Updated: Found a better way to backup Bios only, Please see the end of this message
Let say your Vaio Z is using Bios R4040M3 and you move to Bios R4041M3 to use the official VT support. Later on, you want to move back to R4040M3 to use the Advance Menu hack. Unfortunately, you cannot move back as Sony never publish the R4040M3 Bios update. This is my current situation.
I decided to investigate a way to back up the current Bios. Using a program called Universal extractor, I managed to extracted the files in the original Bios update. The bios update uses a program called Insydeflash to flash the Bios. The Insydeflash uses a file called platform.ini to control its setting.
In the platform.ini file, there is a section called [FDFile]. The section [FDFile] has a parameter called BackupName. If we put in a file name here, the Insydeflash should save your current Bios into that file. Unfortunately, I cannot make it work with the Sony supplied Insydeflash. (version 3.38).
I managed to get the newer version of Insydeflash (version 3.72). The newer version has a new ini section called [BackupROM], as the following:
i bought a battery from ebay and the battery came with a disc driver that had to be installed before the battery can work. i installed the driver but what it does is flash the bios with an update for the battery. long story short the battery does not work and will return it but i am having problems now with my video controller does not regognize my video card and reinstalling the original driver does not work and also my network adapter is gone does not see it at all. i treid to flash the bios with the backup that the battery update made but still no success still having problems with the video and network eithernet adapter. i think the update flash screwed up my original bios and i cant find the original bios anywhere. sony website does not have it. does anyone have or know where i can download the original bios for my laptop.
For some reason, when I access the BIOS settings menu, most of the options are greyed out (e.g. I can't switch off the requirement for a password at boot).
I'm using a Sony VAIO Laptop. its model is VGN-SZ48GN. BIOS Version is R0111N0. I want to update this to latest version. Do you know anyplace to download this ?
I was applying arctic silver 5 on cpu heatsink today and disassemble my vaio s460 completely.after putting back everything when i power on it give that vaio sound and blank screen. When press F2 its showing Entering setup.....and stuck there.Could be motherboard or CPU problem or RAM?
I would like to let you know that the search is over. Sony had posted all the bios and drivers for Vaio Z Windows 7. You can go to here to get the bios:
Vaio Z Windows 7 Official driver available now!
Thanks for sh4rkt for the bios link. Everything is working now, including the brightness control in speed mode.
if anybody else's battery care option on Vaio Z is not working anymore after updating the bios to R2165M3 version. Mine will keep charging my battery to 100% even when the battery care is set to 80%.
I have a Sony SZ90 notebook, and would like to run a BIOS update on it. I have the latest BIOS (that I found with help from chaps on this forum). However it won't recognise the notebook when I run it.
I have wondered whether this is because I added a BIOS password to it ages ago. I know the password.
I would like to remove the password, but cannot for the life of me find how to do this in the BIOS.
Does any one know how to remove the BIOS password?
If you doenst know what VT is - YOU DONT NEED IT ^^
At first i was a little bit afraid, to take the risk to hack the Bios, but finally i take it.
Not only VT works now fine, also the advanced Bios Setup Screen, let me finetune everything i ever dream from. You could tweak many things, dont do there anything, if you doent know what you do.
Ok, back to Topic:
After some Internetresearch i found this link:
[url]
Please follow the instructions exactly. I have do also the same reverse for testing - you could go back, if you want.
But: with every Bios tweaking - you lose your warranty.
Here my Statement on this Blog. PLEASE, look there there if your Model is supportet - FIRST.....................
For even more advanced options (Overclocking, undervolting!) it is needed to disassemble setup executable to figure out where are those items stored. They are definitely inside the setup, but are not accessible even with this unlock.
VSS register which controls advanced menu is now: 0x258 (for old Z, it was 0x25A) - in advanced menu, you can configure SATA controller to IDE/AHCI/RAID, change lots of advanced features etc...
Now, I cannot share my bios dump as the serial number is inside. But I can give you info how to do it................
I downloaded all win 7 drivers, and I'm ready for a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate 64b on my Vaio. I wonder whether it would be wise to first install the bios upgrade for Win 7, version R4041M3, before I start the OS installation?
Trying to get rid of these questionably useful programs -- but I don't see entries for them in add/remove programs in the control panel (or for any of the other useless VAIO software packages that come on OEM machines sans "fresh start")
I have just been given a VAIO PCG8A2M (GRX316MP) , i was told "it's broken but if you can fix it yo can have it" so having a quick look at it there's no sign of life on the display but the lights come on and i can here the HDD heads moving about.
Looking a little more i found that all the ram is missing , so now im not sure if its worth buying some ram to see if it works or not ? The lack of ram would prob explain the lack of display but i wonder if i should be getting POST beeps at least, which im not.
So my question is if a VAIO had no ram should (if all else was working) it be getting POST beeps ?
Just performed a successful XP downgrade on my Vaio Z520, but have noticed that on this copy of the Vaio Silver Desktop Theme/Appearance doesn't exist.
I had it on my SZ and loved it over the XP Blue. Is there a way to get it back? I still have the restore discs from the SZ.
I don't know whats the diference (besides the price), between VAIO TZ295N & VAIO TZ395N. Specs in all the websites I've checked say they have exactly the same components: Intel coreduo 1.33Ghz 2GB RAM DVD-RW and 64GB SSD Hardrive. I was wonder if the diference might be in the hard drive interface, with the TZ295N being PATA and TZ395N being SATA.
I'm wondering if the Blu-ray optical drive (Panasonic UJ-232A) of the (old) VAIO Z series will be able to fit into the (new) VAIO Z series? I would really appreciate it if anyone is able to answer my question.
The reason I'm asking is because I'm seriously thinking of selling my VAIO Z690 & just buying the base Sony VAIO Z (VPCZ112GX/S). I may just be able to afford that base model & the icing on the cake will definitely be the UJ-232A drive being able to fit into the (new) VAIO Z series & work.