Official Vaio Pro 13 Owners Lounge (SVP13 2013)

Hi and welcome to this forum!

First of all, please be aware that messing with partitions is a risky business if you don't know what you're doing (as a general rule).

Secondly, it is always wise to make a set of Recovery Discs before doing anything else. If you did not make Recovery Discs, the only way to reinstall everything including the VAIO software is to buy a replacement Recovery Disc set from the VAIO Support website. Although you can download the basic drivers from the Support website, some programs are not available for download.

I recommend you make this set of Recovery Discs beforehand since once you mess up with your partitions, Windows might not boot anymore (and, more importantly, you might not be able to restore the factory setup either... so beware).

If you've enough knowledge in computing, the best way to free space is to merge all partitions (ask for tools, whenever necessary) and make them one, clean install Windows 8.1 Update (ideally from the ISO (with Update (1) already integrated)) and then install all or most VAIO software.

That's what I did but, in all honesty, I know what I'm doing since I've been dealing with those setups for many years. It all depends on you and what your knowledge is... The fact is dealing with factory partitions remains one of the most difficult thing to explain by writing...

Back to the topic, on your system the partitions may look like:

980 MB OEM Partition
840 MB Recovery Partition
260 MB EFI System Partition
15.89 GB Recovery Partition

For the record, all hidden partitions contain your factory default files, operating system, drivers, factory software and extras whenever available.

In a nutshell, the first thing to do is to create those Recovery Discs, in order to be safe. Then, download all VAIO drivers and utilities from your Sony Support website (for a future clean install). Store safely all of those onto a large enough USB drive or USB HDD.

It might not be of any help for now but, at least, please let us know when the Recovery Discs and drivers download parts are done.

 

I've managed to find a reconditioned Vaio 13 Pro for a good price that has everything I want except for touchscreen.

Anyone have any experience of whether it is possible and what it would involve to upgrade it to a touchscreen later, even if it's in the future when used components become cheaply available?

Would it involve installing a whole LCD unit or can one of these be fitted somehow around the screen i already have?

13.3" Touch Screen Panel Glass Replacement For Sony VAIO Pro 13 Ultrabook | eBay

 

Hi,

One thing I don't understand...
You said you downloaded your drivers on the VAIO Support website, installed them (without success in the end... What's the (error) message(s) if any?) and then you end up saying you can't find the drivers anywhere...

Do you or don't you have the (right) drivers?
Besides, would you please mind being more precise on how you proceeded with your whole install?

 

Honestly, I don't have the answer but I reckon it's not as easy as 1, 2, 3...
The whole lid is different between touch and non-touch versions as well as it may imply electronics management to be added on (not sure if both versions sport the very same motherboard either).

The best way to know is to go to a Sony retailer who could answer the technical questions...

 

Actually I've managed to solve the problem alone, it turned out that the driver install order I went for was wrong. Now I'm fine, but I have only one problem...Vaio Update doesn't want to update itself, it continue asking me that a new version is available but when I choose to download it does nothing, and keeps asking me for that update.

I may need Vaio Update, and seems that the problem is more general. I followed this thread CountrySelector - Sony but still no solution to that. Any suggestions?

 

I was actually about to suggest you might not have installed the VAIO utilities in the correct order (which proves more or less precise)... turns out it was the issue. :thumbsup:

As for VAIO Update, did you check on the Sony Support website that your current version is the latest? If no, I suggest you manually download the latest release and install it by yourself so that you bypass the automatic update (and see what it does).

If you already have the latest release installed, simply disable the notification for new available updates so that you're not bothered anymore with systray balloons. Note that VAIO Update isn't mandatory... it's actually almost useless (I don't use it because I often check the Sony Support page for new driver/utility updates, download and install them by myself).

Up to you.

 

Is there any way to get the Windows 8.1 with Update ISO without having a MSDN subscription?

 

I suppose you can get ISOs via alternative ways (which I won't name here) but getting an official ISO isn't illegal so you can get it whatever the way you choose. What might be illegal is how you activate it... if you have a legit key then fine, if not...

To answer your question: the only official ways to get those ISOs are MSDN and Microsoft TechNet.

 

Yeah, I did "manage to get" the Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit with Update ISO. I'll be using my Windows 8/8.1 key to activate it.

 

Anyone can tell me what's the discharge rate for example viewing a movie 1080p with vlc?

And how many hours you get without the sheet battery making a normal use browsing or so?

Anything I do push the discharge rate for me to about 8/10Wh hour, even just browsing and seeing a movie 1080p mkv I don't get more than 5 hours at best.

 

Screen brightness seems to affect the discharge rate a lot.

With full screen brightness and normal browsing, it says 7,175.
With brightness at the second lowest setting, it hovers between 4-6,000.

