Sz6 Clean Install Vista -- Working Perfectly and More

Clean install is the way to go -- forget uninstalling bloatware or semi-clean

I tried both -- clean install is much faster and leaner

Some links to guides:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228/
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783&highlight=clean+vista
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=119587

I used the first one for the steps -- I basically only used it for the activation program.

Modified Broadcom Bluetooth Driver -- comprehensive guide:
http://www.dev-hack.com/pafiledb/index.php?act=view&id=4

I can in no way take credit for the steps listed here -- they are modifications and compilations of the steps listed in other guides -- but I have found they work great, and they DO NOT necessarily require that everything be done in a particular sequence.

Follow one of the above guides to get your computer formatted.
Before formatting I made sure to have all important pieces of software:
1. Make recovery discs
2. Copy C:\program files\sony to a safe location
3. Copy C:\windows\drivers to a safe location
4. Download all the "utilities" from sony.com\support
5. Download WIDCOMM Bluetooth Driver for SZ and modify to work with sz6
6. Download Intel Chipset Drivers from intel.com
7. Download latest Intel 965 drivers from intel.com (15.6.1)

After formatting, use the drivers that were in c:\windows\drivers to restore your devices with the following exceptions:
1. for chipset use the downloaded intel drivers (install first)
2. for the bluetooth -- use widcomm
3. for intel gfx -- use downloaded intel

Install software
1. sony shared library
2. sony video shared library
3. sony notebook utilities
4. Fingerprint software (from recovery cds; use launcher.exe from the c:\program files\sony\sony recovery backup)

I would also recommend making a backup using windows backup and restore program (select full backup -- it creates an image similar to what norton ghost does) -- my whole image after full install was 6.8gb (of an 11gb install)

After all that you should have full function of every device on your computer

If people are interested I'll find the relevant links to the pieces of software I used

I now have the broadcom bluetooth stack, a much faster machine that can play hd dvds smoothly off an external hd dvd drive

Let me know if you have any questions or tips.

 

just curious ...how many processes do you have running after a clean install?

i own a sz483, and after a clean install (plus only the necessary drivers to enable all the hardwares, ms office, kaspersky internet security, etc.), i have around 60 processes running in the background.

fyi - i stick with the sony nvidia driver because i found out that the ones from laptop2go (a) disabled the brightness control buttons (fn + f5/6), and (b) bsod everytime my laptop wakes from hibernation.

 

I had 62 I think after all essentials were installed such that all sony functions were working.

I currently have 68 but that includes misc stuff like mozy, antivirus, daemon, and other garbage.

Hmm... interesting thing about the nvidia -- the brightness does work with the updated intel drivers (non-sony) and I haven't had bsods -- I am going to try the nvidia stuff out right now and will post with update

My main reason for the clean was to get HD DVD playback working, and now it is working great with only like 40% cpu utilization on the intel gfx card!

BTW... do you have Battery Care Function working on your clean install (all my options are grayed out)? Also, are you able to scan your fingerprint to the chip (it only allows me to save to hard drive -- this was the case prior to clean install as well).

Update:
Turns out that the nvidia card drivers (laptop2go) weren't compatible with hd dvd playback -- so I rolled back to the one's that Sony provides (updated my install above). Interestingly enough, HD DVD playback is smoother on the intel gfx card -- and that also works with aero enabled -- I hope sony releases the updated nvidia drivers soon.

 

thanks.

hm. i am not aware of any battery care function on my sz483.

the only power management software that comes with my laptop is the vaio power management software, which install some vaio-specific plans to vista's power options in control panel, and a power management viewer.

as for the biometric sensors, mine saves to hard disk, too. i suspect this is a limitation of the sensor hardware itself, rather than a software problem.

 

I just did a clean install on my FZ180E and it is running much better, the only thing I could not reinstall is the WinDVD BD vaio version BD DVD player, I just bought the retail version that works on both Blueray and HD DVD and even with the laptopvideo2go 163.69 drivers I can play all my blueray movies and games all working smoothly, before I could not play blueray movies on the sony version of WinDVD and the 163.69 driver at all and now I can. I went from 68 to 46 processes running in the background in the task manager.

 

I'm actually using PowerDVD which many people say is better (based on what I've found online) esp with HD DVD and with the xbox 360 external player

don't know if that is changed recently

Wow --- you only have 48 processes -- I currently have 65, but I think only 3 or 4 of them are specfically sony processes

 

You know I heard that Power DVD is better too, I could not find it at any of my local retail stores and placed an order online with Cybelink but I am still waiting for them to complete the credit card approval process so I can download it, with WinDVD the process only took 1 minute and that is why I am using WinDVD until I get Power DVD.

 

Wow -- so you just bought both? Did you try asking Sony why their bundled program wasn't installing? The only problem with PowerDVD is that they are very stringent on their requirements -- the program doesn't attempt to even play the hd dvd unless you meet the hardware reqs that are previoulsy defined -- that includes a driver check. I don't know if WinDVD does the same.

