Popular Guides
View more guides at Linux Wiki Guides
Welcome to LinLap - The Linux Laptop Wiki
Sony Vaio CW
Introduction
This is a compatibility guide to running Linux with the Sony Vaio CW laptop.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Sony Vaio CW. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Sony Vaio CW page on LapWik.
Editing This Page
If you would like to edit this page please first view our Editing Guidelines.
Specifications
For full specifications see the Sony Vaio CW specifications page.
| Name | Sony Vaio CW |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 M 520 Processor |
| Screen | 14“ WXGA TFT (1600×900) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| HDD | 500GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD Super Multi Blu-Ray DVD Combo |
| Network | 10/100/1000 802.11b/g/n |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Works | |
| Screen | Works (Needs hack) | Brightness Settings works with nvidia-bl module (https://launchpad.net/~mactel-support/+archive/ppa). To changing to tty shells use uvesafb (http://dev.gentoo.org/~spock/projects/uvesafb/) |
| HDD | Works | |
| Optical Drive | Works (Bluray not tested) | |
| Graphics | Works | Needs 260.19.26 Nvidia proprietary driver or above |
| Sound | Works | |
| Ethernet | Works | |
| Wireless | Works | |
| Bluetooth | Works | |
| USB | Works | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Works, MS Duo doesn't work | |
| ExpressCard Slot | Not Tested | |
| Webcam | Works | |
| Suspend to RAM | Works | On kernel 2.6.35 or above, need pass the option “acpi_sleep=nonvs” through grub |
Notes
You can enter any specific notes with running Linux on the Sony Vaio CW here.
Summary
You can enter a summary of how well the Sony Vaio CW works with Linux here.
Discussion
I'm having issues with the fan control. It's running all the time, and the laptop get's very hot compared to when I run Win7 on it.
I know that vaiofand does not have support for the CW model. Has anyone a fix for this fan issue?
I have the same problem! But I think that is not a fan control problem, but a temperature one. I mean, the problem is that somehow linux demand more power from the cw vaio than win7.
Cheers, g.
hi, some guys can help me?
i have installed the nvidia-bl, but when modprobe it, the screen turn dark, and flicker.
os: ubuntu11.04
notebook: snoy cw28
graphics: gt330M, driver version:270.41.19
thanks a lot!
it's useful, thanks
I purchased Sony laptop for work and every single time I go online to see a video It freezes up it cant keep up with the speed of my internet. All my older pc's stream the video fast. Don't expect to get a speedy laptop just because you upgrade to the 2.3GHz processor, I did and I lost. In the bright side I got a free Blue-ray up-grade but I wanted a faster pc instead. I've used it for 3 months now. I hope this will help future buyers.
http://www.thesonyworld.com/category/laptops
Sony laptop model is my all time favorite laptop due to it's perfect mix of power and useable functionality. Very well thought out general purpose laptop with many features and input/ output options that you would not expect at this price range. Add to that the generous helping of memory and hard drive disc space and it is hard to beat!
I have a sony vaio cw1BGN. Have installed ubuntu 10.04. Most of the hardware is working okay but I am having some problem with webcam. The webcam works okay with applications like cheese. But skype crashes when trying to do video calling. If started from the terminal, it does not crash but shows no video.
V.
What distro do you have? 32 or 64 bit?
add at the grub strig the cheat code: nomodeset
hi guys,I have got a sony vaio (CW 23EN) laptop with NVDIA gefore 310M gpu…when i tried installing ubuntu-10.04-desktop-amd64 ,screen goes black………………
please help…explain in detail ,i have very litttle knowldge …thanks
Vaio CW video problem fix: http://newyork.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1393940&page=4
after keepin disk in ur cd room, after entering into ubuntu startup type nomodeset
Don't buy Sony's laptops, because of crap's suport on Linux…
Here the incorporated microphone doesn't work. I use Kubuntu karmic 64bit and linux mint KDE CE 8 Helena. Same base system. I tried with Fedora, Opensuse, … without success.
microphone doesn't work. I also tried alsamixer without succes. any solutions?
I solved my problem with the microphone using the help from this forum
Hi all! the brightness controll problem can be solved using such a small guide provided by “keptile” and “damdim” (thanks guys) on:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=2182443
I'm running Ubuntu 9.10 64bit with nivida 185 on this notebook. Everything works with a custom EDID extracted from windows, except chaning to TTY1 or changing brightness.
The Fn keys also work, i didnt manage to get them running in windows 7 (they worked with the preinstalled windows, i'm not using)
Hello, I have a Sony Vaio Cw and installed Ubuntu 9.10 64bit and I can say that this notebook is a bullet with this OS. All devices functioned normally except the (Video). I installed the driver from Nvidia-185 and reboot, after the name of VAIO gives black screen and not leave the same. I gave up the Linux, Windows 7 is also fast on this notebook, let alone applications of Sony. That's what I'm talking about so far. Thank you.
Video is fixable in under an hour. Nvidia card is actually a strong point to use this laptop for Linux, because Nvidia provides video drivers. See my link above.
As most of you probably don't know that Vaio CW comes with a “battery-saving” utility, which keeps the battery only 50% or 75% charged when the laptop is plugged in, thus prolonging its life. Unfortunately this Sony utility runs only in Windows. If anyone finds a wine solution, do share! :)