Latest VPC-Z1/330M Drivers for the BIOS Hack People

Looked into it, can't figure it out, need to put 8.1 on my computer to get a handle on the problem, it was not the issue that I suspected. I'll get to it this weekend. Keep an eye on this thread.

 

Hope you get it done successfully!

 

I will most certainly get it done, that is a given. The real question is when will I find the time.

 

That would be great! We're counting on you ComputerCowboy!

All BIOS hack VPCZx users who have taken the plunge to v8.1 need your help.

As a matter of fact, looks like most VPCZ/VGNZ users have hit a wall with the OEM driver support under v8.1 Even the stock hybrid-graphics guys are having issues with the last NVIDIA/Intel cooked drivers that just recently worked under v8.0.

Nonetheless, Win v8.1 is a definete improvement over v8.0.

Heck, I even have it running on two dinosaur Napa and Santa Fe VGN-SZs equipped with 4GBs of RAM and 120GB SSDs and they perform much better than they ever did under Win 7 (as good as that OS was).

All it needed (for my taste) was the extra touch from 'StartIsBack+'.
I tried most of the start menu replacement apps and like this one the most.

 

So there are problems running Intel only on Stamina Mode with 8.1 as well?

I am looking at taking the plunge tomorrow... maybe.

I am way too busy, On the road, various commitments to Freemasonry and the Church. I am promoting a concert tonight. I am going to a conference tomorrow morning for most of the day. Just got back from being on the road last night. Didn't even go home, I have new place but I haven't even moved in there yet. I have two side projects that are way overdue, like months.

 

Hi there guys!

As I see you are doing massive job which Sony should!
I'm already using drivers from Andrew08 ( link) for my VPCZ12x9e/x. It worked perfectly on Windows 8 but just days before update to Windows 8.1 it just died. Just like that but as I remember after some bigger updates for Windows 8 (not 8.1).

Just like that. Fan at full speed, high temperature and laptop is off. Sometimes it was even not possible to turn PC on. When it started it just went high on temps and died. Exactly like described here but for Vaio F. Temperatures are massive ...but unreal as guys in service point checked! They checked the temp with some external termometers and it was high but not that high as Speedfan showed (GPU 85-90C, CPU 80-101C). Cooling system is new, replaced in january 2013 due to some fan issues. Thermal paste is fine, cooling too because they checked it with other one. No detected problems witch motherboard. Still same problem:/ No idea what is wrong but than I've read about power management and some issues from here (few post before).

Strange is that that few times when I turned it on, temps was fine and computer worked normally.
Maybe you have any idea what could be wrong? Maybe I should patch BIOS (risky:/) and use latest driver from ComputerCowboy instead Andrew08 which are quite old now.
Tomorrow I will take it back from service point and will try again to reinstall but this time to Win7 with stock drivers, than maybe some power management, force Speed mode instead of Auto and stuff I read here. I'm so mad at Sony for lack of any support with drivers for Windows 8. No updates at all! And the built quality which is just a joke despite "Made in Japan" sticker :/

Would be sooo glad for your opinion guys!

 

Thanks ComputerCowboy. No worries and no rush. Its understood.

No issues with the INTEL drivers under Stamina. Defaults that come with v8.1 work fine, Windows update finds a newer one still and the latest from Intel's or Station Drivers install OK too.

The only other problem I've seen on the forum is with unmodified VPCZs like Saeglopur89 mentions, where the latest combo driver package that people have cooked up for Win v8.0 is now also no longer compatible under v8.1.

BTW, when you get a chance to look @ the patcher, can you use the latest WHQL notebook driver v331.65 as the base for patching?[/url]

 

it seems like I can't download "pre-patched drivers" from the links ComputerCowboy has provided?

 

Make that 331.65 WHQL since they just came out:

Drivers | GeForce
Drivers | GeForce

 

The card I had on file expired and my hosting went down. I fixed it, try it again.

I will use the latest and greatest as always.

 

First of all, it is a real treat to see your face, CC, and hear from one of the "old gang" after all this time! Second, why am I not surprised to hear of your many exploits and with it all, your intent to help people adapt your drivers to run on Windows 8.1?!!! After all, this is soon to be a 4 year old computer and I think you may have contributed enough to giving us the best possible performance for all these years running lowly W7 and now even W8. I'm not at all sure time spent adapting the driver to run with W8.1 constitutes what I would call a good use of your time and considerable talent. But of course, that's your judgment call to make. Congrats on all the new projects and accomplishments, CC.

