Advice needed: Can I do a clean install of a US system on a SZ Japanese model?

I was curious if anyone had thoughts on this.

I was looking at buying the SZ92 while in Japan (basically a SZ381p with slightly faster CPU at 2.33GHz) Provided I buy a clean install disk for Win XP Pro, is it difficult to find and install the drivers for all of the components and options on the system? (such as camera, biometric, dual-mode video, and probably some proprietary bits which only Sony has....)

Can the 'restore DVD' be burned from the hidden partition as on the US version? (albeit as a Japanese XP install, of course)

Would love to know if anyone has experiences with this. I am finding it difficult to get a good price for the SZ381p, and by the time you add sales tax (NYC) and so on, it may be the same price with the Japanese model + XP install disk stand-alone.

Thanks in advance for any helpful hints.

SG

 

YOu can't use the US recovery DVD on a Japanese (I have the SZ90 and bought the US SZ160 recovery DVDs). You can unpack the drivers, etc., but you can't use the recovery DVD directly. You'll need a licensed Windows XP DVD or CD, and your drivers.

You can burn the recovery DVD from the Japanese hidden portion to get the drivers and such if you are using XP English.

I bought mine from an importer and it was much easier IMHO. The SZ92 is a nicer machine, but the no hassle in configuration made it much easier.

Also, the SZ92 by default over there comes with a Japanese keyboard.

 

Thanks for your answer.
This is pretty much what I thought.

SG

 

what program is good to view the hidden portion?

I want to rip my recovery dvd off my hdd too.

thx thx

 

you should be fine buying a Japanese VAIO as long as the OS is Windows XP Pro which you can get a multi-language pack and completely change the language to english. If you order the VAIO through Sony Japan there is an option that you can change the keyboard type to English for around 1,200 yen.

If you want to burn data from the recovery partition to a DVD, you just use the Recovery Tool. that comes standard with any VAIOs. its exactly the same just in Japanese. Use JIS and the folder is this, VAIO リカバリツール.

 

He was going to buy it in a store, and I don't think they offer it with ENglish in places like Yodobashi.

 

if they are offering 10% points, you probably can get a digital camera just that. so its a worthy tradeoff

 

I have a FS92S, japanese model
I installed English Windows XP
The hotkey (FN), audio and modem drivers of the DVD Recovery didn't work.

I had to download american drivers from this site:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/Vaio/Original/
And

Take a look here too:
http://esupport.sony.com/EN/osmig/xpclean.html


But i have a problem to install Vaio Applications
The sofware that installs Vaio Applications don't load,
because DVD Recovery don't recognize my note like a Vaio.

________________________________

About Japan
Keyboard in english i think it's only in OwnerMade site
( don't have Card Points if you buy, by site or stores like Bic Camera or Yodobashi )

Maybe in Akihabara lol

Sorry about my bad english

 

Although not related, I was thinking of installing Japanese XP OS onto my US SZ150. Although it will be a little different because I plan to install it onto an external USB HD, that way the main English OS will still be intact.

I know I could just change the language setting and use it that way. I figure this would be an interesting to try out since I'm learning Japanese.

(Oh and also have an external JP keyboard)

 

I have a problem to install Vaio Applications
The sofware that installs Vaio Applications don't load, others softwares that i installed do`t work too
Because they don't recognize my notebookr as a Vaio.

I don't know if it needs a registration or to install another program to do this.

For example, Vaio Update.
It appears an error:
Your model information could not be found on the server. Please try again later.
(MessageID=0008)

http://hotstreet.vaio.sony.co.jp/article/article.php?id=37945