Impressions of P1's optimized clean SZ recovery DVDs

Hi, I ordered the P1's optimized recovery DVDs (bloatwares removed, only the clean vista and sony drivers) about 2 weeks ago. Here is my impressions after running the system for one week. (I did not make notes after recovery and software installation, so I could not remember everything clearly, but here is my impression about the new system)

Pros: it is really clean, no bloatwares have been found, even from the regs. The computer runs super fast. After I installed all my programs (including at least office 2007, adobe photoshop, acrobat, illustrator, and many many other common softwares, I also recovered Roxio and winDVD from my original sony recovery DVDs, and installed some professional softwares for my work), I got 67 processes after boot up, which is good compared with previous 80-90 processes. One thing I would like to point out is that for one particular software I use very often for my work, since it requires a lot of memories for graphics, it used to run extremely slow before I installed P1's system. But now it runs smoothly with P1's optimized system. I am so happy with that. After I applied some tricks I found in this forum, the boot and shut-down are super fast.

Cons: You NEED to activate your VISTA by phone when you boot up the machine for the first time after recovered from P1's DVDs. The product key from the stick underneath your computer will not work, you have to call microsoft to activate your VISTA. (It was like a two minutes process in my case, but still not that pleasant.). The model of your computer is now SZ, not SZ670 or anything else, which is not good. Also, the sony update 3 is not working very well because of the same reason. The sony online support could not detect your hardware and your model, you need to input your model manually to download updates. All in all, you computer will not be recognized as sony SZ670, 680 or 691 anymore, just simplly a sony SZ. It can not go through sony online update or sony update 3 as before.

Conclusions: It is a clean and fast system, with all the neccessory sony drivers, Fn keys work fine, with all other things functional as well. But if P1 can integrate the specific model # (such as SZ670) into the system, it would be perfect.

By the way, why I need to activate my vista with P1's system, whereas it was not required with the original sony recovery DVDs? Why the product key underneath is not working with my VISTA?

Also, is there any way to change the model name of your computer, say, change "SZ" to "SZ670NC", and make sony update recognize my machine automatically? Thanks!

 

I had none of the issues you described with using the key code with P1's image, I was however disappointed in the 3DMark06 score of the clean install. There must be some optimization built into the bloatware. I am playing with Vista Ultimate now, will likely give XP a try. Concerned that the Hybrid drive is my performance crux along with only 64MB of RAM on video card. Didn't realize the diference between the M1330 and SZ640N06 but the dell gets 1500's whereas the best I've gotten is 1060 on 3dMark06

 

I am confused with your statement. Did you get a better 3DMark06 score before the clean installation (ie. w/bloatware)? Or you are just saying that your score is not as high as the m1330?

That aside, what about normal PC speed, boot up, super PI. etc., are they faster with the P1 DVD?

 

Answers to your questions:

eUpdate automatically; is set to disabled. We think it is best to let the user check for updates, when he/she feels like checking not automatically like such. And model number recognition when selecting "detect my model" you have to follow Sony's "Install Active X" on to machine at least once; if you do not it will not install on machine to auto recognize, that has nothing to do with clean image, that is just following Sony's "Detect My Model Active X Installation” which again we let users decide if they want their machine automatically detected or not.

And any time a Vista machine is activated with Microsoft and you re-install the OS to activate again, more than one time, Microsoft requires such to verify legitimacy. The license keys on the units are not ours they are Sony’s & Microsoft’s.

 

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I noticed the eupdate was disabled. But I DID enable it before I tried the automatically update. But still no go. And, I DID install the Active X to enable detect my model on sony esupport website, but still could not recognize my computer.

But again, all these are minor issues, since I can still download and install all the updates if I want. I mean, I can still access sony's esupport webpage by input my model "SZ670NC" manually. So, it really does not matter too much.

