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    Vaio Z XP Downgrade - help with 2 missing drivers

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by jkwireless, Aug 31, 2008.

  1. jkwireless

    jkwireless Notebook Enthusiast

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    Greetings,

    I've just about gotten the (manual) XP downgrade completed on my Z570, but didn't seem to get either the Ethernet Controller Driver or (Wireless) Network Controller Driver installed, so I can't fire my computer up to the Internet.

    I haven't been able to locate one or the other of the two drivers. Does anybody have experience as to what XP driver I need for the Z570 Ethernet Controller and where I might find it? I thought it would have been with the chipset drivers, but I guess not. The wireless appears to require some additional updates (hotfix), so I thought the Ethernet would allow me to connect and then apply all the updates making the wireless driver an easier install. But instructions to get either going will get me over the hump.

    Thanks!
     
    jkwireless, Aug 31, 2008
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  2. Yeeze

    Yeeze Notebook Consultant

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    Yeeze, Aug 31, 2008
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  3. sugo

    sugo Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can anyone confirm that

    1. No HDMI in Windows XP
    2. Switching between Speed and Stamina modes requires a system reboot

    ?
    Thanks a lot.
     
    sugo, Aug 31, 2008
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  4. Yeeze

    Yeeze Notebook Consultant

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    Here is what the Asian downgrade guide states:
     
    Yeeze, Aug 31, 2008
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  5. jkwireless

    jkwireless Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for this, but didn't actually answer my specific question regarding Ethernet Controller drivers. Is that driver found in the Intel Chipset? I had already downloaded and extracted all of these drivers from the Asia site, but still don't seem to get Ethernet running.
     
    jkwireless, Aug 31, 2008
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  6. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    I used the downgrade disc and then downloaded drivers and utilities (and instructions) from www.vaio-link.com.

    If it helps, my ethernet adapter is listed in Device Manager as the Intel 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection. The wireless is Intel Wireless WiFi Link 5100. Perhaps try downloading a driver from Intel?
     
    InfyMcGirk, Aug 31, 2008
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  7. bogart

    bogart Notebook Evangelist

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    bogart, Aug 31, 2008
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  8. theEnigma

    theEnigma Newbie

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    I'm working on the downgrade as well. Unforunately, I can't seem to locate the SATA drivers that I need to let XP finish the install. I'm getting the infamous blue screen - "a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer..." error.

    I'm a rookie, so any help would be appreciated.
     
    theEnigma, Sep 7, 2008
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  9. stevod

    stevod Notebook Evangelist

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    The hotfixes are on the downgrade CD! With the instructions too.

    You do the XP install, then run the hotfixes from the same disc, and only then do you install the drivers you've downloaded, and finally the utilities.

    If you have a dock, you need to do a further ethernet driver with the Z in the dock, 'Marvell' OTTOMH.

    Mine had no problems.

    S
     
    stevod, Sep 8, 2008
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  10. colonels

    colonels Notebook Consultant

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    stevod

    can you confirm or deny the problems listed by Sony Asia with the XP downgrade on Z and certain things not working?

    such as HDMI
    speed stamina needs reboot
    Fn keys
    HDD shock protection
     
    colonels, Sep 8, 2008
    #10
  11. stevod

    stevod Notebook Evangelist

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    HDMI I haven't tried.

    Yes you need to reboot for stamina/speed.

    The Fn keys are for the Vista zoom, so n/a to XP anyway.

    There's an HDD protection driver in the UK XP pack.

    S
     
    stevod, Sep 9, 2008
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  12. nizee

    nizee Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't have the CD for XP-Downgrade from Sony, But i got from PortableOne Enterprise XP downgrade, made by Portable1. It does seem to work great on the Z.

    I got a docking for the Z and i missing the Ethernet controller driver on the docking. No, not the one on the Z, but the one on the docking driver. I was told it's from Marvell as the above post.

    Can someone post the driver for the Marvell ethernet, please?
    Thanks in advance.
     
    nizee, Sep 30, 2008
    #12
  13. nizee

    nizee Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nevermind.... found it already online and it work good on XP.
     
    nizee, Sep 30, 2008
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  14. m.olennick

    m.olennick Newbie

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    Has anyone found a way to dim the brightness of the monitor as the FN doesn't work?
     
    m.olennick, Oct 20, 2008
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  15. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    The FN keys to adjust brightness work just fine if you install the Sony utilities in the order listed on their site. I believe Sony Switch Setting is the one you need, but it might need some other utils as prerequisites...
     
    InfyMcGirk, Oct 20, 2008
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  16. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    + It needs the a Sony driver to be installed first.
     
    Phil, Oct 20, 2008
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  17. sheanon

    sheanon Newbie

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    does hdmi work in XP?
    i have the downgrade disk that came with my vista business configured machine

    thx
     
    sheanon, Nov 29, 2008
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  18. InfyMcGirk

    InfyMcGirk while(!(succeed=try()));

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    Yes, HDMI works fine in XP. Haven't tried it myself as I don't have a HDMI-capable device to hook my Z up to (yet!)... but Philflow tried it while he had his Z and reported it worked fine.
     
    InfyMcGirk, Nov 29, 2008
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  19. nutman

    nutman Notebook Consultant

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    ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/
    Sony's official FTP with the folders numbered in the order required to install them
    NOTE: To install the intel GPU drivers you will have to switch to stamina and reboot first.
     
    nutman, Nov 29, 2008
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  20. nnavidd

    nnavidd Newbie

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    can upload the driver of xp for z530 HDD protection
     
    nnavidd, Dec 19, 2008
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  21. nnavidd

    nnavidd Newbie

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    can you upload the driver of xp for z530 HDD protection?
     
    nnavidd, Dec 19, 2008
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  22. fz75

    fz75 Newbie

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    Can anyone tell me where I can download the Sony XP download CD? I recently bought a VGN-Z570N because of teh downgrade ability.
    MY wife threw the CD away when she unpacked it.

    I have been working on this for days, please let me know how I can get a copy of the CD, before I hit the divorce court.
     
    fz75, Mar 14, 2009
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  23. stevod

    stevod Notebook Evangelist

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    Can't you just but one from Sony tech support?

    S
     
    stevod, Mar 15, 2009
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  24. fz75

    fz75 Newbie

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    Better off,we found the CD.

    Mine is a Sony VGN Z. Anyone needs such dg CD send me a PM.
     
    fz75, Mar 22, 2009
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  25. stevod

    stevod Notebook Evangelist

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    Good! It's weird that there's a 'hotfix' on the disc that's needed for XP, but doesn't seem to be available for download from the Sony website, i.e. if you just had a plain XP CD you wouldn't be able to install it.....

    S
     
    stevod, Mar 22, 2009
    #25