How to Enable Intel VT and AHCI on a Napa/Santa Rosa platform Phoenix BIOS Vaio laptop

Model: VGN-C260E
Bios: R0080J4

0318 is the lucky number.

(0318) [0000] ==> (0318) [0001]

 

Added to the master list.

Gary

 

Hello

The right register to activate AHCI on VGN-SZ1XP with R0096N0 bios is : (0165)

I think it works on all R0096N0 bios, even if it isn't a SZ1XP.

But I still haven't found how to activate SATA 3Gbps. I imagine that it isn't a simple boolean value to modify.

 

Even if you do enable SATA 3Gbps, signal integrity may be a problem.

 

I added this to the master list. If we get reports of other models I'll add them as well.

Gary

 

How can i check what speed the SATA bus is running on. Is default not set to 3Gbps? or did sony set it to 1,5 Gbps in the bios? I have a vgn-cr29xn with the ICH8M sata controller, because i wanna buy a SSD from intel 160 GB and i wanna get the full speed out of it.

greetings,

Sander

 

The easiest way is to verify your HDD burst rate (HDD cache) with HDTACH and compare it with results found on the internet.

If you have a burst rate of 130MB/s and review shows that it should be 200MB/s than you are limited by the Sata interface.

 

Is there also a way to activate Intel-VT for Merom CPUs?
I have a Samsung X11 notebook with a T7400 CPU and Phoenix Bios.

Thanks & best regards

 

This thread is ONLY about Sony VAIO machines. Please do not hijack the thread with questions about other machines. You will have much better results if you take this up in a Samsung specific thread or start one if none exists.

Gary

 

Sorry for hijacking this thread.
I thought here will be more skilled people in Bios modding.

I've already asked in a Samsung thread and I hope I'll get an answer there.

 

Very few of the folks in this thread have any experience with BIOS modding. Most are just following the steps outlined by those who posted early in this thread. You might try a PM to one of them, bogart in particular. But I really doubt if this thread, itself will get you anywhere in your quest. Good luck!

Gary

 

Maybe you right.
I see my chances very low, too.
Probably I'll write a PM to bogart but I don't want to annoy anyone with PMs.

Thank you Gary!

 

Now I got the secrete number

Model: VGN-AR520
Bios Brand: Phoenix Technologies LTD
Bios Version: R0030J8
Bios Date: 05/23/2007
The Secrete number is 027F

 

Which model of VGN-AR520? There should be a letter after it I believe. I have an AR520E already on the list with a different BIOS version. Post back and I will then update the list.

Gary

 

Model: VGC-LM1ER
Bios version: R0250W5
Register: 02E8

 

Well i found out for my laptop VGN-CR29XN that the SATA runs on 1,5Gbps also instead of 3Gbps. I found this out with app everest (first link in google). Why did Sony also changed this in the bios?!?!

 

Added to the master list.

Gary

 

just want to let everyone knows that for vgn-fz130e, bios 0040j7, is 02D3 to enable the support for virtualization.

 

Are you sure the BIOS is 0040j7 and not 0050j7? I am adding your info to the master list and there is a BIOS 0050j7 already there with the same register number. Post back and I will change the master list if necessary.

Gary

 

Check CAP.ISS to see if it's a bios cap, or your HDD has negotiated a 1.5Gbps link speed. If CAP.ISS is set to 1.5Gbps then would need to patch the bios to enable 3Gbps mode.

 

well i can't check because ahci is not enabled in the bios when i look at the address it gives only FFFFFFFF

 

Vaio VGN-AR41L: Phoenix bios ver. R0032J8, vt-x register 0282.
AHCI is enabled by default.

Great thread guys, keep up the good work.

 

news from sony via the chat a support employee for the VGN-CR290 serie:

Dustin_> Thanks for waiting, Sander. I'll be glad to assist you with the information about the Windows 7 and the VT technology.
sander> well what can you tell me about it
sander> because in the bios VT is disabled by sony
sander> is sony gonna release a bios update because they did also for the SR serie
Dustin_> Please give me a moment while I get this information for you.
Dustin_> Thanks for waiting, Sander.
Dustin_> Yes, Sander. Sony will going ot release the BIOS update in the coming future to enable the VT technology in the Computer.
sander> also for my laptop?
Dustin_> Yes, Sander.


Well what the employee told me above is NOT true read this:
Kenneth_> I am sorry, the information regarding the BIOS update to enable the VT in the CR series is not available with us.
sander> so when windows 7 is released
sander> their will be maybe an bios update
sander> can i conclude that?
Kenneth_> The Windows 7 Operating System is released on October 22nd, 2009 and the updates for the Computer will be updated on the model specific Sony website.

 

Added to the master list.

Gary

 

I take it that these conversations are presented in the order you had them. How far apart were they? But I don't see anything in the second conversation to negate the first, other than the second one won't say specifically that there will be a BIOS update.

Gary

 

well first i had a conversion with the second support helpdesk employee and after i was asking a complex question i got another support helpdesk employee that is why i asked the question again "Will sony release a new bios version for the CR serie to enable VT for Windows 7". The first helpdesk employee told me as show above that sony will release a new bios version when windows 7 is release so that VT is support in windows 7. But the second helpdesk employee told me that, that was a mistake what the first helpdesk employee told me that only for the SR serie a bios version will be released that will enabled VT. But i should look at the drivers page of the CR serie when windows 7 is released that maybe then a new bios version will be released with VT enabled.

 

Is my VGN-TZ20WN (BIOS R0052N7, NAPA) compatible with the instructions mentioned for the VGN-TZ130N? The BIOS number is similar.

