VAIO TZ Owner's Thread

I used 945GM video driver downloaded from intel.com because it's newest.
When you've installed, 4x3 is normal. You'll need some tip to fix it.

Here is the deal.
Display property - Setting - Advanced - Monitor - Uncheck Hide modes that this monitor cannot display.
And on display property again, you can choose 1366x768.

I wanna emphasize that installing XP on TZ is much different from that Vista. Actually, installing vista is a piece of cake compare to XP. Because there is NO official driver for TZ, NO official Sony utilities for TZ at all. TX had the ones but TZ doesn't.

 

I take it that you have successfully installed XP on the TZ? I think there are a few people interested in the how to as well as where to obtain the drivers.

 

For model check just use uinversal extractor, only problem will be the camera.

 

I almost set up, but it's not perfect yet due to some of Sony utilities.
Maybe approx. 95% complete, I think.
Some of TX drivers still work for TZ and you can get others from Recovery Disk of TZ.
However, I think the real problems are Sony Utilities. They are not made for XP including core DLL files, so either don't work or work wierdly..

 

Not a big issue; but are any of you TZ owners needing to wiggle the power adapter a little to get a good connection to the laptop?

I find when I plug it in I need to wiggle a bit to get good contact.

Thanks!

 

No, not on mine.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention before.
You don't need to use any universal extractor or face Model.txt.

On XP, TX drivers and Utilities does not check your model, same as before.
On Vista, you don't need to download TZ-160C files. All you need is on your TZ recovery disk.

 

I read some post on Japanese TZ user's site about that issue. It could be initial error. I gotta go, so if you need some more info, I will find out about it when I came back.

 

Yes thanks, let me know what you find.

 

is there anyway to disable the touchpad? using the default driver from TZ160C

 

Yep mine does that. Thinking of buying some conductive tape and wrapping it around the connector. Seem like the power socket on the tz is a bit too large so sometimes you don't a good connection.

 

A good temporary solution is to wrap power tip with some aluminum foil. That seems to work pretty well until I can find a place to buy the conductive tape.

Edit: I couldn't find any place locally so I bought the 1/4" width here:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies/Conductive_Copper_Tape.html

 

That's neat tape! And now after you're done jury rigging the plug you'll have an extra 179.5 inches of it for other projects!

 

Actually I have 2 power adapters, so I will only have 179 inches left.

 

For those of you still watching these threads and considering importing, see my note in the other related thread here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2136074#post2136074

I'd be interested in finding out if others have heard differently.

Thanks.

 

I placed an order with them also on 6/29 and they siad expected delviery from Sony was 7/9 (today). I have not yet heard from Conics if it actually came in.

 

could anybody with a configuration without and optical drive take a picture of the right side of the body? Is it solid construction over where the ODD bay would be? or is there still a still a split in the frame?

 

Just an update. Got my conductive tape and it pretty much worked perfect.

I've attached a picture of the plug with the tape.

 

thats pretty ingenious, good job!

 

Me too i place an order with conics and i had an update telling that Sony reports "approx end of July" for delivery

 

hmmm its usually 2 weeks. wonder why yours would take longer.

 

I don't know if this is a tz problem, but:

When I have the expresscard ssd in the slot I cannot start windows vista. My windows files are on my internal hard drive (32 GB SSD) and when I remove the expresscard, my computer will boot normally. Anyone have a solution to this problem?

 

I just got an update from conics - they changed expected delivery from Sony from 7/9 to 7/15. Sounds like Sony can't keep up with demand

 

I believe this too.
I ordered it 7/4 and the update of conics told me that delivery at end of July. At least i ordered also the leather case that one weak ago was not available at the site

 

Your SSD has probably been formatted with a boot sector and your TZ is trying to boot off the ExpressCard SSD first.

Go into the BIOS and disable external device booting and you should be all set.

Stefan

 

Thanks, it works fine now.

 

To those who went with through PriceJapan.com and got the 32GB SSD + 160GB HDD option....

Can you specify exactly which external DVD drive you guys used to install your OS? I'm aware of earlier VAIOS's not recognizing certain external drives when installing a fresh OS and only accepted Sony external drives in order to be successful. Is this the same for the TZ also?

Also I ordered the SEG1 tuner for the reason that I'm planning to move to Japan by the end of the year. When I do a fresh new install of Vista, is there a certain driver that I need to reinstall for the SEG1 tuner? In addition, is there software on the initial Japanese OS that is needed to view the digital TV broadcast which I have to transfer to the American Vista install?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

I purchased the Samsung SE-T084L external slim DVD drive. For $99 you can't beat the price.

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151147

Had no problems booting off this drive and installing Vista.

Stefan

 

I used an external samsung drive too. Don't remember the model.

 

I just use a spare external hdd, works fine...

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

btw.. is English Vista something you can install while running the Japanese Vista? Or do you have to do the typical formatting of the drive and then fresh install?

 

Has anyone gotten the camera to be recognized under *windows imaging/camera* devices.

