Clean install instructions for Z3?

I didn't get fresh start and the laptop is due to arrive on Tuesday so I figured I should be prepping for it.

Danke in advance!!

 

it's pretty much the same procedure as with Z2. Make sure you get the latest drivers from Sony website. Follow this post:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/7921009-post2.html

Cheers,
Miki

 

Yep, I used the Z2 instructions and everything went perfectly. Zero issues.

 

Hmm... that seems like an awful lot of work. I have been using mostly thinkpads over the years, and I just install a fresh copy of Windows, as usual, and then install a LAN driver (downloaded from the Lenovo site), then download Lenovo's system update utility and get everything I need. No futzing about.

Is it really that much more difficult to do this on Vaio's? Has anything been made easier with the Z3?

I don't understand why Sony wouldn't keep a complete complement of drivers for every machine they make on their support site - my mind boggles!

- Tim

 

They put the drivers into the recovery partition/recovery disks so that they are all copied to the system where Windows can find them during setup/complete system recovery.

On the Sony support website, they have a full set of original drivers that came with each model, but they don't provide a utility that will install them all in one go.

If you're the adventurous type, you can edit your Windows iso and put the drivers there for Windows setup to find and install automatically.

 

One simple solution: if you haven't deleted the recovery partition, you can simply follow the recovery process, and there will be a point the recovery formally enters standard Windows 7 mode, and then install drivers.
After drivers there will be a reboot and then bloatwares. At this moment you can use ctrl+alt+del to bring up task manager, and then kill the vaio care/rescue program.

Now you got a clean Windows 7 with all drivers installed.

 

I did delete it, though I created a recovery USB flash drive (large one, 32gb).

I could do a recovery from there and do what you say, I suppose.

Right now I'm trying to install directly from a regular Windows 7 DVD, and I'm getting the "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing" error. Strange, as I'm using a USB DVD drive and the Windows installer booted from it. I'm checking out some other avenues. So annoying when OEMs don't make a computer "standard", like any other computer.

- Tim

 

I managed to clean-install Windows 7 from USB stick without slipstreaming USB3 drivers - just make sure you are booting in UEFI mode (in the BIOS/UEFI setup there is an option UEFI boot).

You might need to prepare the Windows 7 USB installation for UEFI boot -

Guide can be found here: Installing Windows 7 in native EFI mode from USB - bit-tech.net Forums

If you do not want to boot in UEFI mode, the problem is USB3 - as Sony is using Renesas USB3 controller.

With Z2, it was still possible to boot from the USB2 port without adding custom drivers to the Windows installation media - with SVZ, there is no USB2 port, and both USB3 ports go through the Renesas controller.

Windows manages to load the bootloader and setup because for that part of the boot is is relying on DOS int13h reads - but as soon as it transitions in Windows (starts the kernel) - it needs Windows drivers for accessing the media.

So, for this option, you will need to supply the Renesas USB3 drivers to the setup - I guess the easiest way is to extract those drivers from the Sony's installer by using Universal Extractor or a similar tool - once you get to the driver directory with the .inf file, you can pre-cook this in the Windows installation by using some tool that can do slipstreaming..

Such as this one: Welcome to RT Se7en Lite - Slipstream Service Pack,Integrate Updates,Integrate Drivers,Integrate LP,Remove Components,Enable or Disable features,Unattended Setup,Apply Tweaks,Add Icons,Wallpapers,Themes,Bootable USB or DVD

 

Good work, psyg321. Repped.

 

Thanks, psyq321! Actually, I did a clean install yesterday, and it didn't have to be done in UEFI mode. I just kept it in Legacy boot mode, and booted from a USB key (a USB 2.0 key) where I'd imaged my Windows 7 Retail DVD in ISO form, using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Microsoft Store Online

and there were no problems. Perhaps a USB 2.0 device (such as the flash drive I was using) can be driven by Windows 7's USB 2.0 drivers? In any case, I had no troubles with that. It just didn't seem to like the DVD drive.

The only problem I had was trying to use the Windows activation key on the sticker under the computer; apparently to use it, you have to use the telephone activation method. I found using ABR tool worked fine (as mentioned elsewhere in this forum):

ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) | directedge.us

Now I just have to install all the drivers that were originally on the computer, install all the Windows updates, and I'll be set to go.

- Tim