Windows 8 Clean install Guide for Vaio FZ

Just a short note to let you know that this Windows 7 Clean install Guide for Vaio FZ also works for installing Windows 8.

I just used it for installing all drivers for Windows 8 Pro on my 5-year old Sony Vaio FZ21M. As I bought the upgrade version of Windows 8, I first tried to upgrade from my existing Windows 7 installation by keeping all programs and settings. However, the upgrade failed twice, so I had to go the long way of making a clean install and only keeping user data. This is why I had to re-install all drivers again.

I still have to check certain functions, but all the basics appears to work, including Bluetooth, webcam, graphics drivers, etc.

As the guide points out, one key element for re-using certain drivers, is to unpack the .exe file by using Uniextract and run the setup.exe inside the extracted folder (see, e.g., point 12).

An additional note about graphics drivers: for my board (nVidia GeForce 8400M GT), the 32-bit drivers supplied with the guide generated rendering issues with certain programs (among which Firefox 17). So I downloaded the latest drivers from the Sony Support site (for my FZ21M that is v.7.15.11.6760, intended for Windows Vista), and they are working fine so far.

 

One more thing about how to install the graphics drivers you downloaded from the Sony support site (note that using generic nVidia drivers for desktop PCs is not suggested, as certain functions provided by the manufacturer, such as brightness control and power management, are not supported by desktop drivers).

Run the .exe file with the drivers (in my case this was called EP0000185336.exe, containing the Windows Vista drivers for nVidia GeForce 8400M GT v.7.15.11.6760; Sony never released official drivers for later Windows versions).
Reboot when requested.
This installs the driver, but does not automatically selects it if the graphics adapter uses the "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" driver. To use the new driver:
- open Control Panel
- go to Device Manager
- navigate to Display Adapter
- display the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter properties
- in the Driver tab, select Update Drivers
- choose to "search automatically for updated driver software"
This finds and loads the nVidia driver.
Note that this driver allows, to control display brightness via the slider in the Settings panel (Win-I shortcut). The Fn+F5, Fn+F6 shortcuts don't work on my system, but it's maybe only an issue of mapping the keys to the corresponding function (although other Fn+F_num shortcuts work properly).

 

Actually, I had downloaded a local copy of the Windows 7 clean install guide (the thread I cited in the first post) and did not realize that it had been updated to include Windows 8 installation as well.

I just wanted to add that I tried the new nVidia Verde 306.97 display drivers in that thread, and they appear to work nicely (no Firefox 17 rendering issues, as I had with other Verde versions).

Also, I installed an updated version of the Alps TouchPad driver (v 8.100.2020.112) and it works nicely. It even includes support for EdgeAction, that is Windows 8 swipe-in gestures for displaying the charm bar or app switching. You can get them from here.
Note that if your touchpad is recessed in the case, you still need to swipe from the outside of the touchpad across the bevel, and not starting from the edge of the touchpad.

 

Regarding the Fn+F5 and Fn+F6 key shortcuts for controlling display brightness, I just realised that on my Vaio FZ21M with GeForce 8400M GT, these keys actually work if I use the nVidia Graphics Drivers v.7.15.11.6760 that were officially provided by Sony for Windows Vista. For my laptop, I downloaded them from here and was able to run the .exe directly, but I suppose they could work on other Vaio laptops as well if you use the uniextract trick.

I previously tried more recent drivers, such as version 306.97 (modded as suggested in the first post), but, as reported by many other users, the Fn+F5/F6 keys were not working. In my case, I got the Sony overlay, same as for the volume keys, but the value would not change.

PS: If anyone wonders why I downgraded the display drivers, I am trying to play back Blu-Rays. Since I could not update the AACS key with InterVideo WinDVD (which was officially preinstalled on my Vaio), I launched the latest update, which upgraded it to Corel WinDVD v.8.8.0. The results were terrible, as now WinDVD does not even start: I don't even get the splash screen. I thought that this could be due to the graphics driver, so I started experimenting with some older drivers. But even with the nVidia v.7.15.11.6760, the WinDVD BD process immediately after being run. Anyone had this issue?

In any case, for now I'm staying with the v.7.15.11.6760 drivers, unless I find that a different version solves the WinDVD problem.

 

Hi,

All you have to do is find a setting in WinDVD called "Use Hardware Decode Acceleration".
It is enabled by default, but if you UNCHECK that option, WinDVD will work fine.
I have 2 Vaios with versions 8 & 10 of WinDVD and Nvidia drivers 306.97 and after that workaround everything works.
I believe that Corel WinDVD until version 10 at least, is not compatible with the latest Nvidia drivers.
Let us know the results.

B/R,