Sony SE Owners' Thread

Thanks for the reply. Battery care function wasn't checked though. I tried enabling and then disabling it, but that doesn't seem to do anything. Is there any other setting I may have changed inadvertently that would cause this?

 

Thanks for the clarification on the trackpad scroll. It seems the behaviour is a little finicky, and I assume it will behave better with practice.

 

I am not impressed with the double finger scrolling. It takes me several trials to perform the task and sometimes I need to press the pad hard.

If yours is working fine then which driver you are using, Sony or Synaptics?

 

I had the same experience with the Synaptics two-finger scrolling. The TwoFingerScroll program is alot more responsive for me.

 

Can you post a link for that program and explain how it works? Do you install it beside the original software or it replaces the original?

 

Hi all,

I use skype, so how is the quality of the internal microphone and the webcam? Also, I only see a headphone out jack on this laptop. Can you use the headphone/mic combo in that jack? Has anyone try that?

Thanks!

 

The webcam is great the mic and speaker are good. Tried it on Skype with video chat and worked great

 

Yeah, you run it beside the Synaptics driver. Just disable the two finger scroll option.

Downloads - two-finger-scroll - Two finger gestures for Synaptics TouchPads on Windows - Google Project Hosting

 

Does anyone have the panel information (via HWinfo64, or Everest)?

I was curious as this screen may be the one that will also be used in the Envy 15 and wanted to take a look at the datasheet for some specs.

 

Hello,

Does anyone have troubles switching graphics?

It worked perfectly until something apparently changed, now I have an error message saying that a process is running that does not allow me to switch back to the Intel HD300.
Via Ctrl+Alt+Del I deactivated some of them to see which one it is, but it does not relieve the issue;

I did install the last catalyst control centre, maybe it is since then, I do not know; Another thing is that VAIO Care wants me to do some updates, maybe it is that?

Thanks a lot for your help !

 

Hello,

I've just received my Vaio SE and... it is great

But now, I'm going to replace Windows 7 with Debian.

Before doing this, I'd like to backup the system in order to be able to restore it.
So, I've used the Vaio Care and created the restore system on a USB stick.

But I have a question : can I delete the 3 partitions (the restore one, a hidden one and the system one) to install Debian ? And then, if I'd like to restore the system, with my USB stick, I'll be able to create these 3 partitions ?

Thank you (and sorry for my bad English).

David.

 

Thank hennick

 

Just as a warning... 2-Finger-Scroll + Chrome = jumpy scrolling. Maybe the extension will help with that.

I just enabled the Synaptics 2-finger scroll and it's fine.

 

The panel information is hidden: the monitor name shows up as MS_0025, serial number 15, manufactured in 2002, hardware ID Monitor\MS_0025.

In terms of specs, it's been measured at around a 60% (of NTSC) color gamut and contrast ratio of about 700:1. However, the gamut is not contained within sRGB, causing some color shifting which is most noticeable in blocks of solid color. So far the general agreement seems to be that this problem is worst with reds, which look orange. See here, here, or here for more info. One hopes that the ENVY panel will do better in this area.

 

It seems OK

 

Hi all,

I would like to re-install the OS with my own Windows 7. It looks like Sony has all drivers on their website. But, for the applications, I don't see the pre-installed WinDVD application on Sony website. Also, my Acer allows me to create a recovery disc that has all installed drivers and applications. However, with this Sony, I can create 3 recovery DVD that I can use to recover the whole OS but not reinstall drivers and applications on a new self installed Windows.

Where can I get the pre-installed WinDVD application?

Alternatively, I am also quite sure that the software is in one of the 3 recovery DVD, but does anyone know how/where to get it?

Thanks!

 

Any solution for this?

I also have a problem where I can not install the newest ATI driver from Sony no matter ow I try to install it. The driver version still read xxxx4.0 instead of 4.2 and I believe that could be affecting the switching maybe or there is another software or service is disabled or not working that causing the problem.

 

A fresh install of the whole graphic drivers (ATI and Intel) and the issue is now solved.
I think in my case there was a file, AODDriver.exe, in background execution, that must have kept the gpu busy and not able to switch. The file is part of some ATI software I installed a couple of days ago to try it out, but apparently not removed when I un-installed the software.

