VAIO TZ Owner's Thread

did you already do that? I'm still hesitant as i want to keep my warranty (3+ years left)

 

yep! if you restore the bios factory default settings if your lappie need repair, they won't notice

 

Oh thank you sony, you've issued a bios update for everything but the TZ. Words cannot convey the hatred I have for you now!

 

thanks mobytoby

i didn't read the thread carefully before and thought it was a bios reflash whereas it only changes the temporary memory.

 

Hello all,

Did a clean install of Windows 7 Pro 64bit, and things seem to be working quite well. I don't use WWAN so haven't tried to get that working. Fn keys work fine after installing the Vista 32 Sony notebook utilities and the shared library.

Things remaining are the fingerprint reader, and the memory card reader (both SD and MS). Has anybody managed to get these working, especially the memory card reader?

Thanks...

 

Hi guys,

Does anyone have a latest BIOS for Vaio VGN-TZ36GN?

Thanks,

 

Can someone please post a link to the event service for tz 198 it doesn't have the notebook utilities on there support site. I just installed windows 7 and my function keys don't work.. please help. i have search for hours now....

 

Hi all,are there any TZ windows 7 drivers on the SONY site? I seem not to find any on the UK one..!!

 

try http://sony.drivercache.com/Sony-VGN-TZ-Drivers/filesdown.html
you probably should read http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5303029&postcount=1152

 

Use the Vista 32 Bit drivers for W7 32 bit. Working fine here!

 

Anyone with a tz198n have it working properly using window7? Please help me get the function key to work...

 

just use the vista drivers. I installed windows 7 on a sony vaio tz-92NS (JP) and I used the vista drivers of the vaio tz3. Works great.

 

The Vista drivers worked for me for the FN keys but I cannot regain the ability to turn Bluetooth off. (Stays on no matter what if wireless switch is on, even when I install the LAN/WAN switcher utility.)

I'd like to be able to keep WiFi on but turn BT off. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Could you please upload the file or give me the link so i can download it.. with the tz198 i can't find the event service package. thanks

 

I have a TZ21WN/B UK Model, originally with Vista Business.

I recently upgraded to Windows 7 Pro 32 bit. Everything went fine. The whole upgrade was automatic.

The only problem? WWAN. The OS refuses to recognise the hardware and I couldn't find any way to start the 3GWWAN module.

I tried searching this forum and realised that I should have downloaded some software before the upgrade. Any suggestion how to go about rectifying that mistake now?

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Guys,

It works.

I removed and installed SMart Network from the VAIO site and installed Vodafone Mobile Connect Software and abracadabra it started working.

VF Mobile COnnect software recognised the Globetrotter and connected to the network seamlessly.

Thanks for all pointers.

 

Anyone could you please post the proper driver for tz198 to get the function keys working.. i seriously need help.. thanks

 

Hi,

I have just upgraded my TZ21VN/X to Windows 7 Home Premium, and everything works flawlessly... EXCEPT, the Brightness Fn keys.... The volume keys are fine, but I can't figure out why the brightness ones don't work..!?

I have the Event service running, and the Utilities DLL, but although I have re-installed several times (supposedly successfully), the Sony Shared Library seems to be missing from the list of installed programs..!?

Is this why the brightness doesnt work perhaps...?

ponx

 

Yea, I have similar problems with Fn and brightness. I know for sure Sony Shared Lib will not show up under Installed, so don't worry about it if it got installed successfully.
It's weird everything worked fine under Win7 RC, however under Win 7 Prof I am not able to get all Fn keys to work.

 

Anyone know if Portable One still sells those clean install disks? I need to buy one lol.

 

yes
http://www.laptopsinc.com/_e/dept/03/P1_VAIO_Images.htm

 

Does anyone have troubles with the gma950 driver on win7?

The latest driver from Intel (8.x.x.1930) is somewhat unstable. It sometimes crashes on sleep/resume.

I'm am currently using the original vista drivers (7.14.10.1387). Those work fairly well with the exception that it freezes once in a while when resuming from a screen that turned off from idle. Sometimes it's recoverable after 30 seconds or so, sometimes I have to hard reset.

 

i use the drivers windows 7 updated on it's own, never had freezes or any problems at all.

