Official VAIO SR Series Owners Thread

Is fan noise a problem for anyone? Even with the passive cooling option in power options and Silent Mode in Vaio Control Center, the fan is still there whirring.

Brightness control (FN+F5/F6) also seems to not like to work. On a restart the control will work, but after a while (not sure if it's when I unplugged the computer) it'll be stuck and you can only control brightness through the Windows menus. Hopefully they get this sorted in their Win7 drivers and utilities.

ATI CCC + drivers (Win7 9.7) also won't install because the Mobility 4570 isn't part of the support (just go look in the inf files). It'll just install ATI Install Manager and Visual C++. Sony's provided drivers will work (Win7 as well) but they're out of date. Will just have to figure out what they changed in the inf since it's "vendor specific".

 

i just purchased an SR 490 CTO with the employee discount. does anyone know if i will be eligible to get in on the productivity/mobility bundle? grenwar, have you had any luck with this?

 

Perhaps I have different expectations when it comes to fan noise, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet this laptop is. I also haven't had any problems with the brightness control in Vista after doing a clean install.

 

Win7, not Vista. Think brightness control gets "stuck" after the screen dims or when the display turns off since it still works after unplugging the power.

Notebookcheck had the same experience with noise, so I guess that's just the characteristic of the notebook. Any fan noise is bothersome

 

I am using Win7 and it have no problems w/ brightness control. If you are doing a clean Win7 install, make sure you install the drivers at the right order. Start out w/ Intel chipset, then Sony Parser, Sony Shared Library, then Sony Utilities

 

Thanks. I'm planning to upgrade to Windows 7 in October (when I'll get the Upgrade pack)

Do you think It's possible to upgrade from Win7 RC to Windows 7 Release using Official updater?

 

Did your SR came inside Stretched pad package? I can't correctly describe it, but it was unusual, it was placed inside 2 plastics...

 

sorry i haven't been keeping up with the battery leak issue...

has anyone found an actual fix for the problem?

SR13GN here.

 

Yes VAIO notebooks come in the box strapped on a cardboard with 2 plastics keeping it sealed.

 

OK.. I'm trying to gather the info needed to send in my mobility bundle pkg. After reading the instructions, I'm trying to located the darn Serial number..lol

I can't find it, is it the same number as the Order #? And is it on the shippers box or the actual Sony Vaio laptop box? the UPC/Serial#

 

There's a "Where's my serial number" link that tells you.

After "S01-XXXXXXXX"

http://www.jr.com/media/Rebates/Com...books/SON4_20090930_v1_m56577569833533835.pdf

 

if i want to buy this machine today whats my best bet, buy from j&r get the 100 rebate and then i get the free stuff from sony by sending them my serial number?

 

I would do a clean install of Windows 7 when you get it. Even though the RC is good, and stable, it's loaded with tons of beta code that is undoubtedly slowing the operating system down. A fresh install is the way to go.

 

I've never once heard the fan. I can feel it pushing out warm air, but that's it. Are you surfing the web in an empty library or something?

 

Thats what I did. It take 2 days in submit status, then they ship it that night. Mine will be here this Tue.

 

so we get the 100 and then the free stuff?
this is 250 cheaper with better specs....but 1lb heavier
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220565

 

Hope the following thread will help you out a bit:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=319474

Congrats on your new Vaio SR notebook purchase & good luck.

 

When First opened I thought it was gone... Then I understood that it had similar packaging with Amazon books.

 

Yeah. How am I gonna survive until October! hehe since I got my Vaio, I've already Restored its C: drive 2 times... First Bluetooth then Wi-fi. I'm not sure what's gonna happen next...

 

Well, I managed to do a clean install of Vista and partitioned the thing a little better. I was actually surprised how little drama there was and nearly everything went smoothly. The only problem I had was the official Sony's HD4570 driver that didn't install properly (it sort of just installed an installer or something) but that was fixed with the Mobility Modder and the newest Catalysts from Ati.

Now the only problem I have is that I can't get the Sony special keys to work. The shortcut keys on the top and also the mode switch. I'm sort of tempted to roll-back the software from the recovery disks but I'm afraid it'll just bring along all the bloatware from the original installation. I installed all the original files and drivers I could from Sony's support pages for the SR41M but no luck.

 

Is it Ok to install Intel Wifi Driver from Intel site?

How do I install them? Uninstalling old one, and installing new? or just install it?

 

before i pull the trigger on this laptop:

is this pretty much one of the best 13.3's out there?

the toshiba u500 is cheaper why should i still get the sony?

can i get it from J & R and STILL cant the free stuff from sony, how?

is there a newer version (refresh) coming soon that im better off waiting for

 

I would say this is one of the best 13.3's out there from my research before buying mine. Not to mention I am a Sony fanboy but the specs and design is great. I am completely satisfied with it. Don't forget when your buying a Sony product the higher price tag is because of the name brand. There are many quality laptops but not with the design such as the SR.

