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!)
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
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
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
A big thanks to Bernhard. This process worked fine for me on a Vaio VGN-SZ2VP with the latest bios.
Hi!
VGN-AR31MR with R200J6 Bios - Reg 0195
Works fine just from the first attempt.
Thanx all.
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 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:
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!
Add to this list VGN-G11XRN/B (BIOS: R0062N5)
VT Feature working with 0363 register.
Sony VAIO VGN-CR123E (US)
BIOS revision R0231Q0
for enabling Intel-VT change 05B2 register from 0000 to 0001
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
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!!!
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
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.
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.
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
.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
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!
Thanks Bro..Worked perfect!!!
Thanks Bro
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