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    Question about downgrading to XP?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by jarvcity, Nov 17, 2008.

  1. jarvcity

    jarvcity Notebook Enthusiast

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    Why is it so hard to downgrade a VAIO to XP? I have an FW-290 and was just wondering what the complications are. Can't you just put in an XP CD and do a clean install like you would when you reformat with an XP OS?
     
    jarvcity, Nov 17, 2008
    #1
  2. Lattice

    Lattice Notebook Evangelist

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    The main issue with downgrading to XP is that when XP came out, SATA hard drives weren't very common, so the installation disk tends not to have SATA drivers in them. That means it cannot detect your hard drive, which makes installation difficult.

    The very first step you do is to copy your XP disk to a folder and then use an application like nLite to slipstream the SATA drivers. Then, it's a hunt for the compatible drivers for your laptop. Thankfully, I think Sony does offer the XP drivers on their website, so that's at least not as difficult as it could be.

    It's not a too difficult process, but a lot of people do get stuck at the blue screen of death because they didn't slipstream the SATA drivers.
     
    Lattice, Nov 17, 2008
    #2
  3. KeithF40

    KeithF40 Notebook Consultant

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    It's not that easy to find the drivers, namely the one that controls the brightness controls using the fn keys.

    Here is a quick guide

    1) boot into vista and record all your hardware
    2) go to the chipset manufacturers site and download the chipset driver for the sata drive
    3) slipstream into xp installation cd using nlite
    4) install xp

    now for drivers
    1) take the vista drivers and use uniextract to get the inf files out and try using them
    2) if that doesnt work try to find a similar model machine and hope that there are xp drivers on sonys site
    3) search the manufacturers site for the drivers
     
    KeithF40, Nov 17, 2008
    #3
  4. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    The brightness controls etc need the appropriate Sony utility rather than driver. If you're searching the Sony web site for this, look in the utilities list and you'll probably need to install some prerequisite utils first. The easiest way is to follow one of the clean install guides and learn from others mistakes. ;)
     
    InfyMcGirk, Nov 18, 2008
    #4