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:
1. If I clean install Win7 on this Z, what isn't going to work right off the bat and what steps can I take to get it fully functional? I saw a nice guide for the TZ, but not for the Z.
2. Has anyone attempted a straight upgrade to Win7?
I have a fresh copy of win 7 ultimate (legit of course.. got it from a microsoft event).
I have seen a few threads about clean installing vaios (boy do they put a bit of crapware there...) but not sure whats best to do..
I dont think I need/want any of the free apps (are there any good ones?) so I reckon I am going to blast the harddrive (I imaged the whole lot with another backup prog)
Whats the best strategy for this? i.e. whats best for getting drivers etc?
I noticed some files in c:windowsdrivers (an exe and a inf diretory, not sure which is for which) should that contain all I need?
Will I have issues with sony system stuff?
Also what about registering it? I guess there will be no issue as far as warranty is concerned (as said, it is a proper legit win 7)
SZ Series Windows 7 Clean install (32bit and 64bit)
Primarily for the SZ750, but works most other SZ models.
Yes, it's long, but it overs a lot and makes it very, very simple.
A Note about the "new" Sony utilities on their website. Don't bother, you end up with FAR less functionality than you will with this guide. Sony simply put up utilities that work with Windows7, they didn't check to see if there is a driver to allow them to work.
Contributors who helped fine tune this guide: Rachel, James007bond, Jtravers, Jupillam, Aralos1999, CKF92
Status: 32bit 100% working – Use the Vista drivers and Utilities. 64bit 99.9-100% WWAN is possibly working (depends on the model, see below under “issues”)....................
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 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.
Is there any possibility to interact with ePower in Windows 7 clean installation? In original Vista that came wit notebook it had tray icon, but when I install this app in Win7 from provided archive (ePower_Acer_4.07.3008_Win7x86x64), there is no tray nor any launcheable app, even through there is epowertray.exe running in memory. An when I press ePower button (green battery with leaf), nothing actually happens, only indication is that icon is green lit and if I install launchmanager, there is visual indication on display too...
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
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.
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.
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?
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
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 just tried to install wiindows 7 on my z540, I already installed all drivers downloaded for sony's website, but the function keys still are not working.
I've recently successfully installed Win7 on my S170 and I'd like to share my experience with other S series owners. The how-to guide is posted on a different forum so I'll post a link to that. I hope it is helpful since Sony will not support this install even though the machine is fully capable. [url]
New Z coming. Model 899 w. BluRay, GPS, Win 7 Professional. All the doodads. how to clean install before we actually use it? I assume that this will come LOADED with a lot of junk software clogging up the system.
I just bought a CS-215J and did a clean install of Windows 7 x64 RC. This is my third attempt now because I can't get everything working correctly. I'm able to get all the drivers installed and components in working order, but I can't for the life of me get it to install the Sony Notebook Utilities so that I can use the touch sensor media controls. It launches, looks like it's installing, asks to restart and once the computer boots back up it starts the install again. But once it gets to that point, the window just closes and the only thing that installs from the Utilities is the Event Service, nothing else. Is there a certain order I should install the drivers or something specific I should have installed before attempting to install the Utilities?
I have tried installing Vista x64 and still come up with the same issue, so I don't think it has anything to do with the Windows 7 RC.
my sytem setup after a clean install of vista home premium.
I think I loaded all the driver ect after the clean install as per the instruction in a post on this site, I then istalled SP1 on.
My first question is that when I boot up the system it boots fine to the desktop but then the HD disk light stays on for a good few minuets with CPU usaged in the 3%-10% ranged will this is going on, after that the HD light just flikers constantly......is this right?
2 Should I load Sony update prgram and run it and Windows update?
3 I have not loaded any Sony stuff so no keys like eject or BluRay etc work I cant seem to find what drivers are need and I dont wont to load all sorts of stuff on as that would defeat the perpuse of a clean install. I have only 50 processor runing after booting up
I ahve a few other thing i like to ask but I will leave that for another post as I think thats enough question for now!
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 just Got a new hdd and i dint want to restore the laptop with the restore cd so i did a clean install of windows vista ultimate 32bit.
I have everything set up beside my fn keys wont work. also i will like the quick button keys to work as well as they did before. you know wen you raise the volume you can also see it on the lcd. but my main priority its the fn keys for Brightness.
