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.
-----
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.
-----
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+

[AUTINOR]

Hello ! I am a French user so please excuse my bad English. You say : Everything you need ... It is not completely true. I buy a VAIO VGN-SZ4 under VISTA Business and i have a problem : it's impossible to connect it with a SONY ERICSSON phone on BLUETOOTH. All seems ok (detection of the phone, automatic install of a modem on the VAIO) but, when i want to connect to use the phone like a modem, it returns the error : 633. Nobody seems knows why ! With another PC, under Windows XP, with the same phone, all is ok ! Under Windows XP, the installed modem is (in French): "modem standard sur liaison bluetooth" and under VISTA : "modem standard 33600 B.". This is the only difference i see. I don't find any drivers bluetooth in the web site of SONY, TOSHIBA (Bluetooth Stack for Windows), MICROSOFT, aso. Anybody can help me ? Thank's.

[matrixfede]

YEs there is. I also have a fe31m and installed the bios update of FE41Z. It fixed the problem. Just download it. Go to this link  for more information.

there is one solution like this for my Vaio? I've VGN-FS315H

[creed]

Hello ! I am a French user so please excuse my bad English. You say : Everything you need ... It is not completely true. I buy a VAIO VGN-SZ4 under VISTA Business and i have a problem : it's impossible to connect it with a SONY ERICSSON phone on BLUETOOTH. All seems ok (detection of the phone, automatic install of a modem on the VAIO) but, when i want to connect to use the phone like a modem, it returns the error : 633. Nobody seems knows why ! With another PC, under Windows XP, with the same phone, all is ok ! Under Windows XP, the installed modem is (in French): "modem standard sur liaison bluetooth" and under VISTA : "modem standard 33600 B.". This is the only difference i see. I don't find any drivers bluetooth in the web site of SONY, TOSHIBA (Bluetooth Stack for Windows), MICROSOFT, aso. Anybody can help me ? Thank's.

Hi Autinor!
Have you checked the modem string in modem options /control panel a sony ericsson needs to have the CID in the string, and made sure it's not trying for an IPv6 connection??...has to be IPv4. I guess you are connecting to an UMTS or GPRS/Edge phone so check if you need a SIM update, sounds silly but it's true The standard modem is fine just as it should be .Have you put the pairing on your phone for authorized? ie. automatically connects?Could try a software update for the sony /ericsson as well.

Bye

[Sebby]

Following on the webpage I wrote that covered the preparations I made for Vista, I've added a new page detailing the issues I've experienced so far, and I'll keep it up-to-date with solutions as and when they arrive.

http://sebby.theyoungs.me.uk/vaio/vista_update.htm

I hope it's an interesting read.

[phislic]

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 got the same problems +

- Very slow file transfer from the cd-rom and between partitioned drives
- annoying noise from the fan (attracts attention in the library)

I need the camera driver, laptop is useless without it.

thanks

Sal.

[Sebby]

Just a quick post to say that I've changed domains, so my VAIO pages can now be found as follows:

Preparing for Vista
Vista so far...

Incidentally, I've still had no luck with VAIO Power Management (screenshot) - does anyone know how to resolve it?

[gunvaldfar]

Hej,

I have vista installed on my vgn-a217s - but the hotkeys does not work. I have all utilities ens services runing. Does anyone know how to install the hotkey?

thx

[Sebby]

You must install in this order:

Sony Utilities
Sony Shared Library
Vaio Event Service
Setting Utility Series

[HassanE]

Hello all..
I installed the Vista on my VGN-FE31B 10 days ago and till now it works almost perfect, i still have some little problems:
1- SOMTIMES when i close the lid and re-open it i get a black screen that wont gp untill i restart
2- The hotkeys (volume especially) sometimes crash, the screen volume logo disappears and windows tells me that i have problems with my "Vaio event service"
3- I still have the problem in my device manager i get "other devices>>>unknown device"

Thnx in advance for all ur help, and excuse my english.

[gunvaldfar]

You must install in this order:

Sony Utilities
Sony Shared Library
Vaio Event Service
Setting Utility Series

I installed evrything, it works on a vgn-tx1, but not on the vgn-a217s - Has somone the same problem? - or a solution?

thx