Confirmed issue regarding Sony SZ and a clean XP install

So i guess you guys have the experiences now on what is best in regard to having a 'clean' windows xp.

Anyone have a clean windows yet with all the functions working ?

 

I have a clean install on a 160 and a 110. Both are fully functional and working great.

 

Do you have like a step-by-step guide on how to do this ?
Would be perfect and i'm sure i wont be the only one thanking u for it !

 

Completed my clean install on my SZ120 without too many problems. Only thing i'm missing is an icon for my memory stick drive. Anyone else have this problem? I know it's pretty minor but i'd like to figure out how to change it back or replace it with a default drive icon. Cheers.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1282735&postcount=4

 

UPDATE: Please see at the bottom of the post for a newly uploaded file containing just the hot fixes and a few applications needed after a clean install

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Clean Install Process:

[Have Edited the Installation Sequence, so Please Note]

Preparation:

1. I first went to the Sony Support Site... (change the model number on top right hand corner to your specific model)
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-swu.pl?mdl=VGNSZ120PB

2. Downloaded Everything (Original Drivers + Updates)...there is a way by which you can download all at once (the download taxi utility...its cool..check out)...

3. Checked out this tutorial:

http://esupport.sony.com/EN/osmig/xpclean.html

Actually just this part of it:

"....Install the driver packages.

CAUTION: You must install the driver packages in the following order for your computer to operate normally:....."

(I have modified this list a bit based on my experience after 2 Clean Installs)

THIS WILL ALSO BE YOUR INSTALL SEQUENCE.

1. Intel® Chipset
2. Sony Control Device Driver
3. Sony Programmable I/O
4. Sony Shared Library
5. Sony Notebook Utilities
6. Video
7. Audio
8. Modem
9. Network
10. Wireless
11. WebCam (Please install the Hotfix, referred in the post below before this if you want to avoid Shutdown Freeze)
12. Memory Stick® (Check below for getting back the Memory Stick Icon)
13. Memory Stick Registry
14. UPEK TouchChip Fingerprint Coprocessor
15. Infineon® Trusted Platform Module
16. Bluetooth USB Controller
17. USB Mouse Controller
18. Protector Suite
19. Touchpad
20. Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Utility
21. SmartWi
22. BIOS Update
23. Repeat steps 2 to 5 (reinstall those drivers for your Fn and Soft Keys to work Properly)

NOTE:
FOR NEWER MODELS (MARCH 25 ONWARDS APPROX) YOU DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH STEPS 22 & 23 SINCE THE BIOS IS ALREADY UPDATED.

4. Created folders with these names (except No. 23 ofcourse on my Hard Drive and numbered them in sequence (for current as well as future usage, since I would burn all these on a disc later

On the Drivers page (given above), clicked each driver (Download Now button), checked the description and put them into respective folders.

5. Burn this on a CD

Actual Install:

1. Boot from CD and install new version of XP Pro (I also completely formatted my disk and partitioned it during the process...100 GB as one single partition is just too unhealthy IMO)

2. Once that is done, just start installing the drivers in the suggested sequence (above) from the CD you burnt.

Notes:
- You will have to be in Stamina Mode to install Intel Graphics Driver and in Speed mode to install NVidia Graphics Driver (other things can be installed in any mode)

Also, Intel Graphics driver on the Sony site has some problems. Pick it up from the Intel Site ( http://support.intel.com/support/chi.../CS-009247.htm Intel® 945 Express Chipset Family)

- You will have to install a Hotfix for the Webcam driver otherwise your computer will freeze on Shutdown (Have included the fix in the Uploaded Files (see bottom of post))

- Memory Stick icon on the drive will not show (Have included the fix in the Uploaded Files (see bottom of post))

To install the Sony VAIO Applications (if you want, I don't find them too useful), you will need to have your recovery disc. Once you are done with the clean install, insert your Disc No. 1 and system will prompt you to install Applications and Drivers. Select 'Ok' and it will prompt you with a list of Applications and Drivers. Now just 'select' the applications you want to install (your drivers are already installed by now so you don't need to check anything there).

