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SteveMcG
Contributor
Contributor

VT support for Sony Vaio

I have just bought an FZ11Z which comes with the Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processor. One of the key attractions for me was that this processor is 64 bit and comes with virtualisation support. http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/specifications.htm

I also ran the detection utility on the VMWare website and it confirms it is able to run 64 bit guests, so I can create 64 bit Virtual Machines.

Now here comes the problem. Vmware support the processor, but to get it to work properly I need to be able to enable VT support in the BIOS, but the BIOS is rather basic and doesnt give me the option.

The official Sony line is that VT "Is not supported" (a horrible phrase that!) but there is no explanation to support that statement.

Being the devious teccy that I am, I am sure that there must be a BIOS somewhere that is not locked down by the manufacturer that will enabe me to get to those settings. (Losing warranty is not important to me)

Has anyone looked into this before at all, and be willing to share their experiences with me? (I guess my perfect answer would be a link to a commercially available unlocked BIOS!)

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donnoww
Contributor
Contributor

Hi

I have a sony vgn-sz28gp bios R0083N0.exe from sony. I updated the bios and now my laptop is dead and could not boot up. I tried flashing the with phlash16, PH1648 but all result in Platform Sigature Not found in the interface.

I could not load into window to flash with winflash. Please help.

D

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Scissor
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

I saw this post on Slashdot today and thought of you guys:

No Windows 7 XP Mode For Sony Vaio Z Owners -

http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/08/11/1315255/No-Windows-7-XP-Mode-For-Sony-Vaio-Z-Owners

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ConstantinV
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

I should say that Sony has blocked virtualization support in all BIOSes. In future company probably will unlock it, but it`s for sure woundn`t be a Z series.

Starwind Software Developer

VCP 4/5, VCAP-DCD 5, VCAP-DCA 5, VCAP-CIA 5, vExpert 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
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Paul_Knight
Contributor
Contributor

A big thanks to Bernhard. This process worked fine for me on a Vaio VGN-SZ2VP with the latest bios.

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philzy
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi!

VGN-AR31MR with R200J6 Bios - Reg 0195

Works fine just from the first attempt.

Thanx all.

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Dunkinn
Contributor
Contributor

Scissor - thats exactly what I was needing when I came across this (and other linked threads on other sites). The information included by everyone does allow you to enable XP Mode on those VAIO desktops/laptops which support VT but it was helpfully turned off by Sony. Annoying for often such expensive equipment. Really Sony you should be producing 64 bits drivers and show all BIOS options rather than make us work so hard to get what we rightfully should already have. :o( Exciting journey tho - and lots to learn so its not all bad I guess!

I liked this thread as it gave details on the VGN-AR21S. To clarify for the person after asking how to enable VT on a VGN-AR21S you need to do this before starting the SYMCMOS stuff:

1) Download, and run the VGN-AR31S BIOS update from to flash your VGN-AR21S to a R0200J6 BIOS

2) Turn off (so not sleep, restart, hibernate, standy..) your laptop. Turn it on, and press F2 to enter the BIOS. Check it says your version is R0200J6.

3) Start the SYMCMOS process for the R0200J6 BIOS revision.... Do it all in DOS, and remember after changing it. Turn OFF your laptop (so not sleep, restart, hibernate, standy..) to ensure the change takes place.

There are a couple of threads around on the web about VT support for Vaios and this is a little behind some. I thought I would tidy up some of the posts from here, over at (post #227), , and comments on . None of this is my own work - I've only collected it into one place on this site. Many people have posted on both this site and notebookreview. Special thanks to scuderiaconchiglia & bfroemel without who I don't think we'd know the answer Smiley Happy Thanks to everyone before me who made my life simple - and I hope this little bit of collection work makes up for my freeride.

WARNING - All this is at your own risk. You mess your computer up - you fix it. This is just helpful I hope. Many people have put this information in so some maybe wrong! Don't blame me for nuffin guv!

