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Re: Ubuntu 9.10 on Sony Vaio VGN-Z57G

 

Hi everyone,

WIndows 7 with R4040M3 can run on stamina mode, but the brightness
keys don't work, so if I have to do something quick in Windows, I
don't flash it with R50xx. If you want to use windows 7 for an
extended period (i.e. gaming) you'll have to flash. I always flashed
with an usb-key. I advise you not to use the windows-bios-updater. I
have no experience with sony's updater per se, but there are a lot of
people complaining about their windows-bios-updater crashing during
the process of flashing, leaving them with an expensive brick. Don't
flash lightly, it's always a certain risk. I only use this method
because by the time I have replaced my Vaio Z, I still won't have
booted windows more than a couple of times.
As for the future: I'm pretty sure the problem with R50xx bioses and
nvidia under linux lies in the nvidia-kmods. as they're not maintained
by the kernel guys it's difficult to say. Maybe nvidia will support
this hybrid switching in the next release, maybe not. switchable
graphics by nvidia have been around for about three years now and
until now nvidia didn't seem to care about switching under linux. But
seeing how nvidia brought things like vdpau in to the linux drivers
and the increase of laptops with switchable graphics lately maybe
there's hope. Just don't count on it ;)

br,
 Patrick

2010/1/13 L. Shao <lshao123@xxxxxxxxx>:
> Sorry I'm new in this kind of communication. Before, I just read and find
> solution.
>
> Now I use "reply to all".
>
>
> Yes I dont use Windows for my work since early 90th. However, for my
> children's games, I have to maintain a desktop running windows XP with a
> Ghost image and each time it make me lost time to reinstall the games....
>
>
> So for my interest, the only question is about the BIOS downgrade (R5053M3
> to 4043M3) with a bootable usb key or CD. Would it cause new hardware
> problems, for example, system suspending when close the notebook, hardware
> Fn for speaker, light...
>
>
> Thanks again for all.
>
>
> Liang
>
>
> Bruno Santos wrote:
>
>> I am not sure if you noticed you were only answer for me. But if that was
>> case always answer to the mailing list so that everyone else can join the
>> discussion.
>>
>> If you downgrade your BIOS the only problem you might get into is that you
>> will no longer be able to use Windows 7, but since for your words I presume
>> you are only interested in using Linux there shouldn't be any problem. At
>> least I don't see any reason for that. I think that Patrick uses both Linux
>> and Windows 7 and he simply flash the BIOS everytime he want to use Windows
>> or Ubuntu. is that right Patrick?
>> 2010/1/13 L. Shao <lshao123@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:lshao123@xxxxxxxxx>>
>>
>>    Hi again,
>>
>>
>>    I'm just wondering if I downgrade the Bios to R4043M3 (actually it
>>    is R5030M3), will there be some other hardware problems ?
>>
>>
>>    Or is there some hope if I wait for new  Linux kernel ?
>>
>>
>>    Best regards,
>>
>>
>>    Liang
>>
>>
>>    What I got with dmicode is :
>>
>>    ====================================
>>
>>    Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
>>    BIOS Information
>>      Vendor: INSYDE
>>      Version: R5030M3
>>      Release Date: 08/18/2009
>>      ROM Size: 1536 kB
>>      Characteristics:
>>          PCI is supported
>>          PNP is supported
>>          BIOS is upgradeable
>>          BIOS shadowing is allowed
>>          Boot from CD is supported
>>          Selectable boot is supported
>>          EDD is supported
>>          8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
>>          CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
>>          ACPI is supported
>>          USB legacy is supported
>>          Smart battery is supported
>>          BIOS boot specification is supported
>>          Function key-initiated network boot is supported
>>          Targeted content distribution is supported
>>      BIOS Revision: 50.30
>>      Firmware Revision: 50.30
>>
>>    ====================================
>>
>>
>>
>>    Bruno Santos wrote:
>>
>>        ...
>>        Just some tips: You cannot run win7 and linux with the same BIOS.
>>        BIOS 4040M3 is (currently) the latest working for linux,
>>        4043M3 is the
>>        oldest version working for win7.
>>        This mostly applies to the nvidia graphics. there are minor issues
>>        with brightness keys with intel gma etc.
>>        with 4043 or 50xx your nvidia card won't work in linux, with
>>        4040 it's
>>        the same for nvidia in win7.
>>        Raphael uses vista, but you can also just switch bioses if
>>        you're not
>>        afraid of flashing, and don't plan on switching between the OSs
>>        frequently.
>>
>>        br,
>>                     Patrick
>>        Don't thank me thank Patrick
>>
>>        2010/1/13 Raphael Gradenwitz <raphael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>        <mailto:raphael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>        <mailto:raphael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>        <mailto:raphael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>>
>>
>>
>>           Hello Liang
>>
>>           Am Mittwoch, den 13.01.2010, 11:05 +0000 schrieb Liang:
>>           > I got a Vaio VGN-Z57G  during Xmas days and installed the
>>        Ubuntu
>>           9.10 on
>>           > it. Everything works fine with the Intel graphic card but
>>           impossible to
>>           > make the Nvidia card works properly.
>>           >
>>           > I used all tricks posted on
>>            https://launchpad.net/~sony-vaio-z-series
>>        <https://launchpad.net/%7Esony-vaio-z-series>
>>           <https://launchpad.net/%7Esony-vaio-z-series>,
>>
>>           > including the Janitor script.
>>           >
>>           > What I got are :
>>           >
>>           > 1) Vertical colore lines on screen  if I set the run
>>        level to 5;
>>           >
>>           > Or
>>           >
>>           > 2) black screen on laptop but external display works , if
>>        I use
>>           startx
>>           > in runlevel 3, by staring in single user level and then
>>        swith to
>>           > runlevel 3.
>>           >
>>           > Someone has un idea ?
>>           >
>>
>>           Must: Downgrade your BIOS,
>>           Can: Downgrade your Windows to Vista or XP.
>>
>>           Search for 'BIOS' and "Windows 7" in this Mailing List
>>
>>           Regards,
>>
>>           Raphael
>>
>>
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