NVIDIA Drivers. Cannot update.

[frankcarrington]

I have a Sony all in one pc the VPC13S1E.   Have tried to run a couple of games, Battlefield 3 etc, and they all say the display driver is outdated and needs to be updated.

So I check my drivers details and its 8.16.11.8950 version, last updated 2010.  So I go to NVIDIA site and download the latest drivers and installers but the Sony promptly rejects them and the NVIDIA software says that the relevant hardware is not found.   Though I am 100% sure I am downloading the right driver for the right card.

Having then looked all over the internet I see that I am , by far, not the only one having this problem.  The Sony just will not allow itself to be updated.

After my past experiance with Sony I dont hold out any hope of them solving this problem.   Seems to be a case of you have bought it now and the warrenty has expired if you dont like it just buy another of our computers.

So any suggestions?  (I am not upto altering BOIS as some on the net have had to do)

I am sure that one of you clever guys out there knows the solution.  How do I update the NVIDIA GeForce 330M drivers on my Sony VPC13S1E?

Thanks!!

PS Please dont say go to control panel, device manager-display drivers-update driver as I have been there and done that as they say.   That just says I have the latest driver, which I dont.

[frankcarrington]

Yes that is the model.  I tried to put up the link myself several times but the forum just would not update and I keep getting errors.  Very frustrating.

Anyway there are no Graphic Card updates on there.

Not having much luck am I?  Oh and yes this is a European model.  I am from UK.

[rich912]

Hi frankcarrington,

In that case your only option is a modified INF plus drivers released by NVIDIA.

Rich

[frankcarrington]

Thanks Rich.  Modifiying the INF file is not the only solution is it?

Sony should actually show its buyers some support!  Update the products you sell Sony.  But would I be right in saying its a case of sell and forget?

Anyways thanks for all the replies guys.  At least you try to help. 

[kasattack]

I have the same model ( VPCL13SE )  & have the same problem re- graphic card update, i don't know why you guys keep repeating 2 year old information regarding inf files.  Please stop, it does not work!  You cannot access the graphics card via device manager, it is near impossible for a normal pc user to understand how to navigate around this setup. ( nvidia control panel )

The updated driver is below, just go to nvidia site to download it, you may end up having to pay a pro to update the card though.

Sony have become horrible to deal with that's for sure, Mind you aren't most of the other large companies the same?

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/win7-winvista-64bit-295.73-whql-driver-uk.html

[rich912]

Hi kasattack,

If I am out of date on the procedure for more recent models then I apologise.

I was aware that it was a possibility that Sony would introduce the ability to install NVIDIA unified architecture drivers on forthcoming models but unaware that this has possibly already taken place.

That said 'frankcarrington' indicated in the initial post that he was able to access the graphics device in Device Manager.

“PS Please dont say go to control panel, device manager-display drivers-update driver as I have been there and done that as they say.   That just says I have the latest driver, which I dont.”

I also note that the NVIDIA GeForce 330M (mobile) is not listed as supported product on the driver link you posted.

We obviously need to seek clarification from Sony on which, if any, models this refers to and the procedure necessary to update the driver.

Thank you for highlighting this and your input.

Rich

[frankcarrington]

Hi guys,

Yes I can access the  driver via both the Nvidia controls and the Control panel windows 7 plus a couple of other ways a bit more complicated.

There are updates out there.  There is an install program from Nvidia to install the updated driver, the problem lies in the way Sony have set up the installation of the actual card.  A good analogy is to say they have set up a firewall around it that means the external NVIDIA system does not even find the card.  I find its frustrating.  Sony have really shot themselves in the foot, so to speak.  They are going to become like Merc cars great reputation and everyone wanted them.  They got greedy and tried cutting corners and ignoring customer service.  Now they are paying for it in dropped sales and bad reputation.

Sony should be sorting this, not us.   So come one Sony give us some support!!

[rich912]

Hi frankcarrington,

If I am correct on this, and I reserve judgement until we receive clarification from Sony, then the problem lies within the INF file supplied by NVIDIA, albeit possibly at the request of Sony.

When installing most drivers the INF file is scanned for compatible device hardware ID. If this is not found then driver install is rejected. Hence the need for a modified INF file that includes the hardware ID for the Sony Vaio (NVIDIA) graphics chip.

We will try to get clarification on the points raised by ‘kasattack’ but it may take a while...

Rich

Message was edited by: rich912

Message was edited by: rich912

[kasattack]

Hi frank, you're the 1st person struggling that has the same pc as me, i've had a bit of progress after posting here yesterday, namely i can now see my graphic card in device manager.  I think you did some sort of re-set that's why you didn't have to follow the below procedure.

       So now i'm at the same stage as you, you seem to have more pc knowledge, so if you read this blog below you may be able to understand how to modify your inf files.  Read the whole page as it covers almost 2 years & as we know some of the info given is out of date.

http://www.theexperienceblog.com/2009/08/18/how-to-modify-and-install-nvidia-drivers-for-mobile-grap...

If you ( or anyone else reading ) figure it out, please post a step by step guide here.

Just to say, it's not just Sony giving us the shaft, those gits at Nvidia are just as bad, you would think they would be ashamed of themselves for ruining so many peoples laptops with their faulty chips & only to happy to try & help, nah, not a bit of it:smileyangry: