Gefore 8400M GT card and Bluray not playing

I have a vaio vgx-tp25e/b HTPC. I upgraded from 32 bit Vista premium to 64 Bit Win 7 ultimate. I installed Nvidia driver version 190.40 from laptopvideo2go.com, and this is the latest driver for my card when I go a search on laptopvideo2go site using my graphics card hardware ID. The nvidia control panel says that my system is HDCP-capable but when I play bluray using powerdvd 9 (trial), the player displays this message:

"Playback stopped because your graphics card driver is incompatible."

I also have Windvd pro 2010 is crashing when I play bluray and it is an activated version. I can read the bluray disc from explorer so I don't think it is a bluray driver issue. Anyone else have had this problem and know the fix? I think it's with the HDCP requirement becuase when I run the cyberlink BD advisor it says that my graphics driver is NOT HDCP capable but NVIDIA control panels states the opposite. Thanks for the help in advance!

Hi.

Follow this link -

http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-...-desktop-mobile-laptop.html?highlight=desktop

Hi,

I had the same problem with a NVIDIA ION Gpu. The problem occurs when the resolution is set to somethig more than 1600x900. The only thing that worked was to set the resolution to 1600x900 and the PowerDVD 9 playback started working. This is not ideal I know, since I would like to use higher resolutions. If you have other information regarding this, please update this thread.

Thanks!
------
Fabio

Solution to Sony nVidia 8400M GT Blu-ray Problem

This worked!!!

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=304257

I have a Sony Vaio VGC LT19U on which I did a clean install of W7 64 bit, but had the nVidia driver problem with the nVidia GeForce 8400M GT. I have looked high and low. Tried several modified nVidia drivers from laptops2go.com. Tried modifying inf files myself, used the nVidia Mobiiity Modder Tool. All allowed the display to work properly but I COULD NOT PLAY BLU-RAY disks! This worked! The Cyberlink PowerDVD still has a red mark next to the newly installed driver but it works so I don't care. I am having some issues burning DVDs in some video creation software (Ulead VideoStudio X2) but not sure yet whether that is problem with driver or the poorly documented and explained software package...

Vgx tp 25e

I have exactly the same HTPC as you. With exactly the same problem, no blu ray using Windows 7 Ultimate. And, by chance, I have tried the exact same programs (WinDVD and PowerDVD) that you have with exactly the same results. Question for you, did you try the suggestions in the previous two or three posts about installing different NVidia drivers, other than the one for Vista? I have tried 190.40 off of Download NVIDIA drivers | drivers for mobile cards and laptops | laptopvideo2go.com with the same results as the Vista driver that came preinstalled. I'm really at a loss with this one.

Sony, in their policy of corporate indifference, isn't going to be of any help for us since, "we don't support anything except the OEM system."

I think I might try the procedure outlined in one of the previous posts http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/36593-nvidia-driver-convert-desktop-mobile-laptop.html

At this point, I'm not convinced the problem is solely a NVidia driver problem, but then what else could it be?

Added note, the solution proposed by tokioman did not work on this PC. Blu ray refuses to play with PowerDVD 9, although it seemed to read the disc fine. On top of that, Corel's WinDVD 10 refuses to even work at all! Back to the drawing board.

This solution, which appears to install the latest NVidia drivers, does fix a few other problems though. It appears to me that the error message that Westgstreet got in Power DVD is bogus, since this does appear to be the latest driver. I'm suspecting something other than video drivers now. Since the actual player has the latest firmware and it DOES play blu ray discs on Vista, there's probably something else missing on the Win 7 install that Sony has put on the Vista install that I don't know about. Sony support is useless, so this will require more research.

Hi All - I have a Sony FZ-480e/b and I'm using the 186.91 driver and everything is working. Including the blu-ray hdmi and also s-video out to an old 55" Toshiba rear projection tv. When you unpack that driver there is a folder that has a couple .inf files you need the whql file from that folder. It has our 8400m gt info. I am running win7 32 bit so i'm not sure about your 64 bit use. I tryed that 195.55 beta. It didn't install and luckily went back to the 186.91. The Windows adviser says that my gpu driver is not compatible with win7. I have know idea why it says that.

I hope this is some help to you
Harold

VGX TP 25e

I'm glad your blu ray is working. What software are you using to play the disc? I'm using the exact same driver and no go. Since my computer can't run the 64 bit version, we probably have very similar hardware and if it works for you....well, that tells me I'm likely missing something.

Solution to problem on VGX TP25E

Here's the solution to the problem for the benefit of westgstreet, the original poster.

