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Migrating the S to Vista

2007-06-09T08:46:48-08:00

Hi guys,

Nice to have a new forum! kinda miss the old one though.

I was wondering if you manage to get everything working on the S with vista. I have tried and manage to get everything but the brightness working. So I went back to XP for a while. Now I want to make a final transition.

I was following an old thread about but it was inconclusive by the end.

Any of you manage to get an S 100% working with Vista? If so, please give me some poiters. I have an S580.

Best regards,

Lourenco

How-to Install Windows 7 on S series

2009-08-13T14:02:43-08:00

EDIT 1: 8/31/09 UAC

I think I’ve made a breakthrough after experimenting with different files and/or different settings. After some time I’ve finally been able to run Windows 7 beautifully on my S170 without any issues. The following instructions will work for similar Vaio or could possibly be of a reference for other Vaio series, unsupported by Sony.

Instructions: How to Install Win7 on the S Series
(Tested with Build 7100 and 7600 on a VGN-S170)

After a clean installation of Win7:

1. Install Drivers for Wireless (Intel 2200BG). I used a separate computer to get these drivers, or just have it on a Jump drive before Win7 install.

2. Open Windows Update and install everything. This will install some Win7 updates plus drivers for Programmable I/O Device, ATI 9600/9700 and SoundMAX.

3. Reboot Computer

EDIT 1: Before installing the Sony drivers, first go to control panel and turn OFF User Account Contorl (UAC). Move the slider all the way down. This will make sure the Sony drivers will operate the way we’ll modify them later.

Next 4 drivers are a combination of original S170 WinXP drivers and S360 WinXP drivers. Use S170 driver for Utilities and the remaining 3 from S360 WinXP drivers. Download them from Sony website. Install them in the order shown here:

1. Utilities (S170) (Reboot Computer)

2. Sony Shared Library (S360) (Reboot Computer)

3. Programmable I/O Device (S360) (Reboot Computer)

4. Control Device Driver (S360) (Reboot Computer)

For the remaining drivers, use the original S170 drivers:

5. Modem

6. Network

7. Touchpad. Reboot after installation. Windows will ask if you want to run the program, say “never notify me again” and run the program. It works just fine.

8. Memory Stick Driver

HotKeys Utility modifications (for Fn Volume and Fn Brightness control). You will notice the Fn keys don’t work properly. The on-screen display works but without any effect to the actual controls. With a bit of modification this can be made to function.
1. Go to C:Program FilesSonyHotkey Utility.
2. Right click on HKSERV.EXE and select PROPERTIES, then the COMPATIBILITY tab.
3. Apply Windows XP (SP2 or SP3) Compatibility mode and check “Run this program as an administrator” then click OK.
4. Do the same for HKWND.EXE
5. Reboot
With both of the files modified, the volume control will work perfectly. (Thanks to S22S for this ingenious find)

My S170 specs: Dothan 2.0Ghz, 1GB RAM, 60GB HD, ATI 9700.
Win7 runs very smoothly along with Aero. I haven’t encountered any issues after applying this workaround. I’ve borrowed a few ideas from members on this and other forums. Adding my experiments to their great advice and ideas, this has worked. Coming straight from Windows XP, this feels like a whole new world to me, yet familiar. My S170 is my primary computer and I haven’t had to look back after this install. Good luck and enjoy your S series like it was brand new again. Post any problems and I will try to assist.

NOTE: Fn + F7 will not work, possibly due to Sony Control not working. No problem, there’s an excellent alternative = Winkey + P

Sony support for Win7 install??

2009-08-09T07:32:55-08:00

EDIT: No need to worry or wait for Sony to support this series for Windows 7, I’ve made a tutorial on how to do just that… S170 Win7 Install

According to this page, Sony may support Installation of Win7 on the S170 ( and the S series probably)
S170 Support Page

I’ve tried installing it a couple of times and the OS runs very well, but just limited by not being able to use the FN key for brightness and volume change. If that is what Sony will provide support for, I’ll be very happy, just like any other S series owner.

What do you guys think, does this message from Sony sound like there’s hope?