Asking just to be sure, only recently had my vaio send for repairs (motherboard issue). Don't want to lose it another 2 weeks.

Edit: Did some more reading in this topic and finally decided to try it anyway. And the result: SUCCESS!

You can add the VGN-TZ20WN with bios R0052N7 to the list aswell. Register is 0363, similar to VGN-TZ130N.

 

Added to the master list!

Gary

 

I tried the code in the master list which was the one that madpam got working on their S7GN model but no such luck for me on my EU model SZ71WN/C that has got the same specs and BIOS.
After i input the last command this is what i get-
I have tried inputing the command as symcmos -v2 -modified.txt also.

 

Any time you pass a parameter to a dos program the dash must be followed by a parameter identifier and then the data to be passed. Your second parameter has the data but no param id. Look at the picture you posted and in the fifth line of the options is the param id you needed to have. The line you type at the cmd prompt should be:

symcmos -v2 -Umodified.txt

Gary

P.S. BTW in case someone else reads these two messages, the specs of the machine don't matter when looking at the table, the only thing that matters is the BIOS version.

 

Thanks Gary, i tried that also but still no luck.
I've tried several times. A couple of times it seemed like it was working but i booted up and checked with securable and VT was still disbabled.

Has anybody else with an SZ7 got this to work?

 

Did you get the same output as in the photo you posted?

Have you checked the actual register to see if it got changed, by dumping the registers to a text file again and verifying if it was changed?

Gary

 

I got this, i have tried every way it seems possible.
I dumped it and nothing had changed.
It should work, if i have any success i will let others know. I also edited the text in notepad.

 

Rachel, maybe a PM to madpam is in order. Or you might look at the master list to see what other models have the same BIOS version. Then do a "Search this thread" for those models and see who posted the success info and PM those folks as well.

Gary

 

Hi guys, I have a Sony cr-120e with BIOS R0220Q0, in the master list there is a model that has the same BIOS and it says it works. Anyone knows if it will work in my lap top too?

PD Is this a hard process? It would be the first time I mess with this kind of things and I don't want to screw it up

 

If the BIOS is the same it SHOULD work on yours too. The operative word there is SHOULD. We have no way to know for sure until someone with the same model reports a success.

If you have never done anything like this, I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that screwing this up could "brick" your machine. If you aren't confident in attempting this, don't do it. Or find a friend who does understand this sort of thing and enlist their help.

You can ask questions here, and other folks can chime in to help answer.

Gary

 

I have question about this step:

5.Use the DOS text editor (or boot to another OS and use a text editor there) to edit the generated Default.txt file. Change the following lines and save the modified file to something else (e.g. modified.txt)

If I boot Windows 7 will I be able to modify the text file that I just created? The Default.txt file should be in c: or where?

Thanks

 

I already have the bootable USB drive with the symcmos in it. When i try to write "symcmos -v2 -lDefault.txt" it says that that is bad command or file name. What can I do about it? The flag in DOS appears divided in two right? Any help with this?

Another thing, what's the difference between doing the .txt and the umod.sav thing?

Thanks

 

If you get a "bad command or file name", it means that DOS cannot find the symcmos application. It needs to be in the currrent directory where you are typing the command.

Gary

 

It shows in c: I put dir and the symcmos.exe file appear on it. Also when I execute only symcmos it pops up a menu where I can see all the options. Any idea why it gives me that answer?

Tahnks

Luis

 

Gary, I already did the process, you can add my model tothe list.

Vaio VGN-CR120E
Bios: R0220Q0

Thanks I can use my Windows XP mode now

I attached the deafult and modyfied files if someone is interested

Luis

 

I see you got it to work. What did the problem turn out to be when it was giving you the "bad command or file name" error?

Gary

P.S. I will add your model to the master list.

 

I was writing a "|" instead of a "l". I don't know if it shows difference but the right one was the letter "l" not the bar that is in the inverted slash key.

 

OK, now I understand why! The special character, if memory serves me, is treated in DOS as a "pipe" command. It says to take the output of the command to the left of the pipe and send it, as input, to the command named to the right of the pipe. In this case, what was to the right of the pipe was not a command that DOS could find. Hence the error "bad command or file name". Makes perfect sense... now.

Gary

 

SZ71WN/C R0122S5

I got it to work using the command in the 1st post. Thanks for your help Gary.

 

So what did you do differently this time???

Gary

 

I did not see the u in your post. I was not looking for it and i was looking at the position of the strikes. It was not clear in the first post that you needed to add u in prefix of your modified file. Or may be you edited your post quickly and i moved on before you edited in the correction. Either way it is resolved now and i am pleased.

I have edited that into the first post now about prefixing in the u for clarity sakes.

Also, i added your master list as a link to the first post. I also added another link on how to create a bootable usb stick as this one i think is very simple.

 

Great thanks! That was a good idea to add the masterlist info to the first post. I'll do my best to keep the list up to date. Haven't seen much of the OP, who really deserves the credit for sorting this out in the first place.

Gary

 

Ok I need some help please. Ive tried everything I could and somehow after I get my bios file, and I update the correct part (FZ-180 02D3) and then try to re-load the new file nothing happens. I checked it with the online program, "securable" and at one point it said my VT was enabled, then later it said it was locked. I dont know what Im doing wrong, is there another step by step way to do this or am I messing up somewhere? Any help would be appreciated.
James

 

Is there like a boot CD that does all of this for me?

Probably not, but can't hurt to ask. I'm looking to extend the life of the SZ's into Windows 7 and XP Mode is a must.