Resigned to wait for SP1 on my VAIO

I have the (presumably) dreaded "problematic driver" issue on my VAIO
VGN-430N/B Laptop. It uses the "stwrt.sys" driver noted as problematic on
MS's website for SP1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343 (SP1 not
offered by Windows Update).

An updated driver is not available on Sony's website or on the MS Update
website.

I suppose the best thing to do is to wait for Sony to figure this out and
put the update on their website or send it to MS for inclusion in the MS
Update process. Apparently, after that is updated, SP1 will be offered.
Funny, Sony support knew nothing about this issue. Told me to try defraging
my drive and to try again... sheesh!

Anyhow... that's my plan. It occurs to me that this may be a better plan
than downloading the full SP1 and trying to "force fit" it into your system.
I've read so many heartaches about trashed systems.

Just a thought...

-Frank

Frankster wrote:
> I have the (presumably) dreaded "problematic driver" issue on my VAIO
> VGN-430N/B Laptop. It uses the "stwrt.sys" driver noted as problematic
> on MS's website for SP1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343 (SP1 not
> offered by Windows Update).
>
> An updated driver is not available on Sony's website or on the MS Update
> website.
>
> I suppose the best thing to do is to wait for Sony to figure this out
> and put the update on their website or send it to MS for inclusion in
> the MS Update process. Apparently, after that is updated, SP1 will be
> offered. Funny, Sony support knew nothing about this issue. Told me to
> try defraging my drive and to try again... sheesh!
>
> Anyhow... that's my plan. It occurs to me that this may be a better plan
> than downloading the full SP1 and trying to "force fit" it into your
> system. I've read so many heartaches about trashed systems.
>
> Just a thought...
>
> -Frank

I dont know if this helps, but read this thread

http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=934908

"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news: ...
>I have the (presumably) dreaded "problematic driver" issue on my VAIO
>VGN-430N/B Laptop. It uses the "stwrt.sys" driver noted as problematic on
>MS's website for SP1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343 (SP1 not
>offered by Windows Update).
>
> An updated driver is not available on Sony's website or on the MS Update
> website.
>
> I suppose the best thing to do is to wait for Sony to figure this out and
> put the update on their website or send it to MS for inclusion in the MS
> Update process. Apparently, after that is updated, SP1 will be offered.
> Funny, Sony support knew nothing about this issue. Told me to try
> defraging my drive and to try again... sheesh!
>
> Anyhow... that's my plan. It occurs to me that this may be a better plan
> than downloading the full SP1 and trying to "force fit" it into your
> system. I've read so many heartaches about trashed systems.
>
> Just a thought...
>
> -Frank

I have this file on my SZ440n (as well as the UPEK driver which is in on the
"verbotten" list). I forced the SP1 update by downloading the large
standalone installation and my Vaio has been running perfectly, since. I'd
recommend that you do a full backup, then try installing from the
standalone. If, for some reason, it doesn't work, you can always restore
from the backup. You may find, as I did, that it works fine.

>

"PTravel" <> wrote in message
news:%23rv%...
>
> "Frankster" <> wrote in message
> news: ...
>>I have the (presumably) dreaded "problematic driver" issue on my VAIO
>>VGN-430N/B Laptop. It uses the "stwrt.sys" driver noted as problematic on
>>MS's website for SP1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343 (SP1 not
>>offered by Windows Update).
>>
>> An updated driver is not available on Sony's website or on the MS Update
>> website.
>>
>> I suppose the best thing to do is to wait for Sony to figure this out and
>> put the update on their website or send it to MS for inclusion in the MS
>> Update process. Apparently, after that is updated, SP1 will be offered.
>> Funny, Sony support knew nothing about this issue. Told me to try
>> defraging my drive and to try again... sheesh!
>>
>> Anyhow... that's my plan. It occurs to me that this may be a better plan
>> than downloading the full SP1 and trying to "force fit" it into your
>> system. I've read so many heartaches about trashed systems.
>>
>> Just a thought...
>>
>> -Frank
>
> I have this file on my SZ440n (as well as the UPEK driver which is in on
> the "verbotten" list). I forced the SP1 update by downloading the large
> standalone installation and my Vaio has been running perfectly, since.
> I'd recommend that you do a full backup, then try installing from the
> standalone. If, for some reason, it doesn't work, you can always restore
> from the backup. You may find, as I did, that it works fine.
>
>>
>

Thank you! I will try that. In my case, since I'm a MS Partner, I will be
getting the full SP1 on-disk in the next week. I'll probably just use that
rather than downloading.

And, yes, my SZ430N/B also has the older UPEK Biometric driver. Didn't
realize that when I wrote my first message. As it happens, I don't use the
Biometric logon anyway, but it is running and loaded. Just curious, does
yours actually work after SP1 with the older driver? Or don't you use it
either... LOL...

Again, thanks for this specific information. Appreciate it.

-Frank

"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news: ...
>

> And, yes, my SZ430N/B also has the older UPEK Biometric driver. Didn't
> realize that when I wrote my first message. As it happens, I don't use the
> Biometric logon anyway, but it is running and loaded. Just curious, does
> yours actually work after SP1 with the older driver? Or don't you use it
> either... LOL...

I do use it, and it works fine. In fact, everything is working perfectly,
except that Sony Update can no longer identify the operating system. I
think this is an error on the Sony update website, rather than a specific
problem with SP1.

SP1 has fixed a couple of problems, including slow network file copy and
Explorer crashing when copying, deleting or moving very large files ( > 2
gb). The notorious "local only" wifi problem appears to be ameliorated, as
well. Generally, my machine appears a little "zippier" post-SP1, but that
may just be my imagination. I was poised to install XP, but decided to give
SP1 a try. Now, I think the downgrade to XP is unnecessary.

>
> Again, thanks for this specific information. Appreciate it.

My pleasure. You also might want to look at this Sony notebook-specific
website:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8

>
> -Frank
>
>

"PTravel" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "Frankster" <> wrote in message
> news: ...
>>
>
>> And, yes, my SZ430N/B also has the older UPEK Biometric driver. Didn't
>> realize that when I wrote my first message. As it happens, I don't use
>> the Biometric logon anyway, but it is running and loaded. Just curious,
>> does yours actually work after SP1 with the older driver? Or don't you
>> use it either... LOL...
>
> I do use it, and it works fine. In fact, everything is working perfectly,
> except that Sony Update can no longer identify the operating system. I
> think this is an error on the Sony update website, rather than a specific
> problem with SP1.
>
> SP1 has fixed a couple of problems, including slow network file copy and
> Explorer crashing when copying, deleting or moving very large files ( > 2
> gb). The notorious "local only" wifi problem appears to be ameliorated,
> as well. Generally, my machine appears a little "zippier" post-SP1, but
> that may just be my imagination. I was poised to install XP, but decided
> to give SP1 a try. Now, I think the downgrade to XP is unnecessary.
>
>>
>> Again, thanks for this specific information. Appreciate it.
>
> My pleasure. You also might want to look at this Sony notebook-specific
> website:
>
> http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8
>
>>
>> -Frank
>>
>>
>

Hey PTravel... Thanks! I realized that my on-disk SP1 wouldn't arrive until
near the end of April. So... I went ahead and downloaded the full SP1
release. It installed fine. And, as you said, no issues with the drivers.
They still work fine.

I do appreciate your specific help with the Sony SZ series laptop. Without
your testimonial I wouldn't have had the nerve to do it...LOL...

-Frank