topic Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem in PCs & Accessories

VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Sat, 13 Nov 2004 10:45:18 GMT

Hi there,

I bought a TR5MP VAIO Notebook from a seller on eBay. He unfortunately installed the French Windows XP. Now I'm only speaking German, so I wanted to know how I can install a German Windows with the German recovery CD?

I tried nearly everything, but everytime I want to recover the system with the German recovery disc (I've got a german, a french, an italian and an englisch disc -> probably since I live in Switzerland, we have three languages here) it says that the notebook is incompatible to this language.

Installing my own Windows XP works well but then I don't have all this VAIO Software stuff which I need to work well with the notebook. But even after a complete delete of the partitions the VAIO notebook can only be reinstalled with the French disc.

Yup, that's my problem. Seems to me like a problem for the Sony VAIO support.

By the way...I read that the englisch verison is multi-lingual? Means that you can change the desktop language even after installation? With the french version this doesn't work.

Greets

Heady

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Sat, 13 Nov 2004 11:59:25 GMT

Just looked a bit through the forums, but didn't findi any topis related to this explicit problem. But what I've read is, that Sony does not give support to other windows versions than the one which is delivered with the vaio.

Well...I'll contact the vaio link support on monday but do you think there will even be the possibility to make a German install by myself with the discs I have? Looks like a bigger problem to me...

But Sony should give me support in this, shouldn't they? I have recovery discs for all the languages and since here in Switzerland this seems to be normal that a user can choose from different languages on the first utilisation of the notebook, I should have the right to have my windows in German as my seller had the right to have it in French (we are both Swiss, but he lives in another part where the people speak French).

Greets

Heady

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

robpaxton — Sat, 13 Nov 2004 17:14:14 GMT

I'm pretty sure that you are correct in assuming that you should be able to use any of the recovery disks that you have. Sony support should be able to help you.

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

kee-lo_ — Sat, 13 Nov 2004 20:11:16 GMT

You have recovery disks for French / German and English?
Wow Sony are finally learning that Switzerland is a multi-culteral land.

I remember another Swiss guy complaining about this

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

robpaxton — Sat, 13 Nov 2004 20:15:48 GMT

Although recovery disks for all of the languages are supplied I think I read somewhere that the first installed language locks the system to that language RCD forever

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

kee-lo_ — Sat, 13 Nov 2004 20:18:20 GMT

Thats outrageous

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 17:46:49 GMT

Forever? But Sony should be able to undo this and install me a German Version, shouldn't they? Probably will have to send my VAIO in...

Well, well...I'll call em tomorrow!

Greets

Heady

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

kee-lo_ — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 19:19:22 GMT

They could, and they should, but if they would is a different matter.

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 12:59:58 GMT

Okay, just called them....and there's no way to change the language. The only alternative would be to install my own Windows XP Version.

That's what I tried at the very beginning but with my own Windows version you have some serious lacks. For example: It wasn't possible to activate the camera or the hotkeys. Okay, there is this "C:Drivers" directory, but I had no idea which driver fits to which device.

Damn...what am i doing now? Is there a way to get all the software from a recovery cd installed with using my own windows xp pro?

Greets

Heady

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:27:41 GMT

I wonder, and this is a REALLY long shot, but theres apparently a button at the bottom which resets the CMOS, wonder if that would work?

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:53:09 GMT

Nope...tried that as one of the first steps after I got the notebook, doesn't work. 😞

Hmm!

Greets

Heady

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:54:15 GMT

There's no BIOS update by any chance?

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:58:38 GMT

Doesn't seem so...and even if this would be possible the chance that I could install another language version of windows would be small, because this security lock seems to be hidden deep in this notebook, probably deeper than the bios...but don't ask me how this is possible.

It's ridiculous that even Sony can't reinstall a windows in another language!

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 14:20:56 GMT

They really shout have this written on the box in BOLD writing size 72 at least....

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 04:25:27 GMT

Yup, definately!

But I got it now...it took some time and lot of patience but in the end everythings working now.

I installed my own Windows XP on the second partition and extracted all the German Software from the German recovery CD with kcap.exe . the vaiovillage.com forums offer some good instructions.

Well, then I needed the sony shared libraries which i took from the support page for the US TR5AP and they're working fine. These libraries bring you back the hotkey feature (camera acces, volume control, etc.) . After that you have to install the extracted applications (not everything works, but most of it).

So at the moment I'm running my German WinXP with everything else working, if anyone needs a detailed explanation, just ask.

Now I have to wipe out the OEM Windows...somehow...hmm...i need the free space on the first patition. Any idea how?

Greets

Heady

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

William — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 07:00:59 GMT

Very pleased that it works for you, Vaio Village can be a great source of info (as well as here!) and USA Sony support seems so much better.

Regarding the installation on the D drive is there no way you could repeat the installation with a full format using the Sony recovery disk on the C Drive (and downloads) then install your own XP over the top?

William

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 08:15:56 GMT

I can't use the recovery disc to format partitions, the only way it probably will work is by doing it with my own winxp version and it's boot installation feature.

I'll have a look into it.

Greets

Heady

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Woody27 — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 09:29:03 GMT

Vaio Village can be a great source of info

Agreed!

For the more technically challenging problems and upgrades I have to say it is probably my fist port of call!

But ClubVAIO is friendlier! :smileygrin:

Heady - glad you got it sorted out in the end... ...this is a typical example of where Sony seems to 'come off the rails'... ...it's a pity when their products are so beautifully designed!

CW

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

kee-lo_ — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 15:31:10 GMT

So glad it's sorted Heady
I'd use Norton Ghost to make a copy of the disk so thats it's easier next time round.

Re: VAIO TR5MP - Windows Recovery issues, language problem

Heady — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 22:04:47 GMT

Well, I just installed my windows version new on the first partition...so i had the chance to repeat the installing process of the drivers (etc.). Well, mostly everything's working, except for the Sony Camera VJ Screensaver. It worked with the first installation (the one on the false parition). I use version 1.1 here from the vaio-link pages for the tr5mp, but perhaps there's a version 1.0 out there? Thanks for any hint.

Greets

Heady