VAIO FW Clean Windows 7 Final Release x64 Install Mini-Guide

VAIO FW Windows 7 Final Release x64
Clean Install Mini-Guide

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Hi Guys!, has been a while since my last update.

OK, I got Windows 7 Home Premium x64 Final with 90% Off Thanks to Microsoft Student discounts! .

Funny thing: Sony says that my FW doesn't have any support or drivers compatibility for Windows 7: http://twitpic.com/mhmw9 . Sony solution? : buy a NEW VAIO LAPTOP! LOL! . As we all know that is FALSE.

OK this is my VGN-FW160FE Hardware:
Chipset PM45
VidCard ATI HD 3470
CPU: Centrino 2 C2D P8400 2.26 3MB Cache L2
RAM: 3GB (4GB soon, thats why I bought the x64 version)
Wireless: WiFi Link 5100 AGN / Bluetooth: Broadcom
Modem: conexant
bla, bla, bla - yara, yara, yara.

Drivers:
I use the VGN-FW590 Windows 7 Home Premium x64 drivers; because it uses the same chipset (PM45) if you FW has intel graphics integrated go for the GM45 driver.

Windows 7 x64 certificated Drivers, FnKeys and Basic VAIO apps for VAIO FW Series, used in this guide:
Drivers Download Here:


Part 1
Part 2​

Before begining: I extract all drivers using Uniextract. Why?, because some of the installers complains about the FW Model. So if you extract the installers you can skip this. In addition I prefer install only a few things from VAIO utilites, I hate VAIO Media, but if you liked you need install ALL VAIO Components in order to have AV Mode button funtionality... meh The KMPlayer ROCKS!.

Installation Order. It's exactly the same than my last guide. Actually I'm now sure that this order works for others VAIO models and enables the Fn Keys.

1. Download lastest Windows Updates
2. Install Sony Shared Library from the Notebook Utilities Installer.
3. SUS Setting Utilty Series from the Notebook Utilities Installer.
4. VCC Vaio Control Center from the Notebook Utilities Installer.
5. BC Battery Care (optional) from the Notebook Utilities Installer.
6. Chipset Intel Driver.
7. HardDisk Update.
8. Video: ATI Driver or Intel.
9. Realtek Audio HD - Sound Card Driver.
10. Realtek Audio HDMI for Ati - Driver.
11. Intel Wireless LAN driver, from Intel site or Sony.
12. Modem driver.
13. Bluetooth Broadcom driver.
14. Touch Pad Synaptics driver for VAIO.
15. Memory Stick Driver. Is the “Base System Device” in the Unknown Device section, do [manual] install.
16. Memory SD host driver. go to devmgmt.msc and update the driver manually using the extracted installer.
17. ATTENTION: Go to Power Options in Control Panel, check if the brightness control slide is working OK.

Now, at this point you have:

• Multimedia Audio controls (Vol +/-, Mute, etc) working OK through Windows Native device handler, (no process needed)
• Brightness Control working OK, using the brightness control slide in Power Options.

You can leave it here, and don’t install VAIO Event Service saving about 15MB of Memory, that this process use. BUT if you want the Fn Key functionality Mute, Vol+/- and Brightness +/- , etc, do the following:
18. Install VES2 (VAIO Event Service) from the Notebook Utilities Installer.
19. Install Sony Firmware extensión Parser running the Installer.
20. Install VPM (VAIO Power Manager) from the Notebook Utilities Installer.
21. Install SmartWi it's very useful to manage(enable/disable) the wireless devices: WiFi, Bluetooth.
22. get Acronis True Image Home 2009 and made a Backup, so the next time you don’t need to do this all over again. Only takes about 4 min to create the backup file, and about 3.8GB, recovery from backup takes only a few minutes!.

THAT's ALL FOLKS!

I hope it works for you too.

Greetings!

-Greg.

P.S.
About AV Mode:
Some of you are asking for the AV Mode Button, In order to get it work, you need install this at the end:

1. VAIO® Content Components
2. VAIO® Original Function Settings Software
3. VAIO® Entertainment Platform Software
4. VAIO® Media Plus Components

 

I have tx5mn/w and i cant get VPM work with it plus the FN keys and Eject button

Any suggestions ?

