Sony :: VAIO FW Clean Windows 7 64-bit Install Guide
Aug 19, 2009
Quote:
UPDATED OCTOBER 27 2009 FOR OFFICIAL WINDOWS 7 RELEASE
will benefit many of you upgrading to Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit RTM. This install was done and tested on a Vaio VGN-FW139E/H.
Hardware
While the VGN-FW line shares many components, many models also differ. So, I will first list the hardware that is on the VGN-FW139E and the install was done on.
(Last update: May 27 2010) Change log: Mar 06 2010 - Changed SUS, VES, and VCC versions. Updated Intel 4965 adapter driver. Added Web-cam software. Added instruction for wireless band switching and disabling Bluetooth from device manager.
Mar 26 2010 - Updated Intel SATA/AHCI driver from 8.​9.​0.​1023 --> 9.6.0.1014 Mar 30 2010 - Updated Nvidia driver (laptopvideo2go) from 195.62 --> 197.16 Apr 03 2010 - Updated Nvidia driver (self modded inf) from 195.62 --> 197.16 Apr 22 2010 - Added Nvidia driver 197.45 through Windows Update May 09 2010 - Update to SUS, S-button and additional settings in VCC. May 27 2010 - Added Nvidia 257.15 driver, modded inf, and instructions.
The following steps below include various driver sources and install instructions.
1. Install your edition of Windows 7. I chose to change the UAC setting to never notify. If you leave it in the default setting, various prompts may open when installing the drivers and utilities. Open "Computer", click the "Organize" tab, navigate to "folder and search options", click "View" tab, and uncheck "Hide empty drives in the computer folder".
There will be two exclamation marks for the "Mass storage controller" and "Unknown device" in the device manager. Intel 4965 Wifi, Marvell network controller, and Conexant modem drivers are included in Windows 7. You can update them if necessary
Guide: Clean installation of Windows 7 on Acer, heavily edited by moderators
This guide explains how to do a clean installation of Windows 7 on an Acer computer that's been licensed to used it. If your system originally came with Windows Vista, you need an Acer Upgrade Kit. If your system originally came with Windows 7, use the key on the bottom of your machine.
The described method will work for ANY edition (Starter/Home/Pro/Ultimate) and for ANY architecture (32/64-bit) and ANY language, but only the version you are licensed for; no free upgrades here.
Step 1: Verify eligibility for Windows 7. CONTENT REMOVED DUE TO PIRACY CONCERNS Either you are licensed for Windows 7 by having a key on the bottom of your machine, or you have an Acer Upgrade kit. If you have neither, then you are not licensed for it, regardless of what's in your BIOS.
Step 2: Back-up factory images and personal files. Since we will be reinstalling Windows you will lose all your files and ability to restore to factory condition, so it would be a wise thing to make back-ups. A. Back-up factory images. If you want to have restore DVDs then it should be a good time to create them now. You can do it via Acer eRecovery program. If you have a built-in or external DVD drive then simply burn them and if you do not then you can save DVD image to your hard drive. Follow these instructions. B. Back-up personal files. If you have files you would like to keep now it is time to save them to either a flash drive or an external hard drive.
Step 3: Preparing Windows 7 installation image. Simply use the content in this topic to download and prepare your Windows 7 DVD or USB key. This will also remove the version restriction so the burned DVD or prepped USB key can be used to install any version of Windows 7 - you'll still need the right license key, of course.
Step 4: Setting up Windows 7 installation media. See above..................................................
I have been trying to make a clean install of Windows 7 but when I get to the install screen,
it says that "it does not recognize my drive." This happened too when I tried to install windows XP,
and I solved it by slipstreaming the SATA controller drivers but, I don't know where to find those for windows 7, or if that even will solve the same problem
i just reinstalled winxp sp3 on a sony s3xp, i don't have the vaio installation cd but i did a clean reinstall of windows xp and installed essential drivers but it was quite slow, eg seconds to load a directory, or long pauses during web browsing
now i've installed all the original drivers and utilities and am running without power saving but it's still sluggish, eg the mouse pointer jumps about the screen rather than moves continuously when the cpu is under any load at all
Just a quick guide on how to make a bootable DVD using your Sony Upgrade Discs so you can do a clean install.
1) Insert your upgrade DVD into your DVD Drive and load up "Windows Explorer"
2) Browse to your DVD rom drive and expand it, there should be a bunch of directories, and you should have 2 that are called "Win7OS32" and "Win7OS64".....
