XL201 upgrade to Windows Vista 64bit

[zincbod]

Hi all

I am about to upgrade to vista and have trawled through these threads looking for tips and I now have a few (loads) of questions if anyone can help ( i have vista 64 bit home premium full version and a new hard drive ready for clean install 😞

1. The BIOS upgrade, is it always necessary to do it or is it a suck it and see if I get graphics issues.
2 Do I use all the drivers on the sony driver update website and if so when do I upgrade the BIOS, they seem to suggest running the windows vista first then the bios update from inside vista though some threads here seem to do otherwise?
3. What order overall do I perform all these tasks
4. I have a choice of hard drives to use either a 500gb or a 1tb. will the 1tb cause any issues as it will be the boot drive?
5. I have also been thinking of adding a MSI NX8500GT-MTD256EH/D2 Graphics Card, should I do this befor or after the vista upgrade?
6. any other suggestions or tips welcome.

Thanks

[d8b]

Hi zincbod,

1. bios upgrade is mandatory for Vista 32bit, so I think for 64bit too.
Without it is impossible to install graphic driver.
...
4. I would like to install 1 Tera hd as secondary drive, but I don't know if bios supports this size.

This is my experience.

Bye.

[andysp5]

Hi Zincbod,

I've just upgraded my XL201 from XP to Vista 32-bit and it was a bit tricky.
I tried to do an OS update first time, but got so many problems that I scrapped that and did a clean install instead.
As regards the BIOS, yes definately required. I installed Vista first and the graphics card would not install. Tried to run the BIOS update in Vista but it doesn't work. Then I put together a DOS boot disk, and ran it from there using the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. After a deep breath, this worked. After a reboot, it recognised the graphics card.

Then I got all the Vista drivers and Utils from the Sony site, and installed those, drivers first. Note that the latest Sigmatel sound driver does not work properly, and to get the correct surrond sound output, you need to use the older driver 6.10.0.5290.
I also installed a MSI NX8500GT card, but I did this after I got everything else working.

I don't know about the drive size issue.

Andy

[zincbod]

Thanks for the comments guys

I have so far updated the BIOS (the tricky bit). I used the ISO file posted on this forum and created a bootable CD. It ran the dos program fine and at the end said it was completed ok. When the PC first restarted it did come up with a check sum error but I have restarted it several times since and it all seems to be ok. In the BIOS it is showing version 4003.003 dated 11/22/06. Unfortunately I did not check what version it was befor the flash so I hope this is now the correct version and date, (can anyone confirm this >??)

I am now going to try the Vista today - fingers crossed.....

Rob

[C13UGG]

Hello,

Is this a fresh install or upgrade? I completed a fresh install with no problems. I have vista x64 ultimate.

[zincbod]

Hello all.

So the Install of Vista 64bit is now done. Generally it all seemed to go faily well BUT there are a few things (4) that dont work. The main issues are that the TV (medial adapter) will not install. I have run the driver on the sony website and looked for others on the web but nothing seems to work - can any one help. I have taken the card out and can see it is a "avermedia A16C-D". I checked their site but they dont have that model listed so I emailed them. Unfortunately they replied to contact SONY who I expect will send me back to the sony website link I have already tried - ANY IDEAS.

Also the icons for the memory card adaptors dont come up - but this is not realy an issues. One last thing that is quite frustrating is that the "eject button" for the DVD will not work. i can go into explorer and right click and select "eject" and the disk comes out OK, so I am copeing but if any one can help that would be excellent.

Finally, my zone alarm will not work on 64bit, I checked the Zonealarm site to find that none of their versions work on 64bit -hmm.. Any suggestions on what firewall and antivirus to use that will cover 64bit.

Thanks

Rob

[C13UGG]

Hi,

Thought i'd let you know my experience,

Didn't realise that x64 might have been the cause of the eject button not working. Mine doesnt work either. I just right click and eject.

Memory Icons, I assume you are referring to the card slots at the front. Mine work fine and I have the icons. incidentally I am using vista x64 ultimate.

Regarding AV, I use Mcafee 2009 which is x64.

dont know if that helps, but thought I'd let you know my experience.

For anyone who plays videos, which I would hope the majority I would recommend media portal rather than MS media centre. Will play everything as you can specify your own codec. also you may want to add the steamedmp skin. its awesome and truly finishes your experience.

[formation4]

Hi
Did you manage to get the TV cards to work?
Do you get sound from the HDMI connection?

Please let me know

[zincbod]

Hello.

No I oould not get the TV card to work. I have contacted Sony and Avermedia (who make the card). Sony say it is not 64bit compatable, but I kept trying for a while anyway as you realy dont get the feeling they are trying very hard when they put these replies together. Avermedia said it is a card that is customised by sony so realy could not say either way. I have tried lots of 64bit drivers from the avermedia website but nothing seems to work. I now have a new TV card on its way so I hope this resolves the issue (though may cause others).

As for the HDMI sound, Im not sure as I use the optical out through a Toslink cable to a surround sound system. I will take a look at some point soon.

From above about the virus - I have now installed Mcafee and this seems to work well.

Thanks

[formation4]

Hi

I just did an upgrade to Vista Ultimate and having gone through the process it found the TV cards but there is a problem with the graphics card and the sound coming from it. I have checked the driver in device properties and it says the follwoing "This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. (Code 12)

If you want to use this device, you will need to disable one of the other devices on this system.
"

Does anybody have the update bios ISO or know where I could get hold of it from, that would be highly appreciated thanks

regards
Muj

Surprisingly everything works in Windows 7 on my XL301 machine but I am not using that as a PVR and has no TV cards in it. Didn't want to install Windows 7 on the 201 as some of the features only work on Vista like dvr tools and tv tool box