Downgrading the FZ to XP

Do you think its a good idea to downgrade it to XP??

 

What's your goal?

 

to use programs that wont run under vista:/ and i like the xp interface better

 

can be done, it's a pain and you will lose functionality, but not a whole lot. Power management being the chief issue. You will need to slipstream the intel mobile sata drivers to your XP install disc first using a util like nLite so XP can see your hard drive. Then you will have to find a model close to yours that has XP support and download the drivers and do a bit of a hack during install to get them to install to your machine. For more info check pages 5-6 of the FZ owners thread where I outline the experience I had with setting up a dual boot solution.

HTH

 

crisismgmt, would it be possible with any model of FZ series? in particular, i've got a FZ11E.

 

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/FZ19

 

Do you have to slipstream them? Why not install them during the install of XP itself? I don't remember the exact steps, but there is a point VERY early in the installation process where you can hit a function key (F6 if I remember correctly) to tell the XP install process that you have some specialized drivers for the hard drive. This was originally added to the OS install process to handle SCSI drives which needed non-standard driver. Again if I remember correctly this is done on the page where XP wants to know what partition to install to. There is a similar step in Vista installation where it gives you an opportunity to use third party drivers.

Isn't the lack of power management pretty much of a "show stopper" though? I can't imagine what the battery life is going to be without it. For folks who want to dual boot I can see it might be worth it. But to convert to XP only seems like it's going to be mighty limiting. Other than the power thing and lack of function keys, what else is missing?

Gary

 

It's not possible to load the drivers off a USB flash drive for the F6 option in XP, so if you don't have an external floppy drive, the only alternative is to slipstream. In case anyone is interested, here are the drivers required for the slipstream or the F6 floppy option and here's a good guide for nlite.

I'm guessing that crisismgmt used a Vista version of VPM, which isn't compatible with XP (If not, please provide the version that you tried to install). And, as of now, all the function keys should work (except FN+F5/F6 brightness control for NVIDIA users because of driver issues) by using XP utilities of different models. When Sony does release the XP utilities for the FZ (and the SZ6), they will be exactly the same as the other models, I'm sure of it. They always rehash their drivers and utilities, never releasing anything exclusive to one model.

 

bogart, i have tried to use the sony utilities for other models and every time it comes up saying that it isnt compatible with my model. Do you have a specific one you know of that works?

Thanks!

btw...i have an FZ

 

When installing Sony drivers and utilities it's always recommended to install from the REAL setup files inside the executable, devoid of any model checks. You can use Universal Extractor to accomplish this.

 

I had someone who followed my guide for the HP DV6500T, and then added their own stuff for the Sony. They used my guide to format the drive, partition, and followed the principles of getting drivers. They e-mailed me a bunch of steps, but they don't have a web site. So I'll cut and paste in here.

The XP disk preparation stage and the installation of the Wireless
drivers are as per your instructions.
The rest as follows: This is for a Sony VGN-FZ15G
=============
Ethernet (Marvell yukon 88E8036):
http://www.marvell.com/drivers/upload/SetupYukonWin_5X6E_v9.12.4.3.zip
============
Graphics (Nvidia 8400M GT)
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/nvidia/165series/16501.exe
REPLACE INF FILE IN THE PACKAGE WITH:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/infs/165series/16501/nv4_disp.inf
=============
Bluetooth (Alps UGX):
MS stack works, just need to mod inf file
Locate the inf file: %windir%\inf\bth.inf
open it in notepad
Add the required line as follows:

[ALPS.NT.5.1]
ALPS Integrated Bluetooth Device= BthUsb, USB\Vid_044e&Pid_3005
Alps Bluetooth USB Adapter= BthUsb, USB\Vid_044e&Pid_3006
; ADD THIS LINE ** \/ \/ \/ \/
ALPS UGX Integrated Bluetooth= BthUsb, USB\Vid_044e&Pid_300D

Then uninstall UGX in device manager, scan for hardware changes, and
allow windows to install software automatically.
============
Card Slot:
DL driver from Sony (Vista drv works under Xp TIDMSC-01549300-UN.exe)
http://www.sony.co.id/support/downl...15g/modelfirst?site=hp_en_ID_i&subpage=detail
==========
SMBus:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8C...&agr=N&ProductID=816&DwnldID=13500〈=eng
Unpack INFINST_AUTOL.zip to an new directory
Then uninstall SMbus in device manager, scan for hardware changes, and
point install to the directory where the driver was
extracted->subdirectory "All".
==============
Audio (STAC9872ak) and modem (Conexant 104D1700 hdaudio fax modem with SmartCP)
1. You must first install the Microsoft's KB888111 hotfix (HDAUDIO)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888111
2. Install the audio driver for STAC9872AK (STDAUD-01108005-UN.exe)
http://www.vaio-link.com/downloads/...AUD-01108005-UN.exe&ip=STDAUD-01108005-UN.htm
3. Download conexant generic modem driver
http://www.conexant.com/support/md_driverassistance.html (click on Agree)
then choose HSFhda_WinXP.zip file (WinXp HDA driver)
After downloading extract the contents to a new folder
Modify GENHDA5.inf file (in Notepad)
Add one line under Control Flags and one under HSF_Modem (see below)

[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect= HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_14F1&DEV_2BFA
ExcludeFromSelect= HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045
; ADD THIS LINE ** \/ \/ \/ \/
ExcludeFromSelect= HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_14F1&DEV_2C06

[HSF_MODEM]
%HSFModem% = ModemX, HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_14F1&DEV_2BFA
%HSFModem% = ModemX, HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_14F1&DEV_5045
; ADD THIS LINE ** \/ \/ \/ \/
%HSFModem% = ModemX, HDAUDIO\FUNC_02&VEN_14F1&DEV_2C06

Then uninstall modem in device manager, scan for hardware changes, and
point install to the directory where the driver was extracted.
==================

Did not manage to get the inbuilt webcam going, but that doesn't
bother me too much. (USB vid:05ca pid:1837). If anyone emails you a
solution to it, please let me know.

