Official Sony VAIO TT Series Owners Thread

Congrats on your purchase. Actually, I spoke to Conics and they told me that the TT93 can no longer be ordered. On the Sony Japan website you can no longer purchase it (the page is still up but you cannot order). So my only hope now is that they launch a new model in a month or two. Otherwise, I'll guess I'll go with the Z, which is an awesome machine in itself, just a little bigger and more battery hungry than I need.
As Rachel said, I'm also worried that they might discontinue the TT as it's right in between the X and the Z, but that's exactly what I'm looking for! X is just too slow and without an optical drive, although I admit it's a beauty.

zigomatic, any chance you can upload a decent pic of your machine so I can check out the Cosmos Blue color? I was actually thinking of getting that one too, if they ever release TT94.

By the way, did you have to pay any import fees?

 

Aaaargh! Can someone help? I did a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro 32bit on my TT11 but I can't get the WWAN drivers to work! It's very strange because previously I had no problems with this, I'm even using the same drivers as before.
The driver installation seems to go alright, but when I do a restart, Smart Network greys out the previously green square, and the Globetrotter program subesquently reports "No device". No exclamation marks in Device Manager, but curiously, all entries for the HSDPA modem have also disappeared.
I'm at my wit's end! Any ideas? Is it about a certain order of installing things perhaps?

 

What i would do/did is-

1) Go to to your computer in the startup and click on the C drive and click on properties and turn of indexing.
2) Type in system configuration in the start menu and select
selective startup. Then services at the top and uncheck the things you don't need and click apply. I unchecked the server, tablet interface and the workstation as i have no need for any of this. Then click on startup and click what you want to startup when you boot up. There is quite a lot there that i have unchecked, again then click apply. Each time you install something you might want to check your startup list again.
3)
Click on system in the control panel. In the left hand corner click system protection. Click configure and there at the bottom you can set how much space you want system restore to use. This is much better than Vista in this regards.
4) In the same tab as above click on advanced at the top. If the space on your SSD is very important to you click on the virtual memory. Here you can uncheck the auto manage page filing size at the top. Check custom size and set it to 512 in both boxes and then click set and then you will need to restart and then check that your settings were applied.
5)
If you don't like the big W7 icons right click on the W7 icon at the bottom of the start menu. In the taskbar tab click on small icons and then save it.

6)
You might want to check your wireless adapter settings. Open network and sharing, you'll find it near the volume icon at the bottom of your display. You might want to check roaming to meduim and may be power to meduim if they are not selected.

7)Go to the control panel and if you want best battery although this should happen auto but it might not. Click on the Intel GMA drivers. Click on the display settings tab on the left. Then click on power settings and select max power savings and then apply.

8) Also type is disk defrag...... and turn it off.

Of course you might not want to do all of these steps but this is what i do. Also, of course remove any bloatware that you have no need for.

Also, if you want to max battery life click on the vaio control centre and use silent mode may be when on battery with power saver. Also, turn auto brightness of in the control centre when on battery as it will override anything you set the brightness to.


You also might want to turn some of your notifications of also.

Emjoy using it.
I got myself the white leather Vaio case.

 

Is it my imagination or do you guys find that battery life is slightly less with the X18-m? I read an article on Tomshardware saying that SSDs can surprisingly reduce battery life (they use more power when idling than a mechanical drive, believe it or not).

 

Hi zigomatic,

I am all new to Conics but can you explain how the entire process works?

Also, are you able to ask them to turn on your machine and make sure it does work prior to shipping?

 

Anybody know how to get the auto dim feature working with windows 7? Everything works after I installed windows 7 except the auto dim.

 

Hi heavenly_wild: as I am using an X18 now for a couple of weeks, I can assure you that the battery lasts longer than before! No energy is needed to keep the "drive" (in fact it is no drive any more!) running during idle times...

 

Whats the difference between the newer TT series and older one? I cant seem to find a big difference.


http://www.sony.com.sg/product/Comp...p_en_SG_i&models=VGN-TT46GG&models=VGN-TT25GN

Are they made from the same material?I heard its carbon fiber?Not too sure.I apologise for not going thru all the 136 pages.
The break down is this,the current "base" model for the TT is 3k+ but I can find a guy who's selling the older model for 1.8k(singapore $).

is it worth it to buy the older model?

