Official Sony Vaio CW Core 2 Duo Series Owner's Thread

There is a BIOS update date improves fan performance
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VPCCW18FX&LOC=3

 

I think if you ordered recently, the BIOS will be newer than the one on the site. Not sure why they didn't update that yet online...

 

Mine came with the one on the site, but it's from Newegg.

My fan is blowing air out, but I don't hear it.

 

Thank you. Updating the graphics driver fixed the issue!

I do not want to tweak the display further, but i am just curious if everybody used those figures for contrast, brightness and so on, or which settings seem to look best for them

 

Another solution is to put the DVD's ISO image in your hard drive so you're protected against DVD scratch

 

Don't know why so many of you suffer from BSODs. I haven't had a single one since I bought the CW.

Although I did update the drivers quickly with the ones on Vaio Update... So that could be an explanation. Although none of them were graphics drivers...

I updated mine manually from laptopvideo2go just a few days ago.

 

Hi Alberto,
I've installed Karmic x64 as well and it's working like a charm. Well, apart from the nvidia drivers problem, I hope they will give quickly an update to use them without the workaround

F'ail'o

 

Hmm, that's weird. I guess if you order from sonystyle you get the newer version. Mine is R0210Y5.

 

FedEx just dropped off my CW... im very excited...

wondering if I should make the recovery disks before I update the laptop or after the updates?

 

BTW what's up with the partition resize being limited? I did a defrag and it still only let me resize to a little over 1/2

 

Probably before in case an update messes up. Make sure you check the box to verify the disc

 

True. Probably best to use Alcohol 52% or something to rip each disc as soon as the program burns it.

Edit: Oh yeah Imgburn is a good program which I think can verify the ripped ISO file against the disc

 

Its your BIOS Version ? Mine is R0190Y5, i think this version improve fan speed, but not available online .

 

The release date for the R0190Y5 is 10/27/2009 and it is on the sony site (US). But for some reason mine (and a few other people) came with the R0210Y5 version, which is released on 10/28/2009. Not sure why though.

 

im having some trouble updating my laptop/finding where to update... any help would be appreciated. thank you.

 

Enter your model number here and you will be able to download drivers:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?DIRECTOR=DRIVER

 

hey thank you, I have tried to enter my model number but there is no option for it. model number is VPCCW190X, maybe I have the wrong model number?

 

Hey guys. I just finished installing all the driver updates from Sony's website... Earlier in the thread people were talking about using multi-touch and stuff... how can I enable this??

 

Hi guys, any recommendations about this laptop? I am looking for a white one with the 230M GT for my gf, which she loves...

 

I don't know. It should be written somewhere by close to the lower right of the screen

 

Finally got an email from Sony saying our laptop is in production. Received the email about 4:00pm EST.
Crossing fingers for everyone else out there!

 

i'm having a bit of a problem with the power adaptor.

When i move the power jack ever slot slightly when it is plugged into the computer, the power stops and begins to use the battery instead

is it the charger that has a faulty jack, or is it the laptops power port that has came loose?

ugh really dont want to send it back for repairs... only had my CW for 2 and a bit weeks and it already needs a repair? bloody great...

what should i do? email/phone sony, or take it to the sony centre in town?

 

Guys, anyone looking to buy some games for their new CW... Check out Steam. Awesome sale. I just got GTA 4, Audiosurf both for $10. And there are lot more games for awesome prices.. like STALKER is for $2. I hate you Steam for taking my money like this.

 

Found something out about the fan.

It is set to come on when the CPU reaches 40C and goes back off at 30C , but unfortunately for me it will not go back to 30C, it seems to always hover around 35C at idle so the fan stays on all the time once its on.


I wonder if Sony will change the fan/thermal profile in the next BIOS update?

 

i actually downgraded to the Sony Bios update on their website...and it let me downgrade...and also i dont really see a difference...the Fan is still always on...no matter what...!

 

What driver do you need from Sony's site to control the brightness using the FN key?

 

yeah thats a faulty...mine doesn't do that

 

That's weird. Are you sure it's not 32C when it shuts off?

 

5857 score in 3DMark06 1280x720

 

Could be, but to test I took the laptop outside where its -3C at the moment and the temps dropped so fast it was hard to determine whether it was 32 or 30C

 

wow, I wouldn't do that because of condensation.

Where did you find those temp thresholds ? in the BIOS ?

 

I was monitoring the temps after starting the laptop up and when the CPU reached 40C the fan turned on. So im guessing this is the threshold. and also 30-32C for it to go off.

As for condensation it wasnt outside long enough to affect it

 

Download VAIO_Event_Service_5.0_5.0.0.07010 to use the fn key

 

My fan is pretty much on all the time. Don't know how you guys get it down to 30°C? When I turn my CW on at the morning it's pretty much 45°C each time.

Using Speccy and HWMonitor to check the temperatures...

 

not according to sony, it's damage and i'll likely have to pay £148.14 to get it repaired!

apparently it's my fault because the charger has been "yanked" out of the power port, and thats made it loose. when i said it was lose i meant it wobbled with the charger plugged in, not that it was loose that the charger would fall out. And there saying it's likely ill have to pay.... IVE NEVER YANKED IT OUT

the powerport is tight, so obviously you have to use some force to pull the charger out...

someone please give me some advice. i don't want to pay £150 to get it repaired.

