Sony Vaio CB Official Owners' Thread

I would like to know that after updating bios, should i go for clean installation or just those 3-4 drivers that alex told

 

Just install the utilities in proper order. I did not do any clean installation, and it works perfect!!

 

Reddead in prev page facing problems with bios update... You also gettin this blue screen on changing power plan..

 

I am not getting any problem at all. reddead is having that problem, very strange!!

 

I've also got a BSOD after updating the bios, it happens to me when I switch the power plan. But I never uninstall the utilities.

 

Im planning to update my bios... But before that i need to backup my old bios... Any1 plz suggest the procedure..

 

what method are you guys using for clean install??
recovery partition or recovery discs??

 

^
Neither
For a "clean" install you need to get a Windows 7 Installation ISO from Microsoft. Recovering to Sony factory state is not clean install.

 

i get it!
1 noob question: clean install will only erase off my c drive...right??
and can i use pen drive ?

 

If you choose the C drive to be formatted then yes you're right

And yes you can use pen drive too. You can google it to find the exact steps on installing Windows from a pen drive.

 

@all
For those who update earlier they might think that there's no issue on updating the bios but the truth is there is. You have to trigger this.

The blue screen won't just pop up on your machine untill you change the graphic properties from high performance to power saving vice versa and change the power management from high to balance or whatever mode.

I did a recovery state last night then trigger the step boom blue screen again. stating an atikdmag.sys. I'm searching on the solution right now.

 

New ATI hotfix for better performance and solved some issues for rage/battlefield game:

http://www2.ati.com/Drivers/hotfix/catalyst_11.10_preview/amd_catalyst_11.10_preview3_win7_vista.exe

 

that is exactly whats happening to me...
can't we just get the old bios back?
if nothing else i will try a clean install

 

@reddead
I don't know if we can revert back to old bios. Sony is secretive when it comes to bios downgrade stuff not like HP.

By the way I've search thru the internet and it seems most expereincing BSOD at atikmdag.sys are from desktop users.

@reddead
Did you upgrade to latest ati driver? there's a new update on the support. I'll be getting it and install it on the sytem later. Ill tell you if its solve the issue.

 

i did not upgrade...tell us if it solved the problem

 

After reading every post I think I'm ready to flash the updated BIOS on my VPCCA1C5E with BIOS R230V2. But, I still have two doubts.

I have already made a backup of the current version, but I didn't get whether it is possible to reinstall it or not. Is it possible?

Also, I took a look at the update script, and I have seen it flashes two different files. Could I know the reason or is it something not to worry about?

Thanks!

 

I do this many times every day. NO BSOD!!
I got the BSOD only once when i refreshed the Windows Experience Index right after the BIOS update. But I ran it again and it worked just fine. Not a single crash since then.

 

right... me too... that's why i like clean installing... minimise the windows problem after updating bios...

 

It must be possible to re-install. Because the guy who gave us the new BIOS was talking about backing up the old BIOS, obviously he had something in his mind then.

It is something not to worry about I feel, since it worked perfectly!!

 

Cheve, how you created the bios backup... Im only finding the ways through floppy disk..

 

OK, thank you. Let's see if he shows up with some advice. I haven't seen anything indicating that it is impossible on the flash application. But the two steps in the update script left me thinking about it.

I have had a lot of problems with this laptop since the first day (change of motherboard included), but since I use it for work, I couldn't return it or exchange it by a different one. So, the last thing I want is making things to get worse :/

Inside the BIOS update package, you can find "afuwinx64.exe". If you launch it from the command line (without parameters), you can see several options. For making a backup of your current ROM, type:
afuwinx64.exe backup_name.ROM /O
You can verify your backup by typing:
afuwinx64.exe backup_name.ROM /D

These are the steps I followed before flashing anything. Now, if someone could explain the steps inside the update script, I could flash my VAIO with complete peace of mind. I have updated the BIOS of my computers lots of times before, but I don't have any confidence with this VAIO :/

 

@reddead
I downloaded the newest ATI driver from sony support and installed it, so far no BSOD.

Try to uninstall first the ATI old driver, boot to safe mode then run the driver sweeper and uninstall the ATI driver before installing the new one.

 

"Graphics Driver (AMD) Update version 8.850.5.3000_8.15.10.2476
11 Oct 2011 8.850.5.3000_8.15.10.2476"
this one??

 

The last one is the 11.9 and this

is the last hotfix from ATI

 

Hi all,

Some additional info for those hesitating to update bios or not.
1. We were lucky with this update as it was intended to improve windows xp downgrade on some CA models and nothing was modified to improve windows 7 on the second row of Vaio CA/CB.
2. But after reflashing bios everyone MUST make a fresh install of windows 7. Recovering to factory default not recommended and if you are very busy do NOT upgrade your bios.
3. I have backup of original bios, but you should notice that the firmware was updated too and we cannot revert it so consequences are unclear. The firmware upgrade is the reason for the fresh install as upgrade realocates usage of some system resources.
4. So far no need even to try reverting as I and some other guys with fresh install do not have any single problem. I did not get even single BSOD because right after bios update I reinstalled the windows.
5. There is even newer bios version for the 3thd row of CA/CB models. Sony is trying to improve audio quality by realocating some resources and sound really improved a bit but NOT too much I must say. Again that would mean the freash install and right now I am too busy for that.

