August 28, 2009 

Sony Vaio function keys and Windows 7


UPDATE 28/10/09: As of 26/10/2009 Windows update is listing an update for the Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device, if you have followed the guide and installed this driver and it didn’t work it might be worth installing this update and trying. I am going to install this now and post back if it has any positive or negative effects. (Bearing in mind my function keys are working correctly after using method below.)

UPDATE 2: Update went fine, and everything working as expected. Driver version went (for me) from 7.0.0.5 (dated back in 2006!) to 8.0.1.1 (dated as may this year). Maybe this will fix any issues you have had. As a precaution its worth creating a system restore point (Right click computer, properties, system protection and press create!).

Windows 7 is just around the corner, the RTM build is now available to Technet/MSDN/MAPS subscribers and the official release is set for October. I know there are a lot of Vaio users our there who will be itching to upgrade (especially from Vista). One problem I came across with the RC was that my function buttons didn’t work and i couldn’t control screen brightness without doing it in control panel so I did a bit of research and with the help of about 10 forums posts from all web I managed to get  them up and running. To try and save others time I decided to put everything together in one place so that other users can have something concise to work from. This is based off the RC build but this also works on the final RTM build. This should work for most modern (18-months-2years) laptops. Read on for the step by step guide :)


1) First off visit the Vaio website which for the UK and Europe is at http://www.vaio-link.com and you should find a couple of drop down boxes where you can choose the series and model of your laptop. (If you have used the site before it should have remembered your last choice).

2) Once you have arrived at your model specific page click the download link and then choose the option for originally installed. These will most likely be Windows Vista drivers as the majority of Sony’s laptops have been shipped with Vista and the XP downgrade option for the past could of years. From this page you should be able to download two original packages of the utilities and the drivers.

3) Extract both of the archives onto your computer somewhere useful so you can get to them easily, ive plonked mine in a folder on the c: drive and then taken a copy on my USB drive for safe keeping.

4) Load up device manager and check for devices that Windows 7 did not automatically find drivers for. Hopefully there should be one either called Unknown Device or something calling itself an Intel LPC device with a yellow exclamation mark. If you find this then right click the device and choose properties and then find the details tab. From here you should have a drop down box and one of the items will be Hardware ID. Choose this option and make sure that the hardware ID is SNY5001. (If it is not then see 4a for instructions to track it down). If  the ID  matches then you can  click the drivers tab and click to install driver as normal. From the drivers folder you extracted look for the Sony Firmware Extension Parser driver and install. (the folder may possibly be named SFPE driver)

4a) If you cant find this device it may already have been installed by windows or you may have loaded an incorrect driver. First check in device manager under human interface devices for the Sony firmware extension parser driver. If its already there then you can carry on to the software installation below. If its not then we will need to manually find the hardware id and track down what driver windows has assigned to it. For this we need to download the Devcon tool from Microsoft from (Click Here). This is a command line tool that can be used to dump what is in device manager out to a text file, including the hardware ids and what the system is currently calling the device by name, this will help you track it down if windows has loaded a completely different driver by itself.

Once you have downloaded and extracted the tool run the following command line.

devcon hwids * > hwids.txt

This will output to hwids.txt and somewhere in there should be something like this.

ACPI\SNY5001\4&28A9283&0
Name: Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device
Hardware ID’s:
ACPI\SNY5001
*SNY5001

As you can see it lists the hardware ids along with device name, so if yours has a different name then you should now be able to find it in device manager.

Once you have found the rogue device then follow the same instructions as above and from the details tab install the SFEP driver.

5) This step is important, you need to install the following software in the correct order and reboot between each install otherwise it wont work properly. You have been warned. (That said if you do jump the gun for whatever reason you can un-install everything apart from the shared libraries)

1. VAIO Event Service (From Utilities Folder)
2. Reboot
3. SONY DLL Utils (From Utilities Folder)
4. Reboot
5. SONY Shared Library (From Utilities Folder)
6. Reboot
7. Sony Power Management (From Utilities Folder)
8. Reboot (last one!)

After all that lot you should find that your buttons now work. Its hard work but far better in my opinion that upgrading a vista installation full of Sony bloatware.

If you use the fingerprint scanner on your Vaio you can also get the Windows7 drivers/software from UPEKs website.

x86: http://www.upek.com/support/downloads/windows7/w7x86.asp
x64: http://www.upek.com/support/downloads/windows7/w7x64.asp

The drivers are just a quick a quick install and reboot job and you’ll be ready to roll.

I would appreciate any re-tweets for this so as many vaio users as possible can benifit.

