Sony VPC-Z11 - Frequently Asked Questions

Hmm- dont see Smart Network on my machine. Let me check on the installation DVD I made.

 

The utility is called SmartWi on US models.

 

Guys, I'm planning to get a Momentus XT for the HDD version of Z, but the Z HDD is ATA and Momentus XT is SATA, does it work if I replace them

 

The Sony drive is SATA.

You can replace without any issues.

 

NVM I just realised it's Serial ATA..And for some reason, both CTOs are not available

 

Is the 1080 HD screen on Sony UK 96% RGB covered ? And is it already calibrated ? does the calibration change if I do a clean install

 

Screens from the Z11 are the same across the world as far as i know. And no it's not calibrated (at least mine wasnt).

 

Could be usefull to know GPS could be activated also in the EU model ?
See here

 

Please excuse my French, but what the he** is up with Sony's online parts store? It's the most incomprehensible, cryptic search you could ask for. If, for instance, after you've figured the thing out, you search VPCZ as prefix of the model name and SSD as part of the description, you'll come up with four parts with linked part numbers, prices ranging from $271 to over $1200. Click on the part numbers and you just go to another page with linked part numbers. Click on those, and you're on the same page. No photo, no real description (like "64GB"). Incredibly useless. I guess I'd need to find the product parts guide to decipher this junk.

 

Hi, I am thinking of buying one and have a few questions. I saw the review in notebookcheck that the graphic card is downclocked. Can I clocked it back up and would that affect the laptop's heating? Here is the link to the review.

Notebookcheck: Review Sony Vaio VPCZ11X9E/B Notebook

Finally, do you guys have any problem with the performance of the graphic card (graphic intensive applications and gaming)?

Thanks for any help.

 

Yes, the GPU can be overclocked. The system stays stable and temperatures are fine. If you buy and overclock, I would just monitor your temps for a few long gaming sessions (or maybe running some benchmarks) so you can get an idea of where your temps are.

I only have heard of one NBR member (TofuTurkey) experiencing any throttling of the GPU, and it was occurring at strangely low temperatures. Others haven't reported problems with the overclock.

I am satisfied with the GPU for gaming with a nice overclock. It's not the best GPU in the world, but for a 13 inch computer of this weight it is about the best it gets.

You might find this thread somewhat useful: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/473593-sony-z-m11x-3dmark06-scores.html

 

There's one other guy, I think he posted in the owner's thread. I put it down to the application (Oblivion) not being very efficient with graphics programming, based on stuff I heard from others. I have never hit 80 deg Celsius, I'll try a different program to see if I can break that ceiling.

 

Yeah, that seems strange, especially if it's throttling below 80. I think the 330m should be able to surpass 90 before you have to worry about heat. I've noticed mine hitting the high 80s with no problems.

 

Sony Vaio VPC Z11 - DigitalVersus
At the review linked above, look at the grey box on the right side that focuses on screen measurements and discussion.

 

I thought I'll bump this thread. Maybe some stuff about the differences (or lack of significant ones) between Z11 and Z12 might be helpful. Might also help to point to "Should I get HD or FHD screens?" and Z12 vs. Z11 SSD threads...

 

Can I use a 16GB USB drive to make a factory restore.
Is it big enough?

 

Assuming factory restore refers to the burning of recovery disks: I've heard that this process takes up two DVDs, which would mean 16GB is probably enough. The issue then is the emulation of the USB drive as a DVD burner (or allocating some space on the disk as a virtual optical drive). There are software out there that can do that, Pasharoo started down that path a while ago.

Assuming factory restore == imaging. Probably not, I suspect in (almost?) all cases the occupied space on the drives exceed 16GB.

 

Yes that's what I mean.
I'll give a shot once I get my unit, if it fails I'll do the disc backup, but I tend to misplace those

 

Hey all,

thanks for the wonderful faq. Very helpful!

So basically, my "FAQ" question is: How do you make an image of the OS drive?

I use Acronis true image home on all my laptops/PCs. I haven't been able to get it to work with the Z11. when i boot (using USB) it gets stuck on "starting Acronis loader..."

has anyone had any success making an image of the SSD (whether with acronis or another program)?

seeing that sony uses a proprietary SSD setup, how can one make an image of the OS drive? I am willing to use something other than acronis if it is an easier route to take.

My plan is to make a clean install. Install all drivers and necessary software then make an image of the OS. Afterwards i plan on burning the factory recovery DVDs and deleting the recovery partition. I want acronis to be able to boot via usb as i will most likely replace the DVD drive with more storage.

I tried searching the forums but could not find anything useful. I remember someone on this thread stating that acronis may not work. I will continue searching and will report back in case i find anything to solve this issue.

Any information would be helpful! thanks in advance for reading my post!

Homie_G

 

Hmm... I used Acronis and it worked in making a ghost image for me. The SSD in RAID0 will work just like any other drive because the computer sees it as one complete drive not 2 or 3 or 4 separate ones. Uhh have you tried Norton Ghost?

