My discoveries on Vaio Z’s Hybrid Graphics

Replied in the Optimus thread. Trying to keep this VGN-Z and VPCZ1 Hybrid Graphics as much as possible.

 

thank for your flash supports

I tried you package and it said that : not compatible with this version of Windows -> i'm using W8 - 32bits

yep, i tried that one and got this: required files are missing

 

I also tried to add a new device (add new -> Display adapter -> Have Disk) and pointed to Display.Driver\nv_disp.inf but no lucks W8 doesnt like it

 

Well I suck. I guess you are going to have to wait until one of us can get one posted or that one fixed. Or you can try W8 64bit.

 

hope that u can make a 263.14/2281 32bit one, well i'll try w8 64
anw, thank you guys

 

No worries. Thanks for pointing out that that 32bit package is broken.

I guess now would be as good a time as any to finish the Vaio Z All-in-One Package. I figure since we have hit a stagnant point with these drivers I might as well package them all up together. The all-in-one package should cover 32bit & 64bit, VGN-Z & VPC-Z1 models... assuming it works. No real ETA when it will be posted.

 

Uninstalling the Intel driver doesn't help - W8 will just reinstall it on bootup. What you need to do is to right click the Intel HD Graphics icon in Device Manager, click properties, click update driver, and then select the 'browse my computer' etc. to select "microsoft basic display adapter' (which is the new way of saying VGA compatible). Now the hybrid driver will install as expected.

P.S. Please put your hardware details in your signature.

If you are trying W8, then this thread might be of interest to you:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/611284-vpcz-windows-8-developer-preview-question.html

 

downloading and working on it. It will take forever with my dial up connection.

noted!

all in one shouldn't come together yet.

x64
what i know that my 26308 for vgnz missing 1 line in order to switch
26314 2281 not yet confirmed working on vgnz
nvbridge_int for old and new hybrid haven't been tested

26314 2263 vs 26314 2281, please do comparison from my inf. You will notice 50% differences for Intel side. My question Which one more stable?
What if I use 26314 2281 inf for 26314 2263 and vice versa. Any instability issue?

If all the Issue above answered then we may proceed with all in one package.

x86
never use x86 before, I am trying to get 1 working 1 after Nov 2011 because I am traveling around.

 

Yeah saw a couple issues with your VGN-Z set before meant to post on em but then forgot. I haven't had any issues with your 23614/2281 set really. I admittedly don't game on this machine but for every day use it seems to be ok. When doing the all-in-one package I was going to change a few things in the INF and double check to make sure everything worked.

I also have a couple of bug report and driver request forms that I was going to post and was thinking about putting up a wiki. Especially since the forums here have been having issues, makes it difficult to find some info.

 

Nautis: I don't think making a combined x64/x86 package is a good idea. Even nVidia doesn't do that. Combining VPCz1 and VGNZ should be challenging enough.

 

its not even possible to mix x86 and x64.

 

Package can be mixed the installer installs the version detected. Files are all separated though. So as I said makes for a large download.

 

Hello, I apologize for a noob question, but I have spent a day and a half reading and can not find the answer/solution.

I have a sony vaio vpcz1 notebook to which I need to connect an external monitor in portrait mode. I did a w7 x64 clean install. than I installed Nvidia 26314 - Intel 2281 signed driver from this thread. I can not figure out how to enable the "Special Features 2" than contain the portrait mode. Please help!!!

 

Rename nvmvsz.inf to nvmvsz.standard.inf.bak
Rename nvmvsz - Special Features 2.inf.bak to nvmvsz.inf
Reinstall driver - clean settings recommended.

 

Thanks!!! You are the best!!!

 

Pardon the trivial-sounding question, but I have stuck with the last Sony video drivers, simply because I'm not a gamer and don't require the discrete gpu to perform any better than it does. Then the adage: if it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes in to play, and that's doubly true regarding drivers

But here's the thing, I have another computer with an nVidia GT230M and I have updated its drivers (it was "broke") and in the nVidia Control Panel there is an extra color adjustment among the desktop display color settings. Specifically, just above the "digital vibrance" adjustment, there is a "Hue" adjustment. The nVidia Control Panel on my Z has the digital vibrance but not the hue adjustment. Turns out, that hue adjustment is extremely useful for some movies with screwy color control. Can someone check to see if that hue adjustment is in your Desktop display color settings, just above the digital vibrance adjustment.

