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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!)

108 Replies
Damon_Yates
Contributor
Contributor

Whooooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew it wouldn't beat me.... OK the VGN-FZ21M is.... wait for it..... 2CD

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Gandelf44
Contributor
Contributor

Well Done, what is the bios you are using - then we can update the running machine list above.....

G

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brookskd
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks for the info i'm going to try this on my FZ180E, it seems like it is nearly identical to your model. I called sony and the most useful info they gave me was that if I did play with it and brick it I could restore the default cmos settings with F9, did anyone try that before opening the laptop and taking the cmos battery out?

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brookskd
Contributor
Contributor

I found it with the help Damon Yates. His model was very similar to mine so I flipped the registers 10 before and after the register he found and found, 2CD and found the one for my VGN-FZ180E, bios R0050J7 to be 2D3. Thank for the hint Damon it saved me lots of headache, worst thing that happened on my machine is the touch pad stopped working.

List so far:

User bfroemel on SZ1XP reg 0399

user wdavid - VGN-SZ370 - BIOS: R0096N0 reg 0399

user Gandelf44 - VGN-AR21S with R200J6 Bios Reg 0195

user Gandelf44 - VGN-AR51SU with R1050J8 bios Reg 027f

user hanks - vgn-fe890 with r0200j3 bios reg 0195

user dmorris68 - VGN-AR670 with R1050J8 bios Reg 027f

user Damon Yates - on VGN-FZ21M Reg 02CD

user brookskd - VGN-FZ180E with R0050J7 bios Reg 02D3

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Damon_Yates
Contributor
Contributor

No Problem - I'll try to remember to dig out the BIOS number tonight and post it.

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Gehasia
Contributor
Contributor

Hi,

for Vaio VGN-FZ18M it's the same bios as the FZ180E -> R0050J7

Reg 02D3 set to 1 and ok

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Nightblade
Contributor
Contributor

Hi

I am using Vaio VGN-FZ11ZR

Bios: R0050J7

I try so set reg 02D3 with

symcmos.exe -v2 -ucmos.txt

but when I copy cmos with

symcmos.exe -v2 -ln.txt

02D3 is 0000 again.

Does it mean that MSR is locked? How can I check this? Link to iso image in previous posts is broken. Smiley Sad

What if I flash R0050J7 bios with vt enabled? Can anyone upload it?

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Gandelf44
Contributor
Contributor

Please make sure you are performing the operation from dos, and a cold reboot in between checks.

G

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Nightblade
Contributor
Contributor

to: Gandelf44

Thanks for answer!

First I tried to do this from dos. Got 02D3=0001 right after update. Then, when I turn off and on, notebook not booting. Shows black screen. After that, if I turn it off and on again it boots, but with 02D3=0000 again. I suppose it restore original settings after hang during previous boot.

But I tried to set settings from file made in windows - thats was the problem! I booted dos, saved file (noticed differencies in nearby registers), set 02D3=0001, update settings, turn it off and on, and... It works!

Thanks you all! Now I am happy with my notebook!

VGN-FZ11ZR, bios R0050J7, reg 02D3 - confirmed!

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dave_d
Contributor
Contributor

Here's another one:

VGA-TZ130N, bios R0052N7: reg 0363

Don't set 036C - that's the "brick" bit (aka the pull-the-CMOS-battery bit)

Dave

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ChrisBray
Contributor
Contributor

Anyone got a solution for the VGN-NR21(Z)

I bought this machine (last week) with the express purpose of using it to host 64bit VM's (Core2Duo T8100, 3gb RAM etc) and now find I can't Smiley Sad To say I'm disappointed is an understatement Smiley Sad

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Gary_Cook
Contributor
Contributor

It's 2CD for my VGN-FZ290.

64 bit VM's are now running under with Linux Workstation 6 installed on Ubuntu Linux Deskop.

Thanks everybody for the tip.

Gary Cook

Sixteen West Associates, S.L.

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andrea_persampi
Contributor
Contributor

Hello

Sorry but I do not write well in English. I have read how

you enabled on your vt notebok sony vaio fz18m. I can not explain you

step by step how you did. You would be very grateful. I set 02d3 = 0001

but always returns to 02d3 = 0000.

Through endless

If you want I can give you my mail

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storedge_tek
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks dude! Just changed 02CD on my VGN-FZ290 and it worked like a champ! You guys ROCK!!!!!!!! Thanks everyone for the help!

Model: VGN-FZ290 / Core2 Duo / T7700 / 2.4GHz

BIOS Rev: R1120J7

symcmos -v2 -lcmos.sav

changed 02CD from 0000 to 0001 and saved

symcmos -v2 -ucmos.sav

ran secureable and it reports harware virtualization is locked ON. SWEET!

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giampierosalvi
Contributor
Contributor

Hi,

just to confirm that the register 399 works on a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ3HP/B with bios R0096N0. (I previously said it didn't but I must have made some mistakes on the way.)

Giampiero

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Gehasia
Contributor
Contributor

Nightblad :

Make sure you do EVERYTHING under DOS !

That means : don't dump the bios under windows then reboot under dos and put it back but :

Boot under Dos (freedos is ok, but be sure to not load Himem 386), dump under dos, edit under dos, and write back under dos, then cold reboot (power off/power on).

I had lots of problem because i was working with a dump made under windows, don't try, it won't work !

Also be sure to run under a light dos (be aware with the freedos bootcd to load the ntfs "module" to write the dump on your disk if you work with a ntfs partition)

Good luck !

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ordex
Contributor
Contributor

Hi!

I got a Sony Vaio NR21Z with a VT capable T8100 Core2 Duo.

My Bios version is R1150J9

How can i found the number of the register to change? I can't find the bios on the net. Smiley Sad

Could it be possible that the register is the same of k with a BIOS Rev: R1120J7??

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wep
Contributor
Contributor

same model as ChrisBray and ordex

sony vaio nr21z bios R1150J9

i have tried 027F and 0399 without success.

any news or technique to get the good bios key are welcome.

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wep
Contributor
Contributor

nr21z bios R1150J9

magic key 02D0 found :smileygrin:

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ordex
Contributor
Contributor

Thank's very much!!!

I'll try it on sunday afternoon.

Thank you again!

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