>> Vaio Z Windows 7 Bios and driver

Incorrect here in Sony's Asian Domain there is a Z2x Bios , which by the way is mandatory for upgrading.. they missed on the Z1x... but you can load the Z2x Bios and proceed...

 

If I understood it correctly, it means I can go for R2170M3 BIOS and I shouldn't apply R4043M3 for my Z90NS?
Or should I just stay on the BIOS downloaded from Japanese supportpage provided R2168M3?

 

Do u think I should install the R4043 to fix this problem? I read that someone has installed it on vaio 1st gen.

 

Hey,

I own a Z570N.
Yesterday I upgraded to a clean install of Windows 7 Professional (32bit).
After upgrading I started looking for drivers. Some of them I took from Z670N (those that seem to be general. i only made one mistake with the battery check ) and others I found on this thread (like the nvidia EP0000208679 driver) or left the original ones.
The *last* thing I did was the bios upgrade to R2170M3 from the 2165 I had before.

My situation right now is that I can only switch between stamina and speed mode with a restart between and not hot swap. Brightness switches also dont work (on both stamina and speed modes).
Any idea how to fix these?


Besides I still have an uninstalled device on Computer Manage.
Its under "others" and labeled as "unknown device" located on Intel(R) ICH9M-E LPC Interface Controller - 2917. Any idea which driver is missing?

Also I don't have the VAIO's power managements plans. Are they suppose to be there? I installed the controllers listed on the first page.
Also missing: HD protection, even though I did install it. Batter care function, I don't want to charge up to 100%.

I'm basically waiting for the official drivers for 570N, and right now my situation is good enough. But I reading here I figured out that Z5* users managed to work it all out, so why not trying myself

Thanks for any help.
Gil.

 

It's SFEP or SPIC.

 

Gil -- from everything I've read, upgrading the BIOS is the first thing that should be done before any driver upgrades or utility installs.

 

The version of the x64 W7 NVIDIA driver - 8.16.11.8735 is 100MB+ on the Sony site -- is that correct? Seems odd, given that everything else is ballpark 5megs.

 

im in a similar position with a vgn-z26gn

I have installed bios version: R2169M3 and am wondering if i should install 170M3 or just leave it as is and install windows 7 with the new nvidia driver...

 

Hey again.

Since i did it late at night with a complete mess I decided to follow this procedure and install the important drivers again:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=342562

I took the Z670N drivers from esupport.sonystyle and followed the list in the thread.
First of all, the drivers files had different names, so I don't really know what I downloaded at night...
I started installing them one by one and I think that "Sony Firmware Extension Parser" got rid of the unknown device I had.
After installing number 6 (Control Center) I noticed that Battery Care, HD protection, Shortcut button and everything is there!
I restarted and then the hot switch between stamine&speed was working, in addition to the brightness buttons.

So everything seems to work now!
I'll wait for the Z570N drivers and then install them again just to be sure.

Thanks

PS. So upgrading the bios in the end doesnt change anything (or maybe 2065 isn't too old)

 

Does the new Bios offers also VT, and other Tuning settings like the hacked old one?

 

How does one even get into the bios settings on a z?

 

if yoy see the vaio logo at boot, press F2

 

Hi Gilf,

I'm glad you posted something concerning a 32-bit Win 7 install on a Z570N (I'm on a 550N)

I used Euro drivers for the Z2 and the Nvidia driver you referenced (ending 679).

Brightness works via software on stamina and intermittently via software on speed. I need to reset to switch modes. I have no control over fan speed.

Volume works via FN key in both modes.

I'll try the method you used and see what I can accomplish.

 

K - got almost everything working on a Z550N 32-bit home premium using the drivers from Z670N.

I'm only missing something called the "base system device" I can't figure out what it is - any ideas?

I don't use the wwan so uncertain on that front.

Also, perhaps I am delusional, but it seems like my fan is running stronger... even on "Silent" mode.

 

^ nvm found the "base system device" it was the Ricoh memory card driver.

 

I kinda have the same question too. Do I need to install Intel Matrix Storage Manager to enable AHCI or NCQ? and any of you see any improvements with IMSM installed?

Also in another VAIO Z WIN 7 thread, they had a slight installation order of installing the nvidia driver before these drivers:
Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device driver - 8.0.1.1
Sony Programmable IO Control Device driver - 8.0.1.1

Does the order of installation between nvidia and the sony fimware/IO driver matter here?

 

Answering my own question...I do not see any benefit installing the Intel Matrix Storage Manager and in my benchmark (transfer speed: 259 mb/s w/ IMSM vs. 260mb/s w/out IMSM...dropped a whole megabyte ) so I guess the IMSM is meant for RAID setups.

Checkboxes checked the NCQ in HD-tune's "supported feature" so that means AHCI is on as well as NCQ? I'm not 100% sure if that means it is supported or it is actually turned on.

What are your cold boot-times from the LED I/O switch to a stable windows?

I got ~34 seconds. Should I be dissappointed with an intel X25-E SSD?

 

The toucpad driver is from sony support website from a random vistax64 model. doesnt matter which. it works. maybe you can try out x264 playback because i have issues.

 

important reminder to those on windows 7. you do not need to use intels ssd toolbox, windows 7 handles the trim functionality internally

 

where did you get them from link please ?

Update

is it this one ?

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/VAIO/Updates/EP0000208679.EXE

 

I just noticed that my mouse quick scroll isn't working (you know, the right edge of the mouse pad).

Any idea which driver is missing?


Thanks,
Gil.


EDIT: ALS Pointing Device (from Z670N) worked it out

 

Does anybody know what the difference between the European and US Vaio Z models is? I assume it's just different model names, but i would like to know what the equivalent to my Z720D/B is? A Z41 maybe?