 

steve31, check the Vaio control centre to make sure the auto dim feature is enabled.
It is best if you update your BIOS to at least one that was released with W7. I also just used all the essential drivers on the Sony website and i never had a problem.

lmaestro, well the major differences are the ram, hard drive and processor. The newer model will also come with W7. It is possible that the older model may not support up to 8GB of ram. guyyyy seems to have had a problem getting 8GB to be recognised in a older model but nectop didn't have any problems.
I wanted a model with a 1.6 processor but the difference is a lot. May be look around for a cheaper newer model. If the differences may be don't bother you may be go for it.

I bought a battery of this seller, i thought it was a good deal but the battery is a refurb and has got the refurb sticker and does not display the whr of the battery. It was sold as new. I'm disappointed with that as i don't buy refurbished batteries. They will probably change the description later.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=260546060559&view=all&tid=548634400016

 

Still trying to get computerupgradeking to throw me a bone and give me some solid info on which RAM will fit in my TT. If he can get an exact match, I told him I'd buy from him, or pay for his advice, I know he has a business to run and it isnt UNICEF lol!

So until he has time to answer me, I am stuck in limbo on the RAM part of it.
My computer runs Win7Ultimate 64bit and I am running an intel X18-M SSD at 160GB, and it works stupendously.

I have the 1.6 C2D ULV as well in my TT, so the only upgrade I am looking for is the RAM.

I'll post more information as I get it.
I hope to be able to post very good info on my model and the capabilities and EXACT chip needed for the 8GB upgrade, and share this information so everyone has that option.

 

Guyyyy, congrats on getting the X18-m in there! Crazy how much of a difference it makes.

In other news I saw the new Z series today. It's a way more attractive machine than the old Z. I love my TT, but honestly, it be a tough decision between the two if I were buying a new computer today... given that the Z's battery life is now comparable to the TT's, the weight differnce seems to be only 0.3lb now, etc.

 

I took one pretty low res poor quality photo before with my mobile phone so i thought i would update them.

Sony white TT pictures, it looks pretty neat with the matching case.

 

YES! The drive score in Windows Score, is awesome! I'm still at 3.2 overall I think though! I love it. Computerupgradeking kind of shafted me. He backed out on giving me advice (which coincidentally I was going to pay for) So I looked around for another solution to my memory Woes. I emailed a memory seller on ebay (mem-store) and he said he felt 100% confident that his chips would fit and work and be recognized by my BIOS and Windows System Properties because my TT has the GS45 Express chipset. If I buy from him I have a 14 day return policy. So I am going to give this a try. I do kind of question it though, because if this was true, wouldn't my G-Skill set or Memory modules have worked?
We will see!

 

Very nice Rachel! I am not a big fan of white, but I think for a girl it is a nice machine. The little case looks kind of like a purse thing, so I think it fits a womands style well!! I hope I don't sound bad with my post, I am just saying, it looks very nice for a woman!
(Nice way to wrap that up???)

 

Lol, that's ok. White is quite a unisex colour though.
I removed some of Sony's stickers a few days ago and can kind of see the residue where they have been. Does anybody have any good tips to remove this?

 

Ok let me rephrase LOL!
Very Very Classy Rachel!
Oh and for the glue remover, be very careful!! I peeled a sticker off of my Sony TV once and tried all kinds of things to get it off, and it wore off the paint.
I know a TV is a little different but the paint is what I am concerned about.
There is a thing called Goo-Gone in the US I used once on a toy my niece had. It took off the residue with no fading or damage to the plastic, not sure how it would work on your precious TT though.

 

Thanks guyyy, i think i will just leave it then. May be it might improve with time.

 

Rachel --

A 50-50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water along with a soft rag (preferably terry cloth or other soft 100% cotton) will do.

A light, continuous rubbing on the area you're asking about will do no harm and should remove the residue.

I also use this to wipe down my entire computer including the LCD.

As for the LCD, finish that off with the dryer part of the rag to remove water spots.

Happy cleaning !!

 

...patiently awaiting Guyyy's attempt at getting 8GB RAM working in his computer and wishing him all the luck in the world!!

 

Thanks for sharing Rachel!

 

Speaking of Windows Experience scores, what score are you getting for storage? I'm only getting 5.9 or something, which makes me think that Windows isn't recognizing my drive as an SSD. I think I read you're supposed to get a 7.8 or something if the drive is properly recognized.

