FZ series, Need Help downgrading to XP

Ok ... some more information:

AUDIO:

1. The Dell drivers I showed above are for Sigmatel STAC92XX audio devices. We supposedly have Sigmatel STAC98XX audio devices. I am not aware of any technical details for this audio device available from IDT/Sigmatel and it appears the Sony computers may be the only computer that uses them.

What is interesting to note is that the drivers have the same revision level 5.10.5515... I have not done a detailed comparison of the drivers to see if they are the same.

FOR NOW, DON'T TRY THE DELL DRIVERS
(this has been noted in the edited message above)

2. Install order of the audio and video drivers doesn't seem to fix things for HD Audio output. Although it may make a difference for Intel Graphics... note that the number order of the files at the Sony ftp site shows the audio driver installer BEFORE the video driver... I also saw a reference to this at Dell as well... here it may make a difference ... BUT for NVidia, I would probably follow the Sony A-P site order except I would install KB888111 instead of KB835221... its newer and meant for SP2.... This KB888111 file I would also use for an Intel graphics install as well.

3. Using an older video driver 156.65 did not help any... Yes I lost brightness control. This was expected since I didn't modify nv4dispd.inf (in this case) for brightness control.

4. After trying all of this... I decided I wanted a more detailed look at the sound driver itself. I worked with the latest known driver available for the FZ29 series available here:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/FZ29/DRIVERS/

If you open via Zip file tool like WinRAR, you can drill down to the 3 Audio/2/WDM folder... inside you find a file called Sthda.ini.... this files determines which set of configuration settings will be used during install of the driver. Here is a slightly modifed copy (so I don't violate some sort of license restricition) of what is inside:

#### sthda.INI#
###[Models]#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7661&SUBSYS_104D0C00=SONY_M2-1.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7662&SUBSYS_104D0C00=SONY_M2-1.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7661&SUBSYS_104D1000=SONY_M2-2.INI
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7662&SUBSYS_104D1000=SONY_M2-2.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7664&SUBSYS_104D1300=SONY_M2-3.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7661&SUBSYS_104D1200=SONY_M2-4.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7662&SUBSYS_104D1200=SONY_M2-4.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7661&SUBSYS_104D0700=SONY_M2-6.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7661&SUBSYS_104D1E00=SONY_M2-7.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7662&SUBSYS_104D1E00=SONY_M2-7.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7661=SONY_M2-1.INI#
###HDAUDIO\FUNC###&VEN_8384&DEV_7662=SONY_M2-7.INI#
###DEFAULT=SONY_M2-7.INI#

The way this works is that as it installs it checks to see based on our Device Instance ID (found in the Device Manager , then Sound , Video, then SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC, then details). In my case my Device Instance ID is :

HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7662&SUBSYS_104D1C00....

The driver installer as it installs checks what your Device Instance ID is and starts working down this list to find what is the first best fit. In my case, it will need to go all the way down to 2nd from the bottom line. This line tells the driver to use the configuration settings found in the file SONY_M2-7.INI.

If you then start looking at these types of INI files, you notice that one of the files is somewhat larger than the others: SONY_M2-3.INI... If you look at this file.... you see all sorts of references to HDMI! This set of configuration settings appears to be for setting up HDMI audio for the driver.....M2-7 does not have any of these references.... thus no HDMI audio support.

SONY_M2-3.INI appears to only for DEV_7664&SUBSYS_104D1300... I have no idea what computer this is for... It may be for a Sony AR series??

Thus the driver has the capablility... but it doesn't have a configuration file to configure it to do it. You can't just boldly modify or copy the SONY_M2-3.INI as the pin configuration is different which could mean that the hardware connected to the chip is somewhat different. These are also security cataloged files that the driver may prevent from installing if changed. This also may then cause the drivers to be non WHQL qualified... which may prevent DVD playback (not sure on this)???

Note that the STHDA.INF file is sort of the master installer set of settings and uses the configuration information from the .INI files to determine what to install. This file is also interesting as well to look at.

I looked at most of the other audio files found in the downgrade ftp site for other series of Sony computers.. some are for RealTek (much larger install file), others for SigmaTel.... none do anything any better than this installer.

I also looked at the Vista Audio installer... here the INI file (slightly different name) for the Device Instance ID above goes to a similar (but not exactly the same) type of file of configuration settings which now HAS HDMI audio settings....

So we have the Vista INI file WITH HDMI, a XP INI file without HDMI, and a XP INI file (M2-3) that has HDMI..... Maybe a clever programmer could combine appropriate sections from each and make a new configuration INI file for us.....

But do note that changing a licensed program like this may end up with a cease and decist order from the manufacturer as you are preventing them from selling the driver to Sony???

However, I don't know what the reason Sony just didn't get the configuration file corrected...

IS IT:

a. A mistake?
b. A licensing issue with IDT/SigmaTel (they want money to include the feature)? and why should Sony pay for this?
c. Sony doesn't want us to have support for HDMI in XP due to prevent some sort of copyright protection issues?
d. Extensive retesting to requalify that HDMI protection is working properly?
e. Can't release such a driver due to known hardware and/or software issues with existing driver?
f. Maybe a blu-ray issue with protected disks?
g. They don't know... although this problem is noted as part of the driver at Sony A-P??
h. They don't care?

Thus I am not sure what to do if anything.

Is there was a way to complain to Sony in a way that would make a difference... Sony USA for the most part doesn't want us to use XP (probably due to some agreement with Microsoft). These drivers are found at Sony A-P and the Sony ftp site (don't know which part of Sony is supporting this).... thus I don't see them listening to US customers....

