Ubuntu on the VAIO VGN-TZ21XN/B
Todo… for now just some must-know info
Screen Brightness
Load the ‘sony_laptop’ module, and change brightness with Fn-F5/F6
Power
Install powertop to keep an eye out on your power usage, and possibly kill power-eating applications/services. I recommend unloading the ethernet module (sky2) if using wireless, and unloading the usb-modules when not needed.
Sound
To get sound working, install at least alsa version 1.0.15rc3, either by compiling it manually, or by installing ‘linux-backports-modules-generic’
Hardware Virtualisation (i-VT VT-X)
Sony in it’s infinite wisdom decided to turn off hardware virtualisation, even though the cpu supports it. IntuiveNipple from the wimsbios.com forums found out how to enable VTX using nvram hacking, and user ‘Wil’ figured out the correct values for the VGN-TZ21XN.
In short, you need to boot into dos (usbdisk or boot-cdrom (I used Hiren’s boot cdrom)), have access to an editor (I used the dos version of vim) and the symcmos tool.
Run symcmos -v2 -lnvram0.txt
Copy nvram0.txt to hacked.txt
edit hacked.txt, look for the 0363 record, and change the value from 0000 to 0001
Run symcmos -v2 -uhacked.txt
Turn off your laptop, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Boot linux, and enjoy the hardware virtualisation.
It lasts untill you bios-reset or do a bios-upgrade.
Webcam
The webcam is a Ricoh R5U870, and it works with the driver from mediati.org
[...] Ubuntu on the Vaio VGN-TZ21XN 5 Responses to ‘Vaio VGN-TZ21XN/B in [...]
Maniac’s Weblog - Vaio VGN-TZ21XN/B in review
15 Jan 08 at 16:16
Hi
I found your Ubuntu article very interesting, I’m going to buy a TZ21 based on your findings.
I have an unrelated question though, which battery model does the TZ21 use, I can’t find reference to in anywhere and I’ll need a spare as I travel a lot.
Thanks
Dan Mcnewbie
1 Jun 08 at 09:17
I’ll get back to that asap
Maniac
1 Jun 08 at 11:01
*sits on hands in anticipation*
Dan Mcnewbie
2 Jun 08 at 08:29
The included battery is: VGP-BPL11
There is also a bigger (9-cell model), however, they cost about $400 on ebay. (Not that the 6-cell is much cheaper)
The small model (3 cell) is the BPS11, the normal/large (6 cell) is BPL11, and huge 9-cell is BPX11
Maniac
2 Jun 08 at 08:45
Thanks so much – you are a hero.
Dan Mcnewbie
2 Jun 08 at 12:33
Hi,
I found your site very interesting
I’m considering getting a second hand TZ21, and then maybe a new 9 cell battery. This TZ21 comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, instead of the more typical Intel ULV U7500.
As this cpu power rating is 35W instead of the 10W of the U7500, I am asumming the battery will last much less with this processor, in the worst case, as much as 3 times less. Do you think this would be the case?
Regards,
Carlos
Carlos
27 Jan 10 at 12:13