SmartWi installation fix

Well, I got myself a spiffy new SZ791 a few weeks back. It worked just fine initially, but then I uninstalled a bunch of that bloatware crapola. Then I installed a big pile of the stuff I really use this machine for (Office 2007, Visual Studio 2008, DiskKeeper, LOBs...). Now the machine is starting to function the way I wanted it to.

Except that I wanted to try out the Sprint EVDO card, and now SmartWi isn't working anymore. It just tells me that all the network hardware is turned off, even when the LEDs are on, and Vista is making use of the WiFi.

Tried to reinstall a bunch of the stuff that is up on the drivers and updates web site. No luck. Then tried the Sony product support gurus on their chat line. Even less luck. After two failed attempts, I finally got fd up and asked to speak with an escalation engineer. Well, he tried a bunch more experiments and produced no more success. But he did give me the phone number for he third tier support line. (Yeah!)

With help from a fellow there, I got it working, and found out the following gems that I'll pass long.

1. The "Smart Networking utility" package listed as an update for the 791 is not meant for the 791. Don't waste our time downloading it, it won't install anything. No harm / no foul.

2. The SmartWi package is not available on the updates & drivers page, however it is in the Sony Recovery Partition. Yippee!

So to fix it, I began by uninstalling the current SmartWi package using the Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a Program. Take the reboot, and then log in again.

Click Start -> Help and Support.

Click "Backup and Recovery", then "Launch VAIO Recovery Center" it wil be near the bottom of the page.

Click "Continue" to pacify the UAC.

Click "Reinstall Programs or Drivers", then "Start" then select "Skip" and click "Next", click "Next" again.

Now you can select "SmartWi COnnection Utility" from the list. Do the install, and take the reboot. SmartWi should be back and running correctly now.