HELP!! I want to downgrade from VISTA to XP on my VGN-FZ21S HELP!!

[edbruce]

HELP!! I want to downgrade from VISTA to XP on my VGN-FZ21S HELP!!

I bought the VGN-FZ21S Vaio on the understanding that once I had a serial and product code I could go online to the support section (http://www.vaio-link.com/os/xp/downgrade/index.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons) and find a tutorial plus drivers to downgrade my machine to XP pro.

So Ive gone to that page, and it wont doesnt seem to find my product to help me.

So can anyone PLEASE help guide me in this process. I dont want to start to downgrade on my own and run the risk of certain hardward having no XP drivers and therefore not working.

Any help will be much appriciated.

Thanks

Ed

[Thalamus.]

Hi Ed,

welcome to Club Vaio..

Have a look at Blencogo's reply in the thread HERE

[edbruce]

Argh... I only hope that, as the post you directed me to is old, things have moved on.
I was told by the Sony Centre where I bought my FZ laptop that downgrading was achievable.

I couldnt really find out from sony website as I couldnt register without my serial.

Vista, in my opinion, is pants. Not to mention the programs I use arnt optimised, or dont even work with vista.


ANYONE Else can please help me.

Ed

[Blencogo]

Hi Ed,

Unfortunately, things have not moved on since that post.

Sony do not support XP on your model. Due to contractual problems with Microsoft, Sony only offer (limited) support for models sold with Vista Business installed. Even this support is very limited to drivers only - the Sony Utilities that control Special Keys, Fn Keys, AV Mode, Camera, Bluetooth etc. are not being made available. So only the VGN-FZ19 models are supported. If you get into trouble, Sony will not support you and you may even have to reinstall Vista if you want to make a warranty claim. None of the preinstalled Sony software will work with XP and the XP versions are not downloadable.

However, a downgrade is possible but you will not have the full features available in Vista. Make sure you create Recovery Discs for your original system before you start.
You can download the XP Drivers for the FZ19 from here - they should run on your model with XP: -

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/OS/XPDOWNGRADE/FZ19/

The FZ21S downloads are not yet available, so make sure you take a copy of the C:\Drivers directory before you start as you will need some drivers from here (Camera Driver etc)

The FZ19 has Intel graphics, so you will need a nVidia XP Driver for your 8400M GT GPU: -

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=14549

Many of the Utilities will work from the VGN-FE31Z model but by no means all of them! Download the Original Utilities Package from here: -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/updates/updates.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&c=0&s=VGN-FE&m=2403

[edbruce]

POOOH

This sucks a bit. I suppose I will just try and get to use with Vista. Although it bugs me so.
Also some of my apps dont work with it.

Here is a quick question for you.

My machine comes with 1 x 200GB HDD. It is formatted only in 1 partition C:/
How can I partition up the 200GB easily? can it be done without a reinstall?
A guide of somesorts would rock my world somewhat....


Also because you seem to know plenty, is there a utility or guide out there that will help you slimline vista to run at its best. No bells and whistles just efficient.


Thanks in advance
Ed

[Thalamus.]

Hi Ed,

As your using Vista then you should be able to Resize Partitions with Vista Disk Manager, have a look at the guide here ..

[edbruce]

Cheers

That made sense, and worked.

Thanks

Ed

[Thalamus.]

You're welcome..