Installing Windows XP on the Vaio SZ6xx

What model are you using those drivers for? sz6?? ?

 

German SZ61VN/X which is (except for the wwan option and apparently 3945 vs 4965 wlan) excactly the same as all top of the line SZ6 models eg. the US SZ691N/X

LAN is now working with the marvel yukon miniport winxp 32bit driver package.

Docking / FN switching displays also works including OSD.

 

Sigmatel Audio is working now (used opendrivers.com driver from earlier posts)
The modem is working too (TZ1 XP downgrade driver).
TouchChip Fingerprint works like a charm (TZ1 XP downgrade).
ALPS Touchpad is working (TZ1 XP downgrade).


Only erros left:

- unknown mass storage controller
- unknown device (Intel(R) ICH8M-E LPC Interface Controller - 2815)
- error on secondary ide channel


Except from those errors everything is working: both gfx, wlan, wwan, bluetooth, wireless switcher, fingerprint, audio, modem, intel chipset, firewire, all FN keys, OSD menues, power management with vaio optimized settings etc, docking, sony cardbus

 

Fantastic milagro! When is this difference really noticeable? At start-up, while opening programs or everywhere?

 

everywhere...

 

Ok the following applies to the german sony vaio vgn-sz61vn/x model. This is the same as the US sz691n/x model except for wwan und 3945 vs 4965 wlan (same driver though) option. The corresponding drivers for the other models (in case the hardware is different) can be found on the US site http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?DIRECTOR=DRIVER

If you have got an US model then you might be able to use all the drivers from there. (choose model, "install another operation system", "windows xp" from the drop down box)


Here's what i did:

- make those rescue DVD backups and/or replace the slow a** 4200rpm drive with a decent 7200rpm or ssd drive
- download all drivers on usb stick or burn them on cd (winxp cannot read vista burned dvds!!!)
- switch to stamina gfx mode
- install WinXP SP2
- installed Intel 965GM Chipset ( http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=816)
- installed Intel 965GM GFX ( http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2800)
- installed Sony® Notebook Utilities ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SOAOTH-39800000-XP.EXE)
- installed Sony programmable IO ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SODSPI-00445700-XP.EXE)
- installed sony shared library ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SOASSL-00598801-XP.EXE)
- installed Sony Video Shared Libary ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SOASVL-13348500-US.EXE)
- installed Sony Image Filter ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SODOTH-12946300-US.EXE)
- installed Notebook Control Device Driver ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SODOTH-12217600-US.EXE)
- Toshiba Bluetooth Stack ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/TODBLT-10815500-US.EXE)
- Marvel Yukon Miniport Driver 32bit ( http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverDisplay.do?dId=175&pId=3)
- inte wlan driver (both 4965 and 3945) ( http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...&OSFullName=Windows* XP Professional&lang=eng)
- Sigmatel HD Audio ( http://download.opendrivers.com/showfile.php?file=/notebook/sony/STDAUD-01108002-US.EXE)
- Connexant Softmodem driver ( ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/DRIVERS/4_MODEM_DRIVER.ZIP)
- Fingerprint Driver / Software ( ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/DRIVERS/16_FINGERPRINT_DRIVER.ZIP)
- Touchpad ( ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/DRIVERS/11_POINTING_DRIVER.ZIP)
- switch to nvidia speed mode -> install nvidia display driver ( ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/NVDVID-13940900-US.EXE)
- wwan (globetrotter hsdpa - differes between countries) ( ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/APPLICATIONS/12_WWAN.ZIP)
- manually force the driver installation of the vaio camera ( ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/DRIVERS/12_CAMERA_DRIVER.ZIP) - search for "usb video device in device manager)
- windows update

- the touchpad has to be manually installed over device manager -> ps2 mouse -> update driver -> custom location -> ...
- i'm not sure if you have to install the sony programmable io, shared lib, shared video lib, image filter, notebook control device. they actually don't seem to do anything but i cannot confirm this
- you might have to reboot multiple times / reinstall some drivers multiple times especially the sony notebook utilities/ wireless switching utility in case you cannot control the bluetooth/wlan/wwan on/off modes
- the best thing is probably to install the drivers in the above order, reboot and if something does not work reinstall it / reinstall the notebook utilities again

- if you reboot windows and it crashes with a bluescreen, choose "last known configuration" at startup und reinstall intel wlan
- if you try to open the energy settings and visual c++ lib crashes -> reinstall sony notebook utilities


at the end everything except for 2 mass storage errors in the device manager should work

 

Globetrotter HSDPA WWAN now works:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/APPLICATIONS/12_WWAN.ZIP

You have to use the globetrotter connect software though (included in the above link). The t-mobile connection center (tmcc) or the Option Globetrotter Mobility Manager don't work since the driver installs the card like a wlan card. Both apps detect the card as either lan or wlan card.

