OT: Still necessary to install "real" OS on VAIO laptops?

BrianStanding wrote on 11/8/2004, 2:10 PM
I just ordered a new Sony VAIO GRT-250PR laptop from NewEgg. The description says it comes with Windows XP Pro.

I remember some time ago, that folks on this forum advised formatting the hard drive and reinstalling a complete version of Win2k or WinXP. Something about Sony doing some weird things with the OS, DVGate and other proprietary software.

Is this still the preferred tactic? Anyone know if Sony ships WinXP setup disk with their laptops?

Thanks.

Comments

PeterWright wrote on 11/8/2004, 3:55 PM
Yes, they supply their own XP setup disc.

Many have reported replacing the Sony SW with standard XP, and I was expecting to have to do this, but two years later mine still works fine with all the Sony "extras" installed as well as Vegas.
BrianStanding wrote on 11/9/2004, 12:40 PM
I got my laptop yesterday. Now that I've played with it, I see part of what the concern is: it seems Sony partitions off 5GB of your hard drive for backups of the recovery disks. This partition is completely inaccessible.

I'm debating whether I want to go through the hassle of repartitioning or not.....
Chienworks wrote on 11/9/2004, 1:05 PM
A lot of manufacturers do that these days, not just SONY. That way they can give you 5GB of recovery files without having to pay for CDs to store it on. If you ever need to restore the computer back to the factory condition then using that recovery partition is the only way to go. If you get rid of it then you won't have that option anymore. And hey, it's only 5GB. Is it worth reclaiming it?

On the other hand, the premise of this thread is that it's better to do a fresh OS install from Microsoft rather than using the factory install anyway. If this is the route you're going then you probably don't want that recovery partition.

However, i would make this recommendation: try formatting just the main partition and installing Microsoft's XP from scratch. If it works, all is well. If it doesn't work then you can always restore from SONY's version. If it runs well for a while on the genuine Microsoft version then maybe you can consider doing away with the recovery partition.
BrianStanding wrote on 11/9/2004, 1:12 PM
Good advice. I'll try it with the factory install for a while and see how it goes.

Now, I'm kicking myself for not springing for the larger hard drive.
Galeng wrote on 11/9/2004, 1:35 PM
Also, OEM setups allow for space on the hard drive when your laptop goes into hybernation. You need to fully examine your drive and set it back up in a similar fashion if you want to keep this handy function.

Galen
nickle wrote on 11/9/2004, 6:33 PM
Before you kill your original installation, make sure you have the drivers for all of your devices. They are usually in the restore disk and not separate.
Also your serial number is often incorporated in the restore disk and you may need it if you install XP separately.
Part of the 5 GB on the newer systems allows you to make updated images so you don't lose as much if you do a restore after installing more software and creating documents etc.
scdragracing wrote on 11/10/2004, 8:20 AM
from working with the older viao's, i think that you'll have to buy xp in order to do a non-sony install... it's not worth it.

yes, you can access that partition, you just need to do some tweaking.

maybe burn the backup data contents of the 5 gig partition to an xp-bootable dvd, then delete everything in there, and direct xp to use that partition(drive) for swap file purposes... be sure and keep at least 50mb or so of primary swap file on the c: drive.

that way, you can use the space for productive work, and not bother with re-partitioning.

once you tweak the o.s. and apps where you want it, you can do a complete backup with the software at http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ ...it worked like a champ for me, when installing a new hard drive.

when you do get a new hard drive, make sure that it's at least a 5400rpm drive, with a decent ram cache.
Steve Mann wrote on 11/10/2004, 10:46 PM
The Vaio laptop doesn't come with a "recovery CD". (In fact the only CD in the package was yet another AOL free trial disc). You have to make your own.