Sony VAIO VGN-AR series thread

ARDS545: I'm not sure if the same fix will work for you but I had the same issue with the S buttons, mute, volume, multi media and function buttons (Fn) not working after I migrated to windows 7 (I have an AR630E). The fix I found was
"Download the latest versions of the Sony Firmware Extension Parser driver, Sony Shared Library, setting utility series, and vaio event service, and vaio control center if you want that too. You only need the first 3 for everything to work. Then just install them in this order, rebooting after each one.

SFEP driver
Sony Shared Library
Setting Utility Series
Vaio Control Center (if you want it)
Vaio event service"

Make sure that you set the compatibility mode (right click-> properties-> compatability tab -> run program in...(vista service pack 2), and check the box to run as administrator.

After I installed Sony Shared Library everything came back just fine, but I ran through the rest just in case.

Anyone know how to reset or reinstall the bios for the battery on a AR630E. I ordered an aftermarked extended battery for mine and the installation throughs out an error message:
"Your system may isn't suitable for this software or has already not once
renewed at first the BIOS file of factory and probably will damage your
computer. Do you make sure to go on to carry on the operation which
updates the BIOS?"
Bad grammar aside I believe it's asking for the bios to be set back to factory default. I tried the "restore default settings" in Bios, but that didn't fix it.

 

I was recently given an old VGN-AR610E minus a hard drive and battery.

Several questions:

Is this a 32 or 64 bit machine?

What speed Hard drive will this puppy need (I am guessing 5400 RPM 1.5)

Will this run WIndows 7???


Thanks very much in advance

 

Hello

I have a VGN-AR250G that was loaded with XP MCE.

The person that sold it to me put on Vista Home Premium OS.

Vista sucks, so I want to delete it and put XP Pro on my machine. I have a XP Pro installation CD.

Problem: When I get to where it say's install XP, it say's can not find installed HD and will not install XP.

Boot Order

CD/DVD Drive

HD

Floppy

Thanks for the help

 

Hi everybody!

I went through the process of installing Win 7 64-bit from scratch. I based my process on the guide by coolguy.
My machine is an AR760U, now running with 8GB RAM and two SSDs. My only problem is, that for some unkown reason the RAID capability of my AR is removed from the BIOS

To make your life easier, I compiled ONE BIG PACKAGE including all the current files needed to make the AR work flawlessly under Win 7, 64bit.

The Clean Install process is very simple:

1. Install Win 7, 64 bit and download the big file here: vgn-ar_win7_drivers_clean_install.zip

2. Follow steps 02-20, rebooting EVERY TIME windows requests a reboot.

There are very few steps in where you have to be cautious:

STEP 05 (touchpad)
Figure out if you have Synaptics (very likely on AR) or Alps
If Synaptics, install Sony Synaptics Driver (A) first. Reboot
Update to latest Synaptics Driver (B). DO NOT REMOVE OLD DRIVER BEFORE UPGRADE. ANY OTHER INSTALL PROCEDURE WILL RENDER YOUR KEYBOARD USELESS.

STEP 08 (camera)
Most likely it is a VCC-6... could be a VCC-4 on older AR or a VCC-8 on newer ones. Confirm through checking VAIO eSupport site.

In exchange for my efforts, I would like EVERYBODY WITH AN AR series to create a Backup Bios using the Universal BIOS Backup ToolKit 2.0. Download here: Universal_BIOS_Backup_ToolKit_2.0, install, run and save backup bios file. Either post the ROM file in this thread or send me a PM...


I am working on a solution to my RAID problem, as well as a way to incorporate SLIC 2.1 (to support WIN 7 OEM R2) into AR bioses and then flash them back...



This package should work on other VAIO too, like VGN-FE ( with Core 2 Duo for 64bit), VGN-FZ, etc. NOTE: THIS PACKAGE IS 64bit ONLY. You can grab 32bit drivers from coolguy's guide and replace them if you want to give 32bit a try ...

The following steps below include detailed installation instructions:

01.
Install your edition of Windows 7. I chose to change the UAC setting to never notify. If you leave it in the default setting, various prompts may open when installing the drivers and utilities. Open "Computer", click the "Organize" tab, navigate to "folder and search options", click "View" tab, and uncheck "Hide empty drives in the computer folder". Also uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types". There will be two exclamation marks for the "Mass storage controller" and "Unknown device" in the device manager. Intel 4965 Wifi, Marvell network controller, and Conexant modem drivers are included in Windows 7. You can update them if necessary. Download the appropriate 32/ 64-bit drivers wherever applicable.

02.
Intel PM965/ GM965 chipset driver

03.
Intel Rapid Storage Technology (SATA/AHCI)
From the device manager, right click the "Intel(R) ICH8M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller" (Standard AHCI controller - clean install) and update the driver by browsing to the downloaded "f6flpy-x86/x64.zip" folder. Reboot as required.

04.
Nvidia 260.89 WHQL driver. ".inf" file already modded to work with AR.

05.
Synaptics or Alps Touchpad. If you have a Synaptics touchpad, the latest driver gives you multi-touch gestures for scrolling, flicking, etc, innertia and lots more. REALLY COOL.
(C) is optional: Scrybe for Synaptics. ontrol functions by gestures.

