topic Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk? in PCs & Accessories

Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:21:43 GMT

Is there anywhere I can download the drivers disk and windows media for a Sony VAIO all-in-one machine. My hard disk has died and I need to reinstall windows but the machine did not come with any install CDs.

Thanks,

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:48:52 GMT

Hi NickC_UK,

Sony, in common with most computer manufactures, don't supply install CD's and you should have created these youself.

You can download drivers and utilities from the support site but most of the preinstalled software is not available for download nor is the OS.

Your options are to purchase a retail copy of Windows and then download and install the drivers and utilities from this site or purchase a set of recovery disks from Support which will provide an 'as delivered' system.

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:24:28 GMT

So how do I purchase a set of recovery disks? I have tried sending message via the Sony support page but no one ever replies to them. Is there a proper email address I can contact to arrange purchase of this install media.

Thanks,

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:48:22 GMT

Assuming your machine is out of warranty you will need to call Support on the OOW number - from the UK the number is 0905 0310006.

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:22:03 GMT

NickC_UK2 wrote:

Problem is they say that the recovery disk will only install on a new drive if that drive has been replaced by a Sony Repair Center, apperently because they need to write some hidden files onto the drive before the recovery disk will install! Is this true or are they telling me a pile of rubbish.

Can anyone tell me what files need to be written to the new disk to allow the recovery disk to install?

As far as I am aware that is not the case and the disks should work on a new drive installed by you without recourse to so called hidden files. That is unless things have recently changed...

Do you by any chance have the name of the agent that gave you this information as this needs to be escalated?

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:31:41 GMT

Can't call that number, our telecoms provider blocks all Extremely-High charge numbers.... found some alternative numbers and have now spoken to Sony.

Can anyone tell me what files need to be written to the new disk to allow the recovery disk to install?

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:22:14 GMT

Thanks Rich, I will order the install media then and hope that it works then.

Unfortunately I didn't get a name, just know it was a male with an american accent at some department called Sony VAIO-Link.

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:28:47 GMT

Hi Nick,

If you can wait a short while I will try to get a definitive answer on this - it has been escalated but may take a couple of days...

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:40:27 GMT

That would be great, thanks Rich.

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:50:04 GMT

Will still wait for your answer Rich but in the meantime I have had a reply from Sony technical:

Dear Mr.

Thank you for your recent email.

I appreciate your enquiry about obtaining recovery discs for your VAIO computer.

Please be informed that in case you have changed the hard drive, due to copy rights and compatibility, Sony recovery discs will not be recognized by the hard drive.

If the diagnostics is very genuine and professional so you are sure that the hard drive has malfunctioned, I would like to invite you to have the VAIO repaired at our repair centre.

The recovery discs are available for your information and will cost £46.79.

In case you have decided the repair, please read the following procedures:

We have an excellent network of repair centers which are able to repair the out of warranty VAIOs and you can use the link below to find the nearest one for you:

http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/repair/asc

Alternatively if you would like your VAIO collected I can arrange for our repair center to contact you to discuss costs.

What does 'due to copy rights and compatibility' mean?

Nick

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:11:58 GMT

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the copy of the email; this has been forwarded to one of our contacts within Vaio-Link. Unfortunately he is away until the beginning of next week but if anyone can answer this question he can...

I will post again as soon as I receive a response.

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:35:04 GMT

And just to make matters worse:

I have spoken to our local Sony repaire centre to see how much they would want for a new 500Gb SATA HDD, however this bunch of shysters want to charge £70 in order to tell me how much their price is for a new disk drive (roughly £40 elsewhere).

I am rapidly getting close to the point where I would never buy anything Sony ever again.

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:10:15 GMT

Rich, any progress on this yet or are you still awaiting a reply from you contact at Sony.

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:00:05 GMT

Hi Nick,

Just received a reply.

It would seem that as your machine is approximately 3 years old and with some formats of new hard drives the recovery disks may not support the current technology and will therefore fail to install.

So the recovery disks supplied by Sony may or may not work. However if they do not work then Sony will refund the cost of the disks.

Otherwise you will need to install a retail copy of the OS and then download all available drivers and utilities from the Support site. Unfortunately most of the preinstalled software is not available for download.

Hope this helps,

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:28:11 GMT

Yep, most helpful. If Sony will refund should it not work then I will go ahead and try it anyway, shame they didn't say that in the first place.

Personally I can't see under what conditions 'some formats of new hard drives' could possibly prevent recovery disks from installing, as long as the replacementg drive is of the same capacity. If there were and SATA 1/2/3 issues then that would be hardware not a software issue.

Thanks for your help, will report back on whether thes install or not.

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:34:28 GMT

Hi Chris,

I don’t claim to have much knowledge of this but I think the reference is to Advanced Format hard drives with larger 4096 byte (4 KB) sectors as opposed to older drives having 512-byte sectors.

The retail copy of Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems will be AF aware but not the recovery disks (OEM OS) created some 3 years ago.

Good luck at and us know how you get on.

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:32:46 GMT

Install media now ordered but... took almost half an hour to order and cost nearly £50.

Also again I was told that the recovery disk would probably not work with a replaced hard drive. I was also told that if it didn't work then Sony would _not_ give any refund, which is different to the answer from your contact. Have ordered one anyway.

This must be one of the worst examples of customer service I think I have ever encountered from any Company.

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 21:19:01 GMT

NickC_UK2 wrote:

I have it in writing that if they don't work the cost will be refunded, so you are covered should the worst happen. My guess is that unless it is an Advanced Format drive you should be ok.

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

rich912 — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:32:44 GMT

Hi Nick,

I understand that the recovery disks should have been delivered today.

Please let us know whether they work with the new hard drive as I suspect this will be a an issue that will be raised by members in the future.

Rich

Re: Download Windows disk and drivers disk?

NickC_UK2 — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:29:55 GMT

Yep, recovery disks received, just waiting for a new hard disk drive to arrive. Will post back soon.