Vista clean Install without a vista DVD

This is the method that I used for activation and it is flawless.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

 

No this is a 100% clean install. What you did was a semi-clean install which always alows some of the trialware to be installed.

 

Thanks for telling this.

 

Hi guys,

SZ-680CTO with no WAU anything. Searched wau*, bootmgr, sources to no avail. About a month ago, I had done a semi-clean install. Could this have wiped out the wau folder? Guess, I'll have to order the dvd. No big deal. It's $5. Was just hoping that I would have some geek time today. grrrr.

 

I have a VGN-N365E. It is my first laptop after building my own desktops. I would love to do a clean install, so much so, I was thinking of buying an install disk (OEM from Newegg) until I happened upon this thread.

I assume Vista has many built in, but what drivers do I need after the install? Basically, what are must haves from Sony?

I have wireless of course but no Bluetooth.

Also, do I need to by-pass the activation? I've read a bit about that here and am not sure if it's a matter of principle or required when doing this type of clean install.

Thanks for any help!

 

will everything function properly if you buy the disc and use it?
(FN keys, brightness control, etc...)

 

What I meant was, did you guys who have the WUA folder do a full install (including trialware) or did you do a semi clean install and still have the WUA folder?

 

I didn't do any semi-clean install before. I just did the clean install. You won't have the wau folder after the clean install. I don't have any idea regarding the semi-clean install.

 

Yes, if you follow the right order in installing the utilities and drivers.

 

You can download the drivers from sony website. Detailed instructions are given in "Instructions for FZ clean install thread". Regarding activation, the one which I mentioned is the easiest and safest method. You can also call microsoft for activation if you use the product key on the bottom of your laptop. You might have to give your explanation for the reinstall/ product activation if you call them.

 

I saw that thread and will read into it more thoroughly. Thanks for the help.

 

Only if you install all of Sony's drivers and specialized applications for things like the Function Keys and Power Management etc.

Gary

(P.S. there are several documents on this site for the list of drivers and auxiliary apps and the ORDER in which they should be installed. My signature line below has links to one for the FZ models.)

 

i just want to let people know that the TZ doesn't have this secret folder

 

First of all; thanks Coolguy, for discovering this and making it available to all of us!

I've located the C:\WAUUPGRD folder on my dutch FZ11S and i'm planing to burn my own Vista copy with and do a clean install with it in the next few days.

The reason i need to do a re-install of Vista is a damaged registry, Windows still works normal in every way except it can't use AC3 codecs with WMP11 anymore after a buggy de-installing of PCTV Pro from Pinnacle. It's a long story....

My question is: will this damaged registry have any effect on how my soon to make Vista copy will work, or will it just install another damaged registry on my Vaio?

 

Hmm really? Good thing I made it from the SZ then. I used my WAU DVD I made from the SZ on the TZ and it worked fine... I should have checked to see if the TZ had the folder but it looks like it doesn't if your TZ doesn't have it.

 

yeah i looked everywhere, check to show hiddne folders, WAU, sonysys, searched the word update, setup.exe, upgrade and nothing. theres only a shortcut link that leads u to purchase an upgrade disk.

anyways, i did a clean install and whoa, the processes dropped a lot, its now at 43 with installed drivers from sony

 

Clean install or semi-clean install??? There is a difference and I noticed you posted a note in the SEMI-clean install thread.

Gary

 

i actually did a semi-clean install previously and then decided to give a clean install a try and it eliminated some more processes and the system is a lot snappier.

i did a clean install with vista ultimate

 

No the damaged registry does not have any effect on how vista installer will work. As you will be formatting/ creating a new partition the vista install process is started fresh.

 

Hi, I've been trying to make an iso of my vista setup files too, just with a Lenovo t61 laptop, stumbled into this thread via search.

I found the hidden folder "WAUUPGRD" by searching for "wau". Inside it looks exactly like the folder posted in this screenshot: http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11305&d=1192063941

Following nLite's instructions, I created a new folder in my hdd, "Vista_Source", and browsed to it when asked in nLite to locate the Windows installation. But regardless of whether I select the new "Vista_Source" folder or the hidden "WAUUPGRD" folder, I get the same error message:

"Make sure that the selected folder or drive contains the 'i386' or 'AMD64' directory and proper Windows installation files. nLite is for a pre-install environment only, meaning that it cannot modify an existing Windows installation...."

This may be the wrong forum for this problem, but this is just an issue with the next step of process.

 

I have a sony vaio TZ . I want clean install vista but I don't have a vista dvd or that folder. How can I get vista dvd?I think recovery disk doesn't contains vista.

Also I looked my partitions. (in computer management window) My vaio has 2 partition: "Healty EISA" (8,35 GB and its %100 free) and "System,boot,page file,active,crash dump,primary partition" ( 84,80 GB and %76 free)
If I delete first partition and combine, Is going to be any problem occur? Why this partition (8,35 GB) free and I cannot use?

 

Hmm looks like the problem was that I used nLite instead of vLite to setup a Vista iso

 

So lenovos too have this WAU hidden vista set up file folder?

 

The 1st step in my guide show how to download a legal copy of Vista and create and ISO.

 

Lenovo T61 laptops certainly do, coolguy.

 

I just bought an FZ290 directly from Sony, and am also unable to find these files. I do see the message telling me I do not need the Windows Anytime Upgrade disc because my computer is already configured for the update.

I've searched high and low for related files, dug through every setup.exe on the computer, and definitely do not have either the WAU folder or the C:\WAUUPGRD that one person found. And yes, I did make sure hidden files were showing.

If the message about being pre-configured for an upgrade really means I have the WAU files somewhere, I must be missing something. Any other ideas?

