100% Working Clean Vista x64 Install on SZ6

Ok guys, I managed a fully working 64-bit Vista install on the SZ6 (SZ680 in my case). ALL hardware is working, including the webcam, as well as all the VAIO utils and S1/S2 buttons, brightness, volume and Fn keys

I got this working thanks to pdudas so mad props to him!

Here is a quick run-down of how I installed.

* Backup of my serial key and activation info with ABR
* Set laptop to Stamina mode.
* Install of Vista x64 (with SP1 integrated)
* After install: disable UAC (User Account Control).
* Installation of the drivers in the following order:
1. Intel Chipset 965 v8.3.1.1009
2. Intel Graphics Accelerator v15.73
3. Marvell Yukon Ethernet Controller (NDIS Miniport Driver)
4. Toshiba Bluetooth 5.1.12
5. Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN v11.5.0.32
6. Texas Instruments Media Card Reader
Felica
Fingerprint Reader
SFEP
SPIC
Camera Driver
Nvidia Forceware 174.13 (Vista x64)

I would start with the Chipset, and then the Integrated Intel Graphics driver, I don't think the order really matters much for the rest anymore.

The the utilities:
Utils Installer 1 SonyUtils DLL
Utils Installer 2 Sony Shared Library
Utils Installer 2.5 Sony Video Shared Library 3.1.03
Utils Installer 3 Battery Checker
Utils Installer 4 HDD Protection Utility
Utils Installer 5 Setting Utility Series
Utils Installer 6 Battery Care Function
Utils Installer 7 VAIO Control Center
Utils Installer 8 VAIO Power Management
Utils Installer 9 VAIO Event Service
Utils Installer 10 VAIO Status Monitor
Utils Installer 11 PS QL 5.6
Utils Installer 12 alpsfp_vst64 touchpad util
VAIO Hardware Diagnostics

Update (29th Feb 2008):

Ok guys, I decided to up the whole pack (all drivers and utilities) to make it easier for you. Download is approx. ~330mb.

http://rapidshare.com/files/95837023/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part1.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/95839478/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part2.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/95842198/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part3.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/95843149/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part4.rar.html

 

So what are the advantages of 64bit except acces to 4GB of ram? Does every 32bit program work as well?

 

Apps/processes are usually faster if you find x64 versions. E.g. video encoding >10% using x264 codec. x64 optimized software is still rare though.

IMHO the phrase " use x64 to being able to use all 4 GB RAM vs. 3.5 GB" is BS since x64 software is slightly larger (pointer size 8 byte instead of 4). It'll eat up this little RAM gain.
Also Vista64 already runs fast with only 2 GB, " 4 GB minimum for x64" is just another myth - I've used both Vista 32 & 64 with 2 & 4 GB so I know for real. 4+GB will give you more cache for superfetch (lots of different apps launch faster) but no "real" speed boost unless you use super heavy apps (e.g. CAD, 3D modeling, high res photo editing etc.).

Most 32bit software runs fine in WoW64 emulation mode ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOW64), no noticable perf loss though there is probably a slight one.
Personally I'm not a gamer but America's Army runs fine on 64 - again - no diff noticable.
So far every app which would work in Vista32 worked in Vista64 but no guarantees...

 

Thanks for the guide! I'm looking to use vista ultimate 64 to fully utilize my 4gb. Do you mind uploading the drivers and utilities to rapidshare or megaupload?

 

Ok I decided to compress it all (340mb) and will up it on rapidshare tonight

 

A big thank you to pdudas and Synthesia for doing the research and consolidating the information to get Vista x64 running on the SZ6xx.

Not all is well though as some of the Sony utilities will install OK, but not run on Vista x64. The event log will show which of the DLLs cannot start. For example, the Sony Shared Utilities installed a Win2K kernel driver (DMICall.sys) which of course does not run in Vista x64.


Cheers.

 

I am planning to do this procedure as well. Is it possible after wiping the recovery partition to regain it using the recovery disks? Lets say for example that I might sell the machine, then I want to completely restore it to factory settings.

 

Maybe you SZ guys are lucky because SZ, TZ and some other models seem to have the additional SPIC device in addition to SFEP. Sony provides 64bit drivers for both but e.g. on AR models there's only SFEP – no other unknown device.
All Sony Shared Library installs I tried resulted in failing DMICall.sys.

On AR the DMICall.sys driver is supposed to provide special keys whereas on SZ apparently the failing DMICall.sys doesn't matter at all.

I just did a simple test with the original Sony OS image to get this confirmed:
Used tool AutoRuns http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx to disable driver DMICall.sys. Reboot - no special keys working anymore (except volume+mute of course), S-Button won't even show up in VAIO Control Center. Enabled DMICall.sys, after reboot everything working again.

Without a x64 version of DMICall.sys installing any Sony driver or util stuff does not make any sense on my machine. I don't even need volume UI. Also I'm glad there's Windows Mobility Center (Win+X) - not as fast as special keys but at least the system's cleaner, fewer processes...

