Vaio FZ Owners Official Owners Thread

The wireless device Switch app warns that there may be interference between bluetooth and 2.4 ghz wireless. Specifically it states: "Simultaneous use of 2.4 ghz wireless LAN and the Bluetooth device can affect connection stability." You MIGHT want to try disabling the wireless LAN to see if it is affecting the audio.

Gary

 

It's really easy to switch the drive, just unscrew the lid on the bottom of your Vaio that's right underneath the right palmrest, release the 3 screws that hold the bracket into place, slide the bracket and hdd to the left and take it out. Put the new hdd in the bracket and reverse the process and voila. You can buy a cheap usb case for your 'old' hdd to keep using it as an external drive and put back all the data you need.

The recovery dvd's you have to burn yourself with the 'Sony recovery center' application, their hidden on a special partition on your hdd. You can also order them from Sony if for some reason you can't burn them yourself, but they charge an X amount for that normally. I have heard from several guys that managed to get them mailed to them for free though, through some strong argumentation with the Sony helpdesk.
My FZ also came with a 'Vista Anytime upgrade dvd', this dvd contains a clean version of Vista that you can activate with the key on the bottom of you FZ. If you have one of those and you want to use that make sure you have all the drivers and Sony app's you need ready before you start the operation.

Gary, the guy in the post above this one, did an excellent tutorial on how to do a clean install. You can find it following the link in his signature.


If you want to more about 'unscrewing' your Vaio just check the link in my signature.

 

Gary thanks for the input. Turning off the 2.4 ghz did solve the poor bluetooth audio quality problem, however, it doesn't offer a permanent solution as I rely on wireless for my internet connection. On a side note, do you know how to fix the wireless network connection utility? Mine works, but it takes forever to load and even when it is connected, the icon in the system tray shows 2 monitors with an X. It's not a huge problem, just a minor annoyance. Thanks again.

Ash

 

The ONLY permanent solution is to use a 5 ghz wireless connection. The 2.5ghz and Bluetooth both operate on the same frequency and will ALWAYS cause this interference.

I don't have any insight on your other issue.

Gary

 

thanks for the detailed hardware help, please also write few lines about software... i.e, tell how to load exact copy of existing settings on new HDD using recovery discs ?

 

Hi all,
I'm living in EGYPT (North Africa) and i will buy (FZ4000 CTO OR AR770 CTO) from USA then ship it to Egypt.i have some questions for you guys :
1-What about the warranty.I've asked here in SONY-Egypt they said they don't support notebooks can i choose an International warranty(i don't know how ) and fix it in any near country (like Saudi Arabia)
2-Is there a noticeable difference in performance between

* T9300 (2.5GHZ) 6 MB L2 cache
* T9500 (2.6GHZ) [add $300.00] 6 MB L2 cache​

3- which one do you prefer (For a Computer Science Student )
FZ4000 CTO--->$2019.99

*Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5GHz)
* Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
*2 GB DDR-SDRAM (DDR2-667, 1 GBx2)
*250GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
*Blu-ray Disc™ Read and Write Drive
*LCD 15.4" WXGA (XBRITE-HiColor™)
*NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GT
*WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n w/Integrated Bluetooth®
*Polished Mosaic
*Extended Battery (BPL8)​

OR

AR770 CTO--->$2309.99

*Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5GHZ)
*Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
*2 GB DDR-SDRAM (DDR2-667, 1 GBx2)
*240GB (120GB x 2) SATA Hard Disk Drive
*Blu-ray Disc™ Read and Write Drive
*LCD 17"WUXGA (XBRITE-HiColor™)
*WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n w/Integrated Bluetooth®
*Standard Battery (BPS9A/B)​

4-What about the different colors of the keyboard(especially Polished Mosaic)and do you have pictures for it?
5-for guys who got the Extended Battery (BPL8) is thier any thing u don't like about it?

 

Sorry, but thats not really my expertise. Somehow i always manage to get done what i need to on my own computers, but it usually involves a lot of 'Googling', and as soon as i've succeeded and completed the task i always forget how i did it...

Do you mean your Windows settings, or other..? If so have you tried doing a search in the 'Windows OS and software' forum? I assume there must be a settings file that you could copy or something, but i'm not sure about that.
Whenever i (have to) do a re-install of my OS it's usually because something's got really messed up, and i prefer everything to be re-written and re-set fresh on those -fortunately rare- occasions, so i've never tried it myself.

 

Using the Sony Recovery Disks??? It can't be done. Those disks will only restore the machine back to its "out of the box" state. Period.

To do what you want, you need to create an image of the partitons on the drive. I use an old copy of Ghost 2003 for this. It will create bootable DVD's containing a compressed image of my partitions. I swap the drive, use a tool to create partitons on the new drive (I use BootIT NG) and boot from the first of the Ghost image DVD's and restore the partitions.

