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

Sony HDD Protection driver:
i have a vaio vgn-z530n.I couldnt find any driver for HDD protection for windows Xp.can anyone help me?

 

Does HDMI work for you guys on XP? It won't work right for me, the text is blurry. I already had the hardware replaced by Sony with no luck. I'm thinking of trying another version of XP. Please get back to me.

 

PhilFlow said HDMI works fine for him in Windows XP. See post #47 of this thread.

 

Oh I see that, thanks. I was hoping to find more confirmation from other users who use HDMI on XP. I'm surprised there hasn't been more people using HDMI on a regular basis.

 

chopstick89 what device are you connecting to?

It's very important that you output exactly the right resolution.

I connected to a HP w2207 LCD in 1680*1050 resolution, image was better than anything I had previously seen on that LCD.

 

I'm connecting to a 24" LCD Monitor at 1080p. Well the issue was everything was blurry when I connected it so I sent it to Sony for warranty. They replaced all the parts and then finally tried a Vista drive of their own and found that it was XP that wasn't working. Its coming back to me today and I was trying to figure out if I should try another install of XP to see if it fixes it OR if I shouldnt even waste my time. If it works fine on your I'll try another install of XP.

 

Try another Nvidia driver. Like the one from Laptopvideo2go.com

 

Can anyone pls tell me what kind of hotfixes included in the xp downgrade disc from sony? OR upload them somehow? Thanks, cause I'm having problems with drivers and utilities installing from a normal Windows XP SP2version.
I don't live in the US, so just try to downgrade by myself. Got a Z from US, though.

 

The main difference is that the Sony disc contains SATA drivers. you will need to slipstream them. If you don't know how that works (me neither), search for slipstream in this forum.

 

I am getting a blue screen of death after the Windows XP CD finishes loading up the setup files. It asks me to check my video adapter and that the latest BIOS is installed. After I go back into Vista I have to reinstall the driver for the NVIDIA adapter.
I am completely stuck. Anyone else had these problems?

 

I don't get it. The instructions essentially have you install XP from Sony's downgrade disk (Vista to XP), and then manually install all the drivers instead of having the install .exe automatically searching and installing.

How does this result in a clean install? Wouldn't all the bloatware that was on your original Vista install still be present? I find it hard to believe that Sony would provide a downgrade disk that is designed to automatically wipes your laptop of all their bloatware.

Am I missing something?

 

So I just got my vaio z and decided to order my xp downgrade kit, much to my surprise when I went to the site: https://www.qdirect.net/Sony/auth/Logon83.aspx?ReturnUrl=/sony/VistaDG2.aspx nothing seems to appear for me to fill out or order nething..

Can neone help me out?

Also, would a regular XP disc work with this clean install as well?

Thanks!

 

where can we get those softwares that came preinstalled with vista?
is there a link to download all of it... i specially like the vaio recovery center and the magic-i visuall effects or webcam companion..

 

and can i still use the TPM in XP?

 

The solution to this is posted right above your post.

 

I want to hear some answers to these questions as well. I haven't downgraded to XP yet, but so far in Vista, after doing all the power management tweaks, the fan is still basically at a constant "on," blowing out hot air (it'll idle at times for a minute or so, but then it'll come back. And this is when I'm not even actively using the laptop!). I guess I didn't put much stock in the comments about the loudness of the fan noise before I bought my Z b/c a lot of people were brushing it off so easily, but it really is starting to bug me now unfortunately. Does the downgrade to XP noticeably help in trying to keep the fan "off" from blowing constantly? Because if it doesn't, I am seriously considering returning it (which makes me feel both ashamed and peeved that a "small" thing such as fan noise could irritate me so much).

 

Hey thanks for the wonderful guide, however I have a quick question. For example if I get a Z690 today would the i.e drivers, utilies still work?

Thanks

 

Just wonder if Z owners manage to get their FN keys and Sony Power Management perfectly working?

 

I wasn't able to with the 2 DVD disk sony sent me.

 

Dear Phil and all those, who supported users by replying and helping with their problems! You are doing a great and important job.

I myself decided to downgrade my Sony VAIO VGN-Z21WN from Vista Business to WinXP SP3. Most of the drivers were installed OK (some things hasn't yet checked, e.g. HDMA and WWAN), but I definitely have problems with my BlueTooth adapter. I have installed drivers from here. They have installed normally, without any warnings. The tray icon is displayed with red (= bluetooth is disabled) and after right click on it and selecting "Start using bluetooth" the following message is displayed:

Code:

Bluetooth-device was not found.
Please check, that your Bluetooth-device is correctly connected and enabled

What is interesting, I have just started downgrading another notebook (Acer Aspire 9300) and I have similar symptoms there. Maybe I am using the wrong driver? Thanks in advance.

 

So I just got my vaio z and decided to order my xp downgrade kit, much to my surprise when I went to the site: https://www.qdirect.net/Sony/auth/Lo...fVistaDG2.aspx nothing seems to appear for me to fill out or order nething..

PHP:

------

That's an old address; I tried using it too. The link from the old address to the new one does not always work.

You can find the Sony XP downgrade order form here:
www.sony.com/vaio-xpdowngrade

A 'regular' xp disk will not contain the necessary drivers.

 

What I should install to have "Sony Recovery Center" application only? It is quite useful, as allows to create bootable disks. Will it work for XP?

 

Same problem here.
Called Sony and they said "It's a known issue, we are working on it".
Did any of you found a solution?

Nico

 

Just found out the solution (after formatting 8 times and wasting about a week). The WWAN doesn't work if the battery is not inserted. It is automatically disabled!!!

 

Strange. The battery in my laptop was always connected. I've installed WWAN_CONNECTION_MANAGER_2.3.0.630_02.ZIP and WWAN_DRIVER_4.0.2.32.ZIP for XP and I get the same error message.

 

I wonder how much better your hibernate time is after downgrading to XP. I have Z620D running Vista Business. It takes 55 seconds on average to bring it out of hibernation into the working state.

 

Hello,
I can't find any XP Sony HDD Protection driver for my Z555DN/B. I also have a Base System Device yellow exclamation in my device manager and I am wondering if those are related? I followed all the steps exactly and this is the second time I have downgraded to XP with this machine (installed a new hard drive with the same issue. I just ignored it last time but I would like to get it sorted.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Recovering from hibernate takes 20 seconds on my notebook.

 

I have a USA Z540NBB that came with two "Z500N Series" recovery discs for XP3. Part 4-108-105-01.

Can anyone confirm that this disc contains the SATA drivers?

Does this guide still apply? Is it still necessary to do the XP3 step #2 since the recovery disc is XP3?

Are the driver links in the first post still current? If not can someone who has recently done this please post the most current links for USA (if they vary)?

Thanks!

 

To answer my own question, the XP3 recovery DVD part number A-1555-308-A does have the SATA drivers. It doesn't seem adaptable to the guide as discs 1 and 2 seem to run seemlessly with no indication of a point to break it off before everything is installed.

It's not a clean install, but I've seen much worse. You do get AOL trialware that is uninstalled but ready for activation. You also get Office, Roxio, WinDVD, Adobe, Office and Works. It doesn't seem to install the appropriate utilities for the S1/S2 keys but everything else worked. I reinstalled the utilities pack from the Sony USA drivers area and the S keys are working. HDMI works. Graphics switch works with reboot. No other issues to report so far.

 

Anyone know if there is a driver or an option somewhere to turn off power to the optical drive after a period of time, as there is in Vista? I've found the options to power off the wireless, bluetooth, firewire and modem, but so far nothing for the DVD player.

 

nice guide thanks!

did anyone manage to install server 2003 using XP drivers?

 

Please help me to setup HDMI on my Z11WN/B. Downgraded to XP, installed all the utilities, drivers, everything is working..but, HDMI showing only picture, no sound, I haven't got any additional options in my Sound and Audio Devices. In Volume Control I got HDMI but it is not active, i can not adjust sound.

Tried almost everything, please help.

