Vista Business 64 Bit Drivers for Vaio Z

Just did a fast install. I had a Vista Ultimate build from vLite with SP1 slipstreamed in. The power options work, minus the Auto CD-Off function.

Here's what I used, the Sony model number used for download/Model.txt and in order:
Sony Firmware Extension Parser - VGN-AW170U
Intel Chipset Driver - VGN-AW170U
Reboot
Sony Shared Library - VGN-FW170
Reboot
Sony Notebook Utilities - VGN-AW170U
Reboot, let installer run, reboot
NVIDIA Graphics Driver - VGN-FW170
Reboot

**Something I wanted to make clear...**
These are the only apps you need to get the Fn key, S1 and Stamina/Speed functions to work. You need to have the Firmware parser installed before the Shared DLL's and the Shared DLL's before the Notebook Utilities.

It seems that people do more tasks than are really necessary.

After this, I just went through device manager and installed devices without a driver by setting it off on the directory where I put all the driver packages downloaded from this thread.

With the advanced power functions working, I'm content to stay on 64-bit. I'll see if the two straggelers can be installed: SmartWI Gadget and CD Autopower.

 

Well, the good news is that Z610Y is coming out with Vista Ultimate x64. So we won't have to continue looking around for 64-bit drivers in other models any more. I hope the DVD-power-off on battery is finally fixed for x64, we'll see...

 

Anyone get the Sony software like WINDVD or ROXIO to install on 64bit? I get "504" errors..They install fine on 32bit. I am using the Vaio installer.

 

Marginally good news on the SmartWi Vista Gadget front. I was able to get it to work using the SmartWi x64 installer from the FW170J. I used a program called Vista Sidebar Restoration on my TZ and applied the settings on the Z. Worked great. However, the gadget completely disappeared on reboot (both from the Sidebar itself and the Gallery.) I was able to get it to come up reliably in the Gallery by copying the files in the Sidebar dir. However, the Gadget just comes up and shows the circle loading animation. Addind insult to injury, re-running Vista Sidebar Restoration makes it work again. Rather frustrating.

So, to sum up, I got it to run... if only for a moment

 

Anyone here got their Z on the x64 that would just dim after 15 sec after you seen the screen? I increase the brightness and it would not do it. So I have to reboot each time like this until it does not happen.

 

I cant get my webcam to work. I have install the webcam software and I thought it has the drivers in it but no.

How do I get the x64 or x32 driver for the Z540 webcam?

Thanks for helping.

 

Why is it so important to get SmartWI to work anyways? In the Sony managment tools there is a advance option menu that allows you to toggle off Wifi, WWan and bluetooth liek smartWI does. It even runs in the systray if you want it to.

 

I wanted to thank everyone on this thread for contributing. It's been very helpful in helping me set up 64-bit Vista Business SP1 on my Z570N, which finally allows me to use all 4 GB of my RAM.

Here are a couple of pointers in case anyone gets stuck (sorry, I can't post URLs because I'm a first time poster):

- To get a smoothly functioning 64-bit Z system, I did the following:
1. Installed the latest BIOS
2. Installed 64-bit Vista Business SP1 from a standard 64-bit Vista SP1 install disc
3. Installed the utilities/libraries listed in post #151.
4. Resolved all the "unknown device" issues in Device Managers with the drivers linked to from post #45.

- The VAIO-specific power plans and tweaks are useful for increasing battery life. If you've installed the Sony Notebook Utilities (specifically the part that installs VAIO Power Management) but don't see the power plans, make sure you have the 64-bit version installed (you should see C:\Program Files\Sony\VAIO Power Management, rather than C:\Program Files (x86)\VAIO Power Management). You can get the 64-bit version by getting the files listed here in post #151 of this thread.

- It helps to download one of the driver packs listed in this thread and expand the whole set of files before trying to install drivers for the unknown devices. This way, if you're not sure what an unknown device in Device Manager is, you can just have it search the top level folder in the drivers pack and let Vista find the correct driver automatically.

- I didn't need a device driver for my SD card slot. (I did use the one for the Memory Stick slot though.)