 

What doesn't work with VPM?
Doesn't install?
Installs but won't load?
Loads but won't save settings?
Save's settings but they don't take affect?

What have you tried to get the Fuction buttons to work?
Have you installed any utils?
What versions?

 

Nice effort and I like the video idea.​

 

Hey
I installed VPM 2.0.00.11240 and i got all the drivers from here http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/specifications/index.aspx?m=VGN-TX5MN/W&l=en_GB

and i have the SAME problem that described here http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=746282

and when i try to install the SZ7 version of VPM i get an error message regarding model incompatibility

Thanks

 

Firstly, mcgregor's gone through a lot of trouble to write a guide for the FW and you're asking some completely unreleated questions about a TX. Did you just pick the first active thread and think "this will do"?

Secondly, I don't want to go to another forum to read about some other user's problem. I want you to tell us what YOUR issue is or at the very least answer my questions above.

You can't be bothered to make your own thread, post in a correct thread, describe your own issue or answer any questions. I don't even own a TX and I'm trying.

What did you think would happen? The only error is you.

 

What is the problem with u ?

no body did ask u to solve my problem ,,, i thought mcgregor would help because he have a good experience to get Sony stuff work with win7 like the fn keys and VPM

please dont try to be a smart *** i know that i shouldn't try SZ7 version of VPM but i read that i can get the installer to install without checking my model if i unextract the exe's

and u can go to the link and read the problem because that user describe it in the best possible way "plus English is not my native so i wont be able to describe it" instead of writing all this response "Secondly, I don't want to go to another forum to read about some other user's problem. I want you to tell us what YOUR issue is or at the very least answer my questions above."

and i dont want to make a new thread for those questions


and oh for lazy people "when I try to change the settings (Sony Power Management adds a tab in advanced power options), I get a "Shell Common Dll has stopped working" problem."


PS: the Utils are 7.0.00.11210

 

and oh sorry forget to mention that mcgregor said he installed win7 successfully on Vaio TX in his old thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=355715

Thats why am asking him

 

easy guys don't get upset.

Yes coolhamoood well I refered to the install order.

However TX is a lot tricky. But Fn Keys and VPM works.

In a clean install try this, Install Sony Shared Library for XP, then:

1. You have to install the XP Notebook Utilites for VAIO... yeah I know sounds weird.
2. Install the XP Updates like Event Service for your TX.
3. Then Install the Notebook Utilites for Vista Business, see those aren't complete installers or drivers, those are Updates From XP to Vista. Yeah I know its weird but it works. Remember 7 its a inherited OS ;-)

Don't use a differents apps from others models... others models are build with entire different motherboards.

Good Luck.

 

can i get the fn buttons working without sfep?

 

Nop, as far I know Sony Firmware Extension Parser its the software driver for hardware chip controller that manages some of the Keys.

Actually I did the Windows XP SP3 install in my FW, but without the SEFP (driver unavailable for XP) brightness, zoom, avmode and display device keys didn't work and I couldn't find it in other FW models.

 

Hello MCGREGOR nice guide!!! Thank you for it !! With it I was able to install Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on my Sony Vaio VGN FW21M notebook !! But I still need 1.VAIO® Content Components and 3.VAIO® Entertainment Platform Software for me to install the AV MODE KEY.. but from sony support I can't get them.. Can you uploade them please .... Best regards!!!

 

Hi, I managed to get the AV Mode button working on FW31M.

I went on the US support site for FW300 model and downloaded:

1. Original Function Setting Software
2. Entertainment Platform
3. Vaio Media Plus upgrade for Windows 7
4. Media Plus Extension

And then the AV Mode button worked, and launched Media Plus.

All I need now is WinDVD BD for Vaio again, but I can't find one that works anywhere.

 

go to Sony support and download those from the VGN-FW590 Model, those are generic for Windows 7 x64 install.

Martin987, can I suggest: The KMPlayer is way... waaaaaaaaay better than Crappy WinDVD media software.

 

When I go to Sony Support for Sony Vaio VGN-FW590 I can download everything exept this 2 : 1.VAIO® Content Components and 3.VAIO® Entertainment Platform Software. Where can I get them?? Please if you have them on your notebook please put them on rapidshare so I can download them preaty please ...

