TZ Vista Clean Install Guide

Preperation
First Create Recovery DVDs - In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, you can fall back on these 2 DVDs to get your TZ's software back to its original shipping state. Go to your Recovery Center/Utility (name varies upon region) and create the recovery DVDs. The process is straight forward.

Download the original drivers AND utilities for your TZ model. Convenient zip packages http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/preinstalled/preinstalled.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons. Alternatively, the original drivers can be backed up from your hard drive at C:\Drivers. You will still need to download the Utilities, unless you can get them from your recovery DVDs.

Download the updated Setting Utility Series http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/preinstalled/preinstalled.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons.

Download the latest drivers from the manufacture's site
Intel
www.intel.com find your way to the download center and download the following
Inf utility for the 945GMS chipset
Graphics driver for the 945GMS/GMA950
Wireless driver for the 3945ABG or 4965AGN (which ever applies to your TZ model)
UPEK
Driver for fingerprint reader http://www.upek.com/support/downloads/drivers/default.asp
Protector Suite QL 5.8 - fingerprint reader software http://www.upek.com/support/downloads/psql_winqual/psql_upgrade.asp
Toshiba Bluetooth Stack
latest version http://aps.toshiba-tro.de/bluetooth/?page=download
After installation, replace the TosBtMng.exe in the install directory, with the one in this rar archive, to get around the 30 day trial limitation http://rapidshare.com/files/116567891/TosBtMng.rar
Realtek
Driver for Realtek HD Audio www.realtek.com.tw

The Clean installation
Load into the CMOS setup (aka BIOS) and set the TZ to boot from optical disk, save and exit.
Clean install Vista as normal
Download and install all Windows Vista updates, including Service Pack 1, from Windows Update. Regarding the optional driver updates; select only the driver updates for drivers that were not downloaded in the earlier step. A few restarts are required, but it'll get there.
Once Service Pack 1 is installed, defragment the C:\
Then install the drivers and utilities in this order (always restart when prompted to)
Intel Inf Utility
Intel Graphic
Intel Wireless
SonyUtils DLL
Sony Shared Library
Setting Utility Series
VAIO Event Service
SFEP - Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device
SonyPI - Sony Programmable I/O Control Device
Upek drivers and Protector Suite QL 5.8
Toshiba Bluetooth Stack
Realtek Drivers
Memory Card 1 and 2 drivers
Camera drivers
Pointing drivers (im yet to find updated Alps drivers)
VAIO Power Management
Anything else that you want and then defragment the C:\

Some like to install SonyUtils DLL and Sony Shared Library before any drivers, but I dont see a difference with either method.

It really is worth while taking the time to do a clean install. The TZ is 100% faster for it, no joke.

Benefits
Startup times are *dramatically* reduced. So dramatic, you wouldn't guess the 4200rpm drive
Memory usage down 15%
30 less processes running after start up
Saved 10GB+ of HDD space
Vista is MUCH more responsive

Hope this goes some way to fill the void of a Vista clean install guide for the TZ. Feedback's welcome. Cheers...

 

Great job,

I will use this guide as soon as I get the Montevina TZ. Hope soon.

 

This looks very useful, thanks! I'm not sure I'd bother with all of the defrags though - probably just do it at the end - but I'm sure a clean install must really help.

I'm still undecided whether I'll bother downgrading (to XP) or just do a clean Vista install when I eventually get a TZ (hopefully a Montevina one, like exetlaios is also waiting for!). I have some apps that need XP (e.g. the FairUse4WM utility for unDRMing any Windows Media files I have a license for), but in theory I could just use Virtual PC 2007 or VMware to create a XP virtual machine just for that.

I suppose in the end it'll depend how sluggish Vista feels and whether I can get on with it...