How to disable VAIO's original battery check.

This is how to disable that annoying message that every vaio says whenever they want, even when using a original battery (as you can see, i'm using the original battery that came with my computer).
"The installed battery may not be properly connected to the computer or may not be compatible with the computer. Click "OK" to enter Hibernate mode, and remove and reinsert the battery."
There is a software that sony installs in the system to check the battery model and bitch if it thinks that there is something wrong with the battery. It's called ISBMgr.exe, finishing that process disables the notification in the current session, but if we restart the computer, the pop-up will be there again.
To completely disable that annoyance, look in the registry, it's very easy to find in HKLM\SW\MS\Win\CurrentVersion\Run. Or just type "isbmgr" in the search box and delete the key related.

Why this happens?
In the vaio world, everything is proprietary and model-locked, that means non-standard computers and non-standard methods of checking if any software or hardware that you try to run on your vaio computer, is authorized by Sony to run on your particular model.
For example, after you unbox and start to use your new vaio, everything works seamlessly, all keys work, the FN+F6 combination works also, the S1 and AV MODE keys runs their commands. When you have a problem and need to reinstall the entire system, you found that the S1 keys doesn´t work anymore, the display is always at full brightness, the battery isn't recognized anymore and on some models you can't even eject the dvd tray.
That's because the FN+ key combination uses a non-standard method of working, through a proprietary SONY driver that isn't available to download from the website for your model and current OS. If you try to download the driver for some other similar model, the installer refuses to continue because your model differs (VGN-NR350-FH against VGN-NR350-E for example).
The brightness control uses also a sony driver, impossible to download, install and get it working, you need to get third party applications (and consider yourself lucky if you find one for YOUR particular model). Other brands controls the brightness directly by hardware, a micro-controller intercept the FN+BrightUP and takes the action, transparent to the software/OS.
For this stupid annoyances that sony puts in their users and customers, go f**k yourself sony. At least for me, this is my first and LAST VAIO product that i'll ever buy from sony.
Besides that, in my city, there isn't any sony repair center, not even a call center, no toll-free number. The support number is a long-distance call number and they CHARGE $$$ for the recovery DVD's.
HP/compaq sends the recovery DVD's directly to your home at no charge (but those are even more shitty computers), the only thing you have to do is ask for them in a support chat session (not available for sony vaios).

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• sony vaio
• battery check
• isbmgr.exe

[michaeldaw]

Why in the name of any god would a company create software that rendered their own hardware useless? I have never seen anything so stupid in my life. If I had known this would happen, I would not have bought this piece of trash. Good thing Best Buy has a 14 day return policy. I'll have owned this loss for less than 14 HOURS before it goes back to the idiot that sold it to me. Hopefully he'll throw it in the garbage where it belongs.

[Zim0256]

@michaeldaw Sony sometimes make stupid decisions like that, however the internal quality of the notebooks are a little bit better than the rest. Of course without taking into account the poor finishing and paintjob of the outside plastics that became scratched just by looking at it. Anyways, i sold the computer on the video last week. It was like 3 years of good service and no faults at all. Saving the battery that failed after the 1st year and i didn't use it at all.

[Sudassana05]

How to repair the FN key on keyboard? Sometimes if I want to change the brightness, I use Windows Mobility center to change di brightness.

[Zim0256]

@Sudassana05

Windows Vista/7 ONLY: Install Firmwre extension parser driver, then apply any update for the firmware extension parser, then install sony shared DLL, then vaio event service and sony Setting utilities series then sony notebook utilities, then sony notebook control, then vaio control center. After that, all the FN keys will work.

[jesushomie]

got rid of the error message, but how did you solve the issue with the FN+Bright up issue?

[Zim0256]

@jesushomie There's a "Backlight" app somewhere on the net that works with XP, the only workaround i know off. It enables the brightness control by pressing WIN + F6/F7.

On windows 7/vista the brightness works out of the box but you can't turn it all the way down because the backlight goes completely off and can't be turned on again. You have turn the bright up and close and reopen the screen to restore.

[flipicaneze]

The problem lies with Sony Shared Library. You have to download and install that FIRST and then do the Sony Notebook Utilities. I learned the hard way and ended up restoring the whole thing over again. Hope that solves the issue for many others.

[ModzVonXyborg]

dude!.....i want to thank you sooooooo much for this fix...this was mind-boggling me for months now

[nl1ccd]

it works as a miracle :x thank you

[daniel4no]

I did this and it worked! But then I upgraded to windows 7, and it happened again so I did this and it just keeps showing up again

[ferweb777]

OMG!!! You saved my life, haha! This damn thing wouldnt disapear from the middle of my screen!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!

[musicbydavidyoungs]

Great job, thanks for this video. Saved my bacon. Last Sony laptop I buy.

[tangocolt02]

@GarbageState Only reason i own one is I got given one with a damaged power jack. Turned out it only needed the wire resoldered. I would NEVER buy a piece of shit like this. It does fine for checking internet I guess but misses a lot of functionality.

[GarbageState]

@tangocolt02 i've serviced some SONY desktops, never owned one myself. absolute crap. owned early pentium m model notebook and now a bunch of sz series. THE WORST!!!! compared to HP, ASUS, TOSHIBA, IBM/lenovo. never had so much trouble with built quality, drivers. arggghhhh i want to scream and dump these sony notebooks. SONY = SHIT!!! I CONFIRM!

[GarbageState]

i never buy notebooks, i get them free. recently received some sz series. what a piece of crap! there's no driver support for win7 32 or 64. i have to fish for drivers on the web using hardware id's. not sure what i just installed in one of these POS SORNY. now get this stupid pop-up. i think it was one of acpi drivers i installed. i'll never pay for any SONY product, especially their notebooks. FUCK SONY for making me go thru this! built quality is the worst compared to other brands i own.

[tangocolt02]

HP are *NOT* worse than sony. Geez. Get your facts right. Sony is the shittiest computer I have EVER worked with, and I have worked with a lot of computers. The easiest computer I've dealt with is an HP nx6120.