The problem is the video driver. Use the one indicated at 186.91 WHQL at Microsoft Update (all desktop + notebook cards) - Guru3D.com Forums

It will not work initially because for some reason or other the actual driver file (*.SYS) will not get updated. Go into device manager and update it there, pointing to the directory where that driver was unpacked. It will take about 10 minutes to complete and look as if it has crashed, so give it time. Once the actual driver has been installed, this model will play Blu Rays.

And, thanks for all the thread participants who at the very least, pointed to the correct driver that Sony will NEVER place on their support site.

That's Great! dpetro - I am using Windvd 2010.

Harold

I was able to get it to work with Cyberlink PowerDVD 9, but could not with WinDVD.

I did a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. The Vaio VGC-LT19U is actually 64 bit capable even though Sony opted for 32-bit Vista Ultimate to launch the product (check System in Control Panel and it will tell you whether your chipset is 64-bit capable). I created a new partition on the main disk drive (also installed a 1 TB disk in the empty disk bay for extra storage and documents, music, Video files etc). Installed 64 bit W7 in new partition. Now I get a screen at start whether to launch W7 or Vista. I tried an upgrade of the 32-bit Vista OS and it was a disaster. All the crap that Sony puts on seemed to cause endless problems (along with too many calls to Microsoft support --- Sony of course worthless). As a last ditch effort I decided to try the 64-bit route. It was a challenge to assemble the drivers. Bit by bit I reconstructed what I had had with Vista. Machine now runs better than it ever did under Vista 32 bit plus no annoying Sony software.

For all intents and purposes, this is a new computer, which is probably what Sony is trying to avoid.
I agree with others that Sony is digging its own grave with their lack of support. Their machines are not cheap and not to offer new drivers, etc for a machine 2 years old current with a major OS upgrade is inexcusable. I have bought many Sony PCs over the years but will not in the future.

The article I used to go the dual OS route (it is 7 part series):
Migrate to Windows 7--Slowly - PC World


Other than the Nvidia driver mentioned above in my post, I had the biggest trouble fixing the Mass Storage Controller device (which is actually a TI SD card reader) but found a solution here (Clevo driver):
Mass Storage Controller has no driver, windows update can't find a driver.

I have the issue of the monitor not identified properly in Device Driver but it doesn't seem to matter, consistent with other posts I have seen elsewhere.

Mass storage for x64 Win7 on Sony VGX TP25E

You're right tokioman. The PC can run x64. My error. Anyway, just for the record, I tried that driver for the problem of Mass Storage driver missing. In my case it's a Texas Instruments as yours is, but after installing it, which went fine, there were still no drives under Portable Devices in Device Manager, but the Mass Storage no driver icon was gone??? In any event, through some more research, there's a Sony site in Europe that directs to a Sony site in Japan where one can download a very close match driver for 64 bit windows for the SD Card Reader. My PC is not listed because mine is only available in North America, but the European equivalent was a good match.

The site is Vaio : Sony Europe

You need to click on "Accept" then wait a while for the site in Japan to show up. The driver for Mass Storage problem that worked for me is EP0000140007. Hope this info can help someone later.

dpetro said:

Here's the solution to the problem for the benefit of westgstreet, the original poster.

The problem is the video driver. Use the one indicated at 186.91 WHQL at Microsoft Update (all desktop + notebook cards) - Guru3D.com Forums

It will not work initially because for some reason or other the actual driver file (*.SYS) will not get updated. Go into device manager and update it there, pointing to the directory where that driver was unpacked. It will take about 10 minutes to complete and look as if it has crashed, so give it time. Once the actual driver has been installed, this model will play Blu Rays.

And, thanks for all the thread participants who at the very least, pointed to the correct driver that Sony will NEVER place on their support site.

Click to expand...

Sorry been out of town, just got to reading this forum. Thanks for the info and this worked perfectly! Although I'm still having hte BSOD problem telling me that the harddrive was unable to be read temporarily. Is your HTPC working fine? Also, did you install the driver for the mass storage device?

Vgx tp25

@Westgstreet:

As far as I can see, everything is running fine, including the ATI tuner paired now with a Cisco Tuning Adapater (for me, the real reason to upgrade to Windows 7). As for the Mass Storage problem, as I said in my last post, the only one that worked for me was from a Japanese Sony site (driver package EP0000140007).

