Windows Vista Clean Install Process

"This document provides the steps and information necessary to perform a Clean Install process to install Microsoft Windows Vista operating system on applicable VAIO® computer models. The process varies by computer model and may take 1 - 2 hours to complete."

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?template_id=1&info_id=172

 

Thanks for that link, leventozler! I did an online "chat" on 03 Feb 07 with Sony "Support" who advised me to call Microsoft for this information.

Then, also on 03 Feb 07, I called Sony technical support. At first they told me that, to do a clean install, I had to buy the Windows Vista OS from Sony on a disk that included the drivers for my specific model . Then the technician contacted some higher level Sony support technician who told the lower-level guy that he was completely wrong because I had purchased my VGN-SZ160P back on 01 March 06. So to do a clean install I would need to purchase the full version of Vista from a retailer (which I knew already from the Sony website) and to do the driver installation from a disk that Q Media Solutions [+1 (888) 549-9660] will make available for purchase sometime in mid February 2007.

When I asked the support guy for a step-by-step list for doing the upgrade and for proper installation of the drivers, he said that such a guide did not exist and that the downloaded drivers "would load in the proper order". So thanks again for finding this step-by-step guide!

 

I did a clean install following these instructions yesterday, and found at the end, there were three devices that needed drivers. Friday night, I downloaded all of the vista drivers, the camera didn't work, but I loaded the XP drivers for the camera and got that to work. No memory stick drivers, but the XP drivers work as well.

Still haven't been successful at getting the S1 and S2 buttons to work yet.

 

I have used the xp camera drivers and the camera appears to be working in the Sony Camera Capture applet. Has anyone tried the camera with third party messaging or communication software?

 

The guide above suggests you install sony shared library first then sony utilities, but the european vaio site on another thread suggests the other way around. Does it really matter?

 

I did a clean Vista Install 2 Days ago on my FE790P and everything works. I just looked at the Windows XP Clean install instructions under Software dependencies.

I installed the drivers in the following order: See Attachment. Capture.JPG

You can use the drivers from the Europe FTP Server as well. I saw no difference for my laptop.

Everything will work!!!!100%

Hopefully this will help you all

 

Install Vaio Central to get the S1 and S2 buttons to work.

 

Where would I find the Vaio Central app? Is it typically found under another name? I haven't found it on my original DVDs...

Thanks,
Adam