Windows 7 Upgrade information

Windows 7 Upgrade information

•Notes on Upgrading to Windows 7
•About Restrictions on your computer
•About Restrictions on the Sony software products
•About Restrictions on the third-party software products
•How to Upgrade to Windows 7

NOTE: Download the VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade Utility first to an external
device before proceeding

o 1. Back-up your data
o 2. Recover your computer system
o 3. Run the downloaded file (VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade Utility)
o 4. Upgrade your computer system to the Windows 7 operating system
o 5. Run the VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade Utility again
o 6. Restore your data from the backup copy

•Notes after the upgrade
•About Software Updates

Notes on Upgrading to Windows 7

The Windows 7 Upgrade is available on models that support an upgrade to the Windows 7 operating system only.

•Be sure to follow the instructions in this manual to upgrade your VAIO® computer
system to the Windows 7 operating system.

•Recovering your computer system is required for an upgrade to the Windows 7 operating system.

•Be sure to back up your valuable data. Sony assumes no liabilities for any problems and damages arising after the upgrade.

•Be sure to disconnect all peripheral devices, which are not necessary for the upgrade, from your computer in advance.

•Turn off and on your computer if the computer freezes when it restarts during the
upgrade process.

•Be sure to use an AC adapter to power your computer during the upgrade process if you use the laptop computer. (Do not disconnect the AC adapter from the computer while upgrading the computer.)

•Be sure to create recovery discs before the upgrade in case of problems occurring after the upgrade. For information on how to create recovery discs, see the printed Troubleshooting and Recovery Guide.

About Restrictions on your computer

After you upgrade your computer system to the Windows 7 operating system, the following functions, which were available on the Windows Vista operating system, are restricted.

NOTE: Your computer must be connected to the Internet to download the updates.

•The VAIO Windows 7 upgrade Utility does not include some software applications.
Download and install such software with the VAIO Update software, if originally
installed, after the upgrade.

•Windows Media Center does not support playback of a DSD file. To play it, use
Windows Media Player or SonicStage Mastering Studio.

•Depending on the model you use, you cannot run Windows Aero due to restrictions on
the computer.

•Windows 7 does not include email software. If you want to use Windows Mail or
Outlook Express, it is recommended that you download Windows Live Mail.

•On models with Windows Vista Ultimate: When you enable the BitLocker Drive
Encryption feature, you cannot upgrade your computer system. To disable it, click Start, Control Panel, Security, BitLocker Drive Encryption, Turn Off BitLocker Drive
Encryption, and Disable BitLocker Drive Encryption. After the upgrade is complete,
enable it again.

•On VGN-TT2 series models: The wireless LAN driver may be uninstalled during the
upgrade process. It will be provided by the VAIO Update software.

•Disc writing

If you write data to a DVD-RW disc or a DVD±R DL disc using the disc writing function on the operating system and remove the disc from the computer after that, you will not be able to add any data to the disc.

About Restrictions on the Sony software products

•SonicStage Mastering Studio/DSD Direct

You cannot play a DSD disc created with the SonicStage Mastering Studio or DSD
Direct software by selecting the disc on Windows Media Player or Windows Media
Center.

To play it, double-click the DSD file on the disc in Windows Explorer or copy the DSD file to your computer, and then select the file on Windows Media Player.

•VAIO Media plus

If your computer is one of the VGN-P Series models, VAIO Media plus is uninstalled
during the upgrade process.

•DVR-MS files (Extension: dvr-ms) are not supported if you upgrade the computer system to Windows 7 using VA7U.

•VAIO MusicBox
AAC files (Extension: m4a, 3gp) are not supported if you upgrade the computer system
to Windows 7 using VA7U.

•VAIO Analysis Manager
The result of the analysis conducted by VAIO Analysis Manager is deleted during the
upgrade process. You need to analyze content with VAIO Analysis Manager again.

•VAIO Recovery Center
VAIO Recovery Center is uninstalled if you upgrade the computer system to Windows 7
using VA7U. After the upgrade, the features, such as Create Recovery Disc and Reinstall Programs or Drivers on VAIO Recovery Center, will not be available.

•Hardware Guide

The on-screen Hardware Guide for the Windows 7 operating system will not be provided.

About Restrictions on third-party software products

The following problems may occur on some preinstalled third-party software after the upgrade:

•Some features on the software are restricted.
•The software does not run on the Windows 7 operating system.

For contacts about the third-party software

Sony does not provide any support for errors occurring on third-party software.
For contacts on third-party software, see Software Guide.

The type of software is installed on your computer depends on the model you purchased. Visit the web site at http://www.sony-asia.com/productcategory/it-personal-computer to find out which software is installed on your model.

How to Upgrade to Windows 7

❑ Be sure to turn off the WIRELESS or WIRELESS LAN switch (for models with theWireless LAN function only).

❑ Be sure to disconnect all connected peripheral devices from the computer except the
following devices:

• the supplied AC adapter or power cord
• a docking station (if you have one)
• a display/LAN adapter (if you have one)
• a computer display (on desktop models without any computer display)
• an external optical disc drive (on models without an optical disc drive)

Follow the steps below to upgrade the current system to the Windows 7 operating system:

Back-up your data Make sure you back up your valuable data to an external storage device, such as documents or pictures, stored on your hard disk.

