Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
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

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
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
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×