Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

[sigma957]

im still fighting the good fight....still wrestling with the graphics card...it gets through the garbled screen now and asks me to restart, but i have been staring at a Please Wait screen for the last 10 minutes... There is no way i see possible to update my bios other than putting in that companion dvd but that will install he drivers AND all the applications...there is now way i can do one without the other.

I'm not clear on the sequence you've used. If you've not already installed the GFX driver the display shouldn't be garbled. If you have installed the GFX drivers, I presume you had already tried to update the bios?
If you have the GFX driver installed move the stamina/speed switch on reboot, it may let you get to a state where you can reinstall the bios.
Forgive me if that sound inappropriate as I've not got a handle on exactly what you've done so far, and in what order.

[funndamentals]

I'm not clear on the sequence you've used. If you've not already installed the GFX driver the display shouldn't be garbled. If you have installed the GFX drivers, I presume you had already tried to update the bios?
If you have the GFX driver installed move the stamina/speed switch on reboot, it may let you get to a state where you can reinstall the bios.
Forgive me if that sound inappropriate as I've not got a handle on exactly what you've done so far, and in what order.

thankx for your help. I basically did this after tying over an dover to update the bios to no avail :

1. Upgrade disc in, picked custom = clean install
2. Installed your driver that you posted. Screen garbled on first try. Second try worked. Now the light is on like its in Stamina mode. The switch does nothing.
3. Still trying to get the bios upgraded...no dice...same errors... should i try safe mode?

when i reboot in speed mode the screen is garbled and split in two.

[sigma957]

What BIOS do you have already? I wouldn't bother with safe mode just yet.
To find bios type 'system' into the start button search (without quotes). First on the list should be 'system information'
load that. Bios version is about half way down. e.g.
BIOS Version/Date INSYDE R2170M3, 24/08/2009

[funndamentals]

What BIOS do you have already? I wouldn't bother with safe mode just yet.
To find bios type 'system' into the start button search (without quotes). First on the list should be 'system information'
load that. Bios version is about half way down. e.g.
BIOS Version/Date INSYDE R2170M3, 24/08/2009

it says Insyde R4040M3, 4/8/2009

[funndamentals]

FREAK!!! i think i figured it out... I didnt get the bios form your post I got it from the sony site!!! eventhough it is for my exact model it wont install...your link did tho however.....

[sigma957]

Glad you're going in the right direction again. I was getting very confused over here. My next post was going to be:
Are you SURE you've tried the file from the page I linked to

[funndamentals]

im pretty much done and my FN keys or speed stamina switch is not working. I think you may want to add the parser files to the list...Im thinking that is why i dont have the function keys and stamina switch working. Windows just caught it in an update and im downloading it now...hopefully this works.

[sigma957]

As I stated in my guide, I allowed update to do all available updates BEFORE I started installing any other drivers. This took a few reboot cycles. I had to check and recheck. The parser was therefore installed very early on. I did mention that I think. It's been said that it's fairly important to get the parser installed early on.

The guide already says...

Windows update installed quite a bit by default including the firmware parser. I left these alone as no update was required.

Fingers crossed

[5ushiMonster]

I was wondering if anyone knows where to get the x64 version of SonicStage Audio Filter installer? I would like that on W7 since WMP on it doesn't seem to have an equaliser...

Also, my Z, a 2nd gen from the Oceania region, came preinstalled with Photoshop and Premiere elements. I am planning a clean x64 windows 7 install, meaning I will be losing those programmes (which I use alot, and costs a fair bit to buy seperately). Does anyone here know where the installers for those 2x apps are in the recovery discs...?

Cheers in advance

[runee1000]

Hi: I came across this guide after I already upgraded to Windows 7 Professional 32bit. Earlier I was using Vista Business, and the laptop is the VaioZ690C. Everything works for me except brightness keys in Speed/Stamina. Also, when I use the brightness slider in the power settings area, it doesn't change the brightness either. I'm currently using the bios which you provided, hoping it would work, but still no luck. Do you know how I can get the brightness keys to work? I've tried all the things like disabling uac, and I tried different Vaio Event Services with still no luck.