VPCZ1 Hybrid graphics now working on the latest win10 19h1 insider build?

So I'm a bit shocked right now. I'm not sure if anyone is aware of this.

I've been using cowboy's bios patch + latest nvidia 330m driver for a while now on windows 10, but I just found something really interesting.

As usual, every feature update breaks my nvidia driver, requiring me to reinstall every update. This time, I just wanted to try and see what would happen if I tried to install the original hybrid graphics driver it came with for Windows 7. I have set the bios settings from dynamic to auto with test mode disabled...

... and the switch is working... including the auto brightness. The auto brightness and the brightness key on both stamina and speed are working! I can switch from speed to stamina, but the screen goes black, requiring me to simply put the laptop to sleep and wake it back up (no need to reboot!) I can switch with no problem.

Did Microsoft fix the driver compatibility after all these years?? I find this hard to believe, but it's working, right in front of me. This means bios hack is no longer needed to use the nvidia chip anymore on Windows 10 for this laptop. Huh.

 

Does restarting the graphics driver with ctrl+win+shift+b avoid having to standby cycle?

Or using the Windows Power settings (old Control Panel) to reprogram the power button (or standby shortcut, if present) to turn off the display, would that work, too?

 

I just tested it and I can confirm that method works. I don't need to put the display to sleep in order to switch.

But I've noticed that once it's switched from speed to stamina and I use the shortcut to reset the graphics display driver, for some reason it sometimes won't go to speed mode. The popup shows, but nothing happens. It's similar to the bug that also occurred occasionally on windows 7 where the button would be unresponsive but the switching warning would popup. Speed>Stamina>sleep>wake>switch works with no problems, however.

On the side note, brightness change doesn't work right off the bat, but it starts working as soon as I open the notification panel by using Windows key+A, which is no biggie.

Despite all these bugs, it's refreshing to see the autobrightness and hybrid graphics working again on the latest windows.

 

I am just finished clean win10 installation (without bios hack). Could you tell me which "original hybrid graphics driver it came with for Windows 7" I must install for STAMINA/SPEED/AUTO switching working

thnx, Zoran

 

It's the driver NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD on Sony's website. Also, try installing your driver through enabling test mode before proceeding.

 

Thnx for help. I followed your link and install the driver. After that I updated driver from from https://www.driverscape.com/manufacturers/sony/laptops-desktops/vpcz129gg/37950 ( to version 8.16.11.9024 ) to get switch finally working (also HDMI)

 

Thanks so much guys - this is well after you had posted but i had delayed my upgrade to Win 10 because i didn't want to do the BIOS hack. With 7 support dead this year, and me still loving this Z1, I did the upgrade thinking I would be losing the graphics chip- not only did I lose it, I also lost the blue and green LED that I quite like on the switch. So it was very very surprising and pleasant to see this update work with the card perfectly. Thanks! Trying to get support for my power media dock for my vpc-z3 next.

 

Does anyone have problems with the fn brightness. I've done all the above and sometimes it works and others it doesn't. So I have to restart it and then it works again. Also sometimes the screen stays black after a restart very random. Any questions guys...

 

Hi, ive just resurected my vpcz12m9e, ive just repasted the cpu, serviced the fan and its running great now, im wanting to install windows 10 although im not particulary a fan of it, windows 7 was great..

ive just been researching about it and was planning on trying the bios hack and nvidia patch. but from reading this post is it not now neccessary?.. can i simply install windows 10 and install the driver linked above ?

also any other tips on the installing windows 10 ? any other drivers i need etc to get it up and running?

thanks
matt