I share with You the steps I've made to install a fresh Win 7 on A Vaio VPCF11Z1E (EU model)
1 Before anything else be sure to make Your recovery disks If You haven't already done them. It's very important to actually do them since we'll need them later. You will use them for a future installation of the bundled utilities You may require.....
I picked up my new Z112GX last night and today after making sony's recovery discs i wiped and started a clean windows 7 professional install.
After this guide you should have a clean windows install with no "yellow" devices under system.
Windows 7 X64 Professional ISO: http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent..../X15-65805.iso
Then use the key on your machine. It will give activation issues jsut run through the automated phone activation and you will be fine. SEE BOTTOM POST FOR EASIER METHOD
I'll buy the VGN-Z540NAB and put in 3 GB of DDR3 ram and a 120 GB Vertex SSD drive.
But - I have been wondering how I am going to do the harddrive part - this is my plan.
1. Make a clean install on the old haddrive as soon as i get the notebook using this guide: Sony Z series 32bit Vista Clean Install Guide (full functions & no windows activation)
2. Make a back-up image of the harddrive using Storagecrafts shadow protect(http://www.storagecraft.com/products...rotectDesktop/)
3. switch to the new SSD harddrive
4. load my back-up image on the clean new SSD harddrive.
I have a Vaio VGN-CS16G/R and why is is that after installing Win7 RTM x64 and installing the necessary drivers, I DON'T see the "adjust brightness slider" on the power options? With my other laptops with the same OS, I can see that slider completely.
Also, I when I install Vaio Launcher which I got from the extracted Sony Notebook Utilities installer, it returns an error of:
I have a Japanese VGN-Z90NS, and after getting it back from Japan for a minor repair, decided to put Vista Ultimate x64 on there to take advantage of my entire amount of memory.
Some may have seen this thread: Sony Z HD install and 64bit upgrade problems
On at least the older Vaio Z series (the Z90, Z5xx in the USA, etc.), I have confirmed that the EFI thing is an issue if you try to install a slipstreamed SP1. I happen to have a genuine Vista Ultimate x64 install disc that is RTM, and it installed just fine with no EFI issues.
To get the 64-bit original Sony drivers, download them here or here.
Once you download all of the Sony drivers, download Universal extractor from here, and run it against all of the EXEs you downloaded to strip the model check.
To get the Intel 4500 graphics driver, download it here
NOTE: My Z does not have the built-in camera or fingerprint security, so you'll have to figure that out on your own. Somehow my notebook no longer has bluetooth after being fixed (looking into that ...), so that isn't in this list either. I do have one device that I can't find a driver for, and I bet it's bluetooth since everything else is fine. I'll update if I sort it all out.
Install Process that works: 1. Vista x64 2. Vista x64 service pack (if needed) 3. Intel chipset driver - reboot required 4. Intel Matrix Storage Manager (I have the RAIDed SSDs and definitely need this) - reboot required.......................
I tried to do a clean install from windows 7 starter to Windows 7 home premium on my new Sony vaio Vpc-w21z1/l
Everything looks good, i installed all drivers and the software needed to works ok, but the Sony smart network does not work. it wont start at startup, so i go to the c:programs and start from there, it appears the window but i don't have the options to turn on and off the wwan, wireless or bluetooth.
The problem is that even the wireless and bluetooth is installed it can't find networks, and the wwan after i reboot 2 times the computer it disapears. i installed the updated version of smart network 3days old and even that does not work.
if there was a way to do a clean install of Vista (preferably Ultimate 64-bit) on the Vaio Z and have functioning s1/s2 and speed/stamina and Wlan controls. I found the guide for 7, I was wondering if there was something like it for vista, or at least a place where i can get the drivers. My viao Z came with alot of "bloatware", and i'd like to have it snappy.
Bought a VGN-FW26 over the weekend (ATI HD3650, 2.40 Core Duo, 4GB RAM, Vista Home Premium).
On bootup, tried out a few games (mainly Fallout 3, Rainbow Six Las Vegas). Everything was running smooth, especially Rainbow Six at full resolution). This is with all the factory-included bloatware running.
I got annoyed at the bloatware, so performed a semi-clean install of Vista (ie. reformatted comp, reinstalled Vista, cancelled the installation process for the Sony programs ... then manually installed a selected number of programs using the VAIO Recovery Centre. These programs consisted several of the essentials from the programs list, and ALL the drivers).