The other reason I think that Windows doesn't see it as an SSD is that when I run the Intel SSD Toolbox utility and tell it to clean up the drive, it chugs away for a while like it's having to clean it up. If my drive was recognized as an SSD, Windows would be doing the TRIM stuff automatically, so the Intel utility wouldn't be finding anything to clean up...! (or at least that's my theory...)

BTW make sure you also run the Intel firmware updater, there was a newer firmware version for mine even though my drive was probably manufactured very recently.

 

Yeah Mr. T.......My score was 7.8
I had no idea about the whole intel Tools, I need to give those a look see.
I assume I should go to intels website to check them out?

Is reformatting a possibility. I only ask because I know how much of a pain in the butt that can be!

I wish you luck with yours, I am still on my memory woes. I am going to order today and see what happens.

 

Thanks howaboutnow and Batboy.

MrT-Man my HD score was around 5.9 until i used the Vaio Y Sata drivers.
I'm not sure if you'll need to update manually or not but using these drivers took my drive to 7.1 or 7.4.
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VPCY118GX&upd_id=5312&os_id=47

 

Are those the Vaio Y SSD or HDD drivers?

 

coldmack, Sony only sell the Sony Y series with a mechanical HD so these seem to be intended for that. However, i don't think it makes any difference.
Sony list the TT4 drives as RAID and and non RAID.
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/preinstalled/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-TT4

 

Thanks, guyyyy & Rachel... maybe I'll give the Y drivers a try. There seems to be some discussion of this issue on the Intel forums as well, although I haven't had a chance to fully read up on it yet.

Oh well, regardless of whether or not I'm getting the max performance from the drive due to the driver issue, at least it still feels crazy fast...

 

Well, I ran the AS SSD benchmarks and they're not so great (at least compared to other people with an X18 or X25) -- see below. The sequential speeds are great but everything else is slower than it should be. Guess that confirms that my driver problems are slowing me down.

Update: I tried the Y drivers. I think they work because the Y has the same chipset as the TT, and I think they're sata drivers rather than drivers for the drive itself (which is why they can be used even though the Y has no SSD). Read speeds improved slightly (overall score of 121), write speeds remained unchanged. I now get 7.7 experience score, like Rachel.

I think I read that only the Microsft AHCI drivers support TRIM, so these drivers require that the Intel SSD toolbox be run regularly to clean up the drive. But I had to do that anyway since the Microsoft drivers didn't seem to realize I have an SSD....

If anyone else feels like giving it a try, you can get the benchmark program here: http://www.alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/downloads.php?cat_id=4

(the site is german but the program installs in english)

 

I know some people were looking to buy the HDMI part before. It doesn't come with the connection FPC though but may be you can use the same one for the modem, i don't know. They ship worldwide as well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Vaio-VGN-T...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5187a794ea

 

I recently added my G-Skill 8GB memory to my Alienware M11X and in this machine also, I get a read of just 2GB from 2 4GB sticks. So if it happens in there and MY TT, I think I see a hardware problem with the memory sticks themselves. I will try to contact NEWEGG for a refund or RMA or exchange. This really sucks. I am still waiting on my memory from Ebay.
Thanks for following!
By the way, I just picked up an HTC Shift X9500 from a friend for $150, Waiting to mod that out with a 128GB SSD and try my darndest to get a 2GB stick of memory in there.

 

So i need to contemplate opening my TT. I bought myself a new bluray drive for a good deal. It was £180 with free shipping.

I think some TT models have different dvd drives. I have a Mata UJ862AS but i do believe that some peoples came with a NEC drive. I'm hoping that the fact that i have a Mata drive will make it an easy swap for me.
If not a replacement bezel is about £60 with shipping.

I already paid £80 not long ago to have my laptop upgraded.

I just hope i can get the bezel of ok. Has anyone ever done this before and have any tips for me?

I am nervous about opening the TT but it doesn't look that hard. Also, i only have to go to as far as the drive.

 

Rachel,
You'll have to take off the keyboard and go as far as any of us have to replace that drive. Tonight (it is night and I work at night in Afghanistan)
I'll look at my drive to see what it is. Obviously mine is a US version, but if will be of any help I'll get you that information.
I know it seems like I am beating a dead horse, but please be very careful when removing the Keyboard because of that ribbon cable.
Good luck!
I'll let you know what is in my TT later on tonight.
By the way, there is a little screw that holds it in. You have to get underneath the keyboard (on mine) to release it from the protective metal sheath/sleeve it slides into and is attached with that screw to.

