Intel Virtualization Technology

mehdi311ggg · 09-09-2007, 08:15 AM

Hi
My laptop is FZ140E with T7100 processor that supports Intel Virtualization Technology.
Now I want to enable this feature but the BIOS has not any flag/option to turn it on, is there any way to enable the VT ? (BIOS update, utility, …)

benjasmine · 09-10-2007, 03:35 AM

Hi, sorry to disappoint you... but all Sony Vaio laptops do not support Intel Virtualization. This is clearly stated on their support website, however they didn't say why.
Link:
http://www.iq.sony.com/srvs/autoresponse.asp?id=381809
Sony disables this important feature for some reasons and doesn't allow it to be turned on in BIOS either. It seems that Sony disabled this feature on purpose... probably the best way for you is to call Sony and try to get a "level two" support person.

Please check out this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...virtualization
pay attention to all the posts.

I was gonna buy SZ6, but since Sony doesn't support it, I'm reconsidering my decision. Hopefully they will release an update on BIOS to unlock this feature soon...good luck!

ScuderiaConchiglia · 09-10-2007, 02:02 PM

I am not certain it is actually locked. In the thread there was a reference to message on the VT forum. I just posted an update there to jmatson. It read:

Quote:

I ran the diagnostic and all I received was "VT is disabled in the feature control MSR". I got this for each of the two cores. But there was no indication if the MSR was locked or not. There were a couple of screens that flashed by without any pause, not sure if those told the tale on the MSR lock or not. Can you offer any insight?

Thanks,

Gary

P.S. Assuming the MSR is not locked how would one go about finding the privilege level software to enable VT?

VT is disabled, but there was no indication that the MSR is locked. That implies we MIGHT be able to use the privileged level technique discussed. If I hear back I'll let you know. This was done on an FZ190.

Gary

ScuderiaConchiglia · 09-12-2007, 01:35 AM

Well I heard back and the fact that the ISO did not say it was unlocked meant it WAS locked. Sigh.

But there was another response from a guy who was able to tweak the CMOS to enable the VT bit. But the prospects of doing that are VERY VERY VERY scary. Not something I want to attempt.

WARNING!!!!!! DO NOT ATTEMPT ANYTHING IN THE FOLLOWING LINK IT MAY BRICK YOUR SONY.

Response in VMWare forum regarding the VT bit in the BIOS

Gary

ScuderiaConchiglia · 09-12-2007, 02:04 PM

There is more info on the VMWare thread:

Updated VMWare thread

It looks a bit less scary but still one needs to FULLY UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF TRYING THIS. NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!!!

Gary

benjasmine · 09-12-2007, 03:57 PM

thank you Gary for the info. That is a bit risky...
Since I'm not a VAIO owner yet, I can't try...
my biggest question is that is Sony gonna solve this issue officially in the near future?
I contacted PortableOne about it too, since they are an authorized Sony center. They told me they contacted Sony about this, but Sony never got back to them... they are doing some tests by themselves now...

ScuderiaConchiglia · 09-12-2007, 05:59 PM

Well I heard some more from the VMWare thread. Apparently the VT bit only matters when doing 64 bit VM's and had no effect at all at 32 bits. So I won't be trying to turn that bit on after all.

Gary

benjasmine · 09-12-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScuderiaConchiglia

Well I heard some more from the VMWare thread. Apparently the VT bit only matters when doing 64 bit VM's and had no effect at all at 32 bits. So I won't be trying to turn that bit on after all.

Gary

really? what do you mean? VT will not have effect on 32 bit OS? even if that's ture...then you will only be able to run pure software virtualization like vmware...stuff like Linux KVM or Parellel requires BIOS support...

ScuderiaConchiglia · 09-12-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjasmine

really? what do you mean? VT will not have effect on 32 bit OS? even if that's ture...then you will only be able to run pure software virtualization like vmware...stuff like Linux KVM or Parellel requires BIOS support...

Go to the VMWare forum link and read the last message I received. Maybe that was in the context of VMWare. But I thought from what was said he meant ANY 32bit / 64bit OS.

Gary

Nanaki · 09-12-2007, 07:51 PM

If it is indeed true that there is no point with an x86 install, then that's your reason why Sony locked it: they do not, and stated they will not support a x64 installation.