 

Hello,
I've been following this article as of late since I just purchased the FZ260E/B model and am also trying to do a clean install. My model is from Canada and I can't find any files that have to with the words "upgrade" or "Wau." I've also put on show hidden files and still to no avail. The Windows Anytime Upgrade window also tells me that I don't need a disc since the manufacturer has already configured my computer for the upgrade. So.. If anyone has anymore insight into my problem it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Then the set up files should be there in your system. Search.. You can also get a WAU dvd to do a clean install.

 

Did you also turn on show system files??? That is a separate setting from show hidden files.

Gary

 

I've reported back earlier saying that the SZ660 I had did have the WAU folder hidden in sonysys. However, looking at my TZ recently after doing a factory restore, I noticed I didn't have the WAU Folder on it. It is not a problem for me because the WAU DVD I burned using the SZ works perfectly on the TZ. As the others said, if you don't have the folder, just buy the DVD direct from Microsoft. It's pretty cheap (of course the time waiting for it to arrive is the problem for some folk, not the money).

 

I'm pretty sure that I did enable that option as well. I can't confirm this at the moment because I returned my notebook to the store. (It wasn't able to play blu-rays) I'll look into that when I get it back.

 

I haven't like that folders.How can i get vista business dvd?Can anyone upload or give direct link for vista

 

So what are options for those that don't have the folder? I have a VGN-NR series notebook - definitely doesn't have the folders

 

Just got a TZ150 N/B . I want to run this clean install but am having trouble finding the appropriate WAU files. The windows anytime upgrade program says no disc needed so the files need to be somewhere and I can't find them.... any more ideas on what to search for? or where they might be located on a new TZ 150. I've allowed viewing hidden files and folders as well.

THX

 

Select the search option to show system files as well. You can get the windows anytime upgrade dvd from microsoft for $7 here.

https://na.windowsanytimeupgradestore.com/WAU_DIRECT/Purchase.aspx

 

Not every Sony laptop has the WAU files on the HDD, so if you don't find it, it's not just you. Ordering the Upgrade DVD is your best bet.

 

Hi
I have FZ260E but there is no WAU Folder. Anyone can help me?

 

i have VGN-NR11SS, i got it here:
C:/WAUUPGRD
probably you're looking for this one as well. just make sure you have showing hidden files enabled and stuff. good luck!

i've just created .iso file with vlite, to store it just-in-case, now i'm gonna burn it to dvd.

hey, so can i choose *ANY* VISTA VERSION to be burned? even if i have home premium? can i just pick up sounds too good to be true! let me know.

 

You should choose only the version currently have. Even you choose ultimate the activation during installation won't work for ultimate.

The product key determines the version of vista to be installed or to restore the activation status by the method mentioned in my first post.

 

so i assume the WAU folder will be missing for all sony laptops with Vista Ultimate pre-installed right? i mean there's no need to have an OS upgrade option for a laptop that has the best OS, which means that vaio users with ultimate pre-installed are outta luck for this method.

 

WAU is missing on some Sony laptops (including mine) that has Home Premium. I'm not sure what their criteria for including the upgrade files on the HDD are, but they definitely aren't consistent with it across their product line. I don't sweat it personally because I have the WAU DVD that came with my Toshiba Satellite, as well as my MSDN discs, but I'm still mystified at why some get it and others don't.

 

You can do a clean install by buying a windows anytime upgrade dvd. There should be no reason for sony to include the vista setup files in a laptop preinstalled with ultimate. But this need not be the case too.

 

Did you check for C:\WAUUPGRD in your laptop? Some vaios have the setup files in this directory. Anyway the upgrade dvd is much easier to get as you should know.

 

They aren't there. One of the first thing I do on ANY Windows installation, going back for years since they starting hiding them, is to unhide hidden files, system files, and extensions. Being in the software development, "hacking," and IT business for 20+ years, I demand complete and unhindered access to every file on my system. So trust me: if I can't find a file or folder, then it isn't there.

For whatever reasons, Sony just doesn't include the WAU files on every model, and I think there have been enough others here reporting in to verify that.

 

after doing a clean install, is there a way to install recovery center software.....if not then atleast software/driver for finger print reader....webcam volume control buttons etc.........


also i wanted to know despite hiving a x3100 video chipset on my vaio cr24 why cant i update my graphic card software from intel website....it refuses to upgrade givin some error with regards to compatibility....

also plz suggest some good quality registry cleaner for vista incase i do not opt for clean install and i go by the add remove method :-(

 

I have a new VAIO FZ290, and I'm eager to unbloat it. The "clean" install of this thread may not help me, because: (1) I can't locate the WAU directory or its equivalent, in spite of some diligent (but frustrating) searching around on my system (just like many others here), and (2) I can't even buy the Windows Anytime Upgrade DVD from MS (I get something like a "sorry, not available for your country" message on their website).
So, the only option I'm left with seems to be the "semi-clean" way mentioned in Ninja's thread.

My question to you folks is: what is it about the semi-clean way that does not let one arrive at an end configuration which is as unbloated as the clean way? I see that having a bootable vista DVD is aesthetically cleaner , but is there more? In other words, why is the "semi-clean" method not as clean as "clean" method?

 

Semi clean install allows some bloatware to be installed (but not most). Performance wise there is no much difference between the clean install and manually uninstalling the bloatware/registry cleaning/file cleaning. I did both of these.

 

You can restore the vaio recovery center from the recovery dvd. You can install every driver from the sony support site.

I use windows live one care safety scanner for registry cleaning. I used to have ccleaner, but it messed some registry entrie once.

Don't upgrade from the intel site. Always wait for sony to release the updates.

 

my computer is cofgured for and upgrade but i cant find the wau folder. can you please help thanx

 

:confused2: :SLEEP: :GEEK: :laugh: :rolleyes2: :wub: :cry: :smile: :tongue: :twitcy: :wink: :yes: