Where are the XP drivers for SZ4xx series?

Is this thread still active?

I hired someone to help with this downgrade to XP Pro earlier today. He didn't make a lot of progress. (I tried to get him to look at this thread, but apparently he didn't feel the need.)

After he left, I managed to make quite a bit more progress. However, I still have the following things not working on my VGN SZ460N:

Biometric Coprocessor
Generic IEEE 1284.4 printing support
Mass Storage Controller
Network Controller
Unknown device

Are these things necessary? How can I fix this problem? Also, seems like every time I install something new, I have to reinstall and beg and coax and pound on my Logitech Cordless Desktop EX110 keyboard to get it to work again. Anyone know why?

I know this much: I just bought my last Sony Vaio. I was forced to upgrade to this basically because my SZ140P died after just 13 or 14 months of ownership. Since I have two docking stations, three power supplies, etc., I didn't want to buy all new. The SZ460N, I was told, worked with the same stuff.

Unfortunately, I'm an attorney (formerly a tech guy, though, thank goodness) and my practice management software won't run the way I want on Vista.

If anyone has any better pointers than what I've received so far, I'd appreciate it!

-- Rick

 

Have you updated your Windows XP to SP2 yet? If not, download it here and install it before doing anything else. If this thread isn't giving you much help, you can watch these two videos to get a better idea of what to do.

 

just use this ISO. it worked for me.

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/temp

burn to disc and install using directions inside ISO.

i have a SZ460N also. everything works flawlessly except for the nvidia card for some reason.

forgot to install nvidia drivers! nvidia works now!!!

 

Ok, I am about to get a sz370 with XP pre-installed , or a sz480 with vista. The sz480 gives me 160HD vs. 120 and the exbrite screen. If I get the sz480 I intend to downgrade to XP. My question is: should I just get the 370 and avoid the pain of downgrading or is it worth getting the 480 out right. Is there any dramatic hardware difference that makes the 480 a better computer?

Great thread by the way. Thanks for all who have contributed it will help if I do get the 480.

 

Hi smeissne,

There will be some effort required on your end to get the SZ48 up and running with XP.

The SZ 4X series is based on the Core 2 Duo chip whilst the SZ 3X series is based on the original Core Duo which the C2Ds were designed from.

While everyone would agree that the C2D is definitely a better performer, you will want to take into consideration the intangible benefits of the SZ3X series such as longer battery life (The C2Ds really suck the juice out, the better performance comes with batter life as a price) and whether you feel you're technically comfortable enough to work with the reinstallation of XP and the drivers. There's quite some stuff to comb through in the forums to get it up and running.

I bought the SZ48 for the following reasons:
1) Free Vista Business license in case I do decide to upgrade in the future. (Heh, this turned out to be a lemon. I can't stand Vista...)
2) Core 2 Duo performance. Yeah, it's not blindingly faster but I like the idea of getting more muscle with the same money. (SZ3 and SZ4 cost the same here) It's NOT dramatic if you're not a hardcore user. If you're just surfing the web and watching some videos, I don't think you're going to even feel any difference. If you enjoy bragging about how fast your computer calculate SuperPI, get the C2Ds.
3) Bigger hard drive.

In hindsight, the only reason which would make me buy the SZ4 now is the bigger hard drive. The OS turned out to be a lemon and the performance isn't a stellar difference. (The Core Duo really creamed the P4s and P3s. But the C2D doesn't really rock the CD)

Well, join in the fun dude.
We've all tortured ourselves getting the computer up using SZ4 and XP.



Oh yeah, as an incentive to help you get up and running with the SZ4, search for Bogart's posts. There are a couple of other guys here who are really good and helpful too but their names escape my memory at the moment.
Good luck.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=176629

Guys.

Thanks to sly, we now know that Sony is doing something really kick ass about allowing us to downgrade.

To those who are still asking about SZ3 vs SZ4. Do get the SZ4 if you have your XP available.

 

Hi everyone, I´ve just bought a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ450AN and got crazy when I could not find XP drivers for my new machine....so surfing on the web I´ve found this forum and this topic.....

I can confirm that I´ve download the SZ4 XP DRIVERS DISC.ISO that krazyMOFO told and everything worked fine!!!

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/temp


Thanks so much for beeing here helping everyone.

 

"Due to popular demand Sony is offering Microsoft® Windows® XP® compatible drivers and utilities for VAIO® computers that originally shipped with the Windows Vista® operating system. These files are intended to provide basic system functionality under Windows XP operating system."

http://esupport.sony.com/perl/news-item.pl?template=EN&news_id=221

 

Just wanted to let everyone know the .iso download from krazyMOFO works perfect with the SZ480!!

 

OK. Excuse my ignorance here. But Nero is not letting me burn this ISO to disk because it's too large... 800mb, and a CD only holds 700mb. Any help appreciated.