* I have installed clean Win XP Professional (corporate version, which does not require activation) and all drivers & software from recovery CDs on two GRX laptops. With a bit of tweaking they run like kittens.
Original config was:
1. GRX500CTO (1.6GHz, 512MB, 30GB, WinXP Pro)
2. GRX560 (1.6GHz, 512MB, 30GB, WinXP Home)
"Clean Install" procedure
After installing clean XP Pro, from your Microsoft CD, install audio, modem, touchpad, video, lcd drivers from "Driver Recovery CD". For your GRX to work properly you still need to install following applications (in below order):
Sony Utilities DLL (ftp://ftp.ita.sel.sony.com/ccpg/pc/SOP140KNFJ.EXE)
Sony Shared Library for XP (from "Driver Recovery CD" \drivers\sonysl\setup.exe)
(below applications from "Application Recovery CDs")
Sony Notebook Setup
PowerPanel
JogDial Utility + Jog GUI Plug-In CJ
HotKey Utility
Sony MPEG Decoder Library
WinDVD
Extracting Applications from "Application Recovery CDs".
Well, the trick is to extract all applications from sony.pac archives on "Application Recovery CDs" #1 and #2. For that you'll need to copy CD:\image\SONY.PAC and unpacking utility kcap.exe (www.myplc.com/sony/bin/kcap.zip) to directory on your HDD.
On C: disk make folder "sony". Copy \image\SONY.PAC from "Application Recovery CD #1" and kcap.exe to C:\sony. Open Command Prompt set path to C:\sony type command "kcap sony.pac c:\sony". All programs will be extracted to C:\sony with meaningless folder names like "0133101.SNC ... 0129801.SUC" for each application. To see which application is in each folder open in notepad file \bin\SONYINSTALL1.INI on "Application Recovery CD #1". There you will find, for each application, something like:
[Common Solutions for Support Agent]
text=Common Solutions for Support Agent
cmd=0129801.SUC\Setup.exe
prompt=Insert your VAIO Application Recovery CD Disk # 1
volume=ARCDG111B2D1
icon=165
compress=1
PromptBefore=
PromptAfter=
hide=off
Where "[Common Solutions for Support Agent]" contains application name and "cmd=0129801.SUC\Setup.exe" contains folder name it is extracted to. So, just rename folder "0129801.SUC" to "Common Solutions for Support Agent".
After renaming all folders replace C:\sony\SONY.PAC with \image\SONY.PAC from "Application Recovery CD #2" and repeat above extraction procedure for other applications.
Additional Suggestions
It is very important to install WinDVD as it adds MPEG codecs. Without these codecs there is a problem with low audio volume during DVD playback.
There should not be any problems installing drivers and software provided with WinXP Home edition on to WinXP Pro.
Unfortunately your COMBO DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive (Sony CRX810E) is RPC-2 (region locked drive). So, "Region Killer" utility comes in handy if you want to watch DVD without any region restrictions. You can download it at www.elby.ch/download/SetupRegKill.exe
If you want to play DVD to your TV via "A/V out" connection I recommend using PowerDVD. Connect your TV as extension to your desktop with resolution 1024 X 768. Don't forget to set PAL or NTSC.
As for tweaks ... Well, most valuable tweak I have to date, for owners of systems with at least 512MB RAM, is to disable page file and XP interface. Right-Click on "My Computer"->"Properties"->"Advanced"->"Performance, Settings". In "Visual Effects" tab choose "Adjust for best performance" and in "Advanced" tab choose "Virtual memory, Change", "No paging file", "Set". Now restart your PC. On a long run I will appreciate more good performance rather than "pretty picture".
I still prefer Win2000 interface, so to change it go to "User Accounts"->"Change the way users log on or off", unselect all.
Other tweaks are on www.tweakxp.com and a very useful site explaining services on www.blkviper.com/WinXP/service411.htm.
Additional Info and observations
Adobe Premiere is in "Video Editing Software" folder.
On "Application Recovery CD"
"Sony Utilities DLL" is called "Sony Utilities Library"
But it is better idea to download new versions of drivers and utilities from www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcggrx510-590_p/softupdates/
If you plan to use DV install "DV Shared Library"
Apparently "Application Recovery CD" version G111.0 will auto-run on any XP installation, so you might not need to manually extract applications as described above.
