VAIO CR Owners' Thread

there is this intermitent faint beeping sound coming from my dvd drive(vaio cr24)
this happens when my disc is being accessed (when it spins-up)

IS THIS NORMAL....OR THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH IT??

PLEASE HELP ME OUT.....SHOULD I GO TO THE SERVICE CENTER..?

 

I'm about to buy this configured to order CR-290 from sonystyle.com

Component: WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n w/Integrated Bluetooth®
Component: Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Component: LCD 14.1" WXGA+ (XBRITE-ECO™)
Component: SuperMulti DVD±R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive
Component: 120 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
Component: 1 GB DDR-SDRAM (DDR2-667, 512 MBx2)
Component: Champagne
Component: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Component: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5250 (1.5GHz)
Component: Norton Internet Security 2007 (60 Day Trial)
Component: QuickBooks Simple Start
Component: Video Standard
Component: Photo Standard
Component: Microsoft Works
Component: Engraving
Component: Standard Battery (BPS9/S)
Per Unit Price: $949.99

My question is what I bolded. The notebook will be mainly used for standard internet stuff, browsing, downloading, watching DVD sometimes, some office app, no gaming at all. Do you guys think the T5250 1.5GHz processor would be sufficient in running Vista and these uses? The upgrade to the next processor (T7250) is $100, I rather not spend that if I don't have to. Thanks for any advice.

 

IT SHOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR YOUR TASK......DONT WAST MONEY ON UPGRADING THE PROCESSOR ...IT IS POINTLESS, U WILL NOT SEE ANY REAL WORLD DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.....


I RATHER SUGGEST U SHOULD THINK OF HAVING 2GB SYSTEM RAM.....THAT SHOULD IN



IT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE UR SYSTEM SMOOTHER.....

 

Thanks. Good point. I'll do just that, much cheaper than upgrading the processor.

 

I was almost convinced that the CR22OE was a total lemon... since there was no downgrade option to go to XP. But I did a fresh install of Vista (holy crap there was a lot of Sony bloatware... would have taken me days to uninstall), and now it's running smoothly, and I do really love this computer. And yes I guess I kinda like Vista, once it's optimized. I was also getting some weird problem after the reinstall where it wasn't recognizing my battery and forcing me to hibernate... this was only when I installed some sony application.

So just a word of advice, if anyone does a fresh install (which I can very highly recommend), don't install Sony ANYTHING after that and you're golden. Just get the ethernet or wireless driver from sony and Vista's able to find all the other hardware no problem.

 

When I got my CR, I tried to unhide the hidden partition and basically lost everything on there. Because of this, I can't use any software to create a recovery cd so that I can install vista all by itself. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can go forward getting a clean install of vista without having to buy a new vista disc/license?

 

go to your nearest computer repair center and purchase vista anytime upgrade dvd usually $10.00 give or take a little, your code on the bottom of your sony will work on the same version thats now installed

 

Really? That's great. I just checked ebay and it looks like I can get one there for about the same price.

 

no prob have a day

 

Just got my CR!! Happy so far, except with the bloatware. I got a quick question though, does anyone know how to set up the play/pause, stop, ff, rewind buttons at the bottom of the laptop to work with Itunes?

 

Hi all,
yesterday, i bought one Laptop sony vaio CR 220 with the following features :
CPU : 2.0 Core 2 due
cache : 2MB
Ram : 2048
HDD : 200 GB
LCD : 14.1 WXGA Bright LCD
VGA : 358 MB Intel
Option : Vista / webcam
color : Red

I want to know how is the quality of my laptop .
beforhand appreciate .
cheers,
spynetc

 

What do you mean by quality?

 

almost can say quality means performance,
is it good or bad ?
it's really pretty and I love it, but I work with it just 1 one day because I bought it yesterday .
and I don't know how it's performance and it's good or bad ?
and I want to know Did I buy a good laptop or no .
thanks .

 

i just bought a cr25t in taiwan .. but i formate the chinese vista ... i have english vista now .. but my av mode, mute, capture, and the valume up down bottoms not workin ... what should i do ?? and where can i get the program for my camara??

 

did you check the asia sony website? they tend to have drivers for everything...