Thanks.

 

^ Yes, I've got hue.

 

Hi
I just found out there is a signed driver for VPC-Z1....

Just wanna confirm if there is anything which does not work (e.g. light sensor) with the 64 bit signed driver?

So I only need to uninstall existing stock driver from sony, reboot and install the signed driver and everything should work!?!?
that sounds too good to be true!

What are the new features between the stock driver and the latest community driver? cuda?

thanks!

 

Yes. Just disconnect from the net while you do this or Windows will helpfully download a driver for the intel part.

Generally, going from hybrid to hybrid should not be a problem. If in doubt, check device manager to see that there are 2 VGA compatible devices shown there (one with a problem).

 

Failed to install the driver; it's complaining the driver is no signed.....
help would be appreciated

 

It will warn you that the driver is unsigned, but if you click 'install anyway' it will install it.

Turning off UAC before installing the driver is recommended - you can turn it back on afterwards if you like.

 

Thanks guy for your hard work! I just had a few questions about the install. So I think I installed it right, but I'm not 100% sure. The drivers when I clicked on them said they were the corresponding one, but it still says that the drivers are unsigned (which is fine right?). Also, is there no real nVidia control panel or anything like that? I can't see where to mess around with PhysX or anything like that. I found the nVidia control panel in control panel but it doesn't look like the one I'm use to. Any advice/tips? Thanks! Im using the one with the 2266.

 

My NV control panel says version 3.4.772.10. What does yours say?

 

I've noticed since I've used the 2266 signed drivers my battery life hasn't been the greatest.

 

I actually have the same control panel. My mistake since I am use to using ATI

 

Which leads me to ask for the baby-steps advice: what drivers should I load and, do I have to modify the .inf files? If so, can you very briefly say just which file and which lines need to be edited? (I assume I can use notepad to edit in, yes?)

Thanks for the help; I've done some bad things installing video drivers, and I really want that hue adjustment because some streamed movies are way too green or red and that is by far the easiest way to adjust, well, the hue , but since I'm not looking for a performance boost I'd feel doubly dumb bricking my Z just to get a hue control for the nVidia driver when the Intel CP already has that adjustment. (Am I the only person who even uses this?)

 

What's the current status of your BIOS - stock or advanced (BIOS MOD)?

If it is the stock BIOS, then you should install the 263.14/2266 pack made by Andrew08 which you can get from the first post in this thread.

If you have the advanced BIOS (after flashing the modded BIOS), get the drivers from ComputerCowboy's thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/602497-latest-vpc-z1-330m-drivers-bios-hack-people.html

In both cases, it is important that you get rid of the existing drivers first, or the new driver will not 'take' properly.

1. Disconnect from the internet to prevent Windows from helpfully downloading a driver for you.

2. Uninstall the current driver and go to device manager to confirm that you see two standard VGA compatible devices there, one of which has a problem. If the screen goes black, just wait 3 to 5 minutes, then press Enter to reboot (imagine the reboot dialog that you cannot see). If you are still having trouble, manually change the driver to standard VGA compatible.

3. Clean all traces of the old driver from your system - use NFR.exe (nasty file remover) or DriverSweeper, search for nVidia, and delete.

4. Now install the new driver, wait until it is done installing, and then reboot. If you get the warning that the driver is unsigned, just click the 'install anyway' option. The actual driver files are signed - it is just the inf that isn't signed - which is presumably why this works without having to disable driver signing enforcement (DSEO).

p.s. I don't have the terrific internet connections that you guys have, so I always download videos and then play them from my HDD, so I can use the settings in the media player of my choice. That is why I don't need the settings that you mentioned.

