Windows 7 vs. VAIO SZ7

Guys, clean installed Win7 Professional 32bit and it works ok.

Except for:

1. "Unknown device" and "Storage Mass Controller" as troubles in the Device Manager (can't really understand which devices these are to install the drivers for them)

2. Sony Power Management doesn't work at all as well as Fn and all VAIO-specific switches and buttons.

3. Some of the drivers were installed by Win7 and it's really difficult to understand which ones I should change for Sony-originals.

Would be really great if you could help me with this, guys!

 

Unknown device ---> SPIC or SFEP
Storage Mass Controller ---> MS Card

 

- thnx, looks like you're right, but I tried to update driver of that Unknown device for SPIC or SFEP drivers and neither worked(

-maybe I'm totally blind but how's the driver for MS Card called?

 

Ok, both problems are solved by installing the right drivers!=)

Now, only getting VAIO-specific switches and buttons (S1, S2, Fn) work is left...(

 

Is 64 bit not worth it for this laptop?

I take it there will be more driver issues?

(I don't plan yet on going over 3Gb)

 

For 64bit you want AT LEAST 2gigs, I recommend at least 3 and prefer 4.

64bit definitely poses more of a challenge for install. If you aren't sure and seems like you aren't planning a big memory upgrade, I would recommend 32bit. Go 64bit on your next computer.

The biggest benefit of 64bit is more memory addressing at this point.

 

absolutely everything works now!=) including fn, brightness, sounds, microphone, etc.!

Was is that difficult for Sony to make SZ7 RXN support Win7 officially? dissapointed...

 

No, they would just rather not bother and hope we are dumb enough to go buy a new laptop.

Honestly, it's more of a problem for Sony than for me. I hope this becomes a PR nightmare for them and they clean their act up. I'm letting them know with my voice and my dollar. An X series was on my agenda for next year, not anymore.

 

was thinking about X series as well, but now don't really know. cuz other non-mac laptops are even worse=) maybe Mac+Win7?

btw, anybody knows how to make a recovery image from your disck and (if it is possible) put it in your VAIO's reserved HDD area instead of Win Vista?

 

Hi Edurad26,
Can you put a quick guide of what you did and which drivers you downloaded.. to get everything working .. for example what fixed the fn keys for brightness etc..

it will be immensly helpful.. I am getting my upgrade in a few days.. want to do it asap..
thanskk

 

well, this will be a tough thing to do as I was doing it all in kinda random way without trying to remember the steps, but the main idea is:

1.Download all the vista drivers and soft for your laptop from VAIO support page
2.This one is very important and will make your life much easier. Put all the unzipped drivers (with all the folders and stuff from the packages) in ONE directory.
3. Go to device manager and try to update drivers for all the troubled devices (I had only 2, called: Storage Mass Controller (i.e. cardreader) and Unknown device (i.e. SFEP) manually from that very folder from step 2.
4. Then do the same for not troubled VAIO-specific devices like, touchpad, SPIC, etc.
5. Install Sony Shared Library, Event Service and whatever VAIO soft you need...

So this is pretty much it, very sorry for not being more specific, but will try to help you if anything. Btw, try reading other threads here on Win7 installing on any other VAIO, cuz I see that the principles are quite the same.

gl!

 

Thanks... I have a 4Gb Desktop where I will run 64bit. I plan to maybe upgrde the Vaio to 3Gb but think I'd like to keep a 32bit machine running at the mo considering the various programs that are still meant for it!

Is it easy to unlock the hardware virtualisation that Sony have disabled to get XP mode running?

 

I just found they put an atom in the X, last I checked they hadn't decided, so that killed that idea. $1300 for an atom processor? No thanks.

Check out the Dell Adamo. http://www.adamobydell.com/ (may need IE to view)
Closest thing to an X series but with a real processor.

 

Totally agree, Adamo is close to perfection, but I wonder if you can really bend the display till it's fully horizontal or not (like you can do with SZ). It's important for me, cuz I usually connect my laptops to large external monitors in office and home.

 

No, you can't, that was something I had a problem with on the HP Mini. It's not THAT big of an issue to me, though I do dislike it.

When using an external, get a wireless keyboard and mouse, makes it much nicer, get a compo, so you only need one plug. The new Logitech stuff has a receiver so small you could even leave it installed.

 

hehe, the thing is NOT using anything else (external keyboard, etc.) makes my life/work much simpler/cheaper=) Only laptops, and external displays, sometimes a mouse. Besides, I can easily brake that Adamo due to it's not bending much(

 

Supposedly it's pretty sturdy, but, being a Dell does that mean as sturdy as a decent Sony, or decent as in, I'm likely not to hurt it. It is pretty industrial looking though.

I would like to get a look at one up close before I would even consider one. It doesn't help that I just don't like Dell.


By the way, that HP Envy will not open that far either. Looks bland, but nice. A custom paint job would maybe help.
I haven't looked much into it beyond that though. I'm so disappointed in Sony in the way they have been acting, and putting an Atom in the X.

 

So... I have been close to upgrading to Win7 32bit but thinking about my RAM (presently 2Gb) if I upgrade to 3Gb will dual channel not work?

In other words would I be best just going 4Gb and 64bit?

(I am quite tech savvy, just don't know the hardware that well in my VAIO)

 

why not Z-series btw? looks like it's not X, but Z to replace SZ, isn't it?

 

I think people put too much stock in dual channel.

As for 32 vs. 64, I was looking at benchmarks earlier since I did a 32bit install for some testing (I have 4 gigs) and testing has shows 64 is really no faster or slower. 32bit is however MUCH easier to get working on a Vaio.

I don't think either answer is wrong. If you want to save soem money, lots of effort and have everything work perfect, go 32 with 3gigs. Or 32bit with 4 gigs. If you really need that last bit of memory for multitasking though, get 4gigs and 64bit. I want the extra memory for multitasking, but I don't think I ever used more than 3gigs even with Photoshop.

 

The Z is essentially the SZ replacement, however it is also near the end of it's lifespan supposedly. Also does it offer any significant upgrade worth the cost of upgrading? Not really in my opinion. Put in more memory, Win7 and an SSd and you have a darn nice SZ that is plenty capable of keeping up with most things on the market for far less than the cost of a Z.

Now if I had something older than an SZ, yes, by all means a Z isn't bad It's a nice computer, but I can't justify the upgrade.


So why the Adamo and maybe the HP? They are something different, a bit more fresh and no Sony tax (not Sony?). Both are cheaper than the base Z. If I am going to upgrade and pay so much for so little, I may as well make it interesting.

 

When in stamina mode, does anyone's screen go blank when turing the brightness to the lowest setting?

It has locked up a few times (32 bit) and I have just updated to the latest Win7 X3100 integrated graphics drivers. The screen still goes blank at the lowest brightness level still, but I'm hoping for no more crashes!

 

Nope, mine works fine at the lowest setting (32bit win7, yes, I switch back and forth ).