Here is a collected list of requests, and answers....

Desktops/Other

BIOS Revision

Register

Information

PCG-GRT40ZP

R0190F0

Unknown

VGC-LA2

R0102W2

0198

VGX-TP1E

R1060W3

02C4

VGN-AR Series

VGN-AR21S

R0200J6

0195

(using BIOS flash from AR31S)

VGN-AR250G

R0150J6

0195

VGN-AR31MR

R0200J6

0195

VGN-AR31S

R0200J6

0195

VGN-AR41S

R0030J8

027F

VGN-AR51E

R1050J8

027F

VGN-AR51M

R1050J8

027F

VGN-AR51SU

R1050J8

027F

VGN-AR520E

R0030J8

027F

VGN-AR520E

R0032J8

0282

VGN-AR550U

R0030J8

027F

VGN-AR61ZRU

R2080J8

0285

VGN-AR61ZU

R2080J8

0285

VGN-AR630E

027F

Unknown BIOS Version

VGN-AR670

R1050J8

027F

VGN-AR690U

R1050J8

027F

VGN-AR71M

R2090J8

0285

VGN-AR71S

R2090J8

0285

VGN-AR71ZU

Unknown

VGN-AR730E/B

R2080JB

0285

VGN-C Series

VGN-C260E

R0080J4

0318

VGN-C290N

R0080J4

0318

VGN-CR Series

VGN-CR11SH

R0220Q0

05B2

VGN-CR13G

R0230Q0

Unknown

VGN-CR231E

R1121Q0

05BB

VGN-CR240E

R1121Q0

05BB

VGN-CR290E

R1121Q0

05BB

VGN-CR353

R2101Q0

05BB

VGN-CR354

R2100Q0

05BB

From non english page - needs testing

VGN-CR520D

05BB

Unknown BIOS Version

VGN-CR520E

R3041Q0

05BB

VGN-FE Series

VGN-FE21SR

R0200J3

0195

VGN-FE31M

R0200J3

0195

(using BIOS flash from FE41M??)

VGN-FE770G

R0173J3

Unknown

VGN-FE890

R0200J3

0195

VGN-FZ Series

VGN-FZ11ZR

R0050J7

02D3

VGN-FZ160E

R0040J7

Unknown

VGN-FZ160E

R0050J7

02D3

VGN-FZ180E

R0050J7

02D3

VGN-FZ18M

R0050J7

02D3

VGN-FZ21E

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-FZ21M

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-FZ21S

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-FZ21Z

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-FZ280E

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-FZ290

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-FZ290E

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-FZ31M

R2110J7

02D0

VGN-FZ340E

R2110J7

02D0

VGN-FZ35GN

R2110J7

02D0

VGN-FZ38M

R2110J7

02D0

VGN-FZ470E

R2110J7

02D0

VGN-FZ485U

02D0

Unknown BIOS Version, probably R2110J7

VGN-FZ490N

R2110J7

02D0

VGN-FZ91NS

R1120J7

02CD

VGN-NR Series

VGN-NR21Z

R1150J9

02D0

VGN-SZ Series

VGN-SZ (some)

R0101S5

02F1

VGN-SZ??

R0112N0

0354

VGN-SZ1M/B

R0112N0

0354

VGN-SZ1XP

0399

Unknown BIOS Version

VGN-SZ2VP

Unknown - but done - BIOS Revision must be listed

VGN-SZ330P

R0096N0

0399

VGN-SZ370

R0096N0

0399

VGN-SZ3HP/B

R0096N0

0399

VGN-SZ3XP

R0096N0

0399

VGN-SZ79GN

R0122S5

02F1

VGN-SZ90PS (Jap)

R0073N0

Unknown

VGN-SZ90PS (Jap)