New video driver solved many problems for me but it gives constant DCOM error because they tested it on the thrid row of models and forgot to upgrade driver code for CA1. I've already contacted Sony and they promised to fix that error in the next update as it is not critical in any way.

I got used to my new Vaio and full control of keyborad and gpu really improved the experience.

Good luck to all of you,
Alex

 

After we do the Bios update and a Fresh Install of Windows 7, which Drivers from the Sony Website should be installed?

Sony VPC-CA/CB Support Page - Updated 5th May
Sony VPCCB29X Support Page (esupport.sony.com)
Sony VPC-CA3/CB3 Support Page - Updated 14th October

 

Ok. Thank you Aleksandras. Then I'll have to wait for some free time for doing the fresh install of Windows. It's a pity because my main concern is not the switchable GPU, but my 8GB upgrade, which freezes the laptop constantly (with the factory 2GB it works ok, and the 2x4GB modules work ok in other machines).

 

Where did you download Catalyst 11.9 from ?

ATI Catalyst? Mobility Display Driver

When I run the Catalyst Software Suite installer from the above link it tells me that my graphics adapter is not supported.

Also, please tell me the correct procedure to install it and also the hotfix that you mentioned. Thank you!

 

I did not get a single BSOD after updating the BIOS so it might be some other issue.

 

I just uninstalled the old drivers. The update you mentioned came up in VAIO update. Downloading it now, lets see where it takes me.

 

This is the 11.9 http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/11-9_mobility_vista_win7_32-64_ccc.exe

Works for me...then install the hotfix

Hotfix preview 2 http://www2.ati.com/drivers/hotfix/catalyst_11.10_preview/amd_catalyst_11.10_preview2_win7_vista.exe

Hotfix preview 3 http://www2.ati.com/Drivers/hotfix/catalyst_11.10_preview/amd_catalyst_11.10_preview3_win7_vista.exe

is supposed to fix video issues in Battlefield and Rage, but the Rage game really sucks, have to many issues

 

installed fine now. thanks!

 

hello guys,

i went to sony store yesterday and they got new SE series. it is 15.5 inch matte finish screen. very thin, light, elegant looking..but I am worried about the build quality..it looked fragile..

what do you guy think? shall i stick with cb series for build quality and maybve performance quality also?


many thanks.

 

How's the framerate of BF3 on CB? Did anyone tried it already?

 

20-30 FPS @ 1280x720, with everything set to max except motion blur, no AA, no FXAA, AF 1x and SSAO; which has surprised me greatly. No OC. 11.10 drivers, but 11.9 was almost the same for me.

 

Are these the latest drivers 11.9 or 11.10? How did it go?

Is this the right link??

Graphics Driver (AMD) Update version 8.850.5.3000_8.15.10.2476 : Download : Sony Asia Pacific

 

@cheve
not bad.. I might get the BF3 as soon as I finish UC3.

@red
that's the new update I installed. when you check the using dxdiag it will state 8.850.

I've downloaded the 11.10 catalyst I installed it but when I check the version using dxdiag its still 8.850

 

Thanks for the reply, i too just installed the sony AMD update and so far its working fine.

Im just wondering the difference between the sony update and the ATI one here http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/11-9_mobility_vista_win7_32-64_ccc.exe
Is there any difference?

And what about this hot fix mentioned in the post above? Can it still be applied with the Sony update we used? Should we even be installing the hot fix?

Thanks for any help!

 

Yes, you can apply the hotfixes after the Sony update. They fix some issues while playing Rage and Battlefield I guess.

 

They installed fine. I got it through VAIO update, and then applied the hotfixes. There is no problem at all, but I dont really see any visible difference either!

 

i did not experience BSOD, after updating the BIOS, i did not reinstall windows. Working perfect actually..

 

Same here, and i applied the new bios the day it was uploaded here by Alex a few months ago.

 

Conclussion= Metro 2033 is a "spec-killer" engine. with medium settings in DX 9, it's run at around 25FPS only LOL

 

I too did not experience BSOD, after updating the BIOS & i did not reinstall windows .

.............but some guys r reporting battery back up of up to 6 hours, after updating the BIOS, those claims look to over exaggerated . I am getting maximum 3. 75 hours, with medium screen brightness & with WLAN on .

My laptop is hardly 5 months old & the battery is in perfect condition .

 

how about your battery wear?

 

Battery manufactured some time in February 2011 & . Laptop is on AC power 90 % of the time & i am using Battery care function ( set at 80 % )

 

Yes, your battery is almost same with me except I'm about 7 months since I bought this laptop... But even my battery has deagraded about 7% - 8%, you should download hardware monitor and see your battery wear there...

 

My battery has deagraded about 4 %, still i get a back up of about 3.75 hours only .

 

If you set the brightness low you should be able to get at least 5 hours+.

My battery hasnt degraded yet and im easily hitting 5+ hours as long as its set to power saver with very low brightness and manually to run on the intel GPU.

 

It all depends on how you use it. I keep it on low power cpu most of the time with low brightness and a few other tweaks. I get around 5.5 hours sometimes more than that. But obviously when I'm playing games or watching movies or something it goes down to 3-3.5 hours at the max.

People are not over exaggerating at all, check the pic!