Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

For those still struggling to get W7 (64) working on the Z, here is my brief guide. I documented everything I did while I was installing and I've provided links to the sites I obtained the drivers from.



My install works completely with mostly the latest W7 drivers installed. Although I state an order here, I expect other orders would work but certainly orders seems to be fairly important.



I'd appreciate if even the experienced would glance this as I've a few questions of my own at the bottom.



My model is a Z11, which is a first generation Z. This is equivalent to the Z590 USA model. There are a few differences, primarily the Z11VN comes with an Option integrated mobile broadband card.



I left UAC default. I installed all drivers by right clicking and choosing install as administrator, but this is probably unnecessary. If a driver asked for a restart, I did one. Windows update installed quite a bit by default including the firmware parser. I left these alone as no update was required.



- Upgrade to latest BIOS (R2170M3)

- Ensure all integrated components are switched on in currently installed OS

- Put switch into speed mode

- Clean install of Z with W7, 64 Bit

- Allowed all Windows Update updates to install, which required a few restarts

- Installed GFX driver and restarted (NVDVID-00208041-764.exe)

- Sony Shared Library 5.4 (Sony_Shared_Library_5.4_5.4.0.05200.zip)

- Restarted and changed to STAMINA mode

- Vaio Event Service 5.0 (VAIO_Event_Service_5.0_5.0.0.07010.zip)

- Restarted and changed back to SPEED

- Vaio Smart Network 3.0 (VAIO_Smart_Network_3.0_3.0.0.09080.zip)

- WWAN drivers from option website. Had to input my IMEI to get the download (153_Driver-4_0_17_0-Installer.zip) - I used the installer in TCPSCHEMA0/Without service folder.

- Vaio control centre 4.0 (VAIO_Control_Center_4.0_4.0.0.06120.zip)

- Setting utility series 5.0 (Setting_Utility_Series_5.0_5.0.0.07300.zip)

- Finger print software (7UPG_PROTECTOR_SUITE_QL_UPEK_64 5.9_5.9.2.5739.ZIP)

- Alps touch pad driver (POINTING_DRIVER_ALPS_7.102A_64_7.102.505.201.ZIP)

- Vaio power management 4.0 (VAIO_Power_Management_4.0_4.0.0.08240.zip)

- Memory stick reader driver (MEMORY_CARD_READER_WRITER_DRIVER_RICOH_MS_6.3X64_I_6.3.0.61.ZIP)

- Memory card reader driver (MEMORY_CARD_READER_WRITER_DRIVER_RICOH_SD_6.3X64_K_6.3.2.28.ZIP)



Everything works that I've tried:

- Brightness in SPEED and STAMINA

- Volume in both modes

- S1 and S2

- Eject

- Memory card slot and memory stick

- Web camera

- Setting utility is fully populated including functioning HDD protection

- I've not tested HDMI



Some observations

-------------------

I tried a newer version (POINTING_DRIVER_ALPS_7.202B_64_7.202.505.108.ZIP)of the touch pad driver and it supported scrolling by circular gestures on the touch pad. It worked really well but it caused the mouse cursors to stop animating. For example the busy win 7 cursor would not rotate. I couldn't find a way to have the gestures and animated cursors.



I like the newer version of the smart network software that bases itself in the notification area, instead of the top of the screen. One quirk is that Wireless WAN is always turned on after a reboot. Previously, Smart Network respected the state it was in prior to a reboot (like it still does with wifi and bluetooth).



If any of you have circular gestures AND animated cursors I'd like to know how.

If any of you have the new Smart Network software (V3+) and it does not always turn WWAN on after a reboot, I'd like to know how



Hope this helps some of you.

Reply 1 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

How do the sony power management utilities compare to the built in win7 ones?



My Z has a blu-ray...I'm wondering what I need to install to get that to work fine.

Reply 2 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

Quote:

Originally Posted by athos How do the sony power management utilities compare to the built in win7 ones?

They're certainly not essential, but they do allow you to automatically power down the optical drive and other feature automatically. There is also balance, performance and silent modes, though I'm not sure if they come with the power management or one of the other utilities. I don't see that they replace the windows 7 power management features, they just add some extras.

I have read that they can have a negative impact on the battery life, but I've not seen any evidence to substantiate this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by athos My Z has a blu-ray...I'm wondering what I need to install to get that to work fine.

I only have the DVD drive, so I can't say from first hand experience but I'm virtually certain no specific drivers are required. You may need extra software to be able to play movies.

Reply 3 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

For the Alps latest driver cursor freezing issue, I followed the solution workaround 1 mentioned here Alps Touchpad Busy Cursor Freezes

Reply 4 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

Thx sigma957 for this guide.



I've got the Z11VN/B (german model). I want to install a windows 7 professional 64bit version.

Is there any chance to reinstall the preinstalled software Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Roxio Easy Media Creator?

Reply 5 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

Thank you sigma957. This looks like the ultimate guide. I'm planning to install Win7 x64 on my Z90US (Japanese equivalent to yours), so this thread is very helpful +rep

Reply 6 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolguy For the Alps latest driver cursor freezing issue, I followed the solution workaround 1 mentioned here Alps Touchpad Busy Cursor Freezes

Thanks coolguy. I used the registry fudge in the thread you provided and it did the trick. I've now got circular gestures and spinning cursors - bliss



+1 Rep

Reply 7 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

Quote:

Originally Posted by danS_GER Thx sigma957 for this guide. I've got the Z11VN/B (german model). I want to install a windows 7 professional 64bit version. Is there any chance to reinstall the preinstalled software Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Roxio Easy Media Creator?

I've not been in a rush to reinstall that software as I have alternatives I'm happy with. I think you can re-install them from the recovery DVD though. You'd first need to create the DVDs from the factory installed vista. I'm pretty sure you can then use the DVDs to re-install the 3rd party software. I don't know this for sure though as I've not tried it.

Reply 8 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

I've already tried installing the 3rd party software from the recovery DVDs, but it quit with an error.

I thought it is a problem installing 32bit software on an 64bit OS.

Reply 9 : Guide to installing W7(64) on Vaio VGN Z

Quote:

Originally Posted by danS_GER I've already tried installing the 3rd party software from the recovery DVDs, but it quit with an error. I thought it is a problem installing 32bit software on an 64bit OS.

Oh, that's a shame. I would think your thoughts about 32/64 bit software are probably right. Sorry, I have no other suggestions.

Anyone else...