See the printed Troubleshooting and Recovery Guide for information on how to back up the data.

If you have renewed the McAfee PC Security Center subscription, write down your email address and password you have registered. You need to enter them to reactivate the subscription after the upgrade. To retrieve your password, visit the web site at http://service.mcafee.com.

❑ To back up data for your email software

Follow the steps below for the email software of which you want to back up data.
Windows 7 does not include email software. If you want to use Windows Mail or Outlook Express, it is recommended that you download Windows Live Mail.

• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

1. Start Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.
2. Click File on the menu bar and Import and Export.
3. Select Export to a file and click Next.
4. Select Personal Folder File (.pst) and click Next.
5. Select the folder from which you want to export and click Next.
• To back up each folder individually, leave the Include subfolders check box unchecked.
• To back up all data in the selected folder including its subfolders, select the Include subfolders
check box.
6. Click Browse and select a location to save the exported file.
7. Enter a file name you can easily recognize in File name and click OK.
8. Click Finish.

• Outlook Express
Back up your account information, mail file, and address book, in that order.

1. Account information
1. Start Outlook Express Ver.6.0.
2. Click Tools on the menu bar and Accounts.
3. Click the Mail tab and select the name of the account you want to export from the list.
4. Click Export.
5. Select a location to save the exported data in the Export Internet Account window.
6. Enter Mail account in File name and click Save.
7. Click Close to close the window.

2. Mail file
1. Click Tools on the menu bar and Options.
2. Click the Maintenance tab and Store Folder.
3. Open the save folder in the Store Folder window with Internet Explorer Browser.
With the default settings, the save folder is located in Hidden Folders.
4. Select all files whose extensions are dbx in the save folder, right-click them, and click Copy.
5. Create a folder in your desired location, right-click it, and select Paste.
6. Check if the all selected files are copied to the folder.

3. Address book
1. Click Tools on the menu bar and Address Book.
2. Click File on the menu bar, Export, and Address Book (WBA).
3. Select the file you want to export in the Export Address Book selection window.
4. Enter Address Book in File name and click Save.
5. Click OK to close the window.

• Windows Mail

Back up your account information, mail file, and address book, in that order.
1. Account information

1. Start Windows Mail.
2. Click Tools on the menu bar and Accounts.
3. Select the name of the account you want to export from the list and click Export.
4. Select a location to save the exported data in the Export Internet Account window.
5. Enter a file name in File name and click Save.
6. Click Close to close the window.

2. Mail file

1. Click File on the menu bar, Export, and Messages.
2. Select Microsoft Windows Mail and click Next.
3. Click Browse and select a location to save the exported file and Select Folders.
4. Click Next.
5. Select All folders and click Next.
6. Click Finish.

3. Address book

1. Click File on the menu bar, Export, and Windows Contacts.
2. Select CSV (Comma Separated Values) in the Export Windows Contacts window and click Export.
3. Click Browse and select a folder to save the exported file.
4. Enter Contacts in File name and click Save.
5. Click Next.
6. Select the check box for your desired item and click Finish.
If you cannot decide which item to select, select all items.
7. Click OK.
8. Click Close to close the window.

Recover your computer system

See the printed Troubleshooting and Recovery Guide for information on how to recover your computer system.

Windows 7 Upgrade needs information on the recovery partition to upgrade your computer system to the Windows 7 operating system. If you have deleted the recovery partition, recover the computer system using the recovery discs to restore the computer to its factory default settings.

Third-party software except some software cannot be installed after the upgrade since Windows

7 Upgrade does not contain all the third-party software.
To start the Windows 7 setup, you need to log onto your computer with a user name which contains only alphanumeric characters and as a user with administrator rights.
It takes a few hours to complete the upgrade process.

Run the downloaded file (VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade Utility)

NOTE: Firstly, please copy the file stored in the external device to the local drive of the computer before proceeding.

1. Double-click the downloaded file. Once the installation is done, click Start and type VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade in the Search text field, Press Enter.

2. This will display the VA7U Top page showing all the files (applications/drivers) needed to be executed prior to upgrading to Windows 7

3. Click the Upgrade Procedure button in the VA7U Top Page to check the softwares that need to be uninstalled prior to upgrading. Before proceeding to the next step, please uninstall the drivers or applications listed in the VA7U Top Page manually. If there are no instructions listed in the VA7U Top Page, please skip this step.

4. To run the Automatic Updates, click the Start Upgrading button. The system will prompt the user to restart the system after the installation for automatic updates. Please take note that after restart, it will reopen the VA7U Top Page. Repeat this step until there are no more available automatic updates.

5. To run the Manual Updates, click the Start Downloading button. Files downloaded need to be installed manually and it can be found in C:\Update folder. If there are no manual updates available, please skip this step. After installation of manual updates, this may require users to restart the system. Once the system starts up, if there are no more available manual updates, please proceed to install the Windows 7 Operating System.

