My discoveries on Vaio Z’s Hybrid Graphics

The updated links are in Andrew08's signature: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...vaio-z-s-hybrid-graphics-252.html#post7176699

 

I know this question may annoy people, but is there an "easy" way to explain how to get the HYBRID Graphics working on my VAIO VPCZ1290X ? I am somewhat confused. I thought I followed the steps but to no luck......

I followed the steps to disable driver signing, but when coming back into Windows the NVIDIA and INTEL HD drivers have exclamation points, both saying Windows won't use them because they are not digitally signed.

Any other thoughts?

 

I've vaio z11 z9e with hybrid graphics. I would like to use pivot function on external display but i couldn't find it in settings. What is the purpose? Is it possibile?

 

There is a rotate function that needs to be enabled. (Not sure what the pivot function is.) To enable it, find the nvmvsz.inf in the display folder of the driver. Rename that inf to nvmvsz.inf.standard.bak. Now rename either nvmvsz - Special Features 1.inf.bak or nvmvsz - Special Features 2.inf.bak to nvmvsz.inf and reinstall the driver and reboot.

 

Thanks but I'm not enought clever to find this file. In my Vaio I have file Windows/system32/DriverStore/FileRepository/nvmvsz.inf but I'm not sure is it the correct file and I cannot find files inf.bak. I tryed to use external program irotate but it doesnt work ((

 

Download and extract the driver that Andrew08 has made to an empty folder. You will find several files and folders inside. One of them will be a display.driver folder. Inside it you will find these files. Change as recommended above, and then go to the main folder (which contains this display.driver folder) and run setup from there.

 

If I am not mistaken NVIDIA 263.08 - Intel 2020 is going to be the latest version, but you will be tweaking it to improve it.

Would it be a good idea to use NVIDIA 263.08 - Intel 2020v_2012.11 or anything like that so that we can easily check if there is a new release?

 

Hi,
Can anyone help me with this?
I tried to install the newest driver pack (Nvidia 26314 - Intel 2266 signed) on my vaio z13m9e and haven't been able to reboot since. It freezes at some point of win7 startup (logo stops glimmering), when I try to boot in safe mode it freezes when trying to load classpnp.sys. I would appreciate all kinds of suggestions cos I really need to get that machine up working again asap.

 

Have you tried booting in VGA mode/ switch set to speed/ switch set to stamina? I have never had anything like this happen. What is your OS?

 

My OS is Win7 (as preinstalled). I already thought it might just have been a coincidence that the failure appeared right after the reinstalling of the graphics driver, it being some other kinda defect (dunno heard that hdd does do those classpnp conflicts?). But again this would be VERY unlucky. Also, I used to have this problem before, after using hdmi on speed mode. It become EXTREMELY slow and after restarting booting wouldn't work. But usually, turning off/on a few times did the trick. Not so now (I certainly already tried speed/stamina/auto on a few times when starting).

 

Installed Windows 8 a couple of days ago on my VPCZ12Z9E.
Then I brought my laptop to mom n dad to show them a movie, the HDMI out didn't work!!!
Seems there was no nvidia display drivers installed.
So I checked around, and I found this thread. Then I installed the latest andrew08 drivers, I didn't configure anything at all, I just installed it. (I didn't edit any ini files or something, maybe I need to do that?)
But anyways, I got HDMI out to work. But there's no sound thru the HDMI!
So I still can't show them the video
Also, when I installed this, and went into device manager, and click NVIDIA gfx and right click and select: check for updates. The screen turns black. Been black since then, and I had to do a system restore.
So I guess I should keep my hands off the Check for updates on the graphics card

Anyways, how do I get: HDMI out + HDMI out sound to work on my laptop?

 

You might need to monitor the CPU and GPU temperatures - sometimes overheating causes strange effects.

Did you touch the BIOS settings at all around the time of this problem? Like loading default settings? This could be an IDE/AHCI issue - if Windows has been installed on your HDD or SSD in one mode, and later you switch to another mode in the BIOS, you're basically dead meat until you switch back. If you want to change to a particular mode (more trouble than its worth, IMHO), you'll need to format the partition after changing the mode.

