Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 (VPCZ1) Official Owners Thread Part 2

Thinking of getting a Z with 128GB SSD. Is there a way to increase space without having to remove the optical drive? Buy a humongous flash card perhaps?

 

I know it's advised not to use the Registery Defragmenter with my SSD but is it okay to use the Registery Cleaner as my Vaio Care is showing 219 problems for the Registery Cleaner and 1 problem for the Registery Defragmenter. Should I just ignore both or is it okay to use the Cleaner only?

Also whenever I start the computer I get a Java update message for a jucheck.exe but the publisher is unknown. It's been showing for quite a while now (a couple of months) but I've been constantly ignoring it as I'm not sure if it's genuine or something more malicious as it's being recognised as Unknown. Does anyone else get this message and is it safe to let it run and download? I can't seem to turn it off either so it always appears when the computer is turned on. It says it's a scheduled update and asks if I want the following program from an unknown publisher to make changes to my computer.

Thanks.

 

They make some ExpressCard SSD/storage too but it's not too humongous though. The speed/bandwidth is not always super fast but the space is there.

 

A registry cleaner and defragmenter is not a problem with a SSD. It just cleans the registry from old entries and reorganizes the registry. It's just optimizing. The same when you optimize a database (registry is a sort of database). I use it myself.

Defragging an SSD is something else. That reorganizes the space on the physical level on the storage device to optimize read, write and free space. That is not necessary on an ssd as the access to the ssd is different and already optimized instead of a harddisk where you have a different access speed on the inner and outer edge of the platter (round platters instead of memory chips). There is also a limit on how many times you can write to a flash chip. Defragging speeds up the degration of flash chips as you use write cycles to move the data to other places on the ssd.

 

Thankyou very much. I've just completed the first Registery Clean and Defrag in eight months! lol Thanks again for your help.

Would anybody know about this jucheck.exe update from an unknown publisher and if it's okay to let it run and download? It's a scheduled update and I can't seem to turn it off. It's not something malicious is it?

Thanks.

 

I would like to know if its recommendable to use a laptop skins on VAIO z and does anybody have any experience on this area?
I was asking as i want to maintain the smoothness of my nice vaio Z..
This is the item I am asking about which is being used in other portable devices...
Laptop Skins for Dell, Compaq, HP, Sony, Toshiba and Apple Notebook
Are there any bad consequence in doing such?

 

Hi guys,

I'm having an issue with a buzzing noise emitting from the fan of my VPCZ13C5E. I already returned one with the same complaint and the second z13 sounds pretty much the same. So I'm wondering is this normal?

YouTube - vaio z13 fan noise

It has a core i7 640 and HDD. The sound definitely comes from the fan since it changes with the fan speed.

appreciate your comments, thanks.

 

Sorry, gicks87, but it doesn't sound right to me (especially the part from 0.10 to 0.35 and 0.48 onwards - in between the fan runs fast so I this it's pretty OK). I would ask for a replacement fan and just hope that SONY will accept this as defective.

 

What are you talking about?

That's just normal fan noise.

You people all act like this is the first computer to ever have a cooling fan.

Try walking into a server room with fans howling so loud you can't even hear yourself think.

Frankly I don't understand how so many people can make such a fuss about something as silly as a small fan carrying away all the heat generated by digital circuitry that is clocking away at over 4 BILLION operations per second (and that's not even counting the GPU),

i.e. its got a big job to do and it does it with much less heatsink than a normal size laptop would have.

 

I agree. Put your ear right up to the fan, and that's exactly what it sounds like. No big deal to me. In fact, most laptops sounds JUST like that when you put your ear (or a mic) right up to the fan.

 

A quick google search came up with this: Jucheck.exe

In short, depends where the file is located... if it's within the windows folder... it's a malicious software. I use a combination of Microsoft Security Essentials + Malwarebyte's Antimalware (both FREE) to keep my laptop and desktop computers safe.

 

jucheck.exe is normally associated with the Java Runtime. It's comparable with windows update. It checks if there updates (bug fixes, hotfixes) for the java runtime. This is an essential part of keeping your computer safe as vulnerabilities in software are used to get remote access to your computer.
As mentioned in the above posting. Malware can misuse real program names to mask itself. Antimalware software prevents this normally.
Malwarebytes is an excellent antimalware program. I use the licensed version as it scans real-time instead of the free version.

 

What I was merely trying to find out if this sound is normal. I bought this laptop via sony style webshop and have no means of comparing to other Z models. This is a subjective matter and I think you should respect that. My previous laptop is an IBM t60 which is my reference material regarding fan noise. I can hear the laptop moving air, but at least it's not buzzing while doing so. If you want to compare it to a server room, fine.

