XP system restore...please help!

[UNIJIM]

I have an older Sony VAIO laptop that hasn't worked properly and has just been sitting around for a few years. I found a system restore disk for XP, but it isn't the one that came with my VAIO, it is for an eMachines desktop computer. I figured I'd give it a shot anyways since I haven't used the laptop in years. It did, in fact, return the laptop to "factory settings", but from what I can remember, it's not the factory settings of the VAIO, but most likely the desktop computer. XP opens, and I believe functions properly. However, I'm not sure how to search for a wireless internet connection, and I'm wondering if that function is something that maybe wasn't included on that particular disk for the eMachines. So, I'm asking, is it a big deal that I used the eMachines desktop restore disk for a Sony VAIO laptop? And, what steps do I need to take to get my wireless internet connection to be recognized by this laptop? COrrect me if I'm wrong, but I thought if you turn a new laptop on, it will recognize any wireless connections, then proceed from there to get it all set up to work properly. Basically, what I see on my VAIO, looks very generic to what it looked like when I bought it.

 

[vacunita]

Basically what hgappened is you restored the VAIOI to the eMachines settings and hardware. Which means your wireless card was not installed so it can't be used.

Hardware is different between machines, so drivers (the software windows needs to run specific hardware) in different machines is also different. The Restore disc for the eMachines would contain drivers for the eMachines specific hardware, and not the VAIO.

What you need to do is go to the Sony website, and download the drivers for your specific machine. Installing the missing drivers which likely include video card, the wireless card and some other specific features to the VAIO should then return it to how it looked before.



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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

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[goombawaho]

It's no big deal that you used a different CD as long as the key code from the bottom of the VAIO was entered and accepted and can be activated with Microsoft.

To Vacunita's comment, I would just add that you need to look in the Device Manager and see which items are marked with a question mark. This will tell you what Windows could not find drivers for and which you need to supply.

Then look on the VAIO site for your model and download the drivers for whatever is missing - likely video, wireless, maybe wired ethernet, maybe sound, etc.

If you have some item that you can't figure out, get the PCI\VEN information under the DETAILS tab of the missing device, post it and we can tell you what it is. Sometimes it's not obvious by the name listed, but often it is.

 

[Freestone]

This is a good place to start:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/select-system.pl?model_type_group_id=10

Then, as goombawaho has suggested, download and install drivers for unidentified devices, starting with the Chipset driver. If any unidentified devices remain after installing drivers from the site, post the PCI\VEN info.