Windows Vista RC1 on SZ

I just installed Windows Vista RC1 and was trying to install some of the sony programs, like "Sony Notebook Utilities". After installation, it'll complain about not installing the battery correctly. So I am wondering if any of you has successfully installed the sony programs on windows vista. Thanks.

 

Sony is so proprietary with their software it is a real pain for seemless upgrading. I did the same thing. The obvious glitches that you will find is that the Alps touchpad is incompatable as is the Toshiba bluetooth stack. I had the same battery issue (still do, see my post, but I also got it in XP). As for the Sony utilities I could not configure the notebook utility to run on my box. I did contact sony and got the patent answer of, "support and drivers will be available soon for Vista." Vist will run, but not without "convenience" sacrifices on the Vaio. Sorry I could not answer/solve your problems more directly. I spent a frustrating weekend tinkering with the same issues. Oh, I did get the Sony Library to install by unistalling all other Sony stuff and then installing the library first. However, the functionality of the other Sony tools was not improved when they were re installed.

 

I'm running it on my SZ120b. I didn't have the battery problem, and I've installed Vista a few times.

The only Sony apps I'm running are drivers for the Cam and the Alp's driver. Vista will complain about the Alps driver not being compatible when you reboot, but I selected for it to run and not notify me again. I haven't had any problems.

Also, I managed to force the HD protector driver to install, but it doesn't seem to work.

 

How do you get Vista RC1? do you must be a MSDN member? or only the people who got beta 2 also get RC1

 

I do not have the link on me, but it can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft website for users to test. I got the link from Gizmodo yesterday. They just want it punnished prior to release. You do not need to be a pre existing MSDN member. Generally the downloads are limited to the first 100,000 downloads. You download the file, make an ISO copy to a DVD and then it will intall on your computer as either a clean reformat or an OS update from XP.

 

Go Here to download Vista
http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/en/download.htm

Key is being posted here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx

 

Hum .. it states on this second link:
"The final major pre-release of Windows Vista—Release Candidate 1 (RC1)—is now available for priority access by Customer Preview Program (CPP) participants only. If you registered for this program in June, please look for a recent e-mail message from Microsoft (sent in early September) with information regarding RC1. If you are not registered but would like to receive Windows Vista RC1, the CPP will open to new participants in the coming weeks. Please check this site periodically for updates."

I registered for the CPP mid-July, and I didn't get any email about how to receive a new key.

Where else could I get a key?
JY

 

I used my vista beta 2 key on vista rc1 and it worked. You could use your beta 2 key on rc1 and it should work.

 

Yeah but I never got a beta 2 key ... they had just closed the program when I joined.

Do you think I could use your key?

 

i got RC1 on my FE too and everything running smooth!

 

Is everyone running dual boot or exclusive Vista - I want to install it I am just debating if I should go dual boot or just format the entire drive - any avice?

 

How it's performance on Vista compared to XP?

 

Did you tell the Sony rep that Amazon is already "selling" aka pre-ordering Vista? I contacted Sony via email at one point and they gave me that same answer too.

 

Dual boot, buddy!

Vista RC1 is only good until May 2007 when it expires. As a few folks have mentioned, alot of the Sony proprietary software gets broken because it is not Vista compatible yet.

I own a VGN-SZ270P/C and I have not been able to figure out how to get the built-in Cingular EDGE modem to work. I've gotten the latest version of Cingular's Communication Manager to install but the EDGE modem only gets recognized as a standard modem and will not recognize the EDGE driver when I try to update it. I need my EDGE modem to work since I've been on the road since the middle of July.

I'm also waiting for the next version of Adobe's Creative Suite 3. Creative Suite 2 is incompatibility with x64 and/or Vista. I'm so ready to upgrade to the VGN-SZ370P/C so that I can run the x64 bit of XP and Vista. I want to test one of the server products in Office 2007 beta and it requires an x64 processor. If I do upgrade, I'm choosing the VGN-SZ370P/C over the SZ360P/C and the SZ381P/C because the 2MB of cache makes more of a difference in performance/cost than 0.16MHz of CPU speed.

 

I did talk to Sony about the availability of RC Vista and explained to them what I was doing and why I was installing it. The bottom line that was explained to me was that the phone techs had received no training in troubleshooting Vista issues yet. As for software and driver solutions for Sony convenience issues I received the standard issue that Sony was working on those. I asked about receiving the drivers on a "test" basis and was told that Sony does their compatibility testing "in house." At this point I really believe that for my skill level in this, there will be no solution until Vista mainstream realease and Sony is forced to deal with the fact that they have to update drivers. I would expect drivers sometime in Oct/Nov when businesses can get ahold of Vista. Bottom line, I think that unless you have an in with Sony or know a Sony Engineer, I think that it will be a while before we see Sony drivers floating around the net for Vista.

