Nees help with "original drivers" [finally available] for SZ61XN/C

[DanyM]

After waiting around the vaio-link site for moths Sony has finally put up the original drivers package for my notebook :smileygrin: hooray!

I could install drivers in the directories Audio, Bluetooth, Chipset, Modem, Video1, Video2 and WirelessLan. But how do I install the drivers in the directories that does not have any runnable installers? These are; Camera, Fingerprint, HDD Protection, Memory_card, Network, SFEP, SonyPI. All these have .inf files but when right-clicking and choosing "Install" in the context menu Vista gives a message that would read something like "The Chosen INF file does not support this mode of installation.". The "Sony Image Convertion Filter" have a bath file and it is difficult to see if the installation went ok.

Also, what is "Sony Image Conversion Filter"?

*Lots* of thanks,

Regards,

/Dany

[Blencogo]

Hi Dany,

I guess you will have to install these drivers from within Device Manager by choosing 'Update Driver' and manually pointing to the .INF file in the downloaded drivers package.

For example, to install the Network Controller Driver go to Device Manager and expand Network Adapters. Right-click on the ethernet controller and choose 'Update Driver' -> 'Browse My Computer....' -> Browse to the download directory and point to the yk60x86.INF file. This will install the Marvell Yukon Ethernet driver.

Similarly for the Camera, go to Imaging Devices ..................

Good Luck!!

[DanyM]

Thanks a lot Blencogo!

With your hint I have managed to get up to the following status:

Successfully installed the Camera driver! Camera is now working.
Network timed out but the version numbers match and it looks good after a restart!
Memory Card seems to install and update (even with a confirmation!).
Programmable I/O has matching numbers but I don't know how to confirm if it's working.
Fingerprint works fine and matches version numbers.

As administrator I could run the bat-file in SonyImgF (Imaging Filter) but I still don't know what it is so I can't test it.

HDD Protection refuses to update the driver - that is Vista says that the latest driver is already installed, but the version numbers does not match.
SFEP (Firmware Extension) has matching version numbers but the blue Fn-screen control keys still does not work. I probably need to wait for some event services utility (?)

Should it really be this complicated? I know Sony will say to do a complete system restore, but that is not an option for me. Tricky stuff - I preferred the way HP handled this stuff with good descriptions and several options for installing all drivers or just some of them.

Problems that remain on my Notebook;

* Can not install Vaio Power Management, but I'm not sure I want it (will try again, though).
* Can not use the STAMINA-SPEED switch - running on Intel all the time because a switch requires reinstalling drivers and restarting. Kind of a big value-loss for this notebook.
* No screen control Fn-button - vary work annoying.
* I can not disable Bluetooth and leave WLAN on - the BT option is not shown in the wireless swicth utility. This bad since it's a security risk and a power management problem and it can potentially be a health risk (he, he - just bitching with the last one).
* No HDD prtection feedback.

If anyone has some hints for this I'd be very grateful.

Keep up the good attitude!

/Dany

[Blencogo]

Have you had a browse through the SZ6_UTILITIES.ZIP (27/11/07) download from here: -

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/

You may well find some of those Utility programs you are missing like 'Protector Suite QL', Infenon TPM Package, HDD Protection Utility, Camera Capture Utility ... etc... etc ...

To get the Fn Keys to work you need to install (in order)

1. Sony Utilities DLL
2. Sony Shared Library
3. VAIO Event Service
4. Setting Utility Series

But I would probably install the whole Package.

[DanyM]

Blencogo!!! I suddenly love horses and snowmen

I'm downloading right away, this is going to be soo exciting!!!

But why did Sony not tell? Pray tell!

Why keep me in painful ignorance when there has been a utilities package as long as there has been a drivers package? Thats painful

Thanks again!

/Dany

[DanyM]

Wow, what a trip! Everything worked like a charm until I installed the nvidia drivers. After hours of trying to understand why one of the svchost.exe processes took up 100% cpu time and made the computer unusable i used system restore to go back to the point before installing them. Man, am I relieved now.

The svchost process that seemed to do most harm was the one hosting "DCOM Server Process Launcher" and "Plug and Play". Sometimes after half an hour explorer.exe, wdm.exe and TrustedInstaller.exe made the system run like syrup. Strange stuff.

There was two vista updates in the mix though and the problem might have something do to with them. It takes days to find out trial-and-error.

Anyway; What is the official way to install the two different graphics drivers? I'm, not sure this is the problem, I'll try the nvidia stuff again when I get the time. I have a working notebook now and that's kind of important for the time being:)

Regards and thanks for all the help,

/Dany

[Blencogo]

Congratulations Dany - Sony don't make it easy for you!!

I think you need the SZ61 switched into 'Speed' Mode to install the nVidia Driver - and into 'Stamina' Mode to install the Intel Driver.

[DanyM]

Yes, of course. I switched and installed Intel under "STAMINA" and Nvidia under "SPEED". After a system restore I can use the notebook in STAMINA mode with the Intel card. But the strange behaviour of some of windows core processes remains when I switch to Nvidia. My question was if there was a certain recommended way of installing/switching and so on. Well - I think I'll make a e-support ticket of this.

Thanks for all your help,

/D

[DanyM]

The hazzle I had was extensive. svchost (hosting Plug and Play and DCOM) acted up and made the computer unusable. And you can not terminate that process because it will take down windows with it. Several days went by until I uninstalled VAIO Power Management (one have to understand that it takes a lot of time to restart so much and the only analysis that could be done was when the system was extremely slow). It seems that (VPM) was the culprit. VAIO Power Management is apparently needed for the SPEED-STAMINA switch, the magic switching of drivers is managed there and not by the firmware extensions.

The notebook is up and running now though. The svchost problem remains but very rarely. I think there's a connection between the fact that VAIO Power Management can be used to switch of certain devices and at startup or when removing/connection the AC plug the service can sometimes start to act up (take most available CPU).

I really seriously think that Sony should be a bit more verbose as to what all the different Drivers, Utilities and Software is good for, how to install and uninstall them. I have had around 7 notebooks before this one and have never had to put so much effort into making them work. Well, its a nice piece of hw anyway

Regards and thanks for the help,

/Dany