Petition for support of the Windows 7 upgrade for your model

I have a FZ280 E/B. I spent over $1800 on it 2 years ago. Sony is not providing support for the upgrade. Not only are they stating they won't upgrade they offer us the opportunity to buy a new notebook that will support the OS. How nice is that?

I don't know if we have any recourse here. I have already sent a scathing email to Sony support. I will continue to do so until I hear a response I like. I've been a life long Sony supporter/customer. Unless this is resolved that will stop. If anyone has any ideas feel free to chime in.

I realize we may be powerless here but I know I don't enjoy being screwed continually by Sony. They know Vista was terrible and didn't offer the 'downgrade' to XP option for our model. Now the 'better' (remains to be seen yet) OS comes out and they won't support that either.

This is complete garbage!

 

+1 for you, even i just recently bought my lap.
and make official Linux support! now it's the OS manufacturers cannot ignore!

 

Sony's reputation fell down to floor and started digging

 

I agree.. many of these laptops that sony says that hardware is incomptiable are very good machines and as 7 is taking lesser reources than vista, it should not be difficult..

I am hating this support form sony!!!

 

I have a VAIO VGN-SZ670N/C and am also screwed buy cxxk sucking Sony Support!!! This will be my last Sony (not just computers) ever!

 

While our Core 2 Duo (64-bit processor) does not meet the minimum requirement for Windows 7, Sony launch a fury of Windows 7 Atom Based (32-bit processor) laptops. What kind of world are we living in???

 

a world where tech support guys dont want to work on their as*** to check the drivers.. I am sure the machines will work with manufactures drivers.. we already paid our money to sony.. why would they care now.. they need money from netbook market.. so yes.. suddenly.. win7 is supported .. I hate sony.. .. I just hate them now..

 

I agree. I have a one year old Vaio that came with a T5750 Core 2 Duo and 3GB of RAM but it does not meet the minimum requirements

Drivers arent usually a problem to find elsewhere by other manufacturers but the system utilities like those for Volume Control and Screen Brightness will be hard to live without.

 

OK im going to stick my nose in here and ask everyone to send what drivers they have found that work and what they still need. kevf74 is working hard to get his machine up and running and is making a guide, I have thousands of drivers here but posess no sony laptops but I have a daughter that is good at finding drivers for me and a friend that mods .inf files, guess its time for us to make our own support and flip the bird at Sony's lazy techs

 

I am lucky to have all the 64-bit drivers available for my FZ-190E. Sony is known not to support older models with a newer OS.
Sony is the worst in driver support and updates. I will never buy a Sony again because of this.

 

I just checked this morning and the Esupport site says my FZ190 model "does not meet the minimum system requirements".

Two questions, then: First, what component doe not meet the requirements? I think this is totally false, I don't think there is ANYTHING in the minimum spec that we don't have.
Second, the minimum specs have been available for months, so why did Sony indicate that we should check back on the esupport page for driver information. Why not tell us "no drivers", months ago?

Gary

 

Older models ? They are not providing drivers for windows 7 on thier BZ series which is still listed for sale on sony style .

What i find disturbing is the fact they waited till the official release to give everyone the bad news . When i checked yesterday my bz model was supported & said drivers would be available after the official release . The very next day my pc isnt up to specs .

 

This is sad. Screw Sony.

 

is it possible to install windows 7 x86 using vista business x86 drivers and have it completely functional in terms of all the FN keys, drivers etc?

 

Windows 7 x86 is a comparatively easier installation.

I have a decently functional Windows 7 x86 RTM on SZ440 using MS Win7+ Sony Vista x86 drivers for about a month now.
I had enabled VT in bios to get Virtual PC XP installation.

I have not tried 64-bit installation, due to 2GB RAM limit on my model.

I was hoping to do a fresh install, if sony had provided support.. but I guess they have left a lot of newer model owners to do their own treasure hunt.

