Sharing my OS Downgrade experience

Hi there,

I have a Sony Vaio VGN-CR123E\B (it´s a kind of rare model) and I'm in the middle of a "downgrading to Windows XP OS process" so I thought it would be cool to share this experience with you and hopefully get some help on some issues I'm having.

My Specs are:
Sony Vaio VGN-CR123E\B
CPU: T7300 (2.0GHz, 4MB L2 Cache)
RAM: 4GB
HD: 160GB (5400rpm)
Original OS: Windows Vista Home Edition
Recovery DVD: No
Recovery partition: Yes

The first thing I did was to download some drivers and applications from sony asia( http://www.sony-asia.com/section/downloads). Here I had my first issue: Apparently, model CR123E\B does not exist for Sony, so I had to choose a similar model: VGN-CR13G.

This is the file I downloaded and the link:

Windows XP Downgrade Drivers and Applications for VGN-CR1 Series(Zip File)
Applicable Models:
VGN-CR13M, VGN-CR13G, VGN-CR14GN, VGN-CR13S, VGN-CR12GH, VGN-CR11GH, VGN-CR11SH
http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/226061/product/vgn-cr13g

OK, second step was to format my Sony using a Windows XP SP3 professional CD. Here I made a stupid mistake: I forgot to create an extra partition. When XP was instaling I realized I forgot to do that but I sayed to myself: "No problem, I will use partition magic and create the partition later..."

When I first logged into windows XP I had a mixture of feelings:
The notebook was fast as a bullet, so it felt great.
Another great feeling was to get rid of all that useless bloatware and the stupid tray messages.
On the other hand, I had a "same old thing" feeling and I kind of missed the "everything is new and different" feeling of Windows Vista...

So I started running some drivers and these are my results:

XP Downgrade drivers for VGN-CR1 Series

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility
File name: Chipset.EXE
OK

ATI Video driver
File name: Graphcis-ATI.EXE
Failed

Intel Video driver
File name: Graphics-Intel.EXE
OK

Hotfix - kb835221.exe
File name: KB835221.exe
Not tested yet

Realtek High Definition Audio CODEC
File name: Audio.EXE
Audio started working OK but the + and - buttons on the notebook doesn't work

HDAUDIO SoftV92 Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
File name: Modem.EXE
Not tested yet

Touch Chip Fingerprint Coprocessor
File name: Fingerprint.EXE
Not tested yet

TexasInstuments PCIXX12 Integrated FlashMedia Controller
File name: Memory_Sticker.EXE
Not tested yet

Memory Sticker Icon
File name: MSIcon.EXE
Not tested yet

Synaptics PS/2 Port Pointing Device
File name: Pointing.EXE
Not tested yet

Realtek rtl8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC
File name: LAN.EXE
Not tested yet

Atheros AR5006X Wireless Network Adapter
File name: Wireless-Atheros.EXE
Failed

Intel ProSet/Wireless
File name: WirelessLAN-Intel.EXE
OK

Toshiba Bluetooth Stack
File name: Bluetooth.EXE
Not tested yet

VGP-VCC6 Camera Driver
File name: Camera.EXE
OK, but the capture button on the notebook doesn't work

SonyNC
File name: SONY_NC.EXE
Not tested yet


Sony Image Filter
File name: SonyImgF.EXE
Not tested yet


XP Downgrade applications for VGN-CR1 Series

Sony Shared Library
File name: Sony_Shared_Library.EXE
Not tested yet


Sony Utilities DLL
File name: Sony_Utilities_DLL.EXE
Not tested yet


VAIO Event Service
File name: VAIO_Event_Service.EXE
Not tested yet


VAIO Event Service Hotfix
File name: vaio_event_service_hotfix.EXE
Not tested yet


Setting Utility Series
File name: Setting_Utility_Series.EXE
Not tested yet

VAIO Control Center
File name: VAIO_Control_Center.EXE
Not tested yet


VAIO Power Management
File name: VAIO_Power_Management.EXE
Not tested yet


Wireless Switch Setting Utility
File name: Wireless_Switch_Setting_Utility.EXE
Not tested yet


VAIO Camera Utility
File name: VAIO_Camera_Utility.EXE
Not tested yet


VAIO Camera Capture Utility
File name: VAIO_Camera_Capture_Utility.EXE
Not tested yet


Suite QL
File name: Suite_QL.exe
Not tested yet


So I started installing some basic programs: AVG 8, SpyBot, Windows Office 2003(I had 2007 too but my wife didn't like it because she had to "learn where is everything again....")

