Sony: Message List

Re: VGN-FS215B Vista upgrade keyboard disaster.

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:43:36 GMT

It gets better, here is Sony's retort :

Thank you for contacting us.

Please note that we can only support the preinstalled Operating System and software. The Sony software will only work with the preinstalled OEM Operating System it came bundled with; the newer versions are not sold separately. All available drivers for other Operating Systems can be downloaded from our website www.vaio-link.com. If you are looking for drivers, then please visit our website regularly and check whether there are updates available. Please go to our website www.vaio-link.com and select the ‘Drivers and Updates’ link under the header ‘Downloads area’. You will need to enter your model number (28xxxxxx) and serial number (5xxxxxx) if you are accessing our website from another computer than your VAIO. Please note that the most recent information will always be available on the English site first.

Regards
****
Sony eSupport Team

Any help on this would be appreciated, even with instructions of how to get my XP recovery discs working again....

Motion

VGN-FS215B Vista upgrade keyboard disaster.

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:57:10 GMT

Hi, I recently, under the influence of large quantities of alcohol and my Brother's goading I decided to upgrade to the Windows Vista.

Foolishly enough I went with an "out of the box" copy of vista, I knew then I would loose my function keys etc but was not too concerned. So the 1GB of RAM went in and the install took place.

4 days after the install everyting seemed ok, the networking stuff was brilliant, which to be honest was the main reason behind the move. Happy days I thought.

Much to my horror upon switching on my beloved vaio it appeared to not want to use the keyboard which comes with the laptop, and I now have to use a USB keyboard to type anything on my laptop.

Ive read alot of threads, most of them with fixes for hotkeys, but nothing seems to work.
Any help or assistance would be appreciated. I have tried the recovery discs for laptop and it keeps failing with recovery.

Does anybody know of a fix for this? Has anybody come across this? Does anybody have a driver for the vaio keyboards?

Hope your well

Motion

Re: IF YOU HAVE DVD/CD DRIVE PROBLEMS - READ THIS>

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 15:36:06 GMT

No I did not.

Personally I got my drive working in an operational condition using the technique I outlined

May the force be with you with your attempts

Motion

Re: IF YOU HAVE DVD/CD DRIVE PROBLEMS - READ THIS>

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:48:23 GMT

Hi,

Ok this is what I would do personally IF what Blencogo has suggested and it has not worked

Also before I mention what I would do

again this will void a warrenty and you do so at your own risk

(1)Download and unpack from the .rar file the three stock.exe's for the drive. The reason for unpacking them now is that when your pc is returned to factory configuration you cannot unpack the rar.

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares/dvdrw_slimtype/stock/Sony.D56A.PFS1-PFS2-PFS3.stock.rar

Also find and download a RPC2 removal program LtnRPC. Unpack if neccesary.

And then store the files on a usb memory or external HDD or disc. If you are burning to disc you might want to fill it up with any pictures or other media you want to keep.

(2) Perform a full C:\ Drive System Recovery using your Recovery Discs. Make sure you back up all your Data as the contents of C:\ will be lost.

(3) Allow all the pre installed software that comes with the laptop to iinstall itself correctly, Vaio Launcher, Norton IS etc so that nothing else wants to install itself.

(4) Restart the PC.

(5) Place the saved files from section (1) on to your desktop. At this point you might want to try the RPC removal tool LtnRPC. Sometimes it says that it has not done anything but upon checking the properties of the optical drive its deffo removed the RPC-2. Try and burn at this point.. sometimes I had luck with this alone. If still not working properly proceed :

(6) Re-enable the region settings for the drive using the Ltn-RPC. Now once upon a time there was an "issue" with Sony placing a type of encryption on their discs XCP i think it was called.

Ages ago I came across this issue with my laptop, XCP had reduced my drive to a similar state so I decided try this as well after I tried the LtnRPC program, I was desparate at this moment.. i really wanted to fix my laptop:

http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html

Completely uninstall the XCP software and associated content protection files.

(7) Disable all the things you are meant to do as if you were following the instructions for a Sony Updates firmware installation. Disable the Anti-V, screensaver, hibernation etc.

(8) Flash the PFS-1 on to the drive and restart.

(9) Attempt a burn or something, this failed for me.

(10) Flash the PFS-2 on to the drive and attempt a burn.

Thats all I can suggest. If not then It looks like you may have to consider a replacement drive. may the force be with you.

Motion

Re: IF YOU HAVE DVD/CD DRIVE PROBLEMS - READ THIS>

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 13:46:46 GMT

Ok firstly I would take the laptop back to factory spec by using the recovery discs in the fashion explained already.

then I would make sure that ALL the applications that come with the laptop pre-installed are running ok, (Vaio Launcher etc), and have the full recovery process has been completed. Restart the laptop after this has been done.

Another thing I did was to download a RPC2 removal program LtnRPC which is available for download at most locations, now tread carefully as I would never suggest you loose your warrenty as that is what you will do if you use 3rd party software to mess with your exsisting drive firmware. I have used this completely as a work around in order to get MY laptop working as it should.... and then i re enabled the region settings again shortly afterwards

Now I would begin the process of using the 3rd party firmware updates... Im assuming that you have unpacked them as they come as a rar file.

Start with PFS-1, this totally failed for me, but maybe try a burn at this stage anyway.

Then try PFS-2, at this stage my optical drive burnt like a forrest fire, like a whippet I tells you

Also try as mentioned to clean the drive with an appropiate cleaner disc..

