Windows 7 Clean install Guide for Vaio FZ

The old generation Nvidia 8400M GT GPU has a defective material, you can't do anything to prevent it from failing.

Sony will replace the failed GPU with a non-defective newer GPU.

 

For anyone that is curious enough to try, I just installed the Windows 8 Developer Preview (64-bit) on my Vaio FZ-290E on a separate partition.

After install, use Rajesh's modified Nvidia inf to install the graphics driver, or else everything will seem sluggish with the basic video driver. I also installed the Sony Firmware Extension Parser and TI Memory Card Drivers. I did not bother with anything else yet, but I now have standard functionality.

I am typing this in Internet Explorer 10 on Win 8, its great you should try!

Remember, this is a pre-Beta developer preview. I am only giving this information for expert users only. This could render your system unusable. INSTALL AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

 

This is good to hear. How do you like the dev preview?

Did the dev build include a WDDM Nvidia driver or did you get any driver update from Windows Update?

 

Hi!
Could you please tell me where to get the old modded drivers? It's driving me crazy the new HP modded driver :S

Thank you in advance!

 

The dev build is ok so far, it feels more like a "thrown together" version to show off the metro interface.

The dev build did not include any compatible NVidia drivers, it loaded the basic video driver. Installing the windows 7/vista 64-bit driver with your inf works just fine. There were no driver updates in windows update.

Just like in windows 7, the only two uninstalled drivers (with exclamation point) were the SFEP and TI Memory card reader, but the vista/7 drivers worked for those. It already includes up to date drivers for marvell Ethernet and intel wifi. I did not install any other drivers yet (bluetooth, idt hd audio, etc).

 

HDMI works fine with the latest audio driver, you have to make HDMI as the default playback device. Don't select the HDMI device from the volume mixer, it won't work.

 

Thanks once again Rajesh, I have contacted Sony and they have now picked the laptop up- they will fix it providing that the problem is with the Nvdia known issue.

I was wondering, once the laptop comes back, is there a way to perhaps replace the screen or install video driver or something to actually get a better resolution on the screen. It's meant to be a HD Laptop, and the display is still not quite as bright as others I see.

 

Thank you coolguy and Paconaranjo! Your answers were spot on and worked perfectly. I easily solved my driver problem with my Ricoh VCC4 camera in my Sony Vaio VGN-FZ140E, Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

 

I'm sorry but I can't fix it. Anytime I connect the HDMI with the modded driver, a message in the TV screen appears telling "Sound format not accepted. Check the output device". This message dissappears if I install the windows driver.

How do you mean to set the default playback device if it isn't from the volume mixer?

 

Right click the speaker icon in the taskbar > Playback devices > Right click > Set as default device. You must connect your TV after selecting the default playback device.

 

Hi, vcc8 driver doesn't work on my fz21m ( windows 7 x64).. I tried a driver founded here VGP VCC8 64 bit driver - Windows 7 Forums and it works like a charm hope this can help someone like me

 

This driver is the same as in page 1.

 

Update Nvidia driver to 285.38 beta. I had modded the desktop driver this time.

 

Hello =) I have a FZ11S 32bit and wanted to know if there are any batteries out there that are compatible with windows 7.
-thank you

 

Any battery is compatible with Win 7. The real question is which batteries are compatible with Sony's drivers. And at this point only Sony batteries are, however some third party batteries come with bios updates that purport to making their batteries "compatible". But to be honest there is no way I would ever allow a third party application to modify my BIOS. To much risk of bricking the machine. If I were looking for a cheaper replacement I would look into having my Sony battery rebuilt. There are folks who will disassemble the battery case and install new batteries in it.

Gary

 

I've followed this guide a while ago and have a 64bit Windows 7 OS now and no real problems.....apart from the battery.

i have installed Battery Bar and it cannot even detect that there is a battery present!

So I would have my battery rebuilt if I thought the laptop would recognise it. Could this be a BIOS problem? I did try to install a replacement battery and loaded the BIOS update that came with it (big mistake I know, especially as I now know that it doesn't support Windows 7).