____________________________________
I've had my CR240E/B for 2 months now. Kind of happy...
I bought it knowing it had a slower HD 4200 rpm, but i kind of like how its lower heat. I've upgraded the ram on the unit to 4GB which is nice. Ive played with vista and xp and I gotta say this is a blazing unit when used with XP. haha
Build quality has been pretty good...i wish the mouse buttons were silent click and maybe a bit larger and easier to press. Also Battery compartment would be better if the standard and extended batteries didnt wiggle in the slot; battery locking design on the batteries could be better designed too.
Im just now starting to see gaps forming on the lid of my screen by the webcam area...and i dont know how that happend. I also had an issue with my DVD drive where it scores discs and ruins them if i move my notebook. I am too lazy to send it into sony so i kind of used my fingers to slightly bend the metal plates around the track of the lens area and that seems to have resolved the issues. Also the pioneer drive they use is kind of loud. I also wish sony balanced the weight better...the front is way too light.

But battery life is great and i've gotten good comments about it's looks and performance.

 

i did .. and they do .... but i m not sure which one is for those bottom ... and i believe they only have the driver for the camara but not the software for the camara

 

Is there a new design for the CR series yet? How many years does it take for Sony to redesign their notebooks?

 

anyone ?? help????

 

I think this CR design has probably only been out at most for 12 months now?
They aren't going to change it too soon because they are just sticking more spiffy things into it. I wouldnt expect a change till begining or end of summer time. But thats just me.




Sorry Madsatan i cannot answer your question.

 

while creating recovery discs i am getting an error......


"runtime error!"

program: C:\program files\sony\vaio recovery\launcer.exe

this application has requested the runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. please contact the application's support team for more information."


plzz anyone help me out...........

 

HI I have a CR24G ( bought in India) I have upgraded ram to 4 GB but the settings just shows me 3 G(have inserted the ram one at a time and gotten the correct amount...so the ram is fine) , is this the limit??? or am i doing something wrong??

 

vista limits the ram to about 3.25 varying, so no you did not do anything wrong, thats just how vista works, well at least the version you have

 

32 Bit Vista SP1 will show all 4 GB, but it won't use more than about 3.2. It has to do with the physical limitations of the hardware.

 

Hi to all. I just got a CR260F (Latin America version). It has 2GHz Core 2 Duo Intel processor, 2 GB Ram, wi-fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (n type) + Bluetooth.

For the people have problems with their web cam saying that is in use with another application, you have to patch your system with Microsoft KB931812.

Hope it helps you.

 

Hey is this battery capatible with my vgn-cr4000 http://www.batterygeek.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SONY%2DVGP%2DBPS2&CartID=1
According to the website it is, but does it really? Anyone have any experience with them?

 

DAMN!!! thanks for the replys... should have just bought that extra 1GB .....


I installed SP1 for vista... and now when I access the properties window from My Computer it shows 4GB (which before was just showing 3.2GB) ........ figure that out!!!

 

I bought a used CR-120E, without recovery partition/DVDs. I installed retail vista and all necessary drivers/applications without any problem after 3 trials. I only do not have the instant on feature. The versions on sony ftp site are not compatible with my CR120E. I think the only way is to extract it from recovery DVDs. Anyone help?

 

as stated before...sp1 will show as much ram you have installed, but the architecture of a 32bit system will only be able to utilize 3-3.5gb. but having 4gb still works faster than 3gb. hehe.

 

To all CR owners, how long have you had your laptop for? Are you satisfied with it or do you regret purchasing it? Why or why not?

 

A little bit of buyer's remorse after checking out my roomate's 13" xps and all the bells and whistles it came with, but i mean this has been one of the most solid notebooks I've owned - this vaio being my 3rd.

 

We're looking at the Sony CR vs the Dell XPS 1330 for our soon to be college student. Any recommendations or thoughts ?

Some other Sony CR questions I have that someone could help me on:
Whats the difference between the Sony Viao CR 290 and 490 ?
Whats the difference between the 490 (or 290) and the 408 and 420 that we see at MicroCenter ?
Does the CR still have the battery movement problem that can turn off the machine ?

Thanks in advance.

 

I've been recommending computers to friends and family for a long time, and do so every time i go to work. i always tell customers to actually try out the laptop. see if you like the feel of the keyboard and touchpad since you'll spend a lot of time using those, especially for school.