If you have any problems or questions please post a commend.

I hope this info proves useful!


Related posts:

  1. UBCD4WIN to the rescue! I thought i’d post up a quick plug for UBCD4WIN...
  2. HTC Wizard / Windows Mobile Tips Having been a keen user of the HTC Wizard (or...
  3. Windows Vista SP1 Just installed this on my machine at work, and so...
  4. Transfer Camera Roll from your old Iphone 2G/3G to 3GS Hey all just a quick post. If you want to...
  5. How to: Sync Firefox bookmarks with Mobileme for Windows (iPhone) Something that has perplexed me since I started using Apples...

Tags: , , , , ,

  • Rob

    Sadly, this did not work for VGN-T250P on Windows 7.

  • Saeed

    This is also didn’t work for my VGN-FW35G laptop.for step #5 i used ” Setting Utility Series installer” cos this is the only avilable driver for my model in the sony-asia website.Hope you can give further assistance? Btw, I am using Windows 7 and I can’t totally use my function keys.

    Thanks

  • http://Www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    Hi guys, sorry to hear this isn’t working. Did you get as far as finding the Sony firmware parser device? Let me know how far you got and where it falls down? I did find that when I initially adder the drivers (in wrong order) I could use te volume function keys but not the rest I’ll see what I can find out for you.

  • Saeed

    hey Ben….I managed to find the Sony Firmware and follow exactly what you have done but as i said .for step #5 i used ” Setting Utility Series installer” instead of ” sony DLL” cos this is the only avilable driver for my model in the sony-asia website. Any advice?

  • http://www.funys.net Ben

    hmm thats interesting.

    potentially you could try installing the dll drivers i found in my package, you would obviously want to make a system restore point just in case (though for this type of driver it shouldnt cause any issues)

    i’ll zip up the folder and upload soon.

    Can i just ask, did you manage to track down the SFEP hardware with the SNY*** hardware id?

  • http://www.funys.net Ben

    Download – I have uploaded the dll package which may help.

  • Saeed

    Hey ben ….all the fn keys are working except the brighness control ones ? any suggestions? In addition,I have sony- specific buttons like volume increase and decrease , play track back and forwarf and AV mode are working except that previously they used to show an interface for exmple if i increase the volume they will show the levels of volume …whereas, now they are working but their interface is not poping up when i press them …i manage to get them work by installing the entertainment platform but i dun know how i can resolve the interface problem ? I hope that you got my point….thanks alot

  • Saeed

    Hey ben…my microphone also got problem..if i used it with any external program for pc calling will work but if i use it with yahoo won’t work??..any advuice?

  • Soceir

    Hi Ben,

    This guide worked great for my Vaio SZ370P. You are the best. Actually since my model doesn’t have the originally installed packs for Windows Vista I used the XP driver packs and installed from there. Still worked. Also got all other devises installed which were still showing the exclamation mark.

    Thanks again.

    Soceir

  • http://astrobart.tumblr.com GJB

    Tried this procedure on my VGN-FE11M with mixed results. Installation of the Shared Libs does not seem to finish correctly. After the final reboot I do have working Fn keys. Screen dimming, external display and hibernate (Zzzz) all are working.

    When opening the Advanced Power Options, I see the VAIO Power Options tab added. But all is greyed out, with a note only the Administrator can make changes. I am admin, but there’s no option to use elevated credentials, and because the tab page runs inside explorer.exe there’s no way to specify “Run as Administrator”.

    When I click Advanced on the VAIO tab, an error dialog pops up telling me Windows Shell Common DLL has crashed.

    But anyway, the Fn keys work.

  • Soceir

    Great guide man. Finally got it to work.

    Thanks man you are the best.

  • http://www.funys.net Ben

    @Saeed not sure on this one, looks like you might have to wait/hope for windows 7 drivers, the release isnt too far off now so hopefully sony will pull their socks up

  • http://www.funys.net Ben

    cool, glad to hear you got it working

  • http://www.funys.net Ben

    its seems now that its touch and go which models it works on. hopefully sony will come up with some official windows 7 drivers soon along with instructions

  • http://www.funys.net Ben

    :)

  • NK

    guys, IT'S ALL WORKING. I got VGN-FE21M that came with xp. Now i have windows 7 ultimate with all the hotkeys working after SONY refused to provide me the support.
    Just clean install windows 7. Let Windows detect all the drivers for you. For me it even installed my Nvidia drivers partially which adjusted the screen resolution. Do not install the Nvidia drivers manually yet. Follow these steps strictly:
    1. VAIO Event Service (From Utilities Folder)
    2. Reboot
    3. SONY DLL Utils (From Utilities Folder)
    4. Reboot
    5. SONY Shared Library (From Utilities Folder)
    6. Reboot
    7. Sony Power Management (From Utilities Folder)
    8. Reboot (last one!)
    9. Download and install the Nvidia drivers from the sony website for Windows vista, install and Reboot.
    YEEEHAA!! ALL FUNCTION KEYS ARE NOW WORKING. :-)

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    cool glad to hear you got it working, so did you not have to install the SFEP Driver? maybe this got picked up by windows update automatically when you set your laptop up.