 

Please note that my exact model is VPCz116ga (middle east)

My bios version is R1180C3

I haven't tried anything else. Just acronis ( i really love acronis and would rather stick with it since I know it works now.) . did you boot using USB or the DVD drive?

what version of acronis are you using (build number would be nice )

I know that when booting using USB on my Asus UL30VT, the network boot (and network security i think) have to be disabled for Acronis to load. Or else it would freeze in the same way.

did you change anything from the bios? or did it just work from the start? How is your boot setup preference?

thanks for the quick reply! now that i know it is working for you i shall experiment a bit more.

 

Ok, after seeing that acronis worked for you, I tried a simple solution to my problem. I changed the USB flash drive i used and it worked with no problems. I will update if i run into any issues during the backup.

But as of now, i can confirm that it works (as in loads to the acronis interface) with my system with the following setup: (as noted above VPCz116GA Bios version R1180C3).


Acronis True Image Home. 2010. v13.0.0.5055
Boot using USB
Disabled anything related to network boot

There is one minor issue, touch pad does not work in the acronis interface. I used an external mouse.

_________________________--

UPDATE: when backing up, i was forced to use the sector by sector method. (acronis did not recognize the drive type apparently) this took longer. Towards the end i got an error but ignored it. I do not know if a restore from the backup will work. when i use it eventually (hopefully never) i will let you guys know.


thanks for the help!

 

I posted this in wireless issue thread, but without an answer...

I'm using the latest wireless driver from intel website (to address the wireless connection cut issue), now the wireless connection won't fail anymore, but here comes the issue that the laptop is not able to re-connect to any wireless network upon wakeup from sleep state.

It will show wireless connections, but which ever network i choose, it just keep connecting for like 1 to 2 minutes, during which the laptop cannot connect to the network successfully whatsoever, and sometimes, depending on how soon i choose a network, it says, unable to join the network, and no matter if I press cancel, suddently, it just connect to the network successfully.

has anyone else experienced this issue? Really annoying, as i use sleep function a lot, becuz i'm often on the go with the laptop.

BTW, same issue apply to the hibernate.

Appreciate any help

 

Check out the link in this post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/6541262-post6596.html. Maybe it will help, or offer clues.

 

Hi Guys,

Here's my question: It's possible to buy an unlocked 3G HSDPA modem for the Z?

Thank you,

Abras

 

Hi guys..

1. Is it i need to remove my battery if it was fully charged?

2. If i'm not remove, is it my Z still use the battery power insted of AC power? Is it the battery will reduce its life if not remove after fully charged?

3. How i can remove the battery? Do i need to shutdown first before remove the battery?

Thanks guys.

 

You don't have to remove the battery. The battery itself will become worse because of heat not because of ''usage''. Charging creates heat, gaming creates heat, those are the main problems of a battery. So best would be to get the battery out when your gaming for example.

 

In general, that is true, but since the Z's body will heat up next to nothing, I dont see the point to take out the battery when gaming (except gaming on a soft surface with the vents closed).

 

The toshiba drives, apparently do NOT support trim on their own - only recent HG2 model does, and most Zs ship with older version

 

good thing I have a Samsung drive. Plus as pry0 stated, the Z doesnt even warm up for me in general use so while gaming I confidently assume it would at best, warm up and the affect of it will not hinder battery long performance at all.

 

Hey pmfcmmak, question #14 needs a little updating. The new VPCZ13 in the US has a TPM module now. Thanks for keeping this thread updated!

 

I've had pretty much the same issue with my VPCZ1290X, and I don't know what the solution could be. I do know that whatever I've done with my laptop since a clean install, something broke Bluetooth, and it took me forever and a day to get it working again, and also involved re-, re-, and reinstalling SmartWii (original and update) This system is very sensitive to install order of utilities and drivers (Sony's and third-party). Not much of an answer, but just thought I'd chime in. BTW, my wireless issue seems to be intermittent, and sometimes just letting the thing sit for a few minutes after resume, I'll find it has reconnected. Other times it will just sit there waiting for me to choose a network, and then take 1-2 mins to actually connect.

 

Sorry if this is answered somewhere else, but is there a Fn button combo or something that allows you to select a boot device, as there is on many other laptops, or does the computer just go by the devices enabled order in the BIOS and boot whatever it sees (and is bootable) first, and that can only be changed by going into BIOS? Thanks.

 

Had this issue and updating to 13.01.1000 drivers from http://downloadcenter.intel.com/ worked. I believe all the drivers post that are also working properly.

 

Been on these for a while. Doesn't entirely solve the issue, but I think it's better than it was before (I automatically reconnect more often).

 

done. thanks.

 

Hi, I have a VPCZ12 without WWAN module, but I know I still have the hole for my SIM card. Do you know if the sim card reader is still working or not?

Can I just buy this and put it in the express card reader left side of the laptop?
NEW UNLOCKED HS2300 SIERRA MC8775 PCI-E 3G Modem WWAN su eBay.it Wireless Networking, Networking Communications, Computers Networking

 

Once you removed the battery..........do you see the sim slot into the simcard's gap ?

did you check the devise manager?

