Reinstalling OS on Sony Vaio PCG-FRV27 w/o cd drive capability

[EDB]

First off, I'm not sure this is the proper place for this thread. If not, please move it where needed, mod. 2nd, there's a huge cut and pasted instructions list below, so sorry bout that.

I have a screwy DVD-R/CDRW combo drive on this old laptop of mine. The dvd-r part works, but the CD won't read or write. I tried to update the firmware with software from the Toshiba site (it uses a Toshiba SDR-6012, or something like that) but the install prgm said the drive didn't need an update.

I want to completely wipe and reinstall the OS, load new drivers and updates, and hope that the cd prob is fixed (i know, it's unlikely). However, I don't know how to reinstall the OS w/o use of my cd drive. Plus, I don't think I have a disc w/ the recover options, but I'm pretty sure its on the HD somewhere, I just don't know how to access it.

Additionally: I notice there's a recall out on certain of this model, so I'm wondering if I could get Sony to repair it all.

I got the following instructions from Sony's support site on how to do a clean installThere's a bit in there about having to have a recovery disc w/ the same SP level, that worries me.

How to Install the Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System and VAIO® Applications

The following instructions guide you through installing your own copy of the Microsoft® Windows® XP Home or Professional Edition operating system and then installing Sony VAIO® software programs onto the new operating system installation.

CAUTION: These instructions will alter or delete your existing installation of Windows XP and may delete your personal data files. Back up any important data before proceeding with this installation.

CAUTION: These instructions are provided only as guidelines and are not intended for novice users. Proceed at your own risk. Sony is not liable for any data loss or damage to your computer that may result from following these instructions.

Before Installing

Installing Windows XP requires that you own a licensed copy of the Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional Installation CD.

CAUTION: If a Windows XP Service Pack is installed as part of your computer's current operating system configuration, the new operating system you are installing must already contain at least the same or a higher version of Windows XP Service Pack.

Before installing Windows XP, complete the following tasks:

* Create a Recovery Media Kit (a set of system restore CDs or DVDs) using the VAIO® Recovery Wizard provided on the computer’s original factory-installed image.

If your computer does not have the ability to create the discs or if you are unable to locate the original restore discs that shipped with some VAIO computers, contact Sony at 1-800-488-SONY (7669) or visit the Sony Direct Accessories and Parts Center Web site (http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/) to purchase a set of system restore CDs or DVDs.

* Download driver updates (for the original factory-installed software) for your computer model from the Sony eSupport Web site at http://www.sony.com/pcsupport.

Check the Updates section for any drivers that may be newer than the original factory-installed drivers. Burn these newer drivers to a CD-R or CD-RW disc. Write down the description of each driver package for future reference.
Note: You may be able to store the driver packages on a hard disk drive partition instead, as long as, during the installation of Windows XP, you choose not to remove the hard disk partition on which you are storing the drivers. If, however, you choose to create new partitions while installing Windows XP, all data on the hard disk drive, including the stored driver packages, will be deleted.

* Download the Sony Shared Library, which is listed as one of the original shipping drivers on Sony’s Online Support Web site. The Sony Shared Library is required to install VAIO applications. Store the Sony Shared Library with the other updated drivers, either on a CD-R or CD-RW disc or on a hard disk drive partition that will be retained through the installation of Windows XP. If you choose to create new partitions while installing Windows XP, all data on the hard disk drive, including any stored driver packages, will be deleted.

* If your computer shipped with RAID configuration, please follow the RAID Setup and Configuration for Clean Install section below.
A. RAID Setup and Configuration for Clean Install
Only for computers that originally shipped with RAID Configuration.
1. Create a Recovery DVD for the system.
2. Insert the XP Pro CD into the drive and complete installation.
3. Pop-in the Recovery DVD and install all of the applications and drivers.
4. From the Start Menu click, All Programs > Intel Matrix Storage Manager.
5. Launch the program.
6. Select the RAID configuration that you want to setup.
7. Complete the Wizard.
B. Installing the Windows XP Operating System
1. Turn on your computer with the Windows XP Home Edition or Professional Installation CD in the optical drive.
2. If Windows XP Setup asks if you want to repair any previous installations of Windows XP, press the Escape key (Esc).
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up drive partitions. It is recommended that you keep the C: and D: partitions to maintain the best compatibility with VAIO applications.
4. After setting up the drive partitions, select the partition onto which you want to install Windows XP (usually the C: partition), and press the Enter key.
5. At the next screen, select the desired formatting option. The "Format the partition using the NTFS file system" option is recommended.
6. After formatting is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the Windows XP installation.
7. After the installation is complete, the computer will restart and start up into the "Welcome to Microsoft Windows" screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the initial setup of Windows XP.