Upgrade your computer system to the Windows 7 operating system

To upgrade your computer system, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows 7 Media into the drive while the Windows Vista is running on the computer.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions until the window to select the type of installation appears.
3. Click Upgrade.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade process.

Run the VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade Utility again

1. Click Start and type VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade in the Search text field, Press Enter.
2. Perform the steps 3, 4 and 5 in “Run the downloaded file (VAIO Windows 7 Upgrade Utility)” section above again.

Manual Updates

Bluetooth Installation steps:

1. Open C:\Updates\EP0000206086.
2. Double-click the .exe file.
3. Open C:\Upgrade\Drivers\Broadcom.
4. Double-click Setup.exe.
5. Follow the instructions displayed in the installation wizard.

BIOS Installation steps:
1. Open C:\Updates\EP0000209709 (for VGN-Z2), C:\Updates\EP0000209696 (VGNZ3
and VGN-Z4), C:\Updates\EP0000209695 (for VGB-TT), C:\Updates\EP0000209697 (for VGN-SR)
2. Double-click the .exe file.
3. Open C:\Upgrade\BIOS\EP0000209709 (for VGN-Z2), C:\Upgrade\BIOS\EP0000209696 (VGN-Z3 and VGN-Z4), C:\Upgrade\BIOS\EP0000209695 (for VGN-TT), C:\Upgrade\BIOS\EP0000209697 (for VGN-SR)
4. Double-click the .exe file.
5. Follow the instructions displayed in the installation wizard.

Restore your data from the backup copy

See the printed Troubleshooting and Recovery Guide for information on how to restore your data.

❑ To restore the data for your email software from the backup copy

• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

You first need to set up Microsoft Office to install Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.

1. Start and set up Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.
2. Click File on the menu bar and Import and Export.
3. Select Import from another program or file and click Next.
4. Select Personal Folder File (.pst) and click Next.
5. Click Browse, select the backup copy of the personal folder file (.pst), and click Next.
6. Select a folder to import or top-level folder to import multiple folders including its subfolders and click Finish.

• Windows Mail and Outlook Express
You first need to install Windows Live Mail. Visit the following web site at
http://download.live.com/wlmail to download and install the Windows Live Mail installer.

1. Account information

1. Start Windows Live Mail.
If the window notifying you to add the email account window appears, click Cancel and then Yes at the confirmation prompt.
2. Press the Alt key to display the menu bar and click Tools and Accounts.
3. Click Import.
4. Select the backup copy of your account information and click Open.
5. The account information is imported.

2. Mail file

1. Press the Alt key to display the menu bar and click File, Import, and Messages.
2. Select the software for which you made the backup file of the mail file and click Next.
3. Click Browse, select the backup copy of the mail file, and click Next.
4. Select a folder to import the backup copy and click Next.
5. Click Finish.

3. Address book

1. Click the address book at the lower left corner of the window.
2. Press the Alt key to display the menu bar.

❑ Windows Mail

1. Click File, Import, and CSV (Comma Separated Values).
2. Click Browse, select the backup copy of the address book, and click Open.
3. Select the check box for your desired item in Import field and click Complete.

❑ Outlook Express

1. Click File, Import, and Address book (WAB).
2. Select the backup copy of the address book and click Open.
3. At the confirmation prompt, click OK.

❑ To reactivate the McAfee PC SecurityCenter subscription

Your computer must be connected to the Internet to register with McAfee PC SecurityCenter.
1. Right-click the McAfee icon on the taskbar and click Product Setup.
2. Click the Log In tab.
3. Read the end user license agreement carefully and click I agree.
4. Enter your registered Email Address and Password, and click Next.
5. At the confirmation prompt, click Finish.
The upgrade process has been completed and your computer is ready for use.

Notes after the upgrade

•On VGN-P series models:

You need to select themes other than Windows Aero. If Windows Aero is selected for the theme, follow these steps:
1 Click Start and Control Panel.
2 Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize.
3 Select themes other than Windows Aero.
4 Click OK.

•On models with the numeric keypad on the keyboard other than the wireless keyboard: If you cannot enter numbers with the numeric keypad on the keyboard, make sure that the Num lock indicator is lit. If not, the numeric keypad works the same as the directional arrow keys and the navigation keys. Press the Num Lk key to turn on the indicator and enter the numbers.

•On models with the numeric keypad on the wireless keyboard:

If you cannot enter numbers with the numeric keypad on the keyboard, make sure that the Num lock indicator located at the upper-right corner of the keyboard is lit. If not, the numeric keypad works the same as the directional arrow keys and the navigation keys.
Press the Num Lk key to turn on the indicator and the enter numbers.

About Software Updates

The software and software drivers installed on your computer may not be the latest version. Visit the following web site or use the following software to check if there are new software updates available.

•Windows Update

The Windows Update web site provides the latest updates to fix defects in the software.

•VAIO Update
The VAIO Update software automatically notifies you of the latest updates and
information for your computer.
For detailed information, see the help file on the VAIO Update software. Your computer must be connected to the Internet to download the updates.