Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

I have a question for those who have the Z with Blueray...what program did you get with the laptop to watch Blue Ray movies?

Thanks!

 

Is GPS working on european model ?
Please can you describe in details what have you done ?

Did you uninstall program for connection OneClickInternet ?
Did you uninstall Qualcom Gobi 2000 package for Sony, in Control Panel ?

If you did that, where can I find same programs/drivers for restore original situation ?
Where can I find Gobi drivers compatible with my Z11?
What is the procedure to set GPS=1 ?

In System devices I can see Miniport Wi-Fi device with its driver, but I can't see any Modem or WWAN device.

A detailed reply will be gratly appreciated, thank you

 

When I think of the number of times I will actually buy/rent a Bluray movie I might be interested in THIS or THIS
But then I could download HD movies over the internet, so...probably not.

 

Wonder when Sony puts a GT 335M in the Z

 

You should ask for a free upgrade to Z12. And a free PS3

 

Those SonyStyle reps are so dense. I mentioned the upcoming refresh and they asked me, "What exactly do you mean by refresh?"

A PS3 would be nice. Let's see what the Direct Sales Department says. I wrote what I feel is a pretty articulate complaint.

 

Don't maximize the browser, then put another window side-by-side (a windows dialogue, a photo, anything that isn't white will work)
Open the website and look to the other window: you should see a pattern made of vertical lines all over it (and all across the screen).

DPI scaling affects the results. In the FullHD screen I've seen this distortion on many dpi levels, but with some others it can't be seen. So maybe changing DPI within the browser (Ctrl + or Ctrl -) will show/hide them with your specific setup.

 

For me, it depends on the type of background of the other windows. For a particular Powerpoint background, I see the interference: it's in the form of vertical bars, about the same thickness as that of the picture. Once the picture no longer appears, the powerpoint background returns to normal. Interesting...

Edit: Focus must be on the picture's window.
Edit: Yes looks like it's more visible on variable-colored backgrounds.

 

Good point Oscar2, I realized that myself. I just have not seen so many complains on, say, the HP Envy, Dell latitude e series or thinkpad t-series owners threads, which I am considering along with this laptop. Some of the stuff I have read has been a little disconcerting.

 

Hi,
Can some one please help on backing up my Z11 256 SSD.
Shall I buy Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost. Does any one know if they work with an SSD if you are not a computer professional when you want to restore your system? Home pages of noth comapnies are not very clear on support for SSD.
Best,
Chris

 

Just got in my new Z (i5-540m, 348gb). This baby is fast!

Question: What tweaks do you guys view as vital to implementing for this computer?

Believe it or not, I've actually read this entire thread... but my retention needs work!

 

Hi,

Good Question, I would love top 10 tweaks by one of the masters...!

Best,c

 

That is unfortunate SurferJon. But I can confirm that my palmrest on the right side is also fading into a dark smudge even after careful use after just one month. I'm applying a microfiber over that area until I contact Sony to find out if they will fix this manufacturers defect with an aluminum palmrest as it should have been manufactured from the beginning. My girlfriends $350 Acer l`aptop doesn't even have a faded palmrest and her laptop is 3 years old.

Can anyone confirm the new Sony refresh comes with an aluminum palmrest?

I'm still experiencing the black screen of death with online full screen videos so I'm hoping for an Nvidia driver some time soon.

Cheers.

 

DAMN! Wish I would have seen this sooner. They are out of stock now. I wish there was some way I can get alerted on good deals. Anyone know of a site or software that searches a piece of gear you want and comes back with prices it finds?

 

so what games have you tried playing on Z? I've tried playing COD4 and it wasn't bad with settings on high and resolution 1366x768
of course my mouse wasn't very responsive (Bluetooth) but it wasn't bad at all.
i usually play COD4 on my desktop so this was just for a try.
i was wondering what games play well with our video card. preferably at native resolutions (1600x900)
saw a couple of videos on youtube but want to hear opinions here.

 

I would like to know this as well.

Perhaps someone could try, downloading Steam and run a few demos of games?=)

 

From the point of view of the backup software, SSD is no different from HDD. So, they will work.

 

I sent my Envy 15 back. It was fast, but it was heavy and quirky.

 

www.dealnews.com lets you set up email alerts to yourself.

 

I've joined the club. My $1200 Z112 showed up today. Gotta love Microsoft "ground" shipping. It showed up overnight.

Is there a replace the DVD drive with a 2.5" HD mod like with the Sony TZ series? I never use a DVD so much rather have a HD in it's place. Barring that, is there a blank plate I can get so that I can just rig up a internal USB drive by sacrificing one of the USB ports?

Nevermind, found it.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/469244-z11-replace-dvd-hdd-working-solution.html

 

Anyone feel the screen on the new Z is significantly dimmer than the screen on the old?

 

Mine are perfectly aligned with the case on the top side, but the left one protrudes from the lower side just half a millimeter...

 

I've played Battlefield: Bad Company 2 on native resolution on medium settings and avg frame-rate of ~30, but smoky/explosions may make your frame-rate fall to ~10. That's without overclock. Also, for DX10 games, change them to DX9 because they stutter on DX10 >.<

 

i hate to repost, but can anyone please tell me how to create a windows install disc in order to do a clean install?

thank you!!

 

I think sony should have a option for this in near future Seagate Launches "Hybrid" SSD/HDD

 

Click on the "ASSIST" button above the F11 and F12 key, then go to "Recovery & Restore" and third option down is "Create Recovery Disc".

 

awesome thanks! btw, burning these 2 DVDs will just be giving me a copy of windows 7 ultimate, w/o any of the preinstalled bloatware, correct?

