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    Got my new FZ!! & have a few Q's

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by jam12, Nov 5, 2007.

  1. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

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    Hi guys/gals,

    I'm totally loving my new FZ and have no regrets buying one. I've just a question about Vaio Update. Has anyone kept this and is at all useful?

    Also, my FZ came preinstalled with the Google desktop bar which I got rid of as I wanted Window's sidebar. Whenever I click on 'Windows Sidebar' in all programs it comes up with "Windows Sidebar is Managed by the System Adminstrator" and then closes. I have only one account on my laptop which is the administrator and am confused why I can't access windows sidebar.

    Thanks,
    Jam.
     
  2. Storm3016

    Storm3016 Notebook Evangelist

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    The Vaio Update Service can be handy to keep your FZ up to date on all the drivers Sony updates, but since you can also download them manually it's not needed if you want to delete it. I still have it and use it to check for updates but don't let it do this by itself, i just run it once every month or so.

    You're not alone in your other problem, many have had this. I don't remember how to solve it but it's is mentioned a few time in the FZ owners thread, i'm sure you can find the solution there.
     
  3. singh100

    singh100 Notebook Consultant

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    sorry i cant help you as im yet to get my FZ but i was just wondering if you've installed any games on it and what the performance is like on the 8600M GS?
     
  4. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

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    I'm planning to play some games on my new FZ - getting some help from graphics forum. However I have ran 3dmark06 which I got a score of 2788. I was quite impressed at that since I didn't overclock and used the default drivers.

    And thanks storm, I'll think I will keep that Vaio update. Currently I'm trying to see what bloatware I don't need.
    Time to search the FZ thread for the windows sidebar solution. :D

    Jam.
     
  5. singh100

    singh100 Notebook Consultant

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    Some dude on another thread wrote this:

    "bad point would be vista software mine had a block in the reg in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\sidebar

    turnoffsidebar key was in there had to set d_word from 1 to 0 to get my sidebar running"

    dont know if it will help. Do all FZs have this problem. *preying* that my 21s wont have it
     
  6. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

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    Yeh I found that, but thanks anyway.
    I assume that every new FZ21 has this problem. It's hard at all to fix, just go into registry editor and follow the pathname. I wanted windows sidebar since the pre-installed google bar may take up more RAM although it does look better.
     
  7. Storm3016

    Storm3016 Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't know what causes it or what's the reason for it, but fortunatly not all FZ's have the sidebar problem. I think it has something to do with the Google sidebar, somehow starting that application messes with the settings or something. It shouldn't be possible, but it seems people who delete the Google sidebar before it ever comes to life don't have this problem.
     
  8. jam12

    jam12 Notebook Deity

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    I found the solution in another thread. Seemed to be an incorrect registry value entry.

    Btw, how many processes do you have running storm? I kind of get worried when my laptop suddenly has a lot hard disk activity when I not even doing much, lol.
     
  9. Storm3016

    Storm3016 Notebook Evangelist

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    I have a total of 68 processes running right now. My FZ has been on for an hour or two and i've just updated Vista. I've also got the Windows Sidebar on, am downloading with Azureus and using Firefox. In the background i also have Setpoint running (it's an application that comes with a lot of Logitech products, i use it for my VX Revolution), AVG, and some sync. program for my PDA.

    I never did a clean install btw, i just manually removed the bloathware on my Vaio.

    Yeah, the hdd seems a bit more active then i'm used to with XP, but i've gotten used to it by now. I wouldn't worry about it to much, thats just what Vista does. I haven't disabled my superfetch or indexing btw, i like what it does for me and my FZ is more then fast enough for me the way i use it.
     
  10. Dana

    Dana Notebook Consultant

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    Congratulations! Sounds like all is going good, be sure to take pictures
     
  11. Aibo82

    Aibo82 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi

    Seems like all the fz21s have this sidebar issue it toke me ages to faf around with the reg to find that value im glad its working for you guys!