 

The SZ360 & SZ370 both have 4 MB L2 cache as I think you were referring to. The ONLY differences between the both is the SZ370 has the Cingular Edge card and 2GB total memory instead of 1GB (Im pretty sure).

I already have the 2gb 667Mhz memory waiting to be put in, plus my Treo 700w can be used as a modem through my Verizon EDVO service via Bluetooth or USB so no need for EDGE. I went with the SZ360 from Amazon... since I bought it right before the $150 rebate, Amazon just offered to credit my card $150 better than the rebate in my opinion

 

Untrue based on Sony's marketing materials, the processor in a SZ360P/C uses 2MB L2 cache and both models come with 2GB of memory:

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...VAIONotebookComputers_SZSeries&Dept=computers

If you paid extra for the 2GB of 667MHz memory, you paid extra for the speed. The chipset will force the memory down to 533MHz even though the front-side bus runs at 667MHz. That's why Sony sells you 533MHz memory instead of the matching 667MHz memory.

 

Well suffice it to say, Sony made a boo boo! LOL Check out Intel's site:

http://indigo.intel.com/compare_cpu...884605,884604,884325&familyID=2&culture=en-US

The T7200 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo chip (included in both the SZ360 and SZ370) is a 4MB memory Cache chip. Intel doesn't make a 2MB version of the 2Ghz. So Sony screwed up. The 1.83 Ghz chip (T5600) is actually the 2MB Cache chip. T7xxx indicates 4MB and T5xxx indicates 2MB. Also, as far as I know, Sony can't cripple the actual chip, nor would it be cost effective to.

As far as the Front side bus goes, all the Core 2 Duo are capable of 667mhz, and the Intel chipset is as well. The SZ360 and SZ370 both have 667mhz front side bus, Sony specifies it in it's specs as well.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...es&ProductSKU=VGNSZ360P/C&TabName=specs&var2=

Thus, just because Sony includes the cheaper 533mhz memory doesnt mean the chipset forces the faster 667mhz down to 533mhz. Thats untrue. The 667mhz will indeed run at its full capacity since both the chipset AND CPU comply with the 667mhz as Sony even states. (Someone prove to me with facts if I'm wrong). That's not to say there is even going to be that noticeable of a difference between 533mhz and 667mhz memory, but to me I'd rather just have the faster 667mhz because at least I feel like I'm potentially taking full advantage of the front side bus speed.

With that said, I guess the one thing I will admit being wrong about was the amount of memory. Amazon advertised the SZ360 with 1GB, so it must be a misprint on their site since all other sites, including Sony's, says 2GB. Thats all the better though as Im just gonna resell the slower memory on Ebay!

 

You're right about the processor memory. Too bad there isn't a prize for catching Sony's boo boo.

Regarding the system memory:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=64989

It looks like it is a problem in the 200 series but there is one post that mentions it getting fixed in the 300 series. No verification be anyone who actually owns one yet. Wanna' be our guinea pig? I'm thinking about selling me SZ270P/C to a family member or on ebay and buying a SZ370P/C so I can try some x64 software I've gotten my hands on.

 

I am not sure about the new SZ but on my 1st gen SZ, Sony was right. T2400 Yonah CPU supports 667MHz bus so I bought 2GB 667 DDR2 RAM with the exact same reasoning as yours. But, alas, my SZ runs the memory at 533Mhz still. And there is no utilities I can use to change its speed to 667Mhz. Here is the proof.

 

Installed RC1 on my SZ160, was surprised on how much better it runs as opposed to beta 2.

I'm yet to try installing different drivers.
So far the devices not working at all:
Finger print sensor, webcam, HD detection

The touchpad works, but without all the fancy stuff available in XP (scrolling)

Has anybody got any success getting extra peripherals working?

 

Is anyone using Vista RC1 having a problem keeping their wireless network connection after waking from sleep or hibernation? It seems whenever I put my SZ160 with Vista RC1 to sleep or hibernate it looses the wireless network and I have to reboot and then it's fine. Just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem.

 

no problem with mine.
But I've only been using vista for a day.

