Windows 7 Clean Install Instructions for CW Series

*THE DRIVERS PROVIDED ARE NOT FOR THE NEW i3/i5 MODELS* Those will be provided in an install guide below this post.

Also of note, like rehangohar77 said, it is recommended to restart after installation of every driver. Especially the graphics, chipset, and audio drivers.

Also, at the bottom of this guide is a link to restore the SplashTop Instant OS.

I've seen some people on here looking for instructions on how to perform a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium on their newly purchased CW. Granted there was a LOT less bloatware than my last HP but none the less it's not really needed and only gets in my way... In this post are links to the driver downloads and even a link to get you a fresh Windows 7 Home Premium install disk. The downloads are all legal and for the Windows 7 iso you'll need a blank DVD and an iso burning Utility for which I'll provide links for. Lets start..

First you'll want to make sure to back up all the personal information you'd like to keep on your notebook (like pictures, movies, music, etc..) as my directions are for a totally clean install. Now when all that is done follow this link and download the Win7 Home Premium iso image.

Windows 7 ISO Image from Microsoft

The ISO image will take some time to download seeing as how it's about 3 GB in size. When that finishes you'll want to go ahead and make a bootable Disk Image to DVD using the built-in ISO burning utility already present in Windows 7 by right clicking on the file and selecting "Open With" then select "Windows Disk Image Burner" or with this tool...

Or you can try the burning Tool from the Microsoft Store.
ImgBurn

When that gets finished burning, if you want you can go ahead and download the appropriate drivers and store them on a flash drive so that when the fresh copy is installed you'll conveniently have all the necessary drivers ready to install. I'll go ahead and put them in the order you need to install them in with links...

UPDATE-- There is a BIOS update available for all the C2D CW models. *HERE* It addresses thermal throttling of the CPU.

Intel Chipset Driver for PM45
Intel ICH9 SATA Driver
nVidia Graphics Driver for GT230m and G210m *Updated From OEM*
Synaptics PS/2 Touchpad Driver
Realtek HD Audio for ALC262 <----- UPDATED
Marvell Yukon Gig-E Ethernet Driver

Atheros AR9285 WiFi Driver

**or if your model came with Intel Wireless**​

Intel WiFi Driver for 32-bit or 64-bit​

Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver
Sony Notebook Utilities
Sony Shared Library
Vaio Event Service <------UPDATED (Placed here in order of installation significance.)
ALPS Bluetooth Module Driver
Broadcom Bluetooth Stack
Ricoh PCI-e SD Host Bus Adapter Driver
Ricoh SD Reader Driver
Ricoh PCI-e MemoryStick Host Controller Driver

ArcSoft WebCam Companion 3 OEM Software

So once you have those downloaded, go ahead and put them on your flash drive or burn them to a CD for if you want to just keep a copy of them just in case. Now pop in that freshly burned Windows 7 install disk, and reboot.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VAIO BIOS SCREEN IT WILL ASK YOU TO "Press any key to boot from DVD". Hit any key and wait for the installer to show up. When it comes up click "Install Now" to begin installation. It's going to ask you to agree to the EULA then it'll ask you if you want to upgrade or "Custom". Go ahead and click "Custom". Now you'll see a screen with your HDD partitions on it. **WARNING** DOING THIS WILL ERASE THE SONY OEM BACKUP PARTITIONS**. If you're comfortable with that, click "Drive Options (advanced)" and highlight both partitions and delete them. Then click "New" and make sure it'll be taking up the maximum formatted capacity then click "Apply" and next. Now it will begin installation. You'll see it..

1. Copying Files
2. Expanding Files
3. Installing Features
4. Installing Updates
Then REBOOT
5. Completing Installation
Then REBOOT

Then it will say "Setup is preparing your computer for first use...", and then you'll go through the Windows 7 Setup. When it asks you for a Windows 7 Product Key, look on the bottom of your machine on the license sticker and type that key in the box. The next time you connect to the internet it will validate itself or you can do it within setup.

Now that you're to your desktop, go ahead and install your drivers from above, then hit Windows Update for a good 25-30 minor security updates, then enjoy!

Here is a link for re-installing the SplashTop Instant On OS. It doesn't require any seperate partition to be made, because it installs under the C: partition you have Windows installed on. All you have to do is download and install. Just make sure your's originally came with SplashTop, as certain models don't ship with that feature. *here*

*Update*

It's been a while since this thread and it's drivers were updated, so here is an updated guide on how to install the absolute latest version of Graphics Drivers from NVIDIA for the G210m/GT230m. This method can also be used for owners of the i3/i5 machines for the GT330m. My original post has been modified to reflect the new v260.63 unified driver stack.