Thus:

If someone has someone to contact at Sony directly that would listen let us know...

Would a website about the lack of Sony XP support help??

Any other ideas??


5. I also looked at the recently released IDT drivers (IDT appears to have bought Sigmatel) available at Microsoft. There is no support here as well.

6. The 156.65 driver from laptopvideo2go includes a note and a program called firmware.exe (Nvidia Firmware Update tool for programming Silicon Images's SiI1930 (DVI-HDMI) microcontroller....

I have no idea what this does and if it applies to our Go series Nvidia card... I did try to find more info on the web about this but have found nothing?? There is no Readme file concerning this.

My only GUESS is that this might be for updating HDMI from 1.1 to 1.2???

Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

To the Intel Graphics FZ users:

I don't have specific recommendations since I don't have Intel Graphics so I am not an expert here.

My only recommendations are to use the driver files from the Sony FTP site here:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/

Pick the FZ19 for the FZ1x and FZ1xx Intel Series FZ
Pick the FZ29 for the FZ2x and FZ2xx Intel Series FZ

You may want to get both and do some checking to see what is newer or higher rev. You can always do some checking of rev levels by starting the install for some of the drivers and see if a rev level shows up... some don't have revs... Keep GOOD notes.

You do need to get everything you need ahead of time. You should also get the FZ1 series or FZ2 series of XP downgrades from Sony A-P.

The number on the driver is the order for install. Note that you need the SATA driver either slipstreamed onto a modified XP install disk (see Nlite) or put it on a USB floppy disk and during XP install press F6... note that MANY USB external floppy drives will NOT work during the XP install... I think there is a Microsoft KB which talks about this. I used the floppy method but the guaranteed way is using Nlite (which I don't know anything about)

Then after the XP install, install the drivers in order. Chipset, then install KB888111 next, then audio, then modem (to complete all the audio stuff first) , then video then continue down the list.

Then use the Sony A-P files for other application files... install these in order that they give.

You may want to plan out your install ahead of time. Also you may want to check which versions of the files between the Sony ftp site and the Sony A-P site are newer... sometimes its hard to tell... For example power management has a much higher rev level for the FZ29 series... here when there is a question, I would stick with the series from the Sony ftp site for YOUR series.

ORDER of driver install is important for the SONY stuff... it affects what will work.

When you get done check everything... If OK, backup again, so you can get back here if needed, then start doing the Microsoft updates. I DON'T recommend that you jump to SP3 immeadiately.... download and install all the normal update... about 95 or so... SP3 may cause some issues with audio and or video... I wouldn't jump at it right away.

KEEP NOTES about what VERSION installs and reboot after every install. You can also check the driver install versions in the device manager and in the Add/Remove program page.

Maybe you can be an expert for someone else. Keep a backup after the XP install so that if it doesn't work the first time, you can go back to this point and try again.

Sorry I don't have any ideas on the brightness issues for Intel Graphics FZ... there have been a couple ideas bounced around but they seem to be for Nvidia. You may want to look at newer Intel drivers at Intel to see if they might work.

Good Luck and let us know how things work out.

 

hi,
i bought a laptop vaio FZ 91HS in Japan, now i want to use Win xp but i've only somes drivers for it : Audio, Bluetooth.
can you help me to find these others drivers?
thanks so much!

 

Hi.
I need your help.
Recently I bought a SONY VAIO VGN-FZ290EGS notebook.
It comes with Microsoft Windows Vista.
But I want to install Windows XP and can't find drivers especially for my laptop.
Please help.
Thanks in advance.
Samvel

 

did you have any succes making hdmi audio work?

 

crockysam,

I have not pursued this any further. At this point, I do NOT have HDMI audio output.

If you have a way to complain to someone at Sony who might do something.... please do so... as Sony USA isn't going to care....



For the others pursuing FZ series drivers...

The best place for obtaining drivers is the Sony Asia site. They have a set of drivers for the FZ1x series which has all the basic drivers you will need. They also have a set for the FZ2x series but their really is very minimal (if any) differences between the sets of drivers. The FZ1x drivers are not model restricted (except that it be a FZ series) so for the most part they will work.... ... that is if you have NVidia graphics.....

If you have Intel graphics then the Sony Europe site is your best bet ... but there are issues from the discussions I have read with brightness control which are not addressed.

 

I wish I bought Sony with Nvidia card. Crappy Intel, can't get brightness working, tried everything. Friend of mine has N320 and everything is working for him. So I suspect video driver, he has GMA 945, I have X3100 (hate it). I hate Intel, hate Sony, hate myself, that I bought integrated videocard

 

Oh I finally got it, thank you paulacchang. Works perfectly for my FZ140e with X3100. Without gui, of course. Rest of drivers I took from sony-asia.com for FZ1 series. It's pitty that I read this post before, but didn't pay much attention. How stupid I was! See instruction below:

Hi all,

Updated version of the backlight utility for VGN-NR110E and other related models. Thanks very much to Tux for his help. Download at:

http 2slashes)rapidshare.com(slash)files/89532709/backlight.zip.html

and do the following:

1) Run MemAccDrvSetup.exe to install the registered version of memaccess. You can install over the unregistered version from before if you installed the previous backlight utility.
2) Install the visual c files if necessary: run vcredist_x86.exe
3) Run backlight.exe. No config file is necessary. Use WIN-F5 to decrease brightness, and WIN-F6 to increase brightness.

Cheers - Paul AC Chang

 

I am noob, can't post url so little trick