 

Just a heads-up: Sony finally added the win7 drivers on the US esupport site! I clean installed win7 pro with vista drivers on Jan 18 when the win7 drivers were not yet posted.. I might redo my clean install

 

THANK YOU very much for posting this! I had been checking periodically but gave up about a month ago. This is great news.

I don't see any LAN/WAN/Bluetooth software. I wonder if the Sony system apps will add back the ability to control Bluetooth on/off without using the WLAN switch, something I miss from pre-Win 7.

Thanks again.

 

No problem Are you not able to currently toggle the Bluetooth by using Fn+F1 in Win7? I am able to do this (the blue B lights up on the WLAN switch and it shows as "On" in SmartWi) but the Bluetooth doesn't actually work since I get an error when I try to install the vista driver from the esupport site. I haven't really bothered with it since I don't have any BT devices other than my iPhone...

I think you should be able to use Fn+F1 if you install everything related to SmartWi, but I'm not 100% sure!

 

CHEX also txs for the post.I checked SONY site I guess this past friday and there was nothing there>>
Most likely it was added over the weekend>>
I did a clean install on my Vista 32biz about a month ago>>everything is working from A>Z
I may give a shot and just upgrade to WIN7 PRO and cross fingers all b alright.>>

 

You know, that's a really good point. I never actually tried to connect a device to see if BT was working but the BT light always stayed on, so I assumed it was. I even turned off BT in the device manager but the light remained on, whereas it used to turn off. Maybe turning it off is working and I didn't know it...

I wasn't ever able to get SmartWi to install correctly in Win 7 and I don't see it in the list of updated software but I'll try your trick of attempting to connect a BT device to see whether that works.

Thanks again.

 

VOIPBEN
""I wasn't ever able to get SmartWi to install correctly in Win 7 and I don't see it in the list of updated software but I'll try your trick of attempting to connect a BT device to see whether that works.""

 

Thanks. That, however, is probably selecting Win Vista as your operating system. At least for me it doesn't appear for Win 7, and I can't get the Vista version to install properly.

 

hey everyone, i have a problem with my viao tz150N.
the screen basically dims to the point where you cant see it at all when i put a little pressure on the left hand side of the palm rest (so left of the touchpad). the screen is still on, you can kind of make out that the screen is still there but it is just REALLY dim. I would have to close the lid and open it again (put it to sleep and turn it back on) for the screen to regain the brightness. this happens with both plugged in and battery. Battery is also fully charged. is there a solution to this? thanks!

 

My laptop does have a burning smell out of its fan vent but no overheating , no cracked LCD and no cracked housing. I tend to smell this burning smell out of the vent. There is nothing else unusual.. I keep working for hours and hours but nothing happens..If any one has a similar issue I will greatly appreciate his help on this.

 

Since it only happens when you exert pressure on the left side as u said I would guess
that u are getting a bad connection(something may be loose inside (wire/connector).

 

Remember that SONY did a big recall on some TZ because of overheating problems.
There his a link down the page where u can check if your model has been affected.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?news_id=272&template_id=1

 

pfff. I just upgraded my 3 years old TZ..did a 3G upgrade with an option GM 380 card, installed a 64 GB IDE SSD and a 128 GB SSD both sammy.
Took me whole saturday evening but everything seems to work OK.

 

I would like to upgrade my TZ21VN/X from the very slow 1.8" 4200rpm 100GB HDD, to a 128GB SSD or some sort...

Can anyone recommend a decent SSD to put into a TZ..? An perhaps point me at some instructions on how to install it....?

Cheers.

ponx

 

I just visited the Sony esupport and YES the drivers for VAIO and all, are there now for Windows 7 for my TZ 395--

Wondering when performing a clean install of Windows 7-- what is the order of the installation of the drivers??-- thinking I read somewhere about doing them in a specific order.

