Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

I recently installed XP on my new FW 390J, and I have managed to get all the drivers to work, except for a few Fn keys. Mute, standby function keys work properly. But, the LCD brightness ones don't work at all.
I will really appreciate any help on this, as the screen is really too bright at night to work. So close, yet so far.....

Also, is there any other way I can change the brightness??? My VAIO's BIOS does not have any options to change the brightness.....

Any help will be highly appreciated....

 

HI,
Im trying to install windows XP pro on my Vaio FW170J. But i get stuck when it asks me this currrently running windows vista x64
setup has regocnized the following mass storage drivers in your computer: none
and i have this othe option:
to specify additional scsi adapters, cd rom drivers, or special disk controllers for use within windows, including those for which you have a device support disk from a mass storage device manufactor press S
and when i press it gives me alot of options have you guys had this problem?? if so how do i get through this? thanks for the help

 

Choose Intel ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller

 

Hi, im thinking about buying a Sony FW35V from the sony style UK site and customizeing it.

I want:
P8600 2.4ghz
320gb HDD 5400rpm
4gb ddr 800mhz ram
DVD rewriter (no need for blu rays as iv got ps3)
16.4" 1600x900 (maybe 1920x1080 but whats the point if i dont want to watch blurays, it only makes the writeing smaller)
ATI 3650 512mb (any need if i dont play games or do any GPU intensive things?)
64bit home vista

All for £818 delivered.

also is it usual for customized laptops to take 3 to 4 weeks to deliver? thats what sony is saying

 

thanks for the help
That option is not available. What can i do?

 

you'll have to use nlite to integrate the driver into the xp installation disc.

 

If you have a USB Floppy Drive, download and unzip the driver from http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...&OSFullName=Windows* XP Professional&lang=eng .

When you reboot, go to the BIOS by pressing F2. Make sure that External boot drive is enabled and Internal Optical Drive is the first one in the boot sequence and the internal hard drive is the second. Connect the floppy drive and reboot. When prompted by Windows Setup, press F6. Within a minute or two, you will be asked to load the driver by pressing the S button. That should take care of it. I know it will work since I just have installed Windows XP with my FW.

If you don't have a floppy drive, you can slipstream the driver to your WinXP CD using nlite. But I have never used it since I don't like to slipstream an OS just for a specific system.

Note: If you don't see the driver listed, press the up or down key multiple times. I had the same problem until I realized that the driver was hidden from the view and I had to press the up key all the way up until it showed up.

Good luck!

 

th

thanks for the help but i did what you told me made sure my BIOS was configureed correctly and my floppy is working perfectly. When i press S to specify the scsi adapter it finds them and reads them but when i selected the type it says that this scsi adapter was not found in your computer
any help? by the way i selected all of them and none of them worked and of course im trying to install xp pro x64 edition
what could be wrong?
thanks

 

Sorry, I gave you the wrong link. The one I gave you is for WinXP 32 bit. Here's the correct link for XP 64bit. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...Windows* XP Professional x64 Edition&lang=eng

 

Thanks. But i still get the same error. Im doing everything right. Any Ideas?

 

When you boot with Vista, go to Device Manager and look under IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller. Take a note of what it says regarding Intel Controller. Use the same name to load the driver from the floppy.

EDIT: I just tried it with WinXP Pro 64bit 180 days trial version and it worked with my FW190 CTO. I didn't go all the way through but I got to the point where it saw all partitions in my hard drive and asked me where did I want to install it to.

Note: I found somewhere in the web that said you may need to create a new directory called $OEM$ in the floppy disk and copy the whole content of the floppy to the new directory. It may fixes your problem but in my case, I don't need to do this.

 

it says the Intel ICH9M driver you stated but every time i select the driver it still dosent find my hardrive. Any ideas what could be going wrong?

 

I just updated my message. Tried the new directory trick. If it doesn't work I really don't know what's going on since I just tried it with my own copy of WinXP Pro 64 bit and it worked. If all else fail, you may want to use nlite but I have no experience of using it.

BTW: you should know that Sony doesn't offer any driver for XP 64bit.

 

Yeah i know but i really like sony. And i was able to install XP Pro on a FE Series but man on the fw its though but i will try the directory part thanks for the help

 

http://i.gizmodo.com/5149071/latest-im-a-pc-ad-entices-new-windows-users-with-cuteness#c

FW featured in the I am a PC ads, hehe.