 

Well, there are two options we can take:

1. Sony is not going to lift a finger unless someone can convince them to support their own products. The only was to accomplish this would be to get as much press on this as possible. They were promising drivers on every model with the hardware capability to support Windows 7, a lot of people pre-ordered, and launch day support disappeared. Obviously, most of our equipment can easily support Windows 7, they just want to force us to buy a new machine. Personally, I would be far more apt to buy Sony again if they were to step up to bat and get some drivers out.

If we were to send our problems/stories to certain very popular blogs (Consumerist/ArsTechnica, etc), Sony might be embarrassed enough or afraid of losing customers to support their legacy products.

2. We fix it ourselves. And dump Sony (which most of us will anyway).

 

Heres a HUGE list of Drivers. BUT you have to find out which one will do what you want. For instance, I still cant figure out what I need to get the FN key for Brightness to WORK!!!!!!!1 I did manage to get the OSD with volume but no brightness

Anyway, enjoy : ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/

 

You can also look in here:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/WIN7UPGRADE/

Good luck. I believe that you can get most of the drivers from other model of Sony or even other vendors.

 

you know whats need for brightness to work on FN keys? One thread suggest SFEP file, but theres nothing to install in that file.

 

I sent a note to David Pogue from the NY Times about the lack of support from Sony for it's older, but fully compatible notebook computers for Windows 7. His email address is: [email protected]

Hi David,

I have a Sony notebook that is 2 years old, the VGN-SZ460N. It was a top-of-the-line notebook that came with Vista Business pre-installed. It’s a robust machine with 2 GBs of ram, firewire, and a docking station with DVI output. In other words, it’s completely capable of running Windows 7.

However, Sony is not offering drivers for my PC or for a huge number of other compatible PCs that they sold even more recently. Here’s what they tell me:

Sorry. The VAIO Model VGNSZ460N is Not Supported for Windows 7

The hardware configuration of this model does not meet the minimum system requirements needed to run and provide the full experience of the Windows® 7 operating system.

Windows® 7 installation is not recommended and Sony will not be providing Windows® 7 drivers for this model.

Interested in buying a new computer with Windows 7?​

You can see it here:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/os...3=VGN-SZ460N&month=&day=&year=&mdl=VGN-SZ460N

There is much unhappiness towards Sony right now. You can read about it on the NotebookReview Sony forums here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8

Thought you might be interested in this. Sony has a history of not supporting changes until they are shamed into it (such as providing the drivers for XP downgrades for all the people who disliked Vista).

Sony knew this was coming and had plenty of time to prepare. They didn’t. Their support of their customers after purchase is just awful.

(my name and address)​

Who knows? Maybe he'll choose to write about this. If he sheds a little light on this, Sony will surely react.

 

Way to go LumpyHead!!! That's the kind of attention I'm talking about. I personally don't have any contacts but will forward something to him as well. Maybe we all should send emails his way. Just by sheer numbers he'll be forced to give us the voice we need!

Down with Sony!

 

I am thinking of contacting Microsoft and tell something about Windows 7 and Sony support.

 

I doubt Microsoft will have any reaction but anything is worth a shot. There are some other posts on the forum from others stating that we shouldn't be upset about this. 'You should have known blah blah blah', 'you didn't research properly blah blah blah'. I find these opinions appalling. There are some people that have purchased their notebooks in the last year and they're not getting support.

Do we really support a business that thinks we need to buy a new system every 2 years? In this economy? I would hope not! I imagine the people that don't feel Sony is to blame either work for Sony or aren't affected by this and don't care.

 

Hmmm, I wonder if I should join the fry...

I suppose I don't really care - Vista Business runs fine on my SZ7.

However - it would be a nice gesture of Sony, and customer support is something some people value (I do for one).

From a Technical point of view offering Win7 supportshouldn't be too bad.

And hardware - isn't Win7 supposed to be "netbook capable"? In blunt processing power my 4,5 year old laptop will beat a netbook... (1,6GHz Pentium M (Centrino))

ah well... after my SZ I may move to another compny if I get a better product in a few years time....
I moved on for headphones.... and tend to like Sony.

 

I bought a brand new Vaio laptop last week that's not Windows 7 compatible...

Good job I already had a copy of Windows 7 on order for it, as I knew Sony would totally screw up...