If anyone has special keys working on AR with Vista64 plz let me know!

 

Cool stuff!!
Really working?
What is this DMICall??? Is that really important?
I have some spare time these days and I'm considering to wipeout my existing 32bits SP1 install and try out this x64 stuff...

 

Euh areyou uploading it or not?
Just to know if I format or not...

 

Hi Synthesia!

Thanks for sharing your work!

Did you uploaded the drivers and utilities to rapidshare? I will try your sequence as soon i have the drivers! Thanks again!

[]'s

Abel

 

I will too!
I'm waiting now for the drivers, then it's the direct wipe out!

 

hey,
where do you get the x64 driver for the Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device (SFEP)???? Sony 64-bit FTP Server?? Can you tell me more?

Thanks a lot,
best regards


____
edit:
already found it:

http://www.vaio-link.com/os/vista/64bit/

 

Yes from there...
Here is the link to the file you want :
ftp://vug.vaio.sony.co.jp/pub/oth/64/EP0000140021.zip
And you? Where do you get all the sofware? Along with some specifique drivers like sound or webcam wich I don't seem to find over the ftp...
I think we should help each other since Synthesia just disappeared...

 

Update: Files are up

Ok guys, I decided to up the whole pack (all drivers and utilities) to make it easier for you. Download is approx. ~330mb.

http://rapidshare.com/files/95837023/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part1.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/95839478/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part2.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/95842198/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part3.rar.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/95843149/sz6_vista_x64_drivers.part4.rar.html


So far so good, though I have experienced a couple of completely random blue-screens and I'm not quite sure what they're due to, perhaps the Battery Checker util? Anyways, would be cool if all you guys who install 64-bit post your experience and problems/solutions too. Also, as updated drivers come out, lets use this thread to update each other.

 

Cool, ok, as soon as I get home I'll do it...
Just a question... Are all the apps 64bit versions? Or just 32?

 

okay, now the sony firmware extension parser device works.. thanks to Synthesia

but i installed vista home premium on a europe vaio fz11s.. only 2 problems are still there:

1) The Fn Keys, (Brightness, LCD-Switch, Zoom-Key) have no function, only the screen for Sound appears. thought, it was the missing sfep driver, but now installed doesn't matter
Can only adjust the brightness in windows mobile center

2)there is no driver available from sigmatel or idt and the only one i found for 64bit was from dell, but this one doesn't work for my vaio


Conclusion: The drivers are almost available, but the specific sony utilities are not fully 64bit compatible.

Is there a 64bit sony ftp site for the utilities also available?

Greets from Germany

 

I'm fed up of trying, there is always something NOT working!!
I'll stic with my cleaned up 32bit Business version of Vista, all is ok with it...
Good luck anyway...

 

same here, quite not the time to get support for a 64bit os

 

Thanks!

[]'s

Abel

 

I have a fully working x64 Vista Business. I use it since december...
There was no BSOD or other problem. Everything works well. (dmicall has some error in the event log but I dont care..)

karimnacer and sonny_mv: did you tried the drivers on SZ6? The drivers I sent to Synthesia is only for Vaio SZ680! Maybe your Vaio's are different models than these softwares suitable for...

Now I got a Lenovo X61s. Core2duo L7500, 1.5Gb ram, 120Gb hd. I dont know why I feel that the X61s is a lot more faster than Sz680.. I installed 32 and 64 bit version of Vista (customized with Vlite) on the Sz680, but the X61 is faster with the factory installed Vista 32 bit....

Let me explain: My computer>right click>manage It is 2 seconds on X61s till the screen appears.
On Sz680 this is 3 seconds. When I want to see the event logs, it last 3-5s on Sz680. It is 2 seconds on X61s.

I dont know why.... There is a faster hard drive in the SZ680, more memory, faster processor... despite these the X61s seems to be more responsiveness....

 

is that true that there are no virus for 64bit windows?
so, if I install a 64 bit windows should i have to install antivirus?
thanks

 

I have a SZ650N but still had problems installing everything...

 

If you install all the stuff as Synthesia described above, your system must work well.
I did it, Synthesia did, you can do it!

Install the utilities and drivers in the order we described!

 

Strange, at times I'm also a little annoyed about the speeds on my SZ (but that was using both 32-bit and 64-bit) though on the whole the system seems to be running quite fast and stable at the moment. Turning off System Restore did seem to improve things (at least for HD activity), and I did apply the ultra-fast booting with TuneXP.
Btw pdudas, do you still get an occassional blue screen? I did initially (I think it had something to do with the Battery Checker util - I've switched it off now).

 

I never used battery checker and never had BSOD
(one time I had BSOD: removed the HSDPA card from PCMCIA without turning it off)(this is not the fault of OS)

 

Without the Sigmatel Audio driver, my headphone (line out jack) is not working!
Everything else is working ok!
I have a SZ660N/C. Anyone has an audio driver that work?

[]'s

Abel

 

Use the Simgatel audio driver for the Sony AR series. The x64 driver is in the driver package.