 

Hi,
I wonder is anyone else has this problem & has found a solution or am I alone ?

When I have a number of Windows open & press the 'dedicated' organise Windows button, this works fine. The button resizes all open windows on the screen, so I can see all my open windows at once.

If I then press the organise windows button again it restores all my windows to their presious size.

However, here is the problem:
After pressing the 'dedicated' organise windows button and actually navigating within any window, when I press the 'orangise windows' button again, it does not restore the windows. Pressing the button repeatadley just moves from window to window.
I therefore have to then resize each window manuallyback to normal.

Any Ideas why this is happening?
(Incidentley, if I use the the Windows shortcuts ie, WinLogo+ rightleft/right key etc) the behaviour works fine & windows panes return to normal.

Cheers,
T

 

hi.. i know someone has made a custom program to easily reconfigure the ASSIST/Dual Pane/VAIO button in the Z1.. i've seen the post of Zoinks http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/480606-z11-reconfigure-s-buttons-assist-dual-pane-vaio.html but this is not the latest one that has the custom program..

thanks!


edit... i got it! it was from pyr0

 

Yes, I understand and I do respect your concern about fan noise.

My response was directed towards odysseas who was summarily indicating that your fan was defective when, in fact, it sounds normal to me.

Also, in addition to the Z threads I follow the Toshiba R700 threads. This laptop is the same size and weight as the Z and uses a similar cooling technique (with similar results i.e. noise). So, in addition to odysseas, my response was addressing all the thousands of thread entries complaining about fan noise on both of these laptops.

I think I read more on that issue than almost anything else, so I was having a little rant on their behalf.

My main point is not that one needs to compare anything to a server room but rather that we all seem to be losing perspective on what's important (i.e. on how much heat needs to be dissipated, on what it takes to do that, on what the alternatives are etc.) and instead focusing too much on little seemingly irrelevant things.

 

Thanks for your response, it seems that you know quite a lot about computers and stuff I am getting convinced that this is the sound of a vaio z. I better start getting used to it because I absolutely love this laptop!

 

jusched.exe is Java runtime update. Similar name but different.

 

From the java site

jusched.exe is the scheduler process of Java Update; jucheck.exe is the process for checking/performing updates in Java Update. These processes run automatically and transparently to users. To shutdown these processes, simply uncheck the "Check for Updates Automatically" checkbox in the Update tab of Java Plug-in Control Panel.

 

Thankyou very much for your advice and input. I've now downloaded the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software and it seems the jucheck.exe update is a genuine one. It's strange though that it's from an unrecognised publisher.

 

I have to agree that it's difficult to judge fan noise from a distance. I have heard many z's at work and I have to tell you that fan noise varies between them. We are usually talking about just subtle/minor differences between them and I believe that the main difference is the sound pitch not the actual db's most of the time.
In order to help you people out there, I recorded the fan noise on two different vaio z's. I would consider both on the 'normal' side, however one is noisier and it does make a difference on ambient environment noise when you work in front of your vaio.
The recordings are at a distance of 3cm and 10cm using an OLYMPUS high quality sound recorder. Hope that this helps anyone who might need to judge on his laptop fan noise.
Vaio Fan Noise files

 

Not sure if I can link it here...But I have 2 sony vaio z silver batteries for sale which I have listed here in NBR marketplace. I have bought them original from sonystyle USA and have never used them. here is the link:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/com...ginal-vgp-bps20-s-battery-sony-vaio-vpcz.html

 

Are those batteries compatible with the Z13, specifically VPC-Z133GX/S, 135GX/S and 137GX/S?

 

Thank you Odysseas for doing that. It provides a very useful quantitative comparison.

 

They should be since there was no physical redesign between the Z11, Z12, Z13.

 

I have also put a VAIO Z in the nbr Marketplace. Anyone interested please check
sony-vaio-z12x9e-x-i5-520-128gb-ssd-1600x900 for sale

 

Sorry to drag this up again months after the original post, but I have a Z13 that is a month or so old and have had the same issues using a BT mouse and keyboard with the onboard BT. The BT radio just seems to randomly turn off and then on again causing the keyboard and mouse to become unresponsive. I can see this happening as the BT indicator pops up in the system tray along with the Windows sound indicating a peripheral has been attached. I've tried the various drivers out there including generic Windows ones. The Z13 already has the BT firmware upgrade put out by Sony some time ago. The only thing that has fixed it is a USB BT adapter. I was tempted to re-install Windows without the Sony utilities but I know from a previous experience with an SZ that most of the Sony stuff is needed for the function keys etc to operate, so I could waste half a day and get nowhere.