Probably worth mentioning here that the Sony Z1 is still the best damn laptop ever produced and that it still outperforms Sony's (and everyone else's) newest 13" ultrabooks, but with far more ports, versatility and ultimate capability. EG, for about $600 you can put Samsung's 840 Evo ONE TERABYTE SSD in the DVD bay and have everything but Haswell power efficiency that a $2,000+ laptop made today - which would max out at 512GB SSD - (to match that you could take even a 128GB Z1 and put a 512GB SSD in the DVD bay for around $200!) but you can have 1TB + the 256GB that came with the Z1 originally! (Why you would need that much storage, I'm not sure, but the fact that you can take a 4 year old laptop, spend $600 on it and have it equal or outperform the best $2,000 laptop today's money can buy says a lot about what a legendary piece of work this 2010 Z1 was/is. Oh yeah, and the screen is a TN and "only" FHD resolution - though the 96% aRGB color gamut is unlikely to be matched by any current day display - even one that has resolution of 500 ppi, lol

In any event, great to hear from you CC and glad you are, as ever, thriving and taking on more and more challenges. In retrospect, aren't you glad you never purchased that gold and brown Z2?!! . I did, and I love it for its aesthetics, but the keyboard is crappy and it only has two USB ports (vs. four on my Z13 when you include the USB3 port I created with a $15 EC card. Add to that the feeble keyboard backlighting and the extremely breakable carbon fiber casing and, well, sometimes it's best to stick with a classic. You, sir, are a classic!

 

Thanks for the kind words lovelaptops

I am debating whether to just run the 8.1 upgrade and go from there or get in there and do a clean install.
Obviously the later is much more work, but probably for a better result. I have run the upgrade on another computer which went smoothly.

I don't really need the 330M to work because I use my ViDock most of the time. So I am not worried about that... but what I am worried about is the upgrade going sideways and needing to stop and clean install. So I don't know. I was thinking about just going for it sometime today. We shall see.

 

Alright guys, I decided to do the upgrade, it is downloading now...

 

Great! I'd be curious to learn if upgrading (rather than a fresh install) grandfathers the driver in somehow from your Win 8.0 patched inf install.

 

Ah, that makes sense. MS works in mysterious ways.
I've spotted one small issue. Brightness control doesn't work using the Fn keys.
No issue under Stamina/Intel mode. But under Speed/Nvidia it has no effect.
Its possible to dim the screen (and it works very well actually) using the Mobility Center GUI but not using the Fn key shortcuts.

Maybe I have to reinstall some of the SONY modules while using GT330M with the new driver? I'll give that a shot.

 

That issue with the Fn keys has been around for a while. I haven't worked on it. If you find a solution let me know and I will add it to the patch if possible.
I use the brightness from the charms menu.

 

Congrats on the success, Jeff (takes one to know one ) Curious: do you see many benefits from 8 vs. 7 (which I know you've been running since the beta) or from 8.1 vs. 8? I'd really like to upgrade to W8 - have an unhacked Z13/i7-640/8GB/256GB - but not sure whether it's worth, or what more is involved, in going to 8.1. I use Start8 on W8 so I can run it like W7 desktop mode if I choose. Don't really know what else 8.1 brings to the table. Thanks.

 

Thanks Jeff. Works like a charm.

 

Thanks, great job.
Works like a charm.

 

I like 8.1 better
hyper-v
ISO mounting native
faster boot, responsive
better multi monitor support
better sync of settings between computers

 

First off, thanks, CCB.

Does anyone have problems with the screen not turning on after resume from sleep? Or when the screen does turn on, it's grey with vertical & horizontal lines?? Appears to only be a problem with the NVidia card in speed mode. In stamina mode, no such problem. The only way to get the screen back is a hard reboot. Thanks!

No screen problem coming out of hibernation.

I only have the NVidia driver (later version by CCB) installed on windows 8.1. No problems before on windows 8.

 

I had mine jam up on me, last week, coming back from sleep mode before I switched to 8.1, but I can't remember if I was running nVidia or Intel at the time. I think I was running nVidia though.

I rarely ever use speed mode because I use the ViDock at my desk and if I am not at my desk I only switch to speed if I need to plug in something like a projector via HDMI.

I want to get one of the 4x DisplayPort Matrox cards and a couple more 30" Ultrasharps http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/p...ppciex16/?productTabs=1#.UnL4VMs39sE.facebook

this is what I have now...

 

Since I've upgraded to 8.1 a few days ago, I've been having this screen problem every time the laptop comes out of sleep. No problem coming out of hibernation.

 

So only when coming back from sleep on nVidia?
Does this happen on Stamina/Intel?

 

Only coming back from sleep on NVidia. No such problem with Stamina/intel

 

No issues here coming back from sleep or hibiernation both Speed/Nvidia + Stamina/Intel.
I'll keep checking on Speed/Nvidia because I usually have the laptop plugged in when in Speed/Nvidia setting and have sleep disabled then.

 

Jeff, thanks for the patch, works like a charm.. :thumbsup:

 

No problem. We shall keep the Z1 going forever.

 

thkx so much , update with the last nvidia drivers 331.65 win8.1 and works fine .
thkx again

 

Amazing! To think that you have so many high end things going, all powered by that little old 4 year old amazin laptop!

And that ^ was just what I was thinking when I wrote the post above!