I have Vista recognizing the camera and Sony Camera Utility is able to use /see it as well --- the OS however does not see it as a *camera* under windows imaging device. I may be off on the terminology as I do not have the TZ in front of me now

 

Is upgrading the ram yourself possible? Am in Hong Kong where the model only comes with 1GB ram. Any ideas?

 

For ram, yes it is possible and very easy like other notebook just flip the notebook and open the ram slot covered with a plastic cover... but keep in mind that only one slot available and it is already occupied with the default 1gb.

 

I dunno if this is the right forum 2 post this Q. but here it goes:
Im buying a lapy this year probably ends of it, Im thinking either tz or xps m1330 (dell) both in their low (cheap) range, cuz im poor as hell.
any hows since yall own the one thats keeping me up at night I wanted to ask if you have any thought on this matter. Thanks.

 

My opinion:

You can't compare the Vaio TZ and the XPS M1330.

The Vaio is a true ultraportable both weight and size wize. Only 2.26 lbs with the lightweight battery. Design wise I think it is one of the best looking machines out there today and as I have stated before, I can't even begin to understand why some people would compare the TZ to the M1330 design wise. The M1330 is IMHO cheap looking compared to the TZ and not even close to the same style league. Taste is a personal thing, I know.

However all of this comes at a price. As any other true ultraportable it lacks the power of physically bigger notebooks. Albeit it does make up for it quite a bit with the 32GB SSD - but then you would have to cash out more than what you had planned. But at the end of the day, it all depends on what you want to use it for. If you are into 3D gaming then the TZ is definitely not for you. If you are i.e. a frequent flyer like me who appreciates nice design, then I'd say go for it.

The XPS M1330 is a nice machine specification wise. It has a lot of power considering the weight (if you choose it with the lightest battery). It is however physically quite big and that is a turn off for me. Compared to the TZ it looks like a giant. This machine however packs much more power compared to the TZ and you can use it for light to medium 3D gaming as well as performance hungry applications. If you think the M1330 looks good (crucial point for me) and don't mind a laptop which is quite a lot bigger and heavier than the TZ, then I'd say go for the Dell.

For me the choice was however easy based on the following: Size, weight, noise (or lack thereof), design.
Brand wise I am not very fond of Dell. I think their design is less than pretty, quality and feel is better nowadays, but still cheap. This is based on the many Latitudes I have used in the past.

 

I agree with above. comparing the TZ to the M1330 is like comparing a 2 seat roadster to a coupe, not in the same class and category. Ask yourself what you're looking to do with it and pick the laptop based on that.

 

there is no way you can compare the two.

The m1330 is twice as heavy as the tz and its way bigger.

The tz is an ultraportable where as the m1330 is really in the thin and light category.

 

Yes, I would completely agree with what has been said about the m1330 and the TZ. There is an allure to the 'power' that the 1330 has but in my experience, the size, weight, and battery life of the TZ easliy trump it for my needs (not to mention that as good looking as the 1330 is, it doesn't hold a candle to the TZ design wise).

re: "For me the choice was however easy based on the following: Size, weight, noise (or lack thereof), design. "

Geez... I'm not the only one!!! I would just add very long battery life in there right after weight and Sony is one of the leaders (if not THE leader) in battery life in ultraportables.

 

ok...ok...you are all right. misa is sorry. completely diferent lapies. guess I was asking myself what to get for my money either sexy and tiny or big but with 3d. (I know thats my call)

So here is a real Q. I just played with a tz at my local yodobashi camera (me is in rising sun contry) and felt the screen a bit loose, I twisted it a little to see if it would stand, and the upper edge kinda came apart. Wazup with that?
(I compared it with the IBM ultraportable, and the latter seamed bilt to withstand armagedon! tz seamed to be quite delicate in comparison)

 

I got my coputer from concis - English vista installed - and everything seems to work except the TPM say's it can't initialize. What driver am I missing?

 

Strange...
Did you tried to download from Sony US the drive of TZ-160?
This one: UPEK® TouchChip FingerPrint Coprocessor Driver.

 

That is the encryption chip that is on the computer. You need to enable it in the bios before you can use it.

 

Thanks, I eventually figured it out.

 

My specs (32GB SSD and Optical Drive)

I'm planning to install a clean copy of Windows Vista Home Premium.

is it a good idea to put the max amount of space (32GB) to the partition and create 1 primary partition since I only have 32GB of space?

Thanks

 

I don't believe that makes a difference. I have a 7GB partition just to put things not related to windows on it, but whether or not you create a partition, makes no difference, it comes down to personal preference.

 

If you use Verizon Wireless Do you prefer the 740 express card or the 720 card that fits into the USB port?

 

I use the v740 which works fantastically.

Stefan

 

I am running the x720 up here in canada on bell (same as verizon and sprint) it works great much better than the u720 which I also own.

 

Just got my Vaio TZ90 from pricejapan. Turns out that wiping out the 8G hidden partition was not so smart since it contains all drivers.

Can anyone please post the Intel 4965 drivers? I cannot download it since it comes as an .exe file. I am running linux and need to run it trough ndiswrapper.