Clean install of Windows 7 32-bit on Sony Vaio SZ1, SZ2, and SZ3 models with working fn and s1/s2

Clean install of Windows 7 32-bit on Sony Vaio SZ1, SZ2, and SZ3 models with working fn and s1/s2 keys

credits go to: Leslieann and Jedstern


Since I don't seem like the first one trying to get win7 running on these older models, I figured I’d post a guide of how I got everything running. As stated above I couldn’t have done it without the help of Leslieann’s guide ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...4bit-clean-install-should-help-other-szs.html) and Jedstern’s post ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...one-installed-windows-7-a-2.html#post6629615). I’ve done some modifications though.

Before you get started you have to make one decision. This guide is 99% working, there is from what I can tell only one hitch left. All the function keys (both brightness and volume) and S1 & S2 keys will work in both stamina and speed mode. However, in speed mode, after closing the lid (regardless if settings is on “do nothing” in the power options) the brightness function keys lose their functions. There are two options to this problem, what suits you best only you can decide:

Option A – Live with the problem. Notice that you have to reboot the laptop in order to get the brightness function keys working again.

Option B – Disable ACPI Lid by updating its driver in the device manager with “Volume Manager”. This option means your computer loses its function of “realizing” when the lid is closed. This options works well if you don’t want the laptop to go to “sleep” when closing the lid. I’m one of those persons, I have set hibernate on power button and auto sleep after a certain amount of time instead.


Okay, so if you’ve decided, let’s get started
I've uploaded the files needed. Each step below has the correct file needed in the corresponding folder:
Vaio SZ1-3 win7 32-bit.part1.rar
Vaio SZ1-3 win7 32-bit.part2.rar

Step 1: Flash your bios to the R0112N0 version. I was able to do this from windows7 without a problem, just right-click on the installer supplied and chose “run as administrator”.

Step 2: Install windows 7 32-bit in “speed” mode.

Step 3: Continue in “speed” mode, install (right-click and run as administrator) the original Nvidia SZ1 vista driver which is found in folder3. Reboot.

Step 4: Switch to “stamina” mode. Open up the control panel and choose “hardware and sound” and then “manage audio devices”. In the tabs choose “recording”. There should be two microphones, switch between the two. Right-click and choose “set as default device” and “set as default communication device”.

Step 5: If wifi/network isn’t working with the preinstalled drivers, install the correct driver for your device. Continue by running windows update and choose the following updates:
- Sony Corporation - Input - Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device
- Sony Corporation - Other hardware - Sony Programmable I/O Control Device
- Intel Corporation - Display - Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family
Reboot.

Step 6: Open the “device manager” by right-clicking on “my computer” and choosing properties and then “device manager”. There should be two unknown devices in the list. Right-click on “mass storage device” and choose update driver. Choose “browse my computer for driver software” followed by “let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer” and then “have disk”. Select folder 5 which contains ti21sony.inf driver. Click ok and let it install.

Step 7: Right-click on the unknown device that is left, this is the camera (VGP-VCC2). Repeat the procedure above and point to the driver found in folder 6. Note that SZ4 uses another model camera which this driver won’t work for. You’ll need to find the driver for VGP-VCC5.

Step 8: Right-click on the desktop and choose “graphic properties”. Choose “display device settings” and then “energy settings”. Set is at “inactivate energy saving…”.
NOTE: This might have a bit different look or terminology, my menus are in Swedish so I don’t know the exact terms.

Step 9: Open folder 7 and run the installer as administrator. This will install latest Intel chipset driver. Reboot.

Step 10: Right-click on the installer for Vaio Event Manager and select run as administrator. Reboot.

Step 11: Right-click on the installer for Sony Utils dll and select run as administrator. Reboot.

Step 12: Right-click on the installer for Sony Shared Library and select run as administrator. Reboot.
Already now the function keys should work for controlling volume and brightness in stamina mode.

Step 13: Reboot into speed mode.

Step 14: Run the installer for Nvidia 270.80. Don’t choose “perform clean install”. Reboot.

Step 15: Run the nvidia registry patch. Reboot.
Now function keys for volume and brightness should work in speed mode as well.

Step 16: Run the installer for Settings Utilities Series as administrator. Reboot. The S1 and S2 buttons should now function in both stamina and speed mode. Hold one of them down to be able to set their settings.

Optional step 17: Run the installer for Sony Control Center as administrator. Reboot.

Optional step 18: Run the installer for Vaio Power Management as administrator. Reboot.

I include step 17 & 18 for those that want it. The function keys and S buttons work without them installed. I find that windows 7 own power settings are more than enough for my SZ to function well. And the Control Center is of no real use. Just makes it easier for some people who don’t want to run the control panel.

So right now your SZ1-3 is working with all keys. The only problem now is that if you close the lid in speed mode and open it up again, the controls for brightness is lost. You can get it back by rebooting. If you want, you can do this last step which disables the lid driver. Notice that you can’t get “auto sleep” on closed lid if you choose to do this last step. It’s up to you. Notice I don’t take any responsibility for having disabled the ACPI lid driver. It is possible to get it back working again even though I haven’t tried this myself. Search google if you want to find out how. With that said here’s the optional step 19:

Optional step 19: Open up “device manager”. Double-click on “system devices”. Right-click on “ACPI Lid” and choose update driver. Choose “browse my computer for driver software” followed by “let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”. Uncheck the “show compatibly devices”. Scroll down and select “Volume Manager”. Click okay to finish the update. Reboot. Now all function keys and S1/S2 keys work in speed and stamina mode regardless of what you do.