 

Question around HDMI Out, I would like to use my laptop to duplicate my screen to three HDMI sources (2 TVs and Projector) while still have the ability to view my screen. Sources and my screen will be all be 1080P and need to have sound to passthrough. Is this possible, if not what solutions are there?

Thank you.

 

Today I opened the laptop back and replaced the old Intel wireless N-7260 with the Intel AC-7260 bought on amazon some days ago. I must say that the wi-fi connection is definitely more reactive, the signal quality and the download speed don't lower with the distance from router (and if they do, only a little). I paid it a trifle, so I'm really happy with it!
Installation very easy, maybe the tough part is only opening the case (some rubber to remove and also some screws under them..then the hardest part is lifting the case up). Honestly I tought I could also replace the thermal grease, but what I saw frightened me a little. It's possible but definitely NOT easy: the heatsink is wisely stuck and it doesn't pull up without a big work.

I will definitely try it, and maybe I'll post here the procedure, but I think won't do it in short times.

 

Could you post a link for the AC adaptor you purchased from Amazon. I think I'll change the one in mine also as the wireless in mine is starting to play up.

 

Does your bluetooth still work? Because I did the exact same thing but couldn't get it to work. Besides, my max download speed was still stuck at about 30 mbit/s. Since I really needed the bluetooth I replaced the adapter with the old one again for the time being until better drivers are made. Which version are you using now?

I did however replace the thermal paste with artic silver, it does make a bit of a difference. Certainly since the vaio pro throttles down very easilly at silent mode, which happens less often with the new paste. The interior of the laptop scared me a bit off too the first time, but replacing the grease isn't that hard at all. Be carefull with some of the connectors you need to unplug from the mainboard though, I remember one being very fragile.

 

Thanks for that update XyberBorg. I'm currently in the process of getting mine hopefully replaced. If I have to keep it I will try switching thermal paste, as I have the noisy fan problem. Did you notice your fan running at a lower intensity than before after applying new thermal paste? Also consider, that it might take some days of usage before the effect is there.

 

Here:

Intel Wireless AC-7260 M.2 (amazon.co.uk)
Intel Wireless AC-7260 M.2 (amazon.com)

After replaced I had the same problem, and I solved it by installing the latest Intel Pro/Set wireless software. I'll link it here:

Intel Pro/Set wireless bluetooth drivers (Win 8)

Intel Pro/Set wireless bluetooth drivers (Win 8.1)

Choose the one for your system (Win 8 or 8.1). I hope it will work for you too

Thanks, this will help!

Anyway, I sweared I saw that the fan was detached from the heatsink...then it must be removed too.

 

Thanks!!! Will order one and fit and let you know how I get on!

 

Is that the most recent and best wifi adapter from Intel??

Did you guys know that Win 8.1 brings a new technology that can save some GBs on the installation drive??
I read this Windows Image File Boot (WIMBoot) Overview and would love to know if anyone had the trouble to re-install win 8.1 again with WIMBoot method ??
Is there a easy way to do this??
To do this do I delete all the partitions or do I leave as they are now??

 

I bought a SVP13226PXB. I know it will come with quite a lot of bloatware. I just want to know what are the "must uninstall" programs when I first boot it up? I know the anti-virus has to go because it causes the CPU fan to go crazy. I won't do a fresh install as soon as I get it but is there anything else (other than the anti-virus) that has to go?

 

I don't think there is too much bloatware , just a bunch of sony apps (like album by sony , music, play memories home, vaio movie creator ), dictionary , encyclopedia Britannica , xperia link . Anyway the machine is so fast so it may not matter (as long as start up is lean). saving space for HDD is altogether another matter !!

 

Anyone managed to update the graphics drivers beyond the .3355 version? All the original Intel drivers come up with an error, didn't have that problem with the SVZ.

 

To avoid the error you have to first uninstall sony's drivers (from windows installed application panel) and then install the latest intel generic ones.

 

Are there any guides on how to rebuild the UEFI partitions? Currently in Windows 7 and would like to go to windows 8.1 update 1. I have no recovery disks (Yes, I know)

 

The recovery media that i have created is corrupted, can someone provide me a backup of your? I have to send my vaio in warranty to fix battery

 

Thanks a lot, it worked. Didn't think of that.

 

So I upgraded to 8.1 before getting the control center and other utilities installed. I have most of it installed now, but I don't have the fan speed settings options or NFC. Can someone point me towards those drivers that work under W8.1?

Also, should I use generic intel drivers vs. Sony's?

Thanks!

 

Fan speed settings should be in the Sony Control Center.

 

The settings aren't there. I must be missing a driver install. Any idea which one?

