How to Enable Intel VT and AHCI on a Napa/Santa Rosa platform Phoenix BIOS Vaio laptop

ScuderiaConchiglia · 01-11-2010, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaki

I've successfully enabled VT support
VAIO VGN-FZ35M R2110J7 reg 02D0

Added to the list!

Gary

hindssites · 01-12-2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bogart

Disclaimer: Although this is a fairly simple task, I take no responsibility should anything go wrong, so try this at your own risk.

This method only applies to VAIOs with a Phoenix BIOS and CPUs that support VT-x, not the newer Montevina-based VAIO FW, Z, SR, BZ, TT, AW, CS or other models with the AMI Aptio/InsydeH2O UEFI framework.

As most of you already know, Sony has decided to disable VT by default on all VAIO models except the BZ series, as noted in KB article C381809. Here's how to enable Intel Virtualization Technology (Guide) and AHCI on a VAIO SZ and several other models including the AR, C, CR, FE, TZ, FZ, G, N and some desktop models.

Before you attempt this modification, make sure that the BIOS on your SZ is updated to these versions: R0112N0 for Napa SZs or R0122S5 for Santa Rosa SZs. If you happen to receive an error while attempting to update the BIOS on Windows XP or Vista, make sure that all the proper Sony drivers and utilities are installed first so that the updater can recognize your notebook model. Driver and utility information can be found in many of the VAIO Windows clean installation threads in this forum.

The only item you'll need is a bootable DOS media. Click one of these links for instruction for creating a bootable floppy disk (with USB floppy drive) or usb stick.USB flash1 or USB flash2 or CDR (add modified table file to image before writing).
Instructions:

Download symcmos and copy it to your bootable DOS media. This utility is used to modify your Phoenix BIOS settings. Also, download a DOS text editor and copy it to the media if you feel comfortable editing a file in DOS.
Go to the BIOS by pressing F2 during start-up, or when the VAIO logo appears, and reset the settings to factory default. Save and reboot.
Go back to the BIOS and enable the boot from external devices option. Save and reboot.
Press ESC when the VAIO logo appears to bring up the boot selection menu and select the bootable DOS media. At the prompt, type "symcmos -v2 -lDefault.txt", without quotes, and note that there's no space in between the flag and filename. This will create a literal symbol table from the NVRAM named Default.txt which contains all the current BIOS settings. Reboot by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del. If that doesn't work, hold the power button until the notebook turns off.
Use the DOS text editor (or boot to another OS and use a text editor there) to edit the generated Default.txt file. Change the following lines and save the modified file to something else (e.g. modified.txt):

For Napa SZs - R0112N0

AHCI: (015C) [0000] ---> (015C) [0001]

VT-x: (0354) [0000] ---> (0354) [0001]

For Santa Rosa SZs - R0122S5

AHCI: (0189) [0000] ---> (0189) [0001]

VT-x: (02F1) [0000] ---> (02F1) [0001]

This is Gary's master list that contains the code for other models with a Phoenix BIOS
http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...&postcount=227
Boot to DOS and type "symcmos -v2 -uNameOfModifiedFile", without quotes and reboot. This will write the modified settings to the NVRAM. You must add the u and then the name of your new file.
Done.

Notes:

Using AHCI with the VAIO HDD Protection utility may increase the loading time in Windows XP and Vista. So far this has been confirmed to happen with Napa SZs and discussion about it can be read here.

To test if AHCI is enabled, you should receive a BSOD or blue screen error when XP/Vista boots, because the AHCI drivers aren't installed on the OS. You will need to install the AHCI drivers to your existing installation. Use Google for XP instructions and read this for Vista.

To test VT-x, you can download vt.iso and burn it with IMGBurn. Boot off the CD and it will tell you whether VT-x is enabled or not. Alternatively, you can use SecurAble in Windows.

The default Napa R0112N0 file is attached below and provided for sample purposes only. Don't use this on a BIOS version other than R0112N0.

To revert back to the original settings, you have three options:

Go in the BIOS and reset everything to default.
Use symcmos with the -u flag to write the default settings, which you have saved as Default.txt, to the NVRAM.
Worst case scenario if the notebook won't pass POST: open the notebook and remove and reattach the CMOS battery.

Much of the credit goes to "bfroemel" for posting this method on the VMware forum; I am just summarizing it here and specializing it for the SZ.

I got as far a creating a bootable flash drive with windows 98 DOS files on it and the symcmos.exe placed on it. When I reboot and select the bootable media, the C:/> drive is the prompt. I type in "symconos-v2-IDefault.txt" (without spaces and quotes). I am told it is a bad file name or command. Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong

ScuderiaConchiglia · 01-13-2010, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hindssites

I got as far a creating a bootable flash drive with windows 98 DOS files on it and the symcmos.exe placed on it. When I reboot and select the bootable media, the C:/> drive is the prompt. I type in "symconos-v2-IDefault.txt" (without spaces and quotes). I am told it is a bad file name or command. Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong

The instructions said to type the symcmos line without quotes NOT without spaces. The spaces are VERY important. Your line above has a typo so don't try to cut and past it. The correct line is below:

symcmos -v2 -lDefault.txt

By the way, I realize this was you first post herm, but there is no need to quote the entire long message. You can edit it down to just the part needed to get your point across.