Anybody managed to get the Fn key to work and change the contrast or volume

Without this, I will quickly go back to XP

 

Just noticed that the Wireless Switching Utility (or SmartWi) don't work as expected. They just show the 802.11b and g band....a is missing.

Fn keys don't work aswell. Let's wait for drivers from Sony

 

This is the same thing when running Windows XP if you're running the latest version of the wireless utility. The ability to switch between a and g has been removed

 

i hope sony has a good reason to remove a

 

I don't think it's been removed, just that you can switch a off while b is running.
I can't try though, I'm yet to ever connect to a 802.11a access point

 

i've seen this problem as well in Win XP...if u update to the latest Intel Drivers the ability to switch to Enable 5.4GHz Wireless LAN has been disabled which i thought was rather odd...but i agree with jyavenard in that i'v not seen any 802.11a APs around yet so i wonder if Sony/Intel have a good reason for blocking this feature...

 

Yep..I want this one back...if I would have wanted b and g only i probably should have bought a cheaper one.

Give us working VAIO Utilities Sony!

 

And how do you know for sure 802.11a doesn't work?

it doesn't appear in the wi-switch utility, this is an entirely different matter as 802.11a not working.

 

But is the a band actually disabled? At work we use 802.11a WLANs because the 5GHz is not that crowsed as 2.4GHz. I'm pretty sure running the Card with 2.4GHz and 5GHz will drain battery faster than running one mode alone. So...the function to check the status of a band was removed. Is it working all the time?
I'm pretty sure as I was able to connect with my Vaio.

I just don't get why they remove this fast and convenient way to control your hardware. I don't want to hop to the device manager all the time.

 

sony drivers always cause hassle when reinstalling a new windows.

 

Someone over at notebookforum.at reports that Vista Build 5728 supports FN-Keys with Brightness Control. Can someone of you guys verify that?

 

nah...would love to switch to vista...but i think i'll wait until they fixed the fn-key thing

 

Well, I installed the Sony Event utility (SOAVES-01205105-US.EXE), and guess what: the Fn key is now working perfectly under Vista RC1 !!

Now I only need to get the trackpad and the webcam working and I'm all set !

 

Well I got everything working on Vista RC1 (build 5600) except the fingerprint sensor. More accurately it is detected, however the Protector Suite application will crash.

Anybody got it working?

 

Strange, I just downloaded and installed the same Event Utility and my function keys still do not work on the latest Vista build 5728. Is there anything else you did to activate them?

 

At first that was all I installed from the Sony software package. And it worked right away.

Then I installed all the remaining drivers (webcam, memory stick, trackpad, HD protection etc) as well as a few utilities (webcam utility, protector suite, sony DLL) then the Fn key stopped working after a reboot.

I deinstalled the Sony Event , and I re-installed the file I mentioned earlier. The Fn key worked straight away after it displays a DOS window showing "Starting Sony Even service"

I really like vista so far .. It works well and feels heaps more responsive than windows XP

JY

 

Well I will see if this works for me too?

 

Just to prove that I'm not making it up


JY

 

Nice to see it. Pls tell me your SZ configuration? Thanks

 

yes configuration.looks great....Qustions,,,,boot time.fan noise ,heat issues and overall proformence and why in the heck would anyone think you were making it up

 

Never mind

I was able to get your Event Service Version out of it's picky (SZ only) WISE-Installer package. Let's see if this changes something on my FE21S

 

I don't get it, I installed the Sony Event utility (SOAVES-01205105-US.EXE),but my function keys are still not working with Vista build 5728. Is there something I have to do to activate it once it's installed?
Actually now that I read what this file is supposed to do it says it's supposed to fix a problem with connecting with certain monitors so how would this activate the function keys unless there is another file I have to install?

 

Hi, i have a vaio FJ, i dowloaded FJ1 Utilities from vaio-link.com, but inside there are 10 utilis installer.... what is Sony Event Utility??

My Vista RC1 5600 works fine...

 

I'm not sure but as far as i know not all VAIO models make use of the Sony Event Service, some models use of a App called Hotkey Utility....

As for me the newest Event Service does not work with Build 5728. It will recognize the press of a FN-key and show the OSD, but the screenbrightness won't change

 

what unit do you have maui?

 

Maybe not all the drivers are vista-compatible.

 

okay, I've installed Vaio event service and other dll, shared library. The NF key is working under 5728.

Yes it is working, you can see the "birghtness" and "voulme" bar showing up, but the sound did not actually muted or LCD's birghtness did not change.

It seems that the software is not linked to the hardware.

 

Can u actually mute the sound and change the brightness of the screen?