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+

[lebuik]

Hi,

Nice to read from you. I have a PCG-K415B notebook running on WinXPSP2. When I tried to install Vista home premium, I had a compatibilty issue on the ATI Radeon 1GP 345M, 128MB graphic card so the screen went on a VGA mode which is too small. I did not see PCG series on the list for VISTA UPGRADE. Could you provide me with the solution for this?

Thanks.

[Migs]

I am disappointed to see that Sony support on Vista is still far from acceptable. The thing that really makes me angry is that the even recommend running Vista if you look at their productline.

I got everything to work on my FE11M but it is dreadful slow. Pushing the volume buttons or any other FN key takes ages to make an action it's like my system pauzes. The Sony Vista touchpad drivers have an admin/user right fault. Booting up my system UAC comes in and asks if my touchpad drivers are trusted...wtf!
I just could go on and on... it's almost pathetic to see nothing works like it did in XP.

Looking at other vendors like Dell and HP they give a much better support at this moment. Personally I feel Sony doesn't care much about their customers but Sony forgets that customers will think again to buy a Vaio in the future!

Oh did i already mention even the linux community has better support for Vaio laptops then Sony has for Vista? Even the sony webcam works in Ubuntu...now how many people have problems getting the camera to work in Vista?

For more global info about linux and Vaio laptops:
http://www.linux.it/~malattia/wiki/index.php/Sony-laptop


I just feel sick

[patrickbrans]

Hi,

I've re-installed vista again on my AR21S, but when I'm in "Computer", I only see a nice memory stick icon, but there is not such nice shiny SD Icon

Is there also a patch or a solution for it, because that would be the last thing to have my vista installation complete :smileygrin:



Patrick

[Angi22]

I have a VGN-AR41M which came with Vista Home but I have upgraded to Vista Business (we're a primary school). Now the Fn key doesn't seem to work and we need to use the laptop with a projector but it's not recognising the external monitor doing Fn+F7. Also the brightness which is on F5/6 and snooze on F12 aren't responding.
Sorry, complete newbie at Vista, can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks

[Windmill]

Thanks Loathsome for this tip. But I've had a problem with my VGN-S4XP...
1. Could not complete the installation of "setting utilities"
2. How do you install the Sony NC.cab file as a new device in order to get the hot keys to work? When I went to device manager there isn't a line for "unknown device". Can you be more specific with the installation steps here.
3. Not connected but related, since installing tried to go in visg Vista I haven't been access the WLAN utility, to turn on or off either Bluetooth or WiFi or both. When I've tried going in via Viao Control Centre it says I need to og in as a administrator - but I am! ANy clues?

Again, many thanks

[Blencogo]

Hi Angi22 and welcome.

When you upgrade to Vista Business, you need to reinstall the Sony Utilities to get all the Fn Keys working again.

Download the original Utilities Package for your AR31M from here (Sorry it's 125MB!): -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/updates/updates.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&c=0&s=VGN-AR&m=2525

When you have downloaded the file AR3_Utilities.zip right-click on it and choose "Extract All" and ask to show the extracted files.

You need to go into the following Utils Installer Folders IN ORDER and double-click on the SETUP.EXE file to install the Utility.

1. Utils Installer 1 Sony Utils DLL
2. Utils Installer 2 Sony Shared Library
3. Utils Installer VAIO Event Service
4. Utils Installer Setting Utility Series

Re-boot your VAIO and the keys should all work - if they dont, try running the four installers again.

You may wish to consider installing all the other Utilities in the download if any of these are also no longer working properly: -

Webcam,
Bluetooth,
Wireless Switch,
Battery Checker,
AV Mode,
Power Management,
VAIO Control Centre.

[wayneroy]

Hello to you all,

I have FS-115Z and have loaded on Vista but I have NO sound everything else is fine, I have reloaded it on and No sound still any one got any ideas?????

Thank you.

[drew1977]

hi i have no unknown device in my device manager, how can i install the Sony Notebook Control Device files, any ideas

cheers

Drew

[lionelm]

Hi there,

will it work with VAIO VGN-S2XP?
If yes, what should I do? This model is not on VAIO Vista Upgrade web site.

Kind regards.

[matrixfede]

Hi, I've windows vista from March and I'm continuing to have lid problem (if close the lid then after reopen screen remain black) and sony had not released bios update for my model. Why?There is another solution that works?Sony had released some driver for Vista on web page for my model but there isn't bios update. I've problem with battery. the battery finish so early, i think beacause i don't have bios update and when disconnect the power cable, the adaptive screen dosen't work. I've to decrease light by myself.

Sorry for my english.