Windows 7 Clean Install Instructions for CW Series

I successfully did clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit on VPCCW27FX.
I had the same battery and non-working Brightness fn key problem.

I resolved the problems by installing "Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver" NOT from Sony eSupport page but from Windows Update. Check out Optional section of Windows Update, you will find this driver. After Installing it, everything should be fine.

 

I resolved my problem.
It turns out to be Memory Stick reader problem.

Just for those who would have the same problem, After I installed windows 7, installed "Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver" from Windows Update, then installed "Original - Ricoh® PCIe Memory Stick® Host Controller Driver" from Sony eSupport.

 

Hmm, interesting. Glad you got it sorted out

 

Karamseng Thanks for the tip, this afternoon I'll try the solution you gave me.

I talked with sony support but did not give me a solution.

thank you very much for the help, greetings from mexico

 

...

Is there really a compelling reason to do a fresh Win7 install on the CW?

I just returned my HP DV3 for many, many small reasons and ordered a CW. I needed a fresh install on the HP because of the terrabytes of HP bloatware, but with the Sony it does not seem nearly as bad. Coupled with some tricky drivers -opinions needed - why not just try Revo uninstaller first?

Also, great guide. Thanks to all who participated and put this together !!

..

 

For me, I personally prefer fresh start without any bloatware.
Of course, I can uninstall those bloatwares and use it just fine but, I don't want to go through those steps everytime I reinstall the OS (I format my drive once in three months) and it does not feel fresh enough for me

 

RE: FN Keys not working...

I don't know if this is a fix or not for those whose FN keys don't work. But over the weekend my volume keys stopped showing the on screen display. They did however work as I could see the volume changing in the taskbar. Also, the other FN keys worked and showed the on screen display as they should (brightness, etc...).

I searched and did this:
1. Win Key + R
2. Type: services.msc
3. On the right find: "VAIO EVENT SERVICE"
4. Right click on that and "Restart"

My FN volume keys now showed the onscreen display.

Again, I don't know if this will help others. But it does seem related and I hope it works!

EDIT: There is an update for the "VAIO EVENT SERVICE" 3/19/2010 on the support page for the VPPCW26.

 

Well....I like that "fresh feeling too" ....
So I know what the first step is.

The equivalent of a fresh install:

 

I believe he wants you to focus on the word under eve

 

@XGX2007

I seem can't find the 15 - ALPS Bluetooth Module <-Install BEFORE the broadcom driver from Sony eSupport site, any suggestion?

 

Try *here*. Then update to the Broadcom Widcomm bluetooth software stack *here*. That will give you a fully functional and fully integrated bluetooth solution. You can use your laptops microphone and speakers to make or receive a phone call, use bluetooth headphones or really anything bluetooth with it. Everything I've tried so far has worked flawlessly.

 

Thanks for the new link.

If you wont mind, I can't find ALPS Bluetooth Module from eSupport site did you get that from a different model?

 

Yep, model VPCCW17-FX. The Bluetooth chipset is a broadcom reference, but it's branded ALPS. That's why the broadcom software suite is comparable.

 

Thanks for the clarifications and helpful guide.

+rep!

 

Will there be any changes on the drivers to install if I'll swap the i5-520M CPU with i7-620M before I install the OS?

 

Nope. It should work just fine with the drivers listed, just make sure not to skip the turboboost driver.

 

Thanks again! Wait (transit time) is the hardest part

 

No probs! I know right! I actually just bought a new i7 F, and it's seeming like it's taking forever.

 

I have vaio CW26FG, currently windows 7 home premium is installed on my laptop, I want to install Windows 7 ultimate on it. So it will be clean install i guess, I have my drivers in recovery disks & recovery partition as well. Now my question is if i also want to have vaio applications(like vaio care, vaio recovery centre, vaio power managment etc.) to be on my laptop, from where i can get setup and install it after clean install?

 

Hey XGX
My CW comes today (i3), and I want to fresh install this weekend.
I was wondering - can is burn the win7 image to a 8gb thumb drive and change the bios to boot from the usb and install from there? I did that on my last HP and it installs much quicker.

Thanks for putting this together.

 

If your BIOS supports USB booting, then you are good to go? Unless I'm missing something here.

 

Sure... If you already have the iso, look in my first post for the microsoft iso tool. It will do everything for you, all you have to do is point it to the iso and a flash drive, and it will copy everything over, and make it bootable. And just for note... the CW's BIOS allows for USB boot.

 

Did you install the Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Device Driver from Windows Update before any drivers? Or you installed all the drivers on the first page first before the driver from Windows update?

 

Hi, I've got an i3 UK model VPCCW2S1E. It's my first laptop and first time doing a clean install, so this thread's been great. I followed the dperezo's guide for i3/i5/k7, edited by aan310. I installed from a bootable flash drive and this is what I got.

