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+

[Paul_Humphreys]

Well after reading this thread I am going to upgrade my Vaio sz2xp to Vista. But as for the screen not gong back to bright from dark, my vaio does this under XP anyway. Ihaveto reboot to get it bright again.

Paul

[parrotboy]

I just upgraded to vista... big mistake... most of my programs arn't compatible but the main problem is...

THERE IS NO SOUND... i can't find a vista sound driver for my speakers (built in) does any body know how to get my speakers working?

Vaio- VGN-FE31H HALP OH, almost forgot... my motion eye thing isn't working...

[mediamark]

My speakers work but not the headphone socket!

[RobertoFLY]

Hi ALL,
I have an horrible problem:
about 1 month after installing Windows Vista my Vaio PC notebook started to just Don't write many of character of the Keyboard.
ad example "q" "i" "o" "e" and other..
There as been NO liquid over the PC, and also the Character are not next one to other, so I suppose it is a windows problem.
Can ANYBODY please HELP ME???

Thanks A lot!!
Roberto

roberto.leonardi@nosilence.it

[Charlie1978]

Hi,

I installed all the updates as recommended. Now I have a high pitched whine on my FE41E. This was not present before. I do not know which update caused this but my laptop is now unusable.

I'd think twice before using any updates if you laptop is quiet.

Does anyone know which update may have caused this? I also have problems with flash polayer and ac3 filter not working at all, has anyone else suffered this.

It seems to me that I have made a very big mistake moving to Vista, any help eould be appreciated.

[RobertoFLY]

Hi ALL,
I have an horrible problem:
about 1 month after installing Windows Vista my Vaio PC notebook started to just Don't write many of character of the Keyboard.
ad example "q" "i" "o" "e" and other..
There as been NO liquid over the PC, and also the Character are not next one to other, so I suppose it is a windows problem.
Can ANYBODY please HELP ME??? 

Thanks A lot!!
Roberto

roberto.leonardi@nosilence.it

BTW , I installed all of the Drivers that Loathsome ( THANKS DUDE!!!! ) posted
~ Setting Utility Series
~ Shared Library
~ Utilities
~ VAIO Event Service
then , RESTARTED
BUT, arrived to the point of downloading Attachment SonyNC.cab, I have downloaded and unpacked.. BUt then what I have to do??? :smileyblush: :smileyblush:

-Thanks!!

[suggsuk]

Hi, my SZ3XP works fine with Vista except "Window Media Player" and "Remove Program". It takes 5 to 10 seconds to change the songs and the sound sometime lags occasionally. After reboot several times to finish install Sony pre-install programs, I cannot remove any program in the "Uninstall Program" tab; it looks like all programs were disabled to be uninstall. Does anyone have the same problems with me or does anyone know the solution. Thanks.

I had the same Windows Media Player issue on my VGN-FE21B but managed to resolve it. Hopefully this fix should work for you too...

1) click Start, Control Panel, Sound
2) select Speakers/Headphones and click the Properties button
3) click the Effects tab and tick/check "Disable System Effects"
4) Apply

It worked for me, hope it works for you!

[RobertoFLY]

Hi ALL,
I have an horrible problem:
about 1 month after installing Windows Vista my Vaio PC notebook started to just Don't write many of character of the Keyboard.
ad example "q" "i" "o" "e" and other..
There as been NO liquid over the PC, and also the Character are not next one to other, so I suppose it is a windows problem.
Can ANYBODY please HELP ME??? 

Thanks A lot!!
Roberto

roberto.leonardi@nosilence.it


BTW , I installed all of the Drivers that Loathsome ( THANKS DUDE!!!! ) posted
~ Setting Utility Series
~ Shared Library
~ Utilities
~ VAIO Event Service
then , RESTARTED
BUT, arrived to the point of downloading Attachment  SonyNC.cab, I have downloaded and unpacked.. BUt then what I have to do???  :smileyblush:  :smileyblush:  

-Thanks!!

Anyone Who can Help me??? please PM me or message to my mail.. IT is really urgent.
At home I have no way to write.. or work..
I' lost

[teumel]

Hallo,

I have some problems with the fn-keys too. I installed Vista Business (yes, official license) and now I try to get all the keys working. The hardware is working now, but I can´t use the fn and the hotkeys ...

Any ideas? My Vaio is the VGN-CR11 and on the Sony Vista Download Site I can´t find these things for my Vaio ...

~ Setting Utility Series
~ Shared Library
~ Utilities
~ VAIO Event Service

Many thanks.
teumel

[abercellini]

Hi Thalamus!
I have a FE41Z with vista home premium for 5 months already. All working all right till SD Card reader adapter stopped reading my 2GB SD Panasonic. It did read it always before. Now it simply dosn´t. confused
I have already looked up in the forum but all the patchs posted did not work for me.
Is there any new solution around?

Thank youuu!
Best, Andres