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/DOWNLOADS/ST/D/AUD/STDAUD-01487701-UN.EXE

Use uniextract to extract the package and run the install from there. This will skip over the system check for the AR series.

 

Thanks!

Worked in Vista64 and Server2008!

[]'s

Abel

 

Does the built in Microphone on your 680 work?

 

anyone have any luck with either the camera or with "smart wi" / smart network?

I can install smart wi, but it tends to crash (vista64 reports program incompatibility). also smart wi doesn't allow me to turn off my wireless devices. (I don't have an option to just have WLAN, I only get the options to switch from bluetooth, to WWAN, to bluetooth + wwan).

 

Looks like Smart Wi's lack of WLAN (wifi) has to do with intel's new drivers. So until sony updates smart wi, it won't be working.

smart network tends to crash outright.

BUT...

Wireless sensing switch seems to be A-ok (if you're not interested in using WWAN).

 

Quick question, what do i do with the files that aren't .exe. Like .sys , .cat. I"m not sure what to do what those type of files THANKS!!

 

If you have uninstalled hardware, go to your device manager, select the hardware for which no driver has bee found yet, right click, update driver software and then select the location of the files and let it find the appropriate drivers.

 

Big Thanks Sunthesia for the reply

 

no offense, but could U pm me or help me out about the install X86 for SZ6, I tried your version and my Sz6's clean install was successful and work very well; however, I notice some of the softwares I used to use have some problems after using X64. I decide to use your way to install x86 instead of that.

The problem I faced:
I can't successful install some drivers such as the Toshiba's Bluetooth drivers, and the card readers' drivers..

and utilities, I duuno how to find the alps touch pad's utility for X86, could you tell me where did you find the x64 one?

Or could you help me out with the drivers& utilities for the x86 thx a lot

 

Have you tried to disable autorestart? It will stay at the BSOD and you can get the crash code and figure out what crashing it

 

Hello,
can anyone tell me please please how to install the camera-driver (VGP-VCC7) on my VGN-SZ61WN/C?

I've downloaded already a 64bit driver...
In the device-manager I choosed USB-> USB-Composite..... -> update driver -> "have disk"....
But that doesn't work... I always get an error-message...

Thanks for help
kesandal

 

it seems the camera driver is in part 2 file on the first page of this post. the readme states Have Disk. Point to \driver\R5U870FL_dudu. see if you can find that in the driver that you already have. if not, d/l the file in this post and try.

 

I've updated the driver under "image-device"....

Everything works fine now..
Vaio Camera Utility, FN-Keys, newest Forceware driver, newest Chipset driver from intel and so on...

If someone needs a complete "package" just let me know


The only problem I have now is WWAN....
Don't know how to install it.
Even after a complete recovery to Vista x86 the Vaio Smart Network doesn't show me WWAN....

Any idea?

 

Hello,
try this:
http://rapidshare.com/files/220786130/sz6_camera_SN.rar.html

This works for me...
To install the camera just update in the device manager under "image device " (or something linke that) the device and point to the driver.

Hope this helps

 

can i have the complete package please, can you just upload it to rapidshare or megaupload, please? thanks a lot

and is that for 32 or 64bit?

 

64bit..
I'm going to upload it tomorrow...
It's going to be around 500mb

 

thanks a lot im waiting for it

 

did you upload it yet? i cant do anything today just cuz i dont have a functional laptop thanks a lot dude, really appreciate you upload these drivers for us, cheer.

 

Hi,
I wasn't home yesterday to upload the files

But now I'm doing my job

Here we go:
http://rapidshare.com/files/221003577/vaio_sz6_x64.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/221591531/vaio_sz6_x64.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/221600354/vaio_sz6_x64.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/221604415/vaio_sz6_x64.part4.rar

good luck

 

yessssssss it's been like a year to me hahahah, but after i installed everything, i still have 2 unknown device, i have no idea why, can you help me please

one more thing, there is no "setup" for camera in drivers64bit, so i look through the utilities64bit and found "setup" for camera, so i did that, but it shows up a blue screen, and say "no input" on the side...

thanks a lot

 

the main drivers in device manager i can think of are: bluetooth, fingerprint sensor, video, memory card reader/writer, SFEP(Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Driver), and SCIP(Sony® Programmable I/O Control Device Driver). i think you may have a camera driver and also a wwan driver possibly? im not sure about that last sentence.

 

i tried to locate the driver for the 2 unknown devices and it's not SFEP and SPIC, these 2 driver are important according to u but i dont think i have them yet.

the last sentence bout the camera, after i install the software for camera, then i tried it, it shows a bluescreen istead of my face and there's a line "no input" rite next to it

 

those are the 2 unknown drivers in your device manager. SFEP and SPIC. go to http://www.vaio-link.com/os/vista/64bit/ ,accept, and find them for your model notebook. they should be there. these drivers are for your Fn keys to work, for your S1 and S2 to work properly providing you install the sony shared library, etc. in the correct order!