 

I have the same problem, says no such file or directory when I click download.

 

Hi,

Thanks for posting this information. A much bigger help than Sony's site. My question is this: I have the FW290J, and was wondering if these drivers would work for my model as well? I'm assuming so, since you did a clean install on a lower-numbered model, but I'd like to be sure. Here are the specs that are listed on my order page (unnecessary stuff omitted) -

VGN-FW290(2411)
WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n) with integrated Bluetooth® technology
ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3650 with 512MB vRAM
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40GHz)
DVD±R DL / DVD±RW / DVD-RAM Drive
Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit
4 GB DDR2-SDRAM (DDR2-800, 2GBx2)

Much like others, I'm trying to (mainly) restore functionality to my buttons on top. Also, would this help restore the functions in my touchpad? (scrolling along the side and bottom of the touchpad)

Thank you in advance for any answers you can provide.

Matt

 

Well I can do that, but you must be patient because my upload speed its very crappy = 25KBs.

Hi Matt

Sure you can do it without worries

I used to be a support technician, (now I'm an Engineer) so I have experience and know that all this models shares basically the same motherboard (except for the graphics and SATA controllers).

However, I recommend to use the driver for VideoCard provided thorugh Windows Update.

About the Touchpad, sure you get all the Original functions of this device scroll up-down, programable/customizable functions, etc. The correct TouchPad driver its included in the package I provied.

 

The only thing I still need is VAIO® Entertainment Platform Software because the VAIO® Content Components can be downloaded now from sony website. But I talked to support and said that for VAIO® Entertainment Platform Software it will take some time to work the download. So if you put only the VAIO® Entertainment Platform Software it will be perfect.

 

i have the same model than you.

y creo que hablas español...

¿vienen los drivers del Bluray Disc?

¿Los programas que venían incluídos como el Roxio, el Intervideo, etc. también funcionan?

¿sí quiero hacer una instalación limpia pero con Windows 7 Pro de 64 es igual?

gracias

 

Hey Everyone,

I live in Canada and bought a VGN-FW190C about a year ago. I am studying to be a Mechanical Engineer, and thus can receive the student discount (I can choose Professional 32/64bit or Home Premium32/64bit). I would like to upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit, to Windows 7 Professional 64bit. Will your guide work with my computer (whose hardware is listed below)?

I hope I am posting in the right place, and if I'm not, please direct me .

My Hardware is as follows:

Intel PM45 Chipset
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8600 @ 2.40GHz
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series
Memory: 3GB RAM
Wireless: Intel Wireless WiFi Link 5100
Network Adapater: Marvell Yukon 88E8055 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Modem: HDAUDIO Soft V92 Data Fax modem with SmartCP
Blu Ray ROM: Mats_hita BD-CMB UJ-120 USB Device
HDD: Hitachi HTS 722020K9SA00 200GB

Thanks in advance,

RawleR

 

Hola

No necesitas drivers para el Bluray Disc, en realidad el driver del chipset es el que configura todo.

Si estos programas son compatibles con Windows 7 x64 deben de funcionar. Francamente la idea es limpiar la VAIO de basura, yo no los instalé creo que hay opciones mucho mejores más ligeras como ImgBurn y The KMPlayer.

Sí es igual, de hecho, acabo de instalar Windows 7 Professional en mi FW.

Saludos!.

RawleR, sure as I tell LuisFuentes, I recently install Windows 7 Professional x64. This guide applies to all versions of Windows 7 x64, (drivers I provided works on Windows 7 Professinal and Ultimate). In addition, we have exactly the same hardware so go for it.

Greetings.

 

thank you very much!

 

Thank you very much. All my functionality has been restored, with the exception of the AV Mode key (which I'm not even sure what it does and, therefore, not sure if I even need it). A few things didn't install correctly, saying I could only install it on Vista (I think it was the SUS and some other stuff... maybe related to AV Mode).

Again, thanks a lot. And if anyone knows what AV Mode does or how I use it, please feel free to post it. (=

 

Hey Again,

Many thanks to you McGregor, my gratitude will flow from the precedent that your guide works on my model FW190C.

I noticed that you installed synaptics instead of ALPS for your 'pointing device' hardware. I currently have ALPS installed, does a changeover from ALPS to synaptic work?