 

Yes, you're right. While Windows Update is usually very good at finding new drivers, in the case of hybrid graphics it DOES NOT know what it is doing.

Right click the speaker icon in the tray and select 'playback devices'. Is there an nVidia High Definition audio device there? If so, select it and set it to default. Once you have done this successfully a couple of times, it will switch automatically - you don't need to keep doing it every time.

 

Hi
I have a VPCZ13V9E and tried run installer for both signed builds but every time during installation i get message the message "failed". any idea what it could be? I'm trying to install on Windows 8.

Nvidia 26314 - intel 2281 signed - won't install.
Nvidia 26314 - Intel 2266 signed - won't install.

Any help would be appriciated.

 

nvidia 263.08 (8.17.12.6308) intel 2020 (8.15.10.2020) ,the file is not available in the links. can give the rignt URL?

 

Hi andrew08

Do you still need beta testers for the new driver set? I just made a clean install of Win7 64bit on Vaio Z13.
Otherwise, when are the drivers ready for download?

Greets

 

Any chance we can get some community driver for Windows 8 for vpcz1 and vgnz. Thank you for the community drivers you have posted on this thread. I am using both community drivers with wonderful results on both z laptops.

 

i was able to get 2266 with nvida driver installed once. i then uninstalled cause i thought there was a problem with it. After reinstalling, i get a yellow warning on device manager and the driver won't work.

i have tried all the faq methods to uninstall and reinstall but i always end up with the same problem. the only time i get it to recognize is if i disable and enable the nvidia driver from device manager but i have to do that everytime i boot.

i have a vaio vpc-z11.

what should i do for a clean reinstall?

____________

UPDATE: i just reinstalled windows and got it wokring. Thanks Andrew08!

 

This might be a late reply but I'll go ahead and just post it anyway. I think to get the drivers to install, you have to actually install the original factory video drivers from Sony first. After you do that, then you can install the 2266 or 2281 drivers. I also believe when you try to install the 2266 or 2281 drivers, you have to be switch to speed mode. Also, don't do the clean install option when you are installing fresh from the Sony drivers. It'll give you problems like I had. Hope this helps.
Also don't forget to disable driver signing in Settings->Advanced Options.

 

Greetings, I tried the original drivers (i linked it which one i installed) for my Vaio VGN-Z540N CTO(actually my dad's but whatever lol), and it caused a lot of issues. Basically, the system was making this weird beeping noise and the cursor would freeze when moving it around, rendering my system unusable. Actually, I also installed a mouse driver just before (which I couldn't properly test to see if it was working) so I'm not sure if that may have been the issue instead. Has this happened to anyone? (Edit: oh how dumb am, i this is the screen flicker issue)
Anyways, I had to eventually system restore from the installation usb to make my usable again. Would it be wise to try Andrew08's modified "Nvidia 26308 - Intel 2020 signed" drivers instead?

also: does it matter what order I install the drivers? just wondering if it does, i remember reading about it. this guide suggests to install graphic driver first.

 

Are you sure the driver that you've linked to is for your model? It says 890.

You're better off installing Andrew08's drivers. Upgrading is not recommended; do a clean install of the OS. Install the OS, then chipset drivers first, followed by the graphics driver.

 

wait, are you talking about the intel driver? should i install this one for my computer or the [http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNZ540N&upd_id=4975&os_group_id=6"] latest from intel? should i have done this before and i would have the freeze problems?

also, i think you misunderstood, i did do a clean install (though i had to restore some data, install a few programs, and the printer drivers). i was talking about whether installing the original drivers with no issue and installing the signed Andrew08 custom drivers was how i was supposed to do it.

is my issue the screen flicker problem here? http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...vaio-z-s-hybrid-graphics-367.html#post8936281 I just found that post, and my problem was that the screen would freeze if i moved the mouse and there would be continous beeping noises making my computer unusable...

 

I am unable to use the stock Sony graphics drivers on my system at all - even after a complete system restore of Windows 7 from the recovery partition. So I just do a clean install instead and use Andrew08's drivers.

Yes, install the chipset driver for Win 7 x64 that you have linked to under 'this one' above.