 

Thanks guyyy, i added a photo of the part that i think releases the bezel.
I'm just not totally sure what action to take as that part is very delicate and the wrong move could result in it breaking easily.

Edited to add:
I wonder if this guide might be worth paying for.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-VAIO-VGN...iewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item2ea9da905a

It could be as good as the ones that have been uploaded to the Comnast website for earlier models.

 

By the term BEZEL are you referring to the outside plastic piece that attaches to the tray of the DVD player that has the drive activity light and tray eject button?
If that is what you are referring to... then with the tray open you gently lift up the plastic clip you showed inthe above picture, remove a tiny screw at the other end of the tray and the bezel slides off the tray.

Recently replaced several CDRW/DVDs in a variety of SONY Vaio laptops and notebooks.

 

Thank you CharlesS, that is what i mean. I appreciate your help.

 

Hmmm, not sure about the bezel release, in fact I am not sure if this information is of any value to you, but the drive I have listed in Device manager is Mata BD-MLT UJ232AS.Without disassembing my TT, I couldn't pull the drive out, because of that screw under the keyboard. Yours may be different though.
Good luck on the installation.

 

Bad news...........Newegg doesn't seem to want to help me.
I don't want another G-Skill set of RAM, it is crap and all the negative stuff I have heard just confirms my story as well.
I wrote something nasty to newegg, I don't expect them to help, but I was very surprised at there response, and I have been shopping there for years.
Just have to see what they say, as well as G Skill

 

I just upgraded to Windows 7 x64 on my TT190 after the Sony website said that I was all set only to find that drivers were not available to get the SD card running. Sony Support was no help. I was able to find the SD card driver for the TT250 worked just fine.

 

After a new install of Windows 7, I want to reset the drive letters back to the original setup. I forgot to write them down. Does anyone know what the letter assignment for the TT190 was when shipped from Sony. I do remember that the SD card was drive D. But what was the Bluray and Memory Stick drives?

 

May be try something like Hynix, it is the exact ram that my notebook came with anyway and that does have official 8GB support. It could be worth a go.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8GB-KIT-HYNIX...iewItemQQptZApple_Zubehör?hash=item518fdbc9da

It is such a shame that these drives cannot be removed easily. I'm going to email that seller, the one i linked to the manual and ask them if it is the one you can get free on this forum lol.

Edited to add:
LOL, that guide the seller is selling for the TT is the same one that you can find pinned in the teardown thread that is pinned in the main Sony forum. The only difference is that it has been translated into English and made into a pdf, got to love google translate. Lucky i didn't buy it, may be a good money making incentive though.

@ guyyy, if you run a search for hynix you should find some cheaper hynix ram. I would say that is the best route to go. Good luck on getting a refund.

Well i've dissembled my TT now. I have to say it was very easy. I removed the bezel also. I have no regrets paying the £80 as i did as i would not have liked to have fitted the HDMI port and put the antenna in the bezel. I'm just waiting to get the drive now. Funny how sellers know how to respond when they have something to sell but when you've paid some don't bother updating you on shipping when you ask.

 

No kidding! It's like I got my money, I'll send it or I've sent it, now it is for you to worry. Whenever I sell on Fleabay, I make sure I keep my customers happy, time and time again, they speak volumes of my service to them, I often include free goodies. Maybe not much, let's say batteries for a remote control, when I stated they were not included, things of that nature. I just don't get some sellers.

WELL.................Onto the BIG NEWS!

I got my memory from Mem-Store (Ebay ID) and let me tell you I am reall surprised!!
THEY WORKED!!
First try no problems just SIMPLY WORKED!

What I can say, is as stupid as this sounds, I really have no use for 8GB. I did it for 2 reasons. I like tinkering with my electronics, and because I wanted to post my results here. I am more than happy and I HIGHLY reccomend Mem-Store. They are right now custom making some RAM to fit in my HTC SHIFT X9500 UMPC so I can have 2GB for the Vista it is running.

By the way that is my next project. 2GB RAM for that little guy as well as a 128GB SSD. The thing is those UMPC's only have room for a 1.8" drive that is no more than 5mm in hieght. I am getting ready, sounds wierd, but I am kinda gitty for that project. I guess it is just the thought of all that power and storage on something a little bigger than a cell phone (IPhone) and a little smaller than a netbook!!!