 

Since I don't have an i3/i5/i7 machine, dperezo was kind enough to make this one for you guys! And aan310 has edited his guide for some added conveniences, like backing up your OEM activation so you won't have to phone Microsoft after installing, to activate. Also included are links for drivers. Deperezo also notes that the AHCI SATA drivers from the Sony Support page are corrrupt, so he included links from a Dell support page of a Dell i5 model machine for the Intel Matrix Storage Manager. So rep those guys if you're going to rep someone! Enjoy!

Note, like rehangohar77 said, it is recommended to restart after installation of every driver. Especially the graphics, chipset, and audio drivers.

First you'll want to use ABR to backup the activation of your computer, make sure to back up all the personal information you'd like to keep on your notebook (like pictures, movies, music, etc..) as my directions are for a totally clean install. Now when all that is done follow this link and download the Win7 Home Premium iso image.

Windows 7 ISO Image from Microsoft

The ISO image will take some time to download seeing as how it's about 3 GB in size. When that finishes you'll want to go ahead and make a bootable Disk Image to DVD using the built-in ISO burning utility already present in Windows 7 by right clicking on the file and selecting "Open With" then select "Windows Disk Image Burner" or with this tool...

Or you can try the burning Tool from the Microsoft Store.
ImgBurn

When that gets finished burning, if you want you can go ahead and download the appropriate drivers and store them on a flash drive so that when the fresh copy is installed you'll conveniently have all the necessary drivers ready to install. I'll go ahead and put them in the order you need to install them in with links...

01 - Sony Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver v8.0.1.1
02 - Sony Shared Library v5.5.0.10160
03 - Sony Notebook Utilites v1.0
04 - Intel Chipset Driver v9.1.1.1023
05 - Intel SATA Driver v8.9.4.1004
06 - Intel Turbo Boost v1.0.0.1030
07 - NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M Video Driver v8.16.11.8783 <-See Below
08 - Realtek High Definition Audio Driver v6.0.1.5964
09 - Synaptics Touchpad Driver v2199CC21
10 - Marvel Gigabit Ethernet v11.22.4.3
11 - Marvel Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter Driver v8.0.0.238
12 - Ricoh PCIe SD Bus Host Adapter Driver v6.13.2.6
13 - Ricoh SD CPRM Memory Card Reader Driver 3.1.0.4
14 - Ricoh PCIe Memory Stick Host Controller Driver v6.13.2.11
15 - ALPS Bluetooth Module <-Install BEFORE the broadcom driver
16 - Broadcom Bluetooth Driver v6.2.1.500
17 - WebCam Companion 3 Software v3.0.21.193
18 - SmartWi Connection Utility v4.9.4.20091005.2246 <-Not needed

See: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=464730 for updates and nVidia Driver instructions

So once you have those downloaded, go ahead and put them on your flash drive or burn them to a CD for if you want to just keep a copy of them just in case. Now pop in that freshly burned Windows 7 install disk, and reboot.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VAIO BIOS SCREEN IT WILL ASK YOU TO "Press any key to boot from DVD". Hit any key and wait for the installer to show up. When it comes up click "Install Now" to begin installation. It's going to ask you to agree to the EULA then it'll ask you if you want to upgrade or "Custom". Go ahead and click "Custom". Now you'll see a screen with your HDD partitions on it. In order to keep your "Recovery Drive" in tact, click "Drive Options (advanced)" and highlight the 457GB Unnamed partition and the 100MB System partition (leaving the System Recovery partition untouched) and delete them. Then click "New" and make sure it'll be taking up the maximum formatted capacity then click "Apply" and next. Now it will begin installation. You'll see it..

1. Copying Files
2. Expanding Files
3. Installing Features
4. Installing Updates
Then REBOOT
5. Completing Installation
Then REBOOT

Then it will say "Setup is preparing your computer for first use...", and then you'll go through the Windows 7 Setup. When it asks you for a Windows 7 Product Key, do not enter anything. We will be using ABR to activate Windows.

Now that you're to your desktop, go ahead and install your drivers from above, then hit Windows Update for a good 25-30 minor security updates, then enjoy!

EDIT: A clean install is also possible by booting into the Recovery Partition (by mashing F10 during bootup), then selecting the second recovery option on the menu on the left. Eventually it will get to a Windows based installation screen where you can (as fast as possible) open task manager with CTRL+ALT+DEL and end the process called: VAIORecv.exe[/QUOTE]

 

XGX2007,

is this drivers for 32-bit Windows 7:
nVidia Graphics Driver for GT230m and G210m *Updated From OEM*?