So I finally decided to create the extra partition and this is where I'm stuck:
Partition magic doesn't run because it gets lost with SONY Recovery Partition. It says " Partition's drive letter cannot be identified"

Indeed, the recovery partition doesn't have any letter, so don't know what to do:

1 - Start all over again and create the partition before XP installs.

2 - Delete the recovery partition and go on with partition magic.

3 - Search for other partition tools or methods.

4 - Use only one partition.

After I decide what to do and run all the drivers and applications I will post my final results.

Thanks

 

I suggest downloading and creating a gparted boot cd. Works great and very straightforward.

 

I haven't had to rely on the sony partition yet (bought my BZ recently) but not a great fan of it. I would definitely create more partitions (for ex using Acronis Disc Director) and create images as well as scheduled backups right from the start. If you feel ironically nostalgic about Vista look & feel, why not install dual boot OS...you've started from scratch with XP which is good (installing Vista and then adding XP dual boot is not recommended). While all Vista drivers seem to be available you can continue to work in that OS while you're researching and continue to build up your xp drivers.

 

Thanks for the suggestions Dook and travelspace.

I decided to start all over again, after all, installing XP on this machine is kind of fast. It takes about 30 minutes....

This time I created 2 partitions with aproximatelly 72GB each and installed XP on the partition assigned to the C: drive.

The recovery partition has the E drive letter on it so I wonder why Partition Magic didn't see that...

After installing the OS I rearranged to this configuration:

C: System
D: Data
F: Optical Drive

The strange thing is that when I plug in a pen-drive ,it aslo goes to the E: drive, the same of the recovery partition.

After updating and installing AVG8...

I started running all the drivers and applications.
To be short, I will post only the ones that failed:

XP Downgrade drivers for VGN-CR1 Series:

Touch Chip Fingerprint Coprocessor
File name: Fingerprint.EXE
FAILED

VGP-VCC6 Camera Driver
File name: Camera.EXE
It throws an error message saying it couldn't find a DLL

XP Downgrade applications for VGN-CR1 Series

VAIO Camera Utility
File name: VAIO_Camera_Utility.EXE
Failed

VAIO Camera Capture Utility
File name: VAIO_Camera_Capture_Utility.EXE
The capture button doesn't work

Everything seems to be working, except for the camera and the av mode buttons.

I guess I have to find the correct driver for the camera.

Thanks

 

your brightness adjust works fine?
Great write up though.
Everything works with my Vaio for the most part except for brightness.

 

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNCR120E&upd_id=3617&os_id=7

This should work fine for your Camera.

 

Thanks!

I'm at work right now but I will test the link you sent me tonight.

I will check the birghtness as well and post the results.

 

Hey nodrog

I installed the RIDCAM-00143727-XP.EXE driver you sent me.

It didn`t show the error message about a missing dll file, however, the camera is still not working. And so isn`t the av mode or the brightness.

appreciated your help anyway

 

Oh how wierd.
There's gotta be other files needed to activate it. Theres a bunch of shared library and other random installations i've had to install in the past, but have no clue what each actually does. haha.

I assume the brightness doesnt work either?

 

My bad. The camera is working allright! I tested it with Skype.
The only thing that doesn't work is the capture button.

So I'm missing only this features after the downgrade:

- camera capture button
- av button
- brightness

Nodrogkan, thanks for the driver link!

 

i can tell you that your av mode will probably not work.
But if you install all of the XP related items on the sony site for your computer your capture button should work. It works on mine with XP.
We have very similar computers.
I'm very confident that if you installed everything that was listed on my support site you could have the same results.

 

Hi iam having problem wif VGN-CR11gh.
I have downgrade to winxp, some of the prob happend but atlast settle, but know after windows update the sound driver wont work d. Try uninstall n install back still same, after reinstall windows ok. But if i run windows update then restart, prob again....anyone have idea abt it