 

Probably it's the "Vaio CPU Fan Diagnostics" driver (and maybe the "Vaio Hardware Diagnostics" too)...you can download both via vaio support page.

Check also if the Vaio Control Center version you have is the latest

 

Which drivers did you uninstall? I did a clean install and had no issues with Intel video drivers, now it says I can't install them. I only have Vaio Control Panel and Vaio Fan diagnostic installed so I can control some features. Don't want to remove those though.

 

Is there any way without disks, I changed the Boot Mode back to UEFI from Legacy and it wont even boot my Windows 8 DVD. Any help is much appreciated.

 

I uninstalled the drivers provided by Sony (.3355) and, after reboot and removal of both graphics adapter AND Intel audio adapter via Device Manager I installed the latest Intel drivers (.3621).

Download the W8 ISO either directly from Microsoft via their tool, or elsewhere. Prepare your USB stick for installation in EFI mode with Rufus, select GPT formatting and feed it the downloaded ISO. Prepare for the clean install. Be ready to supply the product key. Hope that helps.



By the way, I believe the additional options like the fan controls and adaptive brightness are enabled by installing the Sony Firmware Extension Parser. I'm pretty sure the fan controls do not depend on Fan Diagnostics software, as I don't have it installed.

 

Uninstall everything about intel graphics, and unistall also the graphics driver via windows "device manager" (by right clicking > unistall). After reboot you should be able to install intel generic drivers, if not then try rebooting into safe mode and install there

Maybe, but either if he didn't have the Firmware Extension Parser already installed he wouldn't have Vaio Update, Vaio Control Center and other things (tried myself many times through various format)

 

Has anyone found they are being frequently asked for a BitLocker recovery key with the latest firmware? I use BitLocker with TPM and I'm finding that I quite often need to give my recovery key after shutting the lid, leaving it for some time then opening the lid again.

 

Thanks. Windows 8 does not allow divert install in safe mode. But will uninstall Intel drivers and try the new ones.

Beamed from my G2 Tricorder

 

That's weird...I did it a lot of times without problems :/

 

Hi fellow vaio pro users, I was wondering how do you deal with the high dpi scaling ??? pretty damn annoying when everything is either too small or too fuzzy. I looked around to see what people did and pretty much found some workarounds but still... #firstworldproblems

 

I installed both and have latest Control Center. Unfortunately still have no fan settings. I'm hoping that the answer is not to reinstall W8, do all the imaging and then upgrade. That would just be awful.

 

I had issues getting the fan settings back too with a clean install. Eventually it showed up, but can't recall what I did.

 

Well, I finally got my VAIO Pro 13 a few days ago. It is the SVP13226PXB. It seems to be running fine except for one thing. When I shutdown the laptop and turn it on the next day, it loads up Windows REALLY fast (I sometimes don't even see the Windows loading screen). Then, if I open task manager and view the power-on or power-up time, it says it has been on for 9 hours (sometimes more, sometimes less). Today it was 20 hours when I first turned it on and checked task manager. Seems it is not really shutting-down when I shut it down through Windows. Any ideas?

 

Try disabling the wake up timers in the advanced Power Options.

 

Just checked and it seems they are disabled for both battery and when it is plugged-in. I did some research on this and it seems it might have something to do with Sony's Rapid Wake? Anyone know anything about this?

 

Don't have the Vaio with me right now, but I remember that it was related with the system maintenance done everyday. It can be disabled in the activity center.

Enviado desde mi C6603 mediante Tapatalk

 

I just tried something. My VAIO was restarted 6 hours ago so it shows about 6 hours of "up" time in Task Manager. Just now I shut-down the laptop, waited 5-10 minutes, and started it back up again. It booted right into Windows and continues to show about 6 hours of up time.

 

One more thing I noticed. If I leave the VAIO alone for a while and the screen goes into sleep mode, the keyboard area starts making a faint ticking sound. As soon as I wake the screen up my moving around on the trackpad or something, the sound goes away. Anyone know anything about this?

 

AGAIN : Hi fellow vaio pro users, I was wondering how do you deal with the high dpi scaling ??? pretty damn annoying when everything is either too small or too fuzzy. I looked around to see what people did and pretty much found some workarounds but still... #firstworldproblems

 

Open Control Panel
Click on Appearance and Personalization
Under the Display icon, click on "Make text and other items larger or smaller"
Click/enable "Let me choose one scaling level for all my displays"
Select "Smaller - 100%"
Click "Apply"

Hope this is what you are talking about.

 

Does anyone have a primer for what order to do the driver install in? I'm still really bugged by the lack of fan controls.

Separately the control and shift keys are really hard to use on this thing. And oh the horrors of the trackpad.

This is such a beautiful, beautiful machine with such minor drawbacks. Maybe I just need to break it in...

 

more work to do here