Windows 7 on Sony Z

I just installed the latest Windows 7 (the one becoming Beta in January). Did someone manage to get the Fn Keys work with on screen display ? I get no on-screen display, and brightness doesn't work. Sound does. I can adjust the brightness in Vista though.

 

Hi was the installation fast and trouble free as others mentioned?
Also how fast are boot times compared to vista and XP?

 

On my FW21L, brightness works fine, but the volume buttons don't.

 

I have the same issues. In fact, there was a thread a couple of days ago on Windows 7 on the Z, but it seems to have disappeared (seriously!!) - there is no trace of the thread any more (moderators - can you help?).

Someone (I think it was williamd) had provided the order for installation of Vaio Z vista drivers/programs. I'm going to try it again (some installed fine, others didn't, and that may be what is causing the brightness to not work), will post results in a bit.

On the function keys issue, I recollect mention of using the driver from the Sony UK site....

Cheers

 

That thread was mine. I broke one of forum rules, got a repremand and the thread was deleted.

Here is a snip from the original thread:
Here are the install steps I used on my Sony TZ150 and Z591.

1. Backup your stuff
2. Download drivers/apps. I used the 32-bit version. STANDARD VISTA DRIVERS WORK IN WINDOWS 7.
3. Install Windows 7
4. Install all drivers, making sure that device manager is clear. This includes Video and the Sony I/O and Firmware parser. It will be one of the system devices and stops the battery/hibernation nag later
5. Install Sony Shared Library
6. Install Sony Utilities

After this, install what you want in any order. Only issue I've had so far is with the Advanced Power Management settings. If you do it through the Power Options window, it will crash. I was able to set the Auto-off DVD and other options through the Vaio Control Center.

On my desktop, everything worked as well. This includes Norton Internet Security 9, Ghost 14, Office 2007 and dual Nvidia 9800 GTX's in SLI.

 

@ ZoinksS2k: Followed your instructions. Unfortunately, still don't have control over display brightness. Everything else seems to work fine. And its wayyy faster than Vista.

As an aside: Could the brightness problem have anything to do with the combo Intel/Nvidia driver Sony uses for the Z series?

 

the thread was mine and i got my hand slapped too . so i wont say anything till microsoft puts out beta publicly . but my z is runnining tops . everything works great

 

sorry didnt mean to say thread . but i did post the order in which you have to install . that is the key. sorry again zoinksS2K

 

So it seems when I use the Stamina mode, everything works fine. With the Speed mode, the brightness function keys don't work (can't even change display brightness from the power management app).

As an aside, and more generically for the Z, can we use separate drivers for the intel and nvidia cards? I'll probably lose the "hot-swap" functionality (switching from one mode to the other on the fly), but would that a) give an updated driver for the 9300m gs and b) resolve the brightness issue? Or am i going down the wrong path here?

Thanks

 

hint compatibility mode

 

where going to get slapped again im saying no more

 

were going to get are hands slapped again . im not saying no more

 

Discussions about the OS itself and how it works etc can be discussed but just not how to obtain this software from sources which may be illegal.

 

thats not what i was told before ! i never said a word on where to get software just how to make it work . ill wait!

 

We had a meeting and we decided to change the way we deal with windows 7 threads...see this thread(it mainly deals with the issue)

Rachuk is correct.

 

Sweet. So you think we'll get back the original Win7 on Z thread (after deleting any references to obtaining a copy)? I'd like to be able to cross check what I'm doing with what others have successfully accomplished (in terms of install sequence).

 

I'm thinking of installing Windows 7 on my Z590 and was wondering what steps you guys took to enable dual booting with Vista installed first. Do you just make space on the primary disk through Disk Management and then install Windows 7 after which it will give you the choices at boot or is there more to it?

Thanks

 

didn't vista just get good within the last year? some people love new headaches!

 

hey, did anyone get 9300m gs working with new wddm 1.1 pre driver, updated from Microsoft Update? I get both new wddm drivers for both graphic devices but no way to switch to power 9300?

 

install original graphics driver in compatibility mode !

 

Ok, so now that we can go on, and this thread is clean of any illegal stuff, could you please post some kind of step by step install guide for the Z series?

Thanks!

 

Installation was very fast, absolutely trouble free (besides the aforementioned keys)
Boot times are around 40 secs to log in, another 15 to desktop. Standby is much faster (around 4-5 sec compared to 15-30sec under vista).

 

me want see pics

 

Zony Vaio Z fans. Just noticed that my Vaio Z fans are running almost constantly even with the CPU load under 5% and the cpu temp around 35c.