R0083N0

0393

From non english page - needs testing

VGN-TX Series

VGN-TX3XP

R0034N3

03A2

VGN-TZ Series

VGN-TZ130N

R0052N7

0363

VGN-TZ17GN

R0052N7

0363

VGN-TZ180

027F

Unknown BIOS Version

VGN-TZ180N

R0052N7

0363

VGN-TZ1RXN/B

R0061N7

0363

VGN-TZ21MN/N

R0052N7

0363

VGN-TZ231MN

R0091N7

0363

VGN-TZ27GN

R0071N7

0363

VGN-TZ37

R0081N7

0363

VGN-TZ91HS

R0052N7

0363

VGN-TZ92NS

R0081N7

0363

VGN-UX Series

VGN-UX90S

R0061N2

0366

I thought it would also be interesting to split it differently. By BIOS Revision sorted by BIOS Rev on left and Register on right:

BIOS Revision

Register

BIOS Revision

Register

R0030J8

027F

R0150J6

0195

R0032J8

0282

R0200J3

0195

R0034N3

03A2

R0200J6

0195

R0040J7

R0102W2

0198

R0050J7

02D3

R0030J8

027F

R0052N7

0363

R1050J8

027F

R0061N2

0366

R0032J8

0282

R0061N7

0363

R2080J8

0285

R0071N7

0363

R2080JB

0285

R0073N0

R2090J8

0285

R0080J4

0318

R0094X7*

0285

R0081N7

0363

R1060W3

02C4

R0083N0**

0393

R1120J7

02CD

R0091N7

0363

R1150J9

02D0

R0094X7*

0285

R2110J7

02D0

R0096N0

0399

R0050J7

02D3

R0101S5

02F1

R0101S5

02F1

R0102W2

0198

R0122S5

02F1

R0112N0

0354

R0080J4

0318

R0122S5

02F1

R0112N0

0354

R0150J6

0195

R0052N7

0363

R0173J3

R0061N7

0363

R0190F0

R0071N7

0363

R0200J3

0195

R0081N7

0363

R0200J6

0195

R0091N7

0363

R0220Q0

05B2

R0061N2

0366

R0230Q0

R0083N0**

0393

R1050J8

027F

R0096N0

0399

R1060W3

02C4

R0034N3

03A2

R1120J7

02CD

R0220Q0

05B2

R1121Q0

05BB

R1121Q0

05BB

R1150J9

02D0

R2101Q0

05BB

R2080J8

0285

R3041Q0

05BB

R2080JB

0285

R2100Q0***

05BB

R2090J8

0285

R0040J7

R2100Q0***

05BB

R0073N0

R2101Q0

05BB

R0173J3

R2110J7

02D0

R0190F0

R3041Q0

05BB

R0230Q0

The starred ones in each list are ones I've found through google but on foreign pages so they need checking. Sources:

1*

2*

3*

This is a list of all the registers on all BIOS revisions so far that have enabled VT on Phoenix Sony Vaio BIOS. If you are going to try and find your own, understand the risks, know where the CMOS battery is located, etc - then this may be of use:

Unique Registers

Models

0195

R0150J6, R0200J3, R0200J6

0198

R0102W2

027F

R0030J8, R1050J8

0282

R0032J8

0285

R2080J8, R2080JB, R2090J8, R0094X7*

02C4

R1060W3

02CD

R1120J7

02D0

R1150J9, R2110J7

02D3

R0050J7

02F1

R0101S5, R0122S5

0318

R0080J4

0354

R0112N0

0363

R0052N7, R0061N7, R0071N7, R0081N7, R0091N7

0366

R0061N2

0393

R0083N0**

0399

R0096N0

03A2

R0034N3

05B2

R0220Q0

05BB

R1121Q0, R2101Q0, R3041Q0, R2100Q0***

I've also attached the information in CSV and Excel 2007 format incase people need it like that. Hope this helps someone find their answer.

We could make a much better list by working out (as I couldn't find any information freely available from Sony) of what laptops come with what BIOS revisions by default. Anyone know of one? You can painful get ones which have updates available but original BIOS information is hard to come by it seems.