Thank you.

 

No, the notebook comes with a 64-bit Windows 7 License, so all the above drivers are 64-bit.

 

in any case, thank you )

 

No probs!

 

I can't wait to soon attempt a clean install for my CW.

Thanks for your contribution. I have a Core i3, I'm sure eventually someone will come around to helping with performing a clean install with the drivers that accompany ours.

But regardless, thanks for your contribution to the community.

 

That'll be on the tile I have reserved..

 

Hi! brilliant guide you have set up here, just thought id make a small contribution when installing drivers its EXTREMLY RECOMMENDED that you do a restart after each driver, becuz when you are installing 4-5 drivers together and you reboot then it installed them as a clutter and sometimes it messes things up. It might be a bit annoying and i know how this is ive done clean installs on over 8 Vaios in the past year with Vista/Win7, but ill tel you right now, id rather be safe then sorry hope this helps and gets added to your guide.

 

XGX2007...i just ordered the CW with the i5 was wondering if you knew when the instruction for a clean install for the new CW's would be up

 

I'm writing it now, and it should be up for general consumption later this evening .

 

Thanks for the instructions XGX2007, I have the spanish (Mexico) version of windows 7, with the download link you provide can I change the lenguage from english to spanish?
Thanks again.

 

Yes! All you have to do is download the localization MUI for Spanish. Download and install *this* after you install windows 7. Note that the link provided is for 64bit.

 

will the recovery discs created with viao care restore everything back to originial factory state including partitions? i see there is an 8gb+ partition that i assume has settings on it or something. id like to wipe all partitions and try a fresh install of win 7 on my new CW but if for some reason i can't get all features working again will the recovery discs still function without this 8gb partition?

 

Can a recovery disk fit on to a single layer DVD-R or will it require 2 DVD-R's or 1 DL DVD-R

 

The Vaio Care Partition is the one that you burn your recovery disks from. Also it's the partition that you can run "diagnostics" from when you call tech support. But it's not really necessary, but if you'd like you can most certainly leave it there. But yes, the restore disks will work without the partition, just don't loose the disks if that's what you want to restore from in the future.

To the best of my knowledge it requires 1 Dual-Layer DVD or 2 Single-Layer DVD's. The formatted capacity of the backup partition is a little less than 8GB so it fits perfectly on a DL-DVD.

 

Thanks for your help man, appreciate it. Now it is faster than before.

 

I'm trying to do a fresh install on my VPCCW27FX, but the Intel PCHM SATA AHCI Controller 6 Port fails to install. It says the installation file is corrupt. I tried downloading it again, but no luck. Do I have to install the one from Sony?

 

did you try these?
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=VPCCW27FX&LOC=3
also they have instructions
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?template_id=1&info_id=507

I have the same laptop and plan on doing the fresh install too in a few days... post up your results when your done and anything you learned!

 

I contacted support but I didn't get anything useful from them yet. On the other hand, the computer seems to work fine. I got all the other drivers installed and the fn keys work (volume, brightness) with the on screen display.

 

We're you following the instructions of this thread?

 

Yes, but this is new hardware (27fx) with new drivers.

 

im getting ready to do a fresh intall. I notice in the viao care software there is an option to reinstall all programs that came with it such as the BD player and webcam software. Are these all stored on the 8gig partition? Is there a link to reinstall the viao care software so that after i do a clean install i can reinstall the BD player software and webcam software?

 

Sorry guys... I just sold my CW, and I don't have access to a CW with the i3/i5 so I don't want to steer you guys in the wrong direction with the drivers and such... but as per windows installations, that should be basically the same.

 

I was benchmarking WoW on my clean install for model 27fx and the PC locked up. So for now, I recommend waiting on a clean install on the i3/i5 models until the drivers get updated. I will be doing a factory recovery shortly.

 

hello guys could anyone else continue XGX2007's contrib and put together a list of drivers for the core i3/i5 CW's? It would be so very helpful to the rest of us! Thanks in advance!

 

There is no need to Restart after every driver install, I made a simple Batch script that ran all the drivers one after the other and then restart.
Using 7 Ultimate 64 bit all runs fine.
There are more things avilable to install from the Vaio web site, but you made a perfect list without the OEM junk.

 

what did you install to get the FN keys working again?

 

By list do you mean the list that XGX made?

 

Anyone been able to acomplish this on the I3 or I5 versions?

 

I second fuligin's question?

 

Alright... here is the what I did to do a clean install on a CW i5 (VPCCW27FX/B).

I used the procedure from the first post of this thread to grab the ISO from MS and create a DVD, etc.