I'm convinced that there is a Sony utility periodically powering down the BT radio but can't find any way to stop this happening. What I'm more concerned about is a hardware fault that I need to get repaired by Sony.

Anyone else in a similar position with a Z13?

 

I have two Sony BMS33 BT mice (one at work, one at home... not that i use both mice at the same time ) and they work fine. The mice requires a 0000 passcode mentioned in their manual and it locks on solid; not sure if it's the same issue, but from the way you mentioned it, maybe your BT module may be iffy or it just doesn't like the BT keyboard. I also BT-over to my cell phone (Nokia/Symbian PDA) when out on the streets/everywhere and it's fine too. Maybe one last try for ya... go into the advance power management settings for the various power plans.... and for the Wireless Adapter Setting, set it to something that's max performance or doesn't save much power(?). Good luck with yours. bye

 

@evansy... I do experience te same bt issue in my bms33 mouse.. That's why i ended up using my vx nano usb mouse in my z11..

@vaio.phil... Lucky you your bms doesn't act up on your z13

 

I have the same BT issue with my Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. It occasionally drops signal and I have to fidget with the keyboard's power button until it works again.

 

Hi to all... i want to know what kind of ram can I put on my sony vaio z11...
thanks

EDIT: now i have 2x"Micron 16JSF25664HZ-1G1F1 2GB DDR3-1066 DDR3 SDRAM (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-18 @ 457 MHz) (5-5-5-15 @ 380 MHz)"

 

anything that's DDR3-1066 or DDR3-1333, make sure it's SODIMM (<- for a laptop form factor) and that it's non-EEC (<- usually not a problem, but someone recently did order some for his VGN-Z and it didnt work). In any case, most users wont notice any boost in performance going from 4gb -> 8gb RAM, as most users don't max out even 4gb of RAM. However, RAM is cheap in the USA atm, and if you wanted to upgrade, now is a good time to.

 

I though, I was all alone on this one.

I still have not found a solution to this problem. I have been using the BT dongle that came with the MS BT Mouse 8000

 

Thanks everyone for the responses on the BT issue. I think it reassures me to know that it's not just me but it also annoys me that I need a £6 adapter to make a £2k laptop do what I need it to!

Given the issues others are having it's unlikely to be a hardware fault with my machine I suppose. We've probably no option but to keep watching for updated BT drivers and hope we get lucky.

 

I have had my motherboard replaced and the BT chip replaced, It is definitely a software issue. I think maybe a x64 software issue. My GF has the VAIO P and it has the same BT chip... no problems on her machine with x86 windows.

 

THANKS... can you suggest me a type in particular (brand, model etc etc)?

 

People like Micron (a.k.a. Crucial) and some say stay away from Super Talent RAM, but personally my view is that if the RAM is not DOA (dead on arrival) than it'll work as well as any other company's RAM with the same specs. So my objective is to find the lowest priced RAM from a reputable seller and install that. If you followed travfar's recent posts, you can surmise that RAM is pretty darn cheap right now. Slickdeals' the site we use. (here's an example of a REALLY low price)

However, if you're looking for special types of RAM (with low timings, etc) that's different. (Most 1066mhz RAM have 7-7-7-20 timings and 1333 mhz have 9-9-9-24, which then clock at 7-7-7-20 when used at 1066 mhz like in the Z)

 

we have to be cautious as not all 1333 memory clocks down to 7-7-7-20. For example the 8GB (2x4GB) Patriot SpekTek PSD34G1333SK PC3-10700H 1333MHz kit clocks down to 8-8-8-20-60-1T while the 8GB (2x4GB) Corsair CMS08GX3M2A1333C9 PC3-10700 1333MHz kit clocks down to 7-7-7-20-86-1T. In real life the 8-8-8-20 and 7-7-7-20 don't feel any different, but having the faster 7-7-7-20 of course feels better

 

So... 7-7-7-20 is faster than 8-8-8/9-9-9 (sorry but i don't know it)...
and so... it's better to install a 1066 ram... or i'm wrong?

 

Hello Folks!

I've got from my company a Vaio VPC-Z13CGX, but I would like to install a clean Windows 7 Ultimate, but first I trying to create the recovery media for safety.

I can't create that. I'm always getting a error saying that my DVD is turned off, but I pretty sure thats on.

Can you help me?

