Fresh install Vista for SZ?

I've asked the questions in the Windows forum, but I have some Sony-specific questions so I have to ask those here.

- My Vaio recovery partition won't disappear if I do a fresh install, right?
- To keep my Vaio Recovery Center, should I just copy the folder C:\Windows\sonysys\vaio recovery to my thumb drive? And after the fresh install, paste it to the same location? Or should I just copy the whole sonysys folder? Or a different approach is needed?
- To ensure my Vaio will work correctly after the fresh install, I can launch Vaio Recovery Center in my thumb drive to install some important drivers or download the drivers here?
- Is it safe to delete Vaio Partition if I have burned the recovery DVD? If I use the recovery DVD, can I have my Vaio Partition back if something goes wrong?

Thanks.

 

KarenA

Do you want to do a clean install of Vista without any Sony customisations or do you want your VAIO restored to factory settings?

Also, just to be clear a partiton isn't the same as a folder/directory. You can't just copy the files in the vaio recovery folder. A partiton is a section of the harddisk which has been logically divided to appear as a seperate harddisk, hidden or visible. The VAIO recovery partion is hidden and not visible in Windows.

There are two ways to restore the VAIO to factory settings. The quickest and easiest way is to activate the Recovery app during boot, I think you press F11. Or if the Recovery partition has been deleted or the HDD has been replaced from Recovery DVDs which you would have created when you first received your laptop.

If you never created the Recovery DVDs and the Recocvery partition still exits it would be a good idea to create the DVDs now.

If you want to do a clean Vista install then still create the DVDs as these can be used to restore the Recovery partition later should you need to. (This bit answers you last question.

An answer to your 3rd question, download the drivers and the utils from my post linked in the sig. All the drivers you need through to the SZ5 are included.

 

Sorry, I actually meant clean install in the thread title but my vocabulary escapes me and it became fresh install instead.

I've created recovery DVDs, want to keep recovery partition, but for question #2, what I meant is the vaio recovery center, the one in C:\Windows\sonysys\vaio recovery, not the recovery partition.

Thanks for the answers. And thanks for the drivers link. It shouldn't have any problem with SZ4, correct?

 

Copying the folder to a usb stick then copying it back after the clean install is OK, so no problem for that

 

Why would you want to copy the VAIO Recovery folder back into a Vista clean install? I'm not even sure the application would launch, it may need to be installed like a normal application.

Also, if you are going to leave the Revovery parition on the HDD and you have a set of Recovery DVDs, you can lauch the Recovery app from either of these.

If you really do want the Recovery application on a clean Vista install give me a couple of hours. I'm uploading all the applications extracted from the Recovery DVDs and will create a new thread. Included on the DVD is VAIO Recovery Center Shortcut (1.1). As the name suggest this seems to only install shortcut links to the real Recovery app which resides in the Recovery partition and the DVDs.

 

Well I want to still keep the Recovery Center in case I need to burn another Recovery DVDs and install some drivers.

I never done clean install on any notebooks so I need to make sure I'll be safe...

 

As I said to you in a different thread, Vista will not touch your Recovery partition and as you reinstall Sony software - once you install the Sony Utilities DLL, I believe that installs a new "vaio recovery" folder in the proper place.

 

Thanks.

One more thing, what is the keyboard shortcut to make Vaio SZ to boot from DVD?

 

Does it not do so automatically once you have a disk in the drive and restart? F10 gives me options on the FZ.

 

It doesn't do automatically for me, I even tried to set it from the Bios and it doesn't work. F10, Thanks I'll try it. I'm using my dad's computer right now.

 

Weird, F10 only launches Vaio Recovery for me. I don't know how to boot from the Vista DVD.

EDIT:
So I've tried F8, F10, F2 to set boot order, F12, and c button. Nothing works. My old Toshiba only need to press -> and Enter to boot from DVD, tried that too and doesn't work. Running out of ideas here.

EDIT2:
Pressed F1 to F12. None works to make my Vaio boot from the DVD.
Should I give up?

EDIT3:
Pressed Esc and a boot menu appears. I tried i-link Optical drive. Doesn't work. Then I tried Internal Optical Drive. Doesnt' work.

Nothing should be wrong with my Vista DVD because I can access it with Windows Explorer, go to setup and seem to work fine. I followed the instructions carefully and burned it on 4x burning speed using my own Vaio. I created the iso by copy pasting the command to my PowerCmd and burned it using Ashampoo Burning Studio 7.

Code:

c:\>cdimage.exe -lVISTA_EN_DVD -m -u2 -bC:\Vista\boot\etfsboot.com C:\Vista\ C:\Vistax86.iso

CDIMAGE 2.52 CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Premastering Utility
Copyright (C) Microsoft, 1993-2000.  All rights reserved.
For Microsoft internal use only.


Scanning source tree complete (614 files in 113 directories)

Computing directory information complete

Image file is 2711650304 bytes 

Writing 614 files in 113 directories to C:\Vistax86.iso

100% complete

Final image file is 2713133056 bytes

WARNING: This image contains UDF file system structures.


