Vaio FZ Owners Official Owners Thread

Well that does appear to be the right file for your model. Oh WAIT!!!! I bet I know the problem. Right click on the exe file and select run as administrator. See if that helps.

Gary

 

ScuderiaConchiglia -
thanks, thats what i plan to do.
when i first receive the laptop, i will do a ghost image, then the vaio centre recovery dvd, so at least i have 2 sets of recovery disk with 2 methods.

then partition to a D:\ and image C:\ using ghost

so if anything goes wrong one day, i will just re-image C:\ drive ghost, leaving D:\ just as a standard data drive (doc, movies, etc)

thanks sharing, is that what you are doing with your FZ at the moment ?

 

I have three partitions. One for the OS and programs, one for all data including favorites and Outlook files and a final partition large enough to hold a compressed ghost image of the C: partition.

BTW you do not need to recreate a ghost image of C: right after you repartition. You should wait to do that until you get your own apps installed, uninstall any of the bloat ware you don't want, your data directories moved to the D: drive and get the machine configured to your liking. (I think that's REALLY what you meant, but I just want to clarify.)

Gary

 

Hi ScuderiaConchiglia,

yes, thats what i meant.

one thing though, i have been googling on forums, some people said ghost2003 cd works with vista, some say dont.

first of all, i find ghost 2003 very easy to use and touchwood, it hasnt failed with imaging it and applying the images back in the last 2-3yrs with xp pro sp2.

the good thing with ghost is, it doesnt require installation like symantec powerquest ghost 12 or 14, or aronis true image where you have to physically install the software then make an image

mind if i can what imaging software u use ?

thanks for sharing

 

Ghost 2003. It works just fine with Vista. But I ALWAYS use it to image partitions not entire drives. So it never winds up dealing with the partitions entries/master boot record on the drive etc.

I agree with you in that I do not like ANY imagine app that requires me to install it. I want to run the imaging OUTSIDE the OS from some bootable media. I do not trust any iaging app that runs in the OS.

Gary

 

Gary, I tried running the application as Administrator, but no luck. I am not even able to install Model- or Operating System-independent updates like the Sony Application removal tool or the Vaio Startup control utility! When I click on Vaio Web Support from the Start Menu, I get an error message saying: "The update(s) for your models is not available at this time. Please try again later. (MessageID=0008)." However, there ARE updates for my model! I'm not sure what to do. Thanks for any help.

Ash

 

Forget the Vaio Web support utility it is buggy at best. Go directly to http://esupport.sony.com enter your model number and check for updates that way. Just download them and install them yourself.

Gary

 

Right, that's what I tried to do originally, but every time I ran the file after downloading it, it said "This update is not intended for use with your computer model," even though I downloaded the file from the my computer's model (VGN-FZ290) support driver page! I don't understand why the support site would say the update is for my model, but then when I run the exe file, the installer says its not for my computer!

Ash

 

Did you try what I suggested earlier? Right click on the EXE file and select Run as Administrator.

Gary

 

Yes I tried that first and it didn't work, and then I googled my Sony Web support message and found a patch released by Sony Europe that supposedly fixed the web support application problem, but to my luck, did not fix it on my system. So basically I am stuck with manually downloaded update files that I cannot execute and a Vaio web support application that does not function!

Ash

 

Ok, lets drop back a bit. What has been done to the machine since you got it? What software have you removed or added? What "tweaks" have you applied? What "registry cleaner" aps have you run? Basically, what has been changed?

Gary

 

I've had the laptop for 4 months now and since then, I've only removed the trial software that came with the Vaio. I have not removed anything labeled Sony or Vaio from the computer. I have removed the Norton Free trial and replaced it with AVG (on the other forum where I found that patch, someone had noticed that the problem was fixed when using Norton, but for me that is not a solution as I do not like Norton). I've installed basic programs like iTunes, Microsoft Office, Skype, AIM, Firefox, etc. I have not changed anything in the startup programs, except a few have been added. I emailed Sony technical support and they told me to install a Shared Library however I ran into the same problem where it said this update was not intended for my model. I am fresh out of ideas, and if I recall correctly, I was never able to install updates, even when the laptop was brand new. I study abroad and tried updating my audio drivers when I first got the laptop in January and the same thing happened where it would not let me install them, even though the computer was brand new and nothing was uninstalled/installed.

