SonyVaioVGN-FZ18

Current Issues

- If suspended (using Gnome's "turn computer off" interface), seems to go in suspension well, but doesn't come back (computer hangs, black screen, ShiftLock/Numlock/... keys don't respond)

- Hibernate doesn't work either (using Gnome)

Both issues with a new system installed (Gutsy 7.10 Beta), out-of-the-box, I need to tweak the system to see if these problems can be solved using well-known fixes for power management bugs.

- The screen brightness can't be changed. The Fn (F5 and F6) keys won't give any response, and using utilities directly from a shell (spicctrl, smartdimmer and such) won't work either. This is a known problem with several Vaio models and a fix (from nvidia) is in the works. You may want to give a try to the latest nvidia drivers to check if it's fixed.

- Webcam will not work without tweaking. To make it work, just install the r5u870 kernel module as explained in this post. After installing (and loading) it the webcam will work like a charm (tested with Ekiga and aMSN). If you have troubles after installing the kernel module try the following:

1) make the /dev/video0 device world writable and readable (chmod 666 /dev/video0)

2) Add "uvcvideo" to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist, as it might interfere with the r5u870 kernel module.

System Info

 $ sudo dmidecode -s system-manufacturer
Sony Corporation

$ sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name
VGN-FZ18E

$ sudo dmidecode -s system-version
C3LPDTC0 

Hardware details

Screen & Monitors

Device

Works?

Bug #

in Gutsy 7.10 Beta

in Gutsy 7.10

Screen

Working

Working

Correct resolution?

Yes

Yes

Correct refresh rate?

Yes

Yes

3D Acceleration

Yes

Yes

External monitor works?

Untested

Untested

External monitor - mirrors

Untested

Untested

External monitor - extend desktop

Untested

Untested

Power Management

Battery detected?

Yes

Yes

Hibernates?

No

No

Suspend

No

No

Dim monitor on battery

No

No

Blank monitor on inactivity

Yes

Yes

Lid Close

Yes

Yes

Cpu frequency scaling

Yes

Yes

Sound

Sound works?

Yes

Yes

Correct volume?

Yes

Yes

Hardware volume switch

Yes

Yes

Headphone jack

Untested

Untested

Mic jack

Untested

Untested

Networking

Wired NIC

Untested

Yes

Wireless NIC

Yes

Yes

PCMCIA NIC

Untested

Untested

Firewire

Untested

Untested

Bluetooth

Untested

Untested

Modem

Untested

Untested

Infrared

Untested

Untested

Touchpad & Mice

Touchpad

Yes

Yes

Touchpad - Doubletap = double click

Yes

Yes

Touchpad - Scroll down side

Yes

Yes

External mouse - USB

Yes

Yes

External mouse - Serial

Untested

Untested

Docking Station/Port Replicator

AC through replicator

Untested

Untested

USB

Untested

Untested

Serial

Untested

Untested

Parallel

Untested

Untested

External Monitor - VGA

Untested

Untested

External Monitor - DVI

Untested

Untested

Modem

Untested

Untested

NIC

Untested

Untested

PS/2

Untested

Untested

Additional Hardware

Fingerprint reader

Untested

Untested

CD/DVD drive

Untested

Untested

PCMCIA cards

Untested

Untested

Parallel Ports

Untested

Untested

Card reader(s)

Untested

Untested

Motion Eye Cam

Untested

Yes (using r5u870 kernel module)

Function and other keys

Fn key

Operation

Keycode

Works?

Bug #

in Gutsy 7.10 Beta?

in Gutsy 7.10

+ Space

Untested

Untested

+ Esc

Untested

Untested

+ F1

Untested

Untested

+ F2

Mute

Yes

Yes

+ F3

Untested

Untested

+ F4

Untested

Untested

+ F5

Brightness -

No

No

+ F6

Brightness +

No

No

+ F7

Switch video output

Untested

Untested

+ F8

Untested

Untested

+ F9

Untested

Untested

+ F10

Zoom in

No

No

+ F11

Untested

Untested

+ F12

Hibernate

No

No

Other special keys

Key

Operation

Keycode

Works?

Bug #

in Gutsy 7.10 Beta

in Gutsy 7.10

KEY

Untested

Untested

Play/Pause

Play/Pause

Yes

Yes

Previous track

Previous track

Yes

Yes

Next Track

Next Track

Yes

Yes

Stop

Stop

Yes

Yes

Suspend

Suspend

No

No

Power button

Power button

Yes

Yes

Notes

LaptopTestingTeam/SonyVaioVGN-FZ18 (last edited 2010-03-02 11:35:49 by host226-241-dynamic)