Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Microsoft

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

By Ed Bott April 21, 2008, 5:57 AM PDT

Image
1
of 14

001_miserable_experience.jpg
001_miserable_experience.jpg
Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Sony's miserable out-of-box experience

Sony's miserable out-of-box experience

By Ed Bott

rnrnYikes! This is the first thing I saw after restoring the original factory Windows installation from Sony’s recovery partition and restarting the Vaio. Crapware on the desktop, junk in the system tray, a slew of dialog boxes demanding attention, and baffling error messages.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Unpleasant updates

Unpleasant updates

Trying to apply updates using Sony’s Vaio Update program was a hit-or-miss proposition, with confusing dialog boxes like the two shown here. Were these updates installed correctly? It’s really hard to say.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

More ugly updates

More ugly updates

As if installing 32 Windows updates wasn’t enough, the 60-day trial copy of Norton’s security software insists on downloading nearly two dozen updates of its own.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Clean install headache #1: finding media

Clean install headache #1: finding media

Like many large computer makers, Sony doesn’t include Windows media with its systems. Instead, you get a recovery partition that reloads the installed OS and (unfortunately) all its associated crapware. The only Sony-sanctioned option is to pay $28.95 to purchase a replacement media set. However, you can do as I did and simply use a retail installation disk with the Sony product key.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Finding missing drivers

Finding missing drivers

After I completed the clean install and grabbed everything from Windows Update, Vista’s Problem Reports and Solutions utility appeared. Despite the inconsistent descriptions, each of these solutions contained a link that led to an updated driver.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Solutions in detail

Solutions in detail

Clicking any of the links in the Problem Reports and Solutions utility led to descriptions like the two shown here, which in turn led to downloadable driver and update packages. In each case, the hardware maker gets to decide where the link goes, which can lead to inconsistent experiences and some confusion.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Sony's smart download utility

Sony's smart download utility

To make it easier to organize drivers and updates, Sony has created its Download Taxi utility. After installing the small program, you click check boxes on Sony’s support site to mark items for download as a batch. In this case, I’ve selected 21 updates.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Installing downloaded files

Installing downloaded files

Download Taxi displays all downloads in this listing (strangely, the window can’t be resized to make the scroll bars vanish). Select each item in succession and use the Install button to apply it to the system.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Inconsistent installation experiences

Inconsistent installation experiences

Most hardware drivers available from Sony’s website are branded as this one is, but others use different installers. Several updates complained (incorrectly) of compatibility problems.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

One device, multiple downloads

One device, multiple downloads

In the case of this fingerprint scanner, I had to apply an original driver from Sony, plus an update patch, then install a generic driver update and a custom control program from separate pages at UPEK’s website. That’s four separate installers for a single device.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Fingerprint file

Fingerprint file

After updating all the drivers and utilities, I was able to use the fingerprint reader to match biometric information with logins. The updated drivers make a huge difference in performance and accuracy.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Improving the graphics experience

Improving the graphics experience

The driver version shown in the top left was the latest one available from Sony’s support site. Nvidia has made substantial improvements since then, but none of them are available to Sony customers. I installed the update shown in lower right by hacking the INF files on a Sony driver for another model.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

More outdated drivers

More outdated drivers

Updating the Bluetooth stack (drivers and control software) solved an annoying problem that occurred after resuming from sleep. I had to track down this newer driver on Toshiba’s website; a Sony support engineer later supplied a still-newer beta driver.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

Picking and choosing utilities

Picking and choosing utilities

The original Sony installation included an almost overwhelming number of utilities. Some, like this networking control center, overlap with Windows features and result in conflicts that require unnecessary troubleshooting.

For the full story, see Fixing Windows Vista, one machine at a time.

  • Microsoft
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio

    Your email has been sent

Share: Fixing Windows Vista on a Sony Vaio
Image of Ed Bott
By Ed Bott
  • Account Information

    Contact Ed Bott

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Ed's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Mental Health Policy

    Poor mental health can affect work performance in the form of burnout, absenteeism, turnover, workplace violence and substance abuse. On the other hand, when workers have good mental health, they are better able to cope with the stresses of life, realize their own abilities, learn and work well and contribute actively to their communities. The ...

    Downloads
    Published:  September 25, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  September 26, 2023, 8:09 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    IT Data Center Green Energy Policy

    As worldwide energy needs and concerns about climate change continue to increase, environmentally responsible business practices are critical for the successful future of a company and the markets in which it operates. This IT Data Center Green Energy Policy, from TechRepublic Premium, is intended to meet green standards for IT data center operations, which includes ...

    Downloads
    Published:  September 25, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  September 26, 2023, 10:00 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Quick Glossary: Cloud Platform Services

    For many businesses, cloud services have become the de facto standard for quickly developing and deploying networks, applications and other technological infrastructures. This quick glossary of common cloud platform terms from TechRepublic Premium will help you get a handle on the vocabulary, so you can understand how these services may affect your business. From the ...

    Published:  September 25, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  September 26, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Building a Practical Chart of Accounts: Two Sample Documents

    No matter what product is to be sold or what service is to be offered, starting and operating a small business takes courage, fortitude and lots of planning. One of the first, and also one of the most serious, accounting mistakes small businesses to make is not creating a cogent, coherent and practical chart of ...

    Published:  September 25, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  September 26, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice