Official Sony VAIO F Series i5/i7 owners thread *Part 3*

I'll upload as soon as I get to a computer where I can install Ps4, etc on it. The one I'm on now has NOTHING I can manipulate pics with...

BTW- I just went to esupport to download the Vaio Care app. It told me I needed to install these FIRST-

Vaio Location Utility
Sony Shared Library
Vaio Update 5 Software
Vaio Hardware Diagnostics Software.

I did that, then proceeded with the Vaio Care install. I'll reboot and let you know the status.

 

I've used retail & MSDNA keys as anytime upgrades before, they usually work but they won't activate until you call the 1-800 and hit in the code.

 

Maybe you could write one big post after testing instead of a blow-by-blow?

 

ok- seems like I"ve got the Assist button working, and everything running smooth. I'm now on to reinstalling selected software/bloatware and have some questions that aren't in the guide.

I stuck Recovery Disc #1 and proceeded to install applications/drivers.

What are these and do I need them?
Battery Checker (I have an idea, but is it bloatware?)
Color Setting File
Devices and Printers (Ricoh) Registry Patch
Evernote for Vaio
IPS Driver
px engine
sata driver (common sense, but want to make sure it's not bloatware of some sort)
Sony Home Network Library
SonyVideoProcessor
TransferJet Driver
Vaio Power Management
Vaio Sample Contents
Vaio Transfer Support
Vaio User Guide
Vaio Wallpaper Setting Tool
Vaio Window Organizer
Webcam Companion

There's a list of items I didn't find on the original Guide (again, I'm on Win 7 Pro and a F12). Maybe you could respond and adjust for the F12 guide (coming soon???)

I appreciate the help! This is pretty sweet having a STRIPPED CLEAN system!

 

So I was using my laptop without headphones today and I noticed my space bar squeaks, how do I fix it without repairs? I don't have the time to send it in

 

Post #1 on page #1 of this thread or put back on headphones.

 

It's just breaking itself in. Mine comes and goes, but is mostly gone now.

 

Thanks Joe! I'm going to try it tomorrow, and I bookmarked the thread with all the issues and fixes in one consolidated spot.

 

I really understand the above citation and also concur with Joe: Use relevant titles to your posts! It really helps.

 

Like anseio says, if you just use your space bar a couple of days, the squeak should disappear. It's just friction between the plastic & metal bars, the break-in creates some slack and/or powder that acts as lubricant.

 

i have tried the mic thing but didnt work. i think it is located around the top left. my guess is that it is the fan or the cpu.

 

I am looking for the Vaio theme (wallpaper). I know someone posted a link to download the files, but I cannot find it.

 

When I launch Vaio Care and run the One click Care I get a problem found with Disk Defragmenter. It gives me an option to fix it (doesn't give the details of the problem) but I don't think I should because I'm assuming it is seeing that the Disk Deframenter is turned off and wants to turn it back on. I have an SSD and that's why it's off. Are my assumptions correct?

 

I have successfully installed the US backlit keyboard into my UK F11 !

( It says Standard PS/2 Keyboard in Keyboard Properties. Under Driver , it says Driver version 6.1.7600.16385, under driver details it says No driver files are required or have been loaded for this device.)

But the F11 still thinks its the UK layout I think: Is there a way to make it understand it is a US layout ?

 

Install them from vaio care or use my link.

Vaio Wallpapers 1080p

 

Congratulations!

I don't know if there's a formal way to remap the keyboard, but you can use KeyTweak to do it. It's freeware and pretty handy.

 

A question: After a clean install the boring win 7 standard login page appears. Which of the softwares from Vaio Care changes it to the purple win 7 login page.

 

I dunno about getting the purple login page, per se, but I did just find this online:

How to Customize/Change Windows 7 Logon Background Wallpaper Screen

You have to go into the registry, but it looks like you can change the background image at login. I completely forgot that it is different. I don't mind the generic though. With my SSD, I see it for aobut 1.5 seconds. HA!

 

Yes, it is blasting fast but I will use a password on my vaio. And that background is really nice.

A new quest has begun: The background Hunt.

 

Oh, I know!!! You could waste a ton of time. You could make your backup image of your clean install, do a full factory restore, find the file, copy it, then restore your image. Crazy.

I don't remember that image. Is it a VAIO image, like the wallpapers?

 

Yes, it is like the wallpapers but nicer

I can remove the SSD and do a recovery to the original drive via E-sata.

 

Hi all,
I have to choices : vaio F127HG and F12GFX
F127HG is made in china and F12GFX is made in america.
But F127HG has a better config than F12GFX.

Which one should I buy?
thanks in advance

 

What are the spec differences? What's the price difference?
How are you planning on using the laptop?

The more details you provide us with, the better we can help.

 

Congrats! Any photos you could share?

I already replied to your question and more here including link to Win 7 support: Re: US vs. UK keyboards: differences

 

i just ordered mine a week ago, and since Sony lets you purchase the extended warranty up to a year after the computer was purchased...instead of pressuring you to buy one immediately... like most companies i decided i will probably get the non accident warranty in a few months or so.

 

Why not included links to the page you already found?

They are not "made in America", they just add a few final components. No way they can compete with $1/h (or less) salaries.

 

Go into Control Panel and run 'Region and Language'.
Select the 'Keyboards and Languages' tab.
Click 'Change Keyboards'.
Click 'Add' and select 'English (United States)' and tick the correct layout and click OK, (click on the little + icon to open up selections).
Now select the newly added US keyboard from the drop down box and see if that works.

