Sony VAIO Upgrade to WinXP

Update : I am now convinced you can buy $99 WindowsXP Upgrade from Fry's and install over WinME.
10/08/2003 10:48 PM Email from Sony support resolved "The Problem".

The PCV-RX470ds is a pretty good machine.
The Chipset is Intel 850 - very good, only one generation old. This was the top chipset for 2 years.
The CPU is Pentium 4 at 1.5Ghz.
Both are INTEL - not AMD and VIA junk.
(The new generation chipset, Intel 865, allows serial disk: 1 wire carrying bits from the disk. The ATA way is parallel 80 wires). Serial 1, parallel 80.)
The PCV-RX470ds has USB 2.0 - USB 2.0 is fantastic, USB 1.1 is slow.
If it did not have USB 2.0 it would not be worth it.
The PCV-RX470ds has 4-wire and 6-wire IEEE 1394.

http://www.winxpfix.com/index.html

Intel 850 chipset		www.intel.com/products/browse/chipsets.htm www.intel.com/design/chipsets/850/index.htm?iid=ipp_browse+chpsts_850dsk&
An Intel MB with 850		developer.intel.com/design/motherbd/mv/mv_photo.htm developer.intel.com/design/motherbd/mv/index.htm
An Asus MB with 850		http://www.asus.com/mb/socket423/p4t-m/specification.htm
How to Identify my motherboard		Hi folks, I'm trying to figure out what motherboard is in my Sony PCV-RX470DS (a P4 1.5Gb). Can't find the info on the Sony web site. I used Belarc Advisor, it reported it as ASUSTek WMT-LE with Award ACPI bios rev 1004. The only labels/markings I found on the board itself were "MS1181172-MBL040-B05-00257" and "PS2KBMS" and "08004603006D6078". Can anyone help me to identify this mobo?
Looks like PCV-RX470ds motherboard is custom version of Asus P4T motherboard. Asus is the top maker of motherboards.

Original Announcement VAIO is based in San Diego
Bundled Software

Sony's latest Vaio RZ series desktops combine the Windows Media Center interface with the company's own Giga Pocket personal video recording and DVD-burning system and Vaio Media networking software for sharing content on one PC with other Windows XP systems on a home network -- offerings familiar from previous Sony desktops and its more affordable, Win XP Home Edition-based Vaio RS series. The RZ models will ship next month starting at about $1,600.

XP as a design platform an upgraded Sony VAIO

SO - this is a modern machine! Keep it and upgrade.

BUT! - Looks to me like Sony stopped selling the WindowsXP upgrade.
Everywhere I look on http://www.iq.sony.com , I get close but no cigar.

I recommend you read this stuff and then check with the dealer. I do not see how they could possibly know the answer. But maybe somebody there has done it. You could check with the shop on Wilshire (and 12th?) and ask them. You know the prices for memory and disk. If they could do it for a labor charge of $50 plus parts - that's a deal. They might guarantee the work - but if they lose your data, tough luck.

The Problem
I want to "Download and install the Sony^® Pre-installed Programs Uninstaller Utility For Upgrading To Microsoft^® Windows^® XP." - but I can't get there.

Windows XP is on CD-ROM and can not be downloaded.
Say you pay Fry's $99 for Win XP upgrade
It will install Win XP over Win ME
But you voided the warranty on Sony OS support (who cares) because you did not get it from them?
There is: a) "generic (off-the shelf)" and b) "Sony’s installed version of the Windows® XP operating system"

But Sony Store sells standard Microsoft WinXP product.
Where is 'b) "Sony’s installed version of the Windows® XP operating system"'

> VAIO Select Accessories & Software > Software

Microsoft® XP Home Upgrade
VS-N09-00050
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition is the next version of the Windows operating system, which is designed exclusively for home computing. Windows XP Home Edition puts the

$ 99.95

More Memory
Get 512MB for $220.

New Disk Drive
Get new 120GB disk drive for $119 for clean install.
BUt this requires $199 WindowsXP Full Edition instead of $99 upgrade.