The screen flicker is a different issue. I think only some VGNs are affected. Mine is a VPCZ1 - no such issues.

There are innumerable guides on how to do a clean install of Windows 8 on VAIO systems. I have written one; Andrew08 has written one, as have Tom, and Harry, individually. There is a line in all such guides that says: install the graphics driver. That line should be read as: follow the recommended procedure for installing the graphics driver.

To install the graphics driver, this is how I do it:
1. disconnect from the internet (some people suggest that this is not necessary; it gave me issues a couple of times, so now I always do it like this).
2. uninstall existing graphics drivers. Reboot if needed, or manually select the driver until both items in device manager show microsoft basic adapter or something like that (depends on OS; may be standard SVGA adapter in Win 7).
3. install the new driver. You need to restart in 'disable driver signature enforcement' mode to install the driver, so if you have to reboot here, just check that both devices in device manager still show microsoft basic adapter.
4. install the driver. Click 'install anyway' when asked about the unsigned driver.
5. Use the clean install option while installing - recommended.
6. if the screen goes blank, don't panic. Just wait it out - several minutes - then press 'enter' to restart (imagine the restart prompt you get when installing a new driver - you just might not be able to see it (happens rarely). Let the OS load (HDD LED stops glowing) before proceeding with login.

Continue with the next steps in the clean install guide.

 

Thanks a lot failure13 for screen flicker fix and anytimer for making the instructions clearer, I now have the driver installed without a lot of problems-I do however have this error in device manager: http://i.imgur.com/yfejdQI.png
EDIT: this is a wwan driver issue, i'll try and fix it, it maybe because i didn't install smart network?
I'm not sure what it means. Other than that I haven't encountered many problems, so I'll report back if I do... again thanks a lot. Oh by the way for anybody else out there on the vgn-z (or maybe other models) installing windows 8, just to let you that the driver downloads have some chance at being in these links if you cannot find them on your esupport page for your model (such as the mouse driver, ricoh sd card reader writer driver by right click inf install, etc.):
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/WIN7UPGRADE/
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/WIN8UPGRADE/
I used this guide for reference: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/431357-guide-installing-w7-64-vaio-vgn-z.html#post5480577

 

Super newb question. I've been pouring through this thread and struggling to find answers so I'll just ask.

VAIO vpcz1, just fresh installed windows 8. Then installed the latest Andrew08 hybrid driver. Haven't installed any Sony drivers for anything yet because on the first install they just made things worse.

Here is my question: should the " speed stamina auto" switch work with this driver? Mine is stuck in speed mode if I boot with charger and stamina mode if I boot without the charger. Did I install it wrong? No issues otherwise. Lights next to speed stamina and auto all work, no flickering. Netflix might be broken but I just used Google chrome as a workaround.

Thanks - Eric

 

I have the same problem running 26308 2020 101112 Nvidia_Intel hybrid driver on VAIO VGN-Z21MRN/B (NVIDIA 9300M GS). Can't expand or dublicate Windows 8 desktop to TV. Only one display selection is supported. When i tryed to do this using nvidia panel, there was a message that "this GP supports only one display". Any ideas to solve the problem? Can we hope to get new unofficial driver with this bug fixed in the near future? Thanks.

 

How does your laptop know what to do with the speed stamina switch when you haven't installed the other Sony drivers (NOT the Sony graphics drivers, but the other stuff)?

 

Great question. I suppose it doesn't. So which drivers do you recommend I install? All of them? I installed almost all of them last time and then when I installed the shared library it broke the fn+volume key so I did a clean install again and haven't installed any drivers accept vaio control center

 

Follow this guide: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/699021-vpcz1-how-clean-install-windows-8-a.html?highlight=
The order in which you install the drivers is important. You might have to uninstall VAIO Control Center first. You might even have to do yet another clean install.

 

I followed the same guide, Andrew08's guide and it works exactly the same as windows 7.
The hybrid graphics switch works perfectly, I do not need to reboot between modes.
The only driver in the list I did not install was readyboost driver.
Function keys and programmable keys all work perfectly.
Before I tried to install only the video driver, but I had the same problem, I only could swap after restarting. I did make a new fresh install.