Battery life and all those other things are pretty standard between different notebooks.

However sony is notorious for bloatware, while XPS seems to be a lot lighter.
After some more useage of both the CR and XPS 1330, i would say the 1330 is good, so long as you can find a good deal from dell.

the 1330 is much easier to take to class and around, while the screen is still a very good size to do documents, view webpages and even edit photos/videos, watch dvd's and play games. I also noticed the 1330 is a bit brighter than the CR, making it a little easier to see outside or in brighter conditions. The XPS also offers an LED option which is lighter, cooler, more power saving and better at different viewing angles than the normal Screens.

The 1330 also seems to run a little cooler than the CR. But like i said, what ultimately makes someone happy is the feel of the notebook. Both look very nice, last long, and are reliable with good support to back them up. The CR's still do have the battery wiggle and loose latch issue, whereas the xps feels much more solid. And i think more importantly, is if there is no computer savvy person to work with the computer, the dell will come with less crap to slow down startup times, drain extra battery and bog down the computer overall.

=)

I should also note that the XPS comes with a nice sleeve and usually a few nice accessories (depending on configuration and perhaps coupons/specials being offered at the time of your order), which the Sony doesnt come with.

 

Consider the Dell Vostro1310 , much better than the M1330, I used to have the XPS and sold it and I now have the Inspiron 1420 but I will sell it and buy the Vostro soon.

I also have HP 6510b and I love the feel of its case , much better than my old PAvillion, so go for a business model regardless of a brand.

Oh and the XPS has bad battery life , it is also a cheap looking laptop.

If you go with a Dell , you should consider the VOSTRO not the XPS.

NOTe: the XPS M1530 is a good laptop with much better screen and GPU than any of these you mentioned here, but it's a 15.4.....

If you dont mind a 15.4 , go for the M1530 , much better than the 1330.

 

Perhaps batterylife was shabby with the original models of xps m1330 but my roomate who has the 2.4ghz, 4gb ram, 128 nvidia geforce...etc. gets on average 3 hours of battery life with the vista power settings set to balanced, wi-fi on and screen set to 50% brightness. He has the 6 cell battery (not the 4 cell), which is the same size as the 4 cell so it doesnt stick out like the 9 cell. I really have to disagree that the xps is a cheap looking notebook...but i guess maybe from a business standpoint it may look not as professional, because professional notebooks tend to look bland a dull...ie. Lenovo...

However i will agree with you on the vostro 1310...its a new model, i havent seen anyone with it, but the vostros do feel a bit more solid since its more business oriented. But i feel that the xps is something a college student would be happier with. Again all of this is opinion based.

 

New Purchase

VAIO CR Series Notebook PC
VGN-CR490EBR

2gb ram(Will up to 4 gb)
250 hard drive (will replace with 7200rpm model I have here collecting dust)


Ok I made an impulse buy on this for 899.99+tax from the sony website. Decent deal I might add. Sure the new platform is on the way, but it will not be under a grand. I promised the wife that I will never spend over a 1000 on a laptop. The only thing that sucks is that I want a 64 bit OS. I will pull the hard drive, install Vista 64 and see how far I can get using the drivers found on the UK sight.

 

That is a good price.
If you have the time, could you post back with temperature differences between the OEM HD and the 7200rpm?

I have the 4200rpm CR and its slow (fine when aided by readyboost), but i've been considering just slapping in a 7200.

 

Anyone sell a CR120 recently? I need an idea of a price to ask for mine.

I have a Sangria/Red CR120 - Core 2 Duo @1.8, 2GB Ram, 160GB hard drive, webcam, wireless, etc.

If anyone can help out, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

 

just sold my cr303 for $800 and joined the darkside and bought a macbook
like it muches better overall

 

Raising the funds for a macbook pro, myself. My vaio was/is definitely the best laptop I've ever owned, but I am joining the dark side. Thanks for the pricing info.

 

if its still in good condition with all the original stuff, you could get buyers for it around $700.

thats just basically comparing it to the current stuff notebooks have on the market now (brand new).

 

How long does a VAIO CR laptop typically last for until one component malfunctions (ex; hdd, memory, wireless card, motherboard, dvd drive, etc.) if it's never dropped, spilled, etc. but it's being used frequently (ex; multitasking - word processing, surfing the net, playing low end games such as The Sims 2, etc.)?

