Official VAIO FW Series Owners Thread

[Wolf04]

UPDATE: Well, now on my hdtv if I open a video using vlc or wmp i see a black screen and only hear audio! i can watch youtube videos though! any suggestions?

Could that be related to the Catalyst version? I'm currently using the 10.10 Catalyst for mobile computers (NOT the modded ones for desktop).

I would uninstall all the components of the ATI Catalyst and Realtek HDMI Audio Driver for ATI. Then install ATI Catalyst 10.10 for mobile computers and the newest Realtek HDMI Audio Driver from here:

Realtek

Labeled ATI HDMI Audio Device, R2.55.

[rohan076]

I uninstalled the Realtek HDMI Audio Driver and installed 10.3 Catalyst, it works now, full screen with video and sound. Thanks so much for your help. I just wish everytime I connected my laptop to the HDTV it automatically resized the picture instead of me going into Catalyst Control Center and moving the overscan slider, not a big issue though

Could that be related to the Catalyst version? I'm currently using the 10.10 Catalyst for mobile computers (NOT the modded ones for desktop).

I would uninstall all the components of the ATI Catalyst and Realtek HDMI Audio Driver for ATI. Then install ATI Catalyst 10.10 for mobile computers and the newest Realtek HDMI Audio Driver from here:

Realtek

Labeled ATI HDMI Audio Device, R2.55.

[Wolf04]

I just wish everytime I connected my laptop to the HDTV it automatically resized the picture instead of me going into Catalyst Control Center and moving the overscan slider, not a big issue though

The Catalyst Center is supposed to save the settings once you click Apply so after you close the Center and disconnect the HDMI and reconnect it, it shows the image full screen as saved before.

[gr-fan]

I spotted a green pixel error today, which is smaller than a pixel... strange. Than I looked closer, there seem to be myriads of small and smallest green spots all over the display. Anybody knows what that is?

[danallraj]

Hi all, I recently replaced the motherboard of my fw37gy because it was having the following problem; When I press the power button, the green light comes on, the battery light blink one time, the memory card light blink one time and that's it. It will not POST and the screen remains off. If a hard drive is plugged in, the drive will spin up and USB devices will power up as well. I read about potential issues with memory modules not sitting right on the slot. I tried switching RAM modules, both slots, alternate slots, pressing it down, cleaning the DIMM slot etc. Still the same problem. So I bought a used motherboard off eBay and it is still having the same problem.

I also tried removing the CPU and switching it on, but it will switch off automatically after 3 seconds. It's unlikely anything wrong with the memory as it's used in other laptops. I'm not ruling out a problem with the CPU but I don't have a spare CPU to test with at the moment. I tried disconnecting the LAN, modem, bluetooth, audio board + USB connector, keyboard, mouse pad, LCD, webcam cable, WiFi card to just the bare motherboard to rule out a short circuit but still no luck.

So far, I have experimented with a VGN FZ series laptop to replicate the symptoms and by removing the RAM; it is enough to replicate the same symptoms on the FW.

Are there any condition which will cause the laptop not to POST which I can run thru? i.e. RAM module not sitting right, missing CPU, CMOS battery etc.

Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[mw8t]

I have a question about Windows 8.

I know it is a way off being released but what are the chances that I will be able to clean install this and have everything working correctly (drivers, S1 buttons etc) on my FW21E?

I ask because I currently have a clean Vista x64 install with everything working and I want to upgrade the OS but will probably skip Win7 and definately upgrade to Win8 when it is released.

If it won't work I will upgrade to Win7 now.

[maxter43]

I have a question about Windows 8.

I know it is a way off being released but what are the chances that I will be able to clean install this and have everything working correctly (drivers, S1 buttons etc) on my FW21E?

I ask because I currently have a clean Vista x64 install with everything working and I want to upgrade the OS but will probably skip Win7 and definately upgrade to Win8 when it is released.

If it won't work I will upgrade to Win7 now.

I guess there isn't a way to answer this now. There's little information on Win8 IIRC, so I would tell you to wait a bit more.

[mw8t]

I guess there isn't a way to answer this now. There's little information on Win8 IIRC, so I would tell you to wait a bit more.

I know it's a bit of a how long is a piece of string question.

Assuming drivers are made available for the components in my laptop which I could download and install myself all I would need is Sony drivers and Sony Apps to make the VAIO specific stuff work.

I am aiming to upgrade to an SSD and Win8 at the same time as I've heard rumours Win8 is going to take advantage of SSDs more than Win7.

[J&SinKTO]

Well you can probably answer your Windows 8 question by looking at some of the models they supported (officially for Windows 7 upgrades). If it was an XP based laptop - no, if it was an early model with Vista (Like the FW100 series) some did not. Since you have the 200 series (same like me) I'm assuming by the time Windows 8 rolls out our systems will be at least 3 years old (possibly more) I'd really doubt they'll provide updated drivers.
Now having said that - upgrade to 7 - it's a nice OS, I've upgraded even my daughter's old laptop (5 yr old XP model) to WIN 7 - if your system has drivers for Vista, they'll work in 7, and likely if had drivers for 7 can work in 8.
I'd upgrade, WIN 7 is what Vista should have been.

[Wolf04]

Well you can probably answer your Windows 8 question by looking at some of the models they supported (officially for Windows 7 upgrades). If it was an XP based laptop - no, if it was an early model with Vista (Like the FW100 series) some did not.

All of the FW models are supported by Sony for Windows 7. The drivers for the earlier models were just released later. I know this because I saw the Windows 7 drivers for my FW140D on Sony's site and I have Windows 7 installed on mine.

I doubt that any of the current models will be supported for Windows 8 since the OS is still a long way off and depending on Windows 8's architecture, you may or may not be able to use the drivers from Windows 7.