 

It's a long complicated process that, in short, involves buying a daughter board then buying the actual wwan card, then routing the wires through the LCD screen. There are multiple threads about adding in your own Gobi 2000 card and to summarize all of them, it's pretty much easier to get a ExpressCard WWAN card. (EVERY VPC-Z has the sim card slot as it'd be unwise financially to make 2 case designs).

 

How in blazes can i get a vaio z (1390x) to rotate the screen?!?

 

Anybody knows if vaio update search for new firmware versions?
I know there are new version firms and it doesnt tell it to me.

I just actualized with drivermax the intel driver and the name changed from :
intel ich8m-e/ich9m-E/5 series SATA RAID
to
Intel Mobile Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller

is it normal?
my actual version is 10.1.0.1008

 

Good thread.

Quick question, does the SATA controller in VPC-Z (HDD model) support TRIM?

I have the HDD model and am thinking about manually upgrading to a Sandforce SSD in the coming months.

 

it's Intel's RST (Rapid Storage Technology <-- download that from intel) and i believe TRIM is a function of the OS? In any case, yes, if you upgrade to a SSD you should have TRIM (just don't use the SSD in a RAID0 array )

 

TRIM must be supported by the OS (Windows 7 has this built in) and it must also be supported by the SSD. Almost all new SSDs have TRIM support built in and most older ones support TRIM after a firmware update.

 

After I install a caddy in the optical bay, is it possible to remap the eject button? What would happen if I pressed it, would it "safely remove" the 2nd drive?

 

Hello,

as @Zoobzone I would like to manually upgrade my Z11 from HDD to SSD.

I've read the threads but I'm not sure...

2.5" SSD is ok? Do I need a caddy to put it in?

After installing SSD, W7 resinstall from usb optical drive will be fine? Does ssd nedd special settings?

Thank you.

 

Q12: Will the Z ever have USB 3.0 support? I thought its the hardware that matters, not any software. Unless you mean physically dismantling the computer and adding a USB 3.0 port.

Q15: After I downloaded and opened the driver from the link, it said that a newer version of the touchpad driver was already installed.

Multitouch gestures do work on the touchpad on my original driver, as features such as chiral scrolling, pinch and zoom and two finger swipe do work. However, two finger scrolling is stuttering and not smooth at all.

Does deleting my current driver (said to be newer) and installing the one in the link make the two finger scrolling better?

I did try two finger scroll (the other program) before, and the 2 finger vertical scrolling worked like a charm, but the pinch and zoom was all messed up (its backwards, pinching inward to zoom in and pinching outward to zoom out), and its too sensitive.

 

yes, 2.5" SSD is okay. If your Vaio Z came with a HDD, then you just open up your vaio and remove the HDD and replace with SSD. The hard part is when you have an SSD in which case, either you have to remove the optical drive, buy a caddy, then place in the SSD, or tear apart your SSD so that it fits in the same space as the Sony SSD's. There should be no special settings other than downloading Intel's Rapid Storage Technology (google it) from Intel so you get TRIM support. Also, turn off defrag scheduler etc. (just treat your SSD like a SSD).

Are you using a VPCZ11 or VPCZ12? If yes, have you updated the graphics driver since you bought it? There are both updated community drivers out there and a not as updated official one that fixed a problem. It doesn't sound exactly like your problem, but you should try it. (drivers found here

Look for the table labeled Sony Vaio Z Hybrid Graphics Drivers [Official Release] and install the 190.24. (download, make sure switch is in speed mode and install)

 

Couple questions about my newly arrived z11 refurb - which is generally superb!

1) I replaced its 4 GB RAM with 2 4GB sticks of dual channel, 1333 mhz OCZ RAM, and the WEI for RAM went from 5.9 to 6.9. But the graphics scores went from 6.5 to 6.2 and the SSD (128 GB, OEM) went from 7.9 to 7.6. Normal? No worries? Will I notice any changes from the huge jump in the memory WEI score?

2) I can't get Crystal Disk to find my SSD. Ideas?

3) The registry fix to get the keyboard backlight to come on in higher light it nonexistant on the Z11. Any ideas short of tape over the sensor?

Many thanks.

 

I have been experiencing momentary freezes with my z11 when in stamina mode. i thought the mouse was lagging as i was using bluetooth but it turns out the whole computers lags. (i.e if i move my mouse when the lag starts it suddenly moves to where it should go in a second). It is not a mouse issue (i cant use the touch pad. keyboard or anything else, the system locks up for a couple of seconds then goes back to normal)


i have had it for a long time and it is very annoying. The second i got the z11 i did a fresh install so I do not know if this was happening before that. i have had it since september 2010.

I assume this has to do with power settings as it does not happen in speed mode (or maybe something to do with the video driver?)

is anyone experiencing this? any suggestions on what i should do?

I have also been having the hinge cracking problem that is mentioned on the forums. I plan to disassemble it and try and fix it with loctite. all and all, this laptop has not lived up to my expectations.

thanks