 

Adorable and the FW is famous!

 

hi guys....im a newbie to the thread and a proud owner of a fw31e....
not as powerful as some of your fw series notebooks, but i thought was good value here in england for a solid piece of design...

i know they will be some people sighing with annoyance as i ask thin...but....what bloatware can i get safely rid off, and what services can i disable to make my machine a bit more snappy?..

i know some of you are thinking 'why doesn't he use the search function on the forum'..but honestly...i was looking for something more specific to the fw series...

any help is appreciated.....

oh and one more question....what messenger bag would u suggest to lug my machine around in?

thanks guys...

 

Same question here, but more about a sleeve: which one is best suited for a FW21M?

 

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...-1&productId=8198552921665442579&tab=Features

 

Concur with Hendra - Have the FW 285 and the sleeve he linked - works great and provides additional coverage when place in another bag (i.e. backpack). the small pouch is just right for the power brick and even has enough room to hold the bluetooth mouse.

 

Will that sleeve work if you have extended battery with your FW and thanks.

Gary

 

I am not so sure but I don't think it would. Anyway, that sleeve is not intended as a carrying case as it doesn't have a handle. It is intended to be put inside your luggage or backpack to avoid making scratches.

 

Probably would, the Sony sleeve is pretty loose.

Cheers,

 

The case will stretch a bit, so my guess would be yes. Mine has the regular battery, but there is room in the case. This is a soft flexible protective case, I'd would not want to use it for the only protection while transporting your FW around, you'll need something else.

 

Thanks a .lot. I already have a case but like the way this one looks with separate pack for AC adapter. Think I may get it and see how it will work. Thanks again.

Gary

 

Any other non-Sony sleeves that work well? I want it to be tight enough, so I can put my FW in a backpack without having to worry. Or I might get a 17" notebook backpack but I'm still not so comfortable with just putting such a nice laptop unprotected inside a bag.

 

I have a sleeve for 15.4inch laptops but my FW fits very well. I will let you know what make/model it is as soon as I get home.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_Versatile_Disc

It looks like blu-ray is going to be outdated soon. Soon as in 5 years max. I guess you shouldn't buy too many Blu-ray movies for your collection.

 

Intel just canceled Calpella it seems and is moving straight to the 32nm manufacturing process.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/159323/intel_updates_laptop_desktop_chip_plans.html

Specifically Clarksfield and Auburndale are canceled (I think).

That means the 45nm processors that we have in our FWs right now are the LAST and possibly ONLY 45nm laptop processors that will ever be made.

I feel special. :-D

EDIT:
Oh I forgot that ATOM is a 45nm processor. Never mind. I guess there will be 45nm processors for a long, long time.

 

Here we go again....the end of Blu-ray is just around the corner.

If you read a few lines down, the wiki pointed out that:

"holographic drives are projected to initially cost around US$15,000, and a single disc around US$120–180, although prices are expected to fall steadily.[4] The market for this format is not initially the common consumer, but enterprises with very large storage needs."

I think I will wait for the cost to come down a little, LOL.

 

I don´t think so, other point there is the cinema studios, if you not have a movie in that format, what can do with this disc, and support of the computer manufaturers, that´s why blu ray wins the war against HD DVD. The article said they expect to have one in 2006, it´s 2009 and it´s still not available

 

I have the Sony Vaio sleeve and the Fw with extended battery and it fits very nicely into the sleeve. I also purchased the "made for Dell" 17" Belkin black/grey messenger bag and the FW with the Sony sleeve fits perfectly in this bag. I like this bag very much. It's nicely padded. First I bought the universal Sony bag and returned it because it lacked padding.

 

Hey Raps,

Don't know if you're still in the forums, but when you took your FW apart, was there any way to disable the green and orange led lights around the power button? Even just a way to wrap some black e-tape around them to kill the light?

 

Can someone tell me if this notebook supports SATA 2 drive fully (3Gbit/s). I would like to put a SSD when I get one.

Thanks.

 

An SSD? How expensive are they?

 

Not cheap if the cost of this FW is any indication!

Cheers,

 

Quick question to those who know:

Is there any significant difference between the following three processors for a FW390?

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.00GHz)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40GHz)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53GHz)

The laptop's going to be running Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit. It's a $100 upgrade from the T6400 to the P8600. And between the T6400 and the P8700 there's a $150 upgrade. Is it worth it?

