Sony Vaio Z i5/i7 Official Owners Thread

It's a very thin and flexible screen. My Vaio TX, which I have had for over 4 years, has a similar type of screen. Seems to be fine. It is designed to flex.

The alternative is the relatively heavier and more rigid tops that you find on most other laptops: No flex, greater weight. I don't believe they (other laptops) are necessarily more robust however.

 

What did you do to get to this driver version, specifically?

See the question above. You've got mangled drivers.

1. Uninstall the Nvidia drivers from Add/Remove Programs
2. Reboot
3. Uninstall the Intel HD Video drivers from Add/Remove Programs (if installed)
4. Reboot
5. Install the Sony-issued Nvidia driver package

 

Only ehosey would remember me and the problem I was having on my Z a while back, but anyways, after trying everything to fix the problem, I finally gave up and contacted sony. They were useless and instead of sending me a new computer like I should have gotten them to do, they instead convinced me to try a full factory default restore..but I remember on here that SSDs in IDE or whatever acronym it was couldnt technically be fully securely erased.


Did I just do something stupid? Are my drives still going to technically have trash on them even though all data was "erased"?


My problem I was having was that my screen would freeze up very frequently. The graphics switch would randomly unprovoked switch to stamina and my screen would be stuck on black or frozen and eventually it would restart itself or I would have to restart it. The worst part is, thinking back, I think it was actually a problem with my extended battery.

 

Any more concrete details when the refresh will be arriving?

 

Ok, i've uninstall the Nvidia drivers and re-install the Nvidia drivers from official Sony UK support website. It turns out the driver IS 197.16 Can any UK Vaio Z users confirm this please.
Now I'll wait and see if the BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH comes again or not.

 

Thanks for the reply. I usually connect the adapter to main AC and then to the laptop. Battery is kind of loose and it charges properly. The reboot occurs when I plug in and the computer switches back-n-forth between Speed and Stamina mode before shutting down.

 

Not UK user but I checked Sony EU site. The original driver is 188.80 and there were no updates. Also, the directory contents on your image shows multiple INF files (nvaa, nvac, nvam). These come in universal Nvidia releases and do not include Sony typically (may change in future). Releases from Sony contain just nvmvsz.inf for Nvidia part of the driver. Your 197.16 is a modded Nvidia universal driver.

 

ZugZug is correct. Try the official Sony package and let us know if it helps.

Hollywood, which driver are you using?

 

Hmmm, could you please give me a direct download link for the driver 188.80 from the EU sony website because I can't seem to find it.

Thanks. sorry for the trouble.

 

Got a question for people hooking up their Zs to speakers. How are you guys managing the 3.5mm jacks when they're plugged into your laptop? I hate how Sony decided to place the headphone jack right below where your right hand rests on the laptop.

I find myself constantly hitting the wire connecting into the port and causing crackling to come out of the speakers from contact. Have people tried using the 3.5mm right angle adapters to alleviate this issue? Or has it been a non-issue for most?

 

So.....

did you get around to trying the thing of not having it in auto mode when you plug in, to see if the problem is related to video switching and not related to plugging in?

 

I don't know which model you have but all Z1 uses the same graphics anyway.

Here's the link. The download link is at the bottom of the page.

Vaio : Sony Europe

Follow Zoinks instruction re installation of driver. Also please delete c:\Nvidia beforehand.

 

My driver info from the Sony Canada driver download site. http://esupport.sony.com/CA/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VPCZ1190S&upd_id=5533&os_id=45

Filename :NVDVID-00219322-0042.EXE

Version :8.16.11.8880

Last Modified :02/24/2010

Size :121.36 MB

I've uninstalled all the display drivers and the audio drivers and restarted then allowed windows to install the drivers from the executable file, I've downloaded from Sony. I've confirmed in device manager the display driver details matches what I have listed above.

Unfortunately, whenever I go full screen I get black screen lock up 100% of the time from day one, very frustrating.

Cheers.

 

Ahh okay, thanks SandyRevenge, EVGA Precision worked like a charm =).

Does anyone know how I can remove the Recovery Partition without completely wiping and reinstalling windows? Thanks =)

 

How easy is it to overclock? I am looking to overclock for gaming, but i wanna be safe too. Thanks!

 

So now the paint on the palm rest area looks JUST like a big black smudge. That photo I posted a few weeks ago has a beautiful palm rest compared to now. I'm going to call Sony tomorrow and demand that they replace it. This is absolutely ridiculous for a $3800 machine.