Gary

 

what if we use sony vaio recovery disc creation utility to create a latest recovery state of laptop and then restore same on new HDD

 

Has anyone tried the latest Sigmatel (IDT) driver update from vaio support?

Wanted to check if you continue to have the enhancement options under cpanel->audio->speakers->properties after uninstalling previous drivers and installing the new ones (i didn't installed them on top of previous). I have enhancement options only for HDMI after update.

 

The Sony Vaio Recovery Disk creation utility does NOT use the latest state of the laptop as its source. It uses the contents of the hidden recovery partition. So that will NOT accomplish what you want to do.

Gary

 

Hi all, just received my FZ210C and have 2,347 questions that I need answered...... Just kidding......but I do have 2. Is there anything special/different that I need to do when I first start it up than what the instructions are telling me? Also, Crucial lists PC2-6400 memory as an option and their Tech said that he thinks the 210 can utlize the faster RAM. Sony and Corsair do not offer /recommend this RAM and say that it will not work. Should I just stick with the 5300 that's called for or will the faster one work? TNX

 

Tanker,

Make sure you create a Recovery DVD set. Sony does not ship any recovery DVD's with the machine, but supply a utility that lets you burn them yourself. Do NOT try to use dual layer DVD media, they are apparently incompatible with the software (even though the drive might support them).

Gary

 

TNX, good to know, anything on the RAM question?

 

Talking about Vaio support, its advising me to download VAIO Content Metadata XML Interface Library 2.1.01.10292 . I uninstalled this/these programs when I got my laptop - I thought it was bloatware.

Should I download this?

Thanks, Jam.

 

Hi, can you guys tell me the differece between the Hi-Color option and the Eco on the FZ screen.
I am thinking of buying one and its the Eco version but the pricing is really good. Is Eco good enough? Thanks!

 

just a quick reminder.. don't bother to download the audio driver update as it will cause the audio jack to not function properly..

 

Any answers PLZ

 

..'bout time someone addressed the bluetooth audio problem issue. I'm pairing my FZ290N6 with Sony HBH-DS980's and even disabling the 2.4 GHz WiFi isn't helping. So here's what I did to fix the problem:

Download and install Winamp and the AudioBurst plugin. http://www.qolabs.com/audioburst/

Go into the settings for the AudioBurst output plugin from Winamp, and enable only the resampler and PowerFX (not sure if PowerFX is available without registering, but believe me the difference is worth 15 bucks or whatever).

Set resampler settings to 32,000 kHz
Balance: All the way toward Mellow
Tempo: Normal

Now enable and edit the PowerFx settings:

Drive: 105%
Bass: Whatever you like
Treble: Smooth @ 15
Levels Adjustment: Treble ALL THE WAY UP TO SIX!! HEAR THAT AWESOMENESS??! I have been hacking my system for half a year trying to get that! YESS! No more hissy crap treble noise, just sweet beautiful music.

Please give feedback on any other solutions you guys have too. I'm sure I'm not the only one flustered by the difference in the bluetooth audio quality on the FZ's and Sony's other great bluetooth audio products.

 

The eco uses single lamp, whereas hi-brite uses double lamp screen means brighter screen.

You can physically check the difference.

 

On this occasion Sony is right

The faster RAM is useless for the FZ, the Intel chipset simply wont support anything faster then PC5300. It'll work, but you wont benefit from the extra speed.

 

I did install those, but i'm not sure if you still have the options you mention with the update. I couldn't find 'm anyway, but i did look in a hurry i have to say.

But there is another good reason for updating those drivers; a couple of guys on a dutch FZ forum reported that with those drivers 5.1 output through HDMI finally is supported, something a lot of us have been waiting for i think.

 

I have a different locale but this should be it Start->CPanel->Sound->Select Speakers & then Properties->Look if you have an 'enchancements' tab. You should have it for HDMI.

These enchancements were helpful with previous drivers cause they would give a gain in speakers' volume, something fz needs it if you don't use external speakers.

On the other hand, I didn't know about the HDMI 5.1 output fix, indeed I have been waiting for it too. I will test it with PowerDVD to see if it's working.

 

hey did they change anything except for the processor when they went from the FZ1**E/B to the FZ2**E/B's?

 

Nope, i don't see an enhancements tab there. But you can choose HDMI or speakers in the sound menu so maybe just the menu has changed (i don't have anything to plug in a HDMI kabel to right now, so the icon is inactive atm on my machine).


HitokiriX The FZ21E has also got 2Gb's of ram instead of 1, a bit bigger hdd (40Gb), and a better web-cam (1.3Mp instead of 0.3). I believe thats it.

 

I'm actually more interested in the American models, FZ180E/B, FZ250E/B, etc. But I assume that since you didn't mention any changes with these types the only thing that changed was the processor?