 

I looked this up about a month ago and the answer was it does not. You can still get the SSD but your reads will top out at 150 Mbit/s. Sorry I don't have the link with proof anymore.

 

I have noticed a very strange thing lately: when I put my notebook in either sleep or hibernate, and I plug it in overnight to let the battery charge, when I wake up the laptop is powered on! Any idea why pluggint the laptop into the power socket makes it come out of sleep/hibernate without me doing ANYTHING?

 

Microsoft security patching

 

The $100 upgrade from the T6400 to the P8600 is totally justifiable and recommendable, 50 more for the 8700 not so much.

 

I agree on this, there's a big difference between the T6400 and P8600.

 

hey guys....
have any of you tried using a laptop cooling mat with your laptops? (the active fan ones that plug into the usb port)
if so...which ones do u think will work best...

looking under my laptop there's two sets of ventilation slots....one slap bang in the centre....and the other on the left hand side..

 

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll go with the P8600 then.

Just for my knowledge, what's the reasoning? I'm pretty much ignorant regarding processors..

 

Firstly, you benefit from the P8600 as it gives you more out of your battery. It runs on 25w as compared to the T6400's 35w.

Secondly, the P8600 belongs to the newest generation of laptop processors released by Intel, apart from having superior clock speed, 2.4Ghz as compared to 2.0Ghz, it, more significantly, has a larger front side bus, 1066Mhz as compared to 800Mhz.

Lastly, it's got a larger L2 cache, 3MB as compared to 2MB.

The only difference between P8600 and P8700 is the 0.13 Ghz in clock speed, nothing to write home about. And definitely nothing to pay an additional $50 for.

In the end, though, what matters is what you're going to use the laptop for. The T6400 might suffice for your needs, but if you want more power and you have the money to spend, the P8600 is well worth the investment.

 

Hey guys i have a FW180D and my right click button under the touch pad stopped working can anyone help me fix this? i know it isnt broken because it still works sometimes and its just probably driver issues

 

Posted this in the general sony forum before seeing this so putting here also:

Hi - I purchased a Sony Vaio FW21E ten days ago and have had nothing but trouble since bringing it home. Firstly - wireless connectivity: It would not connect to my university server so I took it to a friends house - would not connect to her router. Tried a different router - still no connection. I can connect to the internet via ethernet - but this is supposed to be a wireless device.

When trying to access some websites and my university e-mail I get the error: Microsoft visual c++ runtime library C rogramfiles\internetexplorer\iexplore.exe
and ie crashes.

Last but not least - and this one takes the biscuit. I bought a sony rechargeable mouse to ensure that it was compatible (model number VGP BMS77). Not the cheapest option but I thought it would be best. The Mouse will not pair with the laptop!!!!!! I get the error message 80070057.

As said before - this is a brand new laptop and I haven't got a clue how to fix any of these problems.

Any help would be very gratefully received

Ann

 

Hi, i have a sony fw 250J. Im just starting to use it. But i dont know, i think its broken, cause suddenly the screen goes black for an instant, and then good again.. it happens often when I turn on the laptop. Also, when is opening vista, delays too much to show me the desktop. only I can see is a black screen.. what do you think about?

 

Hi people! I have just ordered a FW from newegg that will take a week to ship (because I live in another country and shipments come every week =P), it's a full loaded FW for my needs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834117857

Anyways, I've got a simple question to ask. Since I own an FZ with Hi-Color screen, and it is extremely beautiful, shini, vibrant and so on, and colors and light doesn't fade... can anyone with a FW sporting a FullHD screen tell me if it is as good as an FZ one? Because on this site's review of the FW, the screen seems to have a big tunnel effect and blacks are not black! are gray (on my FZ, blacks are amazingly black). I guess maybe the reviewer didn't properly set the settings for gamma, brightness and so on but... can anyone please tell me if FW Xbrite-FullHD is an excellent screen?? I will greatly appreciate it!

Thanks in advance and oh! please forgive any misspellings!

 

You could've tried the search option as the topic appeared few times godd few pages ago-the Hi-color screen, or wxga++ is absolutely outstanding in all terms. You should not be dissapointed, even compared to your previous laptop, tho the FZ seems to get a bit better reviews, but I guess it's down to the size of the screen?