WinDVD BD Software Update GREAT

I installed this SONY update on my FW590 64bit Win7 (1080p) and am very happy! I thought that playback was perfect before and somehow this update made it better. For testing I used Avatar and Tori Amos Live at Montreux. The update is dated 04/06/2011 on SONY eSupport and it is version 8.8.0.154.

 

Saw this and went along to the US Support. Updated my VGN-Z26 and my goodness me.

I thought the update would just be another iteration of Intervideo version 8 (these days WinDVD is managed by Corel). Back then the entire app was unoptimized for anything over Vista, let alone W7 (and let's not get started with the stability issues). Instead they went the whole extra mile and gave us the latest shaboozle. I mean, geez, it's now the W7 optimized Corel version.

Here was me who thought older machine users would be left alone in the dark from any more updates. I was proved wrong. All I have left to do is go rent out another BD movie and see how this thing performs. I hear Corel WinDVD has issues here and there so I'll be fully happy after testing (and it passes my expectations that is).

Now... Just hoping for a Sony-made hybrid GPU driver; the new Corel WinDVD app is around US$60?? Must have cost Sony a bit getting licenses for those. So why not make us some updated graphics drivers that should undoubtedly be cheaper?

--The update seems to now be available world-wide. Just checked Sony Oceania and the updates are there even for the VGN-Z27 (the 2nd of the VGN-Z). Too bad the Z17 variants aren't offered the update, though it'll work with the Z27 patch without a hitch.

 

I also noticed an update for WinDVD BD for the VPC-Z1 series. I like it very much. It updated my player to 10.0.5.297

One thing that is cool is that WinDVD BD 10, which came with my Z1290X, works on my UX and my P. It seems to just check that it is a Sony computer. All I had to do was extract it from the restore DVDs (not a simple task).

 

One word: DRM.

Sony wants newer player software that supports their newest anti-backup mechanisms.

There's no such incentive with the graphics driver. If anything, Sony wants us to buy a new machine to get newer drivers.

 

Get the community made hybrid drivers... or mod the BIOS and use whatever drivers you want with a simple INF mod.

 

Not an option if you need standard security enabled.

 

What do you mean? With no BIOS hack you can install signed versions of community modded hybrid drivers. Basically just like they were from the manufacturer.

What is this "standard security" of which you speak?

 

I have installed those community drivers in the past but had temperature issues (higher idle temps for example). Have checked out the paste and fan for dust but was not the issue.

Although the temps are not too much higher than they are with the Sony-made drivers, with the strange noises my Z makes these days from near the CPU I'm hesistant on and wary of anything that will unneccessarily increase the temps.

...though that's not too say I won't push the Z. Heck, if I wanna watch a 1080p movie then bring it on~

So no, not exactly a security issue per-se. Though I saw a recent Windows Update regarding 'unsigned' drivers. Apparently prevents a user with ADMINISTRITIVE privileges from installing UNSIGNED drivers (so meaning you have to log in as ADMIN in the OS via SAFE MODE I think, not just an account with the ADMINISTRATOR status). The update is KB2506014. Though not that is matters now I don't think; the community the last I heard were signing their drivers.

@arth1
...you gave my hopes up. Though I still hope of a day when Sony gets off the back-ends and gives us VGN-Z users one more breath of life with an updated GPU driver.

@computercowboy
I see an update for WinDVD BD version 10.0.5.538 on Oceania support. It's dated November 2010.
I was wondering if you know what the difference between the Corel WinDVD BD version 8.8 is between the above 10.0.5.538? Just so you know, the Corel WinDVD BD is (ver8.8), in layman terms is version 2010.

I too am aware of the installer checking for variables like VAIO branding on the BIOS level and whatnot. Hence sometimes used extraction software to bypass that method for certain Sony apps (notably the SonicStage Audio Filter only found on Vista installations, which install fine on Vista but not on W7 due to those checks).

 

Just to say, 5ushi, version 10.0.5.538 is the one i have installed originally on my Z13 (Europe). It is i guess the version that ships with the last Z's... No clue about the differences with V8.8.

 

WinDVD 8.XX and 10.XX are definitely different versions.

I wiped out my P as soon as I first booted it so I don't have the recovery disks. But I think I can download version 8.

I'll try to get 8 and report back.

EDIT: Turns out that the downloads for WinDVD 8 from esupport are just upgrade patches.
WinDVD 10 is newer and probably better than 8, whatever, I'm happy with it.

 

PowerDVD or WinDVD?

 

I've got a hunch the latest version WinDVD 8.8 patch will have both an UNINSTALLER for the Intervideo WinDVD BD v8.0 (the 2008 player), AND an INSTALLER for Corel WinDVD BD v8.8.

The issue there is to extract the required installer. Hence meaning we don't really need the earlier v8.0 to install v8.8 (a prerequiste for the patch / update installer); we can theoretically do it direct with the extracted installer.

I'll stick with v8.8 for now as the update date is a lot more recent versus the v10 (so I'm assuming it has fixes that the v10 update from 2010 don't have).

That said, computercowboy, if you got v8.8 working elsewhere...
Apart from the version number difference, what differences do you see between v10 and v8.8? I might try forcing the said patch onto my machine if the differences warrant it...

 

How do I force it on? I've extracted it with universal extractor and when I run it it says that I must have a prior version installed to continue.

Have you got a cleaver way around that?

 

Guess I should have worded it better.

Do you have WinDVD BD ver8.8 installed on another machine (not your P)? Compared to the ver10 you have installed (on your P), are there any notable differences? Minus the version number of course... Though you've semi-answered the above questions (ie, you can't install it?)

And no. I too use Universal Extractor to bypass the model / brand checks, and am unaware of any easier method of hopping over the checks.

 

My P was the only computer that came with Vista/WinDVD 8
when I got it I booted Vista one time then I reformatted the whole SSD and loaded 7. I didn't make recovery discs because what is the point, Vista and other stuff is junk.

 

I gave up WinDVD/PowerDVD and tried ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre and never looked back. I'm also in love with custom made drivers, as they gave me the possibility to use Cuda 2.0...

 

I don't use TMT, WinDVD, or PDVD

I just rip DVD/BD to MKV and play 'em with VLC, MPC-HC, or StereoScopic player

 

If you don't use it, why are you working so hard trying to install it??

 

I was just curious about the differences, since I was asked. I have 10 and it installs fine. I reformatted my P without making recovery discs so 8 is gone.

I do occasionally use it to just play a DVD but 99% of the time I use something else.