Must reformat a Sony Vaio VPCZ1

I have run a wonderful Vaio VPCZ1 (Model VPC-Z11CGX/X) for about a year now with no problems.

Except that the Windows Firewall has not started in probably 9 months. This was never really a sever problem, I would fiddle with it periodically trying to fix it to no avail.

Well now it has become a problem as it seems that a lot of new software installations fist check the status of the firewall and I simply cannot complete installations without a firewall running.

Bottom line, I need to reformat the hard drive with a fresh installation of Windows 7.

My question? Where do I get a fresh licensed copy of Windows 7 as my computer came with it pre installed. How do I get a fresh installation boot disk?

TIA.

I'll be back here again I am sure, reinstalling all of my drivers. Just what I needed wrapping up a thesis.

 

uhh if you look at the bottom of your laptop... it should have the windows 7 license key there. Uhh... as for a fresh installation boot disk... search online, there's got to be the image out there somewhere. If you want, you can always turn off your laptop, and boot by pressing the "ASSIST" key on the vaio, then it'll reformat your drive and put your Z back into factory condition if you didn't delete the recovery partition.

 

Just power down and power back up using the assist button instead of the power button. You can restore to factory image from there.

 

Whoops I was a little late

 

I hope that if you did not have your Windows firewall turned on this past 9 months, you at least have a 3rd party firewall turned on during this period of time....

 

I knew about the assist start up but I was kind of leery about doing a Sony Vaio assist instead of a fresh install. I will give it a shot though. My sticker has pretty much rubbed off, but I always photograph it for cases like this. Thanks for the reminder.

Here goes nothing and a try of the Vaio assist.

 

I would also humbly suggest making a set of the recovery discs if you've not already done so. Good luck.