Install Vista from recovery partition without the bloat

[r2kthug2004]

how do i go about installing windows 7 on this device (VGN -UX380N)

[computercowboy]

Get a Windows 7 disc and bootable USB>DVD drive
or Install from memory stick

[ceehoppy1st]

Seach the software forum for UX compatible usb-DVD drives.
Boot your UX normally & enter bios setup (tap Fn + 2 =F2 key) during Vaio splash screen. Toggle right to the Advanced tab & set External Drive Boot to "enabled". Toggle right again to Boot tab & make sure your usb drive is first in order before the internal hard drive.

(If you want to install from a Usb Flash Drive -aka - UFD, that option may or may not be listed in boot order depending on your bios version. If not you're probably out of luck since bios is flashed from a running windows OS & most UFD usually won't boot without the latest bios version.)

Save your setup changes & exit. Boot with your usb (dvd) drive plugged into the UX.
From there it's normal install from the win7 retail dvd (an OEM - recovery disc for a specific laptop or pc WON"T work). Do not do updates yet.

Search the software forum again for Gabe's Win7 driver pack- version 1.2 & download it. Look at the readme files- they will tell you how to install drivers, utilities, & what Microsoft updates to get in what order. Follow Gabe's instructions & all the UX devices (touch launcher, zoom, both cameras, fingerprint reader, etc) will work (assuming the hardware's OK)

[micropc78]

Thanks for your help works great ! just had to download bluetooth, finger print reader, and at&t wireless driver and software so far from sony's site.

Works great much faster big difference

[micropc78]

Well I decided to run windows 7 clean install using gabe's pack and wow even better everything works and its even faster making the ux490 a lot more fun to use without all the bloatware slowing it down.

But for the record this trick for vista did work well !