Wireless Switch Setting Utility working?

Has anyone managed to get the Wireless Switch Setting Utility to work properly on SZ clean install XP?? I'm using the latest Wireless Switch Setting Utility version 3.3 but I don't have the Enable 5 GHz Wireless LAN option. Has anyone solve this problem? Thanks in advance.

 

I have an SZ18 and like you am using the wireless utility version 3. After spending one day with my laptop (trying to reinstall the original program), Sony HK says they do not a solution for this and will make a report to Japan and will keep me informed.

 

The weird thing about this is Wireless Switch Setting Utility works fine in a semi restore windows and even I upgrade it to version 3.3 one. Only in clean install windows it wouldn't work properly. So I think there is no problem with version 3.3 one and there must be something we need to install or fix in clean install XP. Any idea?

 

t3R1, the lack of 5 GHz (802.11a) WiFi support is a known issue for the "new" Wireless Switcher software. See this thread for further information:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=43937
In particular, read my post #6. For most users, 2.5 GHz WiFi (802.11b and 802.11g) is adequate.

Having said that, I just got word that my medical center will be installing 802.11a throughout its 4 campuses. So now I too am very interested in finding a solution to restore the equivalent of the original Wireless LAN Switcher software that came with my SZ160P and which had both 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz capability.

 

I have done something similar on my new FE laptop, and managed to get everything sony working prefectly

I figured out a way to extract the installation files from the recovery CD, not just the ones floating around in easily accessable folders, but the application installers that the recovery disk itself uses when reformatting your drive.

Assuming that you have the drivers installed in the correct fashion, and have Sony / Vaio control centre installed, this should work.

Firstly:

Download kcap from here, and extract the executable file to C:\Windows.

Make a folder on any partition where there is free space, ie: C:\Kcap

Pop in the recovery DVD that you burnt using the recovery disk tool (If you haven't done this you are a nutter)
Go start -> Run: cmd.

Now, we need to firstly extract the file apps list from the recovery cd's .pac files, which are sort of like .cab archives, but are sony's flavour. To do this, you need to type the following in the command window. As an example, I have labelled my DVD drive Z:

(Also, SZ users have 2 recovery DVD's? I'm not sure which DVD the appropraite files will be on, but extract the apps list from both DVD's and work out which one has the wireless switching utility on it )

kcap z:\sony.pac c:\kcap

Hit enter, and wait for your HDD led / DVD Drive to stop blinking away. Kcap doesn't notify when things are done, or how long they will take, but just be patient and all will work accordingly.

Take a lookie in the folder specified (Ie: c:\kcap) and there should be a series of folders in there. Open the first folder with the prefix "JPBL" and open the file "Apps.lst" in notepad.

Look for a line similar to this:
"Wireless Switch Setting Utility" SP-008423-07.apr

The last bit of the line indicates what .pac file the application is hiding in. This file will be in one of the two APR folders on the vaio recovery DVD.

Locate the .pac file (Ie: In my case, I would be looking for SP-008423-07.pac) and then chuck it into your command window as follows:

kcap Z:\APR\SP-008423-07.pac c:\kcap

This will generate a new folder in the directory that you specified. Take a look in the BIN folder, and run the installer.

And hopefuly, if all went well for you, an installer for the Sony wireless switch utility should pop up! Note, that the utility on the cd will only work correctly if you have the SONY PROVIDED driver for your wireless lan installed, otherwise the application will not be able to control the radio settings for the wireless lan adaptor. (Ie: Don't use the intel driver!)

This technique also works for any applications listed in the apps.lst file. On a side note, drivers are not compressed into .pac files.

Hope that helps!

 

XantaxNZ, I've tried your way but I couldn't find those files. In my SZ recovery DVD there's only 1 .pac file and inside it are drivers and there's no folder with prefix "JPBL". I think Sony may keep them in other file types. I found few big files with .i01, .i02, .i03 and .img extension. Any idea how to extract these files?

 

I spent an hour on the phone this morning with Sony tech support after unsuccessfully trying myself to reinstall my original Wireless Switch Setting Utility (containing 2.5 GHz WiFI, 5 GHz WiFi and Bluetooth options) from both my recovery partition and from my recovery DVDs.

The tech support guy had me go through the same reinstallation steps I had already done, along with a few other things (like uninstalling the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection driver in Device Manager). Nothing worked, however, which, in the end, left me without any Wireless Switcher icon in the taskbar.

Finally, the Sony technician had me do a System Restore, which simply brought back the "new but impaired" version of the Wireless Switch Setting Utility (i.e., the one that has 2.5 GHz (802.11b and 802.11g) WiFi and Bluetooth only but does not include the checkbox found in my original Wireless Switcher installation for 5 GHz (802.11a) WiFi).

So I am back to where I started earlier this morning.

 

t3R1, you have 2 Recovery DVD's?

