The Definitive Guide To Downgrade Tz To Xpp

I have been reading the forums with people asking how to downgrade the TZ to XP. After many trials and error I have a completely fully functional TZ150N/B working with XP. If you follow the steps you should be getting XP up and running on the TZ.

First you need to make the recovery burn the recovery cds when you first get your laptop if you dont you will later regret it.

Now you need to set up your windows XP I chose to delete the hidden partition and made two partiions of C:/ which I will be installing my OS on 30GB and D:/ which will be my data. I chose to do a quick format you can do the normal one but it would take forever.

We will skip the install process to where you first get XP first started the install process is pretty self explanatory.

First this is an optional step by if you chose to upgrade the bios like I did you I don't know what the benefits are but I chose to install it anyway. There have been many horror stories about people bricking their laptops from flashing the BIOS so do this as your own risk I am not responsilbe for any damage if something goes wrong make sure you are not on battery power and have your laptop plugged in.

BIOS LINK
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/BIOS

First you need to install the Intel Chipset Drivers you can download and install the from either Sony site or the newest drivers from intel

SONY CHIPSET
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3143&os_id=7


Second Realtek Audio Drivers
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3134&os_id=7

Third Modem Drivers
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3120&os_id=7

Fourth Toshiba Bluetooth Drivers
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/DRIVERS/5_BLUETOOTH_DRIVER.ZIP

You can also install the widcomm bluetooth stack but for some reason I cant get it to work.
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3118&os_id=7

Fifth Intel Graphic Drivers
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3141&os_id=7

Sixth Intel Wireless Drivers YOU MUST INTALL WINDOWS PROWIRELESS NOT JUST THE DRIVERS!! you need to install prowireless or the wireless switcher utility will not work
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3140&os_id=7

Seventh Ethernet Drivers
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3138&os_id=7

Eighth Memory Stick
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3137&os_id=7

Ninth SD Card Reader
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3132&os_id=7

Tenth Alps Touchpad
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3116&os_id=7

11. Camera Driver
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3119&os_id=7

12. Sony Notebook Control Driver
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3129&os_id=7

13. Sony PI Driver
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3128&os_id=7

14. Sony Image Filter
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3122&os_id=7

15. Finger Print Reader Driver
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3127&os_id=7

16. TMP Driver
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3123&os_id=7

After all the Drivers are installed you should have no question marks in your Device Manager



Now you have to install the Sony Apps you need to install them in this step by step or the FN keys will not work nor the wireless switcher utility

1. Sony Shared Library
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3131&os_id=7

Sony Video Shared Library
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3130&os_id=7

2. Sony Utilities when you install this it install vaio event services,wireless switcher, optical driver on/off switcher
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3136&os_id=7

3. Sony Setting utility
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/APPLICATIONS/3_SETTING_UTILITY.ZIP

4. Vaio Control Center Optional
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/TZ1-TZ2/APPLICATIONS/4_VAIO_CONTROL_CENTER.ZIP

5. Battery Checker Optional I didnot install it it just check to see if you have a OEM sony battery if you dont it will not recognize a generic battery from ebay.

6. Battery Care Function Optional I chose to install this because its really neat that it prolongs your the life of your battery.

7.Vaio HDD Protector
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3121&os_id=7

8. Vaio Power Management
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3126&os_id=7

AV Mode
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3144&os_id=7

AV Button Lancher
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3117&os_id=7

Protector Suite QL
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3135&os_id=7

If you follow these steps you should get Windows XP up and running on your beautiful TZ

ENJOY

 

Dany:

This is incredible!!! Fantastic job, this will help a lot of people downgrade to XP the right way! Kudos!

 

np just saw soo manu people having problems with their installs

 

looks so scary with all em links. i hate that im not buying direct from P1.
bUt thanks so much. when i get my tz i will look to this thread with open arms.

 

its actually fairly simple i got a virus on my tz and had to reformat it and did the install in like a couple of hours.

 

Awsome... I think this can pass as a guide to order of installation for XP on SZ6xx users.

BTW DannyBui81, how did you get your window to be black colored?

 

its a hidden windows xp theme called noir google windows xp noir theme and your whole taks bar and windows are a koo black color

 

has anyone been successful using my guide?

 

Newb questions here: did you use the Vista backup app to make the recovery disk? If so, can one later reinstall Vista from the disks without a Vista key?
I've been recommended to use Image for Windows by Terabyte Unltd and am wondering whether I should bother.

... and thanks for putting this guide together.

 

You can recover the entire computer to factory state, but you must enter the Vista key located on the bottom sticker.

 

Hey, tried to follow your order to install.

got an error when installing blue-tooth.