 

Nice job, milagro!

 

does the fn+f1 function work?

 

what is fn+f1 supposed to do?

 

camera works too now. you have to force the tz downgrade driver in the device settings (usb video device -> manual driver install)

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/DRIVERS/12_CAMERA_DRIVER.ZIP

 

milagro, I used some of the drivers from your links along with xp drivers from sony's site. So far I have gotten everything except the ones you can't get working plus the brightness fn key and wireless lan doesn't work. my brightness is stuck on high. the wireless installs but it doesn't detect any networks. the volume fn works, though it now displays green bars as a HUD instead of the white squares.

 

you have to switch on the wireless lan with the wireless switiching utility. i had to deinstall (alone app ) / reinstall (notebook util package) it a few times with reboots in between before it gave me all options (wlan, bluetooth, wwan).

as for the fn keys, does the 65 differ from the 61?

maybe just try to install all of the sony US drivers and then the notebook utils again. that's what i did in the first place. the fn keys (brightness included) instantly.

 

What function does the Sony Image Filter Driver have?

 

I have the sz670, and it looks like Sony has listed all the drivers for XP for this model. I've gone through and applied the Sony-supplied drivers even after Ihad installed them myself (audio, wireless, etc.).

So far, I've had very little problems and it looks like I'm good to go. I think this thread had gone from early adopted hacker to basically following the steps Sony has supplied.

 

I would really like to know where those guide for installing xp are? I can only find the drivers but i cant seem to get the order right!?? Can you please help me.. no mather what i do i still have problems, cant get the audio to work or the fn brigtness

 

On the right-hand side of the page (actually, it's just aside the list of drivers) you can see "Recommended steps to install...".

In case you're having a "File not found" message, make sure you select "English" at the right top of the page.

Hope it helps.

 

can anyone confirm that xp downgrade drivers (for sz6) are working complitely?

I downloaded drivers and I will install but I am confused..which order do you prefer for installation?
they wrote:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Installation

BIOS update (if available)
Intel® Chipset (if applicable)
Microsoft KB896256 (Mobile Dual Core) (only available on some models, please verify with Sony Support web site http://www.sony.com/pcsupport)
Microsoft KB909667 (System stops responding during standby, hibernate or shutdown.) (only available on some models, please verify with Sony Support web site http://www.sony.com/pcsupport)
Sony Notebook Control (if applicable)
Sony Programmable I/O (if applicable)
Sony Shared Library
Video
NOTE: On some newer VAIO PC models, the system will support two different graphics hardware. The setting mode is identified as:
Stamina: Intel Graphic mode
Speed: Nvidia® Graphic mode
Audio
Modem
Network
Camera
Wireless
MPEG Encoder
Multi Card reader (if applicable)
Flash Media (if applicable)
Flash Media registry
Memory Stick® media
Memory Stick Registry
Bluetooth® Registry (if applicable)
UPEK TouchChip Fingerprint Coprocessor
Infineon® Trusted Platform Module
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse utility
SmartWi™ Utility
Cingular Connection Utility
WWAN driver
Any other Sony Utilities
NOTE: Will be explained in the software dependency section
Hard drive protection
Toshiba Bluetooth application

Battery Check Utility 1. Sony Notebook Control
2. Sony Programmable I/O Control
3.Sony Shared Library
4. VAIO Power Management
Cingular Connect Utility 1. Sony Notebook Control
2. Sony Programmable I/O Control
3. Sony Shared Library
4. SmartWi™ utility
5. WWAN driver


1. Sony Shared Library
2. Sony Notebook Control
3. Sony Programmable I/O Control Device
4. Sony Utilities Library
5. Sony UI Library
6. Sony Extended BIOS Dynamic Link Library
7. VAIO® Central
8. VAIO® Support Central
9. VAIO® Event Service
10. Setting Utility

 

I would also like confirmation that that order works with the XP drivers provided by Sony.