I will be posting pictures in a little while of the screenshots with 1 RAM module installed and then with the second module installed!

Thanks everyone and I hope this info helps all!!!!

 

Congratulations guyyy, what is the brand of memory you bought?
Do you have any other mods in mind?
I've thought about going RAID but i prefer the faster bootup and potential power consumption issues is a concern.
I might in the future upgrade to 6GB of ram also.

 

Here are some pictures. The first 2 are with the 4GB module installed only in one slot. The second 2 are with both slots filled with a 4GB module in each.
The last shot is of my full TT.










I am thinking of making a tear down guide in English myself. I wonder if anyone would be interested, and maybe posting it here. Not for money, just to help anyone that needs it. Let me know if it is a good idea or not.
Thanks!

 

Not too sure the brand of the RAM, because I think Mem-Store (Ebay ID) Has a manufacturing plant that makes these. I am to assume that any RAM that is DDR3 204 PIN Laptop PC3 8500(1066MHz) would work in the Vaio, but if you get a bunk G Skill set of modules, like me, you may be out of luck for a little while.

I have no other plans for the TT, right now. My next project is my HTC SHIFT X9500. We will se how that goes in the coming month, I'll still game on my M11X though. If I can find a way to route wires and other components, I may try to see if there is a way to fit another X18-M 160GB SSD. Iy may take a lot of engineering though LOL. I may not be qualified there, good thing I own the thing outright, not making payments!

Here are some pics of the RAM:

 

So i still haven't got my drive or know if it has shipped.

Anyway, i had a look at the FPC that the HDMI port uses.
I can see these letters and numbers FPC-141 and then the rest is covered up. However, all the other FPC parts seem to be listed with three numbers so it could be a repeat of the part number. Also, only one part FPC-141 is listed in the sparepartscentre so it seems that it has to be it.

You can just use the modem cover or if you want to go all out you can buy the HDMI cover from Sony. A link to that part was given by howaboutnow earlier in this thread.

So you need
Laptop Miscellaneous: COMPL_CNX-418(HDMI) (S)
Alternate Part Numbers:
A-1599-655-A
Laptop Miscellaneous: PWB, FPC-141 FLEXIBLE PRINT
Alternate Part Numbers:
1-877-112-11

 

Guyyy -- great news on the 8GB !!!!

Now, don't you notice boot times are greater due to the fact that it has to count 4GB more of RAM?? Is it noticeable much??

Wish we could put more video memory in...

 

First couple of Restarts were a little longer, they haven't gotten faster, but they have seemed to come back to where they were, I can't give you a perfect count, because I didn't take those stats in before the upgrade. I would just assume it does because now it seems like before. The first couple of times were dragging though. It was a fun experiment though!

I need to make sure Mem-Store is custom making my 2GB RAM for my HTC though. We will just have to see.

 

So i got my drive today and fitted it, it is fine. The bezel fitted perfectly from my other Mata drive and the drivers auto installed and the eject button and everything else is working. This drive feels a tiny bit heavier than my other drive, that drive was though the lightest 9.5mm drive in the world.

I forgot to fix one of the brackets on the drive but i'm not sure if i really need it. I might open my laptop and put it back.

@ guyyy, i doubt that they are making special memory. I had a look at one of their auction pages and i didn't get that impression. It seems like they can just send out random memory from any brand.

Edited to add:
I opened it again but this time the drive does not seem to open fully. Those with bluray drives is this like it for you or may be i need to open it again lol? I put the top cover back on and i never tried it before but may be with this drive it needs to be removed?
............

I just removed the top cover of the BD drive. As i removed one screw i found it so hard to put it back again and it was preventing the tray from opening fully. Because i opened it three times i stripped a screw as well but that is all that went wrong because everything else is A OK. I will buy a screw of ebay or something.

 

Rachel, the drive I got never had a problem opening or closing, but that may be due to the fact that it came on the laptop.
As far as the memory, I emailed them about the memory for my HTC, and they said they were indeed manufacturing some. That is what I got from their customer service person.

 

@ Rachel

Which Blu-ray player software are you installing on your TT ?

 

Rachel -- interesting about those two clips you speak of near the display. I never could find anything like that and i had to sort of fudge and pry around to loose the keyboard from the main unit.

Wish i could see where they are because i see myself opening up this booger again soon.

I'm so afraid of tearing that damn ribbon that i might should buy one now and have it just in case --