Thanks!

 

I've tryed the "Crucial System Scanner" that automatically analyzed my computer memory information and suggested me 2 kind of upgrade:
4GB, 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500 upgrades for Sony VAIO VPCZ11X9E/B Laptop/Notebook, CT1333685 from Crucial.com
4GB, 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 upgrades for Sony VAIO VPCZ11X9E/B Laptop/Notebook, CT1333688 from Crucial.com
what do you think?

As I understand it, the best solution is to 1066 CL7...

I'm thinking about it: http://www.corsair.com/memory-3/industry-standard/ddr2/cm3x4gsd1066.html
crucial vs corsair ... this is the question

 

Switch your power setting to "Always On" in power options.
The DVD drive will turn off automatically when not in use.

 

yeah the 7-7-7-20 is a tiny bit (not a lot if any at all) faster. It's not always necessary to use the 1066 type. We can certainly use the 1333 memory as long as it truely clocks down to 7-7-7-20 at 1066 in the Z. The 1333 type today might come in handy when we buy a future laptop several months/year(s) from now and can drop it in... but by then we don't want these old modules anyways - we'll just buy new modules when that time comes or it may already come with 8GB memory and we don't have to upgrade anything. Or we'll then be looking for 12GB or 16GB ha ha! It may even be a different type (like DDR4 or whatever) and our old modules won't work in there. So, just buy it for today's Z (whatever good and reasonable price) and not worry about tomorrow's upgrade.

Anyways... as for the 1066 type, another example is the 8GB (2x4GB) Patriot PDP Systems PSD38G1066SK PC3-8500F DDR3 1066 kit - this is a 7-7-7-20-86-1T type. The Sony-Micron 4GB (2x2GB) module that comes with the Z is also a 7-7-7-20 type. Yeah, there're way too many memory module choices out there and maybe just check their factory specs/website for the info before buying and just aim for anything that's 7-7-7-20 at 1066.

bye

 

Thanks vaio.phil... out of curiosity...
what would you buy between crucial and corsair?

 

I want to buy a 3D DLP projector and use my Z to play 3D Blu-ray using nVidia's 3D Vision. I have the latest drivers for the Z13 installed 8.16.11.9024
but that version number is not similar in any way to the version number on nVidia's site. nVidia says version 260 or above is required for 3D. I have been looking at this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/469747-sony-z11-nvidia-optimus.html about making Optimus work on the Z, but I would rather not have to do that if the Sony drivers will work. Has anyone hooked up their Z to a 3D display? Any thoughs?

 

hmm... between Crucial and Corsair.... I'd automatically pick the Crucial because it uses the Micron chips, or at least I hope it does because Micron owns Crucial and that's the MT (Micron Tech) logo they show on their website. If both Crucial and Corsair use the Micron chips, then I'll pick the cheaper one. They pasted a big sticker over the Corsair module so that people like me can't pixel-peep for a chips logo

I'm using the Patriot PDP PSD38G1066SK 1066 memory because it has Micron chips and the module is made/certified for Macs ha ha inside joke because Mac memory cost 4 times more than other memory modules It was expensive when memory cost more back then but not Mac memory price. I got mine from Fry's. The other Patriot/PDP modules sometimes do not use the Micron chips - so we'll have to look at at the chips on the module to see what they use.

Hey maybe shop around where you buy these modules... maybe try newegg, tigerdirect, amazon (true amazon; not the 3rd party store) or somewhere where it might cost less for the same module. Best is probably from the local Fry's if you have one nearby... because we can look for the Micron, Samsung, Hynix or other tier 1 chips. If they use these chips, that'll be the one I'm buying.

bye

 

But... why micron chips are better?

 

Micron, Samsung, Hynix - well these guys are all equally good/top quality. The don't overspec it and will meet or exceed their ratings (ie. the trustable ones). But then again sometimes one may have some good chips but have problems too. Sometimes it's the other way around... have the tier 2 respectable or tier 3 generic chips but it seems to work fine for years. But anyways it's a good idea to start with a good quality chip for lower risk. Also must observe proper handling (anti-static precautions and proper grounding) when installing these modules so that we don't zap it before the first boot. bye

edit: Samsung is often marked with the SEC initials on the chips (like they can't fit their big logo on the small chips)

 

I see that on the 4Gb corsair memory there are 8x512kb chips; on the crucial one 4x1Gb chips... what configuration is the best?

 

hmm... not sure because the manual didn't say anything about the configuration. The one I'm using has 8 chips per side (total of 16 chips on both sides of each 4GB module).