 

Does anyone know what the following drivers are and how to install them? I get a system message asking for installation everytime I restart my VAIO SZ670N:
1. SM Bus Controller
2. Data Interface
3. Unknown device

I have installed evreything Milagro has listed plus the SONY drivers for XP and I still cannot get them to recognize without anyb problem.

Everything else seems to be working fine.

 

I have the following working:

2. Data Interface
3. Unknown device

Still have SM Bus Controller and Secondary IDE Channel with exlamation sign on it.

Brightness stuck on high also. I am reinstalling Sony Utilities to see if this fixes the brightness issue.

 

hello folks, glad there's a thread going on this! I've got a couple problems..

1. no luck with the unknown device (located on on Intel(R) ICH8M LPC Interface Controller - 2815) - have tried chipset drivers, no luck

2. when I still had vista, I set the battery setting to charge up battery to 50%.

Now, under XP - its still charging it to 50%, and there doesn't seem to be a battery utility to change it.

Appreciate any help! thank you

 

ok, the unknown device turned out to be the infineon TPM, and the vista driver for it worked.

Still no luck with the battery, only getting 50% charge. the program name is battery care, tried to copy it from another sony/vista laptop, but wouldn't run in XP

another one.. for odd some reason, xp detects my unprotected netgear network as a secured one, and oddly won't take the DHCP assigned address. Have 2 systems on the network and had, no issues

using latest driver.. might download one from manufacturer vs. sony

 

Have you got the Secondary IDE Controller fixed? If so let me know how please.

 

Is everybody still having problems. I had installed XP and had done all of the steps on this thread for my SZ670 (nVidia, MicroTel sound, etc.) Things worked OK. When Sony posted the drivers at:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-home.pl?mdl=VGNSZ670N&LOC=3

I went and reinstalled all of them.

I have everything working except for the Novatel card for Sprint WWAN broadband service. Sony says they won't have that available until late November at the earliest. I'm still looking for a driver for the sz670 that will get this working for me.

Other than that, I'm on XP, everything is working. I still have the Secondary IDE Channel error. And, I have an unrecognized device (which I assume is the Novatel card).

Also, if you don't reinstall the nVidia drivers, you won't be able to adjust brightness. There is something abuot the Sony-supplied nVidia driver that was necessary in order for the hotkeys to change that.

 

Did you follow the oder of installing drivers from Sony's support site or milagro's? At what step should I install the nVidia driver?

 

It seems that using the guide provided by Sony is not enough to get everything to work. I have tried using it and I could not get my intel x3100 graphic driver to work, so i downloaded the original driver from Intel and now it works. My problem is that FN Brigthness don't work with the intel x3100 card but it works fine with the NVIDIA (My comp. is a VGNSZ650). I think that it might be because i could not install the sony provided drivers for the card.. Have any of you guys had any luck with the sony drivers for x3100 graphic? There is 2 files to download and install from the sony site, one "Intel chipset family graphics" and the other "Intel graphics accelerator driver", are you supposed to install them both? And in which order?

Hope someone can help me

This is actually the only problem that i seem to have now..

Another question is, what is chipset driver called from Intel? Is it called something like "Device software"? I don't know if i have installed the right one

Best regards

 

I can't change brightness under Stamina Mode either.

 

Thank you all SZ' owner!
I got almost everything work, beside adjusting brightness and a yellow quote mark for Secondary IDE channel

 

Is your brightness FN Keys working under Stamina Mode? What model do you have?

 

The guides provided by Sony says that the first thing to do is install the "intel chipset driver" is this provided in the list of drivers from Sony? If so which is it? Else which specific file (name or something link that / link) am i supposed to install from intel's download page...? I am not sure I have installed the correct one, the one i installed is called "infinst_autol.exe"

I have a question or its more an observervation. The Nvidia graphic card is actually performing really bad, working in the regularly windows environment it performs worse than the intel x3100. I dont know why this is? it is still better in gaming... I have tried downloading Ntune from Nvidia but it will not allow me to change the clock speed. This is the main reason i think the Nvidia card underperforms in windows. Have some of you experienced the same?