Anyone else have this problem and the solution? I cannnot see why the fans need to be running at 33c.

 

Installed Windows 7 on my Z590. Previously was using Vista Ultimate x64.

I didn't have any trouble just using the Vista x86 drivers for Windows 7, save the Intel Chipset driver, which I eventually figured out I could just install in Vista compatibility mode.

My installation order was almost certainly out of whack (I didn't figure out the chipset fix until everything else was installed). As a result, while I do have stamina/speed switch capability, I can't use the Fn key yet. Also, for a while, VAIO power management thought my battery was incompatible and displayed an annoying prompt to go into hibernation so I could fix it. That went away after working my way further down the driver list.

Yes, W7 is fast. Then again, so was my clean install of Vista 64, so I'm not sure I'm terribly impressed yet. Cosmetically, W7 is about 90% Vista, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The real difference is supposed to be under the hood, but I guess that would only show after lengthy and extensive use, and frankly I'm not about to dive head-first into making a beta OS from Microsoft my primary OS, so I guess I won't know for sure how good W7 is until its official release.

 

ive see the video on windows 7 at the youtube. it shows that we can simply touch the screen to navigate the menu etc.
so i just want to confirm to any of you guys who manage to install it, can you touch the z screen for navigation? sorry if this question sounds silly, but yea, just curious

 

well i have been messing with 7 again and i some how removed sony power mgt and to my surprise my battery life has increased with : 4:45 min and with out useing win 7 power saving mode 6:32 min . i have a sneaking feeling that this also has something to do with power drain on battery when off and unplugged . going to do test on that tonite when i go to sleep. but on the other you can still turn all of but the cd . and the stanima / speed switch still works . i still want to try and get both pre bete driver to work . i can only get one or the other at one time. anyone have any ideas?

 

Ok, I installed Sony Power Management and newer stock drivers from the latest Sony Z modell (Z21ZN/X) I knew of, and that helped: suddenly my Brightness Keys started working (in both Stamina and Speed), Stamina/Speed switch works too (with on screen display), Smart Network works too (with HSDPA).
My Sound Keys stopped working though I mean not only they don't display (they didn't earlier either) but I can't mute anylonger.
I still have one unknown device in Device Manager: SM Bus Controller. Any ideas what that might be?
My Windows Experience Index is only 2,0 because of my hard disk. I changed the SATA Driver to the Sony one, but that still didn't help. I have the stock 250GB 5400RPM drive inside, but the index was under Vista much higher. Any ideas what to change to improve?

 

Install Intel chipset drivers in Vista compatibility mode.

 

I've posted my experience on my SZ680 here. It may help.

 

I got the exact same problem on my TZ. It is a problem with the VAIO event service. If I install the event service from my original drivers. My brightness would work, however, sound stops working. You would notice that sound worked after install the parser, without the need for event service. I found the only way to get them both working is to stop the service VESmgr.exe and VESmgrSUB.exe and then run them as admin. After a few tries that worked. But I cant seem to get them working off a cold boot. Even when I set them to run as admin, even tried disabling UAC. Still no luck. Will report back after I tackle it again.

UPDATE:
It seems both volume and brightness keys are working when I booted into Win7 today. Tried 3 reboots and still working fine. So I think everyone should:
Run the setup at admin
after install go into sony\vaio event service directory, change privilage to admin on both VESmgr & VESmgrSUB.exe
reboot
if that doesnt work, turn off UAC

 

Has anyone gotten the WWAN driver to install and work? When I install the novatel driver from the sony site, it will start the install then "rollback" and say the installation is not complete.

This is on a TZ.

 

Using amro's procedure, and running the Intel Chipset Driver in compatibility mode, I get to the point where the Brightness keys work in Stamina mode but not speed mode. Do the laptopvideo2go drivers work for the nVidia card on the Z?

 

what is everyone's ram usage at after installing windows 7? for me and my sr, with vista it was 1.3x gb of ram. after i installed by upgrading process, it used less at 9xx mb of ram.

i have to say im very surprised with the upgrade option. i backed up everything but i didnt need to. everything is working as it was but with windows 7 instead. so far im very happy with the upgrade install option, i dont have to worry about formatting and all.

what are some of the tweaks to make this run even faster!! i personally disabled the index service.

also does gadget work for everyone? i cant seem to get the old gadgets to work and i have seen snapshots of ppl using gadgets.

sorry for the rambling

 

has anyone tried the win7 up grade from vista ? i wonder if we would have less trouble with the fn /vol/brightness/ stamina/speed switches if we did a upgrade ? if anyone has let me know and if not maybe ill give it a go tomorrow!