Done.

 

Sony Utilites DLL does not install the vaio recovery app or create any folders for it.

 

KarenA.

In the BIOS make sure the "optical drive" is in the boot list, it should be in the top half of the list above the divide.

Then during boot as soon as you see the VAIO logo press ESC. You will then see the option to select which device to boot from.

Or you could move the optical drive to the top of the boot order in BIOS and the laptop will boot from an bootable CD/DVD automatically. I don't recommened this as during boot the laptop will always check the optical drive for a disc first which adds a few seconds to the boot up time. And all those seconds add up to mins and hours. And being a smoker I have less of those left everytime I inhale

 

Then what does? I was not sure 100% where it came from, but I don't remember placing that folder there manually. Or maybe I did....

 

I used the same guide to create my Vista DVDs. There is also a massive thread in the Windows OS section in this forum with discussions on the same guide. If it turns out your disc isn't bootable you can have a look in there. I used ImgBurn (freeware) to burn my ISO to a DVD, you could give that a try.

If this is your first time installing Vista then I'll give you a few tips.

The DVD ISO you have contains all versions of Vista. During setup you can choose to enter the serial key from your laptops sticker, in which case setup will choose the correct version for you (Vista Business) or skip and add the key later, you have 30 days to activate.

If you choose not to add a serial key during installtion Vista setup will give you a choice of all versions of Vista to choose from. You could try Ultimate for a month or any of the other versions.

When chosing which partition to install Vista too make sure you select the correct one and not the VAIO recovery partition. The recovery partition is only around 7GB in size so should be easy to spot. Once you've selected the partition go to advanced options and format it before clicking Next.

Unlike XP, Vista doesn't ask any questions until the end where you choose a username etc.

You will need to install the drivers and utlities after the installtion. You can get most of the essential drivers from the thread linked in my signature.

The first one has the latest drivers, even though they are for the SZ7 most
will still work on your SZ4.

The second link, older post, has all the drivers you will need for your model, i.e camera, bluetooth and maybe fingerprint reader which is also a different model.

Follow the guide in my latest post on how to install the drivers. And combine both driver packs to get the latest Intel and nVidia drivers. They work on all SZ models.

The utilities pack will give you an idea of what needs to be installed and in what order. You could try the latest versions which work on my SZ but I don't know why Sony f**k around and not make them compatable across all SZ models. For example, most of the utils from vaio-link for the SZ7 don't work on my clean install. I've had to mix-n-match with SZ6/5 utils,

 

I dunno. I had a quick scan of my c:\ and there is no Sonysys folder in Windows where KarenA said it was.

I do remember reading for utils like Vaio Update and Recovery to work you do need to have the Sony Utils DLL installed. Maybe that's where you got confused.

BTW, I have the same mouse. It's nice to use but I find if I install the Logitech app the pointer speed settings mess with the touchpad setting. So when I'm not using the external mouse the touchpad is too fast. I use an external LCD at work dual display and like to get from the the start button to the top right corner of the external display in a short flick. No one else is able to use my mouse because it's set to max speed and accel

 

Thanks for the help bubbatex and Mujja.

I finally able to boot from DVD by recreating the Vista DVD and burn it at 2,3x speed using Alcohol 120%. I didn't even verify the DVD, while the before DVD I verify it.

The ABR method by orev works.

Here is the list of drivers and utilities I install:
These I download directly from Sony (I chose to download to make sure it works with my model but I also checks with Mujja's list)

• Wireless Switch Setting Utility
• Sony® Shared Library
• Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection Driver
• Flash Media Driver Registry Patch
• Marvell® Yukon 88E8036 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller Driver
• Sony® Notebook Utilities
• SigmaTel® High Definition Audio CODEC
• Sony® Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC5 Driver
• Alps® Pointing Device Driver
• Sony® Utilities DLL Update
• Toshiba® Bluetooth® USB Controller (ALPS/UGPZ6) Driver
• Sony® Programmable I/O Control Device Driver
• Sony® Image Conversion Filter Driver
• Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility
• UPEK® TouchChip FingerPrint Coprocessor Driver
• Conexant® HDAUDIO SoftV92 Data Fax Modem with SmartCP Driver
• Intel® Graphics Controller Driver
• Infineon® Trusted Platform Module Professional Package Software
• nVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7400 Graphics Controller Driver
• Toshiba® Bluetooth® Utility for Microsoft® Windows® XP and Windows Vista® Operating Systems

These I got from the second link in Mujja's signature

• Protector Suite QL (5.6)
• MemoryStick Icon Registry patch (1.0.1.9110-061109)
• VAIO Hardware Diagnostics (3)
• VAIO Update (3.0.00.13220)
• VAIO Power Management (2.0.00.14020)

I still encounter two problems though:
S1 S2 button doesn't work.
Sony® HDD Protection Driver link from the Sony site doesn't work and the one in Mujja's zip file cannot be installed.

Other than that, I think everything is working fine, Fn keys working properly, bluetooth works, fingerprint works, touchpad works, wireless switcher works, I can switch between Stamina and Speed, camera works, Power Management works. I don't think I miss anything important since I check with the list in Mujja's thread.