Also, is anyone thinking of patching their BIOS to enable intel VT and Windows 7 'XP mode'?

RawleR

 

Hey Greg,
I have a SONY VAIO FW290 and I just installed Windows 7 64 Bit. Like everyone else, I don't have the S1 and FN keys working. I searched a bunch of sites and was lucky enough to find your instructions. I have a couple of questions that I hope you don't mind answering.

1.) Do the drivers that you provided also work for my laptop? I know that we both of the FW but I have a slightly different model number.

2.) I tried downloading the drivers off of the SONY website, does this matter? I'm scared that, since I already downloaded a bunch of drivers off the SONY site, and I most likely installed them in the wrong order, will installing the drivers that you provided override the drivers that I already installed?

3.) I know you listed the order in which I should install the drivers you provided, do I do a reboot or a restart with each driver install or do I just install all 18 to 20 drivers at once and then do just one reboot/restart?

4.) Thanks so much for your time and advice! I appreciate it.​

 

thanks...for all the help..my FW378 jb is successfully updated and all keys are working

 

i have installed the windows like in your tutorial .. i did every single pass. except .. i have 2 unknown device in my device manager. one is base system device( is the memory stick reader from sony , because i can t read the memory gate cards) and another is an unknown device.. and since i installed windows 7 i can t play blue ray .. it doesn reads it and it doesn t see it in my computer..cds dvds are working fine.. i tried all the programs in the world .. cyberlink arsoft win dvd .. all .. nothing worked.. i ll be glad if i can solve at least the memory stick error .. thanks

 

hi

I plan to follow your guide for my fw31zj. my questions are:

If i do a clean install as per your guide, will the recovery partition be erased? (i.e. should something go wrong in the future can i restore original factory setting using vaio recovery)

thank you for your help.

 

Clean install doesn't directly imply anything happens to partitions.

When you install Win7, you choose "custom", and then you get to list all partitions, simply leave the recovery partition alone (it is labeled as such, easy to see), and create a new partition of your choice (usually the rest of the hard drive). Win7 will also probably create a small 100MB partition for boot loader etc.

So you should be able to recover to your factory setup any time.

 

Btw, I also used this guide up to the optional steps for the special buttons on the laptop, etc. (My model is FW31M)

BUT

Battery Care gave me trouble(!) Once it got installed it started yapping about the battery being broken or not an original Sony battery, and kept wanting to suspend after 2mins, so the only way to run the laptop was straight from mains. I suspected it was BS since it started almost exactly after BC got installed.

I couldn't find any info about this on net (there was some for an older version of BC? imbmgr.exe or some such, but I found nothing like that on my comp), so after a while I decided to reinstall Win7 (it only takes about 20 mins anyway).

Just a heads up for some of you other guys out there.
If anyone knows how to resolve (even if just to diable it), would be good to post here.

PS. Thanks a ton for the guide, the machine feels so much better already than when running Vista Home Premium. If nothing else it doesnt swap constantly to the sluggish 4200rpm HD in the machine, and that's already a huge improvement!

 

Excellent guide Mcgregor.
I tried it at my new VGN-FW51MF/H. I formated it once and installed the Windows 7, and as a result i couldn't use fn keys or anything relevant.
Thank god that Sony has the new drivers as the suport site, so downloading the new ones and following your guide helped a lot (all working perfectly now).
BTW for all W7 users. Keep in mind that Sony Firmware extensión Parser (SFEP) is an Optional Windows update, so do not install it until you reach at that point.

Thanks again for the help McGregor!

 

Hi, everyone!
First of all many thanks to Mcgregor, that a wonderful review! very helpful, unfortunately I'm still having a very annoying problem with the fn keys. as a matter of fact, I have them working partially, the media buttons (S1 and the AV) refuse to work, as well as almost all the fn's, except for the mute. could you please kindly give advise me on this?
P.S. i did everything as in the instruction in precise.

 

I have the same problem as Dibazzol...

 

and what about the TX series? where is the drivers for them ?for windows seven of course.

 

could you upload the drivers again please? the pakages have been removed

thanks again

 

Hi there,

Thanks a lot guys for providing excellent guide. Although, I haven't done it but I have already purchased windows 7 and going to install in my VGN-FW31M this weekend.

