SZ - Make your own Vista ISO with integrated drivers

Mujja,

no problem at all and I used different programs for CD buring and editing like ultraISO and Nero micro version. May be you need to but the file size so we know the downloads is correct.

back to my inquiery, if I have the TZ installed is it enough to have Drivers directory under Vista to be add to vLite to do TZ version of Vista?

 

I downloaded both your package and the one from my support and loaded them both. Then removed duplicates. Was only a couple ones missing from the support one compared to your list.
Also took the support graphics for x3100 and 8400. Did I miss something? Like does the motherboard have different drivers or something? Also is it safe to remove "natural language" in "Components-->System" as it takes 542 mb.
The new vLite is a little bit different than the one you've made the pictures with and gives more options on couple things. This is starting to look good.

 

Mujja,

I found my other VAIO sz-281p Cingular WWan not working and fn+f1 is not working too.

 

hey Mujja, would u mind to post the new drivers for Sz6 ie. my SZ is SZ650NC from Canada...

Cuz I am suck in computer..I am struggling about finding GMAX3100 driver, Intel 965chipset, Nvidia 8400 GS, and the Intel wireless AGN drivers,

Also could u also find the Sz bluetooth software that originally used as well?

 

ezinfinity

The drivers pack on page 1 has now been updated. The included Intel GMA and WLAN drivers support the SZ's 965GM chipset and the 3945 AGN WLAN adapter

 

Hey Mujja chappeau for ur gr8 effort
Can I use the 3 links of the Vista to download and install a clean version of windows without integrating drivers, then install drivers in the normal manner. if yes, would I still need to use vlite and build the ISO or wut?

Thanks..

 

Follow the guide up to step 3b and you'll have a DVD of Vitsa with all versions.

vlite is only used when integrating drivers. You install directly from the Vista DVD and install drivers after.

One great feature of Vista is you can select a high level folder and Vista will search the sub-folders for drivers. So if you don't integrate drivers into the DVD you only need to download my driver pack, unzip it and then go update drivers for each device in Device Manager by only selecting the top folder.

 

Thanks a million

 

If you could upload the integrated ISO for Vista Business it would be great, i just dont know how to extract windows vista from my recovery cd's. Thanks
EDIT: Im also having troubles doing the same thing for XP, i want to run dual boot xp/vista but those recovery cd's are so ****ty sony should be ashamed of themselves, it's the os with all the bloatware or nothing, is there a way to do the same for xp?

 

So, by the end of 3b, have you essentially created a Windows Anytime Upgrade DVD? If so, then if you already have the WAU DVD, could you start from step 4?

 

If vlite accepts it then it should work.

vlite looks folders/files on the DVD to modify/replace and add files to, if the structure of the WAU DVD is similar to the original DVD then is should work.

It won't take long to find out as vLite will give an error as soon as you start up the app and start to import files from the WAU DVD.

Post back to let other users know if it worked.

 

Wow......that's all I gotta say. I have horrible luck with doing things like this but you have encouraged me to give it a shot. If this works I will dance a jig because I hate wasting space even if I'm getting a 320 (298) gb drive.

 

Follow the guide step-by-step and it will work. Let us know how you get on and hopefully it will encourage more people. It looks difficult but it really is easy to do and saves a lot of time trouble shooting devices later.

 

This process worked really well for me on my Sony SZ640 with Vista Home Premium. I was able to create a DVD that performed a clean Vista premium installation with all the drivers in place. It's great except for one problem. The Vista product key that came with the computer is invalid for the new installation, and I'm left with a Windows installation that I can't activate.

 

Did you install the same version as you key. The SZ's come with Vista Business.

If you did then then that could mean the downloaded version is Retail and the key on the sticker is OEM, as it is with XP stickers.

Did you add the key in vLite, type it in during Vista install or type in in after Vista install was complete.

 

Ok, let me first thank you, Mujja for posting this setup. This was exactly what I was looking for. I had been waiting on MS to send me the WAU disk and it never showed up and I'm headed back to the UK in about a week for a several months.