 

I think that's the best thing to do, as I don't think that's normal. I've had my Z11 for almost 6 weeks now, and the palm rest is as good as new (and I don't use protective films of any sort).

 

Can you post a current photo.

 

Get a Linux live CD with GParted and extend and move your partitions (usually works like a charm). <insert standard backup disclaimer here>.

 

On my 2-fingered scroll problem..

I searched the thread and the best result I got was a link to a driver.

When I installed the driver it said it was an older driver than the one I already have, but the one I already have does not have an option for 2 fingered scroll ...

Here's my screenshot

EDIT: so I guess my question is ... should I install the older driver? Why doesn't the new driver have the same functionality?

 

When your Vaio gets a black screen lock up to 100%, how do you turn your Vaio off or atleast restart it?

 

Ok I've now re-installed the Nvidia driver and guess what.....I can still see the return of 197.16
Anyhow, when I re-installed the driver, my vaio seems stable so far when I view 1080p videos. But that is not enough, I'll put up to 3 1080p videos on display and lets see if my display goes completely BLACK! Time will tell

 

You mean in the device manager the Nvidia driver is still shown as 197.16?

May be you can let us know the steps you take to install the Sony 188.80 driver?

 

Press and hold the power button on the side of the laptop for 5-10 seconds. The PC will turn off, it takes a while to shut off so keep holding the power button until it does.

Cheers.

 

Ok, I deleted 197.16 permenantly and re-installed 188.80 again. Now when I go to Nvidia display driver, there is NO folder called 188.80? where is it?

 

It's very easy, you just download the program, install it, then move the slider until you get to the speeds you want, but make sure your AC adapter is connected. I also turned on the On-Screen Display that tells me my temperatures and framerates just so I make sure my GPU doesn't just melt though my motherboard and end up on my table

Hmm, okay, I shall try that, if it all goes wrong... well then I've got to reinstall windows anyways >.<

 

There should not be any C:\Nvidia\DisplayDriver directory with a normal driver install. Installed files are in various system directories (nv* files in C:\Windows\System32, *.sys in C:\Windows\System32\drivers, *.inf is copied as some oem??.inf in C:\Windows\inf, etc.). A copy of driver installation source should be in something like (for 64-bit version):
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmvsz.inf_amd64_neutral_somehexvalue
This directory may be hidden, then you'll need to modify folder options to see it.

 

As ZugZug has mentioned there's no such installation folder like 197.16.

Please go to your Device Manager (In Control Panel) and check if the Nvidia drive is version 188.80.

 

This is my Nvidia GT 330M driver version:

 

i've been up for a few nights on this damn thing and all i can say is it's freaking amazing! running virtual machines and watching hulu (on a VPN) and surfing and chatting and installing things and its not even breaking a sweat ...
i am in love with (another) inanimate object

 

Yep you are definately correct, however there is a minor difference in the driver version. Do you think this is normal?

 

Yeah I've been testing it for a while now and it appears that the computer reboots when I change the graphics from stamina to speed mode. It's definitely related to video switching.

 

Don't worry about mine. The original driver for AU version of Z1 is 188.49, thou I can also use 188.80 one. Not sure why the difference. Only Sony knows

 

Thanks ZoinksS2k.

3 questions:

a) Since I will be making an image of my i5 256GB drive and then transfer it to my new i7 380GB drive, how will I "tell" the new computer that it now has a larger (380 GB) SSD? Will Ghost's "Resize drive to fill unallocated space" option work OK with SSD?

(I read in the Ghost manual: "You should not use the Copy Drive feature to set up a hard drive that will be used in another computer. The drivers that are used to run the hardware on one computer will likely not match the drivers on a second computer." Can I ignore that, since both computers are fairly similar?)

b) Will there be any programs that won't work after the transfer (Anti-Virus, drivers, etc) and will need to be re-installed?

c) Should I enable or disable "smart-sector copying"?

 

Wow this machine is really awesome. Got it since last Thursday, but it's already like my desktop replacement -_-. Everything runs so fast, it's even faster than my current desktop overall. And 1080p is pretty easy to see @ 100% dpi setting. But you need to have good eyes for sure, if i don't have my glasses on it's all pretty tiny.

Already overclocked the GPU (to a little above standard gt330m speeds) and i must say games run really awesome @ fairly high settings; COD MW2, Unreal 3 @ 1080p max settings run great, Dirt2 @ 1366x768 everything maxed..really awesome ^_^.