After instal of wireless, it says that the netcard was turned off, and i cant turn it on (switch is on).

But, ok , i tried to make the driver install based on a XP image i made erlier this week, so to be sure om not ****... up cause and old image, i try again sometimes in the weekend, with a fresh XP install.

But the thing about the netcard is the same problem i have experied earlier, and when i have tried ealier, i have made the install with the intel software as you described.

I have also ordered both the XP and Vista from portable one.

// Kim

 

Hey Guys,
I was wondering what drivers you use for the videocard (which are most up-to-date?)? I have a set to choose from; Windows Update, the one posted on this thread (945), the one from the FTP at Sony's site (945GM).
I notice that after I connected my new LCD panel, whenever I move the mouse, I get a white circle (as if the screen is refreshing) around the cursor about an inch in diameter.
I have tried different drivers, but to no avail. Anyone else see this problem? Also, Areo turns off when driving the 22" LG at its native resolution (1680x1050)
Like to hear your thoughts...

 

i am using the most up to date drivers from intel at the moment. And kim I dunno why its not recognizing your wireless. So when you install intel prowireless it says it doent recognize your wireless?

 

No, it install the driver, but when its installed, the netcard (radio) is swtiched off, and it will not be turned on.

// Kim

 

I have downgraded my tz150n to Windows XP. So far most
things seem OK. However when I go to turn off, the standy
option is greyed out. Also in the power management section
there is no hibernate tab, and the options to standby or hibernate
are not present anywhere in the Advanced > Power Buttons
tab of Power Options

Can anyone confirm if the HIbernate and/or standby works on
XP on the tz150n? I have installed the Sony XP download for
this and tried uninstalling once, and reinstalling but still no
option to standby or hibernate.

Greatly appreciate any comments.

rws

 

mine works

 

i have hibernation tab and i have standby

 

sounds like you might have had a problem with the windows install itself and not the drivers

 

hey dany quick question for you. If i install a fresh copy of windows vista ultimate, can I use all the drivers and apps you listed as well? In other words, are the drivers and apps compatible with vista?

 

i realize that that was a pretty stupid question, seeing as how the computer was made for windows vista, and therefore all the drivers for the components should be for vista, but I just wanted to make sure that the drivers and apps u provided links for are not ones that are specifically for xp. So...are they compatible?

 

no those are just xp drivers the drivers for vista are totally diffrent and most be downloaded again they are not capatable

 

ok that's what I thought, do you know where I can get the vista drivers?

 

go to the same site and under the os drop down box pick vista

 

Thanks DanyBui regarding windows power management. Problem I think
was with vga driver which had ? in . This is now changed this to mobile
intel 945 express chipset and standby is available. However my
screen resolution is stuck at 1024x768.
Also the blue FN key F7 (LCD/Monitor) seems not to work and unable to
output to external monitor (the only option when FN F7 is "LCD only".

Any ideas welcome on how to try and fix this latest one....

thanks.

 

go to device manager and uninstall one of the display drivers restart and it should work I think

 

You need to make a little change to display options to see all the resolutions:

Goto display properties
Click Settings
Advanced
Hit the Monitor Tab
The last box on that page uncheck Hide modes that this monitor cannot display.

Done all the resolutions should be there now.

 

Hi all,

I have followed the exact same process for downgrading to XP. However, there is a problem with the graphics driver. When I install the graphics driver I get a small screen resoltuion (and the standby option enabled). This is clearly not right. When I unistall the graphics driver the screen resoltuion is fine but the standby option is not available and in the device manager next to the Video Controller (VGA Compatible) there is a questionmark. As I understand the driver is missing. I have also tried to install the driver provided in Sony's website but the same problem occurs (smaller screen resolution + with stand by). Am I doing something wrong?

I would like the the full resolution 1366x768 and the stand by mode to available.

Anyones help will be very much appreciated

Regards

rws

 

Hi,

did you install the driver provided in this forum http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ150NB&upd_id=3141&os_id=7
???

Thanks

Regards

rws

 

nah i used the newest intel drivers

 

To DanyBui81 & everyone out there, thanks for all the constructive advice and guidelines. I am almost done with the downgrade.

Mine is a TZ2 system, I think model no is different in all the various regions. Specs are Core2duo 1.06Ghz, 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD, DVDRW.

I followed almost all of DanyBui81's guidelines. Used some files from the FTP site, and some from the links provided to Sony US site.

No exclamation mark in the device manager. Bluetooth driver used is Widcom (avail in broadcom website). In device manager, if you see BCM2046, you'll need Widcom, just google it and you should be able to find the correct driver.