Now, when I run the for-mentioned games, there's a noticeable increased lag for those games. I have even removed optimised Vista by disabling some unnecessary services, as well as made sure there are no unnecessary background programs running (e.g. McAfee)
In addition, I haven't been able to install the Catalyst Control Center, the VAIO Recovery Center only lets me install the ATI driver (I was thinking perhaps the lag in games is because my graphics card is running in a "maximise batteries" mode?) Is there anyway I can extract the Catalyst Control Center install from the recovery disks/drive?
There are already a couple of "guides" floating around that describe how to install a clean copy of Windows on Sony laptops.
The process is fairly simple and involves installing certain Sony software and drivers in particular order (according to Sony).
For FW series, the guide is here: Official Vaio FW Clean Vista Install Guide
When I first installed Windows Vista Ultimate, I had no problems getting everything to work EXCEPT for the following:
1) CompactFlash (JMicron JMB368 ExpressCard CF) driver is not available on Sony's web site. When inserting the card, it does not show up as a drive in Windows Explorer. After some time playing around, I figured the following 2 ways to make it work:
a. Insert your card, go to device manager and click on "scan for hardware changes" b. Boot Windows while the card is inserted
2) SD card slot works but is not mapped to any drive. While Ricoh MS driver automatically creates a drive, there is no driver on Sony's web site that would do the same for SD slot.
Sony's support is useless to a point where they told me that the reason why my CF cards do not show up and there is no drive mapped to the slot is because the laptop does not support cards larger than 4GB (and I have only 8GB Sandisk cards) What a joke. I finally managed to get a 2nd tier technical guy on the phone who said that Sony does not provide CF drivers and that there is nothing they can do about it..........
I purchased a Sony VAIO VGN-Z46GD and was eligible for the Windows 7 Upgrade program. So my Windows 7 Disc & Supplement Disc arrived in no time. I did a CLEAN install with the Windows 7 Disc wiping everything (this was intentional).
The problem is the Supplement Disc will not run at all, gives me an error (is there a way to force it?). I used the mod2wim tool to extract all WIM's from it however I have had no success in getting my VAIO special buttons working, power management or my function keys operational. The extracted WIM's are also a bit odd, includes ATi drivers when clearly my machine is hybrid intel/nvidia.
From what I have read on the Forums I need to install things in a specific order. Also if I can't find my drivers where can I look to re-download them?
I have a VGN-790P notebook, currently with Windows Vista Business installed; 2GB RAM; 2.16 GHz centrino duo. However, through my school I can download Windows 7 for free!
I really want to upgrade my OS to Windows 7, but Sony is not providing drivers for my model. Is there any way that I can still install it and get the drivers from somewhere? I really dont want to do it if it's going to cause a bunch of functionality issues.
Also, I think that a clean install would be best, just to clear out my computer and possibly make it a bit more responsive. Is it possible to do this if I will be downloading Windows 7 and not have a physical disk for the install?
I'm thinking about purchasing windows 7, do i need a clean install of windows vista to upgrade? and also do i need to get all the drivers ect like in the clean install of vista if i wish to upgrade? i have a vaio vgn-fw21L
I just received my sony Z1190X(CTO) and plan to do clean install on it. I just finished making the recovery&restore DVD and have Windows 7 Ultimate ready.
However, when I go on the US Sony website, they say some drivers are not compatible with Ultimate version. I downloaded every drive with Win Professional setting. Will it not work with Windows 7 Ultimate
it has the mata bd-mlt uj230as basically the blu-ray drive......
I was wondering if anyone has the correct driver for this because I can't seem to play any blurays and can't burn anything with it, it just works like a normal dvd drive, does nothing else
I did a clean install so i need the firmware, I tried all the links on this forum and can only find the UPDATE for the driver not the original install..........
I did a clean install of Windows 7 and I was surprised that almost everything is working out of the gate. There are only a few bugs that I've noticed.
1.) The Fn functions in the F-keys don't work. Which driver do I need for that?
2.) Same thing goes for the Mode - - - - - Settings keys above that. Which driver fixes that?
3.) In the device manager I have and unknown "Base System Device" with the Location of "PCI bus 7, device 3, function 2". What is this/How do I fix it?
4.) The touchpad doesn't scroll. I tried installing the driver from the Sony eSupport page, but it failed. (I reinstalled and rebooted and it's working)
And not a bug, but just a straight up question... 5.) Should I install Sony Shared Library? Do I need it for anything? I really don't plan on installing any of the programs that came pre-installed with Vista, unless it's necessary.
