Installing Windows XP on a SZ, or starting fresh with Vista

Any recommendations before I start fiddling around? I am thinking of downgrading from Vista to XP on my SZ450, I am expecting to lose some functions. I know that some updates, such as the Camera Utility Update, are only available for Windows Vista (grr!) and not for XP. I couldn't find any other threads concerning this topic

If that doesn't work out for some reason, I'm going to format this laptop and start anew with Windows Vista (I've found a thread that relates to that )

A list of Original Software/Drivers are listed below:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNSZ450N&UpdateType=Everything

Does anyone know what I don't have to install? I am formatting to get rid of the crap that came with this laptop

It seems like I should definitely install:
SigmaTel® High Definition Audio Device Driver
Toshiba® Bluetooth® USB Controller (ALPS/UGPZ6) Driver
Sony® Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC5 Driver
Texas Instruments® PCI7411 Integrated FlashMedia Controller Driver
Flash Media Driver Registry Patch
Conexant® HDAUDIO SoftV92 Data Fax Modem with SmartCP Driver
Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility
Marvell® Yukon 88E8036 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller Driver
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection Driver
Alps® Pointing Device Driver
UPEK® Protector Suite QL / Protector Suite QL Registry Patch
UPEK® TouchChip FingerPrint Coprocessor Driver
Infineon® Trusted Platform Module Professional Package Software
Intel® Graphics Controller Driver
Wireless Switch Setting Utility
nVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7400 Graphics Controller Driver

Maybe I should install (not sure what they do):
Sony® HDD Protection Driver
Sony® Notebook Utilities (is this just bloatware?)
Sony® Image Conversion Filter Driver
Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Driver
Sony® Utilities DLL Update
Sony® Programmable I/O Control Device Driver
Sony® Shared Library

I don't need to install:
VAIO® Entertainment Platform Software Update

Can anyone comment on the list/shift things around for me if they disagree?

 

I tried and tried for days....could not get it to work with XP...not worth it.

 

d'oh that sucks to hear!

 

Also worth noting that your SZ4XX will not be supported by Sony if it's running XP.

 

i think you hould go with vista. there are a lot of updates with vista nowadays. and with regards to bloatware... their functional. you just don't use it... or so what if it sits there in your hard drive... 100 to 160Gb of space is enough for your bloatware. Honestly speaking, i do use the software that sony provided for my unit.

 

^^ I don't - but don't know what I can un-install or not.

Do I need these?

1. Setting Utility Series
2. Sony Snymsico for Vista
3. Sony Utilities DLL
4. VAIO Camera Capture Utility
5. VAIO Camera Utility (^ same as above or what?)
6. VAIO Control Center
7. VAIO Event Service (??)
8. VAIO HDD Protection
9. VAIO Update 3
10. VAIO Power Management
11. Wireless Switch Setting Utility

 

There are several threads on installing XP onto the SZ4 series in this forum. The consensus seems to be try the SZ4 drivers and if they dont install under XP go back to the SZ3 Drivers.

I've done this and the machine works great - no loss of functionality at all.

The first thing you have to do is go to ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/vaio/original and download the SZ4Drivers.zip, SZ3Drivers.zip, SZ3Utilities.zip

Then go to intel.com and download the latest chipset drivers, video drivers and wireless lan drivers. After that go to laptopvideo2go.com and get the newest nvidia drivers.

After formatting install the following - (allow the system to reboot when asked)
1. Chipset
2. Video - install the nvidia if youre on speed, intel if youre on stamina then flick the switch, reboot and do the other one.
3. Wireless Lan drivers
4. Audio Drivers from the SZ3 Package - there is a windows patch inside a folder in here which you need to install - after thats done you can install the audio and modem drivers from the SZ3 Package.
5. The only drivers i used from SZ4 package were Bluetooth and Marvell Yukon off the top of my head
6. Install the rest of the drivers in the package I can't remember what they are off the top of my head.
-HDD right click on the .inf and select install
-Update Sony notebook control and sony programmable io device through device manager
7. To install the Camera Driver use the one in the SZ4 Package through device manager - force it to use the drivers and the camera will work fine.

Then when you unpack the SZ3 Utilities there are 2 folders in there whose names begin with a 1 and 2 - install them FIRST. Then install the Event Service - after that you can install in whatever order you'd like really.
I installed:
Camera Utility Driver
Camera Utility
Control Center
HDD Protection
Wireless Switch Setting Utility

to get rid of that annoying beep from the function buttons when you install the event service do a custom install and uncheck the sound checkbox or after the service is installed do a search for pi.wav and rename or delete it and the beep will be gone.

You'll probably notice the memory stick drive doesnt have an icon in explorer to fix this using this file: http://vaio.pcking.net/Download/Msicon.zip
extract and double click on both the .reg files and the icons will appear.

sorry that it's all over the place but it's off the top of my head from a few weeks ago

 

I didn't use VAIO power management utility as it seems broken - instead i'm using RMClock to make sure i have max battery when unplugged and max performance when plugged in. Alternatively you can use Notebook Hardware Control. Search if you need more info as theres tons of threads in these forums.

 

I'm in the process of doing a fresh install and I have reviewed the sony build prior to installation. Does anyone know what the Sony Certificate PCH is?

 

I cant get to that vaio-link ftp site to download anything.
Is anyone else having this problem.
Can someone email me all the drivers for the sz440 for win xp pro who have done this already, i would greatly appreciate it!

 

It's a big request isn't it? It's gonna be like hundreds of Meg of data with all the driver mate.

 

When i do it i save all the drivers i built the computer with to the desktop, then when all done i rip them to cd.

I dont think they are hundreds of megs...is anyone having trouble with the vaio-link site also??

 

Use this:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/Vaio/Original/

 

Although I don't particularly like Vista, my inclination would be to stick with what came on the SZ4xx rather than starting again from scratch, unless you absolutely need something that will only run under XP. Its just to much work.

 

does that work for you? ive tried on 2 computers here at the office...no worky

ill try it at home tonite too

 

^^ Just tried that link and to confirm - it does work absolutely fine.

Proof.

 

yea looks like it is just work here. That is odd...maybe we are blocking ftp

thanks for checking

 

the proper address is:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/Vaio/Original/

sorry

 

^^ My god - its' got everything on there!?

 

Ive got the majority of it working.

I cant find the nvidia GO 7400 xp driver. I looked on laptopvideo2go.com and had no luck.

Also the protector suite for the fingerscan i cant get to work. The one in SZ3_Utilities is a blank folder. Im downloading the one for SZ4 and will try that.

In device manager, errors are:
Mass Storage Controller
unknown device
Video Controller
Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

How do I test the camera to see if i got it working right?

 

Ive got the majority of it working.

I cant find the nvidia GO 7400 xp driver. I looked on laptopvideo2go.com and had no luck.

Also the protector suite for the fingerscan i cant get to work. The one in SZ3_Utilities is a blank folder. Im downloading the one for SZ4 and will try that.

In device manager, errors are:
Mass Storage Controller
unknown device
Video Controller
Video Controller (VGA Compatible)

How do I test the camera to see if i got it working right?

 

fixed couple of those video controllers. at intel, make sure to search for 945 graphics controller. I think i got the wrong chipset the first time.

Edit: got the biometrics working. The SZ4_Utilities biometcric installer will work

 

SZ440 drivers for Windows XP are available at:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=117374