I only installed the following:

VAIO Power Management Utility ... also available as a standalone application at the following link:
http://rapidshare.de/files/16424637/snypm.zip.html)

VAIO HDD Protection thing ... also available as a standalone application at the following link:
http://rapidshare.de/files/16441543/snyhdp.zip.html)

(Big thanks DCP for these links).

VAIO Camera Utility and Wireless Switching Utility MIGHT (Will) NOT WORK after clean install. Download the standalone latest versions from the links provided below:

Wireless Switching Utility (Thanks KNOP)

http://www.css.ap.sony.com/vaio/downloads/Patches/WLAN/SOAWSU-01181800-UN.exe

VAIO Camera Utility.

ftp://ftp.vaio.sony.co.jp/pub/vaio/download/SP-011461-01/SOAOTH-01146101-UN.exe

In place of Wireless Switching Utility, you can also use SmartWi application (my personal preference). Its a nifty application and has a great Fn+F1 functionality to switch between WLAN / BT/ WLAN+BT modes... Also take care that you turn OFF the main SmartWi application (it should not show in your system tray)... also set it to NOT turn on when Windows Starts or when you switch your wireless modes (through its 'settings'). The reason is that it is a major drain on your CPU (mine goes up to 50%)... and turning it off is not a problem coz even with the main application manager closed, the Fn+F1 functionality works, which is basically what you need.

Thats all... you will have your system up and running.
-------------------------------------

Thats my original post in one of the threads. Having done clean install almost 4 times now (twice in my first laptop which I got exchanged and twice in this new one)... and I know what a Pain in the A$$ it is, especially finding the right drivers and those minor fixes for problems... so thought of putting this up, might help a few people with clean install...

I have uploaded the complete set of drivers for SZ 120 PB. It is in three parts (A, B & C) coz rapidshare won't allow me to upload 200 MB at once... It contains the following:

1. All Drivers (see list above)
2. Minor fixes (hotfix for shutdown freeze caused due to Webcam driver, dll file to get back Memory Stick Icon etc)
3. Couple of standalone VAIO applications that I thought was important (VAIO Power Management & VAIO HDD Protection) so you won't need the recovery disk for these.

A few of these have been provided by other forum members. A big thanks goes out to them. I just thought combining everything in one place would save people lot of trouble.

I have not included the Protector Suite as it was 220 MB in size. Please download it from Sony Support Site. Have left a link for the same in the respective folder.

Here are the download links: (Had uploaded the same on yousendit.com earlier but I guess the link there expires in 7 days or so)... so here it is...

http://rapidshare.de/files/16523064/Sony_VAIO_SZ_120_PB_Drivers_Part_A.zip.html

http://rapidshare.de/files/16521819/Sony_VAIO_SZ_120_PB_Drivers_Part_B.zip.html

http://rapidshare.de/files/16522469/Sony_VAIO_SZ_120_PB_Drivers_Part_C.zip.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Repeated request, I am uploading a new file which contains just the Hot Fixes and a few Applications...this is for people who have downloaded (or can download) drivers from Sony Support site and just want the hot fixes and applications that are required after a clean install...

Its just an 11 MB file and includes the following:

1. Web Cam Freeze Hotfix
2. Memory Stick Icon Hotfix
3. VAIO Hard Drive Protection Utility
4. Wireless Switch Utility
5. VAIO Camera Utility

http://rapidshare.de/files/18947885/Hot_Fixes___Application.zip.html

 

Wow thanks Ronin. That was good of you to take time out to post them details.

nice work.

Thanks

Darren

 

However, if you don't have a US SZ, it seems that the drivers refuse to install. It was the case with my Japanese SZ

 

Oh....

I'll be getting a UK version...

 

The chipset driver from Sony and wireless swtich utility would not install for me when I atempted a clean install.

Did you get it working?

 

Of course, not all of us have had it so easy - I still can't get the power management utility to work properly (it seizes control of brightness and won't give it back sometimes), the switcher.exe utility won't start, the Bluetooth stack won't properly communicate with my phone as a modem, the camera utility doesn't function, the power management does NOT control the fan...

Guess I'm the lucky one...

-N

 

Continuing my mail....here it is .... as described above...

