Petition : Sony, please enable VT (Virtualization) on the VAIO Series

Hi all-



As you are very well aware... attempts at enabling hardware VT by 'hacking' the Insyde H2O EFI bios have not gone very far. While these has been success (kudos to Igor Levicki for pursuing it) with the other series of VAIO, the Z series has not been hackable till date and thus one of the most important and supported/advertised feature of the included Intel processors (P8400, P8600, P8700, P9500 and P9600 -> All Supporting VT as indicated by their official Intel pages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Microsoft has just release Windows 7 RC (the best version of Windows, as claimed by some of the most popular blogs in the world) and one major feature in its toolset is the Windows XP Mode ( http://www.erodov.com/forums/windows-7-xp-mode-available-download/20138.html) and it is clearly indicated by Microsoft in their download page ( Windows Virtual PC: Download) that for this important software compatability feature to work, hardware VT must be enabled and supported by the computer.

Since hardware VT is a feature of the Intel processors, us VAIO owners do not see Sony's logic in disabling it entirely without giving the owners of the machine any choice to enable it at a later time. Even if it is a unsupported feature as far as Sony goes, why cripple it? Why not have an option in the bios which would allow users to enable it by themshelves?

We hope that Sony listens to us and releases a bios update which either:

• Enables VT by default.
• Gives a option in the BIOS to enable it.

This affects almost the entire lineup of laptops (not sure about desktops) in the VAIO series. Sony stands to loose nothing but rather gain another feature in its cap for being pro consumer and listening to the needs.

Digg this people: Sony: Please enable VT (Virtualization) on the VAIO Series

Please report your issue to Sony customer care here:

Thanks for the link sniper!

Regards,
Karan Misra
Sony VAIO Z Owner

 

dugg. good luck with it.

 

Thank you. This would only make sense once a lot more people are supporting this I plan to see this to the end

 

So let me get this straight: If I end up getting a Sony Vaio, I won't be able to run Windows 7 on it?

I've heard a lot of crap about Vista, mostly from tech savvy friends (as I am close to a neanderthal when it comes to such things). So I was hoping that Windows 7 would be less buggy and looking forward to it.

I've personally been using XP Home Ed SP2 for the longest time, and never actually tried Vista.

 

Windows 7 is one of the best operating systems to come out ever, and it is saying a lot since it is coming out of Microsoft. Microsoft really got their act straight and has gone quite a few miles trying to fix the issues they introduced with Vista.

While Vista became quite stable after SP1 release, the compatibility with legacy 32 bit XP applications always remained a sore point. To cater to that and to push Windows 7, Microsoft has introduced the XP Mode as a free feature of Windows 7. Read more here: http://www.erodov.com/forums/windows-7-xp-mode-available-download-updated-screenshots/20138.html

This would allow users to transparently run applications which are entirely dependent on the 32 bit mode XP without having to run the entire system in XP thus not taking advantages of the massive improvements in 7.

But, the caveat: Windows 7 XP Mode requires H/W Virtualization support (which our CPUs support btw...) but Sony is disabling them knowingly in the BIOS thus leaving us out of the much required XP Mode.

It will take only a minor effort on Sony's part to bring out bios updates for its models (atleast the ones they are actively selling and making money from) and enable VT.

A small step from them would go a long way in allowing us to use our machines (for which we paid $$$ for) in a better way.

Digg the news people. We can only hope for Sony to give us the required attention if this news gets big.

 

Sure you can run W7, but you won't be able to run XP through the built-in Virtual Machine.

If you don't have the urge to upgrade, I would say stick with XP.

Just as a side note, I'm going to try Ubuntu with Virtualbox to have XP legacy support. According to what I've read, even without VT you can still run 32 bit OS's. VT is only needed for 64 bit guest OS support.

I haven't really checked the M$ website, but it would be a bit strange they can't do the same with W7. On the other hand, it wouldn't be the first time M$ would let you down...

 

Here here.

 

I am pretty "sure" Sony will enable VT, after W7 is out, since because of its awesome virtual machine feature.

 

well Windows 7 that came out now was not yet in full version right?

 

No.

