xl201 on XP - moving to W7 RC1

[Carl_D]

hi all
I am currently running my original build XL201 machine with XP, and am now looking to upgrade to Windows 7 RC1. I have seen alot of issues with the old vista upgrade on forums - specifically with the bios - and was looking for any known gotchas with Sp->w7. does the bios still need updating as per vista upgrade (expect so), whats the current recommendation fo rht best approach for this update, and any other nasties

Carl
--------------------
xp mediacenter sp2
hauppage wintv dual dvbt card
lacie nas
samsung 1080p panel
appletv+boxee stb

[Blencogo]

Hi Carl,

I'm sure one of our XL users will reply in detail.

I think you must run the BIOS update - without it the graphics driver will not install.

The BIOS update must be installed in XP before you install Vista/Win7 as it will not install in Vista/Win7.

I think I am right but as this is important you may wish to wait for a reply from someone who has done it.

[ChalkyWhite71]

Hi Carl, isn't Windows7 still beta? if so, doesn't it become unusable after August 2009, or is my memory failing me?

You can upgrade to the full purchased product within the time until August, IF it is released, if not, then you have to downgrade, so i thought.

Cheers, Tony

[fremaas]

Hello Carl_D,

I just read your message and I can tell you that Windows 7 RC works very fine on a VGX-XL201. I use it from many times and I have no problem with it. I test the beta version also and now the release candidate and I find the media center much better than Vista.

For the driver and the BIOS update you need to be carefull for 2 things:
1) Don't use the 64bits version of Win 7 because some driver won't works. I try it...but I don't remember wich driver is not supported. I think that is the TV tuner but I'm not sure.
2) You have to update the BIOS (very easy to do) to have a full screen resolution. When I install Windows Vista on my VGX 2 years ago, I have the desktop in a small frame and not in full screen, it was very strange. I solve this "bug" with the update of the BIOS and now I'm in full screen with a perfect picture.

The improvement of the Media Center in Windows 7 are:
- Interface for the Music Library => you have all the CD cover like a big wallpaper in background and it's moving slowly down. It's just beautiful!
- Read DivX without any plugin

The part that is still very poor (for me):
- The "Bonus" application in the internet menu are VERY RIDICULOUS !!! I don't understand how microsoft can pretend to make the Media Center PC the centre off the entertainment home experience without adding more stuff to play with it? (I hope that you can understand me because my english is not perfect) The bonus menu depend from the country where you live and in Belgium it's very poor. I have just access to "Reuters" and "RTBF" information.
- No "Windows Live Messenger" video conference ??? Why they don't include a menu Messenger where you can invite you contact to have a video conference under messenger with a single "click" with the remote control??? I have a logitech webcam Quickam 9000 and the microphone is very powerfull. I can use with Messenger on my VAIO and it works great but I have to take the keyboard to open the program... Not very CONVENIENT for a media center PC

When Microsoft will improve their Media Center with all the CONVENIENT idea from a Apple iPhone, it will be the beginning of a new big bang in the computer world !

I hope that my experience can help you in your choice to upgrade your OS.

Gladiateur555

[ChalkyWhite71]

Hi G555,

hmmm very interesting. Since my post i've looked up RC1, and yes we're OK to use it until March 2010 after which time we have to buy it or downgrade, seems OK to me.

I see you've upgraded your processor (from E6300 to E6700, 1.86-2.66Ghz), RAM (1Gb to 2Gb) and the graphics card. I wonder how well 7 performs on the standard 7600GTL card?

I have my restore disks prepared, i'll download the RC1 and give it a go! May have a spare HDD recorder ready, just in case

Thanks, Tony

[ChalkyWhite71]

Now talking to you courtesy of Windows 7 RC1 on the XL201.

I upgraded my RAM to 3GB and put a new 500Gb SATA Seagate disk in to test Win7.

Can't get it to recognise the Nvidia card, despite the latest driver download from Windows Update. Says all resources are in use. hmmm.

Have tried the DOS booting BIOS update off the Sony site, but it tells me there is a "CMOS Checksum Error - loading default" when i next boot the machine.

More hacking about with Vista versions of the driver perhaps?

Tony

[ChalkyWhite71]

After applying the official Sony BIOS upgrade a second time using the CD boot image and 1.bat (found on other threads), then receiving CMOS checksum errors - reverting to default, somehow it just worked, and i'm not sure how (annoying i know).

My screen is not 1080p, but is recognising the 1080i resolutions, although i'm happy to run the highest 720p resolution. The VGASave device has disappeared and been replaced by Nvidia 7600GT everywhere, which is nice.

The dual-tuner Hauppage card appears to work, but i'll agree with gladiateur555, the interface isn't blowing me away. parts are nice, but i wonder whether Microsoft have done enough to lure people away from MCE 2005, or Vista (if you can get it working OK).

Time will tell whether it's stable enough to replace the odd glitch i got using MCE 2005. Stability is the key for me, as the machine is my main and only TV recording device.

Happy to answer any questions/concerns.

Tony

[Carl_D]

just got a reply from Sony support - XL201 not supported on W7
well... i suppose it is pre-release, but i dont know if this is a long-term supportability statement of just until RTM is released

aaaanyway... thanks for the input guys. its inspired me to go ahead with the build. can someone point me towards the bios patch (and any helpful instructions here as I am a hardware numpty tbh!!!!)

big fingers crossed all around

C

[ChalkyWhite71]

Try this Carl: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistahardware/thread/2badc3b5-6d49-4505-9e30-7...

I'm pretty sure that there is no official BIOS update for W7, but the one for Vista may be the answer.

you have to be very sure you want to move to either Vista/W7 before running this though, i have heard of horror stories where the flash didn't work, and rendered the BIOS unbootable, leading to a Vaio back to Sony scenario.

Basically follow the instructions implictly, and you should be OK.

Cheers, Tony

[fremaas]

Hello Chalky,

I'm not sure that I understood all that you wrote. You have a problem to start your VAIO after some hardware upgrade? I had a problem after I try to put 4 GB of RAM. That doesn't work! And for 3 GB => same issue. So, finally I put "only" 2 x 1 GB of RAM and everything works fine. It's not a software problem from Vista or Seven, it's just a hardware restriction. And for a multimedia computer you don't need more RAM. My VAIO HTPC works very fine with 2 GB RAM on Windows 7 RC 32 bits and I'm enjoy it !

Bye
Gladiateur555