I have a SZ680 CTO(configure to order) with Vista business that I purchased in the September time frame. I previously had one of those tiny Sony TR2AP3's which I loved, but it was getting a bit overloaded. I had assumed that this new machine would be a screamer like my desktop. I was extremely dissapointed to find out I had purchased a crap-laden advertisement machine. Shame on both Sony and Microsoft. Now, let me get down from my soap box.

The 680 I ordered was the T7500 with 2G RAM and a 200G 7200RPM hard drive (pretty much close to my desktop configuration).

I followd Mujja's directions and it went extremely easy. The only thing I changed was adding my license in the vLite, so the DVD was specific only to me.

** update: added step 1a **

Before I ran Mujja's setup, I did some pre-install preparation.
1. I created the Sony Vaio Recover DVD's. This should be done whether you plan to do the clean install or not.
1a. Before you wipe out the crap-laden Sony Vista, backup the license key using step 3 from this thread: click here
Check out step 3 using Orev's ABR utility. This gets the OEM key that Sony uses and saves it. Do this on a flash drive. Once you install the clean Vista, run Orev's restore utility, and the activation key is restored right then and there with no connection needed.
2. I downloaded and created the Linux System Rescure CD at http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

​

. This contains GPARTED which cannot be run by itself on our Vaios. The rescue CD contains a newer kernel and allows our drives to be seen by GPARTED. And it also supports the graphics chipset better.
3. I used GPARTED to repartition the drive in the following configuration:

1: Original Sony recovery partition. (I left this alone, but with the recovery DVD's I will probably delete it) ​

2: 5G Partition. This is my swap area.​

3: 50G Partition. Vista and applications​

4: Remaining for my documents.​

I will probably redo this tonight and increase the swap area to 6G becuase Windows keeps telling me the disk space is low even though it's only for swap.
I will also remove the recovery partition. So I should be down to a 6G swap partition, 50G OS/App partition and a 144G user partition.

Again, thanks Mujja. This was perfect. I very much appreciate your effort and willingness to help others.

Amro

 

Thanks for the comments and feedback Amro, hopefully more people will now give this a go.

As for my disk configuration, my 160GB disk is partitioned as below;
C: 20 GB Vista - OS & Apps
D: 100 GB Media - Documents, Games, Music, Pictures, Video
E: 40 GB Temp - Downloads, Temp

Once I've got a Vista configured the way I want with all the Apps I actuallly use I backup the C: partition using Acronis True Image and save it on an external disk. When Vista gets slow or messed up with other apps/games I install and mess around with I restore using the backup up image and my Media and Temp parts don't get touched.

 

I purchased my SZ from SonyStyle.com with Home Premium, and my new installation was Home Premium as well. I added the key in vLite. There was a prompt to re-enter the key after the activation failed, but that didn't work either.

I guess my OEM key doesn't work with the downloaded retail version? Or maybe it's that my Premium key doesn't work with the downloaded version? Or should I not have added the key in vLite?

 

Is there a download like that for xp version thats compatible with the xp dvds for sz6 series?

 

As far as the activation key is concerned, I got the same issue when I used the license on the bottom of my laptop. I can only call Microsoft to activate it.

However, there is another way. There is another thread on a clean vista install: click here

Check out step 3 using Orev's ABR utility. This gets the OEM key that Sony uses and saves it. Do this on a flash drive before wiping out the crap-laden Sony Vista. Once you install the clean Vista, run Orev's restore utility, and the activation key is restored right then and there with no connection needed.

 

Quick update Mujja,

Camera not working.
Stamina<->Speed Switch not working.
S1&S2 not working.

Working on these issues.

 

amro, is there an unrecognised device in Device Manager? If not then the camera driver has been installed successfully. What are you using to test the camera?

FOr the S1,S2 and Stamina<>Speed Switch you have to install the Sony Utils. Have you installed these and in the order specified?