Will Vista (or Win 7) work on S360? without sacrifices?

2009-02-17T08:30:55-08:00

I’ve tried Vista and windows 7 on my S170, as I’ve posted my results in another thread.. it didn’t end well because of the FN key not working with volume control.

Well now I have a chance to get my hands on a S360, which does support vista according to sony’s website. has anyone successfully upgraded to vista without any problems, with EVERYTHING working? someone please says yes…

Windows 7 (7000) on Vaio S170

2009-01-13T10:26:00-08:00

I’ve installed it just the other day and it is fantastic.
Let me say this, I did have trouble with the drivers. Windows 7 installs everything automatically under windows update, that is IF you have WIFI working, but that was a struggle to begin with.

Windows 7 feels much better than Vista that I’ve tried a while back. Vista was very sluggish and bogged down my laptop and just wasn’t fun to use. The 7 on the other hand has minimal requirements and it runs just as well as XP and stays quiet.

I wasn’t able to get every function to work on my ancient laptop, but enough to live with.

What doesn’t work:
Fn + volume controls (though Fn + Brightness, Pg Up, Pg Dn work)
S1 and S2 keys (sony notebook settings wont install and or operate correctly)

Apart from that, everything else seems to be just fine. Even my port replicator is working. If you have trouble using XP drivers, try S360 Vista drivers.. they worked for me!

My s170 specs:
2.0 Ghz Mobile M
1GB RAM
60GB HD
ATI 9700 64MB

DRIVER FOR PCGA-UMS3

2008-12-05T11:33:37-08:00

Do any body have the driver for mouse vaio PCGA-UMS3.

Please send me I can’t use the mouse.

Thanks

viao vgn-fs450m

2008-06-01T05:21:03-08:00

First greeting and apologies cause i couldnt find any better place to ask the questions that i have.

OK i have a Sony VAIO VGN-FS415M laptop, but about half year ago my laptop stoped working, the problem is dead motherboard. Now, i need a advice, what motherboards can fit in my laptop to buy? I assembled many desktop computers but this is little different i believe, but then again it doesnt seem to hard.
I was looking the motherboards on ebay, but, can i only put the motherboard from my model in laptop to work? or can i put install any motherboard from series VGN-FS ? Or maybe some other?
So what i am asking is motherboard from VGN-FS415M laptops only one that is compatible with my laptop or can i use any motherboard from VGN-FS series? or maybe i can use from FZ series or some others?
And what would be the best to buy?
Thx in advance for all answers!

VAIO S-Series and Vista

2007-02-01T04:16:13-08:00

It looks like Sony will not be offering any migration of VAIO S-series (SZ is ok though) to Vista citing that the S-series doesn’t meet the hardware requirements for Vista (which is an outright lie). Interestingly enough, they are supporting the very last S-series (S6xxx).

Installing Vista on my 1st gen S170P works fine with it find every piece of hardware except the audio hardware. One can simply use the XP audio driver to enable audio and everything works nice.

The big issue is getting the notebook hotkeys and buttons to work and that is where Sony is lagging in the support. One can just assume they didn’t want to go back and update these utilities.

I’ve managed to get some (but not all) of the hardware stuff buttons working and will post instructions for those interested once I have verified it works and can repeat the process. If anyone has info they want to share, please reply to this post.

Problem with SZ370P and Docking station after Vista upgrade

2007-05-07T23:51:34-08:00

Not a serious problem - just an annoying one. The Vista upgrade to my SZ went very well (you can read about it here ), but there is one small problem.

I use the Sony Docking station for the SZ at work, whenever I dock or undock the system (yes, I hit the undock button) the laptop freezes. Anyone ever experience this, or - better - know a workaround?

Thanks

Sigmatel Audio Problem SZ

2007-04-13T09:38:35-08:00

Got a problem with my SZ. The sound doesn’t work and when I go into the Device Manager it says “This device cannot start (code 10)”. I have tried to update and downgrade the drivers, but none of that seems to help. Anyone have any thoughts? I was also thinking about changing the ANL-66 board but wanted more information before I moved forward.