I did have the shut down issue, but not sure what it is due too. Camera drivers are correct. Will try to iron out later.

Does anyone know what Sony Image Filter, Sony NC, Sony PI does?

As for applications, installed all successfully.

Tested:
Bluetooth - OK.

I had to re-install the drivers after reboot. Also I think DL was from Sony US website, not Broadcom. Able to detect my mobile phone.

AV mode - OK.

I have installed Instant Mode, this is needed for the AV mode button to work. Tested it out and works fine.

FN keys - OK.

Camera - OK.

Had to uninstall and re-install the ones from Sony US site. 1st time round, suffered BSOD. Now in Device Manager, can see Sony Visual Comm Camera VGP-VCC7. Also the Camera Utility works.

Mic - not working.

Not big issue, will try to figure out later.

DVD switcher - OK.

Wireless Switcher - OK.

VAIO control center - OK.

Power modes - OK.

Hibernation & Standby present. However still hanging at the splash screen on shut down.

After installing all the applications, and rebooting, I get an error message that AML is not working and need to close, also asked to contact Microsoft. Any idea which app is that?

 

i also had the shutdown problem using xp on tz90 with 802.11N card. If you get it fixed please let us know!

 

well the reason for my standby problems were the camera driver but after i downloaded from sony site no more hibernation problems

 

I used the same one from the site too, and I still had the issue. I am back on Vista now, but I really would love XP to work properly

 

I have XP, TZ91, N wifi and no problem with shut down or hibernation with webcam disabled... I think ubercool has the same problem - when wifi enabled, he cant switch off his lappy.. Check his thread about TZ198RC

 

weird i dunno mine works fine

 

Alright, I have a fully working tz90 on XP now. I have all the drivers installed and it shutdown/sleeps with no issues. I used the camera driver from sony support for the TZ-190N

 

Hey guys, my shutdown problems were solved.... must have been the camera driver that i re-installed.

I still have AML-exe error and inform microsoft error message box at every startup. It is AVmode problem. When ever I launch AV mode, it crashes.

However, Instant mode seems to work fine, I can browse my pictures, not tested with a DVD yet.

 

told yall its the camera driver download it from the sony website

 

I disabled the camera driver first but then thought it was the Wi-Fi driver. I will download the camera driver and see if that solves my problem.

 

i figured out how to fix this.. uninstall the monitor driver, it should be 1024x768, you need to click UPDATE driver, then select "install from a specific location", then click next, next select "dont choose. i will select driver to install".. click next, select "plug and play monitor" driver and ok.. it will install it.

reboot the computer, go to your resolution settings of the card, it should now support 1366x768 and you're good to go. took me 2 weeks to figure this out after arguing with intel, sony and looking all over..

go figure, monitoring driver was the issue, not the video card.

joe

 

Hi there,

I am brand new on this forum and I have found it really helpful and thanks to it I sucessfully downgraded my TZ to WinXp. Everything is working fine but I have a strange problem....
Even if my webcam seems to be installed and in the device manager is absolutely fine when I try to use it directly or through another program (i.e. Vaio Camera Capture Utility) it says that there is not such device to be used!!!!
Any suggestion??

 

what model are you using also try unistalling it and reinstalling the driver there is also a update to the vaio camera capture utility make sure you update it after you reinstall the drivers

 

well done danybui. i have a question: is there any wwan support yet on an xp install? i have a tz170 and wouldn't want to lose that feature..

 

yah i have wwan support just download the drivers and the new smartwi they just recently release for xp on the sony support website

 

Before downgrading to XP, you should test your recovery VISTA DVD. On my SZ7 there was a non-working recovery partition.

At this moment I am trying to put my OLD XP with 100 GB of installed programs to move to my new SZ7. If It works, I'll post it here. It's a 100 € software, which I'm trying right now.

 

Ive got a TZ 170N/N and installed all the device drivers 1~16 in order, of course I selected the drivers from the 170 page instead of the 150 page but I have a problem with video. Under other deives it has a ? with Video Controller and under display adapters i have a ! with Video Controller (VGA Compatible). I installed the http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VGNTZ170NN&upd_id=3055&os_id=7 but it still wont work. Any ideas???

 

is this the smartwi you mentioned for xp? and would this be the necessary wwan driver?

 

no theres a wwan driver by nortel or something like that im on my desktop right now so i couldnt really tell you smartwi accesses the sprint evdo

 

yah thats the right driver in your link ninjavshippo

 

Fixed the video issue. I saw in an other thread to use uniextract to extract the video driver to a folder, then I pointed xp's driver wizard to that folder. Now im flyin' in xp. I dont think the tz should have ever had vista on it to begin with. Now its like having a totally different machine!