VGN-Z540 Windows 7 clean install issues

Got sick of Vista Business, constant problems with sleep mode, and really getting used to using Windows 7 on other machines so decided to take the plunge on my old Z540. Installed Home Premium 32bit because I had an "extra copy". Using Sony drivers I managed to get rid of any unknown devices in Device Manager. Here are my problems-

1. Cannot use Stamina/Speed switch. It does nothing while laptop is running, but if I set it before turning on the laptop then it does come on in the correct mode.

2. Cannot use FN buttons. They do nothing.

3. Cannot change the brightness of the LCD. Control Panel power options slider for LCD brightness do nothing while the laptop is running. But if I change the slider, then next time I turn on the laptop it will be set to the new brightness.

4. Cannot use the S1/S2 button. They do nothing regardless of changing them in VAIO Control Center.

I don't know which Sony drivers/software to install to get these to work? Help please.

Thanks
Mike

 

Well, I tried to follow the last three steps of this Windows 7 guide from Sony and got S1/S2 & Stamina/Speed buttons working. And the FN buttons do now pop up on the screen but still do not change volume or lcd brightness AND I still cannot change lcd brightness at all.

FYI, these are the files I installed, in this order, rebooting after each-
SOASSL-70189398-US.EXE "shared library"
SOAVES-70192615-US.EXE "event service"
SOAVCC-70192539-US.EXE "control center"
SOASUS-70201315-US.EXE "settings utility"

 

I don't know about the "Z" series, but over in the "SR" thread, we found the sony drivers have to be installed in a certain order for all the sony specific stuff and special keys to work right.

see this thread

also see this post.

 

Actually realized the Volume FN keys do work. So the only thing that doesn't work is LCD Brightness. I cannot change it at all in either Stamina or Speed mode, not even from Windows control panel. I tried these, in this order-
SOAOTH-70189620-US.EXE "vaio presentation" did nothing
SODOTH-70187339-32.EXE "firmware parser" did nothing
SOAOTH-70193336-US.EXE "vaio launcher" did nothing
SOAOTH-70189922-US.EXE "original function settings" did nothing
NVDVID-00212722-1041.EXE "GeForce 9300M GS Video Driver Update resolves an issue where the user is unable to adjust the screen brightness using the Fn+F5/F6 key combination while in SPEED mode"

 

FIXED! Thanks to researching here, reading 30 pages of Z Win7 topics.... Had to update the BIOS-
ISBSYS-00211669-1040.EXE "BIOS version R2171M3"


Everything works including FN brightness in Stamina & Speed.

 

Just finished installing Samsung 120GB SSD, clean install Win7. Instructions still work. Much easier second time around!

 

Two weeks later the Mobo died. No boot, no BIOS access. Good DC voltage to Mobo.

Well, it's been a great machine for 5.5 years

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/353388-trade-up-go.html