Sony® VAIO® PCG-K3x (K33, K35, K37) series laptops and Windows® 7.
I know there are no Windows® 7 drivers released by Sony® for the PCG-K3x series laptop. So, I used Vista drivers when I could, otherwise I used Windows® XP drivers. Most of the files are from Sonys® website and some were found searching the Internet. I have installed every driver listed so I know they work under Windows® 7. My goal was to get Windows® 7 running all the same Sony® software as a Vista computer would. Now, I did not include every Sony® program because I do not use 'Media Server', 'DVDgate' and other such programs.
There is an update for Vista listed on Sonys® website called: Sony® Utilities DLL Update, filename SOASNU-01298604-US. I tried to install this file many times but I always got a "not intended for this model" error message. I did find the same DLL version for another model that did install, however; the Fn keys no longer worked. For this reason I have left it out.
There is a Vista program called 'Battery Check' on Sonys® website. I installed this program and found that it will not allow my laptop to run with a battery plugged in because it is not an original Sony®. For this reason I have left it out.
Item number 16 on the 'Windows 7 Install' list is VAIO® Action Setup. It is a hot key assignment program and is not really needed. I installed it because I use it. The choice is yours whether to install it or not.
Windows® 7 install procedure for Sony® PCG-K3x (K33, K35, K37) series laptops.
All the drivers used in this article can be downloaded here. (233.66MB)
Some files may require that you set compatibility before the install. You only need to set compatibility on the acutal executable file (the install program to run).
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Install Windows® 7
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Install Windows® 7 Service Pack 1 - if needed
My Windows® 7 Ultimate included Service Pack 1
I would recommend installing Service Pack 1 before installing the drivers
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Install Radeon IGP 345M Video drivers:
Set compatibility to WinXP SP3 first, then
Run Setup found in "PCG-K3x\Win7\Video"
Choose Custom install and make sure only ATI Display Driver is checked
If you forget this step you can always uninstall the ATI Control Panel, not compatibile with Windows® 7
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Install Realtek AC97 Audio drivers:
Run Setup found in "PCG-K3x\Vista-Win7\Audio"
During the install you will get a "can't verify publisher" warning, install anyway
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Install Wireless Device drivers:
If you have the LAN-Express AS IEEE 802.11g miniPCI Adapter
Run Setup found in "PCG-K3x\Win7\Wireless"
------------------------- OR -------------------------
If you have the Broadcom BCM43222 miniPCI device
Run Setup found in "BCM43222\Vista-Win7\v5.100.249.2"
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Install Texas Instruments PCI7420 Integrated FlashMedia Controller drivers:
Run SODOTH-01362101-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\Memory Stick"
Run TIDMSC-00605920-UN found in "PCG-K3x\Win7\Memory Stick"
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Install Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC drivers:
Run Setup found in "PCG-K3x\Win7\Network"
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Install Alps Pointing device drivers:
Run Setup found in "PCG-K3x\Win7\TouchPad"
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Update Driver... for Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Device:
This should show as 'Unknown Device' in Device Manager
Browse to "PCG-K3x\Win7\Sony Firmware Extension Parser"
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Install Sony® Shared Library Update:
Run SOASSL-A1298203-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\System Components"
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Install Sony® Notebook Utilities:
Run SOAOTH-31100000-US found in "PCG-K3x\WinXP\Notebook Control and Utilities"
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Fn keys should be working now, except the Audio functions,
they work on screen but do not control anything
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Uninstall Sony® Notebook Setup, not compatibile with Windows® 7,
you can also delete the unused shared files if you want
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Install Sony® Notebook Control Device Driver:
Set compatibility to Vista first, then
Run SOAOTH-00445800-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\Notebook Control and Utilities"
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Install Sony® Programmable I/O Control Device Driver Utility:
Set compatibility to Vista first, then
Run SODSPI-A0445700-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\System Components"
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Install VAIO® Action Setup
Run SOAOTH-01311701-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\Applications"
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Install Setting Utility Series Update:
Run SOASUS-01306401-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\Notebook Control and Utilities"
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Install Sony® AppMon Utility Update:
Run SOAOTH-01302501-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\Software\System"
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Install VAIO® Event Services Update:
Run SOAVES-01302701-US found in "PCG-K3x\Vista\Applications"
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Install VAIO® Power Management 5.0:
Run setup found in "PCG-K3x\Win7\VAIO Power Management"
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Install VAIO® Update Software
Run SOAVUD-00260867-1070 found in "PCG-K3x\WinXP\VAIO\Update"
Run SOAVUD-00279742-10F0 found in "PCG-K3x\WinXP\VAIO\Update"
NTI® DVD-Maker 7 - Windows® 7 install.