- If you get stuck on the EFI/GPT message in the Vista installer, you might want to try first deleting any existing partitions using the Vista installer (make sure you create recovery discs first!). Then, reboot and relaunch the Vista installer. It should now allow you to click "next" on the disk partitioning dialog box. I haven't tried creating anything other than a monolithic partition layout, so I'm not sure how that works.

 

I am having so much trouble on my Z540 with 64bit.

I just reformat and reinstall Vista Biz from a retail OS for the 2nd time in 3 weeks.

My screen come on and black out after 10 sec later for no unknown reason. It happen almost all the time when running in battery. I cant even increase the brightness.

My other thing now is to install the image CD that came with my Z, but its in 32 bit OS and play with it for a weak and see if it happen on it. Then after that I may have to call Sony.

 

@ chong67:
I do not know what causes the issue you have with your Z540. I don't have this problem (I have been running Vista x64 for a few months now). However, reading your other thread you started on the screen dimming issue I realised that you may have installed Intel video driver (is this correct?). Seperate Intel video driver is not needed. All you need to install is nVidia x64 video driver from SONY 64-bit page. It contains both drivers for Intel and nVidia cards as well as the switch functionality.

This may or may not help your dimming problem, but just in case.

 

I didnt know this.

I installed the Intel video drivers and the Nvidia drivers.

I am following all the instructions here.

I had called Sony last night and they want to isolate if it is hardware or software problem.

They said its software for now because when we are in the BIOS mode, the screen is fine. No flicker.

They ask me to call back again if the problem still exists and I may have to sent in the Z in and it take 10 biz days to get it back.

I am going to install the x64 OS again for the 3rd time this month.

So am going to just install the Nvidia drivers. Did everyone else just does this?

 

Has anyone found 64 bit drivers for the alps pointing device? I am using a generic pointing device driver, but it does not support scrolling.

 

You can use Dell Alps Gesture Touchpad, it works fine for Z with Vista x64.
Just search the thread.

 

Nobody has the same problem.

So you called for support on an unsupported config? Suprising they entertined you by helping.

You should make a backup of your current build and do a full factory restore. I think you have your hand built version too jacked-up to clearly identify the issue you have as being a hardware problem.

As I said in the Windows 7 thread, I think these projects are outside of your current technical cabilities.

 

I am running ultimate 64 bit and so far have not had many problems. The only isse i am having is blu-ray playback. I am using Power DVD 8 and when in stamina mode using the intel graphics i have no issues. However when i switch to speed mode to use the 9300m and the HDMI output, all i get is a green screen. I can hear the audio, but no video. Anyone else having issues with blu-ray playback?

 

Thanks Fredguy. I had tried an earlier dell driver linked to in these forums, but it did not enabe scrolling. I searched the dell site and found an updated alps driver that enables scrolling and now the touchpad works great.

 

im reading this topic and i still dont know if i should go for x64 or not. Afaik dvd off and wwan off doesnt work, is this correct? everything else is working fine?

 

Has anybody tried installing the Video card drivers from Nvidia's site. I would like to get the newest drivers. Is the video card a 9300 or a 9300m. I can't seem to find the 9300m drivers. I am thinking I am going to try a 64bit install today.

 

Just so I know, what is not working with Vista 64?

 

Well, I been reading this thread and someone said to follow the same script to install the Vista 32. Specifically, switch to Stamina, install Intel drivers, REBOOT, then switch to Performance and install the Nvidia drivers.

Someone here even said that he cant install Intel drivers after install the Nvidia drivers.

Post 45 list the drivers at Step 2a for Intel and 2b for Nvidia. So I thought you have to install both.

So how do I know all these things? Instructions are not clear.

Yah, I didnt want Sony to know that I have rip apart the Z to install the x64, 500 gig HD and 4 GB of memory when I call their tech support yesterday. In fact, I dont even know what to do if I am going to sent it to the shop to let them see about my Z. I still have the original 120 gb Sony hd. I thought I putting it back in before I ship. But all along, I know its the software and not the hardware. Because when its virgin without anything, the screen is all steady.