There just isn't a reason to replace it and nuthin worth replacing it with unless you are looking for better video and audio on the road. I confess that I picked up an HP Envy 14 Spectre Ivy Bridge open box for $560 for just that purpose and it also keeps my Z's from coming to harm outside in the cold, cruel world.

My question for you, CC; what vintage/new Sony gear would you be collecting if you had the time and inclination to do so? Those Xperia Z phones and tablets are mighty handsome and finely turned pieces of gear, most impressive pieces of Sony design in many a year. I'm also tempted to grab a great find of a maxxed out SVZ13 - admittedly with no graphics/ViDock ability, but kind of a classic and last of that breed of laptop 3rd gen quad mobile cpu, 9 hrs with sheet battery, 2.5 lbs without it - and yes, the gold/dark rust really is stunning!

 

New purchase will probably be the VAIO Pro 11.
1080P IPS touch screen, just under 2 pounds
I want the new XPERIA phone also.

 

which patch do you use? The VGA patch or the 3D Vision Patch?
I would still love to merge those branches...

But what I am thinking is I have had this happen once with the 3D patch. I am wondering if also happens with the VGA patch.

 

I used the drivers you uploaded on your website. I only have the driver installed. I didn't install the vision 3D, the physix or the other stuff.

 

The driver from my site is the 3D Vision Patch.

so I am just wondering if the VGA patch will exhibit the same behavior.

Do you need the HDMI output to work?

 

I do. That's the only reason I'm using the NVidia card.

 

Just did a fresh install of 8.1 with 3D prepatched driver. And i have same resume from sleep problem.
Also NVidia panel is not opening. I'm going to try VGA patch now...

 

Well VGA patch mode has the same issue. And this issue applies only to internal LCD, the one on HDMI continues working.
Anyone can point me on the last 'working' version of drivers?

 

I see what you mean about the attractions of the Pro 11, but the screen and almost everything else is a good bit worse than the Z1 (unless vertical viewing angles are important for some reason) - less bright, much less color gamut (barely 80% sRGB), much weaker cpu, weaker gpu (vs nVidia) and, yes, 0.7 lbs and a couple of battery hour savings. All for the low, low price of, what, $1,800 with 8GB, i7 and 256GB SSD? I'm hoping for something better in the 11" form factor.

Love those Xperia phones and tablets.

 

just try going backwards through the WHQL drivers for 8.1 and test them out, only thing you can do really.

 

Thanks again for the guide!

 

No problem, glad I could help.

 

I am also having a problem with the screen going to crap if I unplug HDMI.

The good thing is that I have my power button set to shut down the computer. What is interesting is that it will unfreeze the screen and go to the shutdown screen after being all messed up. So it isn't totally frozen. It is just a bit weird. Perhaps a workaround would be to plug in an HDMI and use "windows+P" to change screens and maybe that would unfreeze it.

I am pleased to have found out that it isn't totally jammed up but actually just a rendering issue of sorts.

 

Hi,

Just completed the BIOS hack (finally brought myself to format my USB etc!), so very pleased with that
So, found this to install the drivers. A few questions before I dive in to new drivers:

1) I take it you have to patch the drivers even after the hack, you can't just install directly from the NVidia website?
2) I noticed there are 2 prepatched drivers, 3D and VGA, which one should I use? I have my laptop connected via HDMI to a monitor so somewhat assume VGA won't work with HDMI but want to make sure.
3) The patching software goes from 314.07 down. I assume that means if I tried to install the latest driver (331.82) it wouldn't work? And if not, any chance an update for the patcher could be released for the new driver versions?

Any help will be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Anthony

 

1. You must patch the drivers, the BIOS hack enables you to run patched drivers
2. The VGA patch will allow the VGA output to work but not HDMI, normally you just want to run the 3D patch
3. The patch will work with all the latest drivers, it may not work with some very old drivers, whenever there is a new driver that has a breaking change I update the patch to make it work.

 

Anyone else getting a blank screen when resuming from sleep with recent drivers, e.g. 331.82?

 

Yea, others have experienced it, I have found that it is not jammed up when this happens though. I was thinking maybe we could come up with a workaround like a macro for a resolution change to see if that fixes it. Or plug it into a monitor and see what happens. I know this is not something you can do whilst mobile, but you know just for testing purposes.

Hibernate and resume works fine though.
I use, stamina/intel when I am on the go, so this is not much of an issue for me.

 

Hi,

Cool, thanks for the help! Now time to start installing the latest driver with the 3D patch then

Anthony

 

I've updated the first post in this thread with some new links and bug/feature listings
latest pre-patched drivers are also linked

 

I have found that if you come back from sleep and it is jammed up you can hibernate and then power back up and it will be fixed.
I have to do some more tests and find a better workaround

 

infpatcher 4.5 could have a warning message instead of crashing when nvidia folder doesn't exist

var files = (new DirectoryInfo(txtPath.Text).GetFiles("*.inf")); <- breaks on this line.

awesome work tho!