Windows XP SP3 on Sony VAIO Z - Clean Install / Downgrade Guide

I asked the very same question a few weeks ago and didn't get an answer... but then again, given that Vista often misbehaves after switching the power to optical drive back on again - i.e. can't detect the optical drive properly - maybe it's a good thing that we can't do this in XP, as the implementation of this feature isn't exactly perfect?

 

When I had XP on the Z, in the Vaio Control Center there was an option "Performance" that regulates the m.bus from 400mhz (battery life option) to 533mhz (performance option). Now I have Vista again, anynone where is this option?

 

Maybe: Control panel > Device manager > Optical drive > Disable. But I think it only disables the acces.

In the Vaio control center The performance profile and max battery profile will take care of the bus. It can be interesting to install RMClock just to monitor what the Vaio control center does.

 

I too am unable to extract the drivers from the .exe on the SONY USA site. I can do this from the Intel exes. It seems strange to me that the Sony USA site would have different files than other Sony sites.

 

Can you give me a file name of a file or a link to it, that you can not extract?

PS. I'm not saying every file can be extracted.

 

Download the Universal Extractor and extract using the WUN_UNPACKER option. This should work for the Sony exe's and has been tested to work over in this Vaio SR thread.

 

Here is a link to a couple of the files I'm not able to extract from:

ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/REDAUD-15505100-XP.EXE
ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SODSPI-14641500-XP.EXE

 

I can't extract those files either with 7zip. Try the universal extractor tool.

It does seem Sony US uses different files.

 

Universal Extractor seemed to do the trick! I used the first extract method (E_Wise Unpacker) and had no problems. Thanks for the tip Lattice.

 

Hi everyone,

does anyone know where i can get the globetrotter hsdpa xp 32bit drivers from?

Thanks, Ryan

 

Driver:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDO.../WWAN DRIVER FOR XP DOWNGRADE 4.0 _ 4.0.2.ZIP

Connection utility:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDO...WAN CONNECTION MANAGER FOR XP 2.3 _ 2.3.0.ZIP

 

Thanks for the links!

 

will this work for the vgn-nr310e, minus the stuff not available (fingerprint, etc.)

i slipstreamed an xp disc and installed on my laptop. got everything to work except the audio driver and the usb ports. i downloaded the audio driver off the sony website but it still won't work

so should i start over?

thanks

 

No reason to start over afaik. Make sure you have the correct driver or try downloading a driver directly from the manufacturer of you audio chip.

 

Does anyone know why my FN buttons wont work? I cant alter the brightness, volume etc? And also, my eject button above my keyboard doesnt work. Am i missing some drivers? I have downgraded to xp by the way.

Ryan

 

I think you're probably missing some utilities rather than drivers (or maybe both?). Did you follow either the Sony guide or Philflow's guide?

If you haven't installed any Sony utilities yet, that will explain it. Install their Utilities DLL first, then the Vaio Event Service and with any luck that will fix your problem.

 

Thanks again InfyMcGirk!!! I already had the utilities dll installed but my copy of the vaio event service wouldnt install so i used the link you provided and now my problem is sorted.

Ryan

 

I just got my Sony VAIO vgn-z590 with Windows XP downgrade discs. After more than 5 hours on the phone with Sony Tier 2 Tech support, they have declared that Windows XP downgrade will not work on the 256 Gig SSD.

Do you have any idea if your procedure would work on Solid State Drive? Or why would official Sony VAIO Z500 series Windows XP downgrade disks keep giving me the blue screen of death before install?

Jim
[email protected]

 

Maybe because you're missing RAID drivers? I'll assume that the 256 gig SSD is 2x128GB SSDs in RAID configuration? I'm not exactly sure where to find them, but maybe you need to slipstream those in addition to the SATA drivers that should already be on the XP disk.

 

I think Lattice is right. You'll need to slipstream the RAID drivers.

The manufacturer of the RAID chip might offer XP drivers on it's website.

 

Hi, If I downgrade to XP, can I keep the Vista recovery partition (EISA) on HDD and later on reinstall Vista from this Vista recovery partition?

 

I followed this guide and got XP on just fine, but now how to I get back into Vista? Vista came pre-loaded on C:\ I installed XP on E:\

Every dual boot guide out there says you need to original Vista CD to get back into Vista, but Sony doesn't supply it.

 

Another thing I just realized... my CD eject button doesn't eject the drive.

How can I fix that?

 

This guide is not a dual boot guide.

If you want to go back to Vista you need to reinstall it. It's probably located in your recovery partition. You can start recovery by pressing F10 (?) at boot up.

I don't know why your eject button does not work. Have you tried pressing it longer?

 

PhilFlow, would you care commenting on the posting (by me) that was removed? I assume it was removed due to double posting.