...A

 

There is a thread for Windows7 Vaio TZ.I guesss should be there somewhere

 

I guess so too, but , since the complete set of drivers (1.66gb) just appeared in the last few days that is sort of old information, if it is even to be found- Although what seems to me like around 14 months ago I remember going on about this issue of the order of driver installation-- I suppose if I want to spend a few hours on the phone I could call SONY tech support in Manila and have a good old time..
Most of this rhetorical , talking to myself without expecting an answer as I probably have to solve this myself due to the arcane nature of these VAIO!
--after all some (other) folks I do talk to say just install the W-7 and go with it no matter what works or doesn't --
A

 

im interested to get the TZ because i need a portable laptop.i want to install ssd but is the 2gb ram enough to make it blazing fast?i intend to run win 7 ultimate 32/64 bit on it.ive skimmed through the thread and found some interesting things.so will it run win 7 flawlessly?.i can get a second hand one at a decent price.really wanted to get the S or Z series but its way expensive.

 

I have WIndows 7 on my tz90s (jap model) with a 64 GB SSD and it is super fast without any problems

 

Mine running Vista 32bit w/ clean install 64GB SSD>> Pretty snappy to me.
Upgrading SSD > 128GB though.After upgrade will go Win 7

 

How's the screen like?good for movies?Is the CPU considerably slower than current culv CPU?If I'm installing win7 32 bit on a 40gb ssd how much space would I have left?And anyone tried valve games like l4d or cs on it?I don't expect to game on an 11" incher but good to know if it handles it well.

 

I got used to it 1366x768 .. small but fine >>

After doing a clean install Win Vista 32 my 64SSD was left with 40 GB

I have tried no games on this baby

 

So the screen color reproduction etc is good?

 

It took me a little while to get used to > besides I came from a 14" screen HP which is my second unit.

Google for videos 4 the TZ and u may get some idea how it is ###

 

Just to add ??

++

Watching movies/video on 720 it chokes

 

Hi everyone. New member here. I have a VGN-TZ27GN bought in Singapore. Great little machine. I would like to run Windows 7 on it but did not see any support (drivers, downloads etc) on Sony site for it. Has anyone done this successfully? I saw references to running Windows 7 ok but what I would like to know are the various Vaio specific buttons etc.

On a related note, I have some wireless problems with the Vista Business install that is on the machine. Windows Update offers a newer Intel driver. When I install this the machine freezes upon startup. I go back using sys resptore and then wireless works but is a little unstable. Does not connect sometimes and I end up having to reboot a few times.

Oh well, Windows 7 if I can and if not then fix the issue in Vista Business. Thanks much for all your help.

 

Here in the USA you can UPGRADE from VISTA>W7
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/os...TZ298N/XC&month=&day=&year=&mdl=VGN-TZ298N/XC

You can else check this thread :
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=341599&highlight=vaio+tz+windows

My TZ is running pretty snappy on Vista (clean install) and performance wise it is ok.>>boot 38secs/shutdown18secs.

Regarding Intel : Try unistalling and reinstalling it instead of going thru WINDOWS UPDATE.

EDIT: wireless has always been like you have described when u purchased the TZ or it started acting up all of a sudden(after you tried to update it)

 

I purchased my Vaio VGN-TZ21M/N 3 days ago. I believe I got an excellent deal on this machine . It is a refurb and a store return, previous owners had it for 2 days before returning it and now I understand why...the machine is so incredibly slow that it is pretty much unusable. It takes around 4 minutes for a reboot and took just over 10minutes to install a basic program that would have taken less than 1.5 minutes to install on another computer.
I got the machine boxed with everything included and in immaculate condition for an absoulute steal at just £235.
This model comes with just 1GB RAM and a standard 100GB hard drive and Vista Business.
I have already ordered a 2GB stick of RAM from ebay which shouyld arrive in a few days.
I have also uninstalled some of the crap that Sony has put on the laptop but there still seems to be a lot of crap on it that's probably still making it run slow.
When using Firefox and opening new tabs and browsing generally, it will often display the blue round circle (equivalent to the egg timer in XP) even when nothing else is running in the background.

The screenshots here show the things that are still listed in the add/remove programs list even though I've already removed some stuff like Norton.
Now I'm not sure from the list which ones I should keep and which ones I should remove to make the laptop run quicker because I know that other users on this forum have removed a lot of other stuff to increase the speed of their laptops. Could somebody please advise which ones I should remove and if there's anything else I should do (other than to purchase a SSD as a decent sized one currently costs more than what I paid for the laptop itself ) to increase the speed further. Thank you, any tips and advice will be much appreciated.