Thanks to: *Rix
Original config was:
1. GRX500CTO (1.6GHz, 512MB, 30GB, WinXP Pro)
2. GRX560 (1.6GHz, 512MB, 30GB, WinXP Home)
"Clean Install" procedure
After installing clean XP Pro, from your Microsoft CD, install audio, modem, touchpad, video, lcd drivers from "Driver Recovery CD". For your GRX to work properly you still need to install following applications (in below order):
Sony Utilities DLL (ftp://ftp.ita.sel.sony.com/ccpg/pc/SOP140KNFJ.EXE)
Sony Shared Library for XP (from "Driver Recovery CD" \drivers\sonysl\setup.exe)
(below applications from "Application Recovery CDs")
Sony Notebook Setup
PowerPanel
JogDial Utility + Jog GUI Plug-In CJ
HotKey Utility
Sony MPEG Decoder Library
WinDVD
Extracting Applications from "Application Recovery CDs".
Well, the trick is to extract all applications from sony.pac archives on "Application Recovery CDs" #1 and #2. For that you'll need to copy CD:\image\SONY.PAC and unpacking utility kcap.exe (www.myplc.com/sony/bin/kcap.zip) to directory on your HDD.
On C: disk make folder "sony". Copy \image\SONY.PAC from "Application Recovery CD #1" and kcap.exe to C:\sony. Open Command Prompt set path to C:\sony type command "kcap sony.pac c:\sony". All programs will be extracted to C:\sony with meaningless folder names like "0133101.SNC ... 0129801.SUC" for each application. To see which application is in each folder open in notepad file \bin\SONYINSTALL1.INI on "Application Recovery CD #1". There you will find, for each application, something like:
[Common Solutions for Support Agent]
text=Common Solutions for Support Agent
cmd=0129801.SUC\Setup.exe
prompt=Insert your VAIO Application Recovery CD Disk # 1
volume=ARCDG111B2D1
icon=165
compress=1
PromptBefore=
PromptAfter=
hide=off
Where "[Common Solutions for Support Agent]" contains application name and "cmd=0129801.SUC\Setup.exe" contains folder name it is extracted to. So, just rename folder "0129801.SUC" to "Common Solutions for Support Agent".
After renaming all folders replace C:\sony\SONY.PAC with \image\SONY.PAC from "Application Recovery CD #2" and repeat above extraction procedure for other applications.
Additional Suggestions
It is very important to install WinDVD as it adds MPEG codecs. Without these codecs there is a problem with low audio volume during DVD playback.
There should not be any problems installing drivers and software provided with WinXP Home edition on to WinXP Pro.
Unfortunately your COMBO DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive (Sony CRX810E) is RPC-2 (region locked drive). So, "Region Killer" utility comes in handy if you want to watch DVD without any region restrictions. You can download it at www.elby.ch/download/SetupRegKill.exe
If you want to play DVD to your TV via "A/V out" connection I recommend using PowerDVD. Connect your TV as extension to your desktop with resolution 1024 X 768. Don't forget to set PAL or NTSC.
As for tweaks ... Well, most valuable tweak I have to date, for owners of systems with at least 512MB RAM, is to disable page file and XP interface. Right-Click on "My Computer"->"Properties"->"Advanced"->"Performance, Settings". In "Visual Effects" tab choose "Adjust for best performance" and in "Advanced" tab choose "Virtual memory, Change", "No paging file", "Set". Now restart your PC. On a long run I will appreciate more good performance rather than "pretty picture".
I still prefer Win2000 interface, so to change it go to "User Accounts"->"Change the way users log on or off", unselect all.
Other tweaks are on www.tweakxp.com and a very useful site explaining services on www.blkviper.com/WinXP/service411.htm.
Additional Info and observations
Adobe Premiere is in "Video Editing Software" folder.
On "Application Recovery CD"
"Sony Utilities DLL" is called "Sony Utilities Library"
But it is better idea to download new versions of drivers and utilities from www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcggrx510-590_p/softupdates/
If you plan to use DV install "DV Shared Library"
Apparently "Application Recovery CD" version G111.0 will auto-run on any XP installation, so you might not need to manually extract applications as described above.
Thanks to: *Rix