Now the next problem will be to install a larger hard drive. I'd like to put in a 1TB drive but, as you well know, this is not an easy install. Taking the bottom cover off only makes you realize that the top part of the case is snap fitted on and you have no idea where the snap fits are. To make matters worse, Sony will not tell you. They'll replace the drive for you, but only with a 500G drive. It's a nice little PC, but really, there's virtually no support from the manufacturer. You're pretty much on your own for anything beyond the basics.

dpetro said:

@Westgstreet:

As far as I can see, everything is running fine, including the ATI tuner paired now with a Cisco Tuning Adapater (for me, the real reason to upgrade to Windows 7). As for the Mass Storage problem, as I said in my last post, the only one that worked for me was from a Japanese Sony site (driver package EP0000140007).

Now the next problem will be to install a larger hard drive. I'd like to put in a 1TB drive but, as you well know, this is not an easy install. Taking the bottom cover off only makes you realize that the top part of the case is snap fitted on and you have no idea where the snap fits are. To make matters worse, Sony will not tell you. They'll replace the drive for you, but only with a 500G drive. It's a nice little PC, but really, there's virtually no support from the manufacturer. You're pretty much on your own for anything beyond the basics.

Click to expand...

dpedro, can you let me know what other drives you had to install manually (not from windows update) after doing a clean install aside from the NVIDIA and mass storage driver? I'm still having BSOD after waking up from sleep..

I agree, vaio support sucks big time. When I purchased this product, the production description on the website said that the optical cable is included but didnt receive it. Noone can help although they verified that that was written in their website. Also, I asked for assistance on how to open the chassis since I wanted to install a esata card on the available pci express slot. No one can help me except if I pay $10 to get the "service" document that they have.

@westgstreet

The only two drivers needed for manual install were the NVidia forceware driver that I mentioned earlier and the Mass Storage driver from that Sony site. As far as BSOD on wake up, I'd suspect a driver conflict with those manual drivers. Are you using the forceware 186.91 driver? Do you have anything plugged into any USB port that might be causing a problem? Some printers are known to cause BSOD's on wake up if the USB port is not providing adequate amperage.

You mentioned a service manual for $10. Sony support in San Diego told me that there was no service manual for me to purchase. How is it Sony told you there was a service manual for distribution? Do you remember who told you that? Maybe they're confusing the operators guide or manual with the nuts and bolts service manual. Heck, I'd pay the $10 if it actually was a service manual.

dpedro,

Was your ati tuner plugged during the set up process? I only have this and nothing else connected to my machine. How about the Sony Firmware Extension Parser driver? Windows update automatically downloaded this driver but action center still prompts me to install this.

I called tech support asking for a guide/document to open the chassis becuase I wanted to install an esata port in the available pci express slot. I was transferred to 3 other agents, and then was told to call sales and ask about the service manual. They were pretty certain that there is a service manual but I need to pay them. Tell you what if you are down to buy this and after receiving the service manual there are instructions on how to open the chassis, I pay you half of the cost to give me copies, though I know it's not that much. That if you want to risk your money to them.

Oh they they told me at least a couple of times that they dont recommend opening the chassis because of the high voltage in the power supply, I don't know why they kept on telling me that..

@westgstreet

The ATI tuner was plugged in. Also, Windows successfully installed the Sony Parser driver on an update. Why it's not installed in your case is odd. You are doing a clean install and not an update of Vista right? Are you running any third party software that might be hosing things up? Another thing to look at, thinking of possible differences between your PC and mine, is that I have updated the firmware for the blu-ray and wireless from the Sony product page. Can you look at a mini-dump of what crashed after the BSOD? Often times the dump will be specific enough to point you in the right direction. If it's a kernel crash, then the cause of the error has already taken place and it's a little harder to troubleshoot.

Now about this manual. You must have spoken with someone in Sony parts or something. The tech I spoke with in San Diego, where they actually do the repairs, saw that there was a manual available, but upon further checking discovered that it is not a service manual like would be necessary to open up the case.

I've not a number further up the food chain at Sony. I'll give it a try and see what's going on with this mysterious manual.

Superdog said:

Hi All - I have a Sony FZ-480e/b and I'm using the 186.91 driver and everything is working. Including the blu-ray hdmi and also s-video out to an old 55" Toshiba rear projection tv. When you unpack that driver there is a folder that has a couple .inf files you need the whql file from that folder. It has our 8400m gt info. I am running win7 32 bit so i'm not sure about your 64 bit use. I tryed that 195.55 beta. It didn't install and luckily went back to the 186.91. The Windows adviser says that my gpu driver is not compatible with win7. I have know idea why it says that.

I hope this is some help to you
Harold

Click to expand...

Where did you get the 186.91 driver from? All I can find on guru3d.com is the 185.81 driver!

VGX TP25E Vid Driver

186.91 Nvidia driver at 186.91 WHQL at Microsoft Update (all desktop + notebook cards) - Guru3D.com Forums