erodov.com — Sony's nondescript decision to disable hardware virtualization from their VAIO line of laptops is causing un necessary headache for its customers. There is no way to enable it without Sony releasing a bios update which enables the same. Intel fully supports hardware VT, wonder why Sony doesn't. Windows XP Mode of Windows 7 cannot be used atm thus.
May 6, 2009 View in Crawl 4
kidomanMay 7, 2009Submitter
Problem : Cannot run 64-bit guest os because Sony has disabled virtualization in BIOS.Billy_ > Hi Anton. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm Billy. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.Billy_ > Thank you for waiting, Anton.Billy_ > Are you referring to a Sony VAIO Computer?Billy_ > Please acknowledge my question so I know that we are still connected.Anton Chival > HiAnton Chival > Sorry, was in another windowAnton Chival > Yes I am referring to my Sony Vaio Z690 laptopBilly_ > Please wait while I escalate the chat to Sony VAIO support team.Billy_ > Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analystLauren_ > Hi Anton. Welcome to Sony Online Support today. I'm Lauren. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.Anton Chival > HiAnton Chival > Please have a look at this forum threadLauren_ > Thank you for waiting, Anton. I'm sorry for the inconvenience you're experiencing with the BIOS. I'll be glad to assist you with this.Anton Chival > <a class="user" href="http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=378802">http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=3 ...</a>Anton Chival > I paid roughly $3000 and change for my laptop with a P9600 Intel ProcessorAnton Chival > only to find out that Sony is pulling a hard case on its customers and disabling a advertised feature in the Intel CPUsAnton Chival > i.e. VirtualizationAnton Chival > aka VTAnton Chival > That is one of the biggest forums on the Internet with content about Sony LaptopsAnton Chival > And it is kind of negative advertisement dont you think?Lauren_ > Anton, I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience you are experiencing regarding this.Lauren_ > I would like to forward a link to a page where you can view the information regarding the Virtualization Technology (VT) with Sony Computers.Lauren_ > When you receive the link please click on it to open the page and let me know if you are able to view it.Lauren_ > <a class="user" href="http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/d...rnalId=C381809">http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/d...rnalId=C381 ...</a>Anton Chival > HmmLauren_ > Are you able to view the page?Anton Chival > Do you see the responce by another Sony representative in the page?Anton Chival > <a class="user" href="http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...3&amp;postcount=30">http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...3&amp;postc ...</a>Anton Chival > One person is telling that they are going to release biosesAnton Chival > that will support VTAnton Chival > I mean, cmon, why the anti-consumer attitude... when all it will take is a bios update?Anton Chival > Why disable a feature which you specifically NEED not disable... which Sony doesnt have to pay extra for?Anton Chival > It is already present in the P9600 processor I paid for, isnt it?Lauren_ > Anton, I'm extremely sorry; Sony has not yet released any update to support the Virtualization Technology (VT).Anton Chival > I am aware of that...Anton Chival > The entire Sony community is lookign for a way to get this across to the developersAnton Chival > so that we get what we have paid for... and not a half heatedly put up page to tell the world that the $3000 machien 'DOENST' support VTLauren_ > Anton, I'm truly sorry for the difficulties you have been put through.Anton Chival > Is there an email address where I can escalate this to?Anton Chival > I want a resolution within the 30 day return window I haveAnton Chival > Otherwise I will hv to just return the laptop and buy a Dell i reckonAnton Chival > but trust me... this isn't helping Sony's cause at all... we love the machinesAnton Chival > but dont want to be stereotyped by Sony as casual usersAnton Chival > who will not demand wht they have paid forAnton Chival > That thread is currently all over Google... and soon it would probably hit Slashdot/EngadgetLauren_ > We sincerely regret any difficulties you have experienced and that you are not completely satisfied.Anton Chival > I dont want -ve publicity for something whichI have recommended to my friendsAnton Chival > Like I said before, do you have an email where we can escalte this?Anton Chival > Or can you do it for us?Anton Chival > Please do NOT send copy pasted responces my way... as its helping no one.Lauren_ > Unfortunately, our chat support team is not involved in the resolution of customer service issues.Lauren_ > Sony believes that customer service issues should be addressed through live, personal communication.Lauren_ > As such, these issues are addressed through telephone contact only.Lauren_ > Please contact one of our customer service representatives to discuss your concerns.Anton Chival > How can I do that?Anton Chival > Can you point me to a page with telephone numbers?Anton Chival > So you are basically saying that 'Juan_' from your team basically lied to a Sony customer?Lauren_ > We are available at at # 239-768-7545, 24 hours a day, 7 days week.Anton Chival > Good. Keep up the customer support... thanks for ALL the help.Lauren_ > You're welcome. ------End of line, I am not recommending Sony to anyone again.
theenablerAug 8, 2009
April_ > Hi Justin. Welcome to Sony Online Support. I'm April. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.April_ > Thank you for waiting, Justin. I'm sorry that the Intel VT is not working. I'll be glad to assist you with this.Justin > helloJustin > the Intel VT doesnt seem to work on my Vaio laptopJustin > I have verified the CPU supports it but it doesnt workJustin > various software utilities I have ran say it is disabledJustin > how can I enable it?April_ > Thank you for the information, Justin.April_ > I understand that the Virtualization Technology (VT) is not working in the Computer. Is that correct?Justin > yesJustin > am I talking to a real person?Justin > or a machine?April_ > I'm for real, Justin.Justin > coolJustin > just making sureApril_ > That's okay, Justin.April_ > I would like to forward a link to a page where you will get the information about Virtualization Technology.April_ > When you receive the link please click on it to open the page and let me know if you are able to view it.April_ > <a class="user" href="http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/documentLink.do?externalId=C381809" rel="nofollow">http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/documentLink.do ...</a>April_ > Are you able to view the page?Justin > okayJustin > yesApril_ > Please find the information about the Virtualization Technology on the above mentioned page.Justin > So as a person that bought this laptop expecting to use VT how would I or could I have known VT was disabled?Justin > I dont see any notices on the package that say VT is not supportedApril_ > Justin, I'm sorry to inform you that the Sony VAIO Computers do not currently support Virtualization Technology (VT). Justin > I read that but as a consumer that purchased this machine for VT what can I do?Justin > take it back and get a DELL?April_ > I'm really sorry for the problems you're having with the Computer.Justin > What actions are you taking to makes your buyers aware of this handicap on your products?Justin > So they don't purchase it thinking it does VT when it doesntApril_ > You can inquire about the Product and their features by contacting our Sony Style Team.Justin > Unless there is a way to enable it I am going to have to return this laptop and get one that does support VTJustin > okayJustin > thanks AprilApril_ > You are welcome.April_ > Justin, I'm really sorry for all the problems you're having with the Computer.April_ > Let me know if there are any questions, or if you have it from here.Justin > Well my only question is what is Sony doing to make their buyers aware of this handicap on their products?Justin > So more people dont end up like me buying a product thinking it has certain features it doesntJustin > I can take the laptop back and get a Dell or some other brand that is no big dealJustin > but Sony needs to put something on the packaging of their products to make them aware of this handicapJustin > So more people dont end up like me with a laptop that is missing basic featuresApril_ > The information of the feature of Sony Computer can be obtain by contacting us.Justin > OkayJustin > thanks AprilApril_ > You are welcome.April_ > It's been a great pleasure assisting you, Justin.
roseapAug 11, 2009
Not for the faint of heart, but it looks like hackers have been working on it:<a class="user" href="http://levicki.net/articles/tips/2009/02/20/HOWTO_Enable_Intel_VT_on_Sony_VAIO_notebook_with_AMI_Aptio_EFI_BIOS.php" rel="nofollow">http://levicki.net/articles/tips/2009/02/20/HOWTO_ ...</a>Also, it looks like Sony is planning on enabling VMX on some of its laptops by the time win7 rolls around:<a class="user" href="http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/partner/archive/2009/07/29/sony-executive-weighs-in-on-win7.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/partner/archive/2 ...</a>
victor905Aug 25, 2009
Is it a real thing? I am happy to hear this newsBut, the supported models will be released around max's.. it's too late for me.I can't make a personal purchase if I want a VT-enabled vaio z?