  • fieldwolf

    Thank you, mate. Your solution worked but in a sort of funny way.

    The keys like F5 and F6 work all right for the brightness.

    The F2-F4 ones, on the other hand do work (the icons like “muted” show up, and the volume meter on the screen goes up and down) BUT it does not influent the sound volume in any way.
    The sound volume is actually controlled by Windows 7 controls, and when you mute by Fn+F2 the sound does not mute at all. Again, if you mute the sound by pressing the icon in system tray and after that try to un-mute it by Fn+F2 it will show the “unmute” icon and will even beep, but the sound does not actually turn on :)

    So, waiting for any kind of thoughts on such an issue. The model is VGN-SZ2HRP/B

  • fieldwolf

    Sony Vaio function keys and Windows 7

    Thank you, mate. Your solution worked but in a sort of funny way.

    The keys like F5 and F6 work all right for the brightness.

    The F2-F4 ones, on the other hand do work (the icons like “muted” show up, and the volume meter on the screen goes up and down) BUT it does not influent the sound volume in any way.
    The sound volume is actually controlled by Windows 7 controls, and when you mute by Fn+F2 the sound does not mute at all. Again, if you mute the sound by pressing the icon in system tray and after that try to un-mute it by Fn+F2 it will show the “unmute” icon and will even beep, but the sound does not actually turn on :)

    So, waiting for any kind of thoughts on such an issue. The model is VGN-SZ2HRP/B

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    Did you get the updated SFEP driver from windows update (if available) also might be worth checking for new sound drivers, IIRC the sony software just runs “standard” commands to change volume and stuff, in much the same way that a standard keyboard with function buttons works. So its best to check both ends :)

  • Al

    as for fingerprint sensor:
    Here is the original Sony version for Window 7 of UPEK Protector Suite 2009.2 to run your fingerprint scanner on Vaio, 32bit.
    This is a full version with no restrictions. Must have!
    http://rapidshare.com/files/302808535/7UPG_PROT…

  • Yuri

    Thanks alot! It work fr my model VGN-A517S (old one =))
    I installed drivers forom VISTA version in sequence:

    1. VAIO Event Service (From Utilities Folder)
    2. Reboot
    3. SONY DLL Utils (From Utilities Folder)
    4. Reboot
    5. SONY Shared Library (From Utilities Folder)

    And now my fn keys work and also all buttons(vol, brightness, s1 e.g)

  • MickUK

    Thanks – confirmed this works with VGN-TX3XP

  • Athens

    hi saeed, i got the same problem like yours…can u guide me to where i can download those driver/software to get at least some part of my FW35G working?
    Thanks

  • oferhers

    hallo mate

    how can I, un-install the sony shared Library

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    im afraid i dont know, my understanding is that its a few dlls that get installed.

    why do you need to uninstall it?

  • Gwenster

    Strangely enough I only have the SPM related shell error on the retail version of Win7 Ultimate; in the RC it worked fine (as well as my brightness keys) – To get around the shell error is easy . Delete all the Vaio power plans. You will only get the shell errors on the Vaio power plans. You can easily use the existing Windows 7 power plans and re-configure them to how they were in Vaio's plans.

    Strangely enough this above method gave me access to all the FN keys in Windows 7 RC , tough doing the same method in Windows 7 Retail only gives me the audio buttons to work and the brightness doesnt. DOH !

  • idstephen

    Thanks Ben, this works with a VGN-BX51XP. At first, I thought only the brightness function keys were working as they bring up a brightness indicator bar on the screen to show the adjustments being made. The volume keys used to bring up a similar volume adjustment indicator bar in XP – this doesn't happen now in Windows 7 but the function still works. This is great support mate, much better than on Sony's website – thank you. PS there were no device problems / SPFE driver issues in my case so I'm guessing the newer windows update must've taken care of this. cheers

  • himanshuchopra

    dear ben ive been tracking this post since two days and trying whole lots of things with my VGN CR 515E…but am afraid nothings working…just to give u a picture of my case to you
    1- i have SFEP from the windows update and it is there in the Human interface device category in the device manager.
    2- i tried to install sony netbook utilities frm sony support but tht gave a battery error as it had some battery checker thing.

