How to Do a Vista x64 Clean Install on the Vaio Z

Hello all. I have a Japanese VGN-Z90NS, and after getting it back from Japan for a minor repair, decided to put Vista Ultimate x64 on there to take advantage of my entire amount of memory.

Some may have seen this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=361820

On at least the older Vaio Z series (the Z90, Z5xx in the USA, etc.), I have confirmed that the EFI thing is an issue if you try to install a slipstreamed SP1. I happen to have a genuine Vista Ultimate x64 install disc that is RTM, and it installed just fine with no EFI issues.

To get the 64-bit original Sony drivers, download them here or here.

Once you download all of the Sony drivers, download Universal extractor from here, and run it against all of the EXEs you downloaded to strip the model check.

To get the Intel 4500 graphics driver, download it here

NOTE: My Z does not have the built-in camera or fingerprint security, so you'll have to figure that out on your own. Somehow my notebook no longer has bluetooth after being fixed (looking into that ...), so that isn't in this list either. I do have one device that I can't find a driver for, and I bet it's bluetooth since everything else is fine. I'll update if I sort it all out.

Install Process that works:
1. Vista x64
2. Vista x64 service pack (if needed)
3. Intel chipset driver - reboot required
4. Intel Matrix Storage Manager (I have the RAIDed SSDs and definitely need this) - reboot required
5. Set the graphics switch to STAMINA. If it set to SPEED, reboot.
6. Intel graphics driver - DO NOT REBOOT
7. Set the graphics switch to SPEED
8. Reboot
8. NVIDIA graphics driver - reboot required
9. ALPS trackpad driver - reboot required
10. Intel Ethernet
11. Intel WiFi
12. SD Card
13. Memory Stick
14. Sony Shared Driver - reboot required
15. Sony Programmable I/O driver
16. Sony Firmware Extension parser
17. Battery Checker
18. Setting Utility Series
19. Vaio Control Center
20. Vaio Event Service - reboot required
21. Vaio Power Management - reboot required
22. Modem
23. Vaio Event Service Update - reboot required
25. USB registry patch

 

I have Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 (original one) in my Z as well. I think I did the same install process but you don't need to do the step 5-8. The graphic driver contain the 2 drivers.

 

I forgot my Z90NS has the Felica reader, and that's most likely the driver I'm missing. I downloaded it and after I install the Japanese MUI pack, I'll install that.