I then installed the drivers in the following order:

01 - Intel Chipset Driver v9.1.1.1023
02 - Intel SATA Driver v8.9.4.1004
03 - Intel Turbo Boost v1.0.0.1030
04 - Sony FW Extension Parser Device Driver v8.0.1.1
05 - Sony Notebook Utilites v1.0
06 - Sony Shared Library v5.5.0.10160
07 - NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M Video Driver v8.16.11.8783
08 - Realtek High Definition Audio Driver v6.0.1.5964
09 - Synaptics Touchpad Driver v2199CC21
10 - Marvel Gigabit Ethernet v11.22.4.3
11 - Marvel Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter Driver v8.0.0.238
12 - Ricoh PCIe SD Bus Host Adapter Driver v6.13.2.6
13 - Ricoh SD CPRM Memory Card Reader Driver 3.1.0.4
14 - Ricoh PCIe Memory Stick Host Controller Driver v6.13.2.11
15 - Broadcom Bluetooth Driver v6.2.1.500
16 - WebCam Companion 3 Software v3.0.21.193
17 - SmartWi Connection Utility v4.9.4.20091005.2246

then run Windows Update

Note:
-all the files are available at sony's website. However, the SATA drive on their website is corrupted. So I downloaded the same driver from dell here:
http://support.us.dell.com/support/...typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=360845

-I'm using SmartWi right now since I dont know of any other way to enable/disable bluetooth.

-I looked at nvidia's site for an updated driver but they dont have one listed for the 330M.

-You will also need to call Microsoft to re-activate your version of Windows 7.

Results:
-Faster boot up
-fewer processes running
-"ASSIST" button is not working since I dont have VAIO care installed.
-"VAIO" is now a mute/unmute button (I think it was something else before... dont remember)

 

Thanks.

Do you advise that we restart after installing each driver as others have mentioned?

 

I only restarted once, which is after the graphics driver was installed. I only did it to get the higher resolution.

 

Would you mind if I posted this on my second tile for other owners of i3/i5 machines?

 

Original - Sony® Notebook Utilities
Original - VAIO® Location Utility
Original - Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver
Original - Sony® Shared Library

What exactly do these do?

I know the notebook utilities makes the volume and screen brightness hotkeys work but what is the location utility and firmware extension parser

 

Brilliant! Thanks a lot mate, just a question though, do you have to call MS to activate, doesnt activation work online with the product key from under the lappy?
Thanks again!

 

Thanks dperezo!!
Ill attempt this, however is there a way to bypass having to call in for an activation?

 

I dont mind at all.... go for it!

 

Nope, it didn't give an option to do it online. And yes, I did use the product code from the sicker underneath the laptop.

The call was automated though. Just punch in the numbers that show up in your computer screen, and they will provide a code for you to enter. Simple enough...maybe less than 5 minutes.

 

What type of CW do you have, dperezo?

Thanks again for taking the time to put forth a list for us.

 

I'm going to say it's a model with the i5 such as the VPCCW27fx not the i3, as he did post a link to the Turbo-Boost Driver, and that only applies to the i5/i7 processors.

 

Sorry... it's the VPCCW27FX

 

question for xgx or dperezo, I'm in the UK, would it make any difference if I used these drivers which seem to be based off the US sony support page?

Thanks in advance!

 

You can disable bluetooth a number of ways...
If you NEVER use it disable the driver from teh MANAGER

 

I wanted something more simpler for my wife to toggle on the fly, instead of disabling it in the device manager.

 

No, it wouldn't make any difference at all . It's exactly the same hardware.

Yes, but I have to admit that the SmartWi connection software is quite convenient.

 

Quick question, so did anyone happen to catch how many processes are running after the fresh install?, on first boot stock config i think i saw between 83-85 processes running!!! thats crazy.

Also is the WinDVD/Corel player for Blu-Rays included somewhere? or can u just use WMP or seperate download to view blu-ray movies?

 

LOL.. 83.. Soo not putting that Core 2 or i3/i5 to use. Slave that thing out! As I type this, I'm sitting at 44c with 126 processes running. I'm transcoding a movie into an mp4 so my PS3 will play it while listening to "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" by Cage the Elephant in iTunes, while having Safari, CPU-Z, Salling Clicker, RMClock, Nokia Ovi Suite... all simultaneously with no slowdown at all. But for Blu-Ray movies IDK actually, because I use the ArcSoft Total Media Theater software that I bought a while back.... Let me look into that for you!

 

Whenever I install the Notebook Utilities program I am getting a "Battery has a problem" error message and it forces me to go into Hibernate

??

Which program gets the FN keys functional? Everything else is working for me.