 

Wow....I made the dvd with VLite really easily and I didn't have all the junk that I had before now either. I'm just waiting for my hard drive to get here and then I'll hopefully be able to get everything back online shortly. Is there an office product key finder that someone knows of? I am kinda split up with most of my program disks till I get permanent housing here in Japan. I'm going to make a recovery disk set though before I do anything else.

 

Mujja, just reran the VCC7 install and all is well with the camera.

Working on the other issues, but I've got a question.

On the SonyStyle support site, they have a Sony Notebook Utils 1.0 which includes

- Sony Utils DLL
- Setting Utility Services
- Battery Checker
- VAIO Camera Utility
- VAIO Camera Capture Utility
- VAIO Power Management
- VAIO Event Services
- LAN Setting Utility

No version info on any of these and they don't say what sequence they get installed, but if it's all done at once then I don't think it matter, but they do say "This utility will enable the hotkey functionality."

Now, your utilities zip and utilities extra zip break these out along with their version information. Where did you get that breakdown? Also, there is no mention of the Sony Video Shared Library. I made a backup before all the utils stuff and may try this:

1. Sony Shared Library (3.0.00.10180)
2. Sony Video Shared Library (3.1.03.01220)
3. Sony Notebook Utils 1.0

If that doesn't work, I may try your sequence.

Update: This sequence worked great. My S1/S2 works, the Stamina<>Speed works, FN buttons for vol (up,dwn,mute), brightness, screen output all work
FN F1 doesn't, but I haven't installed the SmartWi stuff. I think that's what get attached to FN F1, right?

Update: The SmartWi stuff worked great. It installed the FN F1 control of WWAN, Bluetooth and WLAN albeit with an advertised Sprint button on my desktop (yuk).

Update: I should clarify, that I restarted with a clean Vista install from the DVD created after Mujja's step 3. I then installed the drivers one at a time for all my devices, rebooting each time whether windows said I needed to or not (a good example would be the audio drivers. windows didn't say I needed to reboot, but the device driver didn't show SigmaTel until I rebooted). I then ran my steps 1,2,3 from above to get all but the FN F1 buttons working, and then ran the SmartWi.

I will have a write-up as well on the order in which I did everything for my SZ680.

 

I think it's unnecesary to download cdimage.exe and make the iso before integrating the drivers into it. You can just run the x13-49120.exe file and once you get the Folder called C:\Vista you can run vLite use that folder to integrate the drivers into it. Once you're done, you can create ISO adn burn it, no need to waste a DVD

 

Thank you for your post.
Is it possible to give me ftp links instead of the rapidshare.

Also I have two question:

1)Does the guide completely works for sz650? and do all the uploaded drivers sufficient, or I have to find and download some of them directly from sony or microsoft site?

2)Instead of the mentioned link to download the vista, is it possible to use my recovery dvds to install my own vista? if yes, then how? (I have sony sz650 vista business)

Regards

 

I solved my own problem (stupid newbie question, couldn't get vlite to burn the disc at first), question removed. Thanks.

 

Please post your solution: it might help others with the same issues, too!

And thanks, OP! Great stuff - repped

 

Mujja, thanks for this excellent posting.

I have built vista ultimate from my RTM CD plus drivers from the Vaio Support site. My remaining issues are (1) continuing performance hogging from trusted installer.exe and other background processes (widely reported by many users of all types of machines). (2) no control of Fan speed and crippled processor power management (reported by many sony laptop users that have upgraded to Vista)

Before I go ahead with this and rebuild my machine using your instructions, please can you tell me if your fan speed control works?

 

I have an Asian VGN-SZ583N purchased in Hong Kong and would like to confirm that I finally got the S1/S2 keys, Stamina Switch, and Fn+ buttons working with Amro's order. The utilities included in Mujia's pack did not work for me, so what I did was install Vista Business using the vLited disc, then using the Sony Recovery Discs created in the Sony VAIO Recovery program earlier, I autorun the first disc and it loads the recovery program. Afterwards, I first used the Reinstall Drivers and Programs option of in the Vaio Recovery Center to install the Bluetooth and Nvidia drivers, then used it to install the first two of the following utilities.