 

I just got a new FZ-210, and i found that the right palm rest can get pretty toasty even after 10 minute's use with the wireless on.

Anybody has the same issue?
Or i just got unlucky?

Thanks!

 

lol, then my answer would have suited you better before i edited it. I thought you were talking about the European models, i don't know all specifications for the US models. Just go to the Sony website and pull up each model in a different tab so you can compare specifications yourself please.

 

Dude, read through the thread, or at least do a search. That has been mentioned so many times already.

 

Where is this utility and what is it called? I can't find it? Maybe my computer didn't come with it...

 

What graphics's card drivers are you guys currently using with your FZ? I am using the 169.28 set and I was wondering if there is anything better out there.

 

Start -> Help and Support -> Backup & Recovery -> scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Launch VAIO recovery center".

Gary

 

Perfect! So if I made one of these recovery discs and then installed a new Hard Drive would it reinstall my system (Obviously to factory settings) on this new drive? Also does anyone know if the computer takes SATA 150 or SATA 300 or does it not matter?

 

Yes, you can use these disks to populate a new hard drive to the same "out of the box" state as your orginal. Can't answer your 150 vs 300 question. But there was a thread here about that before. Use the search box at the TOP of the page to fine it.

Gary

 

Any battery tests for the latest FZ models with dual lamp display?

 

Does anybody know who makes the recent Sony FZ models? Compal? Wistron? both?

 

Hi guys. I just write to tell you were right, the same thing happened to me and I just realized about the problem. It is an absolute fail, but I needed a couple of months to compare with another model. My computer is right now on its way to fix. Probably somebody forgot a polarizer, filter or anything, because this effect only happens with black colour. I hope it is not taking much time.

Thanks!

 

Got a FZ283 in December and been having fits with it. HDMI will only output stereo no matter what I try. Sony tech support has told me all current models only have HDMI 1.1 and thus only output stereo. Sony's own esupport website states all current models have HDMI 1.3. Then they told me ...well it does have 1.3 but only supports software funcion of 1.1Reguardless HDMI 1.0 supported 8 channel audio. Grrrrrrrrrrr.... I keep getting convienent BS answers that solve nothing. Another gripe is the FZ series totes Instant ON and guess what, not with the NVIDIA card. This computer came with the Instant Mode manual also. After many hours of tech support run around... it seems to be a NO GO. Anybody have any GOOD solid answers? I don't really care to watch BluRay with 2 channel audio. Looks GREAT, sounds crappy...A muscle car with a 4 banger...

 

AKmidnightsun, did you try the updated audio driver? It should give you 5.1 sound output over HDMI.

 

Storm3016, The current driver is Sigma Tel 6.10.5511.0 Date 5/6/2007. I've checked around and IDT does not provide any end user support. They refer everything back to OEM.

 

Does that mean even if I buy a new FZ31S (EU model) with Penryn I will have no HDMI 1.3 output?

 

AKmidnightsun Try downloading the 6.10.5614.0 version on the Vaio support page of your country(if you can't find them, they our out on most European support sites), they are dated 13-9-2007.

 

Storm3016, Updated the driver and confirmed install, was not available here so I grabbed it from elsewhere. Still no 5.1, HDMI still only outputs 2 channel.

 

To bad, i have no idea what to do about it to be honest. I was told it works on other FZ's, but i have no way to test it myself at the moment.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on the wear factor of the black keyboard and particularly the palm rest? I like the black look, but I don't want two big shiny wear spots on the palm rest to develop.

 

After 7 months of heavy use i have a small shinny spot on the left side of my space bar, but thats it. I'm pretty sure it would come of with a gentle de-greaser though. Of course it also depends on personal hygiene and how much you sweat etc., some people have more aggressive sweat (might sound a bit funny but i don't know how else to say it) and will have more stains much faster.

Overall i think the black hold's up pretty good and it's easy to clean.

For people with the white keyboards; how do your keyboards look after a while of use, do they get yellow or are they still pretty?

 

I have an fz290, i was curious if anyone knew what a beep from the computer ment.

I get a beep from the computer randomly. not sure what its trying to tell me

 

What about the palm rest? All good?

 

Hello house, i'm in a some trouble and i wondered whether anyone could help out.
My kid brother forced a power off when my FZ21E was initializing for first use. Since then i've been unable to complete the initialization. I keep getting the error message "Windows was not fully installed...". The same message comes up when i try to recover to factory defaults from start-up using F10. I'm a bit of a quandry and would appreciate any useful assist i can get from the house. Thanks lots

 

1 month of ownership , used everyday minimum 2 hrs. My black palm rest definately gets shiny during use, thus far water and a towel has brought it back to new. so far my sweaty and oily hands have yet to scar my keyboard permanently