Laptop display problem

Hi folks,

I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows Vista
Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related issues:

1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of the time I
forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since installing Vista
SP1 I can't get Aero at all.

2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media Player to
play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.

3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the laptop
monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs Aero
100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a performance
index.

Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though they
have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver related.

Any ideas?

Many Thanks

Carl

How much main memory do you have?
How much memory does your graphic chip have or have allocated.?
"Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
> Hi folks,
>
> I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows Vista
> Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
> issues:
>
> 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of the time
> I
> forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since installing
> Vista
> SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
>
> 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media Player to
> play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
>
> 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the laptop
> monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs Aero
> 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a performance
> index.
>
> Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though they
> have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver related.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Many Thanks
>
> Carl

Have you updated the video driver?

"Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
> Hi folks,
>
> I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows Vista
> Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
> issues:
>
> 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of the time
> I
> forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since installing
> Vista
> SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
>
> 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media Player to
> play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
>
> 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the laptop
> monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs Aero
> 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a performance
> index.
>
> Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though they
> have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver related.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Many Thanks
>
> Carl

Hi there,

1GB RAM
Video card is an ATI X700 - 128MB dedicated, upto 255MB shared from the
system.

Thanks

Carl


"Curious" wrote:

> How much main memory do you have?
> How much memory does your graphic chip have or have allocated.?
> "Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
> > Hi folks,
> >
> > I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows Vista
> > Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
> > issues:
> >
> > 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of the time
> > I
> > forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since installing
> > Vista
> > SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
> >
> > 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media Player to
> > play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
> >
> > 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the laptop
> > monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs Aero
> > 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a performance
> > index.
> >
> > Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though they
> > have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver related.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Many Thanks
> >
> > Carl
>

Hi Colin,

I'm currently running the standard driver supplied with Vista:

MOBILITY RADEON X700 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)
Driver Date: 25/08/2006
Driver Version: 7.14.10.8333

ATI themselves are not providing any X700 Mobility drivers as described here:

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/...uestionID=26978

And Sony seem to think I don't need one

Thanks

Carl




"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> Have you updated the video driver?
>
> "Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
> > Hi folks,
> >
> > I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows Vista
> > Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
> > issues:
> >
> > 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of the time
> > I
> > forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since installing
> > Vista
> > SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
> >
> > 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media Player to
> > play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
> >
> > 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the laptop
> > monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs Aero
> > 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a performance
> > index.
> >
> > Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though they
> > have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver related.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Many Thanks
> >
> > Carl
>

You need to get the latest Vista driver for you laptop graphics chip from
the Sony Website and install it. It certainly has to better then what you
are using regardless of what a Sony support rep says.
"Captain C" <CaptainC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9D2D99E3-0DB5-49EC-AB66-F07D39768BC7@microsoft.com...
> Hi Colin,
>
> I'm currently running the standard driver supplied with Vista:
>
> MOBILITY RADEON X700 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)
> Driver Date: 25/08/2006
> Driver Version: 7.14.10.8333
>
> ATI themselves are not providing any X700 Mobility drivers as described
> here:
>
> http://support.ati.com/ics/support/...uestionID=26978
>
> And Sony seem to think I don't need one
>
> Thanks
>
> Carl
>
>
>
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> Have you updated the video driver?
>>
>> "Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi folks,
>> >
>> > I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows Vista
>> > Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
>> > issues:
>> >
>> > 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of the
>> > time
>> > I
>> > forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since installing
>> > Vista
>> > SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
>> >
>> > 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media Player
>> > to
>> > play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
>> >
>> > 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the laptop
>> > monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs
>> > Aero
>> > 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a
>> > performance
>> > index.
>> >
>> > Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though
>> > they
>> > have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver related.
>> >
>> > Any ideas?
>> >
>> > Many Thanks
>> >
>> > Carl
>>

Alas - there's no Vista video driver update posted on Sony's site for this
model laptop. I've even looked on the US site for a comparable model and
they just don't supply anything.

Thanks

Carl

"Curious" wrote:

> You need to get the latest Vista driver for you laptop graphics chip from
> the Sony Website and install it. It certainly has to better then what you
> are using regardless of what a Sony support rep says.
> "Captain C" <CaptainC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:9D2D99E3-0DB5-49EC-AB66-F07D39768BC7@microsoft.com...
> > Hi Colin,
> >
> > I'm currently running the standard driver supplied with Vista:
> >
> > MOBILITY RADEON X700 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)
> > Driver Date: 25/08/2006
> > Driver Version: 7.14.10.8333
> >
> > ATI themselves are not providing any X700 Mobility drivers as described
> > here:
> >
> > http://support.ati.com/ics/support/...uestionID=26978
> >
> > And Sony seem to think I don't need one
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Carl
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
> >
> >> Have you updated the video driver?
> >>
> >> "Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
> >> > Hi folks,
> >> >
> >> > I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows Vista
> >> > Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
> >> > issues:
> >> >
> >> > 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of the
> >> > time
> >> > I
> >> > forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since installing
> >> > Vista
> >> > SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
> >> >
> >> > 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media Player
> >> > to
> >> > play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
> >> >
> >> > 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the laptop
> >> > monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs
> >> > Aero
> >> > 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a
> >> > performance
> >> > index.
> >> >
> >> > Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though
> >> > they
> >> > have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver related.
> >> >
> >> > Any ideas?
> >> >
> >> > Many Thanks
> >> >
> >> > Carl
> >>
>