My only glitch with these drivers in windows 8 is madVR does not recognise CUDA for video decoding
But I can live with that so far.
If only we could get updated drivers...

 

Good day.
How to make auto-hide Nvidia Icon in Control Panel during swich to Stamina mode? (for VGNZ Andrew's driver)

 

I just noticed that Sony has a software patch for us nVidia graphics guys - yes, our Zs are on the list too.

NVIDIA Guard Service version 1.3.0.0

NVIDIA Guard Service version 1.3.0.0 : Download : Sony Singapore

Does anyone know what this is about? Is it safe to apply this over Andrew08's drivers?

 

It might be for XP only:
SONY China Service-NVIDIA Guard Service更新程序版本1.3.0.0（For XP）

 

Nope. Mine came with Windows 7 pro x64 preinstalled.

 

is there any update for the latest nvidia driver?

 

Well, whatever it is, it doesn't seem to have broken anything. Applied it several hours ago. No ill effects that I've noticed.

 

Hey!

I managed to use my VGN-Z11 HDMI port to cast the video signal to a big TV with the recent drivers from this thread. However, I can use either NVidia Flat Panel display (the notebook's one) or the TV. A few people here have already mentioned this, we can't extend the picture to the second display (the TV set in my case). The Nvidia configuration application says that this GPU supports only 1 display, which is totally incorrect, since with the stock driver I was able to use the TV as the second display in order to extend the primary display.
Do honoured authors/residents of this thread know how this can be addressed? Maybe certain changes to the INF file before the driver installation should be applied? Or some regkeys have to be amended?

Thanks in advance!

 

Same problem going there, and wen using the HDMI signal sometimes it break the break the link with the stamina/speed switch

 

I am somewhat puzzeled after reading much of this thread. I have a Z13 with a i7-640m. I am looking for some answers and hope someone is willing to answer:

-Do I need the 2266 or 2281 package?
-Will switching from stamina to speed and back work without rebooting?
-Will CUDA work or not after switching back and forth?
-Will auto switch work (not important to me though)?
-Will HDMI out work?
-Any other side effects?

Any help is much appreciated. I could simply try, but my Z13 is my workhorse and I have no PC spare.

Cheers!

John

 

-you need the 2266 not the 2281. I think 2281 is for VGN series not on VPCZ sereis..
-switching to stamina/speed/auto works 100% without booting at all.
-CUDA only work if you have used speed mode and that is when NVIDIA graphic cards kicks in.
-auto switch works like i said in #2 post.
-i haven't used hdmi yet, maybe you could ask computercowboy from that..
-no side effects at all. unless you are trying to play games that needs graphic update to play.

by the way you need not to hack your bios also.. if you want latest NVIDIA drivers to install then you maybe needing to hack the bios though. But you need to reboot if you are switching graphic.

 

Hello. I have troubles with Graphics driver in clean install Win8 x64 on VGNZ laptop. My understanding is (based on the first post in this thread) that for VGNZ the Signed driver is 263.08 - 2020. At least I see no issues with this driver on Win7.x64, but I can't install it in Win8. The installation just fails (and I can't find any log to understand the reason). I tried to install the driver manually selecting the INF file from DevMan->DispAdapt->GeForce 9300M GS; it also fails with the message about "...The hash for the file is not present ... The file is likely corrupt or the victim of tampering..." Once more, the driver works on Win7 x64.

The original Sony (187.35) driver has also an issue in Win8. It does not fail during the installation, brightness changing in both Stamina/Speed modes works fine but turning between Stamina/Speed doesn't work - I turn the switch to Stamina from Speed, the Event Service detects this and shows the window about the switching but the graphics card keeps working in the previous mode; I need to restart Win8 to change the graphics. In Win7 it works fine (I have dual boot Win7/Win8). I tried to install the 263.08 - 2020 driver first, failed, manually uninstalled the video drivers, restarted and installed the 187.35 one - could it be the reason of this issue (with switching) is related to the originally failed 263.08 - 2020 driver? If it is the case, are there any way to clean up the NVIDIA drivers completely?

So, there are a few questions.