1. Sony Shared Library (3.0.00.10180)
2. Sony Video Shared Library (3.1.03.01220)
3. Sony Notebook Utils 1.0

I downloaded a Sony Notebook Utils 1.0 from the US website but when installing, it says my model number does not match, and would stop loading. Hence, after rebooting, I used the VAIO recovery program again with the recovery discs, and simply selected
- Sony Utils DLL
- Setting Utility Services
- Battery Checker
- VAIO Camera Utility
- VAIO Camera Capture Utility
- VAIO Power Management
- VAIO Event Services
- LAN Setting Utility

and installed. Voila! The buttons finally work.

 

GRR! The camera isn't working in the VAIO Camera Capture Utility. After windows is installed, it first installs a generic USB camera driver. If I update the driver to VCC5, the camera light turns green even if I'm not using it, and when I enter the Capture Utility, the light goes off and there is no image in screen. I've tried the drivers which came with the unit as well to no avail... Any suggestions?

 

Each util download is a .exe file. This can be extracted, I used 7-zip, into smaller files which include the usuall setup.exe etc. Among the extracted files view the .txt, or .inf file for drivers, to display the version number.

The Sony Video Shared Library is included in the utils plus pack. I didn't include this in the necessary utills pack as I read somewhere this only installs MP4 codecs. I dont have this util installed and haven't needed it yet.

 

A good tip and something I didn't realise myself.

I do a simialr think when making a nLite build of XP. Just make sure you copy the contents of C:\Vista to another folder before modifying with vLite or you'll have to run x13-49120.exe again to rebuild the C:\Vista folder if you need to restart the process.

 

1) It should do, I've included the latest Sony Vista drivers taken from the SZ6 drivers pack and added a few other for compatability with earlier models.

2) They might work, the recovery DVDs are basically a Vista installation DVD with integrated drivers plus other apps/utils. But the point of this guide is to start with a clean Vista image and avoid the Sony software.

 

Do you mean the lowering of the CPU fan revolutions via the S button?
I see the pop up telling the the revs have been reduced but I don't notice a difference. I never noticed a difference in XP either.

 

Which utilities, all of them? They are the same utils you would have downloaded from Sony !!

If you followed the guide in the correct order please say at which step you had trouble. If there is an error then it needs to be corrected to save other users the trouble.

 

I just installed the utilities for my vaio sz660n and followed the process to a T. The buttons don't work, camera doesn't work, update doesn't work, and I can't start the HDD protection program..am I missing something here?

wow my computer can't even detect that I'm using a Vaio, so I can't install any of the updates from the website..someone help me please :-(

 

Well, I just got updates to install..here is how I did it:

1. At the command line, type "net stop winmgmt" . You may get a warning that other services need to be stopped as well; type Y and continue.
2. Open Explorer and go to the folder called %SystemRoot%\System32\WBEM\Repository.
3. Delete that folder and everything in it. (This step did not work for me and I had to run services.msc, browse to windows management service and set it to "disabled" in order for it to stop -- I could delete the files after that and then I set the service back to automatic.)
4. Reboot the system normally.
5. On the next login, open a command prompt and type: "winmgmt /resyncperf"

The only difference that I notice is that windows now detects my system information in the system thing. (win+pause) For some reason though, the updates can detect that I am using a vaio now.

 

I've a sz680n model, and i followed the steps you posted (and downloaded the files you provided). I installed the vista with the drivers, then installed the Sony Utilities just as the instructions (following the order, rebooting after each utility installed). But i'm having problems: camera doesn't work, fn+f5&f6 (brightness) not working,s1&s2 buttom not working, and the wireless button (on/off) also not working (the speed/stamina buttom is working). What could i be doing wrong? i already tried 3 times, and always the same thing... pls help...