Also, maybe some experts on this forum could help us out, do we need all the system software from Sony/Vaio (CPU and fan managment, Control Centre, Care, Parser,...) to make the switching between the gpu's possible?

 

Did you follow all the update instructions? You must be in speed mode before running the update.

 

I am already in speed mode

 

I figured out the problem of speed/stamina switching. Whenever I have internet explorer open the machine won't be able to switch it. Having other programs open such as word, excel, photoshop or chrome there will be no problem in switching but once I open IE it won't switch.

Are there others having this same problem?

 

I am still unable to update the ATI driver to the latest version. Any clue?

Ways tried that did not work:
- Update through Vaio Care
- Download the latest driver from Sony's website and run it by double click or as administrator
- Uninsall the old driver and reinstall then install the new one
- Uninsall the old driver and install the new one

What I find it weird that both Intel's and ATI's driver page in device manager show ATI's driver, whether I am in speed mode or stamina mode.

 

^ uninstall whatever driver you have now, reboot, use Driver Sweeper to completely remove the old drivers, reboot, and install the ones you want AFTER you set the switch to SPEED. i hope that helps.

 

Tried AMD Overdrive today as i wanted to gain abit more from my 6630 card (gpu gets around 63c under full load, so there is room for some tweaking)
But Overdrive gave me BSOD's when booting into windows.
Now, are there any good custom BIOS that works around this problem?

 

What made work the gpu's correctly on my machine is as follow, maybe it helps:

- Download the drivers from support.sony-europe.com, you need the 3 files:
1) Ati and Intel Graphics Dual driver
2) Ati driver
3) Ati update
- put the switch in Stamina position
- uninstall both devices through control panel
- reboot
- Install file 1) while on Stamina
- Reboot
- put the switch in Speed position
- Install file 2) while on Speed
- Reboot
- Install file 3) while on Speed
- Reboot

Everything should work, if not, then you may not have uninstalled correctly the cards. Uninstall and redo. Note that it is easier/faster to install and update everything manually, VAIO Care is not so convenient for the user, aka. a bit slow when you have SATA Harddisks. VAIO Care will understand that the updates are done, even manually.

I did not manage to make the gpu's work with the driver provided by the manufacturer (Intel - Amd). For now I only manage to make them work with Sony's own drivers.

That is also why I asked the question, in my previous post, if someone, on a Windows based system, not Linux, did manage to make work the gpu's without the Sony driver.

#Edit

This is because in your IE there is a video or some flash running, you cannot switch if anything is using the graphic's card, eitherone it is. Which actually makes sense

For me it worked only when I began in Stamina for the dual driver and then switched to speed to install the AMD correctly. Any comments on this?

 

Not sure where can I get the driver for number 2. I can get Number 1 from Sony's website under video (driver version 8.862.4.0). Number 3 also from Sony's website under video (driver version 8.862.4.2000). Any clue?

 

Téléchargements

It should be available in your country too ;-)

 

Sony USA does not have that driver. Only the duals, original and update.

 

I ended up reinstalling windows to have the graphic card issue solved

 

SONY says that you should put the switch on SPEED to install the hybrid AMD+Intel GPU drivers. i don't know what exactly happened in your case though.

 

Hey guys,

So far I'm loving my SE and this thread has helped me solve a few problems. However, I'm noticing that there is a bit of "give" in the chassis right above the memory card slots and it even creaks when I press close to the edge. It seems like the top piece is protruding *ever* so slightly above the side wall. Does anyone else have this issue?

I'm also kind of bummed that my up arrow key has stuck almost completely. I took it apart and tried to fix it but the plastic piece is definitely flawed and it still sticks slightly. Stupid reason to send it in, I hope they can just send me a new plastic hinge...

 

Does anybody have any ideas on what might be causing this issue? Someone earlier suggested unchecking Battery Care Function in the Vaio Control Center. It was already unchecked, but the computer is acting like it's enabled, and the battery still won't charge past 80%.

 

Have you tried setting the Battery Care Function to a custom value of 100%

Battery 2 will be the sheet battery

 

I tried various things over the weekend to install my own Windows 7 in a new hard drive. But before that, I played around a little bit with restore to factory.

Here are what I did and observed. Note that mine is from Microsoft Store and comes pretty clean already. I wanted to use my 7200 rpm drive and my own Windows 7 instead of the home premium that come with the laptop.