 

Sorry not 32C. I meant 37C. Mine will automatically shut off when it reaches 37C and stay shut until I stress heavy load on the laptop. 30C-32C seems really low for the fan to turn off.

 

try to call again and talk to several different people and explain your situation, tell them this time that its wobbling and it switches from charger to battery with the slightest movement. if they wont listen to to get your problem upscaled to someone higher in the dept. tell them that i never yank out the charger, someone must listen to you,
You have to understand since this isnt your fault, you have to fight to prove your right by any means.
tell them that its under 30 days warranty, try to make up something about not expecting this from Sony and what not, you have to fight your case until they understand your right.
EDIT: its a shot going into the Sony store because its better to talk to someone and make them understand your situation than it is on the phone.

 

I thought the same as you. but its true in my case. oh well ill wait for the next bios release and hope that the thresholds change

 

Yeah, I hope they do. The heat from the GPU also seems to heat up the laptop faster even when it is idle. I guess nothing can be done about that

 

thanks rehangohar77 although i never called them i emailed them to begin with, but i think i should of just called, they never understand through email.

i think going into the sony centre is my best bet, i can never understand the people in call centres and they always say they cant here me. at least if i took it into the sony centre, they would be able to try the adaptor off the CW on display just to make sure it isnt the adaptor, and then if it isnt they can do something. the people in carlisles sony centre are nice so hopefully...

cant believe its broke already... only owned it 2 weeks

 

Hi,
Some help would be nice if anyone can shine some light. The problem is I'm trying to burn the 2-3 recovery disks for windows with Sony Care, but everytime I click on the recovery section, Vaio Care gets messed up and has to debug and has to end because it's not working right?
How am I suppose to burn these DVD's? I'm getting worried, but what I don't get is why my Sony Vaio Care doesn't work when I haven't even barely touched it. Thanks for your time and help.

Or if you can tell me what your dvd / or blu-ray drive is on as well would help alot,. Like is it on C,D,E, or what? Thanks

 

Finally got mine this morning. Merry christmas to me, I also got a free burner upgrade. Here is a Win7 question. When I was transferring my music, it asked where to put it. I have public files and "jlm43" files. I don't need to places to look for everything. XP seemed easier. you either share them or you don't. How can I get rid of one? Do I just delete the "jlm43" user? This was a PITA for me the few times i used Vista. I never knew where to look for files.

 

yeah its better to show someone and convince someone in person than over the phone dont worry about it, these things happen sometimes, rarely but they happen, dont worry about it since its not your fault sony should take full responsibility for it, and especially more since its within the 1st 30days.
Thats why places like NBR Forums exist so people can help others with their problems, things happen that arent always our fault and sometimes they can be fixed by just doing a few things or advice given from other members, so dont fret oh and check their hours today since its the 24th and tomorrow is christmas. or you might have to wait till boxing day or day after im guessing

 

Hey all,

I am no computer whiz, and I am having some trouble with a wireless connection. I have a signal from the router, but my Vaio can't connect. I am using my old Dell Inspiron right now and it is able to connect fine. It is a low signal, but why won't my brand new laptop connect? I ran a troubleshoot and it said to restart the router....but why would one laptop connect and not another? Thanks in advance! I love this forum

 

Thanks alot. I'm glad to have found notebookreview a few years ago it's like one massive community of help and knowledge

it just makes me sick that companies like sony are willing to charge even if they dont find a problem. it's all about making money everyway possible.

and yeah ill probably just wait till the 27th or something. The charger still works, it just hasnt to be moved

thanks again left you a rep

 

BTW if anyone is having stability problems, try running Memtest.

If you have a blank thumbdrive you can put Ultimate Boot CD on it and set the laptop to boot from external drives. It will boot instead of Windows. Pick mainboard tools and then pick Memtest86+
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

You can also use a CD but a thumbdrive is easier

 

My Blu-ray drive is on F:\, with the memory stick being on E:\ for some reason... and when making recovery disks, the recovery partition uses the letter H:\

some programs i open crash about 5 seconds after i opened them, which is really annoying... but for one of sony's own programs to crash is a bit of a mystery. most notably is the sims3 launcher, which does it every time..., and if i resume from standby msn also always crashes

well i know these aint the best of suggestions, but you could rather do a ful system recovery from the recovery partition, and see if itll work after that, or order a copy of recovery disks off sony.

also, have you tried the diagnostics tools in the sony vaio recovery center and test the memory and CPU, or use chkdsk to check the recovery partition isnt corrupt?, or maybe the best option would be to contact sony and say you cant get it to work and see what they say?

sorry this isnt the best of help but it's all i can think of to do you never know some may work

 

"This is to advise you that production on your customized VAIO computer has begun."

Ordered - 11/27 11am
Original Estimated Ship Date - 12/15
Current Estimated Ship Date - 12/29

 

Actually I fixed it by removing my Daemon Lite program and tried again doing the Sony Vaio Care recovery and worked like a charm. Took like an hour to burn 3 disks but the 3rd disk was like barely used but its okay. Made time seem faster.

But yeah if more people could shine some light on what drive their optical disk is on (blu-ray or dvd) that would be awesome. Just a letter of the drive would be great. Since I think it's like different on some? Mine's G I think.

Thanks for the info on the optical drive before hand and thanks Chucky.

 

You guys are right, the speakers are pretty lame. Not a big deal, laptop speakers are never expected to be great but these aren't very high on the list.