Clean install on Sony Vaio issues

[hazel123]

Hello. I have a Sony Vaio VPCCW2S1E and have recently had to reset it to factory settings after (foolishly I know) downloading and running Norton Utilities without reading an instruction manual first. Anyway that's history now so I'll leave the embarrassing bit behind.

I have suspected the hard drive is on its last legs anyway, so I bought a new hard drive - one I've used before on other laptops - a fairly standard Seagate slim one. It's 500GB and the old one is only 320GB. I decided to use the recovery discs from the Vaio to install on the new hard-drive but they weren't accepted. They would install fully then a message would pop up saying there was an issue with the hard drive. So having googled a bit I think I've determined this is a common problem - Sony recovery discs won't install to a new hard drive.

So I'd like to do a clean install on the new hard drive. I've done a few clean installs on various computers before and on some older Sony Vaio's, but I'm wondering if I'll have the same issue with the hard drive. I have all the necessary drivers and utilities on a memory card, but the original installation included an Intel Matrix Storage program which I can't seem to find - although the Dell website seems to have it but says it was a pre-installed program.

I'm not sure if the laptop has RAID or not or if it needs this Intel program. In fact I don't really know what RAID is other than it could cause some issues. I'd happily leave the Intel program off (there is also an Intel driver to install which I have on my memory card) but I think it is something to do with the disc and RAID.

Just wondered if anyone knows if this laptop has RAID or not because I can't find anything about that, or whether it would be ok without the Intel Matrix Program.

Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

Follow these steps to get and keep a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

It compiles everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here, and has been used by 1.5 million consumers without a single complaint.

Boot into BIOS setup to confirm the SATA controller is set to AHCI. There wouldn't be RAID unless you have two hard drives.

Why didn't you' buy an SSD which is the best upgrade you can get for Win7, better than a new high-end PC without one?

Be sure to follow the steps for drivers which are important enough they are printed in red. This is not XP so don't use XPired methods with a driver-complete OS.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks very much. So do you know if the Intel Matrix program is necessary or not please? I get the impression it was something installed onto the disc separate from Windows - like firmware? Anyway I'll find out when I try and install to the new disc whether it goes ok or not. I'm guessing a clean copy of windows 7 will load fine onto the new disc, but just wondered what the Intel program was there for - to prevent overheating or something? Thanks.

 

[hazel123]

I did have an SD drive ready to go. Then our son's laptop drive packed up and I put it in that. Couldn't afford another one so got a 500GB standard drive, which has been zippy enough in other laptops. I'd swap it for the one in son's laptop except it is such a pig to get into and change the drive - means taking the keyboard out and all sorts. So I'd be happy enough with the 500GB seagate drive.

 

[gregrocker]

It's a storage driver, all of which are in the Win7 installer lest it would fail to see hard drive.

Follow the tutorial guidance on how to determine what factory bloatware to reimport after install but I would be resistant unless it is clearly missing a function.

Ask back any questions as they arise.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks will do. Just 4 Sony utilities to install I think, to get function keys working.