AV/InstantON mode on FZ series

I just spoke to technical support at Sony about this AV button issue (where it boots windows as normal instead of just being able to watch DVD's without the need for windows to start). The guy I spoke to said that the AV/InsantON Mode button is not actually a feature on the FZ series and so does not work.

I bought my laptop in the UK and it's the FZ11S. It has the following specs:
Processor: 1.8Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100
Memory: 2GB
HD Capacity: 160GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT 128MB
Optical Drive: DVD+-RW/+-R DL/RAM

It seems pretty bizarre that they would include a button that they did not intend to use. I know some people on the site have said the AV Mode button works for them but is this booting up with Windows?

Would love to get other peoples feedback on this issue.

 

I believe the AV button is disabled on the FZ models with the 8400. Mine works, but I have the x3100. It is in the fine print somewhere in the Sony documentation.

 

I never heard that it was disable with the 8400. Footnote 15 says that it is not as feature with the blu-ray models. All the blu-ray models have the 8400, but I think the non-blu-rays with the 8400 should still have instant-on.

 

Now that you mention it, I think you're right. Are you sure you have the newest InstantOn software from the esupport site?

 

I don't even have the instanON software. I've tried doing a search for it on my system and nothing comes up.

Also tried to go online to look for the instantON software but the site just says there is nothing available for the model. This includes preinstalled drivers etc. I'm just wondering if this is maybe a UK thing??

 

Wow, you were on the phone with a Sony tech and they didn't even mention software installation?

I would go on the US website and look under a different model number. The InstantOn software is there for the FZ140. I'm not sure if it works on your model or not, but you could give it a try.

 

i am pretty positive that this feature is disabled and not even installed on all models using the 8400M GT and not just limited to blu-ray models. from what i have read else where in the forums, it seems to be a problem limited by nvidia driver support.

so at the moment it looks like the only function of the AV MODE button on nvidia models is to just launch the useless vaio windows media bar

 

That really sucks,

You would think that Sony would have either sorted this out or not included this in the NVidia models.

 

It's cheaper/easier for them just to leave it and deal with the customer complaints later and add fine print to the documentation.

 

Our Portuguese design agency bought 2 FZ series laptop, the FZ11S and the FZ11Z.

About the instant on, I don't think it is an UK thing because mine doesn't work too

 

To make it official, here's what the Sony support site says:

"The Instant Mode feature is supported on computers that have an Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator video adapter only. On computers equipped with a NVIDIA® GeForce™ video adapter, the Instant Mode feature is not supported and the Instant On software is not listed in the VAIO Recovery Center.

Check the name of the video adapter to determine if Instant Mode is supported on the computer."

 

No instant On for me then