SONY VAIO Software Bundle

My father was given a Sony VAIO SZ65 as a corporate gift when he went to China

It was bought from the SONY Shop in Shanghai

Now, the notebook came with the the standard Sony Vaio software bundle... but in Chinese

My father was assured at the store that changing the software to English is easy, done through the control panel's language settings.
It was not the kind of store that would try to take advantage of a foreinger, accompanied by a very influential billionaire Chinese speaking local. I can't ephasise this strongly enough.

However on returning to Australia, could not find Control Panel as could not read Chinese. So the VAIO was sent to an IT center in order to be changed, so the notebook would not be damaged. However, on returning although the computer still had Vista Premium....the rest of the software was missing, in addition to the primitive Microsoft Office 2003 being loaded...

I was just wondering if there is anyway of going about and rectifying this. The IT people continue to say that because the VAIO was bought in China it is therefore an inferior machine (although all Vaio's are made in Japan) and that changing the operating settings from Chinese to English is impossible (however it is possible to change other computers from English to Japanese v.v. for example beyond the language settings but also as operating settings).

Thank you in advance for your advice and expertise

 

I would think that you would be able to reinstall Vista in English with a clean install, then use a sony driver cd, or go to their site and get English files.

 

because it is china spec machine... it may differ from the australian version.. eg. the keyboard, software pre-installed, etc.

what?!? you kidding me? all VAIO are made in china nowdays... the last consumer notebook that i know of that is made in japan is the Toshiba QOSMIO (G30), but the newest one (the G45) is sadly made in china... the only laptop that i know of that is still made in japan is the panasonic toughbook.

should be possible.. there is a reigionality setting under windows vista/xp isn't it? there should also have been a language bar on the taskbar... my one currently says [EN] i'm suspecting the chinese one says [CH]

ah you sent it to an IT center... should have sent it to an Authorized VAIO center. still.. i dont know how they wiped your computer's software though... and how come you were given microsoft office 2003 (free? no trial-ware) hmmm... sounds like a dodgy IT center too me. along with the comment about computer bought in china is an inferior machine (you sure they said that, they should've explain it like i do, still... i'm pretty sure almost -if not all- vaios are made in china nowdays.)

 

They didn't format your hard disk and reinstall Vista in English did they? You can probably find out by comparing lisence keys or something - sorry I can't be more precise - I don't use Vista (yet).

If you got a Sony disk with the notebook and they did format your HD, then I'd just insert the Sony disk and all the software should install itself. If you didn't get a disk then I think that you are pretty stuck although someone will probably know something that may help you.

 

yeah... contact sony tell them what happened and they might be able to supply you with australian restore disk.

 

BTW, I think All Sony VAIOS are made in TAIWAN not in Japan or in China.

And AFAIK , only Panasonic and some Fujitsu laptops are made in Japan and I hope they stop making theirs in Japan since I am not paying any extra $$$ for just made in Japan or made in Germany or whatever they say.

They should make all in China or Vietnam and make them cheaper, to stay competitive, dont you agree?

Now , Sony laptops are cheaper than Fujitsu or Panasonic by huge deal because they are made in Taiwan and I think it is a good change.

 

On the bottom of my TZ170N it says MADE IN JAPAN. I mean I'm sure components are made in China but I believe the higher end business notebooks are still made in Japan.

 

Yes, the higher-end, business oriented series like TZ, UX and G are still made in Japan.

 

Yep, that's right. IMO though, I think the more appropriate words to describe electronic items these days is "Assembled In xxx" instead of "Made In xxx" that the manufacturers like to use because all the components found in the items are made from different countries.

 

Wow .. you want the bloatware .. you lucky enough to get back with no software .. that is what ppl trying to do .. to get rid of the bloatware ..

 

Yes, the higher-end, business oriented series like TZ, UX and G are still made in Japan.

sorry for my ignorance .

 

that's why the TZ so expesnive here?

if it were cheaper , I 'd get it for travelling , but they costs 89.000baht(about 3000us) or up.

 

Meis - all you need to do is restore your C: drive from the hidden partition on the VAIO hard drive. Hopefully this was not deleted by the IT jokers you used.

At power on, hit F10 while the VAIO logo is still onscreen.

You may have to hit ENTER at a text mode screen if asked, though usually this should take you directly into the Recovery Environment.

After the Recovery Environment has booted, select RESTORE C: DRIVE from the available options. Be warned, this will delete EVERYTHING that you may have put on the machine, and restore the hard drive to exactly how it was when the machine was shipped from the factory.

After a few more automatic reboots, Windows Vista will startup for the first time on this install, and at this point you will be offered a choice between continuing in English or in Chinese, with a warning that THIS OPTION CANNOT BE UNDONE at a later stage. Choose English. The installation will continue, and all the included Sony VAIO customizations will also be restored. Obviously, this is where someone chose Chinese on the previous install before the machine reached you.

Enjoy. And obviously, avoid these IT people in future - they don't know squat about VAIOs. I only hope they haven't deleted your VAIO hidden partition - unlikely, since doing so would require them to have a clue.

BillyB

 

Quick question, If I were to get a VGN-SZ780 CTO from Sony.ca, would that be made in Japan?

 

Oh what color does it come in? Silver or Black?

 

I think he should stop complaining and learn Chinese

 

Well I just ordered mine and its in for 31st. Question though, does anyone know about Hafnium Technology in the T9300? cuz I read on the U.S website and it says Hafnium technology Now avaible, I wonder if the T9300 already has it or?? Ciao!

 

and chinese is a easy language to learn comapred to Thai or Viet.

 

Did the Vaio come with the chinese simplified version of vista or the International Ultimate version? If it is the simplified verson you may have trouble converting it as they are regionalised and the built in recovery wont help you. You will need the International versions that carries all Language Packs. Or simply an Australian version.
Pretty lucky though getting rid of the bloatware on the way through.
Even though you got office 2003 loaded I would be pretty happy you got it at all. Office 2007 is not all that it is cracked up to be an it is more stable.

What I would do would be.
Load and Aust copy of Vista
Download the sony drivers.
Load up the Sony bloatware crap
and finally load up office on it and away you go.

Pretty easy to do really. Why do you need an IT Shop anyway. Getting a lappy up and running is childs play. when it a brand new one like the sony. the only trouble you may have is getiing drivers for it if the model was a chinese specific version. What was the Exact Model Number again???