Note: The process described in this thread only works for Phoenix BIOS, not AMI/etc.

Hope it helps someone!

iliodor
Contributor
Contributor

Add to this list VGN-G11XRN/B (BIOS: R0062N5)

VT Feature working with 0363 register.

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aka_MAC
Contributor
Contributor

Sony VAIO VGN-CR123E (US)

BIOS revision R0231Q0

for enabling Intel-VT change 05B2 register from 0000 to 0001

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dnelsonfl
Contributor
Contributor

Any suggestions for a VGN-NR160 ? I saw some posts elsewhere where Sony was slowly releasing BIOS updates. I'm debating giving it more time to see if a BIOS update appears or to attempt to turn it on myself... Thanks,

David

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aka_MAC
Contributor
Contributor

If your BIOS revision is R0131J9 I would try 02D0.

But I can only guess.. Sorry.

If not, try all registers from the last table where BIOS revision ends with J#

Good luck!!!

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scuderiaconchig
Contributor
Contributor

Dunkinn,

Thanks for the "props" in your message above! Nice work on compling that list. It looks like you have pulled together a BUNCH of sources other than just my list. I thought I'd give you a link they will go DIRECTLY to my post over at Notebook Review. That way folks don't have to search down for message number 227. http://tinyurl.com/yfpz63x should get them there!

If you don't mind, and I will assume you don't unless I hear otherwise. I am going to post a link to your list on the Notebook Review page where my list is stored.

Gary

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GeekForLife
Contributor
Contributor

Hi Guys You can Add Register for VAIO-CR13G_W(White) which is 05B2. I have windows xp mode enabled in windows 7 now:D.... i took a risk of enabling register 05B2 but it paid off. Thanks everyone.

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liveoutloud2day
Contributor
Contributor

Please add to the list support for the VGN-AR250G (already listed) with the current BIOS available from Sony R0162J6 - it works when you enable register 0318 - 0195 does not work.

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mau25m
Contributor
Contributor

Bro...I have viao VGN CR123E and the Bios version is R0220Q0...

my question is same how do I enable virtualization in the BIOS.

what are the steps to enable this...can you please guide me through...Thanks

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mau25m
Contributor
Contributor

.I have viao VGN CR123E and the Bios version is R0231Q0...

my question is same how do I enable virtualization in the BIOS.

what are the STEPS to enable this...can you please guide me through..

.Thank

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aka_MAC
Contributor
Contributor

The simplest way is to download next archives:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2398632/grubinst.7z

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2398632/boot_flash.7z

1. Install GRUB on your flash drive from the first archive using grubinst_gui.exe. (works under WinXP)

2. Copy files from the second archive to your flash.

3. Boot using flash drive and select "Edit BIOS"

4. In command line type to save CMOS

symcmos -Lcmos.sav

5. open saved file in pedit (type pedit in command line)

6. change register value to the proper one and save file

7. Update CMOS

symcmos -Ucmos.sav

8. reboot

9. To be sure that VT is enabled boot from flash and select "Check VT enabled"

That's all!

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mau25m
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks Bro..Worked perfect!!!

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mau25m
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks Bro

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kardipapa
Contributor
Contributor

Hi!

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ460E is working 100%! :D-----> R2110J7: 02D0 0000 to 0001

For more information, and download:

The attachd file contains HP USB Formatting Tool, win98 boot files, symcmos, VT testing tools, readme and the original and modified laterial dump.

Thanks everybody

Edited by: Zozi H@cker

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xlpnycm
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Estaré de vacaciones hasta el 4 de Enero, disculpen las molestias, Gracias.

Feliz Navidad y Buen año.

---

Estaré de vacances fins el 4 de Gener, dispenseu les molésties. Gràcies.

Bon Nadal i Feliç any nou.

---

I will be out of the Office until January, 4. Sorry for the Inconvenience. Thank You.

Merry Christmas and Happy new year

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