The first software I installed was Roxio® 2010 CD/DVD burning software. The install runs then will reverse itself (Setup Interrupted) and end the installation. I then tried Roxio® Creator 8, which ended with a "blue screen of death" regarding an ATI dll. After that failed I then tried Roxio® 6 and then Nero® 7. All these install attempts failed with a "incompatible with this version of Windows" error. I think the reason is the video only supports DirectX 6 or 7, I am not sure. I then tried NTI® DVD-Maker Gold v7 and was able to get it running, after doing the below procedure.
The NTI® DVD-Maker 7 software used in this article can be downloaded here. (116MB)
At the end of the NTI® DVD-Maker 7 install you will get a "incompatible with this version of Windows"
error. Just click 'Cancel'. At this point DVD-Maker 7 is installed but needs some work before it will run
under Windows® 7 and I suggest this be done before you reboot.
First you need to rename 2 files. You need to make sure the radio button 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives' is selected. Make sure the checkbox 'Hide extensions for known file types' is un-checked. Open the 'Windows\System32\drivers' directory. Find the file NTIDrvr.sys and rename it to NTIDrvrX.sys. Find the file UBHelper.sys and rename it to UBHelperX.sys. Now we need the Class GUID of your CD/DVD drive. Open 'Device Manager' and look at the properties of your CD/DVD. Go to the 'Details' tab and select 'Device class guid' from the drop-down list. Select the 'Value' then right-click and click 'Copy'. Open the Registry Editor (regedit) then click 'Edit', 'Find', then paste the guid value in the 'Find what:' box. Click 'Find Next'. You want to keep searching until you find the keys 'UpperFilters' and 'LowerFilters'. The values for these keys will be NTIDrvr and UBHelper. You need to blank out these 2 values, not the keys. You should search the entire registry to be sure you changed all the keys. Now, just reboot. NTI® DVD-Maker 7 should now work as normal.
Sony® PCG-k3x (K33, K35, K37) series laptops and Windows® 7 observations.
I have noticed some differences under Windows® 7, so far.
February 16, 2013
- The Fn keys do not work when Device Manager has focus. There may be other times when the Fn keys will not work.
- When a memory stick is inserted it does not show up in the 'Eject Hardware' list. The policy is set to use this option but it still does not work.
- Windows® 7 Ultimate includes a program called 'Windows DVD Maker' that will not run. The video does not support it. I'm sure there are other programs that will not install/run also.
- Cyberlink PowerDVD® 6 will install but it will not run. Windows® 7 will give you the "incompatible with this version of Windows" error.
- In the Public Video folder there is a Sample video called 'Wildlife.wmv' which will cause a 'Blue Screen of Death'. Seems to be caused by an ATI dll.
- I have tried to play a couple of DVD movies but again I get a 'Blue Screen of Death' pointing to the same ATI dll. Since I don't watch movies on my laptop this is not a problem for me.
- Any time my screen saver kicked in I would get a 'Blue Screen of Death' pointing to the same ATI dll.
February 20, 2013
- I found the reason I was having the above 'Blue Screen of Death' problems. I use avast! Anti-Virus Pro v7.0.1474 and the "Behavior Shield" was the problem. Once I turned off the "Behavior Shield" I could play .wmv files, DVD's and the screen saver worked. I have reported this problem to avast! so maybe it will be fixed some day.
March 10, 2013
- I have updated avast! Anti-Virus Pro to v8.0.1483 and found the "Behavior Shield" to still be a problem. "Behavior Shield" still needs to be turned off. According to avast! I'm still fully protected.
May 09, 2013
- I have updated avast! Anti-Virus Pro to v8.0.1488 and found the "Behavior Shield" to still be a problem. "Behavior Shield" still needs to be turned off.
May 14, 2013
- I have updated avast! Anti-Virus Pro to v8.0.1489 and found the "Behavior Shield" to still be a problem. "Behavior Shield" still needs to be turned off.
September 16, 2013
- I have updated avast! Anti-Virus Pro to v8.0.1497 and found the "Behavior Shield" to still be a problem. "Behavior Shield" still needs to be turned off.
November 05, 2013
- I have updated avast! Anti-Virus Pro to v2014.9.0.2007 and found everything working. "Behavior Shield" seems to be gone following the re-design.
As I find other differences I will add them to the list.