Ash

 

I wonder if you are having an issue with the machine being used in a different country than where the model was sold. For example a Japanese model being used in the United States. If you went to the US Sony support site and download a driver it is not going to let you install it on a Japanese model machine.

If that is not the issue, then we have a more fundamental problem that sounds like it has existed for a long time. One last thing you MIGHT want to try. The Norton uninstall process is notorious for being a stinking piece of $h1t. However on the Norton website they do offer a specific stand alone uninstaller application that does a better job. That might fix the issue. But I'll tell you up front, I doubt it will help.

Now this next bit you are NOT going to want to here. But if I were in your position, I would opt for reinstalling the operating system. I would back up all my data, including my favorites folder and Outlook files to a dvd. I would make a list of all the applications installed, using the control panel app for uninstalling apps to get the list. Then I would restore the machine from a recovery dvd or the recovery partition. (Or better yet do a clean install. see my signature line below for how to do that.) Test the ability to install updates. Then reinstall the applications and restore your data.

Again, I know the prospect of doing that is a pain, but I don't really think you have any other choice.

Gary

 

hey guys and girls...this is one helluva long thread now and in the last hour or two i've only read a fraction of the pages, but i found the site through a google search for the following question (which has obviously been asked before [vaio2k7] otherwise i wouldn't have found the site )

i've got a fz160e (since sept07) and have recently been trying to find out why the battery meter only shows a percentage and not remaining time ???

i know it's not a vista issue as i have several friends with other brands of laptop+home premium where a time does show...
...and yesterday i found out that the fz348e/b (circuitcity.com - bought last week by my uncle) also does show a remaining time & percentage.

any ideas, as the previous post wasn't answered (as far as i read down the pages). Also look forward to finding out much more and hopefully contributing!

spidey

 

Thanks for all the help but I think I'll wait until my semester is over before I try anything like reinstalling the OS or recovering the system. I do have one question. When I right click on Computer and click properties to see what my model and operating system are, this is what I get:

Windows Edition: Windows Vista Home Premium
Manufacturer: Sony Electronics, Inc
Model: Vaio Computer
Rating:
Processor: Not Available
Memory (RAM): Not Available
System type: 32-bit Operating System

I'm thinking maybe there is an error in communicating my laptop's model specifics with the Sony Support site, which is why anytime I try to connect using Vaio Update or install a manually downloaded update, my laptop does not identify its model type so I get the error saying this update is not intended for your model. Let me know what you think of this theory and if you have any suggestions. Thanks for all the help Gary. I appreciate it.

Ash

 

@Ash - there was a patch for some models where the processor wasn't being displayed correctly. In fact the FZ348 i mention in my above post was reporting a T7700 instead of the T5450 that is present...i downloaded the patch from the sony support site (N.B. NOT model specific) and it sorted it. having said that it was only reporting incorrectly in device manager, not the computer properties you speak of...worth a mention i thought! Incidentally, haven't read all your posts but gather you were trying to upgrade to vista SP1 and a driver caused an issue!? If so, M$ are releasing SP1 through Auto Updates sometime in april so perhaps worth waiting to see if it happens... (i personally updated within the first few days of general release and there were no problems)

 

This is an issue with sony's battery/software. Even mine shows the same.

 

hmmm i did wonder about that - when i took my battery out and put it on the FZ348 (bought very recently), it took a matter of seconds to update the amount of time which was left. It was close too - i removed it from mine [fz160 to be clear] with something like 24% left, and it showed up as 23% + a time. Putting the new battery in mine made no difference. So i conclude it's not a battery issue!

How's about this as a solution - some advice from the experts perhaps ...I checked the versions of drivers under the "batteries" drop-down in device manager - mine is ver.6.0.6001.18000, driver date 21/06/2006....whereas the FZ348 has a number slightly lesser (i.e. ver6.0.6001.14000 - i can't tell you the exact number as i didn't make note of it) but the same date. I did the same for "Microsoft Composite Battery" under the System devices drop-down. Then, I went to driver details for the two and found where they were located...C:\Windows\System32\DRIVERS\...

battc.sys
cmbatt.sys
compbatt.sys

so I now have a copy of these files from the 'working' laptop - my question to you:

If i replaced the drivers on my laptop with these from the newer one, will there be a chance of it working? Or will it bugger up my laptop?!

Cheers guys

 

I doubt that the drivers are what actually displays the time left figure. They may play a part in making the info available, but some other component will most likely display the number.

Gary

 

Hi . I am posting this here because you would know better about the FZs.

Does anybody know whether the FZ31Z comes with a GDDR3 or a DDR2 GPU? I have searched around without much luck. Everywhere they list it as 8600M GS 256 MB but they never mention the RAM type. Also what is the difference in performance between the:
8600M GS with DDR2
8600M GS with GDDR3
8600M GT with GDDR3
8400M GT (GDDR3)

Which would you recommend among the FZ31Z, FZ31M, FZ38M and the AR61M ? Is it worth spending extra money on the FZ31Z (for the BD burner and double LEDs ) or should I choose the FZ38M?

I am only considering these models and will use the notebook for browsing, image editing, occasional gaming. Battery life, screensize, mobility, screen resolution and HDD are not an issue. It should last for 3 to 4 years.

 

FZ 8600M GS is DDR3. Performance wise it's close to 8600M GT.

Go for the 31Z if u can afford it. Else forget about the M and buy the FZ31S.

 

for arguments sake Gary, if i were to boot to safe mode, replace the drivers then restart...could it completely screw up my system or could i in theory simply change back?! I'd be happy to try it just to rule out that it's not a drivers thing

 

@Ash - have you seen this: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?info_id=352&mdl=VGNFZ160E

 

Yeah I figured i'd have to do that, but I kind of wanted to update those drivers through Sony's site, because in the future, I still want to be able to update important drivers. I will contact Sony Support directly after my semester is over. Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it.

Ash

 

I am 99% certain it is not JUST a driver thing. The driver may play a part, but it is not the whole thing. But if you want to try I would ONLY do so with a complete image of my C: partition. Any thing less is rolling the dice. You don't want to come up snake eyes.

Gary

 

Gary, I successfully installed Windows SP1 with that link you supplied. Thanks for that. I'm pretty sure now the reason the Sony updates don't work is because my computer is not communicating that it is a Sony Vaio laptop. I tried running Vaio Movie Story and I received an error message saying this program can only be run on a Vaio computer and this computer is not a Vaio computer. There must be some way for me to edit my system information so my laptop will broadcast its model information to the sony esupport site so I can install updates.

Ash

 

Ash,

I know you aren't going to want to hear this, but if I were in your shoes and my machine was showing no system info like this and I couldn't get updates to work, I would reload the operating system.

Something has gone wrong to cause these issues. Sure you might be able to edit the system info, and you might even be able to get updates to work, but then what? Did you REALLY fix the problem, or did you just remove two of the symptoms? There is just no way to know. A week from now or a month from now something else may go haywire.

Nope I'm sorry, my friend, but I have to be honest with you and say reload the OS. It is the only way that you will ever be SURE that this problem is really behind you.

Gary

 

somebody knows where i can found the driver for FZ31M for vista 64bit?

 

is the fz460 8400gt ddr2 or ddr3?

 

I believe that was my link not to take away any of the expertise from the experts though - Gary, I will certainly take caution based on your advice...i think i'll try it when i have more time to faff around if something goes wrong.

 

Yes it was YOUR link, I wondered why he attributed it to me.

Like I said just make a backup image and then try it. It is certainly worth trying. I am an MSCP and have an MSDB subscription, so I had access to SP1 before the warning came out about the rouge drivers. I was able to install SP1 (after imaging my C: partition of course! ) and had no problem even though I had one of the drivers in question (Sigmatel). I did upgrade the driver later when the issue surface in reports online.

Gary

 

You're right Gary. I guess I have no other choice but to reinstall the OS. I will have to do this during my summer break. Thanks again for all your help; I really appreciate it.