Also when i bought my z it said it's a 720D/B but the Sony site detects it as a 720D (without the B) - anybody know what the difference is? I'm sure it's just a minor difference in configuration but it'd nice to know.

Many thanks!

 

Among other things, the WWAN modem varies, or in some cases isn't there.

7xx is third iteration (all Zs are the same generation, so far), so it should be equivalent to a Z3x model. Then again, the European models are released on a slightly different schedule, so there's bound to be some overlapping.

As far as I know, the /X signifies the colour/finish.

 

Brilliant, that's very helpful - thank you.

Do you also know what the difference between the z3x and z4x is?

Reason i'm asking, i want to download the european drivers instead as some of the Windows 7 drivers (listed specifically for my model on USA esupport) won't install and say they're Vista only which doesn't give me a lot of confidence with the rest.

Thanks.

 

There is no difference, even with the Z5x

 

I have this problem! I have the latest BIOS on my Z11...

Can anyone help me?

 

What is your BIOS's version?

 

It's R2169M3

 

It's not the lastest version. You need R2170M3 or R4043M3

 

Thanks. Hmm, that isn't available for my model on the Sony UK download site, the version I quoted is the latest version. Do you know where I can download R2170M3?

Edit: Found it, just downloaded the Z21 version

 

Ok, new BIOS installed. Now when I try to install the NVIDIA driver it tells me "setup has detected one or more supported devices are currently needing a reboot...."

I've rebooted to no avail....

Edit: Trying some driver cleaning utility as recommended on another forum...

 

Happy to report that everything appears to be running perfectly fine now!

I have tested most things, but I notice the DVD drive doesn't switch itself off when in Stamina mode. Any ideas??

 

You need to configure it in Vaio Control Center, I think

 

Just wondering, what does the Battery Checker do?

Thanks a lot!

 

check whether ur battery is original or not...

strongly suggest not to install it...
it will end up giving u issues

 

i have problems wity my webcam..somehow dissappear and not activating...webcam campanion is not detecting the webcam as well

is there something missing? (I have used 64 bit vista driver before..and now just updated the ones posted and bios..my nvidia works just fine)

 

please can u put a mirror for the files. 4shared.com is blocked in China. if u can put it on megaupload or rapidshare. Thanks a million!

 

I finally took some time to do a clean install on my Z520N. I installed Win7 x64 RTM from MSDNAA, and it is working 99.9%.

I took the following steps:

1. Flash the new R2170M3 BIOS. (I was running Vista x86).
2. Installed Win7 from a USB thumb drive. (Btw, this was way faster than installing from a DVD. I did it before on an old Compaq V2000 I had laying around here, and it is at least 20 min slower.)
3. Installed firestone's drivers.
3a. Worked out every exclamation point in Device Manager.
3b. Installed NVidia drivers.
3c. Installed Sony Controllers.
3d. Updated some drivers Win7 had automatically recognized.
3e. Ran Windows Update.

Everything is working, including FN keys, both on Stamina and Speed modes. HDMI is working ok, including sounding switching automatically to HDMI when connected. Webcam, Fingerprint, etc, working as expected.

The 0.01% not working is the WWAN. In fact, I don't use the Spring WWAN module (I'm in Brazil, got my Z from the USA), but I can't help noticing that I can't turn the thing off. Everytime I boot, it keeps getting enabled.

Does anyone have the same problem?

Ps.: Firestone, thanks again!

 

I think I have that problem, both WiFi and WWAN are switched on at every Windows start up eventhough I've switched off WWAN and left WiFi on upon shutting down.

 

I have a vgn-sz750n and I have two choices
ssd corsair 256
or
buy a vgn-z610 for a grand
which would be better

 

Mate all it does is allows you to use Battery Care ... i.e u need to have a battery level below 90% before it will recharges, thus prolonging battery life...

Which is a good thing ...

 

Mate all it does is allows you to use Battery Care ... i.e u need to have a battery level below 90% before it will recharge, thus prolonging battery life...

Which is a good thing ...

 

no its not...

i did not install that ... and i still get access to battery care at the VCC.


when i did install that piece of junk, it will keep prompting me that the battery i'm using is not original, and will hibernate in 5 minutes

 

thats correct Firestone, I have it disabled with a startup-control application, yet can use my battery care function, btw, is it better to use custom level = 90% rather than 80% in battery care?

 

Buying the Z for a grand. You'd have trouble typing on the other option...

 

Steve, did you own a VGN-SZ? The steady state idea was pretty spot on with my approach to my current computer. That is what brought me here to look if should wait for another iteration of the Z.

 

Maybe somebody can say when we can expect drivers (x86 & x64) for z570 models on Sony Support site?

And I've found this http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?template_id=1&info_id=508&4
Thought maybe it will be useful for someone...

 

I found a solution for WWAN (gobi qualcomm) for my VGNZ31WN/B with Win7 Ultimate 64bit. I used the driver found here:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNZ890&upd_id=4898&os_id=49

For me it works!!!
Remember to use Universal Extractor for bypass the model check.
Sorry for my "not perfect English".

Good Luck

Davide

 

I've installed Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and the drivers from the first page (not all just several, as most devices were installed by the OS) of this topic.
Everything works great! Thanks a lot!!!))

 

Attempting a clean install of win 7 64 on what was vista business 32 on my z570

I thought I had cracked it but I am still getting occasional miss starts and bluescreens installing sony utilities etc.
Now sony control centre is on I see clearly that my bios is R2168 m3 and not R2170 m3 as recomended by Firestone.
I have tried to update it but get the message insyde cant load the bios in the bios installation and it does not complete.
Please dont say I have to go back to Vista and start again!