VAIO Type Z PCG-Z90S Japanese to English Conversion

Hi Everyone!

I'm in need of desperate help and was wondering if you experienced people here are able to give me some tips. I know its wrong to ask for help on a golden platter but I dont want to ruin my expensive laptop.

Overview:

I went to Japan for a holiday and made myself a customed picked Vaio Type Z officially from the Sony Style Japan Store. Its a standard 2.53ghz, blu-ray, 200gb, 256mb vid, 4gig ram version laptop.

Now when I boot it up, I'm not sure on how to get to the BIOS as everything is in japanese. All I see are some options you can choose via the arrow keys and even managed to enter recovery or safe mode by the looks of it.

Goal:

All I want to really do is install an English Version Operating system on this unit. Im assuming I can then use the official english drivers from the Vaio Type Z software drivers from the USA sony website.

I have a few option in mind.
1)Throw the Win Vista Eng DVD in and install over everything.
2)Open the laptop and replace original hdd with new 2.5" sata hdd and install eng windows.
3)Discovery how to find the BIOS and install Eng Windows via boot from CD.

What am I best to do? Please help! Thanks everyone.

 

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Please anyone with any suggestions or tips? any input would be great.

 

try with common keys like

F2
SUPR
F10
CTRL F10

during vaio logo screen or so.

this are my suggestions.

i want to ask you something, when you talk about sony style japan store youre talking online one?? or phyiscally??

I want to do the same... Customize Z with Bluray and SSD, here in europe this options are not available....

 

I highly doubt you can switch the Bios language. Probably you have to live with that. I wouldn't try to install the US or EU Bios. If the hardware has minor differences you could trash the machine.
Of course you can install an English or international Windows but you have to buy a fresh copy for that. You cannot update a Japanese Windows to English. The Bios has nothing to do with the Windows language either.

 

Thanks for the input guys!

I'll leave the BIOS as is just incase. The problem is that it doesnt really have a BIOS or I just dont know how to get into it. Traditionally the BIOS is a blue screen with 2 column of yellow options. As this is Sony branded they had to make it different so when you press F1 it brings you to a pickable menus to choose from which looks nothing like a BIOS. Guess I need to ask a jap person to see what it really means. I just assumed it was as easy as set to boot from dvdrom and install Windows but getting there is unknown at this time.

nethawk - I went to the actual store in Osaka and asked the Sales girl to order the one I wanted where I chose the specs via the website. It arrived at the store like a week later and I just paid and picked it out.

However, from my experiences its highly better to just wait for it to come to your country and buy it as prolly currency conversion and shipping and stuff will be a waste let alone the notebook being in Japanese.

If I had another chance I would wait for it to come here and then buy it.

 

Did you asked the girl in the shop to switch the Bios to English?
What about ordering the Notebook with an US Windows and keyboard? Isn't that possible?

 

The 10 girls working at Sony Style Osaka (which was heaps for such a small shop) only 1-2 girls new english and even then was really bad at it. But at least they could speak eng at all lol.

I ordered the laptop with full english keyboard but she wasnt technical enough to play around with the BIOS and I wouldnt of thought she could translate the computer jargon anyways.

All the Jap only models aka Owner Made Vaio Z are japanese OS. I did hear a rumour in this forum that if you get like Windows Vista Ultimate or something you can actually select which language you would like to use but wish I knew earlier as it is too late now.

Again thanks for all the input guys. Every little bit helps. Cheers.

 

I saw this and thought I might let you know that the BIOS on the Japanese model can indeed by switched to English. I can read both languages (English being the native one) and switched it to English immediately. Just look for the section in the BIOS that says　日本語, and switch that. I can't remember the exact procedure, but it can be done, so don't give up. You probably don't have to mess with the BIOS though.

Also, I run Vista Ultimate so I can easily switch the interface between Japanese and English. You can only do this with Ultimate (and Enterprise, as far as I know).

