Question about TZ recovery disk

I recently purchased a SSD to install in my sony TZ. I dropped it off and the local place that was going to do it for me last night. My plan was to use the recovery disk that came with the TZ to just reinstall everything back to factory conditions on the SSD.

as an aside, I realize the bloatware stinks and all that, but I do need the wwan support, so for the moment I don't mind pulling out all of that stuff after the full install.

anyway, I was going through my TZ box and materials this morning and found that I DON'T HAVE THE RECOVERY DISK! I distinctly remember after opening the box that there was a long startup/install process I thought ran with an included recovery disk, but I could be wrong.

My questions are: did this disk somehow get misplaced, or did it never exist? Is there any other way to get one of these to get the TZ back to factory conditions? was I supposed to use the laptop itself to create one of these first?

it's the weekend anyway, so I figured they won't start working on it until monday at the soonest, but I just wanted to know if I had to stop the work order early monday morning to create a recovery disk using the laptop first before they install a blank SSD on it and i'm out of luck.

all responses much appreciated!

 

Most (if not all?) Sony VAIOs do not come with recovery discs. The reasoning is that they put a hidden partition on the computer that acts as a recovery backup in case you need it. You need to burn the Recovery Discs on your own. You need to find the VAIO Recovery Wizard application on the computer (the exact name escapes me if that isn't right) to begin the process. It might be a little hard to find at first but it is there somewhere.

You should be able to purchase a set of recovery discs from Sony for a nominal fee if you don't mind waiting for it to arrive (this way you shouldn't have to delay the repair shop from installing the SSD). I don't know what region/model your TZ exactly is, but if it is a US model you should check Sony Parts.

Here is a link to the TZ100 series Recovery Disc:
http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/ec...temID=643880&category=3&categoryName=Computer

Otherwise, I believe you'll need to make your recovery discs from your computer before they install the SSD.

 

okay, well that's good to know. i've got a sony TZ170n/b. does anyone know if they're cd or dvds that i'll need? and how many?

 

you have to "create" the recovery disks...it is a process which requires either two dvd's or one dvd DL

 

ok, and using that vaio recovery center, i'll have the disks to put it back to factory conditions, right? it won't be like a ghost image of my current setup?

 

That is correct. It will take you back to the factory software load.

 

Be careful about using a single dual density DVD. Sony's site says that the recovery software does not work very well with it.

 

thanks for all the prompt responses. Here's my update:

i spoke with the install guy today and he told me that the job's done, so I didn't have a chance to make those recovery disks. i have the original hard drive, and it wasn't wiped, so I suppose it's possible to get the data i need off that drive somehow... that's my current problem. The way I see it, there's 2 solutions

1) get a zif -> ide or usb adapter, pull the data i need off that toshiba drive to make myself a recovery disk. is that even possible, or would it have to be burned from the vaio itself?

2) find some other way to get that recovery disk. I have a TZ170n/b, bought in the US at fry's. i know there's some way you can order the disk online, but that would take a while and I kind of need to get this thing up and running again asap. does anyone else in this forum have that TZ model? would I need my specific model's recovery disk, or could I use someone elses?

if I could, I would GLADLY pay anyone here what I would pay sony to make me a recovery disk, then maybe send me the .iso via the internets... i don't think there's any copyright issues there, as I am a TZ owner and I don't see how there's any room for abuse there. any suggestions? thoughts? offers to send me said disk???

 

Would the TZ150AN disc be more appropriate for a TZ150?