 

I had a 660. Try installing Sony Shared Library FIRST then install Sony Notebook Utilities SECOND. Also I'd advise you go to your model's own drivers page instead of downloading the ones listed in this thread (just my opinion, these might work but I prefer getting them direct from Sony's site).

Your model's page is:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VGNSZ680N

So basically, do this:

1. Clean Vista Install
2. Install Sony Shared Library (Restart computer as asked)
3. Install Sony Notebook Utilities (Restart computer, you may not be asked to IIRC, but just do it anyway to be safe)
4. Install any other apps in the order you want at this point. Get your Windows Updates too. Brightness keys never work for me until I got the Windows Updates.

That's pretty much it. (I've had to do this process at least six times now on both my SZ660 and TZ computers.)

 

I just tried what you said ( installed the vista clean, downloaded and installed the drivers from the sony page, installed first the sony shared library, installed the notebook utilities, after that installed the others utilities of the pack mujja provided) and now everything is working!!! thx a lot for helping

 

I just wanted to comment on what a great writeup this is. If a Marine can follow the directions and get everything to work then it's top notch The only problem that I am still having is the camera doesn't want to work. In fact it never has since I bought it....but I really don't use it. If anyone knows the secret to fixing the sz220 camera then it would be appreciated but I'm not sweating bullets about it. The only slight issue that I had was that I had a Home Premium Upgrade instead of a full install so I had to use my wife's full install but I can always upgrade her tower which still runs xp when I build it. Thanks much Mujja and everyone that put their part in making this. ONE final question though. Sony Update is no longer recognizing my laptop model. How do I fix that?

Just so people are aware I replaced my hd with a wd 320gb and it is freakin awesome. Very fast and spacious, I created partitions for my media, programs, and a little corner for vista to stay in. Everything works as far as buttons goes and my laptop is so much faster now with this install. Standing ovation required for this one.

Rick

 

excellent thread

 

hi, i have problems with vlite at startup: when i mount the dvd; after 100% i get an error message: "Error while accessing image, the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable".-
Please help me, i'm stuck here...
thaks.-

 

Just finished a successful clean install for the first time! Wow! What a great difference! Feels like I bought a new laptop!! a new Vista!!! the preinstalled Vista version + bloatware slow your computer down to a crawl!! thanks for this great guide!

 

Hi has anyone found the sony apps (i.e: location free player, sonic stage, etc) from the recovery DVD?

 

I made a a lite business disc. I installed but for some reason i got 3 unknown devices and i can not get wifi working. shows the driver for wifi installed no where can i scan or connect to networks. Any ideas?

 

Hi audio,

What model is your SZ? Did you make sure all the drivers were integrated correctly. All you needed to do is download the drivers pack from Rapidshare, extract and the click on the highest level folder. vLite would have scanned all subfolders and show a list of drivers. You then had to highlight all the drivers.

It seems like you may have missed this last bit and that's why some devices aren't recognised.

As for the WLAN connection, is the adapter visible in the network adapters page? Go to the Network and Sharing Centre and in the left pane you can select adapters.

 

SZ650N/C. I followed your instruction to the T. I also noticed the wifi driver is different for my model then in your pack. Either way even trying to remove, reinstall (right from sonys site) I couldn't get wifi to work for the life of me.
I did a restore just for yesterday.
Right now im doing a regular vista business fresh install then install the drivers one by one from sonys site. If it runs ok I'll keep it and attempt to make your awesome lite disc at a later date.


EDIT: switch might have been stuck after turning it on and off repeatedly out of frustration it suddenly worked heh.

NEW ISSUES: Fn brightness key only adjusts up and down 1 level. lowest to one bar , camera shows installed properly yet sonys capture util says no input (yes i selected the sony camera in settings)

 

Hi,

First thank you for this. It is really helpful.

I have a SZ-420N (bought in Canada) and I just have a question. In the list of drivers, there is everything for every notebook, but I don't wan to get anything I don't need. What I'd like to know is which one I need to use my laptop to its maximum without ANY junk. Same thing for the utilities in step 6.

Thank you for your help.