This is only for 120 P/B... Please check on the website if it is compatible with your model...

http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FCKHUFJPZIE82UE8I1J24WP0L

NOTE: THESE ARE ONLY THE DRIVERS AS AVAILABLE ON SONY SITE AND REQUIRED FOR A CLEAN INSTALL. THESE DO NOT INCLUDE THE APPLICATIONS THAT CAME BUNDLED (LIKE ROXIO, CLICK TO DVD ETC)... FOR APPLICATIONS YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE A RECOVERY DISK FIRST, AND YOU CAN INSTALL SELECTED OR ALL APPLICATIONS AFTER THE CLEAN INSTALL FROM THE DISK.

 

This download is just for the 120 right? Wont work on the premium model?

 

I am not sure, but quite a few drivers on the Sony site looked to be the same for 120/140/160... but I would suggest you check for compatibility of each driver on the site. Besides, my guess is that the premium model might have a few additional drivers since it has WWAN and stuff.

 

That worked, thanks!

 

Starting my clean install now, wish me luck!

 

good luck i just got my 160 today, and i plan to do a clean install
soon too - i'll probably use the post a bit back describing the process.

 

Waiting on the thing to format. Should've done a quick format.

Windows is installed, but I haven't loaded any drivers yet...

 

starting a clean install now too - i'll post the results here.

*update* installing drivers from a sony driver package now.

 

Is there an easy way to move system folders to different partitions?

I know tweak ui will let you change the location of some of the folders under documents and settings, but what about Program files?

 

hmm.. that requires quite a bit of work, but can be done:

http://sean-janus.optionpc.com/move-dirs.html

 

yeah, that is the process I'm going through right now. I was hoping there was something easier. Oh well..

Thanks!

 

my pleasure - good luck

hm.. i'm having problems with the audio driver; when i try to run sigmatel
driver setup, i get the following error message 'device object not present,
restart the system and run setup again'.. but restarting does not help.

suggestions would be very welcome.

 

The standalone VAIO Power Management installer for SZ
http://rapidshare.de/files/16424637/snypm.zip.html

 

Thanks dcp... this is really helpful...

The only other App I need (independently) is the HDD Protector... is that available stand-alone?

 

Thanks a lot. Does this have the HDD Protection?

 

Here u go, the VAIO HDD Protection:
http://rapidshare.de/files/16441543/snyhdp.zip.html

 

No.

But dcp just gave the link of the same above.
Also a few posts ago he posted the link of VAIO Power Management Utility (Standalone)...

 

Dude... you are great. This is amazing.

Are you creating these yourself?? If yes, thanks a lot. (Can you share the secret of how you are doing it?

Besides... have you figured out how to make the Wireless Switching Utility and VAIO Camera Utilty work with a clean install?? Though not very useful utilities per se, but I would like to have my Bluetooth light off

 

Why do I get a blank screen after installing the intel 950 drivers and rebooting??

The Sony driver installer says it is not for my machine. I have installed the latest bios.

Thanks...

 

I hope you did not try to install the Intel Graphic Driver from Sony Site. Thats not working. You will need to download and install it from Intel Site. Also, you might be aware that you need to install the Intel Graphic Driver in Stamina Mode. (Note: I am talking about the Intel Graphic Video Driver, NOT Intel Chipset Driver. Intel chipset driver installs just fine from Sony site and in any mode).

 

Yeah, I did heed that advice from previous threads. I made no attempt to install the Sony driver until after the Intel driver failed me. Yes, it is in stamina mode, and when installing the intel driver, it appears to install without a problem, but after rebooting, all I get is a blank screen. Then for grins, I tried the sony driver, and it just said the update was not intended for my machine, or something to that effect. I'm going to try something else here. I'll update...

 

OK, it appears that after installing the driver, when it reboots, it is booting into a resolution that the display will not handle, so it goes blank. Booting into safe mode allows me to switch to usable resolution, but it does not keep that resolution when I reboot. This is getting to be a real PITA...

Trying something else...

Maybe I don't have the correct intel driver? Anyone have a link to the known good driver?

Update:
Found a different Intel driver, and it DID work! The driver name is win2k_xp14195.exe

The one I had that did NOT work was IEGD_5_0_Windows.zip

I did get that driver from Intel's site. Maybe I didn't download what I thought I downloaded, who knows?

oh well, I'm nearly done now.