Installing Sony Notebook Utilities v1.0 (SOAOTH-49500000-764.EXE) got the message "This program was not designed for your computer" (or similar, forgot to write it down). No one else got this so how do I check if it installed ok or not? Do I need to download a different version?

After installing the nvidia 330M driver, it wouldn't shutdown (hand in mouth moment!) until I pulled out the flash drive.

I got the familiar "driver may not have installed correctly" for the Intel Chipset Driver, Marvel Gigabit Ethernet, Marvel Atheros and Ricoh SD CPRM drivers but clicked they installed okay.

The end result is start up is still 1:30 min but Firefox starts quicker, processes are 56 down from 81 and memory is 27% down from 31%. But none of the Fn keys work except the mute. Any suggestions?

Edit: I also didn't get the "Drive Options (advanced)" to delete existing partitions and create a new one, meaning I've got all my data still. Does that mean you can do a full clean install this way? Would delete/create partitions give me a larger HDD?

 

Hi XGX, the ff drivers failed to install when I did a fresh install on my CW27 (incompatible with the current OS = Win 7 Pro) Any suggestion?

@JohnyBravo147

>Your boot up is slow, IMO. My old laptop (celeron core solo 2.2GHz) boot in less than a minute Win 7 Pro 64bit
>I doubt it will be good as a clean install if you didn't delete the old partition.
>Your partition size will be the same unless you will be deleting the OEM recovery partition. I'm not sure if it wont VOID your warranty (you have to inquire from your dealer)

 

For some reason there seems to be a driver signature error on Sony's part. Short of Sony signing them differently, I know of no fix aside from just using the windows update drivers, then going the "have disk" install method with the other drivers.

 

My partition screen was similar to this but I had a 100MB System Reserved partition:



I don't know how to get to the "Drive Options (advanced)" option so I can delete existing partitions and create a new one. Help please!

It seems the Sony Notebook Utilities v1.0 didn't install because it's US specific, the Sony US site says it contains:

Battery Checker 4.1.0.08270
Setting Utility Series 5.1.0.11200
VAIO® Event Service 5.1.0.11300
VAIO Control Center 4.1.0.10160
VAIO Power Management 5.0.0.11300

so I'll look for them on the UK site and I'll try another install after work. Has anyone else from the UK done a clean install?

 

Okay. From your latest screen shot... that's the OEM (reserved) I'm talking about. Do not delete it until you have confirmed from your Sony laptop dealer that its no biggie when deleted.

1) Fn key not working: it wont function normally until you find the right Chipset driver for your laptop/model.

2) 330M driver not installed properly: Which driver were you trying to install? Which graphics cards you got?

You can deal on the ff drivers compatibility issue later when you are done with the above.
Marvel Gigabit Ethernet,
Marvel Atheros
Ricoh SD CPRM

 

Hi LOUSYGREATWALLGM

My current notebook details isn't showing for some reason:
Sony Vaio CW VPCCW2S1E: Red | Core i3 3300M | GT 330M | 4GB DDR3 1066 | 320GB 5400rpm HDD | 14" 1366 x 768 | DVD writer | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I'd prefer to keep the recovery/OEM Reserved partition in case I need to use my recovery disks, as others have chosen. The screenshot allows 'Next' or 'Load Driver' only. How do you choose "Drive Options (advanced)" mentioned in the i3/i5/i7 guide to delete the system partition?

1) Are the Fn keys not working because the Sony Notebook Utilities displayed "This program was not designed for your computer"? I thought because it's downloaded from the Sony US site and I've got a UK model, I need to look on the Sony UK website for the utilities individually.

2) The graphics driver installed ok, the laptop just didn't shutdown until i took out the flash drive. There's no yellow signs anywhere in Device Manager, so I think I can ignore the "driver may not have installed correctly" messages.

 

@johnnybravo147

Sorry mate, I don't use recover disk. I often use Windows installer to delete partition and third party prog to clean my SSD/HDD. You can use this Windows 7 ISO Image from Microsoft

You can also delete it through command prompt but I don't suggest it because of your OEM recovery partition (Risk of deleting the wrong partition).

 

Okay. Gonna try that when soon.

Thanks!

 

The Sony Notebook Utilities didn't install because I had the Vista version, doh! I installed the Windows 7 version and my Fn keys work now.

I also found out why I didn't get the "Drive Options (advanced)" option during the install. It's because I ran setup.exe in the bootable flash drive. So I tried restarting with the bootable flash drive plugged in but I never get a 'Press any key' message, it goes straight to the Windows icon.

Is there a F key I can press or am I missing something out? I'd like to do another install (but keep the recovery partition) to see if I can get the boot up time to 1 min.

 

Press F2 right when the VAIO logo pops up to enter BIOS then change boot order to External Disk.

 

is it necessary to reinstall some of the original sony applications to burn a Blu-Ray, (VAIO BD Menu Data or Roxio) or can the clean install still burn Blu-Rays

 

Hello, after reading all the posts from this thread I am still confused on how exactly am I going to do a clean install on my machine. All I want is to get rid all the unnecessary pre-installed softwares to lower down the running processes on my system, currently I got 70+, and also to have another partition because I want my system installed on a separate drive.

