't expect them to be released in time 😞

[DreamerPT]

Hi,

I just want to know if Sony Vaio Notebooks drivers and utilities support Windows Vista 64Bits?

Regards
Hugo

[Thalamus.]

Hi Hugo,

Welcome to Club Vaio..

At the moment Sony only support Vista 32bit with drivers and utilities...

[DreamerPT]

ok. Tanks for the answer Thalamus

Hugo

[oa_flyer]

I tried more or less all of the advice listed in loathsome's initial post. (Besides the hotkey-related download from MSFT) --> Download and installation of all drivers & utilities as available in the download forum.

Still my machine (VGN-SZ3XWP/C) doesn't work to it's full extent.
- integrated camera doesn't work at all
- trying to integrated VAIO-Powermanagement result in an error message about rundll32
- still problems with my memory-stick (can't use it)

I wiped pre-installed XP and formatted drive prior to installing VISTA Business.

Any idea's / comments / help much appreciated.

I own a VGN-SZ1XP/C and after installing Vista I have the same problems i.e.
the integrated camera is not recognized in Device Manager,Vaio Powermanagement with rundll32
error,problems with memory stick and I cannot find how to adjust the level of protection of the HDD.Sony in the support page for drivers and utilies has nothing for the integrated
camera.
I think that Sony is better to release something like a service pack that will integrate
all the drivers and utilities for all the laptops instead of having us download all these
individual drivers and utilities without any guide of how to make things work.