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+

[uk747]

Upgraded my VGN-SZ1HP/B to Vista Pro. and I cannot get any sound...."NO AUDIO OUTPUT DEVICE IS INSTALLED"
Help!!

[Raljweb]

I've installed vista and driverson my SZ3 but I've still got two problems
1. I can't scroll through a document using the edge of my trackpad
2. I can't get audio out through my headphone socket to my speakers.
Any ideas / solutions???
Ral

[Sundby]

I am also very interested in any answers regarding output from the speaker jack. Mine doesn't work either.

Anybody have any ideas??

I'm on a SZ2.

[Sebby]

For those who are experiencing problems with VAIO Power Management (no options to dim the screen automatically when on battery power), I think I'm making progress. I'm not there yet, but I do think I'm getting there.

I've updated my Vista issues page at http://www.sebby.me.uk/vaio/vista_update.shtml and I hope to have got even further over the coming days.

[donslater]

thank you everyone for this thread - finally found an oasis of helpful sanity as I struggle with Vista and Vaio.

A few questions though (I have an FE21H, 2G Ram, clean Vista installation, business edition):

1. Hotkey fix - can make no headway with this - function keys won't work, only on/off volume key. I've tried installing the nc driver, but a. no 'unknown device' slot shows; b. tried installing under legacy/any device - error message tells me that driver is not compatible with 32.

2. Someone mentioned BIOS setting for Hotkey Event Code will fix a lot of things - but my BIOS, accessed via F2, doesn't give any such option

3. Has anyone made any progress anywhere regarding the dreaded sound card and Vista issues???? this is really driving me crazy - there is no line in available, and under recording only a load of microphones...

thanks for any help

Don

[matrixfede]

Anyone has idea for lid problem?

[2b]

Hi, with my VGN-A417S nearly everything works fine - although I installed MPEGEnc, no TV is available under VAIO Zone. VAIO Update 3.0 didn't work either. Any idea?

[lundwall]

I have a problem with my VGN-AR21M, running Vista Ultimate.

I can't use the scrollfunction on my touchpad, didn't even know the function existed because I installed Vista the first thing I did when I got home with the computer.
Anyone have a solution for this? Searched the forum without any luck...

[PainKiller]

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.

[wetfoot001]

Hi,

I recently purchased a Sony Vaio SZ Edge with Windows Vista Business pre-installed. After spending 2 days trying to install all of my business software (MS Office, Partition Magic, Adobe Acrobat, AutoCAD 2006 etc), I gave up and had to travel abroad for 2 months (ongoing), with my original S2XP laptop running Windows XP Professional SP2. My SZ is currently gathering dust unused at home.

Firstly: I understand this problem is being encountered by a lot of computer users.

Secondly: How much is the Vista fiasco costing business people like myself in lost time, and the necessity to unnecessarily upgrade to new versions of software with only cosmetic upgrades such as featured in Vista?

Thirdly: Can I replace Vista in my SZ laptop with XP Professional without losing the hardware benefits I purchased the computer for.

Fourthly: How can Microsoft get away with this? No wonder Linux is gaining popularity.