Look for the AWESOME REBATE thread around here in the Sony forums. I believe some people have been able to get the bundle with laptops purchased from J & R.

There will always be newer versions coming. I think i read somewhere that Sony laptops are refreshed 2 or 3 times a year? Not sure about that. But if your waiting for a refresh, the next one will most likely always be better =[

 

Clean install for Vista found on Sony website:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?info_id=172

I'll put in a 500 gb HD and do this on my new SR tomorrow when I get it.

 

Good find. That should help a lot of people who want to do a clean install of Vista.

 

Just to warn people, they seem to skip some important steps such as installing the motherboard chipset drivers.

 

In terms of performance, yes.

For the U500, well that's your preference. No one's telling you to get the Sony. U500 is $ cheaper, more plasticky, much thicker and bulkier. You decide.

You MAY be able to get the $100 rebate and Bundle.

Considering this refresh just came out, the next one won't be for another while.

 

Is that the Intel chipset? Should I install that 3rd?

The U500 is a fingerprint magnet too and the palm rest should be warm.

 

Wanted to confirm with you all the step for a clean install of a Vista w Sp 2.

Install this in order:

1. Sony Shared Library
2. Notebook Control and Utilities

3. Intel chipset driver

The rest doesnt matter much and can be in any order, I think. I'll just follow from that link.

I am just wondering if the Vista will install most things like the audio and bluetooth?

 

Nice! I was able to get the updated drivers installed using Mobility Modder, but the CCC (Catalyst Control Center) doesn't seem to install or run. Does yours work? The drivers seem to have installed fine - but I'm missing all the tweaking abilities by not having the CCC running.

 

Download everything from Sony just in case and use the driver packages if needed. That is, if Vista doesn't install them automatically.

 

Lovely.. I was hoping I wasn't a statistic when I got mine ,but mine has done that as of lately also.

Doesn't look like anyone else has heard or knows of a fix for this yet...I tried going into power options w/ no luck.

Ah shux.. still love my SR though.. at least w/ the screen on high, it doesn't scorch my eyes, b/c the screen isn't highly reflective.

 

I'm going to defragment my HDD, should I defragment recovery partion?

 

alright im gonna take the plunge and buy the sr430, wheres my best bet to buy it from (with them including windows 7 upgrade) (i want the gray color)

 

I dont know no where else but JR for now for the SR430 thru bing.

For the SR420, go to ABT and do the bing also. Its a slower processor and $100 less.

 

i want the 430, how do i do this bing thing? lol

 

Go to bing com and click on the shopper thing on the left. First you need to sign up an account first.

Anyone here doesnt this on JR and how long before your cash reward show up on bing?

 

brings the final price down to $1187, then with the free stuff from sony thats a pretty good deal

 

Can anyone confirm what the differences are between the SR 'business' models (as on b2b.sony.com) & the SR 'consumer' models (as on SonyStyle.com).

To me they look identical from a 'technical' point (just with diff tech specs depending on model), and I think i read elsewhere that the business ones come without all the trial software as well.
Can someone confirm this and/or add to it?

Thanks

 

I think both of them are same. Maybe business ones comes without Sony bloatware as you said.

I think you're trying to apply for rebate? Am I right?

 

i just purchased the sr430 from J&R, no clue how long to expect to receive it. I guess when it comes in the mail i can do the rebate form, windows 7 form, and accessory bundle form..

 

If you check my post about 2-3 pages back, it takes 2 days in submitted status. Then on the 2nd evening, you will see the tracking.

It ship out of NY.

 

so if i live in NJ im looking at either a friday or monday delivery i guess

 

Mentioned in this under looked thread on installing 9.7
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=401402

Driver packaging version = driver version, 8.6 whatever is the one that comes with Cata9.7

 

dont buy anything yet until august 10th because thats when bing is doubling the cashback rates

 

I am in the mist of install my new SR with a retail Vista w SP2.

It is not going smooth.

When I install Sony Shared Library, I didnt see any message that say it is finished.

Next I install Notebook Utilities and it never reboot. I had to premature kill it.

Then the Sony Control Panel doesnt run at all.

So I install Notebook Utilities again.

NOW this pop up screen that say my battery is not real and ask me check it out is annoying the h* out of me. Whats this pop up message?

What is going on?

 

already bought oh well, looks like i coulda saved another $65

i guess i saved $167 with rebate and bing 5%
$200+ in selling the bundle

so were already under $1000

 

I m thinking about add thermal paste to my gpu/cpu, is this bad? i wont mind voiding the warrenty, since mine is ending in like 3 months, and isnt planning on renewing

 

Yes, you can do all of that when you received your new Vaio SR notebook. Good luck.

 

OK, I dont why nobody else have this problem but it happen to me.

The battery annoying message that pop up goes away after you install the ATI video driver.