 

Did you actually tried it? I would be curious, if it's really working how it should without any problems? Switching between Japanese and English anytime easily...

 

wow..japanese girls selling vaio's..that must be heaven...lol

 

I switch the language often. Here's the dialog box:

 

Thanks!! +rep That's great news, as I heard the experiences just from one person yet and he said it broke his system....but if it's really working as you're saying it's great, because I want to use both versions...

 

Hi Guys,

As feedback I would like to thank all for your gracious input in this topic.

For all those who have a New Vaio Z Japanese or whatever version, It is confirmed that a full fresh install can be performed.

As reference I was able to swap over the HDD to a patriot SSD and format it with Vista Ultimate x64. With help here and there esp this forum I was able to Install Windows and all drivers/Sony utlities. (I hate Sony model Lock) Everything on the Z is now in English with all features working including eject Speed/Stamia etc which is awesome. Best thing is that I can put back the old factory HDD if I ever need to take it to warranty

Only thing I didnt find is that Z apparently uses ALPS touchpad. I was unable to locate the software to this so whoever has it can you please post it if you can. I saw the touchpad software on the factory jap hdd but not able to find the USA version. Im hoping after installing the touchpad software there is a up/down screen feature.

Anyways whoever needs help in this matter with the Vaio Z feel free to search this forum or leave a msg in this thread and i'll help out if I can.

Cheers.

 

Hi,

I have just got a Vaio Owner Made VGN-Z90S from Japan Sonystyle.

SONY: VGN-Z90S
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 (Japaneese)
Processor: T9600 2.8 Ghz
RAM: 4GB DDR 3
HDD: 320 GB @7200 rpm
NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS GPU @ 256 MB

Now I want to install one English OS (XP/Vista)

Please let me know which one will support and from where I will get it? Any suggestion greatly appreciated.

Thanks & regards,
Suhan

 

Grats on getting one of the hottest notebooks on the planet.

Now the conversion is as easy as taking candy from a baby so i'll be very fast. You'll know what I mean when you read it.

1) I swapped out my original hdd with ssd but this will void the warranty but leaves the default HDD as is. You can I assume install windows over the original hdd. Grab a copy of Windows and Install. I did x64 Vista so yea.

2) After install, you will get standard Windows startup. All nice and clean.

3) Obtained x64 drivers from http://www.vaio-link.com/os/vista/64bit/. Go to Device manager and install all the relevant drivers. Just download all the Z90 related drivers.

4) Search for a post on this forum giving you access to Sony utilities and files. It will also instruct when to install each program as you will need to do in a specific order ensure the F keys, stamina/speed, eject keys work.

5) I havent tested blutooth as im too lazy and i cant find drivers for x64 alps touchpad. Everything else works perfectly. If you dont install x64 you can download x86 sony drivers and extract it using 'universal extractor' as they are model locked. Alternatively you can search the forum as some nice person here must have posted it for your ease.

 

wow where do you guys get the money to purchase such expensive laptop configs?

 

Thanks Pracola. I will try to get a new Windows Vista. By the way touchpad and bluetooth will work or not?

 

I have tried with Windows XP but it did not worked showing "bluescreen" at the time of windows starting at initial installation. Will try with Vista

 

Well im actually pretty poor due to economy crisis lost alot of money on my japan trip. Oh well nothing can be done. I think my laptop config is pretty avg, there are heaps of crazy mofos here with 256ssd raid models and/or owning the 128ssd raid one as well.
Yea im not sure with winxp but lots of people managed to get it working. Maybe someone with winxp can help.

The touchpad works but without the software u are unable to use the scrolling feature on the touchpad. With bluetooth im pretty sure it works but i havent used it once so I cannot confirm.

 

What ever possessed you to buy a computer all the way from Japan? You couldn't get the same thing locally?

Anyway, have you tried the drivers from esupport.sony.com?

 

By the way...how did you overcome the Sony model lock?