 

Yes I removed it bc of double post. Unfortunately I don't have the knowledge to answer your question. As far as I know the downgrade discs are not being sold by Sony. So P1 may be your only option.

 

Thanks for the reply Phil.

I ended up using EasyBCD to do whatever it is EasyBCD does to let me boot from my C:\ Vista installation.

 

Thanks for the reply.
Well I opened the box and the Z570N does not come with the XP downgrade disk. However it has instructions to get the disks from the US sony website.
www.qdirect.net/sony/VistaDG2.aspx
I think I might order the P1 disk just in case.
Cheers,

 

I ordered the XP downgrade disk from sony (see above) and the one from PortableOne. I got to say the service from P1 is EXCELLENT+++. I payed for the disk ($29, free USPS shipping withing USA. Google checkout) around 4:30PM on Fri. and they drop it on the USPS box the same afternoon,! Hopefully I'll get the disk early next week.
The sony service is not bad either I ordered Fri morning and it was shipped the same afternoon via Fedex. Tracking info says it'll get here by the 20th.
I'll try the P1 disk first, if anyone is interested I'll post the results. Hopefully everything will work as is the case with PhilFlow clean install procedure, no bloatware and few precess running in the background. This should be a very simple install, P1 one claims that it's a clean disk image.

 

Anyone else notice that it is impossible to set the brightness level in Windows XP to be as dim as in Vista while in speed mode? The lowest setting in XP is equivalent to 3-4 bars brightness in Vista. This bugs me... anyone here familiar with hacking nVidia drivers?

 

OK, I don't get it! There seems to be a whole lot of you who are downgrading from Vista to XP. Why?

Outside of a couple of small quircks I am really happy with Vista. I have a 2 year old SZ280P with XP Pro and a 6 month old SZ780U (Vista Ultimate), and there is no comparison between the 2. My SZ780 absoutely smokes the SZ280 in every catagory except shut down time....that is a bit irritating with Vista.

I run some demanding memory and graphics programs like AutoCAD and CATIA as well as some major photo editing in DP Pro (Canon) and Photo Shop. It's gotten to the point that I use my older SZ (which I thought was the smokin'est thing on the planet when I first got it) for mostly e-mail, word processing, and spread sheets, and my new one for all the graphics and design stuff.

What am I missing?

 

The advantages of XP vs Vista for me are:

- VASTLY improved hibernation/wake up times (this is the #1 reason for me downgrading tbh)
- improved startup and shutdown times
- no software compatibility issues (although only one app I use frequently has this problem - FairUse4WM, and I could have no doubt worked around it using VirtualPC or similar)
- quicker and more responsive feel to Windows Explorer for basic tasks
- no crapware 'helpfully' installed in the build by Sony
- marginally better battery life (it's so marginal that this shouldn't affect your decision though, IMHO)

The disadvantages are:

- can't switch between Intel and nVidia graphics on-the-fly (needs a reboot, but that's fine with me as I rarely switch anyway)
- less pretty and 'wow' than Vista
- no crapware in the build (if you actually like Office Trial, McAfee Trial, etc)

That's about all I think of right now. For me, it's just that my Z feels much nippier using XP and most of all the dreadfully slow hibernation times in Vista were a real PITA.

 

For me it was the hibernation and booting times that are a lot better in XP.

If I disable the Aero interface and put Vista in classis look, disable some services Vista feels just as snappy as XP.

Batterylife better in XP? I never really measured it but I doubt a clean and light installed Vista won't match it.

 

Ditto.

You're probably right. I didn't have a Vista install disc to hand so didn't try a clean install - only the default Z UK build complete with trials and crapware etc. The difference was negligible like I said... not enough to use as a basis to decide on.

 

Hi all!
I have one question concerning the Downgrade: I have such a Installation DVD and it tells me to backup *all* data.

Now, the question is, does this DVD destroy only the stuff on the Windows Vista partition? I have already shrinked the Vista partition and installed linux in the rest, and don't want to re-install all of linux again.

So, does that procedure/DVD destroy the partition table and creates new partitions, or can I decide where/in which partition it should be installed?

Thanks a lot and all the best

Norbert

 

just install the laptopvideo2go drivers from their website and in the Nvidia-Settings under Smartdimmer you have a pretty wide variety (from 100% to like 10% and completely off).
Its really easy to install, and I think it even enables CUDA.

I got driver version 180.70, it works fine for me!

 

This topic should be sticked as well. Thanks, useful guide.

 

Hmm, didn't work: I tried the following: I used nLite to integrate the intel sata drivers into a XP CD (and slipstreamed also SP3).

Installation went fine, all worked out, but then, rebooting, I get:
Medienfehler. Kein Betriebssystem
(AFAIR) which in english should be something like
media error, no operating system
press any key
and that's it.

Any idea what could be the reason for that?