 

FYI on Accidental Warranty-
I just switched over from HP. My old HP had Accidental, I never needed it. I DID use it recently tho so it was nice to have. However, for the $200+ I spent on it, not sure if it was worth it. Someone suggested to place your computer on your homeowner's insurance (or renter's insurance) and it's only a few dollars a month additional. Then, if something happens to it- they just replace it/send you a check or whatever (you'll have to talk to your insurance guy and see how that works exactly). Someone told me it works the same- something happens and you break the laptop- they'll reimburse you for the loss or whatever.

I'm calling mine on Monday to check into pricing for that- seems like $60-70 is MUCH better than $250+ that Sony is wanting for it! Now that my wife ALSO has a Vaio out in the living room with a toddler- I think it's important to have on both setups. However, I couldn't afford to spend $500+ on warranties. I'm going to try to include it in my insurance and see what it costs.

Just an idea for you...

 

This was an interesting read. I have never had a problem with any Hitachi drives (probably 20 or more) and the only WD drive that failed was the one I dropped a few months ago. I have not purchased any Seagate in over 5 years after having 3 failures in a short period of time.

I never mentioned it here because all hard drives can fail, and I simply thought I had gotten unlucky or someone had bumped the machine while the HDD was running.

Here is the article: Study: A Look At Hard Drive Reliability In Russia : Practical Relevance

 

Almost every disc I have are from Seagate. xD No one of them have failed me during a 5 years period (yet...)

I know that their 7000.11 had issues, but not earlier and later series. :wub:

 

I want to order online Sony F1290. Online you can buy in two colors: gray and black. In store they have only gray. Which color is better gray or black?

http://www.sonystyle.com/wcsstore/SonyStyleStorefrontAssetStore/img/moreinfo/summer_launch/twenty_ten/F1290XCTO_moreinfo.jpg

 

Good question.

 

Hard choice, a vaio or a girl.

Like the the darker one.

 

Hey,

Does anyone know if a 12.5mm HHD would fit into the Vaio F11 or not?

 

16 post and 4 rep points. You ask a question like this which elicits the pic from Joe (above). You have the magic touch. I'm going to be paying close attention to your posts.
e
Edit: I inspected your previous posts. An edifier indeed.

 

Thank you paingiver I will try that.

Joe sorry no I didn't take any pictures , I was a little frantic at the time .

Has anyone actually done a clean install of the f11 to the OEM HDD using the recovery partition (as opposed to recovery discs) keeping the recovery partition ?

I plan to do this but wanted a bit of hand holding ! Joe you said it's like in your monteverde post but I am not totally clear about which applies to the new f12 as that won't be relevant to my f11.

Also would this method still get rid if google chrome and it associated files that monitor users?

 

I'd love to hear some feedback on these apps via clean install for the F12. Anyone?

 

I've done clean installs for my F11 using the recovery partition and by using the OEM discs. I've already mentioned that I prefer the discs and to not build a recovery partition with Sony stuff in it.

If you're going to use the partition for your clean install, then Joe's instructions will work great. The F11 and F12 processes are very different from each other. You'll need to pay attention to the part that has you intererupt the process right after the ALPS driver is installed.

 

I added what I knew/learned about some of the programs. Google is a great place to get information on many of these things. Type in the program name and see what comes it. It's not that we know what the programs are, but that we hit google for a lot of the information.

p.s. - if you can find out what VAIO Messenger does, I'll give you rep points! It's the most painful to search for, so I gave up. You'll find out when you try.

 

I'm sorry to disagree but it just boils down to a few different screens & labels. See kcirtaP & ajsuk's posts linked in the article as well as F12_screen grabs that were found in support documents & added yesterday.

Still waiting for an_F12 user with an English OS to take some photos of the screens during the process...

In fact an_F12 user can initiate the recovery process either from ASSIST or the recovery discs, take some photos until the final screen that asks for your final confirmation: Yes, I'm sure.



Come on chickens!

 

Thanks for the updates. I'll read it later today and add it to what I know.

 

Vaio messenger is not included on my system or recovery discs. :S

 

You could have sad that earlier, I am doing a recover just now. xD

I will take the pictures.

 

I'm curous...if I order a custom VAIO now from sonystyle.com, and if I choose 6gb now, will the motherboard allow for an additional 2gb to reach the 8gb configuration if I decided to upgrade to that later?

 

It's useless, don't bother with that thing.

 

Deleted, sorry!

 

ok i have a serious problem, i ran the vaio system tune-up and then after i restarted my computer i noticed that the High-Performance power option was completely gone.

As in, even in control panel it wont show even as an option under additional power plans. Anyone know how to fix it? I undid the tune-up and it's still gone.

there's 2 balanced, same description one is just bold with (recommended) at the end -.- idk what to do

 

The motherboard has two slots. If you want to add 2 GB, you need to buy 4GB. So better to buy a 8 GB now.

 

Hi Joe

Hope you are well. I have F11 laptop and I have followed your process and I kill the process when I saw "Installing restart driver" and computer restarted

Now I am stuck a this phase. Every time I start my computer then I get a message saying "Windows could not complete the installation. To install windows on this computer, restart the installation"

I typed the explorer from task bar and i was able to open windows explorer and task manager.

I also tried killing the process "audit.exe" but everytime I restart I get same message.

i am now wondering what is the way out of this. Just one more information that I only have 40 processes.

Thanks a million for your help.

 

You used the registry cleaner?

I'm sorry, but it might have corrupted it.
I don't trust any registry cleaners at all, not even the VAIO Care ones, true, they may delete unused keys and clears up the registry, but does it make system performance any faster?
And it can't tell exactly which keys u need and might unintentionally delete something vital to ur OS

It's completely safe to defrag, as they don't modify/remove ur files.

Do a system restore or rollback your registry fix/cleans