When the computer reaches the Windows Desktop for the first time, installation of Windows XP is complete. If you created any new hard disk partitions while installing Windows XP, you must format those partitions in order to the use them in Windows XP.

To format a partition:
1. Click "Start" on the Windows taskbar, and select "My Computer."
2. Right-click on the drive you wish to format, and select "Format" from the shortcut menu.
3. If you wish, you can change the formatting options, but the default options are appropriate for most situations.
4. Click "Start," and click "OK" to proceed with formatting the partition.

C. Installing Sony Drivers and Windows Updates

Before installing VAIO® applications, you must update certain drivers on your computer, because Windows XP does not include many of Sony’s VAIO® drivers. Follow the steps below to update the necessary drivers.
1. Browse to the folder where you stored the driver updates that you downloaded from the Sony Support Web site (refer to the "Before Installing" section, above). If you burned the drivers to a CD, insert the CD, and browse to the drivers on the CD.
2. Install the driver packages.

CAUTION: You must install the driver packages in the following order for your computer to operate normally:

1. BIOS update (if available)
2. Intel® Chipset (if applicable)
3. Sony Notebook Control (if applicable)
4. Sony Programmable I/O (if applicable)
5. Sony Shared Library
6. Video
7. Audio
8. Modem
9. Network
10. Wireless
11. MPEG
12. Memory Stick®
13. Memory Stick Registry
14. UPEK TouchChip Fingerprint Coprocessor
15. Infineon® Trusted Platform Module
16. Wireless Keyboard and Mouse utility
17. SmartWi™ Utility
18. Cingular Connection Utility
19. WWAN driver
20. Any other Sony Utilities

To install each driver package, double-click the driver update executable file. Follow the on-screen instructions. Most drivers require that you to restart your computer at the end of the installation.
3. After completing all the driver installations, restart your computer manually.
o For Windows XP Home Edition, click "Start" on the Windows taskbar, click "Shut Down," and click "Restart."
o For Windows XP Professional, click "Start" on the Windows taskbar, click "Shut Down," select "Restart" from the list in the "Shut Down Windows" window, and click "OK."

The installation of the Sony Drivers is complete.

It is strongly recommended that you download and install any available updates to the Windows XP operating system. At a minimum, download and install any Windows updates listed as "high priority" or "critical." Certain updates may be required for the proper operation of some VAIO applications, as discussed below in section D, "VAIO Application Dependencies."

To download and install Windows updates:
1. Set up an Internet connection on your computer.
2. Navigate to the Microsoft Windows Update Web site at:
http://www.windowsupdate.com
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to update your Windows XP system.

The installation of Windows XP is complete. No further installation is necessary if you do not want to install VAIO applications. To install VAIO applications, continue to section D, "Installing VAIO® Applications."

[glc]

Did it come with restore media? If not, did you make restore media using the utility? If it didn't come with restore media, there should be a way to restore the factory image from the recovery partition without the need for an optical drive - but you will need to find out from Sony how to access and restore the image. If it came with media and no restore partition, you are pretty much stuck, you will need a functioning drive.

It may be possible to remove the hard drive, slave it into a desktop computer, wipe it, and repartition it. Then you MAY be able to copy the contents of a generic XP CD onto a dedicated partition and install from there - but you will need a working floppy drive in order to use an appropriate bootdisk to access the setup.

[EDB]

I'm pretty sure it came WITHOUT media. And I didn't make restore media, either. I was hoping there'd be some magic key combo on boot to get into the restore option... time to email sony.

[glc]

Your VAIO® computer is equipped with the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility, a quick and easy-to-use system recovery utility.

The VAIO Recovery Wizard utility offers:
Several recovery options to restore specific partitions on your hard disk drive and your preinstalled software programs.
Simple instructions that guide you through several recovery options. You can choose the default selections or customize your computer's recovery.
The ability to recover your computer without using CDs or other external media.

For more information about recovery options or instructions on using the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program, see the VAIO Recovery Wizard Help.

You can access Help by following these steps:
Turn on your computer.
Click Start in the Microsoft® Windows® taskbar and click Help and Support.
From the VAIO Help and Support Center, click VAIO Recovery Wizard.

[EDB]

Hey glc! Thanks for looking into that. I found that same page and followed the instructions to restore the OS back to initial status, last night. Worked fine, but still no cd capability.

So I've ruled out software issues w/ the drive, guess I ahve to get a new drive.

Thanks for your help!