BIOS for Sony VAIO

Sony VAIO towers have the model number on the little door on the front of the case that covers the media reader, down near the bottom. On this particular tower, the door has broken off. Using the model number on the back (it's PCV-C12L) I'm linked to 3 different models, and they all have the same BIOS. When I go install this update (version 2004, the PC has version 2003), it errors out with "cannot read system information" or something real close to that. The motherboard is an ASUS model PTGD-VX. I have found very little on the web using the model numbers listed here. The reason I need to update the BIOS is that no video cards will work in this PC. It has on board video, but the owner wants to upgrade. She had a PCI video card, but didn't know that she was supposed to plug the monitor into it (obviously she's not really a PC person). So she's been running on board video for over a year with the PCI video card installed. Now, this shouldn't be possible. Usually, when any video card is installed in a MB with on board video, the on board video is 'disabled' and all video is sent to the PCI card. So plugging into the on board VGA port should produce no picture. Not so on this PC. I've tried a brand new PCIE Radeon 1650Pro, and 3 different PCI cards ranging from an old Geforce2 to her previously installed (but non-functioning) BFG FX5500. None of 'em work. Only the on board video works. The Sony site mentions that the new BIOS addresses a video issue with add-on cards, but without the exact model of the PC, I haven't been able to find the correct BIOS. Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

Hi dlb,
I had one like that , some time ago, that gave me similar pain.
The bios was password protected, and I managed to clear it with the removal, and waita minut replace cmos battery procedure, eventually.
It was a pig to clear, - I suppose you tried that.
I remember, at the time downloading all sorts of password crackers to try to get by it.

 

The BIOS is not locked. I can get in and look around and change any settings I want. It is a VERY rudimentary and basic BIOS and has no settings for a PCI or PCIE or any type of video card. The BIOS has absolutely no video settings whatsoever. None for shared memory, none for aperature, none for "init display first"... nothing. There is one setting that I thought was video related in the Boot Settings Configuration section (in the Advanced Boot Settings menu). The setting is called 'AddOn ROM Display Mode' and the two choices are "Keep Current" and "Force BIOS". I've tried both settings with PCI video cards and PCIE video cards with no change. The PC still boots and video is displayed using on board video with (or without) a PCI card installed. If you plug the VGA cable into the PCI card, there's no video, and if a PCIE card is installed, the PC will not post or beep and there's no video regardless of where the monitor cable is plugged in. I'm at a loss. Anyone???? Anything??? :cry

 

Sorry that was only a longshot, sometimes the obvious is forgotten - at least it is with me.
I have just got a similar problem, on a packard bell, socket 775, that will not post with a pci-e card in, and only works without. When I get windows installed, I am going to try uninstalling the present driver to the graphics, and then shut down, and unplug, and then put in graphics card, and restart, to see if it will find it then -
It is possible, though, that I will have to look at a bios update, too, or, that this model is just picky.
Must be someone on majorgeeks thats seen this problem, before.

 

So I was able to get a PCIE video card to work, an XFX nVidia GeForce 7600GT, the drivers loaded, and it seemed to run perfectly. Then the PCs owner started playing one of those Lord Of The Rings online RPGs. It seemed to play fine. In fact, she said she'd never seen it play so well, and was surprised to see multi-colored sunsets, and flowers in the grass. Big smiles all around, right? It was short lived. She exited the game, and all hell broke loose. The resolution 'locked' and wouldn't change, when the Start button was clicked on there was nothing in the bottom part where 'log off' and 'turn off computer' would normally be. Then the start menu 'bonded' to the wall paper so when you clicked on the start button, you couldn't tell if it was actually the menu or the wallpaper. So we shut down using the task manager. Rebooted, and all seemed OK. The game played OK, and exited OK, and it shut down OK. I did recommend that the game be uninstalled and reinstalled so it can be set up for the new video card, but I have a sinking feeling that I'll be hearing from the Sony's owner come Monday morning (I do NO computer work on Sundays )..... If only the freekin' BIOS would update!

 

Pleased to see you got a card working, I cannot try mine until a new hard drive comes.
Iwould be interested to know how you got it working, in case mine will not work, when I get the hard drive.

 

sorry if this is an old thread. but dlb, i'd like to know how to got the video cards to work. i have a BFG FX5500 , and i've been looking allll over google for an answer to how i can get this to work.

Your the only hope i found to getting anything done with this stinkin computer.
All calls i made to sony, the geek squad, and best buy (where i bought it) where helpless. no1 understands why or how they would be able to help.

Sony's are a pain ..

Thanks for your help in advance .




please email me if possible. aaronlang@ymail.com .