Funny thing is, look at the Dell site, they will hapilly sell you a Windows 7 licence (for £100...)

 

I think we should contact Microsoft as well. Their Vista problem was nothing more than unsupported drivers. Sony is purposely causing the same problems that Microsoft had with Vista.

 

Threads like this make me glad that I got rid of my Sony Vaio TZ and got a Lenovo X200 instead. Win7 drivers all available at launch day.
Good luck to you guys. Hopefully Sony goes out of their way and make past customers happy.

 

+me, too. I bought my VGN-FZ190 last year. It is complete immoral and unethical for sony to cheat custmors. Suggest everyone victims expread the truth to every friends around us and make a petitionhion against sony. This was my last product from sony!!!!

 

Fixing this might get me to buy another Sony, but after 3 high end ones only to be repeatedly disappointed with how things are dealt with, I am losing faith quickly in this company. I can pay less and get treated better.

Fix it Sony.
That X series I was considering is no longer an option unless this is fixed. Even if you do fix this, I may not do it after all of this.

Vote with your dollars.

 

IMO, Sony is loosing lots of its potential users.

Since MS is making money from Win7, it'd be very smart move for Microsoft to push Sony. So that everybody would be happy and peace.

P.S: Sorry Apple I probably should have gave you 1 opportunity. You lost a customer because Audio in/out was combined into 1 port.

If Sony will continue its fail Support in next 2 years - I'll jump into Mac bandwagon! Yay. Apple prepare for me. I need separate audio in/out ports.

 

Apple is every bit as draconian as Microsoft and Sony can be, if not worse.
Their failure rate isn't all that great either.

That said, had Apple not had a policy of never announcing anything ahead of time, I would have bought a 13in MBP instead of my SZ. For years I swore if they made a system I really liked I would get one, they missed me by about 2 months. I'm not so sure about that stupid single mouse button though, it makes it feel like a childs toy. They do have good customer service though, well, for as long as your model is supported. Once it drops off their radar, forget it.

 

I have an Vaio VGN-FZ290 running Vista Home Premium 32-bit. I bought it two years ago, and i dont see why sony shouldn't provide support and provide drivers for us wanting to upgrade to win7.

We want to move on from Vista and put it behind us.

Sony should have been more clear as to whether or not they would provide support. That page for Win7 said "Check back when Win7 is released to the public" So most of us went ahead and preordered Win7. I got a student version of Win7 Professional 32-bit for $29.99 + $15 for the disc. So for me it would only be a $45 dollar loss, but for most people the loss is greater if they paid in full.

I don't want to stick with Vista, I should be able to move on. Sony is going to lose a customer because of this.

 

I will not buy another Sony (and neither should you)

I bought SZ440 with 64bit processor that is virtualization-capable at hardware level (before Sony disabled). It's Intel T5600 I think.

For Sony to say on the product page that my hardware doesn't support Win7 is ridiculous. (I've got a clean install of Win7 64 bit right now that is much faster than the original lame dog OEM Vista32 Business. I used to hate this machine!)

Only problem? Dodgy control of buttons, etc. So I'm trying to follow leslieanne posts for sz750, only on my sz440. If I get most of these things working, I'll post later.

(It seems unlikely I'll ever get the camera going, and I may just let the Bluetooth be ON at all times. Don't care about Fn+F1 functionality personally.)

 

I've purchased my last Sony. I had a Dell 1330 that failed on me, and after a lot of research I settled on the VAIO Z690. (If Apple had better options for configuring a custom built system I'd have purchased an Apple.) Vista ran flawlessly on it, and then came the problems.

When moving to Windows 7 RC they didn't have drivers. No big problem, it's only an RC, right?
Then come to find out that they hard disable VT for no real reason other than because they're Sony.
And now that the RTM version is out there's still limited driver support (or any other type of support).

Sony - You had well over a year to get drivers put together. The stinkin beta for Windows 7 was so stable Microsoft could have released that and called it good. You *knew* how the OS was going to work, you had *ample* time to build drivers for *your* custom hardware. Support your customers and make it freakin work!

<I feel a bit better now. Not much, but a bit.>