I need help...

[Kuky]

Today I bought this Sony VAIO VGN-C25GH laptop and it came with preinstalled Windows Vista Premium. I tried it for a short time and didn't like it so I decided to install Windows XP Pro on it. I installed the OS, then downloaded SP2 from other PC (because I don't have any drivers installed on it yet) and installed the SP2 from the CD.

 

That worked alright and I managed to find and install Intel chipset drivers (those INF Update drivers) but now I am completely stuck because I can't find any drivers for this thing for Video, Network, Wireless etc components, which means this laptop is nothing but an expensive piece of junk for me right now.

 

The damn laptop did not come with any CD's so me reinstalling to its original state and Vista is not possible for me any more. I don't know what to do. I am thinking if I can go back to the store and ask them to send the laptop to Sony and for them to reinstall Vista and other stuff that came with it preinstalled but I bet that will cost me more now.

 

I hate this MS Vista from the bottom of my heart... and MS as a whole. If any people working at MS read this i wish you could tell your boss to tell hs boss (and so on) you people suck. Not to mention at Sony website I can't find any drivers what so ever for this. I am really cluless.

 

Now I know why I stay away from Laptops... theyy just suck as you're stuck with what ever crap they install on it no matter you need it, use it or like it.

[Aeroscout]

is there any thing of value that you need to keep on the laptop? If there isn't, heres an idea:

 

Wipe the HD.

Boot the computer from your windows XP disk.

once booted, install win XP. then re-install.

It sould just run now with windows XP. install paches and what not now.

 

I dont blame your for wanting to switch back to XP. Vista isn't as compatable and is RAM and VRAM hungry.

[Kuky]

The thing is Aeroscout, I already did that. I reformated HDD, installed Windows XP and SP2 and Intel chipset drivers. But I can't install video drivers, or network drivers, or any ther driver.

[Kuky]

One good news now is I found video drivers at Guru3D website.

 

I still need drivers for Audio, network, wireless and some Intel Storage driver

[Aeroscout]

Oh, sorry, i misunderstood your first post.

 

Don't you get network drivers and wireless drivers with your router? I assume the wireless drivers came with the computer, so I cant help you there. Maybe you could call sony and ask for the drivers.

 

What audio drivers are you looking at? is directX aduio as well. I could suggest the microsoft website, but it recently changed it's format and is no longer easy to navigate in it.

 

Did your computer came with any disks? It should. If not, call sony and ask for the disks/drivers.

[Design]

Hi.

Just a detail. Have you checked the windows update, custom method?

Hardware drivers are shown as hardware optional, and don't appear if you click on "fast" method, at least in Spain.

Anyway, good luck.

[VMFA-Blaze]

One of my first computers was a Sony, So I know what you're going through guy.... Sony I think in most cases has all of the things that you mentioned on their software, and I believe their prioritized...

 

You might stand a chance in getting all of the missing drivers by googling the web or going to their sight and search for you're issues...

 

Back in the day Sony used to ship their hardware with install discs, O/S on one disk, drivers on another...

 

But then again they even used to sell their PCs with monitors as well ...

 

 

~S~

 

Blaze

[VMFA-Blaze]

With my Sony it had an ASUS board but it was designed specifically for Sony..

 

"No bull" And the same thing happens with Dell also.... They run recognizable brands but there actually built for the particular company that's using them...

 

But yes the drivers most likely can be found for XP that will work on this lap top... I think the issue is that you normally buy a Sony so you can actually use the Sony operating system that's designed to compliment other Sony hardware such digital cameras, portable video camera, Blue Ray.. ECT...

 

~S~

 

 

Blaze

[hitman]

One good news now is I found video drivers at Guru3D website.

 

I still need drivers for Audio, network, wireless and some Intel Storage driver

 

Send a copy of your device manager or make, model of your laptop. I managed to get the forceware drivers to play on my laptop and I now have 10x.xx on board now.

 

Your computer should have came with a disk called upgrade anytime for vista. Dont know the exact way to do it, but this disk has "EVERYTHING" for vista. If you trashed it, (like I did a month ago), then you might as well reorder it.

 

BTW...how did you manage to uninstall vista and get xp on your machine? I wanted a dual boot partition but the BIOS wont let me select the first boot device manually.

[hitman]

Have you tried running a SANDRA scan of your hardware?

 

What the hell is this? I keep seeing this reference online but I cant get any means of a definition for it...

[SuperKungFu]

my bro had a similar problem with his sony laptop, they didn't offer any XP drivers so you are kinda "forced" to live with VISTA. Try asking this question on notebookreview.com, they offer some XP drivers for some sony laptops, just hope you're one of them.

[hitman]

or you can try notebookforums.com

[Kuky]

Thanks for all the replies guys... I have a problem that the laptop did not come with any CD (to reinstall OS or drivers) it's just the laptop itself. The Vista OS and other stuff was already installed on it.

