Vaio Z2 Windows 8 Release Preview PMD Issues

There are bits and pieces scattered around the forums where people are having major issues getting the PMD display drivers to work under Windows 8. With the release of the release preview last friday it seems like it'd be a good idea to start collating issues/solutions in one thread.

I'll be adding things to this as more info is uncovered

NOT WORKING
Windows 8 Stock drivers (Clean install and upgrade from Windows 7) - Device will not start

Latest download from sony support (unmodded) - No detection
Latest download from sony support (inf modded) - Blue screen
8_830_8_0 download from sony support (unmodded) - Blue screen

Sony SVZ1311EGXX Drivers (unmodded) - No detection
Sony SVZ1311EGXX Drivers (inf modded) - Blue screen

AMD Windows 8 RP preview drivers - Blue screen

Leshcats Catalyst 12.x Feb28 UnifL for Switchable Graphics (unmodded) - No detection
Leshcats Catalyst 12.x Feb28 UnifL for Switchable Graphics (inf modded) - Blue screen

SEMI WORKING
None yet

FULLY WORKING
None yet

 

Hi,

Have you tried these? Sony eSupport - SVZ1311EGXX - Drivers & Software

I just tried them in Windows 7 with my Z2 and got quite a performance increase. Maybe they'll work with windows 8?

P.s. how have you found installing the rest if the z2's drivers and windows 8?

 

Most drivers seem to work fine, the only thing I've had trouble with is the screen brightness up down buttons, as I can't get sony control center to install...

The process runs through fine, but the app itself is nowhere to be seen...

Will try those drivers now and add them to the list (fingers crossed in the 'works' section )

 

Yeah, they didn't work either unfortunately...

Could be a problem with my inf modding technique though. Will look into it.

 

I just think i got the PMD working with windows 8 using Leshcat "Catalyst 12.6 WHQL UnifL" from Jul 4th.

Both cards recognized and working in device manager and able to output video to a external display connected to the PMD over HDMI.

Catalyst 12.6 WHQL UnifL for Hybrid Graphics

Hacking around with drivers is not really my thing so please forgive me if i have this wrong but here is the process i used.

1. Tried installing the above driver package exe (Leshcat "Catalyst 12.6 WHQL UnifL"). That completed without any errors but the drivers weren't actually installed (device manager showed No Detection on PMD).

2. Tried manually installing the driver by right clicking and updating the driver on the PMD in the device manager. Selecting have disk and then browsing to where the Leshcat "Catalyst 12.6 WHQL UnifL" drivers were unpacked.

3. Windows warned that the driver wasn't signed so i told it to install anyway. (think this puts W8 into test mode)

4. Screen went black a few times, thought i was about to get a blue screen but then the desktop came back and the device manager showed Intel HD 3000 and AMD HD 6700M with no warnings.

5. Didn't know if it really worked or not so tried hooking up an external screen, this didn't work at first but then I rebooted and tried again and it worked. I am assuming this means that the PMD is actually working correct me if i am wrong.

Note.
1. Have not been able to launch CCC. When the PMD is active the menu item for the control center shows up when right clicking on the desktop, but i get an error saying there are no settings for CCC to modify. Had to config the external display using the windows display settings dialog.
2. Ejecting and reconnecting the PMD works fine, actually faster than W7.
3. Have not tried more than one external display, will have to wait until i am back in work Monday but hopefully...
4. The external display i used to test the PMD is a Full HD LCD TV, the resolution was recognized as 1080p ok but there was a black border (about an inch) around the desktop when displayed on the TV. Don't know if this is an artifact of the driver or what, but i have had the same issue with a MacBook before. Could probably be solved if we had access to CCC.

 

Hey friend, Are you sure that the SVZ drivers linked in your post Works with Z2?

You had the PMD attached while installing them, Correct?

Kindly Confirm!

TIA

 

^ Trying to revive this thread for any progress on the SVZ GFX Drivers, and if they are confirmed to work on Z2.

TIA

 

I havent made any progress so far, but as soon as I get hold of a copy of Windows 8 RTM, I will start testing again. Hopefully we'll have more luck this time!

 

This is great news/progress nonstick! Will try it out myself shortly!

 

Ok. I got the PMD drivers with CCC to work on Windows 8 RTM. So all you have to do is install the Jun. 12 driver using leshcat's installer. This will install dse first, then you can do the express install, which will install catalyst control center. Next, restart your computer. Open device manager and right click on the 6700m and update the driver, going into the folder where the drivers are extracted, then packages/drivers/display/w86a_inf and select the driver. It should install and both graphics cards should be working.

 

Excellent, will try once I get my hands on the RTM from MSDN. By the way my multiple monitor setup (2 external (both connected through PMD) plus laptop) works perfectly with the RC

 

After going through this install I have everything working but I have a black border around the desktop on my external display connected to PMD. Tried all possible configurations in CCC - copuld make them a bit less with a ZOOM option but the border is still there. Any ideas?