Step 20: All done, enjoy


I kind of rushed this guide to help someone out ASAP. There are probably a lot of hiccups. If you don’t understand a step or if something is clearly wrong then please let me know. I realize it’s a lot of steps and lots of reboots. There might be an easier or faster way, but this at least works for me and hopefully it can help some others out there who are unwilling to give up on their old SZ just yet

 

Comfirmed and working for sure with following models:

SZ1HP/B
SZ28GP

I'm sure it will work for probably all SZ1, SZ2, SZ3 and SZ4 (just need diff camera driver for SZ4). But for now I know 100% that it works with the above models. Let me know if it works for more or if there's a model this guide doesn't work for and I will update the list

 

BIG, big ThanX!
Finally something which worked perfectly for my VGN-SZ480N laptop and Windows 7 32bit.
And amazingly the S1 and S2 keys work! Before I could use other but S1 and S1 Fn keys.
I tried a lot of tutorials (including Leslieann one) and finally yours "strange" order of installation (with switching into the Speed mode) seems to work 100% for me!
I made use of mixed set of dedicated SZ480 drivers and those provided by you. But I think that the order of installation plays the major role.
Thanx again from the former resident of Uppsala

 

I used Leslieann's comprehensive guide for the SZ750 64-bit install for my SZ4 so if this guide is broadly similar, it will work for that model too. Have a strange problem where hibernate and sleep refuse to work... screen goes dark for a while then brightens up and the PC remains on.

 

I have to add that my Wireless Switch utility shows only 2,4GHz band (no 5GHz any more) + Bluetooth. Have no idea why. Tried an old trick which worked under Win XP for me, but no success But I think I can live with that.

And the trick for WinXP was:
After installing latest Intel WLAN driver and Wireless Switch Utility (showing only 2,4GHz band and Bluetooth) I reinstalled original Intel WLAN driver available at SONY site for VGN-SZ480N -> the 5GHz reappeared and was functioning (which I cannot check cos I have no 5GHz router).

 

I used Leslieann's comprehensive guide for the SZ750 64-bit install for my SZ4 so if this guide is broadly similar, it will work for that model too. Have a strange problem where hibernate and sleep refuse to work... screen goes dark for a while then brightens up and the PC remains on.

 

I never even installed wireless switch utility. I don't really see the point as the driver update from intel and win 7 works flawlessly for me. What does the switch utility add?

Both 2,4 and 5 ghz are working for me atleast, the laptop finds both networks (my router puts out one of each).

 

Interesting. Irishsumo does your function keys work after closing the lid (not having disable acpi lid)? SZ4 has the older bios as well. The only reason I didn't mention it in the title is that the camera driver is different from SZ1-3 models.

Like I mentioned in my guide. The function keys stop working in speed mode once lid is closed unless you disable the acpi lid driver. However I've had no problem of sleep/hibernation not working. Is this regardless of autosleep, push button for sleep or close lid for sleep?

 

thanks for the guide, it works on my sz28gp

anyway, want to know how to activated blue-tooth/driver to be used, its not recognized/ none in device manager (already switched on),
second one, how to activated fingerprint and anti-shock harddisk

 

I`ve a Sony SZ1VP with a new build in SSD. I´d like to install Win7 Ultimate but I have a problem to flash the R0096N0-Bios to the R0112NO.Do you have any hints for me to solve this problem?

 

I forgot the message by installing the PHBSYS-01041231-UN.exe.

"WBflash
Die Systeminformationen können nicht gelesen werden"

There any good results flashing the Sony SZ1VP/C to the recommended R0112N-BIOS.

 

Works like a charm except for a strange behaviour: when I press the S1 o S2 buttons, pop up appears. I am setting S1 as mute, press apply, but it doesn't work. Tried some different settings (hibernate for example) with no success.
Any ideas?
Awesome job!

 

Just wanted to report a fully functioning success with a Sony Vaio SZ340P.

The hard drive had failed, so I replaced it with an SSD I had bought for something else and not been able to use, and got a replacement for the failed DVD-drive on Ebay. I installed win7, but was frustrated by the inability to get the video working until I found this thread, with the install "kit". I was initially unable to upgrade from R0091N1 to R0112N0. I got an "unable to read" error, so I skipped that step and followed the rest of the instructions. At the end, I went back to the Sony e-support site and downloaded the VISTA R0096N0 BIOS upgrade, which worked, and then I was able to to the R0112N0 upgrade.

At the end, video works in speed and stamina modes, all the function keys work in both modes, including the S1 and S2 keys, which--to be honest--I never even noticed before. I was able to assign them various functions with the sony utility.

Also, my system does power down when the lid is closed (the default), and all the function keys still work when I power up.

Thanks so much for the detailed post, along with the upgrade software "kit"!!

 

firstly big thanks to Olo, Leslieann and Jedstern

Now i was able to flash bios only after instally sony shared library (i downloaded v2 from sony support website) but there is an installer in folder [Step12]

GL

 

I am sorry to resurrect the old thread.
I have an SZ330P that I followed the other thead (SZ750 W7 clean install) with much less success.
mediafire website has a lot of malware detected just by clicking on the file download. it got worse when I accidentially clicked on install of the downloader.

Well, after a few fights with the website, I downloaded both part1 and part2 files.

part1 file includes 13 directories and 1 text file
part 2 file is about 102MB. However, it doesn't have any files inside. (using Alzip utility).

Any idea if I am missing something?

 

Looks like it was the problem with Alzip. I tried with WinZip 18. It extracted all the empty directories and a few directories with files on part 2.