06.
Texas Instruments Memory card driver 2.0.0.19

07.
REALTEK and IDT / Sigmatel Audio modded driver 6.10.6224.7 (With Stereo Mix support).
First install Realtek. Reboot. Then install Sigmatel.

08.
Ricoh (Sony VGP-VCC6)

09.
Sony image filter driver 1.1.7.4020 (only needed for Vaio camera capture utility-optional)

10.
Sony Shared Library 5.4.0.05200:
REBOOT!

11.
SFEP (Sony Firmware Extension Parser driver) 8.0.1.2:
REBOOT!

12.
Setting Utility Series 5.0.0.07280/5.0.1.10300 :
Install A. Reboot. Install B. Reboot.

13.
Vaio Event Service 5.0.0.07130/5.0.2.03030:
Install A. Reboot. Install B. Reboot.

14.
Vaio Camera Capture Utility 2.2.00.22110 (optional)

15.
Broadcom Bluetooth Stack 6.3.0.5600:

16.
Vaio Power Management 4.0.0.08240 (optional - not needed):

17.
Vaio Control Center 4.0.0.07130:

18.
Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Run the exe file to install the driver.

19.
Marvell Network Controller driver update (optional):
Update using device manager.

20.A.
WebCam Companion® 3 Software (Replaces Sony image filter driver and Vaio Camera utility
20.B.
ArcSoft Magic-i™ Visual Effects Software 2.0.1.83 (Optional - for adding special effects)

 

@Mike_Toth

Your machine is 64bit (Core™ 2 Duo processor T7100 1.8 GHz)
If you want to install Win 7 64bit (or Vista 64bit) just download the Big driver package from my guide and install step by step for full functionality. Camera is VCC-6 and touchpad is Synaptics.

ANY 2.5 SATA HDD or SSD will work in your machine. You can install up to two of them!

It is very likely you can run up to 8GB of RAM (2x 4GB I recommend corsair) but older Bioses could be restricted to 4GB (but that is not likely)

 

For windows 7 yes, it can run...
For windows xp go to bios at startup, and disable ahci to ide, it should fix xp install problem... for windows 7 and vista you don't need.

 

Heyo! I recently acquired a Sony VAIO VGN-AR770E from a friend.
Core 2 Duo T8600
2 GB RAM
2 x 120 GB HDD

I'm trying to run Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on it.
Unfortunately, the drivers nVidia provide for the GPU are crap/don't work etc.
I'm noticing that this is a common issue on here.
Anybody else have a solution? I really want to play Minecraft

 

Hello, i hope someone may have some answers to help me i have been going crazy for weeks with this abnd have looked everywhere and tried everything...

I have a Vaio AR250G i did a clean install of winddows 7 ultimate (32 bit) and i am having the following problems that i can't find a soltuion for.

Non of my blue fuctions work at all, none of my A/V buttons on the keyboard work, like volume, cd eject, etc.. I can't even get the DVD to eject.

I have 2 yellow marks in device manager - multimedia controller and unknown device.

I am going crazy becuase i am going away in a week and need to get this thing running (without having to revert back to XP).

Any idea would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Hi Hippotek

This post is great, but I wish I had found it earlier.

I DID REMOVE OLD DRIVER BEFORE UPGRADE and KEYBOARD is now USELESS.

Do you have any suggetsions?

I am not very IT savy.

Thanks.
J

 

i have a sony vgn ar21b: after a fresh install of windows seven ultimate x86
i cannot find the webcam driver
Field Value
Device Properties
Driver Description Unknown
Hardware ID USB\VID_05CA&PID_1834&REV_0100
Location Information Port_#0008.Hub_#0005

can you help me
thx

 

So these laptops were originally xp?

I have the vgn-ar630e

I am guessing we can switch them back?

 

Hi Samozen

I have laptop Sony Vaio VGN-AR41M bios R0032J8
NB PM965
SB 82801HBM (ICH8-ME)
GPU GeForce 8400m GT

Please tell me can I use bios from this link ?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/7082567-post1440.html

Sony VAIO VGN-AR71M R2090J8H1 MOD.rar

and maybe do you know, this bios can support 8gb ram ddr 800mhz ?

This is the latest bios ?

----------------------------------

Here we go:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ace...ix-bios-bios-mod-request-314.html#post8502496

 

i have sony vaio VGN-CS3AGH 7 i have re-installed windows 7 due to which my web cam is not neither the av buttons.. plzz help me out......

 

Hi all, I hope I will revive this thread...
I got a VAIO VGN-AR750E: PM 965 (BIOS Phoenix R2080J8), T 9500 (upgraded from T 8100), 4GB 667 RAM, 8600M GT, W7&64.
I want to also upgrade to 8 GB RAm...
Therefore, is PM 965 platform capable of 8 GB RAM?
Can (has ever been) the BIOS Phoenix R2080J8 support / be tweaked / modded to support 8 GB RAM?
What can I do?
Many thanks for your kind understanding and (hope) cooperation!
Teo

 

Hi,
I have VGN-AR41M and i have 2x4GB DDR2 PC6400.
8GB support older bios than your. (tested on R0032J8)
I think you should upgrade your bios to modded R2090J8 for unlock dual IDA, then your T9500 get 2,8GHz (14x200MHz)

 

Thanks!
I will try the 8GB RAM in a computer shop then.
Do you know where to find the appropriate mod-ed BIOS?
Teo

 

First show dump of your bios
Use this tool Universal Bios Backup