Hope this helps
Motion

Re: IF YOU HAVE DVD/CD DRIVE PROBLEMS - READ THIS>

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 13:21:09 GMT

Hi,

everytime I mess about with firmware etc for a little while after my start up is slow too, something maybe not to be too worried about, I've personally never flashed my BIOS as I felt this was a firmware issue with the drive itself and not the computer at fault so I cant really comment on that

Ok this is what I would personally do..

(1) Restore the PC to "factory spec"

(2) Allow the pc's applications to bed in, such as the Vaio Launcher, Norton AV etc so that no other applications are wanting to complete their install/recovery

(3) Another thing I did was to download a RPC2 removal program LtnRPC which is available for download at most locations, now tread carefully as I would never suggest you loose your warrenty as that is what you will do if you use 3rd party software to mess with your exsisting drive firmware. I have used this completely as a work around in order to get MY laptop working as it should.... and then i re enabled the region settings again shortly afterwards

(4) The install the PFS-1 - not forgetting to disable all other programs as you would if you were using the Sony update.

(5) Try PFS-1, It personally did not work for me but try it all the same... attempt a burn or something.

(6) Try PFS-2, this is where my drive roared back into operational condition... a great day indeed.

Get back to me if you need

Motion

Re: IF YOU HAVE DVD/CD DRIVE PROBLEMS - READ THIS>

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:46:15 GMT

Hi All,

I am totally convinced this whole farce is down to non compatible firmware updates..

If anybody needs ANY help with this I am available to help.

BTW if you do decide to try a 3rd party firmware update your going to loose your warrenty so tread carefully

Peace out
Motion

Re: CD/DVD Drive Problems (DW-D56A)

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:20:25 GMT

I am avoiding the Sony updates for DW-D56A like "the plague"

I used them and got nowhere real quick

Each to their own I suppose - I prefered the patched firmwares myself

Peace out
Motion

Re: CD/DVD Drive Problems (DW-D56A)

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:41:18 GMT

Hi Rob,

Have you visited the site and downloaded the appropiate rar file for the DW-D56A drive???? PFS1 - PFS3 i think it is

and do you understand and accept that this will void your warrenty if you proceed from this point my friend.

I need you to understand that what you are about to do could damage/fry your optical drive and I cannot be held accountable.

Re: CD/DVD Drive Problems (DW-D56A)

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:52:16 GMT

Hi GE90

with pleasure..... and make sure you follow the correct install procedures..

for example shutting down the anti-V, the screen saver, the hibernate and all other running programs just as you would if you were following the VAIO Update instructions.

Another thing I did was to download a RPC2 removal program LtnRPC which is available for download at most locations, now tread carefully as I would never suggest you loose your warrenty as that is what you will do if you use 3rd party software to mess with your exsisting drive firmware. I have used this completely as a work around in order to get MY laptop working as it should.... and then i re enabled the region settings again shortly afterwards

If you proceed you must do so at your own risk and I cannot be held responsible if it fry's your drive

viva Motion

Re: CD/DVD Drive Problems (DW-D56A)

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 19:17:39 GMT

Hi all, here is the link for the DW-56A firmwares

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html

you will need to look down the page in order to find the link to download

or use :

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares/dvdrw_slimtype/stock/Sony.D56A.PFS1-PFS2-PFS3.stock.rar

Im just sooooooooo happy that I have fixed my DVD RW as 3rd party was wanting to charge me £120 notes just for labour.... and its not even needed

Peace out soilders

Motion

Re: CD/DVD Drive Problems (DW-D56A)

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:48:51 GMT

Hi,

Your not going to beleive this........... I have tamed the beast... I have stuffed "the pig", to cut along story short I have managed to get my drive back in operational condition. i found a site that had all three firmware updates for the drive. I replaced with the first and it failed, then I put PFS 2 in and hey presto it works a treat!!!! I have also BLOCKED Sony update and Sony entertainment from entering my laptop to see if that keeps my drivers in there now OPERATIONAL condition. I knew this farce was software... it had to be!!!! too many folks drives failing at the same time for my taste

anyways bud keep it real downtown

Motion

Re: CD/DVD Drive Problems (DW-D56A)

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:21:20 GMT

Hi all - I just started a new thread but looks like you guys have got this well covered - is it too late to join the club?? has the boat left?? Im thinking about fitting a non Sony drive unit and getting a 3rd party to fit into my laptop.... my drive seems to have failed 3 months out of warrenty, seems to be a trend here. MAC's are looking more and more like the way to go as my mind is wandering again for a new laptop, if this is the poor poor way the once mighty Sony are treating their customers. PS there is a screw underneath the keyboard im led to believe hope this helps

Re: wireless connection no longer possible,S4XP

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 00:10:34 GMT

wireless interenet is a beast. WEP encryption is fine as long as the router that you are using decides it wants to work. NETGEAR routers are a pig, some of your ISP's will scan for MAC addresses, (the physical name for each PC on the network), Some routers can trick the ISP but some cannot. It may be a problem with the WEP configuration. if the wep key or essid has changed then contact who ever runs the network and ask them for the ESSID and the WEP key, and check the router can spoof a mac address on first ip also, ciao ciao

LOCKED MY DVD DRIVE ON REGION2 =D((( HELP!!!!! FS215B

noreplyforum@eu.sony.com — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 23:46:09 GMT

Hi, ive got a load of region 1 and 2 discs and have now locked my dvd drive on to region 2. Does anybody out there know of a work around??? I have tried 3rd party DVD software with the drive still saying "sorry". Any help, even just saying it is possible would be greatly appreciated, I want to love my VAIO again boo !!!! Merry Christmas =D)