OK, this I solved by myself finally.
Win 8 > Win 8 clean install (OEM Licence)
Windows 8 install iso to recognize the
Win 8 registration key stored in the UEFI BIOS during fresh install on an empty HDD or SSD, the following are needed.
NOTE:
This is DIFFERENT from upgrading a laptop that originally came with Windows 7 to Windows 8 (aka "Windows 8 Upgrade").
A latop with OEM installed Windows 7 has a licence key sticker on the bottom. To make a clean install of Windows 8 on such a machine, you need to:
- buy a Win 8 upgrade licence, and
- enter the licence key manually during the Win 8 installation,
- activate Windows.
See the first post on this forum for info.
0. The
Windows 8 OEM registration key is in fact in the UEFI BIOS, encrypted.
If you want to make a clean install of Windows 8 on an empty hard drive, of a machine that was shipped with Windows 8 (OEM), using the original OEM licence key of the machine, you need to follow my procedure.
See this CNET article on this topic of bottom sticker vs. UEFI stored keys. In fact, you don't need to know your Win 8 OEM key to make a reinstall. As it's sotred in the BIOS, it can be used only on the same machine anyway.
1. The Windows 8 Pro
install iso edition must
match exactly the
edition of Windows 8 licence in the bios.
For me, I had
"Windows 8 Pro" sticker on the bottom, and if I installed from a
Windows 8 Pro x64 MSDN iso, then it worked.
The installer didn't ask for any registration key, and there was no manual activation necessary, when I go to the control panel system properties, it shows windows activated.
These editions didn't work: Windows 8 x64, Windows 8 Pro Enterprise x64, Windows 8 Pro with Media Center x64.
The language of the iso doesn't matter. My machine originally came with Windows 8 Pro German, and I installed from an iso of Windows 8 Pro English. You can install different languages later on by
changing the display language, OR adding a
language interface pack.
This sounds trivial now: the iso installer won't activate a different version of Windows 8 vs it's own edition. Even not with a lower feature set (like without Media Center, etc.). So go, and fetch an iso that matches your sticker on the bottom of the laptop.
If you have MSDN access, for example:
Win 8 Pro Enterprise on MSDN or
social.msdn.microsoft.com.
2. Laptop to
boot in UEFI mode.
On the Sony Vaio S13, when the machine is off, Press
ASSIST button .
The machine turns on, and enters the pre-BIOS selection screen.
Enter the BIOS and on the last screen check the UEFI mode is enabled.
(Took some time to discover that the ASSIST buttons needs to be pressed - I didn't find any documentation on this.)
View attachment 91709
View attachment 91710
3.
SSD or HDD partition in GPT mode (= GUID) (and not MBR).
The drive must be unformatted, unpartitioned to change from MBR to GPT.
For this, you can set up the SSD on a Win 7 or Win 8 machine, using Computer Management\Disk management\Right click on drive.
(
Step by step info at technet.microsoft.com here.)
I partitioned the SSD during the Windows 8 installation, right from the installer.
It creates the necessary recovery etc. partitions automatically.
(
Info at about.com here.)
Pay attention to leave about 20-25% space unpartitioned for over provisioning. It also works if you format all the available space, but later on you pay attention to fill up the drive only to 75% capacity.
(
See AnandTech article here.)
4.
Installation of Windows 8 from an UEFI bootable USB drive.
See other posts to set up the pendrive:
link1-social.msdn.microsoft.com OR
link2-eightforums.com
It's enough to set-up the USB drive only once, then the different editions of Windows can be deleted and copied over to try.
I didn't try to install from a DVD, probably it would work, too.
5. The
result should look like this in Control Panel:
View attachment 91711
View attachment 91712
I verified the registration key on the original HDD with the
Magical Jelly Bean key-finder utility, and on the newly installed system on the SSD, and they match.
6.
Installation of Sony drivers
I followed the instructions
on heywithmarsh's post, they were about 70% valid for my machine.