Sony Utilites DLL doesn't install Vaio recovery center. And not any of the drivers and utility I installed install the recovery center. Maybe bubba copy and paste it manually?

When you talk about mouse I just remembered to install Logitech setpoint for my mouse.

 

When you press the S1 and S2 buttons do you get a message above the taskbar clock telling you the button has been pressed but no app launches?

If you do then you should try another version of control center. This is what I meant when I talked about the SZ7 utils available from Vaio-link don't work. I had to install control center for the SZ6 model.

Karen, if you can be bothered to do a clean install again try only the util from my pack and in the order listed. Everything should work then.

Also, about the HDD protection driver, I included it in the pack because it was included in the driver pack from Sony. I don't think I ever installed it as I couldn't work out how to. There is nothing in device manager you can apply it to. The HDD Protection util still works OK without it.

 

Nothing appears when I press the S1 and S2 buttons.

I don't think I can do clean install again because I need to move back my files ASAP, I can't clutter my dad's computer with my files as he needs the space as well.

No problem without the HDD Protection Driver then? What does the driver do actually?

 

If nothing happens when S1 and S2 are pressed then either the VAIO Event Service or the Setting Utility Series utils need to be changed.

You did install these utils? I don't see them listed in you post above.

Sony's support really is crap, they need to put all the drivers and utils in one place for each model and test them. Also list the correct installtion order. I know I keep repeating myself but half the utils are missing when you select the SZ7 model. And the ones that are there don't work. That's why I upload the Driver and Util packs so others don't lose hair like me

 

I have installed Setting Utilities Series and Vaio Event Service. It is included in Sony® Notebook Utilities. It is for my model so it should work...

From what I know, isn't the functionality of Fn keys and Graphic Card Switcher connected with the S1 and S2? Why is only those two buttons don't work.

 

The control center and sony shared library is missing from that list. Below are the five neccessary utils which must be installed in the listed order.

SonyUtils DLL
Sony Shared Library
VAIO Event Service
Setting Utility Series
VAIO Control Center

Also, when you install the VAIO event service, if it is the correct version, it should pop up with a box during install with 3 or 4 items which you can check/uncheck. Just guessing but I think this is so you can tell the util which events to montor or ignore. The S buttons being one of them.

I found if I install a version of event service and this box isn't show the S buttons won't work.

 

It's not that simple as that with Sony, as I said in my earlier posts.

I had the same issues when my previous model, SZ2. Updates an fixes were released for newer model but were never added to the SZ2 downloads, even though they worked.

 

I must have copied that folder back to C:\Program Files\Sony then and just forgot (it was a loooong day the day I did the clean install!).

BTW - My S1 button does not work either and I have installed/re-installed all of the Sony Utilities - Karen, I believe it is Vista Business that is the problem - I saw it somewhere on a Sony site that not all of the Sony's utilities are supported on all laptops with Vista Business. Sony could not help me get it working again either.

 

That's not correct, the version of Vista should make no difference.

I'm running a clean install of Vista Business x86 +SP1 and I have all buttons and utils working 100%.

I even had all buttons working be on Vista Business x86 and x64 and x64 +SP1.

 

I stand corrected again. But I was basing that comment on the fact that the Sony Utilities for the FZ did not work on all FZ's for Business or Ultimate:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-matrix.pl?upd_id=3384

 

As I said before, I don't know why Sony don't test their utils. Half the utils on the SZ7 page didn't work for me, I had to mix-n-match utils from all over before I setteld on a set that worked.

If you still have problems try utils from other FZ models, newer and older.

 

Doesn't work. D'oh Sony. Why can't they just zip "Here's the drivers and software you need for this version of Windows!"

bubba, is your S2 button doesn't work too or only S1?

 

The FZ only has the S1 button - and mine does not work. I have an AV Mode button which launches Instant On when the FZ is off, but does nothing when Vista is loaded because I deleted that Media Launch program. Anyway, I was noticing Mujja's posts yesterday with the links to all of the drivers. The FZ and SZ share many of the same ones. I have tried quite a few different ones as I have been able to find them. My problem is that I can reinstall SFEP (Firmware Parser), Shared Library, Sony Notebook Utilities and then I get an message that the Vaio Control Center I am trying to install is not the right version for my computer. I fond one version that will load, but it only gives me a few options - not the full Control Center.

I am tired of trying and looking (particularly after one I tried from the Asia Support site cause some problems - had to restore my OS image)! Sony support could not figure it out either. So, the only thing that I have lost is the S1 function key - and I really don't need it with all of the other options Vista offers for sleep, hibernate and shut down - that's what I used to use it for - sleep.

 

I tried accessing the S button functionality via VAIO Control Center and it pops up an error message "You can't launch". I can live without the S buttons, I just hope it is not an error with my hardware buttons.

Even though I don't install the HDD Protection Drive, I can seem to launch the HDD Protection Settings from VAIO Control Center just fine... Even though I don't know if the features really work or not.