Hi Brett,


I would like to thank you and retribute your kind support with this very simple tutorial on how to install a new OS on a Vaio PCG-U1 if one does not have a bootable FDD/CD/DVD drive and has a damaged OS installation that cannot be initialized. This is a description of my own experience. Feel free to use and share with your customers if you want.

- Possible situations to use the procedure:

a) Install Windows 2000 Professional in a Vaio PCG-U1 with original Japanese Windows XP Home with no external bootable drive (FDD/CD/DVD) available. Note that Windows XP does not allow downgrading from OS.

b) Install Windows 2000 Professional in case that the OS cannot boot any longer from HD and no external bootable drive is available.

- Summary:

PCG-U1 has a BIOS and network adapter with support to boot from network (PXE DHCP-based boot ROM). Using a RIS (Remote Installation Services) based on a Windows 2000 Server it is possible to execute a clean of install Windows 2000 Professional from the network.

- Details:

a) Upgrade the PCG-U1 BIOS to version R0224E0 using data contained in PK-000146-00.exe file and application WinPhlash contained in PK-000154-00.exe file. (http://vcl.vaio.sony.co.jp/support/note/pcg-u1.html#download). I am not sure if this step is really necessary.

b) Use a Windows 2000 Server and install RIS according to article #300483 "How To Use Remote Installation Service to Install Windows 2000 Professional on Remote Computers" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300483).

c) Connect both PCG-U1 and the server in a network.

d) Set the PCG-U1 BIOS: press F2 at boot time and go to Advanced tab to enable the network boot. Then reboot and press F12 for network boot. From this point on it will be a usual Windows installation. Most of the procedure is described in detail in the Microsoft article. Be aware that by default it will execute a unattended installation of the new OS and all data in the target HD will be lost including partition information unless you configure RIS properly.

e) Install the drivers available at Conics (http://downloads.conics.net/nick/Sony-PCG-U-Series-W2K-Drivers/)

- Notes:

a) It is possible to install Windows XP instead of Windows 2000 Professional but some updates are necessary on Windows 2000 Server

b) In case you do not have a PC available to run Windows 2000 Server it is possible to run it under your OS using a virtual machine environment like the VMware (I used a laptop with Windows XP Home and Windows 2000 Server running as a virtual machine and it worked fine)

c) Although it seems a little bit complex this is a generic procedure that can be used for any recent system (which provides PXE boot BIOS support).

Thanks and Best Regards,

Nelson