I'd be interested to know if you are able to get powerdvd to work with the laptop2go drivers

You piqued my interest into how you only had 48 processes running -- what Sony programs do you have installed?
My current Sony Programs (via Uninstall Program menu):
Settings Utility Series (enables fn buttons)
Sony Utilities Dll
Sony Video Shared Library
Vaio Camera Capture Utility (I don't know if this one is necessary yet)
Vaio Camera Utility (for webcam -- don't know if it needs the one above)
Vaio Event Service
Vaio HDD Protection
Vaio Power Management
and I just uninstalled Vaio Update 3

--

 

ng12345 - WinDVD is working perfectly, even on my X205-9349 which I did the same clean install on last night and I also installed the 163.69 drivers from laptopvideo2go.com (which never worked in the past with the toshiba version of WinDVD and these drivers, it would always stuter and stop while playing HD DVD's), so if I don't hear from Cyberlink by tomorrow I may just call them to cancel the order since WinDVD is working just fine for me.

 

Looks like the original post linking to the WIDCOMM stack is broken here is an updated one :

http://www.dev-hack.com/pafiledb/index.php?act=view&id=4

 

Got another link to that modded driver?

 

http://www.dev-hack.com/pafiledb/index.php?act=category&id=2

This is not the modded.
My bluetooth device (Sz680) is on the VID_044E&PID_300D&REV1915.
You have to use the VID_044E&PID_300D in the btwusb.inf if you have SZ680.

 

ng12345, great post thank you, i was searching all over the place for a clean install for the sz6 and finally found it.

I have few Questions on the drivers, i already did the formating.
first i am a not a computer profesional. but after the format to install the drivers, there is 2 way to do that which is to go to controlpanel / system / device manager / and update the drivers by right clicking on the hardware which is marked with a question mark. Now my question is is there any other way, if there is which way do you mean.

Second you said to install all the driver from c:/window/driver with the exception of 3 drivers. Why did is it an excpetion why can't i install all it all from the C:/ window/driver.

Third, you said 3 drivers i need
Download WIDCOMM Bluetooth Driver for SZ and modify to work with sz6
Download Intel Chipset Drivers from intel.com
Download latest Intel 965 drivers from intel.com (15.6.1)

For the widcomm bluetooth driver i am going through it today.
for the intel chipset drivers from intel.com which software, i have a sz660n/c
for the 3ed one that was easy you gave the (15.6.1) identification which was perfect.

Thanks

 

I'm running the latest nvidia drivers from laptop2go with no problems with the FN keys even after a hibernation

 

I'm not sure what you mean by 2 ways -- the way you mentioned is fine for installing drivers

the reason i said except those 3 drivers, is because those 3 drivers are not located in the windows/driver directory or the right versions are not in that directory.

the intel chipset drivers are the same regardless of which sz6xx model you have

hope that helps

 

that is good to know -- though you have an sz4xx from your sig, so don't know if that is the difference.

did you do any special install methods, or did you just follow the instructions on the laptop2go site?

 

Is there some list, what are the mandatory utilities from Sony (i.e what are needed to have OSD etc)? Is there some explicit list somewhere which tells what those utilities are and why those are needed? I would like to install as few as possible Sony stuff to my Vaio after clean install.

 

I did an absolutely dust-free install using the optimized disk image from PortableOne and am very pleased. There are now 26 processes running, and my SZ6 is stable and much faster, even though I had spent a lot of time flushing the Sony toilet.

I do, however, miss Battery Care, and mentioned that omission to P1.

If anyone has that accessory and can send it, or can tell me where it may be found (but not on the undownloadable TZ file) I'll be grateful.

 

I am also running off the P1's image but I remembered having at least over 40-50 processes running after the install. 26 is quite low.

 

26 is pretty impressive -- I think I had 40-50 with all (imho) necessary sony utilities -- had no problems with cpu load/speed

 

it appears I have an issue with the vaio shared library" when I try to install it, it says , this program only can be installed on vaio laptops, this computer isn't"

all the other stuff works (vaio event service, power management ...) is there something I can do ?

what will be the issue if I don't install this program ?

thanks

 

You may have the wrong version for you laptop model or OS.

Try the one linked in my SZ7 drivers post in the sig.

 

It worked ! thanks a lot !

well, I still don't understand why the SZ5 drivers I took on sony website didn't work, but the essential is my laptop is now almost perfectly working !

 

Hi,

I just had another issues, I tried to connect an external monitor to the laptop and the monitor doesn't detect the laptop, but the laptop detects the monitor. (I tried in speed/stamina mode, same result)
I tried with another laptop and it works perfectly,
is there a driver I forgot to install or something ?

the other issue is with the webcam, it doesn't work at all, it's not even detected.

cheers

 

Speaking about processes.
I've got less than 70 on my SZ7 after tidying up.
currently 69 - but some "junk" from some programmes is still running. I think its aroung 653-65 when I start up.

The point is though:
What can go wrong when tidying up? Very little.

What can go wrong during a clean instal? If your not ceareful - a lot.

In that respect I suppose its another good guide, but the clean instal isn't always the best idea - unless you really want it. (the clean instal)