Vaio SZ280 with Windows 8 Release Preview (Fn buttons)

So here's a new one. I have given up on getting the Go 7400 to work and I have settled on the Intel graphics. And with a 32-bit OS, I was doing pretty good with Windows 7, then Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Side note, I did try 64-bit Consumer Preview and I gave up on that, too (upgraded to a T7600 to enable that).

Now, I have just installed Windows 8 Release Preview and I am having issues with the function buttons.

Specifically, I cannot seem to get the volume controls or mute Fn's to work.

These instructions had worked well for me:

But despite trying other versions of the utilities, etc., and trying different install orders, or trying things like SFEP or Programmable I/O, I cannot get the volume Fn stuff to work. Brightness works. S1 and S2 work (well, not if I try to mute). Though the *beep* when I change brightness is gone now. When attempting to change volume, there is no on-screen GUI or a corresponding volume change. This WAS working in Win 7 and Win 8 Consumer Preview.

Has anyone tried the Release Preview on their SZ? Any suggestions would be welcomed.

 

Windows 8 RP has it's own volume OSD. My FZ has dedicated buttons for volume control, so this could be different for your SZ.

Sony shared library should be installed first before installing other Sony software. You need the SFEP and/ or the programmable IO controller device drivers.

 

One combination I tried was installing the shared library first. I even tried two versions (one was the newest I could find and one was from Sony's website under SZ280).

SFEP and Programmable I/O are also installed (I just installed them and nothing changed).

Here's what works:
Fn+F1 (toggles aircard radios)
Fn+F5 (decrease brightness)
Fn+F6 (increase brightness)
Fn+F7 (VGA output toggle)
Fn+F10 ("zoom" which really just lowers windows res to 1024x600)
Fn+F12 (hibernate)
S1 (set for anything but mute; this used to work, too)
S2 (set for anything but mute)

For the S buttons, it used to beep when performing the action - it no longer does that. In fact no special functions beep anymore.


The only things that don't work, that have special functions, are F2, F3 and F4, which are mute, vol down and vol up, respectively.

Is it possible that Win 8 RP isn't compatible with the Sony volume stuff? That seems kind of strange.

 

It is possible for a newer OS to break a working software. You can uninstall everything and start over fresh. The order of installing Sony software is very important. Installing multiple versions of the same software could also break stuff.

In my FZ. fn+F2 does the muting, I don't need any Sony software to do this. Win+P handles the external monitor options. Brightness could be adjusted through the power options. How often do you change the screen brightness? You don't need the Vaio event service if you don't change the brightness often.

 

I do change the brightness, actually. NONE of the Fn functions worked until I install the right combination of Sony software. Brightness cannot be changed in software with the Intel graphics, only with the nVidia. And I could never find a bug-free version of those drivers so it is Intel-only for this machine.

 

Do you find the "Adjust screen brightness" option when you right click the power icon in the taskbar? This could also be done in the settings from the start screen.

You can install the MS update Nvidia driver from the guide in my signature. Any latest modded Nvidia driver from laptopvideo2go should work fine.

 

Well nothing worked right in the Consumer Preview with the GeForce GO 7400 (speed setting). I could try again with the RP but I like the battery benefits to the Intel graphics. It also runs cooler.

The OS can only control brightness with the nVidia graphics, not the Intel. I'm not sure why but I assume that is normal for this machine.

 

You know it occurred to me: if Win 8 would just add keyboard shortcuts (Winkey + whatever) for volume, I could use the nice GUI that I heard is in Win 8 RP now, without worrying about Fn + whatever. I made this suggestion on the Win 8 RP forum...

 

I found a 3rd party program that helped me do ALMOST exactly what I wanted. It is called 3RVX and I mapped Winkey + F3 to volume down and Winkey + F4 to volume up. The only thing is it insists on using its own GUI (understandable as Windows hasn't had a GUI until the Win 8 RP). Other than that, I just have to remember to hit Winkey instead of Fn for volume.

 

You can use key Tweak to remap the Fn keys.

KeyTweak - Free Download - Tucows Downloads

 

Thanks, I will give that a look and report back, in case it helps someone else.