 

XantaxNZ
Yes I got 2 and only 1st dvd has 1 file with .pac. Any idea? Do you have the Enable 5 GHz Wireless LAN option after clean install?

Guillermédico
I think Sony tech support is idiot and I never thinked of asking them for help. One of the reason I bought this notebook because it has 802.11a which I need but now can't use it.

 

t3R1 - I do have the 5ghz option working 100% fine, I connected to a 802.11a network a few days ago.

And hrmmmm, are you sure that there are no other .pac files on the recovery cd?

 

XantaxNZ
Yes I'm pretty sure there's no other .pac files. I've taken screenshots of what's in my recovery dvds and attached below and you can see only 1 .pac files and it only contains driver. I'm using SZ140. Can anyone using SZ clarify this please. Just want to make sure that all SZ have the same recovery disc. So any idea??


Any solutions found by the others???

 

What happens if you install the version of Wireless Switching Software on your recovery CD (The first image - The filename is WSSU...)?

Are you running the sony released wireless drivers?

 

I've tried to install back the original version of Wireless Switch Setting Utility but then the old problem back again. Which is the Wireless Switch Setting Utility won't start and not usable. That's why now all SZ owner who did clean install use this 3.3 version one which is only partly usable. Yes I'm using the original wireless drivers. I think there must be something that need to be done. Do you mind to show me how did you do the clean install? Thanks for your help.

 

Basically I slipstreamed sony's windows xp hotfixes into a windows cd, and re-burnt it (This is not illegal) and installed windows from that.

On my Fe, these updates were on the original sony install in a folder called "Hotfix" (I think it was c:\sony\hotfix maybe?)

 

Can I get the hotfixes from recovery cd? Or only could be taken from preinstalled XP? I think there must be some hotfixes that must be installed for Wireless Switch Setting Utility to work properly. I did slipstreaming once only to upgrade my XP cd to SP2 but not sure how to do this with the sony hotfixes. Can you give me more details on how to do the slipstreaming and what settings used to burn the cd please. Thank a lot. Cheers.

 

Afaik you can't get the hotfixes off the recovery CD, they are hidden deep within the depths of the cd.

Heres a list of the ones that I used for my FE however:

D:\VAIO\Hotfix\kb835221.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\NDP1.1sp1-KB886903-X86.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\StepByStepInteractiveTraining-KB898458-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB307154-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB873339-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB884575-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB885250-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB885835-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB885836-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB886185-x86-enu.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB887472-x86-enu.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB887742-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB888113-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB888239-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB888302-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB888321-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB890046-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB890859-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB891781-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB893056-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB893066-v2-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB893357-v2-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB893756-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB894391-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB896358-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB896422-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB896423-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB896428-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB896688-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB899587-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB899589-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB899591-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB900725-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB901017-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WINDOWSXP-KB901214-X86-ENU.EXE
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB902400-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB904706-x86-ENU.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\windowsxp-kb905414-x86-enu.exe
D:\VAIO\Hotfix\WindowsXP-KB905749-x86-ENU.exe

Ignore the path on those files, the above is from a logfile generated by nLite (Below)

For the slipstreaming, use a utility called nLite. Google for it

Word of caution: DO NOT attempt to "Remove components" from windows using nLite. Doing so will break your add/remove control panel. Better to just do that when windows is installed

 

XantaxNZ
I've looked from few sites and they say nLite has this few features:
- Service Pack Integration
- Component Removal
- Unattended Setup
- Driver Integration
- Hotfixes Integration
- Tweaks
- Patches
- Bootable ISO creation
Can you please tell me which features that I should use and which one I shouldn't use? Can I use driver intergration? It'd be great if I could use that. Do I need to do the configuration for burning? Or nlite will do it? Any other tips or precaution step?I'm very busy currently so I'll do it when I've time. Get back to you later.Thanks for your help.

 

Good on ya XantaxNZ. I've tried your suggestion and IT WORKS!!! It's really a time wasting work. I'm really glad at last I could use my 5GHz Wireless LAN now(pic attached). So now I also have a 100% working clean install XP. Thank you soo much XantaxNZ. I've used nLite to intergrate those hotfixes but haven't tried to intergrate drivers yet cos I found it's rather complex. Do you think is it possible to intergrate the drivers as well? I'd be happy to help anyone with this problem as well. Cheers.

 

No problem man, glad I could be of help.

As for the drivers, Like I said, it's a risky business.

For one, nLite will not 'install' these in any particular order. Also, from memory (Could be different with newer versions of nLite) nLite tends to replace the drivers supplied by microsoft (The generic drivers) with your versions, which means that if you install a driver into the windows share incorrectly, you won't be able to properly run your system to even setup windows.

Driver integration is complex, hence why I have avoided it and I have been using nLite on my desktops for ages.