How do you know then that your Sony Laptop can support Vista?
"Captain C" <CaptainC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:322A1C10-EB82-49BF-9CD3-CAE9A3EA11F5@microsoft.com...
> Alas - there's no Vista video driver update posted on Sony's site for this
> model laptop. I've even looked on the US site for a comparable model and
> they just don't supply anything.
>
> Thanks
>
> Carl
>
> "Curious" wrote:
>
>> You need to get the latest Vista driver for you laptop graphics chip from
>> the Sony Website and install it. It certainly has to better then what
>> you
>> are using regardless of what a Sony support rep says.
>> "Captain C" <CaptainC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:9D2D99E3-0DB5-49EC-AB66-F07D39768BC7@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi Colin,
>> >
>> > I'm currently running the standard driver supplied with Vista:
>> >
>> > MOBILITY RADEON X700 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)
>> > Driver Date: 25/08/2006
>> > Driver Version: 7.14.10.8333
>> >
>> > ATI themselves are not providing any X700 Mobility drivers as described
>> > here:
>> >
>> > http://support.ati.com/ics/support/...uestionID=26978
>> >
>> > And Sony seem to think I don't need one
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > Carl
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Have you updated the video driver?
>> >>
>> >> "Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Hi folks,
>> >> >
>> >> > I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows
>> >> > Vista
>> >> > Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
>> >> > issues:
>> >> >
>> >> > 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of
>> >> > the
>> >> > time
>> >> > I
>> >> > forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since
>> >> > installing
>> >> > Vista
>> >> > SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
>> >> >
>> >> > 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media
>> >> > Player
>> >> > to
>> >> > play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
>> >> >
>> >> > 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the
>> >> > laptop
>> >> > monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it runs
>> >> > Aero
>> >> > 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a
>> >> > performance
>> >> > index.
>> >> >
>> >> > Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model, though
>> >> > they
>> >> > have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver
>> >> > related.
>> >> >
>> >> > Any ideas?
>> >> >
>> >> > Many Thanks
>> >> >
>> >> > Carl
>> >>
>>

Vista drivers are on the support page for Sony Europe at
http://www.vaio-link.com/downloads/...2017&os=7&osl=1

"Curious" <spammenot@nospam.nospam> wrote in message
news:BF7919D2-6CA6-4DF6-94D0-21EF22A0EA0C@microsoft.com...
> How do you know then that your Sony Laptop can support Vista?
> "Captain C" <CaptainC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:322A1C10-EB82-49BF-9CD3-CAE9A3EA11F5@microsoft.com...
>> Alas - there's no Vista video driver update posted on Sony's site for
>> this
>> model laptop. I've even looked on the US site for a comparable model and
>> they just don't supply anything.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Carl
>>
>> "Curious" wrote:
>>
>>> You need to get the latest Vista driver for you laptop graphics chip
>>> from
>>> the Sony Website and install it. It certainly has to better then what
>>> you
>>> are using regardless of what a Sony support rep says.
>>> "Captain C" <CaptainC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9D2D99E3-0DB5-49EC-AB66-F07D39768BC7@microsoft.com...
>>> > Hi Colin,
>>> >
>>> > I'm currently running the standard driver supplied with Vista:
>>> >
>>> > MOBILITY RADEON X700 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)
>>> > Driver Date: 25/08/2006
>>> > Driver Version: 7.14.10.8333
>>> >
>>> > ATI themselves are not providing any X700 Mobility drivers as
>>> > described
>>> > here:
>>> >
>>> > http://support.ati.com/ics/support/...uestionID=26978
>>> >
>>> > And Sony seem to think I don't need one
>>> >
>>> > Thanks
>>> >
>>> > Carl
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> Have you updated the video driver?
>>> >>
>>> >> "Captain C" <Captain C@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> >> news:905D8526-A50F-4A2B-8F1E-AB41F0A59444@microsoft.com...
>>> >> > Hi folks,
>>> >> >
>>> >> > I've got an Sony VGN-BX197XP laptop that I've upgraded to Windows
>>> >> > Vista
>>> >> > Ultimate. Since then I've encountered some strange display-related
>>> >> > issues:
>>> >> >
>>> >> > 1) I could only boot into Aero about 50% of the time. The rest of
>>> >> > the
>>> >> > time
>>> >> > I
>>> >> > forced onto the Standard theme with no Aero option. Since
>>> >> > installing
>>> >> > Vista
>>> >> > SP1 I can't get Aero at all.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > 2) When not running in Aero mode I can't get the Windows Media
>>> >> > Player
>>> >> > to
>>> >> > play video files, nor get a Perfomance Index.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > 3) If I plug in an external monitor I can't get a picture on the
>>> >> > laptop
>>> >> > monitor but I *do* get a picture on the external monitor and it
>>> >> > runs
>>> >> > Aero
>>> >> > 100% of the time. It will also play video files and give me a
>>> >> > performance
>>> >> > index.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Sony are less then helpful with Vista support for this model,
>>> >> > though
>>> >> > they
>>> >> > have released *some* drivers, though nothing grasphics driver
>>> >> > related.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Any ideas?
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Many Thanks
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Carl
>>> >>
>>>
>

Hi guys,

That's the set of drivers I used to install Vista on the laptop,

I *know* the thing can support Aero - before Vista SP1 I got it about 50% of
the time and I get it 100% of the time if I'm running to an external monitor.
I just can't run external and internal at the same time.

Wonder if it's a monitor driver issue?

Thanks

Carl