 

Wouldn't it be possible to burn them to CD first and then use that at the F6 option? I'm just thinking that for those folks who want to retreat to XP, that this might be easier than the slipstream thing, which can be a bit daunting.

I've never tried a DVD/CD switch at the F6 point in XP, I have always been able to use a floppy. I do know a DVD/CD switch IS possible with Vista install at it's equivalent F6 option point.

Gary

 

The F6 option in XP only searches on the a: or b: for drivers and no where else, unlike Vista where you can browse the location, so that won't work.

 

RATS! Thanks for clarifying that.

Gary

 

thats what I ended up doing last night but the bluetooth utility and the function keys still wouldnt get set up right...

 

What utilities did you install? What are the versions and download links of all installed utils and the installation sequence?

 

cheers guys for all the help -- i'm now compiling 2do.txt with everything i could fetch from the online forums and going to perform XP downgrade as well this weekend.. will let you know how it goes!

i'm an owner of FZ11E and although Vista seems interesting, i am in the middle of several projects started within XP environment and i guess it will take quite a while until i manage to achieve a decent workflow in Vista.

 

It appears you will be fine as long as you can do without power managment and function keys. I was (and am) in the same boat as you with projects requiring XP, but I chose to use Virtual PC 2007 to solve my dilema.

Gary

 

I had give a try to almost laptopvideo2go drivers and none of them works with my FZ90HS 8400GT What can I do now

 

yea they do. read the laptop2gosite. im sure you can figure it out...

 

i read alot, tried alot but no luck. with modded INF, after the installation finished, windows slow down, cant move the mouse, nonstop harddisk access and then automatically restart. i dont know why. maybe i'll give up and back to Vista Got some good time with XP btw

 

I have installed winxp on my Sony FZ-180E and you can not believe how this improved my experience. I tried to run a game and you can not believe the different between running it under xp and vista! So I am going to stick with xp for the moment and I am very very happy with it.

But WE HAVE TO get the power management to work! If not its no longer a laptop! please let's try to figure this out and share our info.
For the brightness fn keys I have made profiles in nvidia and I change brightness from inside Nvidia control panel.

 

What is driver version you used for your 8400GT?

 

nVIDIA ForceWare X 162.18 for Windows XP2K 32bit

 

the brightness in nvidia only makes a small difference though since it is just decreasing the brightness of the image put on the screen. the backlight is still running at full blast which is the problem.

 

Are you sure about this? It looks like the brightness of the backlight does drop???

Gary

 

yeah, not sure how the LCD brightness control works on a technical level, quite possibly the backlight *should* be diminished to display image of reduced brightness

 

its just like an LCD tv, you can turn the brightness down but the backlight will be an independent adjustment...

 

Then why is it that many lists of suggestions to increase the time available on battery power suggest turning down the brightness? Where is the backlight control you guys are talking about???

Gary

 

ok, in a program, like Ntune you can only decrease the brightness of the image(desktop) that will be shown on your computer.

when you are using the actual brightness keys on the laptop it is basically retaining the same image without adjusting brightness but turning down the backlight.

 

are there any 64 bit drivers for this laptop?

 

I have been able to install XP on FZ190 with most of the drivers working.

The only problem is that i cant turn off bluetooth because i cant get the wireless switch utility working. Is there another way to disable bluetooth or can you point me to the link for wireless switch utility for XP.

The other outstanding issues are
AV buttons
Fn button
power management

If any one has been able to successfully get this going, please post.

 

so i am assuming no have has got the fn key to work??

 

i think it's good to maintain a list like this to resolve all the issues over the time.. another one would be fact speakers don't shut up when the headphones/line-out jack is inserted.

 

That bug has already been resolved: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=152762&page=8

 

aye, thanks for the notice.. direct link to the solution would be:
http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvai...685E4975D079E0D45239D191C9AEBE26?thread=44938

 

Have you guys got the wireless switch utility to work? and what did you do to decrease the brightness. I cant live with this bright a screen.

 

Hi.I've just installed Nvidia cracked driver V 17116 . it has some options for backlight not only brightness. and it's working. well not as handy as fn keys but at least I will not blind for that stupid backlight. I hope so

 

Hey everyone! I recently bought a sony VGN_FZ150E. I wanted to put XP on there to play WoW since fps in XP is higher than in Vista. I got everything working except sound. I have tried all the drivers that have been mentioned. I have the best luck with the FZ19 drivers from vaio-link ftp site. With those I get the windows start up sound but no sound after that. Please help!

 

Really, no replies?

Well, here is an update to my situation. I figured out that if I uninstall and reinstall the driver and do not touch the volume settings the sound works! As soon as I restart or change the volume, it stops working.

Maybe it has something to do with the Sound Reality control panel? Any input would be greatly appreciated.