916V XP HOME to XPPRO problems?

[Javidv]

Hello,

I have tryed to upgrade to XP pro but it fails (appears a message "Virtual memory not enough"). Anyone have had success or could try?

I also installed the XP pro formating previosly C: but now when I try to read the Vaio restore CD it appears "Run time Error 53". How to solve this?.

Sony support has told me that they don't support other preinstalled software. How this could be possible for a laptop or 2500 Euros???. I was not alerted when I bought it and the seller told me that as it was not possible to buy a vaio with XP pro in my country then I could buy it and then upgrade without problems (also the Master sony of this club told me the same).

Thanks a lot and best regards,

Javi

[robpaxton]

I think the reason you cannot upgrade from XP home to XP pro is because your version of XP home is at the service pack 1 level and your version of XP pro doesn't include service pack 1. You should be able to upgrade if you use an XP pro install which incorporates service pack 1 (No guarantees though!)

I believe the reason you are getting the Run time error from the clean install is because the recovery disks are only designed to work on the version installed by Sony. This is a software protection measure and is designed to stop you installing the supplied applcations onto another computer. There are libraries and utilities that are only installed during the recovery process.

If your original vendor said that you could upgrade the computer without any issues then I would contact them and request that they assist.

[Javidv]

Hello my version of XP pro is SP1a? when I upgrade a message appears that there is not enough virtual memory and the upgrading process fail. Anyone have or could try to upgrade it. I remenber that Master Sony told me that all should go fine here a month ago.

Thanks a lot and best regards,

Javidv

[marcdekker]

Hey There,

@ RobPaxton
It is not true that sony has a software protection which looks what is installed on the HDD. On various notebooks I had no problem retoring everithing back to normal (That includes linux partitions, XP Pro installations and Novell)

@ Javidv
Have you tried to restore everything on the notebook (overwrite ALL)...
That should restore your notebook to whatever it was.
* What is the option you are using during recovery?

Regards,
MD

[robpaxton]

The software protection is on the application recovery disk user program. It is only designed to work on a recognised Vaio and it requires the installation of Sony shared libraries and Utilities in order to read the machine model from the BIOS.

Without these utilities installed and working, the application recovery disk will not work.

On older Vaios it was possible to extract the program installation files from the application recovery disk and install from the extracted files - on newer systems it is much more difficult to do this.

[marcdekker]

Hey there,

What you wrote about the recovery disk is true, BUT...that is when you are talking about the use in windows.

I am writing about the BOOT-funtion of the disk.
To restore the complete original configuration of the computer.
At that point there is no check for what is on the system...it overwrites everything.

Regards,
MD

[robpaxton]

The way I read the original posters problem was that he had two distinct problems.

If he did a clean install using a retail XP Pro disk then he could not install his applications from the application recovery disk.
or
If he did an upgrade install to XP Pro from the version recovered from the recovery disk then he had the virtual memory problem.

Hope this clears it up

[marcdekker]

Owke...let's go to the core of the problem.
* The guy can't upgrade
- That is correct because Sony does not support changing operating systems
- It has nothing to do with SP levels. When you install an other operating system you can't call for any form of support.

* when I try to read the Vaio restore CD it appears "Run time Error 53".
- That occurs like you wrote because the Sony Utils were not installed

There is a path for him to follow (I had the same problem in the past)...
http://www.club-vaio.sony-europe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4570&highlight=

I think that is the best path to follow if he wants to use XP Pro, but he has to remember that at that point there is NO :!: support from sony.

Regards,
MD

[robpaxton]

There is a known issue with upgrading XP Home SP1 with an XP Pro CD which doesn't incorporate SP1. Refer to Microsoft Technet for further information.

[Javidv]

Just last question,

In:
http://www.club-vaio.sony-europe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4570&highlight=
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Install ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/Vaio/SUtils/SU_Sny_32015280.exe
(This is for the "Sony Notebook Setup" to work properly )

* Install ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/Vaio/Hotkey/HKU_31013140.exe
(This is for the Fn-Buttons / Keys to work properly )

* install ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/Vaio/PowerPanel/PPD_Sny_521S001U05090.exe
(This is for managing your power profiles, with the "Powerpanel" tool")

After this you have a fully working SOny Vaio PCG-FR-415S with all utilities/drivers working!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In my case I have a 916V vaio, which are the files in the SUtils, PowerPanel/HotKey directories that I need, are the same files for all the vaios?.

Thanks a lot for the answers and best regards,

Javi