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)
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?
Now that the new Sony Z is out, I think it would meaningful to get a sense of the boot time for this system under various scenarios.
If people could post the boot times of their Z with this information:
- Whether you're calculating the boot with all the bloatware untouched (factory settings), with the $50 Sony Fresh Start (which still has a couple unnecessary programs), a Clean Install, or a Manual Uninstall of all programs.
- And the size of your SSD or HDD. If it is an SSD, it would be nice to know if you can tell us have many SSDs are in the RAID 0 configuration as that affects the speed.
I think this would be very helpful not just for direct comparison, but as another factor to consider in whether to do a clean install, which takes more tech-savvy than some may have.
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've recently formatted my hard drive and put my own copy of Win7 on my Thinkpad Edge 14 (0579-A62). There's no more recovery partition. After being surprised that Win7 didn't have any built in drivers for the display or WiFi, I plugged an ethernet cable in and went to the Lenovo support site. I tried all of the Networking: WLAN drivers but none of them let wireless work. I installed the Intel PROSet software and it just says "Driver is not installed" so I'm assuming it doesn't have anything to do with the WiFi key on the keyboard.
OS: Win7 64Bit Product : b0p18pa#ab4 Model: dv6-7007tx GPU: Nvidia Geforce GT 630m  On fresh install of W7 I have 2 instances of "standard VGA graphics adapter" one that is "installed correctly" (IDs below):  PCIVEN_8086&DEV_0166&SUBSYS_181B103C&REV_09PCIVEN_8086&DEV_0166&SUBSYS_181B103CPCIVEN_8086 &DEV_0166&CC_030000PCIVEN_8086&DEV_0166&CC_0300
After trying multiple times (both automatically and manually) to install the Nvidia drivers it shows an error saying "you must install an Intel driver first". I realize this is the HP forum, but i've tried contacting Intel with no luck on top of trying every Intel driver that looks even remotely relevant. (most of which error while installing mentioning my computer lacks the requirements for the install).  I've tried updating the drivers automatically through windows on top of disable/uninstall and restart, but the same problem keeps arising.
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 just received my upgrade for my VGN-Z21WN/B (my baby, love it!)... anyway, I did a bit of research before receiving it and everywhere I read suggested to do a fresh install - so thats' what I did. It actually all went okay, and it's happily running.
I visited vaio-link.com where I found some Win7 drivers, including:
- Bluetooth driver - Realtek HD audio - BIOS update for Win7 - Ethernet Driver - Fingerprint suite - Wireless LAN (Intel ProSet) - WWAN - nVidia graphics driver
All great , except now I am missing my FN keys. The FN keys for brightness, volume, switching display etc no longer work, and I cannot find a solution. One site I researched says to download the vista driver, but I cannot find that anywhere .. and then even people said that didn't work.
Secondly, although not a biggie, is there a VAIO Update driver?
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 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]
I replaced hard drive with SSD and installed windows 7 ultimate (X64) on my HP Pavilion G4 notebook. However, I am not able to install switchable graphics on my laptop now.  I have tried this 1. Installed HPSA and ran update and tuneup. It asked me to update "AMD High-Definition Graphics Driver" but it failed with multiple retries and after some time now it doesnt ask to do this update at all. Now everything is green in HPSA but I am still not able to switch the graphics 2. Tried to download from HP drivers page but it says "AMD Catalyst Mobility cannot be downloaded due to incompatible harware/software on your computer" 3. Tried uninstalling the driver but windows updates the drivers automatically. 4. I also updated BIOS as suggested at [URL] ..... but still no luck......  Product Name: HP Pavilion g4 Notebook PC Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Service Pack 1 Product number : LQ375PA#AB
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 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 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'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 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.
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 just did a clean install, and everything is working fine, except for it seems video files are looking a bit washed out. I have noticed that Catalyst Control Center is not installed, could it be related to that? And is it possible to install CCC after a clean install?
I've recently ordered a Sony CW with all the bells and whistles. I was quite reluctant at first to by a Sony, due to all the software etc that it comes pre-loaded with, but (my wife anyway) fell in love with its look and so we now have one on its way...
My question is, for a relatively novice IT person - although not a complete muppet! - the 'clean install' looks rather complicated to me and the risk of something going wrong rather scary! In this regard, can i not simply use the add/remove applications function in the control panel?
If this were an alternative otion, which programmes are the ones i dont need!
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.......................