I also understand re-install VISTA need to be re-activated. But the problem I had was if I input the product key underneath my laptop, it could not go through online activation automatically. I need to activate my VISTA by phone call, which was the part I did not understand.

All in all, it was a real clean, and super fast, hassle-free system. Although I had some minor issues, but I still highly recommend it to those who own a SZ, but do not have a stand-alone Vista license for clean install, but want his system as clean as can be, as fast as it should.

 

Where do I find their discs on their web site? I would love a copy of these!

 

You find them, wettek, as one of the configuration options for each of the Sony laptops when you purchase a laptop......just like option to add more RAM, etc....

 

You can purchase the recovery disks from portable one. Just email ivan at P1 with the model, make of your computer, and the operating system installed. It cost me $25.00 via cc.

good luck

 

Yes, I have seen them as a configuration option, but it does not mention anything about actually getting the discs, it simply mentions a P1 optimised bloatware removal. I will email them as suggested.

 

Yes, do that, wettek, didn't know that they would sell discs separately from buying laptop....

 

Yes, you can order the DVDs without purchasing a SZ laptop from P1. The cost is $25. But it is free for P1's customer. I purchased my SZ670 from JR.com, so I had to pay $25 to get P1's optimized system.

Also, another update, somehow, I re-tried the sony esupport online today, and I was suprised to see that my SZ670 was recognized automatically!!! Maybe the reason it failed last time was because sony's esupport website had some problem? Because I did not do nothing to my laptop since last time.

So, again, the P1's optimized SZ system is nearly perfect.

 

How to order P1's SZ recovery DVDs? I can't find it in P1's website. Or do I have to contact them via e-mail?

 

Send an email requesting the DVD Image set to [email protected].

Ivan will send the paypal email address to make the $25 payment to.

Make the payment including your address and wait for your DVDs.

 

I just did my P1 Recovery setup. The system is definitely running faster but there are some minor problems.

There is over 12 svchost.exe running in the background and checking them, they all seem to belong to services I need but my factory setup did not have so many.

The Vaio setup does not work as previously mentioned regardless of any download.

Battery care and WinDVD were not included.

 

Come on folks, can't we act a little more enthusiastic? From what I've read, doing a clean install is a total nightmare ending up with something inevitably broken or not working right. Here you have a one-disk solution and now you're whining about it not being perfect?

I think this service P1 provides is outstanding beyond the call of duty and a bargain too at $29!

 

There is no reason to defend P1 from me. I love the company.

But it is important to let members know what they are getting or not getting when buying this DVD.

That said...unless you have time for a clean install..P1 DVDs are the best way to go.

 

Great, your feedback is appreciated.

 

Sorry for the number of attachments.

My experiment with Vista Ultimate was ok but didn't find any of the features that were beyond Vista Business worth the configuration issues. Plus It hurt my 3DMark06 scores.

Previously someone remarked about having trouble reading the 2nd DVD and I replied that I had no issues, I had issues this time. Perhaps the DVD drive in my SZ doesn't like the brand DVD used, took 7 tries until it read without an error.

Folks have asked about the P1 restore DVD's, after some optimization I was able to get my highest 3dMark06 score of 1060.

With the P! install I found:

S1 & S2 buttons function
Changing Stamina switch prompts restart
All Sony Fn keys work (volume, brightness, zoom)
Fingerprint scanner works
Camera works
No DVD/MPEG-2 Codec or DVD Playing software (I downloaded package from www.CCCP-project.net to take care of this)

Here are the screen shots of some screens of interest to give you an idea of what P1 packaged:

 

I'm thinking about going back to my bloatware removed version to gain the included software, just can't quite remember what I'm missing out on. maybe with the above images someone can fill in the blanks.

 

Didn't you create recovery disks? You can copy just what you need from those disks. Previously, it was reported that only WinDVD and the Battery Care app were missing.

 

WinDVD and Battery Care is the only thing (I needed) missing so far. Battery Care cannot be recovered from the Recovery DVD. I just had the Sony folder saved from my previous attempt at a semi-clean install.