I still have as partition 1 the VISTA rescue partition, and from 3 on some linux partitions, and I can boot into the VISTA rescue partition and into the linux partitions, but the nt boot loader from XP seems not to like me.

Any idea what can be done here?

Thanks and all the best

Norbert

 

I've never bothered with multiple booting myself, but I seem to recall that I read somewhere XP isn't very clever about handling it. I'm sure I was advised that dual booting XP and Vista only works without hassle if you install XP first. Then Vista is clever enough to handle the boot manager stuff properly. If you already have Vista, XP doesn't like it. Sorry if that doesn't help!

 

First off, thanks a ton for writing this guide! I got my Z on Sunday and the XP Pro DG disc today in the mail. I'm burning the Vista recovery discs now.

I'm thinking of just following the Sony directions for the DG. For people who followed the Sony directions (and use the .exe driver packages) how many processes did you have running on initial XP Pro boot? (I have a Z520 btw if that matters)

 

Sorry, I followed the Sony guide/disc... installing all of the drivers and utilities in the order listed, but didn't check how many processes I had after first boot.

However, I can tell you that I have 63 processes running right now, and that's with IE and Firefox open, RMclock, ZoneAlarm Pro, ESET NOD32 AV, NetLimiter 2 Monitor, and various other small bits and bobs.

I doubt very much that you'll regret downgrading. Just for laughs, try timing your current startup/shutdown/hibernate/wake times and then do the same test after the downgrade. I know how much faster it 'feel's, but I'd still be interested in actual figures...

 

Nope, no regrets at all; so much faster and more responsive. I had ~45 processes running after I turned off a couple update checking apps in the msconfig startup list. I'm certain it could be cleaned out more too. I have my budget Dell desktop (very old, like circa 2001) running 18 processes while idle on XP pro SP3, lol. Sorry, I never timed the vista processes but xp is much faster, as you know.

 

Can I use the CD key that is on the bottom of my Laptop when I install windows XP Pro...it is a Vista business CD key. I have a Windows XP Pro OEM cd already.

 

Can you use the Sony Recovery disc to repair the boot menu if I wanted to dual-boot with Vista intact? I was looking at this: http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_...talled_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm?page=4 and it needs a Vista disc to get the boot menu back.

 

I don't think this will work directly, but you can obtain a key from Microsoft, as per the following instructions:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/...windows-xp-professional-without-extra-charge/

I used the downgrade media provided with my Z and didn't need a key.

 

Hi,

I'm just get my new Z11 and downgrade it to Xp sp3.
Everything is perfect except...Fan Noise !!!
In stamina mode, with profile on silence it's very audible !
I don't want to imagine on speed and full load !
My CPU is only 31°C..so why is this fan running all the time? (on idle, no sound difference between silence and performance mode)

So is the fan quieter with Vista ?
Is there a bios update to shut it down ?
Can we use speed fan ?
What about replacing the fan ?

 

Hi everyone

Thanks PhilFlow for the manual!!!

I have recently (past friday) bought a vaio VGN-Z21WN, with the downgrade disk. Now I have XPSP3 in my vaio, and till now I only have one problem. When I trie to use WWAN, Globerttroter connect tell me "device don't found" does anybody have some suggestion?

Thanks

 

Hi Phil,

I just opened the box for my new Z590 (2.43, 250 GB SATA/7200 RMP, 3GB DDR3 SDRAM with Fresh Start) and before I start loading my programs, I'd appreciate your advice.

After lurking here for a while, I ordered the XP Pro DG but I'm not so sure I need it after reading your posts. In May I bought a new HP Windows Home Premium PC and had a lot of trouble with crashes and hangs. I just installed SP-1, so time will tell on that machine. My current research computer is a three-year-old two-ton Dell Inspiron 6000 (2 GB RAM!) with XP Pro. I needed something lighter and faster. My main programs will be Word, Excel, Endnote and Family Tree Maker 2009 (a HUGE memory hog of a program due to its photo capabilities).

Do you think I'll lose anything by running Vista Business for a while before attempting the downgrade? Do you think it will be more difficult to downgrade if I start out using Vista; will I have more files to remove, etc.?

It seems you haven't had enough trouble with Vista to warrrant the downgrade, am I right?

I've been using computers since the late 70s and although I know my way around fairly well, I'm not quite sure how to go about determining if the hassle of the downgrade process would net me much more speed or reliability.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

Hi there, welcome to the forum. I did not have any trouble with Vista. I just dislike it's slow boot times and hibernate times. That's why I installed XP. I hibernate a lot and it's about twice as fast under XP.

If you don't mind, I don't see any reason to downgrade.

So sure run Vista for a while and see if you like it. Vista SP1 is very stable.

 

Thanks for the quick reply! I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't making more work for myself by running Vista first.