All help appreciated.

 

Updated Nvidia driver to 285.62 WHQL.

 

I want to update my Nvidia driver to 285.62 WHQL to play BF3 better but my Sony vaio won't let me.

I'm going to assume I only need to do steps 4 to 4.2 to accomplish this? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks in advance!

 

Laidback, follow the instructions in step 4 to install the Nvidia driver.

 

sup coolguy bro a question the nvidia driver works for a vaio cw ?? i want play battlefield 3 to. ( i try whit ur drivers now i hope works fine)

 

thx coolguy works exelent im playing btf 3 100% (vaio vpccw15f) (CW)

 

Have fun trfc0!

 

You are welcome.

 

Hey coolguy,

I followed your instructions for step 4 and it worked. However, my screen lags even more than usual? At first I thought it was my connection but its fine. My settings did not change (lowest possible). I thought the new driver update was suppose to improve performance?

Again, Im running on a Vaio CW and GT 330m.

Thanks

 

laidback, I don't know what you mean by "screen lag". Are you talking about the game settings?

 

My fps was at 20 avg before updating. Updating to the new driver did not increase my fps. It made the game worst and more laggy.

 

laidback i haved the same problem try a clean install of vaio cw and you run bft 3 60fps (idk but vaio drivers corrupt performance of nvidia card)

 

Ive long since sold mine and its still going strong for its new owner due to this thread. Thanks again.

 

What fps are you getting with the new driver? Are you running 330m as well in your CW?

 

vaio cw vpccw15fl (Nvidia 230M GT) full play btf 3 w/o lagg or some (low settings)

 

i just want to say THANKS cool guy you helped me out big time

 

Thank you so much for your assistance please keep on helping people out like that !!

 

Hi there! Thanks a lot for this Guide! No more BSOD and happy updating my display drivers to 285.62. No problem so far!

Sony Vaio VGN-AW11Z/B, Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit!

 

Would this work for a VAIO VPCZ122GX which runs on the 330m GT.

 

No, my modded INF doesn't support the Z, see here http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/342947-my-discoveries-vaio-z-s-hybrid-graphics.html

 

Is it possible to change FZ31M HardDrive into an SSD? Does anyone recommend any PARTICULAR one?

 

You can install any SATA SSD. Intel, Crucial are some brands.

 

Updated IDT audio driver. The IDT control panel with EQ is back. Some options in the preferences tab of the control panel are not applicable for the FZ.

I had tried the SRS and Dolby home theater audio effects (for some HP notebooks), but they didn't significantly improve (but degraded) the audio quality. So I decided to drop them from my modded driver.

 

Hi Coolguy and thank you for the new audio driver. Unfortunately, HDMI is not working. Please do what you did last time with the other driver to make the HDMI feature available. Tks.

 

How did you change the default playback device to HDMI? Do it from IDT control panel/ Windows playback devices. The HDMI seems to work for me when I test it form playback devices. Please tell me it works.

Edit: There is an issue with the HDMI audio. Do not install this driver for now.

 

mariofz31z,
Open regedit from start menu, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IDT\Config\UI, double click Config_Adv, change the entry ffffffff to ffff and click OK.

Let me know if this solves the HDMI audio issue, the HDMI audio works fine for me with WMP now.

 

Nope, still doesn't work, I'm afraid. When connecting the cable the TV displays the message 'Not Supported Audio Signal'.

 

OK, I will include the old HDMI settings back. I let the driver auto detect the HDMI audio, didn't work right.

 

Re-uploaded the IDT audio driver to fix the HDMI issue.

 

Sorry to bring bad news, but the HDMI still doesn't work.

I don't know if this could help in any way, but the modded driver 6.10.6224.7 is working fine with Stereo Mix support, perhaps you can find the needed components inside.

 

Do you still get the same error?

 

Yes, same as before, Not Supported Audio Signal.

 

Thanks for testing mariofz31z.

Oh crap, this IDT driver requires each and every line to be copied from the original Sony INI, atleast for the HDMI to work properly.

 

You're welcome and thanks for not letting us down!