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+

[Thalamus.]

Hi Creed,

Welcome to Club Vaio..

You can download the MemoryStick Icon Registry patch by clicking here

[LesserKnownUnderdog]

***WHINE FIX***

I made a comment about this, the RMClock app seems only to keep check on the cpu, ram and os load(s), how does it sort out the whining noise? Mine is still present even with the app running.

Whats going on? Anyone? Anyone?

[blueswan]

Hi,


Thanks for your advise for vista. I haven't received my upgrade CD/DVD from Emae yet. It should arrive this or next week. Then we'll see furter.

I'll try your advise. before I installed the vista on my computer.

Regards,
Anyo

[creed]

Thank you Thalamus..... But my Flash memory magic gate is in a mess.....no way can i seem to install the xp drivers and I can't find any others on the web.How did you manage to install magic gate ?Any ideas? Now I have the icon file I can't use it !!!!

[creed]

Hi Creed,

Welcome to Club Vaio..  

You can download the MemoryStick Icon Registry patch by clicking here

ok all is working now :smileygrin: a big KISS to Thalamus .......but i had to run your link from there when I saved it no go from vista!!

[Thalamus.]

ok all is working now  :smileygrin: a big KISS to Thalamus .......but i had to run your link from there when I saved it no go from vista!! 

You're welcome creed, thanks for the big Kiss.. :smileyblush:

[RayWaller]

After much trauma I finally got Vista working almost normally however neither the internal camera nor the card reader are showing in the device manager. I have downloaded all of the Sony Utilities and Drivers as recommended. I do have an unknown device that will not download any drivers. Also a Mass Storage devices and a couple of Bluetooth Peripherals none of which will download drivers.
Incidentally Bluetooth is working fine despite the fact I installed then uninstalled the Sony fix cos it didn't work. The Vista bluetooth programme works perfectly well with both my Nokia phone and HP 460wbt printer.
I did speak with a Sony expert??? via the very helpful Microsoft helpdesk, who was as good as useless saying Sony do not support Vista upgrades. Very strange I thought but he appeared to be an arrogant t..t. and really didn't seem to know what he was talking about.
Any other bright ideas to get my Vaio VGN-AR11M ship shape
Cheers
Ray

[Merlin2802]

hi all,

is there a solution for that "black screen problem" for FE31M already?
i found out the following:

if u install windows vista without any drivers u can close the screen and reopen without any problem (no black screen after reopen).

if u install the driver for graphics device (nvidia 7600go) u get that black screen after reopen laptop screen.

i tried the original driver from sony support and a modded one from laptopvideo2go. if someone knows a solution for that i would be very very thankful.

i talked to sony support hotline today. he told me the FE41M got the same problem and the solution is the bios update and perhaps it would work for my FE31M too. i am really not brave enough to check this out :(((. i already did the correct bios update for my vaio but no advancement with that.

PLZ HELP

best regards ....

[Carelino]

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.

[creed]

Another problem has popped up....my pcmcia external sound card is not installing well, although it's not sony I wonder if my pcmcia slot driver is the right one??In XP it's a GENERIC CARDBUS DRIVER but in Vista it's a Texas instruments one...and even though I change it to generic when i reboot TA-DAH!! It's the TI one again ..I know a load of people are having BIG headaches with sound. When I install this thing it takes ages and then finally works except that the system slows down so much and the fan never stops blowing Anyone out there got any ideas for the cardbus hunch ?Is this something to do with the chipset I wonder.