Backup your data!

Buy $99 XP from Fry's and update

This should keep your data.

But if it toasts your machine, you will lose your data
The Sony recovery cd might restore the system but not your data.

Buy $99 XP from Fry's and clean install

This will erase your data.

A clean install probably will save grief somtime down the road.
You could get a $79 USB ZIP drive and unload your data. At this price it is USB 1.1 but it will work. The advantage is you just plug in it. Or maybe a couple dozen floppies might hold your data. Probably not since 1 floppy holds 1MB

You could get a

External Firewire/USB Portable Hard Drives

3417293	Acomdata 120GB HD120U2FE-72 7200RPM Portable Firewire/USB 2.0 HD $209.99 After Mail-In Rebate $30.00 Rebate

You could plug this drive in and copy your data.
If all fails, you do a Sony restore then copy back your data. You would then have WinME with 60GB plus 120GB.
A new 120GB drive costs $120 - so this is $89 more for USB plugin capability.
If WinXP upgrade works, you would then have WinXP with 60GB plus 120GB.
I like this approach!

Driver Recovery CD
Looks like you have all the drivers if you do a clean install.

Service Pack 1
If, by some miracle, the upgrade worked, you need to download and install the MS Service Pack 1a - just released.

User Manual Extract

Just some 1394 stuff

Search Sony for WindowsXP
Links will not work but you can copy the article name and search Sony.
This just makes it easier to see the whole list.

Ask Sony A Question - ASQ
Submit a question, receive e-mail reply within 12 hours.

Can I upgrade my PCV-RX470DS to Windows XP?
The Sony support site says I need to "Download and install the Sony® Pre-installed Programs Uninstaller Utility For Upgrading To Microsoft® Windows® XP."
But I can not find this on the Sony website.
I want to go to Circuit City and buy a $99 standard Windows XP upgrade.
Will that work? Do I lose Sony support?

The reference number for your question is '031008-000090'.

You should receive a response by e-mail from our support department within the next business day.

If you need to add information to or cancel your question, you can do so by updating it through the questions subarea of the 'My Stuff' section of this site.

Subject ---Can I upgrade my PCV-RX470DS to Windows XP? The Sony support site says I need...
Discussion Thread -------------- Response (Andy) - 10/08/2003 10:48 PM

Thank you for contacting SonyStyle with your query.
Glad to know that you own the Sony VAIO PCV-RX470DS Desktop. You could indeed upgrade the Operating System on your Desktop to Windows XP.
Please visit the following site to view the drivers that you will need after the upgrade. http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcvrx470dsrx480ds/

Please feel free to contact the SonyStyle team for further queries.
Customer (bruce beach) - 10/08/2003 04:46 AM Can I upgrade my PCV-RX470DS to Windows XP? The Sony support site says I need to "Download and install the Sony® Pre-installed Programs Uninstaller Utility For Upgrading To Microsoft® Windows® XP." But I can not find this on the Sony website. I want to go to Circuit City and buy a $99 standard Windows XP upgrade. Will that work? Do I lose Sony support? Thanks
Question #031008-000090 --- Product: VAIO Desktops
Email Address: brucebeachQQQ@yahooQQQ.com Date Created: 10/08/2003 04:46 AM Last Updated: 10/08/2003 10:48 PM Status: Solved

"Please visit the following site to view the drivers that you will need after the upgrade."

This was the source of all my confusion.
It seemed to me the sequence should be:
1) BEFORE - Run Microsoft® Windows® ME version of Program Uninstaller Utility
2) and then do Windows XP Upgrade.

- but evidently it is:

1) Run Windows XP Upgrade
2) and then AFTER do Microsoft® Windows® XP version of Program Uninstaller Utility

These files look like the Driver Recovery CD - but are updated versions for XP; replaces old Driver CD.
You should download these files BEFORE you upgrade and have them ready.
You also download Windows XP Service Pack 1A before starting the upgrade.

Operating System

5/28/2003

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