 

Glad it worked. Sorry I should have provided the link before.

Anyways, for someone who wants a direct link to intel ... its here:

http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-009247.htm

Second in the row: Intel® 945 Express Chipset Family

 

Yeah, I'm sure it is posted somewhere else in this thread also, I just didn't get it from there I guess...

Now, how do I get back the little software utility that handles turning on and off the different wireless functions, ie 2.4, 5, BT wireless?

 

Two software utilities that I could NOT get to work after a clean install (3 times):
- Wireless Switching Utility (This is what you are talking about)
- VAIO Camera Utility

While they show in the Programs list, they just don't initialize. They work when you do a Recovery through the Recovery Disk method though. I am just not able to understand as to what else they need to function. Do tell me if you can figure it out.

Something similar to Wireless Switching Utility can be done with SmartWi utility. It has a nice Fn+F1 functionality wherein you can easily switch between Wifi, BT or WiFi+BT.
Note: Please remember though that this utility should not be running all the time. It drains the CPU. You don't need to run it all the time. Fn+F1 functionality works even without this running. Be sure to 'Uncheck' the option of starting this utility when windows starts (from its options panel) to save your CPU drain.

 

I had not even tried the camera utility, but now that you mention it, mine doesn't work either. The camera itself works, but the utility to make adjustments doesn't.

 

According to tests, the integrated graphics will not give a user much battery life anyways. Can I not install the Intel integrated graphics driver? Also what is the Sony Vaio Applications? Will the Sony hard drive user work with other hard drives or it's programmed for the stock hard drive? If I get a SZ, I intend to replace it with a faster hard drive.

 

Hi there,

Did you ever post this file?

-N

 

Sony VAIO applications include stuff like VAIO Zone, VAIO Power Management, Click to DVD, Roxio Media Stuff, Office Works, Sony Hard Disk Protection application and such other things (30-40 of them), what I may call 'Bloatware'. The whole purpose of the clean install is to remove this stuff.

Ok, basically without the Recovery Disks, this is what you will get:

A full functioning WinXP OS with all the required drivers for normal use. The only things I found useful among the Sony specific applications were

- VAIO Power Management application
- Sony Hard Disk Protection utility

which (thanks to dcp) are now available as standalone apps here:

http://rapidshare.de/files/16424637/snypm.zip.html (Power Management)
http://rapidshare.de/files/16441543/snyhdp.zip.html (Hard Disk Protection)

Your other questions:

Hard Drive Protection with other Hard Drives: Ok, I don't have any technical information of how this thing works, but I guess its more to do with shock resistance mechanism rather than the hard drive itself. So IDEALLY it should work with any Hard Drive which matches the basic specs. But I would suggest you speak to Sony Tech Reps about the same. Btw, Sony hard drives are pretty fast (5400 rpm)... don't know how much better will it be with 7200.

Intel Integrated Graphics Driver: Is it this that you are talking about?

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go!

or is it something else?
In any case, you can install it only in Stamina mode... not in Speed Mode.

 

I'm pretty sure the system uses an accelerometer on the motherboard that is monitored by the software to park the read head when a shock is detected. I don't think there is anything "special" about the hard drive itself.

 

Yes.

First I uploaded it on yousendit.com. Since that expires in 7 days, I uploaded it on rapidshare (also included a few more things)... Have started a new thread for that... http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=46619

Go ahead and download. Have also edited my installation instructions a bit.

 

Thanks a bunch. Perhaps I can get some of these applications working properly now!

-N

 

First of all, thank you to everyone who has posted on this site! I performed a clean install of XP Pro and finally got my machine to shut down after reading the tips given here.

The only problem that I still have is that I cannot get the Infineon Trusted Platform Module Driver to load. It gives me an error message that says "unable to update driver", even though I'm not "updating" a driver because I never installed one if the first place. Has anyone else had this problem? Any solutions that you know of? I would appreciate the help!

 

try using the one from your recovery dvd one or try the attached one..I got the same "unable to update driver" message when I tried to use the one from sonystyle.com. The one from the recovery dvd installed okay for me (u need to install it manually, though..the have disk way).