Gary

hindssites · 01-13-2010, 02:43 AM

Thanks for responding. However, I still have no luck. I still get the bad command or file name. I wonder if it is because I get a C:\ prompt. The usb drive is I:\. I select it when selecting the boot device but it defaults to the C drive

hindssites · 01-13-2010, 02:47 AM

Of all that I have read and tried this method seems the easiest. However, after following the instructions exactly the CD does not boot. It spins around for a while and then Vista starts up. Any idea what I am doing wrong. I open the iso file, add the smycmos file, save it and burn it to disc.

hindssites · 01-13-2010, 05:56 AM

"Install WinISO, download the FreeDOS base ISO file and load it into WinISO (the shareware version only supports changing files smaller than 100 MB, but the base ISO file is 8 MB small). Navigate to the FREEDOS\3RDPARTY directory. Place the SYMCMOS.EXE there (just drag it into the window) and save the ISO file. Burn it (e.g. using CdBurnerXP).

Boot from the CD. Hit return at the first screen. On the next screen, select the second option (you don't want to install FreeDOS, you just want to run the command line interpreter). Now, navigate to the FREEDOS\3RDPARTY directory. Type "copy symcmos.exe a:". A: is a small RAM drive generated by FreeDOS at startup (which is actually big enough for our purposes). CD to A:\, then run the SYMCMOS.EXE util as you normally would ("symcmos -v2 -lDefault.txt"). Type "edit default.txt" and change the key you would like to change. (You don't need a separate DOS text editor as there is one included in the FreeDOS base CD image.) Save the file. Then type "symcmos -v2 -uDefault.txt" to reprogram the NVRAM."

In regards to the above post, I have finally been able to boot Freedos from a cd. However, navigating to "FREEDOS\3RDPARTY" is the next wall I have encountered. The default prompt is A:. Although, A: has a directory called FREEDOS, it does not list the subdirectory 3RDPARTY. I assume that would be found on the ISO image on the CD. However, it does not recognize my D: drive. Any ideas on how to navigate to that directory?

ScuderiaConchiglia · 01-13-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hindssites

Thanks for responding. However, I still have no luck. I still get the bad command or file name. I wonder if it is because I get a C:\ prompt. The usb drive is I:\. I select it when selecting the boot device but it defaults to the C drive

After you boot to DOS from a USB, you should get a C:\ prompt. You say the usb drive is I:, but I suspect that is when viewed from Windows right?

Do this, after you boot from the USB drive type DIR and hit enter. Then post back what you see. You should see a list of files, one of them being symcmos.exe.

If you are able to boot from a USB drive I highly recommend you forget the whole CD thing. It is MUCH more difficult.

Gary

hindssites · 01-13-2010, 06:38 PM

Gary,

Thanks. I get it. The bootable USB (running windowss 98) drive becomes the operating system in dos and is labeled C:. The DIR command revealed the symcmos.exe. I type in symcmos v2 -1Default.txt and was returned the following:
SYMBOLIC MOS EDITOR -Versionxxxxx

usage:
SYMMOS

(a list of about 8 options)

C:\>

At this point the instructions in Post 1 tell me to reboot and edit Default.txt in the dos editor I added to the USB device. I haven't a clue how to do that from a prompt.

ScuderiaConchiglia · 01-14-2010, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hindssites

Gary,

Thanks. I get it. The bootable USB (running windowss 98) drive becomes the operating system in dos and is labeled C:. The DIR command revealed the symcmos.exe. I type in symcmos v2 -1Default.txt and was returned the following:
SYMBOLIC MOS EDITOR -Versionxxxxx

usage:
SYMMOS

(a list of about 8 options)

C:\>

At this point the instructions in Post 1 tell me to reboot and edit Default.txt in the dos editor I added to the USB device. I haven't a clue how to do that from a prompt.

First, you still have not typed the command correctly. (What it spit back at you was a help file showing the commands it will accept.) It must be exactly as follows:

symcmos -v2 -lDefault.txt

You forgot the dash in front of v2 and the character before the word default.txt is an l, as in "last", it is not a one.

Second, to edit file the easiest way is to boot back into windows and use notepad to edit the file on your USB drive. Then boot back to the usb drive DOS and continue on with the instructions.

Make sure you know EXACTLY what register to change and EXACTLY what command to type to update the BIOS.

Now I don't want this to sound harsh, but you are having so much trouble with a simple DOS command, that I worry about your success at doing the rest of this. I am concerned that if you edit the wrong register, or mess up the file or subsequent command for updating the BIOS that you may harm your machine. Is it possible for you to get someone with a bit more experience to help you do this?

Gary

hindssites · 01-14-2010, 01:21 AM

Thanks again for the help Gary...and the warning. I had typed a 1 instead of an l (as in "last") in front of the lDefault.txt. I was able to update the value for reg02D0 to 0001 on my VGN FZ345D. However it appears that VT is still locked off. Might as well restore the bios back to its original setting and wait to see if anyone with my series has found the key. Unless you have any other suggestions.

Daniel