1. I created recovery discs using Sony's Vaio Care, and tried to restore using these discs onto the new hard drive. After restoration, the image is original Sony's with bloatware not the cleaner version from Microsoft store. I saw someone's post that you might be able to restore the Microsoft store original installation but I did not try that.

2. I reinstalled my own copy of Windows 7 on my own drive. I sort of followed guide for the SA and Z. All drivers were installed properly, ie. all devices were recognized on device manager. I also installed Vaio Care, Vaio Control Center, Vaio Smart Connect, PowerDVD BD, and Arcsoft Webcam Software. Now to answer my own question in the quoted post, I was able to reinstall the PowerDVD BD from the recovery discs created using Vaio Care. However, I had to reinstall it through Vaio Care and uses the discs. I also saw several softwares/utilities that are not available (yet?) on Sony's websites on the discs.

3. I also noticed in the original installation, the Vaio Smart Connect has Share My Connection option. However, after clean Windows install and installing the Smart Connect, I don't have the Share My Connection option anymore. I tried reinstalling the Smart Connect several times but I can't get it back.

Does anyone know how to get the Share My Connection option in Vaio Smart Connect back?

My Vaio model is VPCSE17FX/B.

 

How do I do that? Under advanced settings, it only gives me an option to choose between 50% or 80%. There's nothing about custom values, unfortunately.

 

Did you install Intel My WiFi Technology as part of Intel Wi-Fi driver package? That's what gives you the option.

 

Hey guys I just got the SE1 and I noticed that when there is a dark background, I have little cones of light on certain areas on the bottom of the screen... Is this normal?

 

Yes, it appears that the majority of these screens have this type of back light bleed. I have it, and have seen them in more than one store and they had it as well. After a while you won't notice it. Again, it is only when the screen is displaying black. I can live with it considering this has to e one of the best HD screens out there.....in my opinion....and I've looked at a ridiculous number of laptops in the store before deciding on this one.

 

Good to know. Looks like mine is a keeper then!

 

What is everyone's opinion on the touchpad? It does not look very smooth and gesture responsive to me. Am I missing something?

 

Is it possible to fit the WWAN module manually? I just bought a model which has everything I want except for this.

 

Has someone got AMD override to work yet? Or any other GPU overlocking tools to work? All the programs i'v tried crashes my system.
Im using the gpu driver from Sony. Is that the problem?

 

^ try TRiXX.

 

Just curious, since a few people have mentioned it.....
How many of you with the SE have these 'cones' or patches of light bleed on the bottom of the screen, especially on the left side of the screen.

 

I received my SE about a month ago, and I also notice these cones coming from the bottom of the screen when displaying an almost entirely black picture. This is most pronounced at start up, and it goes away entirely when windows loads. I've played a bit of starcraft 2 on it, and haven't noticed it occurring even on dark cut scenes in the game.

 

I can confirm the small blurry cones on the left side... barely noticeable on black... not at all on color.

I guess I'm used to seeing that as both my Transformer and iPad 2 exhibit the same "issue".

It's really hard to see... and I think it's only there if there are other color elements on a black screen (you can run a YouTube Black Screen HD video fullscreen to see what I mean).

 

BigNerd,

What is your experience and opinion about the touchpad? I am not that impressed and was working on photoshop today and the touchpad was not smooth. When you pull a line it does not follow the finger smoothly it hesitates and the pad texture itself does not do much to keep the finger flowing smoothly.

What is your experience?

 

@leggy:

It's hard for me to judge PC notebook touchpads because I've been using a Apple MacBookAir touchpad quite a bit for the last year and nothing really compares.

The "smoothness" factor of glass really does make a difference. The Sony SE is not bad but I don't use it for graphics editing like you do. I do notice the buttons seem a bit clicky and on the cheap side but I actually don't use the buttons that much on my touchpads anymore because I've grown used to taps.

I've also disabled pinch-to-zoom as it seems to conflict with two-finger scrolling.

 

Anyone use a laptop cooler with their SE? Just got my SE and have been thinking of getting one, maybe a cryo lx or a Zalman nc2000

 

Got the SE today, and when I tap (even slightly) on the touchpad it produces a vibration sound as if it's loose. Anyone else got this? Any way I can tighten it manually?