Also did the ''hacked/advanced'' bios flash, though it would be pretty risky but i tried it anyway, and it worked great ^_^. Not that i really use much of the settings, but just because it's possible hehe.

And last but not least; About the sound ports; just use a small extension 3,5mm with a ''corner'', instead of a straight plug. than just lay the wire across the notebook and you won't even notice it's there.
Something like http://www.elecb2b.com/images/4-Pin 2.5mm to 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack Convertor.jpg (but then in 3,5mm)

Can't wait for a graphic driver upgrade by sony tho. I'm hoping they will make them with the new 256(?) driver from nvidia, but all we can do is wait (or hope the new Z get's the same graphical system with an upgraded driver).

 

More Info:

When “smart” technology is dumb: a lesson in Intel graphics power-saving features – istartedsomething

Does anyone know how to disable this in the new Intel Control Panel?

 

Control Panel > Intel Graphics and Media > Power > Power Features > Energy Saving Wall paper or something.. Turn that off

 

Is anyone else having a problem where their computer randomly turns on from sleep/hibernate? It happened a couple times in my backpack (it got crazy hot since it was in a case), and a figured I had accidently opened the lid, but now it's happened a couple of times while just sitting on my desk.

 

Yes I've had this. Haven't had it since I turned off wake timers. Advanced Power Settings - Sleep - Allow Wake timers - Disable

 

Anybody figured out a way to force the keyboard backlight on all the time (or adjust the sensitivity of the sensor)?

The sensor is set far too high, and often the screen lights up the sensor and stops the keys lighting up when it'd be bloody useful! I can always cover it up with something, but I'd like a more elegant solution. Ideally a "sensitivity control" in VAIO Control Centre (in case you're listening, Sony...).

Any thoughts?

 

A. Yes. Be sure you are including the Reserved partition as well.
B. Probably not
C. Keep the defaults, they work fine.

 

Hello,

I'm going to see a client today who has the new Z with the light sensor. They want it to have the same brightness no matter what - anyone know how to change that or disable the light sensor?

Thanks

 

On mine I had to go into the intel graphics settings, then the Power tab - Power Features - On battery (dropdown menu) - and slide the slider to maximum quality. This definitely kept it from dimming the screen. Spent a week thinking my eyes were going bad as I had the automatic brightness feature turned off in Vaio Control Center yet brightness kept increasing and decreasing very slightly by itself.

Also the Automatic Brightness Setting in Vaio control Center has to be turned off.

 

Amazing !! it has solved the problem of diagonals on the screen for me!!

 

Yah I think it might also change the color depth as well as brightness. It really should ship on the maximum setting, I'm sure this is driving some people crazy.

 

Yes I've experienced this issue as well. A bright screen will cause the keyboard to turn off its backlit. Unfortunately there is no setting that I could find that can keep the backlit on all the time so the brightness of the screen doesn't fool the sensor. Hopefully, there will be a fix for this in the future.

If I find any work around for this issue I will post.

Cheers.

 

Does anyone know when the Nvidia driver update will be released because I'm still experiencing the BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH again , when viewing 1080p full screen videos?

 

Hmm, a noobish way would be to paste/stick something over the light sensor? Cuz this is not like Asus which u can manually turn off/on the KB light. But of cuz u still would have to set in Vaio Control Centre, for the KB to remain lit indefinitely in darkness, instead of to be turned off after 10 secs,30 secs, or 1 min of no KB activity

 

Btw, does anyone have a stuck pixel (red) pop out of nowhere for no rhyme or reason..? Just turned on my lappy and there it was... tried Jscreen Fix thingy and massaging din work...

Any other methods to deal with it? Besides hypnotizing myself that it's not there at all? Thx!

 

I posted this before (in a thread in the Sony regular forum), but got no real response. Hopefully posting here helps.

My screen shakes.

That is, when I come out of a sleep environment, on battery, the screen will go into convulsions. Some last a second, but I had a few today that lasted for 8-10 seconds. It was rather annoying, and after today, I'm done playing around with it.

So, I'm asking for your help. Have any of you experienced this? I wish I knew how to replicate it; unfortunately, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to its process. I do wonder if Microsoft Office is the culprit, but it's happened without that being on. So, I'm unsure.

Any help you can give is greatly appreciated. Again, this happens when coming out of sleep mode. The screen shakes from side to side, like it's going through a seizure of some kind.