Basically, I'm asking what's the average lifespan until one of the components "breaks"?

 

i've owned mine for 5 months, its almost never off. its taken a few hard hits - but not a full drop - and nothing has failed.
I've gamed on it, run major file transfers, and reformatted the unit on multiple occassions.

everything still works like new. But of software will crash and fail, due to the fact that it is windows, and sometimes i push applications beyond their breaking point.

otherwise i feel this unit should be solid for 2 years.

 

Yeah, my laptop is totally mint, never an issue.

I listed it on ebay with best offer and just got an offer of $700. I think I'll probably take that.

edit: accepted the bid. sold for $700. thanks guys.

 

good stuff, thats some good resale value there.

 

i own a CR too but i'm having problems because the recovery partition was overwritten. i cant get a recovery cd because i stay here in the philippines. help!

 

Boa slimcase M90

Baq fits perfectly over the CR, even with the extended battery and a few goodies. The inside is red pretty close to the the Sangria Red Cr. A little pricey, but very high quality stuff. My third bag from Booq in 4 years and never a problem, and no sign of wear and tear.

 

Wish my CR came with a black case bottom to match the extended battery or the extended battery came in grey to match the CR. Just looking for something to complain about. Let the fun begin

 

First upgrade = Memory for those who want to know the OEM sticks before I toss them in the spare parts bin.

hynix
1GB 2Rx8 PC2-5300S-555-12
HYMP512S64CP8-Y5 AB-T

 

ooo Gskill ram...fancy! haha

 

Inside the CR490 - Omit the upgraded memory



Everest System Hardware Summary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 6.0.6000 (Vista Retail)
Date 2008-05-21
Time 20:22

Computer:
Computer Type ACPI x86-based PC (Mobile)
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
OS Service Pack -
Internet Explorer 7.0.6000.16546
DirectX DirectX 10.0
Computer Name VGN-CR490
User Name Admin
Logon Domain VGN-CR490
Date / Time 2008-05-21 / 20:22

Motherboard:
CPU Type Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 T8300, 2381 MHz (12 x 198)
Motherboard Name Sony Corporation VGN-CR490E
Motherboard Chipset Intel Crestline-GM GM965
System Memory 3061 MB (DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (02/19/08)

Display:
Video Adapter Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family (448 MB)
Video Adapter Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family (448 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel GMA X3100
Monitor Generic PnP Monitor (120014)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Realtek ALC262 @ Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - High Definition Audio Controller

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH8M 3 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2828
IDE Controller Texas Instruments PCIxx12 Integrated FlashMedia Controller
Storage Controller Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
Disk Drive FUJITSU MHY2250BH ATA Device (250 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA)
Disk Drive MemoryStick0 Device
Disk Drive SD1 Device
Optical Drive PIONEER DVD-RW DVRKD08 ATA Device
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 230190 MB (207899 MB free)
Total Size 224.8 GB (203.0 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad

Network:
Primary IP Address
Primary MAC Address 00-1D-E0-AC-D5-DB
Network Adapter Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Network Adapter Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8101E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Modem HDAUDIO SoftV92 Data Fax Modem with SmartCP

Peripherals:
Printer Adobe PDF
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer QuickBooks PDF Converter
Printer Send To OneNote 2007
FireWire Controller Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller (PHY: TI TSB41AB1/2)
USB1 Controller Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - USB Universal Host Controller
USB2 Controller Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB2 Controller Intel 82801HBM ICH8M - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device ALPS-UGPZ9-BCM2046
USB Device Generic USB Hub
USB Device Sony Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC6
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
Battery Microsoft AC Adapter
Battery Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery

DMI:
DMI BIOS Vendor Phoenix Technologies LTD
DMI BIOS Version R2100Q0
DMI System Manufacturer Sony Corporation
DMI System Product VGN-CR490E
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer Sony Corporation
DMI Motherboard Product VAIO
DMI Motherboard Version N/A
DMI Motherboard Serial Number N/A
DMI Chassis Manufacturer Sony Corporation
DMI Chassis Version N/A
DMI Chassis Serial Number N/A
DMI Chassis Asset Tag N/A
DMI Chassis Type Notebook