 

I was able to get the TouchChip Fingerprint Coprocessor driver working. What I can't seem to get to work now is the drivers for the Infineon Trusted Platform Module (UNDOTH-00984602-US.EXE) and the Infineon Trusted Platform Module Professional Package (UNAOTH-00985803-US.EXE) that are listed on the Sony Website. I have a VAIO SZ110/B with a clean install of Windows XP Pro. All of the other drivers and hotfixes have been installed and are working great. My computer runs fine, but I did just can't get those drivers installed and I'm wondering if they're even necessary. Does any know?

 

I am having trouble installing the HD protector utility and the power management utility and was wondering if anyone has some help. When I install both applications the status bar gets to 0% and then crashes.....anyone got any ideas? I have downloaded them from the above link and tried the ones off of the cd.

 

Hi,

I require your desperate help regarding this Sony SZ-110 model. Im having issues installing the motherboard chipset drivers, downloaded drivers from the intel website and still having difficulty. Device manager shows PCI device (connected to motherboard resource) under other device which has a problem, thus my onboard sound, usb and modem fails to detect/install. Im pretty sure this is linked to the chipset driver. also, my pc hangs before shutting down due to the onboard camera, please could somebody help me regarding these issues and mail me at my personal address as ive tried installing xp pro almost a million times without any success.

i really hope to hear from postive response from you guys.

Thank you,
NeETz

 

Hi I've successfully clean installed XP Pro in my SZ140 except Wireless Switch and Camera Utility that won't work. But I'm having problem which I'm not very sure whether it's part of this clean install problem. Now my XP can't recognise my external hard drive and my wireless logitech mouse. It keeps on asking for driver but there's no driver needed. Any idea? Is this Windows problem or clean install problem?Thanks alot.Cheers.

 

Guys, guess what. Wireless Switching Utility and VAIO Camera Utility worked at my clean install XP Pro. I'm not very sure how I made the Camera Utility worked but I'm sure how what I've done for the Wireless Switching Utility worked. Notice that in factory preinstalled Win XP there's no SmartWi™ Utility so I didn't install this utility as well. Here is my driver and application installation order :
From SONY and my experience
CAUTION: You must install the driver packages in the following order for your computer to operate normally:
1. BIOS update (if available)
2. Intel® Chipset (if applicable)
3. Sony Notebook Control Device Driver (if applicable)
4. Sony Programmable IO Control Device Driver Utility (if applicable)
5. Sony Shared Library
6. Video
7. Audio
8. Modem
9. Network
10. Wireless
11. Texas Instruments PCI7411 Integrated FlashMedia Controller Driver
12. Sony VGP-MCA10 Registry Patch
13. UPEK TouchChip Fingerprint Coprocessor
14. Infineon® Trusted Platform Module
15. SmartWi™ Utility (Ignore and skip, install wireless device switch later)
16. Sony Notebook Utilities
17. Touchpad
18. Motion Eye Camera
19. Install Bluetooth Driver from Recovery CD
20. Install Bluetooth ustility from Recovery CD
21. Install stuff in SONY Application folder (VAIO HDD Protection, Wireless Switching Utility, VAIO Camera Utility) This is standalone version.
22. Install Other SONY Application that's not in the folder from Recovery CD
(such as Battery check utility, VAIO Power Management, or as needed)

Notice that I did restart after each installation no matter I was asked to restart or not. Hope you guys Wireless Switch Utility and Camera Utlity would work as well after you follow my way. BUT I found something different b/w the Wireless Switch on the preinstalled Win XP and the one on my clean install XP. My clean install XP doesn't has option to tick the Enable 5GHz Wireless LAN whereas the Preinstalled XP one does has this option (pics attached below). So I'm not sure where my option goes. Could someone figured out this for me pls. I think play around with the application may fixed this problem. Or maybe there's other application need to be installed as well. Anyway, good luck with these guys. Hope my instructions would help. I'm pretty sure it'll work. Other question is can someone tell me how to install VAIO Central please. This sofware exists on preinstalled XP but I couldn't see anywhere I could install it even in the Recovery CD there's no such thing. Any helpful response about this would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot guys. Cheers.