Best Regards

 

I noticed that as well, you need to install the Chipset. I have a SZ670N and the Chipset is "Intel(R) GM965 Express Chipset" I went on to the Intel site and downloaded the correct file for it. If you have a different model, you can always go to Intel and download the Chipset Identification Utility which helps you identify what Chipset you have.

for the Intel Identification Utility http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-009266.htm

 

Installing "Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family Graphics Driver" seems to do it for the chipset. I think they misnamed it.

 

please anybody could tell me differences between backup time given by battery to them while using vista and winodws XP

 

I did not try it yet! Sorry! I will let you know next time
My one is 691N/X

 

Has anyone here have problem with inability to wake up from standby? One out of 5 times it fails. Usually the screen stays blank, though occasionally it will accept keyboard input (can hear beeps when adjusting volume), and once in a while it resets. Switching to Stamina mode (thus using Intel graphics) solves the problem, and the system wakes up quicker. Methinks it has something to do with the NVidia driver. Hopefully it's not the hardware. I tried 6.14.11.5655 and 6.14.11.5666 versions of the driver.

 

FN-Brightness (F5,F6) keys works under Speed mode only......
VGN-691N/X

 

Does anyone got the secondary ide channel to work on the VGN-SZ6xx ?
I'm still having problems...

Also, does anyone have the software for the finger reader? Drivers are ok but no software. Sony Vista factoey install comes with one.

Everything else seems to be working fine.

 

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/DRIVERS/16_FINGERPRINT_DRIVER.ZIP

 

Thanks unid3ntifi3d! Finger reader is ok now.

Only the second IDE Channel remaining....

 

Do I have to buy a copy of XP or can I use the one from my Dell? I think the Dell one will recognize my hardware is not the same.

Are all of you buying XP? How are you getting a hold of the software?

 

I'm not sure what I did, but my secondary IDE channel is OK now. I think it was after I let XP download and install all its updates.

 

Me, I already have several unused XP licenses from broken PCs. Don't see why I can't simply transfer one of the licenses. Just use any (non-upgrade) copy of XP to install. My company's IT dept did this with Dells they bought then installed Linux over. They consider those XP licenses "freed-up". Of course you can now get Dells with Linux pre-installed but that's another story. I also have a full retail copy of XP Pro with SP2 but still use one I download from years back (without SP2) to install. Force of habit I guess.

 

Do you have WWAN? if so what driver did you use? It would be great if you could let everyone know what you did in order to get Secondary IDE working (well that is if you can pinpoint it)

 

I have a SZ691 with WWAN installed. All drivers are downloaded from Sony's SZ6xx support page.

The Secondary IDE error went away in Stamina mode, but returned when I switched back to NVidia. It was completely random. I don't think I did anything else besides that to get it to go away. Only thing I did between installing drivers and discovering the condition was to turn on and clear the TPM, and install the fingerprint SW. But I don't think that was the cause.

If you read the Device Status, it was because that particular device couldn't allocate some resource. Sometimes disabling and re-enabling the device in the device manager will fix the problem (worked just now as I type), though you may see the error again after rebooting. I think it's just some quirk in PnP. In any case it's not connected to anything (switch to "Device by connection" view to confirm). So it's safe to just disable or leave alone.

 

Wait nevermind, I don't have the WWAN drivers.

 

I have the SZ650N. The Secondary IDE yellow exclamation mark was present for me for a while, too, and then just worked itself out. I did not install any Windows updates, just the downgrade drivers listed under Sony's website.

Shouldn't the SATA controller be the one listed instead of all these duplicate entries for standard IDE controllers? Does anyone know how to work that one out properly? Or am I shooting off in the wrong direction?

Regards,
NGNeer

 

Hello,

Does anyone know if its normal that the LCD screen blinks a few times booting up and then shutting down? I currently bought the sony vaio sz-640 with vista business installed.

What should I check on my new laptop to see if everything is working the way it suppose to?


Thanks.

 

If you switch to the device manager connection view, you'll find that one set of std/sec IDE channel actually belongs to the SATA controller.

 

And do you have WWAN working properly?. I get a Data Interface error on device manager every time I switch on the WWAN and cannot seem to get the correct drivers for it and therefore cannot either use nor configure a WWAN connection, only WLAN. I f ou ae able to stablich a WWAN connection let me know what driver you use to congfigure this device.