Pay attention to download the drivers exactly for your model, otherwise they won't install. I had to collect drivers from various Sony sites (USA,
UK, EMEA, FR,
DE), so look around at different languages if you miss something.
If a driver won't install, it's because:
a) it's not for this laptop model,
b) some other driver or application needs to be installed before.
I didn't find the drivers on Sony's website for the Huawei Gobi 3G modem, and to enable the fingerprint driver. See update below.
7.
SSD choice
I chose the
Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB SSD. Anandtech says it has high performance and low power consumption. (
see article here)
After the clean install of Windows 8, and adding the drivers, my machine gets to the Windows 8 login screen in 4 seconds from cold off state. ;-).
The models supplied with SSD originally from Sony have a Raid 0 setup, but I don't think this have any advantage over the 840 Pro in everyday use.
8.
Overall experience of Win 8 clean install on the SSD
1. It's better to start first preparing the Win 8 iso, the USB key, collect ALL the drivers on an USB key, Youtube tutorials for changing the HDD and then start the process itself.
2. I didn't erase the original HDD's Win 8 setup, so I can go back if something happens, or I need to send in the machine for warranty.
3. Count at least 1 full day for the process: download of software and drivers, inserting the SSD, install of Windows 8, install of driver, set up programs. With troubleshooting, rather 2 days.
4. Does it worth? Yes, here's the balance:
+ Good fast SSD at blazing speed - the machine is instantenous, and no HDD spinning noise/vibration
+ Cost saving vs Sony built-in SSD solution (about 900 for the 256GB SSD option)
+ Good understanding of the machine's workings and software setup
+ Free from Sony bloatware (poor games, and such)
+ External HDD with about 600GB of storage
- Lots of time spent troubleshooting. Windows 8 is still new, and there's less documentation available vs. Win 7.
Update 14 Feb 2013:
The original Windows 8 Pro installation had driver setup files in C:\Windows\Drivers\.
I didn't use them, as I have already hunted down the drivers from Sony's websites, but worth to back it up if in need. (Unfrotunately, the 3G modem drivers in this folder did not work.
Fingerprint reader:
I installed the following:
- AuthenTec Inc. AES1660 driver (from
Sony driver site)
- Windows Biometric Framework for AES readers (
from Authentec)
- Authentec TrueSuite Starter (from Authentec)
- Upgrade to Authentec TrueSuite Premium (via
Sony driver site, to version 6.0.400.35)
Now I can login to Windows with a finger swipe. (This was not working in the original setup.)
Lastpass Premium can also be enabled to work with the fingerprint reader.
See more on the
WBF at technet.microsoft.com.
WWAN built-in 3G modem:
The Huawei EM680 w/Gobi Technology modem had no drivers on Sony's websites. It looks like it's a Qualcomm based solution. I tried a doezns of downloaded drivers from Sony's other laptops, none worked. Finally, I copied this folder from the
original installation onto a USB stick, and did a manual search for the drivers, and it worked. C:\Program files (x86)\HW Gobi 3000 Driver
Before and After:
View attachment 91760
View attachment 91761
WebToGo OneClick Internet 5.0 app: this was not available at Sony. I wrote to
WebToGo | Mobile Solutions, and got from them a private download link. They were really kind. As I understood, WebToGo is a company that makes 3G modem connection applications, which are re-badged with the logo of the network operator. [
pdf]
Windows' built in feature although recognizes the modem, and starts to connect, but it cannot connect in the end. I tried this in the original Windows 8 installation, and it's the same, the modem only connects to the network with the original WebToGo OneClick Internet application, and fails to connect with Windows' 8 built in feature.
Intel WiDi:
Strangely, this feature was not installed on the original Win 8 setup.
I downloaded the Intel WiDi drivers from a different laptop. I'm not sure I will use it, as it has a 2-3 sec lag. It's good for watching movies on a TV, but not for a desktop screen. As of Feb 2013, it supports 1080p. There's a list of TV and screens supporting WiDi on the Intel website, or you can add an adapter-box
More info on Intel WiDi
at Intel here,
at CNET here,
and at tomshardware here.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