Ash

Sorry spider-man, didn't mean to take credit away for your link. Thanks though, it worked like a charm! Hopefully I won't have to use it again once I reinstall the OS!

Ash

 

Hi,

I considering buying the Sony VGN-FZ31Z. This model has onboard audio chip and not the High Definition chip. However I want to play HD content via HDMI to a A/V receiver.

Is D.D. 5.1/DTS audio supported via the HDMI port, or will the sound be downgraded to stereo by the onboard chip?

 

hello folks!

I have a FZ21s (uk) and the battery life is awful. I want to buy another bigger and better battery but they seem very expensive and only available direct from sony. What would be the best way of going about improving the battery life??? Are there 9 cell ones that would be compatable????

 

Use the "power saver" power plan.

 

Has anyone tried the recent nVidia drivers from laptopvideo2go?
Which version did you use?

 

There is another thread on this - I am using 167.43 which seems to be the best all-around version for Sony right now. I thought there was not much difference between it and the 101.28 version that came originally installed. But after installing it, then backing back down, I went back to 167.43 with the clean install I did this weekend. I think it looks and acts better with my dual displays (I also have a Samsung 19" LCD). And 167.43 does not require a special MOD.INF file - so just DL it from lv2go and install the driver itself.

 

BTW - After a weekend clean istall (a very trying/tiring process partly due to my own inexperience!) which I like better than the semi-clean, this baby ROCKS! SWEEEET laptop! The only thing I have left is a memory upgrade - either a 2gb stick = 3 gb or 2 x 2gb just to have a complete matching set (yes, I know that 32-bit can only use 3.2gb)!

 

Thanks for pointing me, I found that thread. I'm definitely going to give that a try. I also dual monitor it with a HP w2007 20inch.

 

can anyone tell me anything about this laptop Sony Vaio FZ440E/B

 

What do you want to know? Did you look it up on the Sony site and the support site?

 

i just wanna know how it feels, battery life, monitor look, webcam, durability, the smaller things that they dont really put up

 

feels: smooth, no gloss.
battery life: not so great (especially with models with dedicated graphics).
monitor look: excellent.
webcam: 1.3 MP...not the best, not the worst.
durability: looks durable enough to me.

 

The build quality is great, very strudy "feel" to it - not Lenovo tank-like, just solid. Battery life is good, IMO. I can get 2-2.5 hours depending on how I use it. I have had worse. Webcam - what he said, grainy but captures well. The monitor is excellent - the main reason I bought it. YMMV.

BTW - I hate that danasoft signature!

 

i feel so silly for thinking that batteries lasted for six hours or more. lol dang i was wrrrooongggg but about models with dedicated graphics. will the battery only be drained more when i play games or constantly even when im not?

 

anyone know if there are any online rebates/coupons for this model?

 

Hi All,

I am trying update my FZ190 notebook NVIDIA 8400M GT drivers from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com. While installing it is giving "Windows Cannot verify publisher of this driver software". I think the reason is because of modified INF file.

I would like to know installing unsigned driver from laptopvideo2go.com is safe or not ?.
I am not getting the NVIDIA updates in Windows updates after the clean install. That's why I am trying to install it from laptopvideo2go.com.
Before the clean install, I got nvidia updates from windows updates and at that time the driver is signed driver.

Why sony is not providing the updated NVIDIA driver ? . If I install the unsigned driver from laptopvideo2go.com, will have any problems in future ?

Thanks
Raj

 

Google Vaio rebates...

 

There are a a ton of folks running drivers off of that site - I have 167.43 from there on mine now w/o any problems at all. Remember, if you DO have a problem, you can always roll back. Why is Sony so behind on nVidia drivers? You'll have to ask Sony, but I would bet it is because they don't like to do so many updates to their own bloatware - like Control Center, etc. that does touch the display properties. But, that is just this bubba's opinion.....

 

Hey guys!
I was wondering can you help me? I want to buy Sony Vaio FZ31L with:
Intel core 2 duo T7250 2GHz;
nVidia 8600m GS with 256MB,
2GB RAM,
DVD/Blue ray combo...
It this a good choice? I need it for some simulation in Matlab but also for some gaming...
Thanks!