How To Downgrade SONY VAIO VGN-FZ11L from Vista To XP

[kurmiic]

Hello all of you I just purchased Sony VAIO VGN-FZ11L Unfortunately I can not use Vista because i use my VAIO for audio production and I need Windows XP because of software incompaibility. I searched on the support website but there seems to be NO driver downloads availible so can anybody please help ???

[Blencogo]

Hi kurmiic and welcome.

Unfortunately, Sony do not support XP on the FZ11-Series Vaios - because of this there are no XP Driver Packages or Utility Packages.

It seems that some functions of this Vaio will only work properly with Vista and there are driver problems for the nVidia 8400M graphics with XP. If you need Sony support or a repair at any time, you will have to install Vista.

Some of our Spanish Club members have done a lot of work on tracking down drivers and utilities for the FZ11-Series. See if there is anything here that helps: -

http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/GB/en/forum/viewthread?thread=44524&offset=0

[kurmiic]

hrr before purchasing the lptop i called up SONY technical departament to ask whether it is possible to downgrade and the tech guy told me that they do have xp drivers for this model .... i wouldn't have bought this laptop .... i consider it cheating....

and look what i found on sony official website...

Dear Customer,

As SONY considers customer satisfaction of paramount importance, we have decided to provide you with a number of drivers and / or utilities in case you wish to downgrade the original Windows Vista™ Operating System to Windows XP™ Professional SP2. The utilities bundled with your preinstalled Windows Vista™ are not necessarily all available for installation on a Windows XP™ Professional SP2 Operating System, this depends on the VAIO model you own. Bundled applications such as Microsoft Office™ Trial, Microsoft Works™, Click to DVD, etc are not available to be installed on a downgraded system. All currently available drivers and utilities are posted on this webpage.

Support for Windows XP™ Professional SP2 will be provided by Microsoft. However to actively support the SONY customers and to answer to their needs, SONY has decided to provide drivers and utilities to enable the downgrade from the original Windows Vista™ Operating System to Windows XP™ Professional SP2.

Please note that SONY has decided to take such action out of concern of its valued customers and that such support shall be deemed as a best-endeavour.

SONY will provide ample instructions on how to install the Windows XP™ drivers and utilities. We strongly advise to print and to carefully follow the described installation instructions.


A downgrade to Windows XP™ Professional SP2 will not have any influence on the manufacturer’s guarantee. However, should your VAIO have to be serviced and brought back to factory settings, the originally supplied Operating System (Windows Vista™) will be reinstalled.

In order to be able to keep you informed in case of any important updates, please enter your full name, e-mail address and serial number of your VAIO.

So what is this then???

[Blencogo]

So what is this then???

As far as I know that applies to certain models only and I don't think the FZ11-Series is supported. Have you tried entering your Serial Number?

[jesnche]

Hi kurmiic,

This downgrade is only for FZ19VN model. The rest of FZ don't have this downgrade. The reason is that FZ19VN has installed Vista Bussines and not Home Versión how the rest of FZ laptopts.

Yes, the reason is ridiculous, and the rest of owners of FZ laptops should have the same rights than the others but, at this moment, these drivers are the only downgrade.

If you fill the fields in this page with your serial number, it will say you that your data is wrong, the reason is that.

You should write to e-support and open a case with your reclaim. A lot of users of FZ laptots have done the same, We want these drivers, the reason? Sony didn't told us that our laptops only work with Vista, it's a simple reason but we don't understand the reason which Sony forces us to use a Operating System.

[kurmiic]

ha the reason is - vista is <profanity removed by moderator>.... and microsoft want to shove it down peoples throats .... and they obviously paid all big companies to not offer possibiities of downgrade.