 

ok guys and gals lets have some input before i start this ! i have installed win 7 at least 40 different ways on my z and all have falled to get all working . so last night i had a brain storm how about upgrade . first of all have you all noticed that after you install win 7 clean and then go to windows update there are 4 updates 1. windows defender 2. nvidia graphics driver about 50 something mb 3 sd card update 78 kb and a sony pi update about the same 78 kb but when you install at that point they dont do nothing . may be there updates for when you upgrade from vista . what do you all think? im going to try the upgrade today. but in all the years i have never upgraded any os . so i need some help - do i do this from inside vista or start like when you do clean install? NEED SOME HELP HERE !!!!! also i have win 7 on a disc that you can install all versions HOME / PREMEIEER / BUSS / AND ULTIMATE . SO IM GOING TO TRY BUSS TO BUSS . I just need to get some input on the best way to upgrade and on the windows updates have the rest of you tried them and noticed they dont do nothing . the video update just messes thing up . i really dont think sony would put out them updates for nothing so ill wait an hour for some input before trying so how about alittle advice?

 

Successfully installed W7-7000 on my TZ160C (Canada).

All function keys working (disabled UAC). Volume, brightness, zoom, etc.
Power save functions, AV controls, etc.

Installed the Intel WiFi drivers v11.1.1.16 & had to install Wireless Switch Utility v3.6.00.18210 to get Bluetooth/2.4-5Ghz WiFi control. All others only gave me Bluetooth.

 

where did you get those two drivers?

 

you guys love to slap hand s sorry did not know about that rule ! was trying to get input on general info on upgrading for masses not just on the z.

 

The Intel driver is on the support page for my model (TZ160C).
http://esupport.sony.com/CA/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNTZ160C

The older version of the Wireless Switch Utility is on the page for CR309E model.
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNCR309E&upd_id=3360&os_id=28

 

thank will give um a try going to try my upgrade now i think . thank again

 

gosh i surely hopes its not 3 slaps your out!!!!!!!!!!!

 

How well does Windows 7 perform on the TZ?

 

well did my 7 upgrade from inside vista all went well took 1hour 15 min
still not working fn /voland brightness and auto off on cd everthing else fine . some setting got changed but reset all data still here / didnt have to reload anything. nero doesent work . and when i went to windows update only 2 defenders / and nvida card . updated and it scred all up think driver is for computer not with stamina/ speed switch . rolled back driver and switch works fine .still no britghness control in speed mode . but if you just switch to stamina then adjust and switch back works computers score went from 4.4 in vista to 3.0 in 7 . all the same except hard drive went from 5. something in vista to 3.0 in 7 . all pretty good so ill keep till sony fixes drivers oh yah when you use upgrade you only get 3 days to activate. cant tell how to activate , dont want to get hand slapped but im good till 7/1/09 if i can be of any help let me know !

 

oh ya i went from vista business to 7 business !

 

1m 5s boot from off.
..18s from hitting [enter] on login/password to idle desktop.
...6s to sleep from idle desktop.
...2s to desktop from sleep.
..35s to hibernate from idle desktop.
..38s to idle desktop from off [hibernate].
..25s from idle desktop to power off [shut down].

Need to install applications and see how it goes.

For the volume hotkeys, make sure you change the PROPERTIES of VESMgr and VESMgrSub to administrator.
C:\Program Files\Sony\VAIO Event Service
- right-click on the two programs
- [Compatibility] TAB
- [check-box] "Run the program as an administrator

I had to disable UAC for volume to work. Brightness and others worked with UAC.

 

Yes, I did, it installed fine. Furthermore, I can control it through the smart-network panel. I am looking for the Global Connect software to use it. I had it once, can't seem to find it again.My card is a Option GlobalConnect though. Are you sure yours is Novatell?

 

Yes, I have a TZ 250N. North American version, tied to Sprint EVDO.

The only way I have had the WWAN software and hardware to work is using Sony's DVD recovery disk. I can't get it to install using a clean install of Vista, XP or Win7.

 

Are you guys talking about the 32 bit version of 7 or the 64 bit version. I'm considering trying 7 beta tomorrow from microsoft. They are offering both 32 and 64.
I'm currently running 32bit Vista Business on a Z11.

 

I am already downloading 32 ang 64 bit Windows 7 via MSDN. HUGE download. I am not sure if I am going to install on it my Z yet... until auto drive off and function keys work properly.