I was just trying to download the drivers from the link mentioned by greg but raidshare have removed it.

Can you please be kind to put them back again so I can download it. In addition to that, I tried to watch video but it dint work, it is asking for permission to watch that so can you please send me an invitation to watch that?

Thanks a lot greg. You have really done a great job.

Cheers,
Mac

 

******Windows 7 x64 certificated Drivers, FnKeys and Basic VAIO apps for VAIO FW Series*****

Anyone know where to find these drivers, the link from the clean install guide is no longer valid.

Thanks.

 

Go to your model page on the Sony site. They'll list new ones specific for WIN 7, otherwise use the Vista ones (just make sure you pull from 64 bit Vista). For your functions keys to work you'll need these drivers from Sony and installed in this order:

-Sony Shared Library (Vista)
-Vaio Launcher
-Setting Utility Series
-Control Center
-Function Settings
-Notebook Control & Utilities
-Notebook Utilities

 

Thanks J&SinKTO but MacGregor seemed to have a different sequence and his list did not contain the Vaio Launcher, Function Settings, Notebook Controls & Utilities and Notebooks Utilities.

I'll try yours in order though I'm a bit confused why some drivers have to be manually installed.

 

Installed in the order you and Macgregor suggested. Only issue is with the Alps Touchpad that won't work with the Vista 64-bit driver.

 

Nice. Thanks for sharing the walkthrough. Too bad my Alps Touch Pad still won't work after the Vista 64-bit driver install.

 

Do you have SonicStage Mastering Studio Audio Filter for Windows 7 32 bit? I want this so bad for my VAIO.... Thanks..

 

Nice guide!!

I got an Sony Vaio VGN-FW11M and installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, everything seems to work except function keys (like S1, volume, brightness... etc) memory card drivers is missing also.

What other drivers and programs should i download? where to find the correct drivers/programs for my model? there are no for 64bit on sony support site for my model

Had been fun to get everything working like with my preinstalled vista

 

My FW11S runs Windows 7 64bit without a glitch. Everything, including fn keys, S1, vga, camera etc works fine.

 

Got all working finally! Just followed the guide. No problems at all.
Win7 runs better and smoother!

Downloaded and installed ATI mobility drivers from ATIs site for win7 64bit.

 

Hi All

I've no got everything working on 7 Ultimate on my FW31M except bluray playback.

Sony wont provide me with anything except the recovery disk which has windvd on - but they say it cant be installed stand alone - the whole laptop needs to be restored back to vista 32 bit. SO - no help there (unless anyone has the installer for the Viao Fw31M version of windvd).

I have brought both PowerDVD and WinDVD 2010 and while both play DVD no problems neither will play back BluRay - Power DVD goes into a 16 colour mode and WinDVD just starts the whole screen flashing.

Anybody have a solution to this ????

Many thanks

John

 

Hello, I installed lately Win7 Ultimate x64 on FW-390 but run into problem with Blue Screen crash. It seems related to ATi drivers hence two questions: how much the installation order of all drivers is important ? I did not follow the exact order given (was not aware some should be used) but almost everything seemed to work properly (even FN keys). Second, can I use ATI drivers from AMD site (their release notes for the newest version state that I should use those provided by Sony but frankly they are quite outdated: 2009) and I would prefer to use the newest one. My main concern is should I reinstall everything from scratch or some driver update/change will fix my problem and is it ok to use AMD drivers for Ati 3650 card ? Any help/advice on the matter is welcomed. Regards.

 

Hi! I love your guide so much! Thanks for posting one. My Vaio was driving me nuts because I couldnt get the AV Mode button to work, nor could I get the Brightness button. However, I just got done installing the Battery Care and a message pops up from ISB I think and it tells me that my battery is not properly connected (which it is) and wants me to enter Hibernation Mode. I did that and the message keeps on reoccuring. Now I might want to uninstall it but can't find it anywhere. Is there a fix for this or do I have to uninstall Battery Care? Oh and I got this from the Notebook Utilities pack for the FW590 Model. I have the FW245 Model. Thanks in advance!

 

Does anyone have valid links to the two ZIP downloads of the actual driver packages that were way back in the first post in this topic? At least the second half is no longer valid.