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+

[mdugaev]

Dear All!

I have a problem with my brand new VAIO FE41ZR running on Vista. The problem is that Express Card external Card Reader doesn't work with Secure Digital cards that are 1 Gb or bigger capacity. 256 mb cards are OK, bigger cards just make explorer think for a ve-eery long time with no result. I tried several cards that are absolutely OK on other PCs. And it works good on this vaio too when plugged in to external USB card reader.

As far as I see the problem could be in bad driver because preinstalled drivers that are in "C:\Drivers" folder doesn't seem to be OK for Vista. I found the file "C:\Drivers\Memory_Card\ti21sony.inf" - is it right one for the card reader? But it's not for Vista 😞 It can't be installed and it contents says that it's for Win2000/XP. It was good idea to place it on Vista computer! 😕

Now my Vista uses the following driver: Sony USB HS-CARD USB Device, Microsoft driver, version 6.0.6000.16386 from 21.06.2006.

So the question is: am I alone with such problem? Anybody can successfully use big SD cards? How could I resolve my problem?

[vlad177]

Thanks, Thalamus!

[vlad177]

To mdugaev

My FE41ZR can successfully read/write 2Gb "A Data" SD card with Express Card adapter.

Vista uses Microsoft Driver for this device on my Vaio:
Sony USB HS-CARD USB Device
2006-06-21
6.0.6000.16386

[falmouth]

I too had (and continue to have problems) with SD cards under Vista. This seems to be a known problem and there is an update dealing with what seem to be related problems (this will already have installed itself if you have automatic updates) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936825 . After this, I was able to read some but not all SD cards. My reader hangs with Sandisk 1GB cards. So, if anyone has made more progress, please let me know!

[Thalamus.]

Thanks, Thalamus!

You're welcome vlad177..

[phoenix198]

I don't think so!  I just installed the VAIO applications in the sequence described here  and the 'Vaio Optimized' settings mysteriously appeared in Power Management.

Ah, but do you actually have the options, or does your Power Management look like this?

http://www.sebby.me.uk/vaio/power_management.jpg

Nope, I've got the options. Also managed to get the TPM and finger-print reader working, although it doesn't seem that reliable. That could just be me, though!

[markcark]

Hi,
I have a VGN-a117s, just upgraded to Vista Business and sure enough the hardware buttons don't work (DVD, volume, brightness, etc.)

Have tried the fixes here, but don't seem to be getting anywhere. Is there a way I can reliably uninstall all the Sony Utilities/apps, etc. to get me back to where I was so I can try re-installing them all again?

Thanks!

[muds420]

this might be a stupid question, but would dropping your vaio (even though it is in a padded sleeve case) affect the laptop/CPU noise at all?

maybe i'm just being paranoid or noticing it more? i had realised there was a whine previously, but it never affected me until now as i notice it more often!

(before anyone says how stupid I am for dropping it, what ACTUALLY happened was it was in the front seat of my car, some idiot pulled out in front of me so i had to brake suddenly, and voila the vaio in case goes flying at the glove case! working perfectly fine though! lol)

[muds420]

loathsome, what is your CPU core temperature using RMClock?

btw does anyone know the temperature at which things start getting dangerous for your laptop?

thanks

[matrixfede]

I've Vaio VGN-FS 315H and I still have problem with lid.
Sony doesn't have released the bios update, why?
In the page of update there are only application and audio driver..
What can I do?