 

I installed XP pro myself but now have problems with finding drivers. I think I made a mistake by doing this (should have just left Vista on it) because now I can't reinstall Vista because again, the laptop did not come with any installation CD.

 

See how I go, I'll try look more for the drivers and I really can't find anything I think I'll just have to send the laptop to Sony for them to reinstall Vista (and I think they will charge me for this) or even worse, have to buy Vista myself.

[emenance]

What the hell is this? I keep seeing this reference online but I cant get any means of a definition for it...

 

http://www.sisoftware.net/

 

 

Sandra is a wellknown hardware info browser and benchmark test tool. Its not the best for benching but gets you in the ballpark. There are other tools like adiea or something like that does the same thing. The op simply needs to contact the manufacture or run manufacture name and model in google and find the drivers that way. Its that easy.

[emenance]

Thanks for all the replies guys... I have a problem that the laptop did not come with any CD (to reinstall OS or drivers) it's just the laptop itself. The Vista OS and other stuff was already installed on it.

 

I installed XP pro myself but now have problems with finding drivers. I think I made a mistake by doing this (should have just left Vista on it) because now I can't reinstall Vista because again, the laptop did not come with any installation CD.

 

See how I go, I'll try look more for the drivers and I really can't find anything I think I'll just have to send the laptop to Sony for them to reinstall Vista (and I think they will charge me for this) or even worse, have to buy Vista myself.

 

 

You can contact the manufacture for a restore disk for your make and model. HP charges $20.00 for such a disk.

 

In the future stick with big name manufactures when it comes to laptops , like HP compaq, acer, and dell. STAY AWAY FROM ALL OTHERS. Toshiba has design flaws and doesnt do large volume , same kinda story with Sony.

[Kuky]

Thanks emenance, I wish I knew they do crapy support like this before, I woulsn't have gotten it in the first place... but it's too late now.

 

One more good thing is that I've found audio driver and drivers for Wireless network adapter so now I can at least connect to internet with that laptop and download stuff to test to it instead of doing it on this PC and burning it on CD.

 

Thanks all for your sugestions, I'll hold off contacting Sony for a while longer. I still preffer getting things sorted out myself as I know online customer support is 99% useless.

 

It's getting bit better now... now I have chipset, video, audio and wireless network drivers working. I still have tons of other stuff to find, I think the wort to find (maybe even impossible) will be all the Sony VAIO utilities.

 

... wish me luck :D

[hitman]

Thanks for all the replies guys... I have a problem that the laptop did not come with any CD (to reinstall OS or drivers) it's just the laptop itself. The Vista OS and other stuff was already installed on it.

 

I installed XP pro myself but now have problems with finding drivers. I think I made a mistake by doing this (should have just left Vista on it) because now I can't reinstall Vista because again, the laptop did not come with any installation CD.

 

See how I go, I'll try look more for the drivers and I really can't find anything I think I'll just have to send the laptop to Sony for them to reinstall Vista (and I think they will charge me for this) or even worse, have to buy Vista myself.

 

I hate to say it but your laptop should have came with this Vista Upgrade disk. If not, you can always get ahold of your laptop vendor and request one be mailed to you. All you have to do is pay for shipping. OR-you can go to compUSA and ask them to burn you a copy...as its not technically illegal since this doesnt come with a key.

[VMFA-Blaze]

Yes Sony is well known to have terrible support..

 

Did you actually go to the Sony website ???

They do have a trouble shooting screen that asks you to type in the model no of the unit that your having trouble with.. and then there are subdivisions that come up.. I know that you can down load their latest bios from here..

 

But I personally think that you should most likely go for the Sony disk that will reinstall your original Sony Vista and Sony drivers....

 

My old system came with a system recovery, application recovery, and driver recovery disk....

 

And what you have is a prioritized Vista version, I'm very sure...

 

Anywhat I found Sony to be very reliable once you get it sorted out.. My oldest PC is a Vaio and its still running, and without to many issues after 5 yrs..

 

As you said I think that everything would have been fine withyou're new lap top if you would have left in Vista.. So lets see if you can get the disks, you should be ok after that....

As far as Comp haveing your system recovery disk I would call first, and by all means try to avoid dropping it off, and letting them try to fix it....:lol:

 

~S~

 

Blaze

[hitman]

I thought I would never see software go above 500 dollars. THAT takes the cake. Over 5000 bucks for a cd??? Ill insert that disk into my dvd player in my lamborghini while this really hot broad is leaning over my stickshift playing with it...

Now the free version...does this thing go online and look for drivers?? Cuz that would be sweet if I were to do this for vista 64.

[VMFA-Blaze]

I thought I would never see software go above 500 dollars. THAT takes the cake. Over 5000 bucks for a cd??? Ill insert that disk into my dvd player in my lamborghini while this really hot broad is leaning over my stickshift playing with it...

.

 

Yeah and by that time you'll be to old to care...:megalol:

 

~S~

 

 

Blaze