    3- i have extracted the netbook utilities from universal extracter and there is no set up file inside Vaio event service (VES) neither dll utilities

    4- i have sony shared library sepretatly with me.

    plzz do help me out with anythng u could…i have downloaded the dll utilities tht u provided as well…am using windows 7 X64 on my system

  • himanshuchopra

    hey ben it was gud to hear ur good find…may be u cud help me out with ut knowledge abt this problem…i have sony vaio VGN CR515E tht came shipped with windows vista home premium 32 bit..now i have updated my system to windows 7 ultimate 64 bit to make use of my ram more and to get better security features…now the problem is ive tried everything in the book to get my function keys and hot keys working but i got lil results…only the volume hot key are working function,keys for brightness controls are not working still…ive got from one of the forums where a guy did the same thing i mean installing x64 on 32 bit machine and he was also facing the same problem but when he downgraded to 32 bit he was able to use them with the trick ur offering…can plzz advice me do i need to downgrade as well to 32 bit….or should i wait for sony to release something…i mean i can wait coz its not a big thing but just wanna know if this is foreseable in the future?
    would appreciate ur advice on this

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    i think the problem here is there arent any 64 bit drivers for vista/or 7 at sony, if there was never a 64bit option from the factory they probably havent made any. Not sure what to suggest im afraid, short of maybe seeing if you can get an evaluation copy of windows 7 32bit (ms normally has some kind of eval version) and see if it works on that. Sorry i cant be of more assistance.

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    as per my previous comment, it sounds like a downgrade might be the key here, and sadly i dont think its a supported operation, so you'll probably have to backup your files, reformat and then install as fresh. (P.S. If it says edited it was just me changing the “s” word to something less offensive ;) )

  • Pat

    anyone tried this with vaio VGN-CS31S and vista home premium 64. I tried and it didn't work. Any suggestions?

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    as I understand it so far, the drivers only work for 32 bit so unless sony release an update (sometimes harder than getting blood from a stone) i think you may be out of luck. sorry

  • http://www.myspace.com/womanatwork Claudia

    thanks a lot!!!

  • Francisco Gaitán

    This worked great. However I had a newer Vaio and had already installed Vaio Power Management and Sony® Notebook Utilities (which included VAIO Event Service and SONY DLL Utilities).
    I first installed the Sony Firmware Extension Parser, and then proceded to install Sony® Shared Library. After the reboot, I regained brightness control and the rest of my functions keys. I had already the mute and multimedia buttons enabled, but this completes the compatibility.

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    thats great, glad to hearyou got things working :)

  • naffygetter

    I had tried for some time to sort out the function keys after changing to Win 7. This sorted it – thanks. Have you similar tips for sorting out a non-working Bluetooth?

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    I don't have Bluetooth on mine.

    I assume your tried the vista drivers for Bluetooth from sonys website
    already?

    I have a vague recolection of some software called bluesoleil which
    included a driver. Have a quick google for it and see if it helps.

  • Mohammad

    Works well with my sony SR-31M. thanks a bunch

  • Derk

    Your blog post is an example of why internet is so great.

    My FZ21M is working like a charm now. Thank you very much

  • AcaCandy

    I have a VGN-CR220E and cannot get my FN keys working, nor the volume. Volume works, but, volume meter is not shown.

    On Sony's website they have what they say is Windows 7 driver for the function key, but, when installing it, error message indicates that it only works as a Vista upgrade…….. *sigh*

  • Machine_Named_Steve

    This post was very helpful, but I was only able to get half of the function keys to work. I'm using an AR590ce, and this modle was not listed on the euro site, the closest thing they had was an AR58j (looks identical to the 590). Interestingly enough when I get to the list of utilities to install -> reboot, the is no SONY DLL Utils in the package from the euro site. The US site has SONY DLL Utils within a software pack that would install everything at once, which we all know doesn't work. Volume, and mute work fine, but I would really like to get the eject button to work again, any thoughts?

  • AcaCandy

    Well, I finally got it working, by uninstalling the Sony stuff I had installed, then starting over, step by step, and rebooting each step.

  • AcaCandy

    Yes, it is a shame. I do have one remaining issue, and I think I’ve seen it posted either here, or somewhere else, regarding the jumping of the placement of typing, while typing along, it will jump back to the beginning of a sentence. Once you put it back where you were, it will continue along.

