NVidia Geforce 7400 Go / Sony VGN SZ 420N/B

[newby]

Greetings,
I Did a clean install of Windows 7 professional over Vista and it resulted in a viewable working area that does not fill the Laptop screen to its edges. Several threads have discussed similar issues with this graphics driver but have not addressed fully my problem. When I attempted to download a Vista driver from the Sony site that lists all drivers and software for this model, the screen went black and so I could no longer view in order to fix. I had to restore to a previous date which forced me to reload all my software. I would like to try to load a more appropriate driver but am concerned it will result in a black screen again and force me to once again reload all software.
Looking for two things 1) correct driver for this graphics card and Windows 7
2) Installation procedure so as not to end up without a screen again or method to fix it if I do.
Thanks for any help,
Newby

 

[thefabe]

Welcome to Seven Forums. Go to the Nvidia site and download the driver for your card here is the one for Win 7 32 bit NVIDIA DRIVERS 179.48 BETA If 64 bit change to it. I also llike to suggest creating a restore point before making any changes. Then you can use this program to modify the .inf file. NVIDIA MobilityModder - HardwareHeaven.com Follow the directions step by step and this should fix your problem it has help others in the past. Fabe

 

[newby]

Thanks Fabe,
Going to investigate creating restore point now before attempting to install...
A+

 

[thefabe]

So how'd it work out for you? Fabe

 

[newby]

On the road now so can't mess about with it- I'll try it again when I get back.
Thanks,

 

[thefabe]

Ok I'll chack back later on. Fabe

 

[sna]

I just tried it. Even though it installed successfully, the device manager says that the Nvidia card is not working properly. So how do I fix this?

Also, how do I got the video card switch working again? The Sony SZ has a stamina to speed switch to switch from the Nvidia card to the Intel one.

 

[sna]

okay I got my nvidia card to work with this:
NVIDIA Forceware 197.25 Released - LaptopVideo2Go Forums
just dl the drivers and insert modified inf into the driver folder.
The stamina to speed switch doesn't work (no pop up to let you reboot) so you have to reboot manually.

Also got my webcam to work. Trying to install BT drivers right now. So I think the only thing left is the FN hotkeys. Any tips?

 

[thefabe]

Thanks for posting back your resolution to your video card. Also if you get your Bt working and especially your FN keys post back with that. I know the FN keys have been a problem for a lot of members in the past so getting them to work and posting back how will help a lot of others.Hoping for a good result. I could only find Vista Busines drivers for your Viao on Sony Canada site doesn't even provide 32 or 64 bit.Which can be installed iin compatibility mode http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html they list 2 B T drivers as for the FN keys. maybe under Notebook Control and Utilities> Original Sony Notebook Utilities?? http://esupport.sony.com/CA/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNSZ420NB Fabe

 

[FZ21Z]

So I think the only thing left is the FN hotkeys. Any tips?

Hi.

You could have a read of this guide for installing Windows 7 on the SZ....

SZ Series Windows 7 Clean install

 

[sna]

Fn brightness

yeah. the BT drivers were auto detected by win7 after i tried connecting a BT device so that was simply enough.
My Fn volume buttons work. Brightness doesn't though. I'm pretty much re-installed the drivers in the order recommended by the guide linked in the above post so not sure what's wrong. Disabling the nvidia drivers didn't work either. Can't find brightness adjustment anywhere in win7.

 

[thefabe]

Here is a freeware 3rd party app that a few members are using to run at full brightness or dim their screens. I don't normal recommend 3rd party apps but this one has been given good reviews on this forum. You may want to give it a try at least until Sony has resolved the issue.Hope this might help. Fabe Elite Freeware: Quickly dim your screen with DimScreen

 

[sna]

dimscreen works when using the mouse to select the percentage, but hotkey function doesn't work.

 

[newby]

can't get it going...

Greetings once again...
Tried several times to download the Beta Invidia driver and it was saved directly to 'Downloads'. Extracted it- Then I would run the modifier also from the 'Downloads' folder into the NVidia folder. Then run driver setup which would give a message saying I wasn't running Vista so the installer closes, or nothing happens. Anyone have a solution? Thanks