Download the Feisty Farm live-cd (desktop amd64 ) on ubuntu or there, burn-it, and boot on it (change your bios startup if necessary )...
Please start with wifi activate and stamina mode (mother board video card)!

With a standard internet access (cable & DHCP) : tape "eth0" in the network applet, it works...
With a wifi access : tape in the network applet "eth1", wait a little, open the other network applet and choose your network, tape your password, it works...

Install ubuntu like you can read on ubuntu, please be sure what you're doing... About partition, I recommend something like that : 30Go for XP (ntfs), 30Go for data exchange (fat32), 10Go for / (ext3), 2Go for SWAP, 18Go for /home (ext3) ...

Please, unlock all repersitories in synaptic and do an update of ubuntu before the beginning!



This module allows to control : Fn Keys, fan speed, bluetooth, brightness of intel video board (stamina mode), AC status and the battery capacity. This driver was written by Stelian Pop , you can find more information on his website.

Unfortunately, the driver is locked if you use a 64 bit kernel (I don't know why !). Consequently you must patch the kernel and compil yourself the module. You can try my module (for kernel 2.6.20 )

In synaptic (package software of ubuntu), activate all the repersitory and install :

• kernel-package

• libncurses5-dev
• linux-source (----> put sources in /usr/src)
  

Uncompress the sources in /usr/src (root session):
#bunzip2 linux-source-xxx.tar.bz2
#tar -xvvf linux-source-xxx.tar
#ln -s linux-source-xxx linux

N.B. : on ubuntu you don't have a root password create it with
$su passwd
type your password and after create your root password

Now, try to compil your kernel :
#cd /usr/src/linux
#make menuconfig
exit and save, if it doesn't work read this website

After you must change kernel configuration :
#cd /usr/src/linux/drivers/char
#gedit Kconfig
find "depends on EXPERIMENTAL && X86 && PCI && INPUT && !64BIT " and suppress "&& !64BIT", now you can have access to the sonypi module in the menuconfig :)

#cd /usr/src/linux
#make menuconfig
go in "Device Drivers" > "Characters Device" and choose <M> for "Sony Vaio Programmable I/O Control device Support"
exit and save

#make
wait, wait ,wait... kernel compilation (i don't know how to compil only the module :( )

now copy the module :
#cp /usr/src/linux/drivers/char/sonypi.ko /lib/modules/

try and hope :
#insmod /lib/modules/sonypi.ko
#lsmod |grep sonypi
if you have "sonypi" you're lucky :)

Activate sonypi module automatically at each boot use this script : vaio
# gedit /etc/init.d/vaio <-----copy inside and save it
#chmod 755 /etc/init.d/vaio
#ln -s /etc/init.d/vaio /etc/rc2.d/S12vaio
restart and enjoy

>> Sometimes after an ubuntu update, the sonypi doesn't run because the kernel was updated. You must reload the new kernel package and redo everything. Sorry i don't have a best solution at this time...


Download spicctrl on this website, with this software you could manage all sonypi functions :
uncompress it and compil it
#cd spic_folder/
#make
#chmod 755 spicctrl
#mv spicctrl /usr/bin

N.B. : if it doesn't compil, you'll have to add some package with synaptic. Read errors and try to add the good packages, there is a solution:)

Now you can test it and for exemple unactivate bluetooth at each boot with this script : vaio.
The Fn Keys for the sound work, you can change the sound output in "Sounds" menu with "Default Mixer Track". At this time you can't change the brightness it doesn't work with this software.

See all commands with :
#spicctrl