Final version expected october 2009

 

Sure... we can expect Sony to do the right thing... but it wont hurt to have a little pressure on Sony now would it

This machines shines at everything else I throw at it, except for VT

 

Yes, totally agree, they should speed things up!

Perhaps we could get some inside info from Nixon how we can enable it by "hacking" BIOS

 

It is available in my bz560 . Option to enable in bios .

 

I know I wonder why they Disable it in the Z and the other series. Some problem in the motherboards causing VT to not work well? Other than that, it seems like a deliberate move to cause problems.

 

Common all VAIO owners. Do you not want Sony to listen to our demands and enable VT in our laptops. Heck we paid for a processor which supports VT perfectly. Why is Sony disabling it?

Digg the link so that our cause gains a little lime light: http://digg.com/hardware/Sony_Please_enable_VT_Virtualization_on_the_VAIO_Series

 

Is BZ using Insyde BIOS?
I think some experts can look into BZ and have a compare between BZ and Z if both use Insyde.

 

Generally posts that get Diggs are either news articles, opinion pieces, or blog articles. Forum posts don't attract very much attention unfortunately. I dugg it anyway though.

 

I think in many way's it's a question of support. Sony seems to not want to support it, and the extra costs that would come with trying to deal with clueless customers asking about it. But then I could be completely wrong.

 

Z is top of a line nixon, you have to offer the best quality with it.

Or you think Z buys "clueless rich people" and BZ serie "pro IT users" ?

I think BZ uses h2o bios, but i am not 100% sure.

 

While I agree that not having VT is a killer for many of us, I don't think a petition will do anything at all. Big corporations in general and Sony in particular has a history of ignoring petitions.

In Sony's case, product development ends when a product is handed to sales. Sony does not provide updates and upgrades, unless they have to provide fixes because it's more costly not to do so (read: lawsuits). What you received on the day of purchase is what you're stuck with, and a new and improved BIOS isn't going to happen. BIOS updates will be to support hardware when not updating the BIOS would be more costly for Sony. Not to provide features for the users.

My advice: Spread the knowledge about Sony laptops (except BZ) not working with virtualisation -- no running 64-bit guests, and no running XP processes under Windows 7. Hit them where it hurts: sales. Reward the manufacturers with enough foresight to deliver NOW what many customers need now, and a lot more will need in 6 months.

 

Yes, the bz series uses the Insyde H2 Bios . If someone could find a copy of the bios thats not locked to the bz series & feels brave they could attempt to flash the bz bios onto the z . Wouldnt recommend it though .

The bz series is targeted at the business customer . Which may be why its not available direct from sony & supports VT .

Sony tends to steriotype its customers , which i dont think will change anytime soon .

Its unfortunate because they lose alot of potential customers . Although i can sympathize with you , i doubt that anything short of constant calls to their support line inquiring about when it will be added will have any effect .

The more trouble tickets they open the better chance of it being forwarded to the software developers to be implemented .

 

I mentioned this in another thread, but allegedly Sony is "working on it". My transcript from support:

Me> Will this be enabled soon?
Bret_> [name], we are in the process of enabling the feature in VAIO Computers. The information will be available only after the release of the same.
Me> So this could be weeks, months or years?
Bret_> [name], this feature will enabled soon and the information will be updated on the Website.

 

That doesn't say anything about whether it's going to be enabled in NEW computers, or whether a new BIOS will be provided for OLD computers. The first is a must, else they're going to lose major Windows 7 sales, so that will obviously happen.
It's whether we'll see it for existing models that's the issue here, and Bret didn't answer that.

 

I think we are all being the target of customer stereotyping... a person buying Z is buying it for the cool looks and light weight, he ain't gonna run virtualization on it. That being said, I guess if we can spread the news far and wide (well as much as possible), atleast Sony will come to notice that people are recommending something other than sony because of lack of this feature which won't take them more than one iota of effort to implement/rollout.

 

With Windows 7 XP mode, there's no question that Sony will indeed make laptops with VT enabled... If the Z range is still in market when 7 is released, then at least we have a chance of getting a BIOS with VT... but I doubt that will happen I could really do with VT on my Z for testing vmware images as we have 29 vmware servers at work.

