Can I install XP Pro on an XP MCE machine Sony Vaio VGN-FE31M?

[Guest]

I've recently been supplied with a new Sony Vaio laptop for work and it's come
with XP Media Center Edition installed on it. I spoke to someone in the
store three days ago who said that I couldn't install XP Pro on that
machine, and that XP Pro isn't designed to run on an MCE machine.
But I formatted the HD and installed the Win XP Pro without problems.
After rebboting the system I realised that 1)there is a PC device wich is
not working, 2) the sound card seemed to be installed correctly but I am not
able to here any sounds, 3) the built-inn motion eye camera isn't working, 4)
the machine was not shut down and when I followed the instructions described
off this device to save power" the machine is shutting down, but this is a
problem because if I connect a devise eg. a USB printer I will not be able to
turn it off.

Note that I tried to install the drivers for Windows XP from Sony's site but
I still have the above problems.
Does anybody has an idea on how to recover form these problems? I will be
very gratefull for any answers. Thank you in adavnce.

 

[Guest]

Having recently had a similar job to do (New Vaio laptop, totally
laced-through with junkware and needing full reinstall to make it useable) I
reinstalled MCE using the i386 folder from the HD, as I don't normally deal
with home computers, so don't keep MCE disks. The setup reported a few
missing files however, and I was able to source those from other places in
the old partition, which I'd fortunately saved.

Anyway, after installing the chipset drivers it was apparent that some
devices weren't fully functional, for example the hotkeys woudln't work even
though the service for these was running. A websearch suggests that there are
difficulties with getting these laptops to fully work with a standard copy of
Windows, regardless of whether MCE or Pro/Home version.

I eventually got it working satisfactorily, minus the volume hotkeys which
simply refused to play ball. But-my bill for benchtime came to about a
quarter of the purchase cost of the laptop, and in truth I was giving the guy
a loss-leader at that, the thing had been taking-up my workshop space and
time for several days.

Pity, as the hardware is nice. My advice from now on will be
straightforward: Don't buy Sony computers.

Only consolation was ... the Windows key worked first time so I didn't thave
any phone-wrangles with MS.

Anyway, I doubt if the choice of MCE or Pro would make any odds. It's the
fact that the preinstalled Windows is so heavily modified that's the issue.

Sorry I can't offer you a more hopeful answer, you just need to keep
a-plugging at it till you get it working.

 

[Guest]

BTW I seem to recall that I resolved the sound problem by downloading a
driver from the soundchip-manufacturer's site. This is certainly an area
worth checking, as are the forms of http://driverguide.com for other's
experiences of this model.

 

[Ron Martell]

I've recently been supplied with a new Sony Vaio laptop for work and it's come
with XP Media Center Edition installed on it. I spoke to someone in the
store three days ago who said that I couldn't install XP Pro on that
machine, and that XP Pro isn't designed to run on an MCE machine.
But I formatted the HD and installed the Win XP Pro without problems.
After rebboting the system I realised that 1)there is a PC device wich is
not working, 2) the sound card seemed to be installed correctly but I am not
able to here any sounds, 3) the built-inn motion eye camera isn't working, 4)
the machine was not shut down and when I followed the instructions described
off this device to save power" the machine is shutting down, but this is a
problem because if I connect a devise eg. a USB printer I will not be able to
turn it off.

Note that I tried to install the drivers for Windows XP from Sony's site but
I still have the above problems.
Does anybody has an idea on how to recover form these problems? I will be
very gratefull for any answers. Thank you in adavnce.

Why did you decide to change to XP Pro from Media Center, which is in
fact a downgrade of the operating system?

Media Center *is* XP Pro plus multimedia enhancements, except that the
ability to join a Windows Server Domain is not present in Media Center
(but there are workarounds available if you search the web).

Unless there is some valid reason that I am not aware of for having XP
Pro in preference to Media Center then I suggest you reinstall the
original Media Center version, which has all of the proper drivers for
the multimedia accessories that you are having problems with.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."