    This is a new happening with the driver installation(s). Or perhaps I’m missing another driver. This one I can live with, so, I’m hesitant to mess with it again, until I have to (Windows reinstall catastrophe, etc.)

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    Thankyou for your feedback, glad you got it working. It's a shame Sony
    won't just release a single download .exe that will configure the lot!

  • Louis

    Hey, i have a sony VGN-AR51M and i downloaded the driver and utilities from the link you specified for my laptop but either folder does not seem to have the sony dll utilities in it. I didnt think to check first and went ahead with steps 1 and 2 but now im stuck unless anyone here can help???

  • Narelle

    How (and what) do I uninstall in order to re-install in the correct order? (The problems are the function keys- volume and brightness, and the internal microphone and DVD hardware buttons, and fingerprint scanner. So far everything else seems ok.) I haven't been able to install some drivers or utilities (as in the list at step 5) because the 'wise installation' checks my system and refuses to install as it is windows 7 not vista.

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    Hi sorry for the slow response I have been busy.

    If you install the mouse/touchpad driver you should get an app in control panel somewhere to configure the touchpad/joystick(nipple thing in keyboard) i found on my BX series that it was the joystick mouse that casused the jumps.

    if that doesnt help you can disable tapping whilst typing in the mouse options.

    Im sure i read about a little freeware app or script which got around the problem but I cant for the life of me remember whwre i found it, i’ll post if i do find it.

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    for me i uninstalled everything i could then started in the order posted above. what model of laptop do you have? Im surprised there are no windows 7 drivers yet, most of the reasonably modern laptops appeared to get upgrades of drivers.

    As for fingerprint scanner, the link at the bottom with the upek software should help thats what i used, although i think the sense was actually found properly by windows itself.

    Some of the drivers you might be able to get awat with using the inf file in the folder of the driver if the setup.exe doesnt work, but this can get tricky so tread carefully.

    If you can let me know what model laptop you have i'll have a see what i can find out

  • Jon

    Worked !! =) Sony Vaio VGN-NS20E

  • Zenlim22

    In your ‘Start’ menu click on ‘Run’ and type in services.msc
    You’ll see a long list called Services (Local), click on the name parameter to have them sorted alphabetically.
    Find the one called VAIO Event Service. Double click this and ensure that for Startup Type it says ‘automatic’, if it does not, change it to ‘automatic’ and click ‘apply’.
    Then be sure below that, that the Service Status says ‘Started’.

    This should help, I had the same problem where I could not use my Fn key to adjust volume or brightness and this solution worked for me. Bonne Chance!

  • Zenlim22

    In your 'Start' menu click on 'Run' and type in services.msc
    You'll see a long list called Services (Local), click on the name parameter to have them sorted alphabetically.
    Find the one called VAIO Event Service. Double click this and ensure that for Startup Type it says 'automatic', if it does not, change it to 'automatic' and click 'apply'.
    Then be sure below that, that the Service Status says 'Started'.

  • http://www.funys.net Ben Gillam

    Thanks for the tip hopefully it will come in useful for others :)

  • http://www.helpcomputing.net wecanhelp

    Whoa, and then it all starts to tumble into place!

    SD card reader found here: http://www.downloadwindowsdrivers.info/pci/ven_1180/dev_0822/subsys_903f104d/

    I used the latest driver there against an entry in Device Manager that began SD Host Controller.

    Armed with that success I began to look for a driver for the Base System Device that I figured must be the Sony MS controller. The driver that worked was on this page:

    http://www.downloadwindowsdrivers.info/pci/ven_1180/dev_0592

    I used the latest driver there 6.03.00.0061.

    So now my card reader is working! Hope this helps others.

    Regards,

    helpcomputing

  • http://www.helpcomputing.net helpcomputing

    Sweeeeet! The process worked for my TT21JN. But didn't activate my built-in card reader :-(

    The search goes on.

    Just thought I'd say that the Sony website for the TT21JN has the DLL (drivers) listed separately. But Windows 7 had most of those down. Still, I downloaded those that seemed like I might need them, like the chipset drivers and the memory card reader drivers and installed them where I could. And followed Ben's order.

    And now my front panel works!

    Cheers Ben!

  • Peter

    worked perfectly on my sony vaio vgn-c2z/b. Thanks a lot! A couple of my devices were disabled in the device manager i noticed afterwards and i just enabled them again. Whether that was after this specifically i cant say.