 

Hi, eugene2009! How did you manage to setup bluetooth? For me the supplied drivers on sony FTP site do not work. What link have you used for bluetooth drivers?

 

Can't help you there. I never had the opportunity to check the sound of HDMI. I just used it on my LCD monitor, the picture was working.

Maybe someone else can comment.

 

Good guide, Phil.. I squared away my brightness issues under "Speed" mode realizing there's something "changed" inside the driver package for the Nvidia GPU.

Now, there's been many improvements in Nvidia drivers since the Nov. 08 drivers that Sony provides to us on the website. Does anybody know how to take the latest Nvidia drivers and modify them so that we retain our Brightness controls? Guess I could pick apart the driver package Sony provides us and see what's different....

 

Thanks Phil & everyone for the great guide and all the contribution/posts.

I have a quick question: what is the advantage of a clean xp install if the new z540 i got already came with xp pro installed? is it quicker to just get rid of non-essential processes rather than a fresh install, and if so, do you have any recommendations how?

Thanks!

 

Check with ctrl-alt-del how many processes you have running in the background. Than I can tell you whether it's worthwhile to do a clean install.

 

There are 48 processes running after I installed Symantec Antivirus Corporate v10.2 and getting rid of all the junk ware I could identify under Add or Remove Programs.

That's def nearly twice of what you posted, but I'm not sure if all of that are useless or if some are ones I'll need down the road anyway. I'm not sure if it's helpful to include, but I've listed below the programs that are currently installed (under Add or Remove Programs):

Adobe Flash Player, Battery Care Function, High Def Audio Package (x2), Intel Graphics Accelerator Driver, Intel PROSet, Intel Active Management Tech, Intel Matrix Storage Manager, InterVideo WinDVD, J2SE Runtime, LiveUpdate (Symantec), Microsoft .NET (1.1 + 1.1 Hotfix + 2.0), Microsoft compression client, Microsoft SQL server (native client, setup suport, VSS writer), Microsoft User-Mode Driver, Mobile Broadband drivers, MSXML 4.0 SP2, MSXML 6.0 Parser, NVIDIA driver, Protector Suite QL5.6, Realtek High Def Audio Driver, Seting Utility Series, Soft Data Fax Modem, Sony Cert PCH, SOny Utilities DLL, Symantec Antivirus, VAIO Control Center, VAIO Event Services, VAIO Long Batt Life Wallpaper, VAIO Power Management, VAIO Registration, VAIO Update 3, WIDCOMM Blutooth, Windows IE7, Windows Media Connect, Windows Media Format 11 runtime & player, Windows SP3, Wireless Switch Setting Utility.

I personally have no plan to use the fingerprint scanning capacity. I'm not sure about how useful the rest is. Pls let me know if you think there are a few

Many thanks in advance for your recommendation. I think this would prove very useful to many of us.

 

Well what you are listing are installed programs and not the startup processes.

What I do is I use CCleaner (freeware), Tools, Startup. It gives a nice list of all the processes that are started. Then there's the option of disabling processes. I experiment with what processes I can disable without problems by trial and error.

If you want to try CCleaner make sure not to install the extra software that comes with it.

By the way 48 processes is not really too many. If you are happy with the performance it's ok. I'm a bit of a minimalist myself and like to keep my installation as snappy as possible.

 

Got it will give that a try. From your recollection, are there any obvious processes that you'd suggest to remove/disable? Thanks.

 

I really can't remember. I just used trial and error to find out. There's not much that can go wrong.

Good things to disable are things like Google update and Adobe update. I sometimes check manually for updates.

 

I've got a VGN-Z555DN and I did the clean install, everything's fine but I can't seem to get the stamina/speed toggle to work, any tips? (I've used all the drivers posted on Sony's support site)

 

If I remember correctly (it's been a while since I had the Z) you need to reboot for it in XP.

 

um funny i was going to bring up this problem before looking at these last two posts:
isnt this guide kind of misleading for the z 5xx-7xx series? because theyre pretty different? i mean the drivers you posted definitely wont work at least.

 

The components haven't changed so most of it should work.

But many drivers may be outdated, since I haven't updated this guide in ages.