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+

[vaiomatti]

Hi, i recently bought the VGN-BX396XP, have done the same bad experiences after VISTA Express Upgrade and the solution was the use of RMClock Util. So know the laptop is quiet, but i'm a little bit unsecure if the tool could probably damage the hardware?!


You're basically running your machine on full power all the time, regardless if you're just surfing the 'net or running intensive graphics programs. Running your cpu & cooling fan on full power 100% of the time is bound to have an effect on longevity as well as battery power if you're not connected to the mains. I couldn't do with the whine and am running XP Pro - I have the same machine as you, the BX396XP. Manufacturers are going to have to change their hardware to run quiet with Vista. People won't put up with whining computers! Basically anything released until the day they do will be better off running XP.

I bought a FZ21Z one week ago with Windows Vista. My laptop also has the high pitch whine and I therefore installed the RM clock. However, the whining did not disappear. Should I go for XP if I want to get rid of the whining. Why can't MS fix this problem?!

[mjdes]

I have recently reinstalled vista and am trying to make it compatible. Has anyone else had an issue with the battery, it says it is not installed correctly. It is and is the oroginal one with the machine (originally XP). Tried everything but the message of death just sits there and kjeeps reselecting the button to hibernate!

[immediate]

I have recently reinstalled vista and am trying to make it compatible. Has anyone else had an issue with the battery, it says it is not installed correctly. It is and is the oroginal one with the machine (originally XP). Tried everything but the message of death just sits there and kjeeps reselecting the button to hibernate!

I had the same problem with one third party battery (though not with another make) and the only way I found to resolve it was to disable isbutility in the startup list. The computer then worked perfectly. However, I do not know what the potential ramifications of disabling the utility might be, so perhaps it would be a good idea to wait for someone with more knowledge than I before doing it!

[Davidhoff]

Nothing... STILL NOTHING. Unbelievable. Jan 2008, we are waiting for Vista SP1 next weeks, and we can't use Vista with our Vaio.

VGN-A115S here, but the problems is always the same. It's impossibile to use "special buttons", useless power management, that think my battery is not original

Extremely disappointed. It's only my experience, but Hp and Dell support is MUCH better, even with older models.

After this post, I'll reinstall windows xp, and probably my vista ultimate license will go on ebay.

Sony vaio, never again.

Marco.

[spider2097]

Hi! I've read through this thread and I must admit to being none the wiser really as to whether Vista will work on my Vaio notebook.

I have a VAIO VGN-FS315S & would like to know if Vista will run on it or what problems I may expect to find if I install Vista. I would be installing Vista Ultimate (after backing up my current set-up obviously).

Many thanks,

Vince.

[Neostar]

Hi! I've read through this thread and I must admit to being none the wiser really as to whether Vista will work on my Vaio notebook.

I have a VAIO VGN-FS315S & would like to know if Vista will run on it or what problems I may expect to find if I install Vista. I would be installing Vista Ultimate (after backing up my current set-up obviously). 

Many thanks,

Vince.

Well I have a VGN-FS315M Which is exactly the same as yours apart from mine shipping with the slightly slower 1.73ghz Pentium M (I have since upgraded it to the 2.13ghz)

I am running ultimate, and from a hardware point of view everything works, all the FN keys function as do the S keys.

My problem as with quite a few people is the power management is plain broken. Its simply not possible to run my vaio effectively on the battery under vista.

I have to say even with the processor upgrade and 2 gig of memory my Vaio chugs under vista. It actually ran noticeably faster before I installed the Sony utilities.

I have ordered a new hitachi 7200rpm 100gb drive to see if I get any gain from that.

[Thalamus.]

Hi! I've read through this thread and I must admit to being none the wiser really as to whether Vista will work on my Vaio notebook.

I have a VAIO VGN-FS315S & would like to know if Vista will run on it or what problems I may expect to find if I install Vista. I would be installing Vista Ultimate (after backing up my current set-up obviously). 

Hi vince,

have you run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, click this link: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

Also there are a small selection of drivers & utilities for your FS315S available, click the following link to view the list: VGN-FS315S Vista Drivers and utilities

[RichardFrayling]

has the VAIO Vista Upgrade web site link changed?

[Thalamus.]

has the VAIO Vista Upgrade web site link changed?

Yes the page has been removed, Vista drives for your FE21B can be found on the Sony Vaio Support Download page. Use the following link to view the Vista drivers and utilities for your Vaio: FE21B Vista Drivers & Utilities

[kurin4o]

Hey guys,

Where can i download or order the Windows Vista cd/dvd. In case i format my harddrive? Is there a special partitition and how does it work. Im so lost...