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

 

I did a clean install to my cw27fx, I installed the proper drivers but while I run 720p movies image appears without AA (saw tooth) on the native resolution, how can I solve this problem?

 

deprezo, xgx anyone? Pls reply xD

 

Hi Sossimo

You can create new partitions when you select "Drive Options (advanced)" during the install. I saw some screenshots (Google "how-to-prevent-windows-7-from-creating-a-hidden-recovery-system-reserved-partition-during-installation shivaranjan.com", you'll want to follow steps 1 and 2 and then choose which partition to re-install Windows 7.

As I learned through experience and being a complete newbie at this lark, the option comes up only if you change the BIOS to boot from an External Disk. Press F2 during startup to get to the BIOS options, change both options to External Disk (it doesn't work with just one), hit F4 to save the settings and restart your laptop with the bootable disk inside or flash drive attached.

After my 2nd install and to be thorough, I checked for every driver in device manager and I don't think the Intel Chipset driver and a couple of others installed. But the laptop works, so I'll install updated versions if/when I find them.

 

Oh cool, I guess I might really have to give it a try. I've really want to make this a successful one. I hope everything turns alright. Thanks johnybravo!

 

Hi

first thanks for the guides,

i have just taken delivery of my cw i3 here in UK

will this guide on the 2ns post still be applicable to my machine? or is uk/us drivers different my spec is as follows

VAIO CW2S1E/R

Processor - Intel Core i3 330M / 2.13 GHz ( Dual-Core )
RAM - 4 GB (installed) / 8 GB (max) - DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz - PC3-8500 ( 2 x 2 GB )
Hard Drive - 320 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Operating System - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition
Screen - 14" TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA )
Optical Drive - DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - integrated
Graphics - NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
Bluetooth - Yes
Notebook Camera - Integrated - 0.3 Megapixel

Also when doing fresh install can i delete the recovery partition, i have already made the recovery disks?

 

hi im about to do a clean install on my cw, can i delete the hidden partition and just have it all as one - i have created my recovery dvds...or will i need to keep the recovery partition in tact?

 

If you laptop is still under warranty, it would be better to leave the OEM recovery partition as is.

 

Is anyone experiencing problems with the Marvell® Atheros® AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter Driver ?
Mine keeps going out from time to time and its a real hassle connecting to my router.

 

i can't even seem to install the wireless card... says "The update can only run on Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows 7. I'm using Win 7 Ultimate 64bit...

 

Just ignore error message, the driver will get installed still.

You can confirm it on device manager.

 

Hi guys,

I bought this beautiful machine the past week from BestBuy, and it just arrived. Now, I just wanna do the clean install but I'm having some issues.

I delete all partition with a linux live cd, then I boot the machine using the Win7 version posted here (X15-6733) but every time once I click "Install NOW" pop ups a new windows asking for the drivers.... and I can't continue.

I have a USB drive with all the drivers, I selected some paths but nothing happens.

What I'm doing wrong? or What I can do?

Thanks in advance
Victor

 

hi all, I just did the stop Vaiorecovery.exe and then just installed 3 sony programs, nvidia, intel and sound driver. I think all others are recognized by Windows 7 so I didn't install anything else.
Everything works perfect.
thanks!
Update: actually after installing as it says here, I still have the same number of processes running (about 70 or so) and similar speed... so I suppose my vaio that came with Fresh Install is quite clean!)
PS: I only installed Vaio Care and the 3 vaio programs required.

 

Usually a "Clean Install" is supposed to start at around 50 processes. Every single one I've done have been started (with all drivers installed) at 54, to be exact. 70 is quite a few for a fresh install.

 

yes given that I have itunes, adobe, latex, matlab, avg, ms office enterprise, scientific workplace and a few other computation softwares installed - though i still don't know what processes it is but when i started up without any of those, I had around 55 or so but after installing it completely as I wanted, start up has about 65 then it goes up to about 70 during normal use. and i think speed is the same since at the beginning start up was actually slower than before (about 1 minute or 1 minute 5 secs start up) then I installed all the updated drivers from the sources, it goes to around 50 seconds as before. same as shutdown -14 seconds just like Fresh install (with all of my programs, of course)
So I think that fresh install is pretty decent and if they didnt include WIndows live or some adobe stuff and let us install that for ourselves since we have to update it anyway, it'd have been better. Still, I find fresh install quite clean

 

This is my second attempt at doing a fresh install.
I have done the F10 & Stopping the Vaio recovery option which seems to have installed alot of the drivers and it says that my video driver is Nvidia 310. I have tried to install the driver from here but it wont let me for some reason.
Do I need to resintall all the other drivers that are on here?
What else have you guys installed? with all the updates on this page it seems that the re installation process isnt as clean cut as when the thread started.
Any help is much appreciated