The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    VAIO Z series BIOS versions

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by falang, Sep 23, 2008.

  1. falang

    falang Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    100
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    it seems like there is more than one version of EFI (BIOS) in the new Z series. so far we have seen R1280M2 and R1280M3, both with embedded controller (EC) version K1230M3.

    we have also discovered that attempting to install Vista x64 SP1 leads to different results: BIOS version R1280M3 is detected as EFI and Vista installer insists on hard drive being formated as GPT (GUID partition table), as opposed to MBR.

    which BIOS version do you have?

    start up your Z. press F2 when you see InsydeH2O logo. you should see InsydeH2O Setup Utility ver.3.5

    Below are four tabs. On the main tab it reads: BIOS version..., followed by EC version...

    post your version
     
    falang, Sep 23, 2008
    #1
  2. gr00vy0ne

    gr00vy0ne Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    68
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Mine is:

    BIOS: R1280M3
    EC Version: R1230M3
    Machine Name: VGN-Z590N
    Region: USA
     
    gr00vy0ne, Sep 24, 2008
    #2
  3. fredguy

    fredguy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    103
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I think it is better to add area or location. May be Sony load different version of BIOS in different area.

    BIOS: R1280M2
    EC Version: R1230M3
    Machine Name: VGN-Z17GN/B
    Region: Asia Pacific
     
    fredguy, Sep 24, 2008
    #3
  4. Firestone

    Firestone Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    78
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    BIOS: R1280M3
    EC Version: R1230M3
    Machine Name: VGN-Z16GN/B
    Region: Asia Pacific
     
    Firestone, Sep 24, 2008
    #4
  5. falang

    falang Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    100
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The EFI (BIOS) version does not seem to be related to geographic region or nVidia RAM/screen resolution. The R1280M3 version is dated July-15-2008, the date the Z was officially unveiled in Germany.

    It is possible that R1280M2 is an earlier version of the BIOS. Anybody has info on the date?

    Also, has anyone had success installing Vista x64 on Z with BIOS R1280M3?

    Since VT support is disabled in this BIOS and there is no official way to enable it, running x64 OS on a virtual machine is not an option.
     
    falang, Sep 24, 2008
    #5
  6. fredguy

    fredguy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    103
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    falang

    I think you never believe this.
    This morning I want to check the date of BIOS and discovered that it change to R1280M3. I never do any BIOS update.
     
    fredguy, Sep 24, 2008
    #6
  7. falang

    falang Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    100
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi, fredguy. Thanks for letting us know.

    This is really strange... Are you sure you saw R1280M2 on your screen the other day? Did you update anything on your Z over the internet?
     
    falang, Sep 24, 2008
    #7
  8. fredguy

    fredguy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    103
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Sure. I write it down on a peice of paper then boot and went to internet.
    I feel i have something updated, but I don't know what.
    I think the BIOS won't affect you install systems.
     
    fredguy, Sep 25, 2008
    #8