 

Hey all, Should we give up about getting 270+ nvidia drivers for switchables hybrid graphics ?
Nothing to explore anymore ?

 

Pretty much.

We can wait for the official Windows 8 release when we might get one driver update, and then we might be able to MOD a further couple of releases.

 

Hi,
Is it possible to use Intel Wireless Display on Vaio Z13 with any of those modified drivers?
Thank you.

 

Hi everybody!

This is my first post on Notebook Review. I decided to join-in because I am not very happy with the Sony Vaio Customer Support so far and I'd like to share my discoveries on my Vaio Z.

My Vaio is a VPCZ12X9E which I bought last Summer (2010). Since middle of May 2011 I have been experiencing strange Problems with black screens (bsod). Computer sometimes restarts automatically. Sometimes the Display just freezes and the Cumputer does not respond anymore. As Ctrl-Alt-Del does not work, I have to power down my Laptop the hard way. After those restarts the computer sometimes ends up wit a damaged RAID.

Various parts have been changed on spec without any result. Allthough the Vaio is still under warranty I started to investigate the Problem on my own. Reding through this Thread it came to my mind, that the problems (bsod) might have someting to do with the VPCZ Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System. It feels like it gets stuck while automatically changing between Stamina and Speed Mode. I once received the massage: ""Display driver NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 188.80 stopped responding and has successfully recovered"

As the Notebook is still under warranty I did not change any settings of my NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M. Current Driver Version is 8.16.11.8880

As this is my first post I do not want to ask for help right away, but suggestions where to start reading for further assistance would be highly appreciated.

 

Sorry for the delayed reaction, but thank you. Worked like a charm! I would rather download the videos and use the more flexible playback adjustments but haven't figured out how to download Netfilx yet.

 

I occasionally get the "Display driver NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 188.80 stopped responding and has successfully recovered" but I haven't had the black screen problem you mention, so the two issues may be unrelated.

Given the only other errors that you've received are about raid problems, have you considered that there might be a problem with the SSD?

Vaio care includes some hardware diagnostics, including "video". It might be worth running those. If nothing else, they will at least eliminate other possible causes.

 

First of all, many thanks for your response.

I often experienced black screen or freeze problems on my vaio. Only a few were associated with error reports.

I considered problems with the ssd. Those parts werde double checked and replaced on spec.

I checked the hardware with on board diagnostic tools: No results.

 

It just happened again! Hybrid Graphics Switch was set to "Auto". Due to the fact that I was running the computer connected to the AC Adapter, the Mode was automatically set to "Speed".

Whille reading an article on the internet. I briefly noticed a strange behavour of cursor and aero-skin (Browser Frame) when I wanted to scroll text. Then short vertical lines flickered over the Display (looked like fat chalk stripes). This happened right at the moment when the status LED switched from Speed to Stamina Mode. The next Second the Display was black and the computer did not respond anymore. After a while my vaio automatically started rebooting.

Dont ask me why my computer intended to change the mode from Speed to stamina here. But one thing is for sure: It seems as it was not a good idea.

Has anyone else experienced this annoying effect? What might be wrong here?

 

Sorry! Double post.

 

This is scary. Looks like your display multiplexer might be dying. Make sure, ASAP before your warranty runs out.

1. Do a complete system recovery (back up your data first). Just it case it is some app, driver or malware that is causing this.

2. Try the 263.14/2266 pack made by Andrew08 which you can get from the first post in this thread.

P.S. Make sure your power adapter is plugged in properly - no loose connection, etc. Try another power outlet - the one you are using might have a loose wire inside.

 

Display Multiplexer? Never heared before. I just learned from the internet, what display multiplexers intend to do. Now I'd like to understand, if the Display Multiplexer is Hard or Software. If it is hardware, I'd like to know where it is located. I assume it is some kind of hardware that rests on the Mainboard. Can it be checked and replaced, or does it come attached to the Mainboard?

The other thing I am wondering about is: Why did the Hybrid Graphic try to shift down from Speed? I think, there was no reason to do so. Reading Text is a bit like leaving the Computer and CPU alone ideling at a rate less than 5%. When I start scrolling it needs to rev up the engine.