 

What the hell.. W7 will come out this year, and Z will be around for quite some time! Its still the best laptop out there and its only getting better (8G ram, RAID 0 SSD...)

 

i think the Z will still be around, but i also think if anything theyll release a new model. Much like the 590 vs 690. 1 supports 32b the other 64 when its the same gear. Though working around the model checks would be easy i assume.

eitherway sony are s

 

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-contacts.pl?

everyone chat with a staff and ask for VT!!!

 

i suggest everyone who's VAIO is in warranty make a call or online chat to Sony's custom support to ask for VT. Probably they'd release BIOS update to reduce the support cost.

 

Just done that!

 

Just found a similar story of what happened with Foxconn motherboards:

The problem:
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Foxconn_deliberately_sabotaging_their_BIOS_to_destroy_Linux

The solution:
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Foxconn_releases_test_BIOS_fixing_Linux_crashers

No reason why Sony won't listen to us.

 

I registered and voted. Good luck with your petition. Some people won't vote because they won't take the time to vote if they need to register. It only takes a minute to register.
I hope that Sony listens and takes note.

 

Well done! hope this will draw their attention

 

Thanks for the vote. Have a look at page 3 for the response I got from the tech support online chat. If Juan is serious about forwarding this, we should have a solution.

Hands crossed.

 

No need to take it down on the support girls, they have NOTHING to do with Sony, maybe they dont even dare to speak to somebody who can, because they are afraid to loose their job.

 

If I'm guessing here I'd like to think Sony will be opening up VT on their VAIO Professional models (at least some of them hopefully) like the Z, SR and TT with the release of Windows 7 and the XP Mode that will require the use of VT to really work. I can see that being the case, and we'll have to keep our eyes open.

 

Yes, there's no doubt that they will do so, but the question is whether they'll do so by releasing new models (like a Z-7xx series), or a fix for existing models.

Given Sony's track record, my bet would be the former. After all, that's what they did with 64-bit Windows support. Even though the hardware in the Z-5xx series has no problems with 64-bit Vista, many of their driver packages check for model numbers and refuse to install on a Z-5xx. You have to hack them to get them to work, or do what Sony really wants -- buy a Z-6xx.

 

They are a business after all! Not that I agree with the practice, but they want to make money, and support costs money. Sucks.

 

When new models will come with VT enabled, i am sure "skilled people" will find the missing bits and offer us they way to hex edit current BIOS and enable VT like it is possible with almost every other sony laptops.

Since the latest "rumor" is that W7 will come at the end of October 2009, I think VT will be enabled on the refresh serie of Z which suppose to come around that time too!

Maybe we will also have some leaked bioses earlier, we can only hope.

 

VT support wasn't a deal breaker for me, since I'm happy as long as I can run whatever I want on my desktop ... BUT, having already bought my Z ... I sure as heck hope they don't just upgrade future models, but also provide an update for us old owners. It would be fantastic if it were supported, but I have this icky feeling they will screw everyone who already bought their Z. :/

 

I signed the petition although I currently don't need the feature. But 19 diggs isn't going to do anything...

 

I guess, for our sakes, that this goes somewhere.

 

Well, you could also try to push MS to have 32 bit XP working in Windows 7.
If Sun Virtualbox can do it without VT...

 

i buy a Z only to run 32 bit OS'es

nvm my ssd is only 64GB so i don't plan to run a lot of vms

 

http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/GB/en/forum/viewthread?thread=62899

 

Thats very good news

I hope it materializes.

 

Actually his patch is NOT for the Z series Insyde H2O EFI bios. He is targetting the older bios in the other vaio series. Our only hope atm is a bios update released from Sony.

 

I know
I dont have Z series
I have AW ..

 

Ah ok Makes perfect sense. Excuse my brain fart

 

T_T I just voted on the petition. I have an AW series and was following a tutorial on how to run the virtual xp mode. That when I realized we don't get VT on our vaios... I really hope they provide some type of update for older models. I bought my laptop a little over 2 months now and I still have the one pc tune-up through sony style backstage. I'll make sure to bring this up with them... hopefully it will reach some higher authority that will implement some change.