 

No. Burning these 2 DVD (or one if you use a DVD DL) you can restore the Z11 in the same situation when you received it (factory default).

I installed and played:

Command and Conquer 4 with some setting not to maximum (e.g. better antialiasing off, details medium etc.) very fluid at native resolution (1920 x 1080)

Settlers 7 same considerations of CC4

Anno 1404 Less demanding in terms of resources so much fluid (better anti-aliasing off)

For control I use external wireless USB mouse (Microsoft Arc Mouse)

Of course it is generally more enjoyable to play these games on my desktop CRT.

 

Sigh, I'm extremely disappointed I missed this somehow... would have jumped on it immediately. Perfect laptop, but just too pricey =/ Hopefully they'll get a few more in stock? I remember originally some laptops went out of stock at the Microsoft Store, but came back later...

 

I've fallen behind on this thread a bit, but I got many of the problems mentioned here. I'll summarize them:

• Intel Wireless cuts off abruptly during use. It seems this results from installing the newest 13.1.1.1 driver. Reverting to the previous version 13.0.0.107 is reported to fix that.
• Black screen of death and freeze when watching videos in Speed (NVIDIA) mode. This happens to others in Windows Media Player or Youtube, it mostly happens to me in Hulu. For now, I just watch in Stamina (Integrated Graphics) mode. Haven't heard of a fix yet.
• Battery refuses to charge and unplugging AC results in power loss. Someone said they got a replacement battery with this problem. I just jiggled my battery contacts and it is working again. I'm pretty sure that it's a loose battery issue.

Anyone have any updates? I'm still on page 450 or so on my read through; just sticking this post at the end.

 

Just install the WWAN drivers from the Sony support site with GPS enabled. This means that you have to unpack the ZIP you've got and modify the WWAN_setup.bat (there are two of them) by changing the "GPS = 0" part to "GPS = 1". This was done on a fresh install of Windows 7 with VAIO Smart Network installed. The NMEA9225 port showed up after a couple of reboots with WWAN enabled/disabled during/after boot. You won't need OneClickInternet the get both WWAN and GPS working (Windows 7 supports the Gobi 2000 out of the box using the network und sharing center).

The device manager lists two COM ports (Quallcom Gobi 2000 HS-USB Diagnostics 9225 and NMEA 9225), a network interface (Mobile Broadband Device 9225) and a modem (Modem 9225) if everything is installed correctly.

I'm currently using the 'Generic UMTS' firmware. I did a couple of firmware changes to remove the branding the notebook came with before doing the fresh install (including a firmware change to Verizon), but i don't think this is neccessary to get GPS working, nor you will need the SmartWii utility. I did some dissection on the different firmwares and I couldn't figure out any differences regarding the GPS.

 

You can't create a 'fresh' windows install disc, but you can find various (official and unofficial) Windows 7 disc images on the net. Just be sure to get an unmodified version (you will find the correct hashes on MSDN). The downside is that you'll need a license key to activate your installation - the one that comes with the notebook does not work (correct me if i'm wrong).

 

Thanks a lot, very clear. I will try ASAP.

 

One question. what's the max temp can vaio z get to without damaging the hardware? i read somewhere said 105 c?

 

Has anyone tried this on the GG / Asian model?
Thanks

 

Left 4 Dead 2
High Settings
Average FPS - 32 at 1600x900


Modern Warfare 2
High Settings
Average FPS - 36 at 1600x900



Fligh Simulator X
High Settings
Average FPS - 39 at 1600x900

Sonic and Sega all stars racing
High Settings
Average FPS - 33 at 1366x768


Dirt 2 Demo from Steam
Medium/High Settings
Average FPS - 31 at 1366x768

GTA 4
Low/Medium Settings
Average FPS - 28 at 1366x768

 

For Win7 Professional, the option to remove bloatware is available, I heard it's not there for Ultimate.

 

i had a feeling this might be the case very disappointed in sony...

so bascially there is no way to get a fresh install w/o all the crap unless i download windows from some other source? i hate to d/l a copy from torrentleech, etc that i don't have a license for after PAYING for the copy currently on my computer... so i guess the only option is from Microsoft.

anyone have any info on using the license key paid for to activate a copy from the microsoft website, etc?

 

I don't know if this applies to Ultimate, but people in this forum have said that when doing a reinstall of the bloatware version, there is an option to not install the junk apps.

You'll need to hunt that down in this thread for details.

 

You can modify an windows installation disc to an OEM version, which will work with the license key printed on the bottom of your notebook. You'll find directions on the net.

 

Thanks rmcx! I really appreciate it! Hopefully this will alert me to the next deal.

 

When searching this thread, look for IzzyB68's posts.

To get the ISO, links are in this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/467565-vaio-z-vpcz1-clean-install.html

There is a program called ABR which solves the key issue.

 

Or just spend a few minutes removing the apps you don't want. Also, PC Decrapifier to removes most of that stuff.

 

I think that option is there only for Win. Professional.

 

My battery icon reads - 80% available (plugged in, not charging), is the normal?

 

The battery is only charged up to 80% to prolong its lifespan. VAIO Control Center allows you to change this behaviour.

 

I think, under Battery Care, the max is set to 80%. I believe it helps increase the life of the battery, so it's a feature, not a bug

Oops, 3 mins later than pmfcmmak...

 

Okay Thanks - So if I change the setting, do you have any idea how much that will effect the life of the battery?

 

I can tell you that my 5 year old TravelMate is down to 10 minutes at full charge now. I don't know if I can avoid this effect with having this setting on, but I keep it at 50% as I am on AC most of the time and it still gives me 2:50 hours on stamina and WWAN on. If I need more battery lifetime I just disable the setting and do a 'full-charge'.

 

That sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the info.