Clean Vista Install For a TZ 195?

Hi,

I just received my sony vaio tz 195, i wanted to do a clean install with vista. Are there procedure on how to do this properly. Are the drivers for every component will be working properly with a clean install? I really don't want to mess up. Any help with be greatly appreciated.

 

Do a quick search and you'll find plenty of threads on this. Basically you can either use a normal Vista disc and put in your Vista Business serial no. (from the sticker on the bottom of your machine), or you can use the recovery discs and interrupt the process after Windows is installed but before it installs all the bloatware.

Before you start, it would be prudent to make sure you have burnt recovery discs from the recovery partition (in case you deliberately/accidentally remove it). If you have a SSD, you may want to remove the recovery partition to get some extra free space... either way, burn the recovery discs first so you have a way to get back to step 1 if anything goes awry.

Drivers should be available from Sony's web site (or FTP site), in case you decide go the route of using a standard Vista install disc.

 

Hi, InfyMcgirk

I know this is probably a noob question but how do i go on making a recovery disk? I guess sz is more popular than tz....

 

I don't have a Vaio so this isn't based on experience but you need to look in the documentation (or Sony's support site) for instructions on starting recovery to factory settings.

It will most likely involve pressing a key or holding down a key during bootup.

Once in the recovery application, you should get various options about creating backup discs of the recovery data.

Sorry I can't be more specific, but have a go and I'm sure someone else can give more precise help if you get stuck.

 

Thanks for your help

 

You can make the disks from Vista via the Vaio Recovery Center/Utility (name differs based on region).

 

I would reccomend using vista lite on your vista discs, you can really slim down and speed up vista. I did this for my tz and it's almost as fast as xp.

 

slim down; yes i can see how vlite can do that. but speed up? u mean like start up times? or other speed benifits?

 

Where can i get vista lite from?

 

http://www.vlite.net/download.html

 

Hey thanks Technik,

Do you know which component to uninstall or where i can find that information.. thanks in advance?

 

You're welcome


I think the following thread should be helpful.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=195197

 

i am trying to make a recovery disk, could someone show me....?

 

Question?

I was just curious, instead of doing a clean install, can I just remove the bloatware that I don't want through "add and remove programs"? I'm sure it's not as effective, but I've been reading through some of the different threads regarding this discussion and people have been having problems finding drivers after a clean install. I just don't want to go through the stress. Thanks for your feedback.

 

I think you can just uninstall one by one but that just going to be a pain..... i think you should do clean install after that go to sony website and download taxi cab... from there just install all the drivers. it will automatically download it for you. just install it one by one.. first make the recovery disk and blow out the recovery partition. you save alot of space! There is some tweaks you can do too... Right now my laptop boot under a minute and i probably save about 10gig or more of useless space.

 

When you say, "That's just going to be a pain", are you talking about the hassle of uninstalling Sony Bloatware one by one? What part of it will be a pain, just curious, before I start the process, Thanks!

 

pretty much........ there alot of software to uninstall

 

With Vista OS, just go to CONTROL PANEL , then to HELP & SUPPORT, from there you should see CREATE RECOVERY DISCS.

Takes 2 DVD-R or +R's and not too long to complete. Good luck.

 

This information is not just for the thread creator as I know other people will try and search for guides and probably come to this thread, so I figured I's post what I do. I've done a Vista clean install on my TZ so many times. It is a bit complicated to get it as close to perfect as possible so be prepared to do it again if you mess up. I had to do redo mine about ten times partly because I didn't realize some 3rd party applications that people here were recommending SLOWED down my computer's boot up time. And of course, not knowing the correct order to install the drivers (although it's technically just one driver you need to pay attention to).

First off yes, you definitely need to make the 2 VAIO Recovery Discs. Shouldn't take more than about a half an hour to 45 minutes.

After that, If you have a WAU (Windows anytime Upgrade) DVD, I used this guide here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

You can use the ABR Utility linked in that thread (see the bottom of the first post) to back up your Windows Vista Key so you don't need to call Microsoft afterwards to verify your key.

For the drivers, the only thing that mattered for me was to install Sony Shared Libraries first before anything. I usually follow up with Sony Notebook Utilities and then the Wireless drivers and any other drivers I needed. To give you an idea, these are the only ones on Sony's site that I actually install (other people's preferences may vary, so install what you will).

1. Sony® Shared Library for Microsoft® Windows Vista®
2. Sony® Notebook Utilities
3. Intel® PROWireless Driver
4. Intel® Wireless WiFI Link 4965AGN Network Connection Driver
5. Realtek® High Definition Audio Driver
6. Sony® Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC7 Driver

After installing the drivers, get online and install Windows updates. Vista SP1 may not show up until a day or two later after you did the mandatory 70 or so keep a look out. After you install the Windows updates, check to make sure the Fn Brightness and Volume keys are working. My Fn Brightness keys never worked until after I got my Windows updates, and your results my vary. I just know what works for my TZ150. I also had problems getting my Camera driver to work, but it seems to work fine when I do it in the order I listed.

And no, I don't install the video drivers. Don't need 'em, plus they add a bunch of unnecessary processes and crummy system tray icons (about 4 or 5 or so processes IIRC). I have all the programs I need installed and run under 40 processes always (A clean Windows Vista installation starts off at around 35), which is a night and day difference compared to the factory Windows Vista installation prepared by Sony, which is 90+ processes just to start off.