Besides that, I never experienced this problem when I unplugged the AC adapter or mannualy changed between speed and Stamina. I am not sure, but I guess I coud spend the whole day changing modes by plugging in an out the AC adapter without forcing the computer into problems. Anyway under thes circumstances the computer warns, that modes will be changed first. I am prompted to give my "ok". I would say the problem comes out of the blue. The controller doesn't ask for permission to change modes. It just happens. Therfore I would bet, that the problem has nothing to do with changing Graphic modes by disconnecting the power supply.

 

Often when my PC changes from speed to stamina (or vice versa), everything freezes for a second, I get wierd lines all over the screen. So that might be normal. The black screen afterwards isn't though!

When in auto mode, the vaio should only change from speed to stamina when it loses AC power, and thus has to use the battery. That's why anytimer is asking about your power connector. The question would be whether the connector in the PC or PSU was loose, so the PC lost power just for a brief second. It certainly should not switch depending on idle time etc.

The other thing you may want to look at is the "reliability monitor" (control panel->action center->maintenance->view reliability history). That may give an indication of what is causing the black screen/reboot.

If it does frequently occur when switching between speed and stamina, reinstalling the video drivers (as suggested by anytimer) sounds a good thing to try.

 

I think its hardware, in relation to the Hybrid Graphics switching but your better off getting a response from Nautis, as he helped me a good few pages ago, in relation to a problem with the way my system switches from stamina to speed and is definitely more in the know than I am thats for sure.

 

Correct! Mine does that to. But somtimes (I didn't touch power supply or switch) the system seems to get stuck or freezes half way changing modes out of the blue.

I know. I sometimes do that a couple of times a day. In or out each time a llittle Window informs me, that the Computer will now change mode and asks wheather that is ok.

I like to do that, but I need to translate the path to my system's language first. Is that reliability thing someting, that is similar to the event manager window?

 

So let's hope Nautis pops along if he's around.

 

^ Yes, it just displays the events a different way (in a calendar, showing all the events week by week (or day by day)), so if you're already looking at the event viewer, you won't see any more information in the reliability monitor.

 

In order to DIY check the problem I'd like to know if it might be useful to force the Computer to stay in one mode by selecting "Stamina" for instance. Does that allow us to draw a conclusion? Yust in case the Computer works fine in "Stamina" but has problems in "Speed" and/or "Auto". Would that help?

 

So I do not need to find that kind of viewer. Event viewer would be fine?

EDIT: Browsing the event Viewer Reports and searching the codes on the Web directly led me to

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/481033-vaio-z-random-freezes-stutters.html

Seesms were getting closer.

 

To me, it looks like you have two separate problems:
1) The PC is switching from speed to stamina at random times in "Auto" mode. This may be a PSU problem.
2) When it switches, sometimes the PC crashes. This may be a video card/video driver problem.

If you set the hybrid switch to either speed or stamina (i.e. not auto), it should stop the crashes (but won't help solve the underlying problem), as it will never switch (whether you have AC power or not).

In answer to your question, event viewer is fine. The reliability monitor just displays it a bit more clearly.

 

Many thanks for the quick response and sorry for The noob question. What does PSU mean. (I am not a native speaker).

Following the link above. I learned, that other users had freezes and lock ups on their Vaio z either on speed or stamina mode. We still do not know, if automatically changing modes is the reason for the problem or yust a symptom of some other problem.

 

^ PSU: power supply unit. i.e. your vaio seems to be losing power causing it to switch from speed to stamina.

 

Have you tried any of these steps? You could start with #2.

 

I got headache reading this thread
What got to my knowledge - sony & nvidia forgot about their customers during "goldrush", i believe their slogan should be "it works & all right" ... can imagine if MS did the same

Running 32bit Win7 on old vgn-z w 9300M GS onboard, would anybody explain why there's only 191.90 for 32bit version?
Is there a place i can get updated drivers? I mean modded drivers