ANYHOW, I install my x64 again for the 3rd time in a month last night and things seem to be looking good so far without the Intel video drivers.

I'll wait a week to test things out, then I will post a detail listing of things I install. Hope this may help someone without the confusion.

 

I cant find all these model numbers on Sony website to get the drivers.

 

How many of you install the Intel Matrix Storage Manager found on Step 2.

I google it and its for RAID. I know I have 1 hd and 1 partition, is there any need to install it?

 

can someone let me know what works and what doesn't? im getting my new Z this wednesday and i'd like to install x64 if everything works. has anyone put together a how-to?

 

chong67, thats good to hear! Then i'll wait till next week with my x64 instalation

 

I can't seem to find that video driver you are talking about. There is no Video Driver under VGN-FW170. Can you please send me a link so I can download this driver.

 

First off, go ahead and download the drivers. You know rapidshare cost money? So just go ahead and download it now before your laptop arrived.

See post 45 for the drivers.

 

I am on another forum where post #2 is a wiki where anyone can edit a post.

Post #1 is usually posted by the thread owner.

It would be nice cause those of us that wants to get info does not have to go thru 100 pages of pain.

 

Hello All.... Bibo90 could you please help me in solving the same issue with the unknown device? I don't know where to go and what to do :|

 

i think you are talking about chipset drivers. Name is -> Intel "something" ...

 

Here is what I did to install my Vista x64 on my Z540.

I use a retail Vista x64 with Sp1.

See post #45 to get the drivers. I would download it many days before you begin doing this. It takes time for free download as rapidshare wants you to pay.

Here are steps I use from the file listing on post # 45.

NOTE! Before you begin, turn ON your wireless and slide your graphic to SPEED. I think when you install the drivers and the hardware is not enable, then something may not happen. Just my idea?

1. Put the files on your local drive.
2. After you finish installing your OS, go to your Device Manager and let it scan thru your folder and let it install. Do the next one. After everything is installed, I got 2 remaining that it cannot find. I go back again and do one more time. It get installed and I got one left and its the Ethernet. It will get pick up later.

3. Now install the software from post #45.

1. Yes
2. Go do a search here on this forum if "Intel Matrix Storage Manager" is important. There is only 1 hd and no RAID. But I install it. I went to Intel and download the latest version and its IATA86ENU.exe
2a. YES
2b. NO! Do not install any Intel video software!
3. No. Got pick up in Step 2.
3. No. Got pick up in Step 2.
4. No. Got pick up in Step 2.
5. Yes
6. Up to you. I did see the webcam driver on Device Manager.
7. I see the modem on Device Manager so I didnt do it
8. No. It got pick up in Step 2. SFEP = Sony Firmware Extension Parser
9. Yes
10. Yes
11. I dont need this. My pointing device works fine.
12. Yes
13. Yes
15. I got sound so I dont need it
16. Yes
18a. Yes
b. Yes
c. Yes
d. Yes
e. Yes
f. Yes
19. Yes
20. Yes
21. It would uninstall something, so I say NO.
22. Yes. This install the fingerprint software
23. Yes to bluetooth

If you see anything that need update like the latest drivers that replace whats on Post #45, let me know and I will update this post.

Last update Dec 7, 2008.

Credits goes to everyone.

Have fun.

 

what's the status here? i have access to both 32 and 64 thru my university, which should i install?

 

your answer is in this topic. Check prev pages...

 

if you know can you tell me? what doesn't work?

 

So those running Vista x64 are you able to get 4gig of ram total under process manager? Vista see 4 gigs but is only using 3 gigs total and I think the other gig is being taken for shared video memory. My install is up to date with best or latest x64 bit drivers but no option to change the shared memory and would like to get back my lost 1 gig of ram if possible.

Again under task manager > performance and where it says total memory does it say 4 gigs. Mines only register 3 gigs.

 

Under "Performance - Physical Memory (MB) - Total" in task manager i'm seeing 4026, so yes all 4gb. Not sure why you're only seeing 3gb.

 

do you have a green screen ONLY when you try to use an external motinor over HDMI? or you have green screen in powerdvd on the laptop display in SPEED mode?

 

Well that sucks sounds like I need to re-install Vista x64 to see if it isn't something I did during install. What a pain just got Vista x64 how I want it too. Thanks for the info hopefully it isn't something wrong with my hardware.

 

I am seeing 4025 of memory.

I can do an easy test for you. I will use one my Vmware OS and put 2.5 gb of memory on that. That should push it past 3.5 gb of memory along with host memory. I'll let you know.

 

Well reloaded Vista x64 Business painfully but now my total mem say 4 gigs so guess it was worth. Thanks for checking for me knew something wasn't right with my first install.

 

is there any possibility to build from the existing sony nvidia driver 174.49 a newer and better one like 180.70 ? In some cases i wishes a little bit more performance and compatibility ......

i know that the 174.49 is a sony optimised build ... but may be someone has knowledge to integrate this in some newer driver ( in 64 bit ) ....

 

I have tried to find out if I could mod the drivers, where mod is a big word, because I am actually merging two folders and deleting 1 file.
What I did:
- Download 180 Cuda file, and tested if it wanted to install. Obviously it didnt.
- Extracted the setup file, deleted nvdisp.inf
- Merged the 180 cuda drivers with the sony Z 174 drivers
- Ran setup.exe, it DID detect the card and installed without any error
- Reboot

After reboot it detected the intel driver, and i device manager the NVidia card disappeared. If I run GPU-Z i cannot see the card. The Stamina-Speed switch does not work, and the leds are off.
I will try to edit the new driver so I can integrate the old one into the new one (I'm going to hold a normal 174 and a sony 174 next to each other, and the same for the intel driver, although the intel driver inf is inserted in the nvdisp.inf. If someone can help me, please do =)
edit: Now I've read that I'm not the only one who tried this xP
edit2: I looked at the files sizes for the original NVidia 174 drivers, the Vaio drivers, and the Intel drivers, and put the results in a txt file. You may view it in the arrachment and when I find some more spare time I will try to hex edit some files (if possible). Legend of the letters is at the bottom of the file.

 

If you have any vista 32bit AND 64bit will both work with your product key so bits do NOT matter.

ALL Vaio Z590 hardware and features work with Vista Business x64! Not a single thing should shouw up as unrecognized and all hardware buttons function if people would just read and pay attention to posts!

 

I have the green screen on the laptop display in speed mode. I only get it in speed mode which is why i think it may be a problem with the 9300 drivers.

 

You know that it will probably just put some of your memory used by your host os into your page file, right?

 

I had it both on screen and on HDMI with PowerDVD, I think it does not like the driver.

I installed WinDVD9 with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray support and it's flawless

 

Hello to everybody,

First of all, thanks for all the shared knowledge and the advice. Right now my Z21 has Vista Business 64 installed and almost everything seems to be working fine.

What is NOT working is, of course, the Stamina-Speed switch and the Gforce 9300.

I followed chong's guide in page 18, using the drivers in post 45, but when installing the devices in the device manager, I installed the Intel Graphics card before installing the GForce.

My question: is there a way to unninstall the Intel card and fix this or the only way goes through reinstall?

If I just tell the computer to unnistall the driver, it installs it again after reboot, or even sooner...

 

Sony combine the Intel and NVidia into one installer.
You just install the NVidia 9300M driver from Sony it will overwrite the Intel one.

 

Have you guys let your computer run on battery with less than 50% power, does your screen go blank on you?

It seem like I have solved my problem, but my screen still blank every now and then when in less than 50% power using the battery.

 

On weekday I charge it in my office and go home with my battery only. Sometimes I run down to 10% without the problem you have.

 

Dang, then what is going on with my laptop?

My laptop use to be worst when I had install the Intel video drivers and nvidia drivers. Now it is half better.

You all had install the x64 and have no problem.

I been surfing on the train and it shake and my screen would go out when my battery power is less than 50%.