Also, with nLite, you can download extra hotfixes from the microsoft website, and integrate those. I tend to check on download.microsoft.com each time before I reformat, and download any hotfixes that I don't have, add them to my ever increasing directory of fixes, and re-create my windows share, integrating the whole lot. It solves a whole heap of slowdown issues which occur when you install updates using windowsupdate, which tends to increase the size of the registry a lot for all the installation / uninstallation information (Integrating the hotfixes injects the appropraite files directly into .cab files, in the i386 folder). Only downside to this is that you can't uninstall updates, and the only way to check what's installed is by going into a command (cmd) shell, and running the systeminfo command.

By the way, where did you find those hotfixes? Were they on your original sony install? Ifso, where were they?

I'm planning to write a howto for this method of clean install, but can't remember where the pesky hotfixes were on my original install

 

Yeah I think better forget about the driver intergration. Too risky. I did a semi restore to obtain back those hotfixes and windows updates which already come with my pre-installed XP and I also download additional updates from microsoft and integrate all them into my own XP. Firstly I couldn't find where those updates and hotfixes were located and then I decide to use XP search feature to search for them. I used search for All files and folder in C: and in Advanced options tick all of them except search tape backup. Search for some words that most of them have the same such as x86. Then I found all of them just located at C:\WINDOWS. My SZ has more updates and hotfixes than your FE and not all of them are the same. So I think it might be better to use windows search feature. I still have the updates and hotfixes in my D: so I could upload it for anyone who wants it but just not too sure whether it will be the same for all SZ. Cheers.

 

I expected the hotfixes to be different. Quite a few of those aren't actually released by the public, so you have to snatch them from the sony install

Could you please paste the bit from the nLite logfile (It will be on the CD that nLite made, in the root directory, a file called 'Last Session.ini") and post the [Hotfixes] Part?

 

There you go XantaxNZ. I've categorised them. I've checked those hotfixes are not available for download from microsoft website. After integrating those hotfixes clean install windows much more easier and quicker and windows run smoothly without any problem. Just tell me if anything I could do for you to write the how-to. Btw I still need to add a registry entry for the Wireless Switch Setting Utility to work. Can you recall whether you did this or not? Cos SZ definitely need to do this for Wireless Switch Setting Utility to work.

Pre-installed hotfixes (From my SZ140 original pre-installed windows)
windowsxp-kb307154-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb884018-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb884575-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb888239-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb888402-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb893357-v2-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb909667-x86-enu.exe

Pre-installed Windows Updates (From my SZ140 original pre-installed windows)
windowsxp-kb885250-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb885835-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb885836-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb886185-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb887472-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb888302-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb890046-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb890859-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb891781-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb893066-v2-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb893756-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb896358-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb896422-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb896423-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb896424-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb896428-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb896688-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb899587-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb899588-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb899589-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb899591-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb900725-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb901017-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb901214-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb902400-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb903235-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb904706-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb905414-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb905749-x86-enu.exe
kb835221.exe
windowsxp-kb873339-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb887742-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb888113-x86-enu.exe
windowsinstaller-kb893803-v2-x86.exe
windowsxp-kb894391-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb896727-x86-enu.exe
windows-kb870669-x86-enu.exe <--------- can't be intergrated with nLite but could be installed manually later

Additional Windows Updates (I download these updates manually from Microsoft website)
WindowsXP-KB901190-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB902400-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsMedia-KB911564-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsMedia9-KB911565-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB898461-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB900485-v2-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB908531-v2-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB910437-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB908519-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB911562-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB911567-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB911927-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB912812-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB912919-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB913446-x86-ENU.exe
WindowsXP-KB913580-x86-ENU.exe
Windows-KB913433-x86-ENU.exe

 

I didn't need a registry entry to get my wireless switching utility working.

Was this the driverpath fix that you installed?

 

What's "driverpath" mean?

 

How about just uploading your working Version of the Switching Utility. It is useless to owners of other notebooks so there shouldn't really be a problem.

 

Is there anyone who could help me out here?
I had Windows XP MCE installed, and due to HD failure bought a new HD, and wanted to install Windows Vista.
Most programs run fine, except for 2:
-Wireless switcher setting utility (I can't find it anymore, don't have originals anymore, they where on a separate partition of my now broken HD)
-Sony's power saving feats (like on battery go to 16bits color mode, and so on...). Where can I find this driver?

Thank you for your help!

 

After much trial and error, I found that for Windows XP, you need to install the Intel ProSet utilities to get the Wireless Switcher to work with the WLAN card properly. The version of the WSS utility I use on my SZ31 (running Windows XP) is this one:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/SZ6/APPLICATIONS/10_WIRELESS_SWITCH_SETTING_UTILITY.ZIP

And it works with the latest Intel WLAN drivers (v11.5) on my 3945ABG.

 

i got simmilar problem but after reinstal i dont have a BLUETOOTH option.
Any advice?