1. What is the latest signed driver for VGNZ? Is it 263.08 - 2020 or 263.08 - 2281?
2. Does anybody manage to have fully functional Hybrid Graphics in VGNZ on Win8.x64? What is the driver?
3. Any idea about troubleshooting of 263.08 - 2020 installation on Win8?

 

Thank you very much. Great reply. Just what I needed. I have did, however, not manage to install the driver succesfully. I get the "failed" message as many others have posted about. I tried some suggestions except for making a complete new installation. Nothing worked.

Thanks for your reply. Any suggestion on installing on non fresh Windows 7 system?

Regards,

John

 

I haven't tried on VGN machine.. I only have my Z1

 

I don't know why are you getting those failed messages. Here are the steps that might help (If you have not tried yet)

Note.: Install driver in speed mode. never install driver if you are on stamina.

1. Uninstall Nvidia default drivers from sony.. Uninstall it on control panel>programs
2. Do a reboot after uninstall.
3. After reboot please do check on control panel>programs if there are still nvidia labeled drivers like physx, audio. if you found list then uninstall those. then apply reboot..
4. After reboot install your nvidia driver now the one with the version 263.14 2266 signed.. choose advanced installation.. then be sure to check clean install then proceed.
5. After you have successfully installed it then do a reboot.

 

The only way I could do this on Windows 8 Pro 64bit was to disable signature enforcement. I didn't bother removing old drivers as I was doing a clean install (i.e. there wasn't one to remove). Go to Settings > Change PC Settings > General > Advanced startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup settings> 7) Disable driver signature enforcement > ignore windows security warning and install > restart. I did this in "SPEED" mode.

HTH

Edit: don't forget to follow instructions to remove flicker if you have a VGN-Z

 

MatthiasPyck (and anyone who's followed his instructions):

Thanks for your guide: "How getting a Windows8 fully operational on SonyVaioZ VGN-Z21ZN/X (European) (2008/2009)", which I'm about to try for a VGN-Z21WN/B

:
2. Hybrid Nvidia/Intel graphic card
During Windows setup, the Intel driver gets installed. Before installing the new driver....
:

I'm trying to merge your guide with MY TEMPORARY FIX OF SCREEN FLICKER ON OLD VGN-Z from failure13. Admittedly he's talking about a W7 install.

Failure13 says install in SPEED mode ...(but don't install Intel and Nvidia drivers).
From your point 2.(above) (Only?) "Intel driver gets installed" do you do the install in STAMINA or SPEED mode? Or do you switch at some points between the two?

Thanks for your help

 

With some direct assistance from Matthias Pyck - for which many thanks - I managed to do a CLEAN INSTALL to a new SSD of W8 64bit on a VGN-Z21WN
from Vista 32 Bit - from a consumer W8 Pro Upgrade DVD.
In fact - as a piece of extra information - the old drive with Vista is still offered as a boot option without me doing anything AND there was no need to do
registry hack for clean installation. W8 is Activated.
Just to mention - I did the installation with the switch in SPEED mode throughout.

WOW and HOORAY!

Using additional info from failure13's post (also linked to above) I also installed Power Management and Smart Network in the versions he mentions.
I found them on Sony : VGN-Z51WG/B updates | Download updates for VGN-Z51WG/B.

I have read somewhere that WWAN just works after a W8 install - can't remember where though.
My WWAN did not work - Device Manager showed an error on Globetrotter HSDPA, so I downloaded/installed the software at
GlobeTrotter HSDPA FAQ | Option.

After this WWAN worked - and I can send SMS texts too (not available in my Vista installation)

Thanks to all involved. Will report how the machine behaves over time

 

Hi guys

can someone help me with my Sony Vaio VGN-Z21XN ?
I cant find the right driver for the nvidia geforce 9300m gs.
I am using windows 8 x64 ..

Is anyone else having the same problem ?

 

Look at Andrew's post
You need "Nvidia 26308 - Intel 2020 signed Dropbox.txt" --> LINK

To install on my Z21WN I followed step 2. of Matthias Pyck's instructions --> LINK

 

@jamescook2
And how did you managed to change the intel driver to show it as Microsoft Basic Adapter ..