New on here: need some help please

gregrocker said:

I see now that the original Sony Vista drivers are only available in 32 bit: Graphics Driver nVidia - 7.15R - 7.15.11.128 54.45 Mb 17/03/2008. 32 bit

Have you searched the Nvidia site for the latest driver? When you search for GeForce 8400M GT it provides several beta, current and past drivers - one of which may work. I would also first use the auto-detect app: http://www.geforce.com/drivers

Yeah I've tried some of the beta and current drivers that it suggests when I type in my card but they don't work. When you look at the support information page for each driver, it says my card along with many others are not included. I don't think there's a way to solve it, unless you have any other methods. T

Work backwards through every driver listed. It may require a Vista driver, sometimes even an XP driver installed in XP SP2 Compatibility Mode . Google everything there is about that adapter and Win7.

If you can get decent screen resolution even though Sleep and Hibernate are usually forfeited, then sometimes it's worth keeping unless you want to go back to 32 bit for the Vista driver - which might even Update itself from Windows Updates. What was the reason again you didn't want to keep 32 bit? With 4gb or less RAM I prefer 32 bit.

I don't understand what you mean about screen resolution and the bit models. Unfortunately I'm not knowledgeable in this area.

I have no reason regarding 32 and 64 bit. All I know is that my OS is 64bit.

Right click on a blank area of the desktop to choose Screen Resolution, set it as high as it goes. Is that sufficient?

That laptop shipped with 32 bit Vista. I thought you had 32 bit Win7 on it for awhile. If you want to try 32 bit then download the 32 bit installer for your licensed version from Step 1 and burn to DVD or write to flash stick using tool in Step 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 , follow the steps to get a perfect reinstall.

Be sure to delete all partitions during install at Steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7 then either create and format New as you please or just click Next to have the installer do it for you and begin install.

Put your wireless driver in backup so you can get online quickly to do all Important and Optional Updates. There will be many rounds so keep going back to Check For Updates until they are done. Then import any missing drivers in Device Manager from the Sony downloads link I provided you.

How are you activating Win7?

The screen resolution is fine. Why would I want to go to 32bit? Is this to try and get the graphics card driver?

I haven't activated windows yet.

Only if you're unsatisfied with the Standard VGA resolution and the fact you can't sleep or Hibernate with it. Most users aren't. But if you are then stick with it. You might even find a driver if you work backwards through the Nvidia list from the link I gave you, search Google deftly.

I can hibernate but the sleep option is greyed out. Is this because my laptop is intended for 32 bit?

Sleep normally doesn't work with only a Standard VGA driver. It's intended for the oldest hardware, to make it run at all. For example on my ten year old HP 510 business laptop I use on the beach (which won't die and runs fast with 1gb RAM) I installed an XP driver in Compatibility Mode. Did you try that, or all other Vista drivers first from the list at the link I provided which I've now mentioned three times?

If only Vista 32 bit drivers are provided it means the OEM likely know about this and doesn't support 64 bit or Win7. However that doesn't mean you can't run Win7 on it the way it is or with a driver that will work. It just requires doing the due diligence to try all available 64 bit drivers from Nvidia, and searching the web as thoroughly as possible for one.

With compatibility mode, do I choose windows vista?

I will try all these options later.

Rarely do you need Vista Compat mode since most Vista drivers work straight away in Win7, even though I'd expect Windows Update to deliver a newer one shortly thereafter.

I only have needed to install XP drivers .exe in XP SP2 Compat mode like on my one old laptop. So it's mainly an older XP thing for outdated GPU chip.

I think you're better off searching at the Nvidia link for your GPU to try all drivers going backward. http://www.geforce.com/drivers

When i do a Manual search I get several drivers you can try working backward. I'd first try the Auto-Detect search from the Sony desktop. I've now suggested this at least twice.