topic Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI in PCs & Accessories

Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:18:21 GMT

I have a Sony Viao VPCZ139GG running the latest version of Windows 10. I can't connect to a monitor using HDMI. The Microsoft Basic Display Adaptor appears to have a fault (the icon shown in Device Manager has an asterisk through it) and attempts to find another driver through Microsoft say that my driver is the correct one. I have just updated to the latest Windows and the latest Display Adaptor has the same error. Is there another driver I can use, possibly via Sony? Putting my model number in directs me to the Sony Asia page where there doesn't appear to be any drivers. I would really appreciate some help here. Many thanks.

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

cass_n — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 16:37:04 GMT

Hi @johnarron and welcome to the community,

I'm just looking into this for you and will come back to you shortly (unless another member of the community beats me to it of course!).

Cheers,

Cass

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 21:18:22 GMT

Thanks Cass. I had Microsoft looking into this for a few hours and they couldn't find a solution. They suggest that I try and contact Sony support in Asia to see if an up-to-date driver for Windows 10 is available for my machine. I'm not sure if it is supported though.

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

Blencogo — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 22:06:24 GMT

Hi @johnarron and welcome.

Hopefully Cass will be able to find some further advice as I am a bit out of date but your Vaio is a Sony Asia model and support is available from their website

http://www.sony-asia.com/support/product/vpcz139gg

The main problem with the VPCZ-Series Vaios is that they were sold with switchable graphics and this required a hybrid driver which can switch from nVidia for 'Speed' graphics and Intel HD for less demanding 'Stamina' graphics:-

http://www.nvidia.com/object/sony_VAIO_z.html

When Windows 8 was released no hybrid driver was forthcoming, so Sony recommended staying with Windows 7 Pro as they would be unable to support this model with switchable graphics drivers for Windows 8. The latest graphics driver released was in October 2010.

Perhaps Cass can advise if a current stand alone NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M driver which is compatible with Windows 10 can be used to solve your problem. I guess the installer .INF may need modification to allow installation.

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

cass_n — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 09:09:05 GMT

Hi @johnarron,

I'm afraid I don't have too much else to add on from @Blencogo unfortunately (as he is much more knowledgeable in this area!). You could try to use a driver from another model from the Z13 series (e.g. https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/laptop-pc-vpc-series/vpcz13a7e) or check the Sony Asia website as already mentioned.

Cheers,

Cass

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 14:19:29 GMT

Hi Cass,

Thanks for the help and suggestions. Very much appreciated. What did you think of Blencogo's suggestion regarding the NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M driver which is compatible with Windows 10. Can the installer be modified to allow installation on my Vaio? Thanks, John

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

cass_n — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 15:09:52 GMT

Apologies, I don't know the answer to that one I'm afraid John.

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 15:24:42 GMT

ok, thanks anyway

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 15:27:54 GMT

Hi Blencogo, Cass couldnt advise on your suggestion regarding the NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M driver which is compatible with Windows 10. How would you modify the installer .INF ? Thanks, John

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 14:34:40 GMT

Hi Cass, do you think reinstalling Windows 7 might help? Thanks, John

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 14:36:18 GMT

Hi Blencogo, not sure if you saw my message to Cass, but would reinstalling Windows 7 resolve the problem. Thanks, John

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

cass_n — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 10:17:46 GMT

@Blencogo - not sure if you've seen John's followup questions on this thread, so tagging you in this post just in case!

Hi John - Windows 7 may help, as Blencogo mentioned earlier:

When Windows 8 was released no hybrid driver was forthcoming, so Sony recommended staying with Windows 7 Pro as they would be unable to support this model with switchable graphics drivers for Windows 8. The latest graphics driver released was in October 2010.

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 10:34:36 GMT

Once again guys, thanks for your help. I shall try reverting back to W7. All the best

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

Blencogo — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 20:25:07 GMT

Sorry John, I have been away for a few days.

It is possible to install a Windows 10 nVidia driver but it will not install unless the installer is modified. Only drivers signed by Sony will install without modifying the .INF file and, understandably, Sony do not recommend what is a bit of a hack. However, as this is the only way to update, many try this way forward. You will have to Google for information on this and it will be at your own risk. By installing a single nVidia driver means that the on the fly switching from 'speed' to 'stamina' will be lost.

Most users of Z-Series Vaios continue to run Windows 7 as recommended by Sony - especially as it is not a touch screen laptop. The problem with this is that drivers such as the graphics driver are now very old and may not support some of the latest games. However, the size of the Z-Series is not conducive to gameplay and the drivers are OK for most other purposes but you may still run into problems with some newer graphics applications from providers like Adobe.

The choice is yours. Reinstalling Windows 7 Pro will be far easier if you have a set of original Recovery Discs which will reinstall all software, divers and utilities as well as Windows 7. If you do not have these discs, you will need to download all the original drivers from the Sony website. BUT some software is not available for download and only available on Recovery Media but as you don't have this now, it is unlikely you will miss it.

Good Luck!

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 10:57:58 GMT

Hi Blencogo, thanks for the detailer response. I tried the Nvidia route and went to modify the .inv files within the nvidia folder on my c drive. Unfortunately, I couldn't find details of my microsoft display adapter (in my case PCI(backslash)VEN_10DE&DEV_0A2B&SUBSYS_905A104D in any of the .inv files so I couldn't modify anything. So it appears that the only option is to reinstall Win7. But thanks anyway. John

Re: Unable to connect to monitor using HDMI

johnarron — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 16:54:35 GMT

Hi Blencogo. I now have a bit of a problem!!!

I managed to modify the .INF file in the Nvidia direstory as guided by a Techforum related to Nvidia (null-bin.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-modify-nvidia-notebook-driver.html). After disabling driver signature enforcement I reinstalled the Nvidia driver and had success. I then had to restart my Sony as per the installation instructions. Now the problem....after pressing the power button, thw Windows (still latest version of 10) logo comes on as too does the usual tune. But then I get a blank screen with some white dots going round in circles in the middle of the screen. It won't boot up. Do you have any suggestions - I am thinking of going into safe mode to disable the driver but can't get get into safe mode.

Thanks, John