Llort - dont try to achieve perfection...I dont think you are missing anything important. Just save some time and let it go.

 

So did that work? And if Battery Care is not on the recovery disk, where is it? Or where is WinDVD for that matter? Are they in that Sony folder?

 

After my semi-clean, I set the battery care to 50%. Freaked out after P1 Recovery when I noticed that they didnt have battery care and my battery was still at 50% and not charging.

Battery care cannot be reinstalled from the Vaio Recovery DVD/Center. I got mine when I copied the C:/PROGRAM/SONY folder for the semi-clean install to my usb. Running that app. from my usb drive fixed the battery back to 100%.

WinDVD can be reinstalled from the Vaio Recovery Center/DVD.

 

Thanks, good to know.

 

I never even thought to look at the recovery dvd, on the battery manager I was curious why my battery only charges to 80%. Thanks for the investigating.

On trying to get it perfect, I start going back to school after a 17 yr break in February, so until then the SZ is a toy, trying real hard to stick with vista, rather than switch to XP.

 

I notice that the WinDVD is installed on the P1 recent SZ clean install DVD .. but not for Battery Care ...

 

For Vista Battery Care is loaded on all SZ & TZ images now, by user request...its loacated in Vaio Control Center...for XP Sony has it locked.

 

yes, i used the p1 vista disks, and i have battery care and all included.

 

Ahhh it is there ... cant say more that the p1 dvd is nearly perfect as everybody has said ...

 

Ah, good tip! I was curious about this as well.

 

Installed VISTA SP1 on SZ780N5 on top of P1 DVD fresh install .. so far so good .. all drivers recognized ..

 

Does anyone know, as of now, if the P1 SZ Recovery DVD includes:

1. SP1 of Vista
2. All of LATEST drivers for the SZ6/7 (as compiled by Mujja):

Alps Touch Pad (7.0.501.9)
Alps UGPZ9 Broadcom Bluetooth (7.2.7001.1)
Conexant Data Fax Modem (7.58.0.50)
Globetrotter HSDPA (3.3.2.7)
Infineon Trusted Platform Module (2.00)
Intel Chipset (8.3.1.1009)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (7.15.10.1472)
Intel Wireless Network Adapter (11.5.1.15)
Marvell Yukon Ethernet Controller (10.14.6.3)
nVidia Display Adapter (7.15.11.0128)
SigmaTel High Definition Audio (6.10.5511.0)
Sony Notebook Control (7.0.0.5)
Sony Programmable IO Control (8.0.0.1)
Sony Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC7 (6.1004.210)
Texas Instruments FlashMedia (2.0.0.18)
UPEK Fingerprint Reader (1.9.2.0101)

 

Is there a Vista Ultimate version available? That would be awesome if there was one!

 

I believe there is only Vista Business and XP DVDs available from P1.

 

I have an SZ660 and I did a clean install of Vista Ultimate and then installed these in order to get everything working. All hotkeys including brightness works. No need for P1 for those who already have Vista available. Should work on all versions of Vista not just ultimate. If you don't want to upgrade to Vista ultimate, find a vista anytime upgrade disc to install the business edition and use the code from your COD under your laptop to activate Vista Business.

1. Clean install of Vista Ultimate (I modified this as well using vLite to remove unnecessary stuff)
2. Install all drivers from Sony USA website. Some drivers i got off of the Sony UK website. Also installed the sony firmware parser, sony programmable inputs. Installed nvidia graphic only. Drivers for chipset, graphic, and wlan should be retrieved from intel's website for latest version.
3. Install sony shared library and then restarted computer.
4. Installed sony utilities (includes all the sony event services, brightness, hotkeys, etc.)
5. You can get the UPEK protector suite from the UK's software pack and I installed that.
6. restarted computer into stamina mode and then installed intel x3100 drivers.
7. restarted and everything works perfectly.