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Sony Vaio Pro 13 Cannot clean install windows 7. Now Stuck with

Tags:
  • Clean Install
  • Sony Vaio
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7
  • Format Ssd
Last response: in Windows 7
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January 8, 2014 11:38:54 PM

Hi everybody

I have a Sony Vaio Pro 13 that runs on Windows 8. I have a copy of Windows 7 and am trying to wipe the windows and am running into all kinds of trouble! :( 

First off, since this laptop does not have CD/DVD drive, I have put my ISO onto a USB drive using "Universal USB installer". I searched online and people have said to change in BIOS from UEFI boot to Legacy boot mode. I have also enabled "External Device Boot" and Disabled "Secure Boot". Also changed the boot sequence to external drive first.

I thought all is well after, so I plug in my USB, press "ASSIST" button found on Sony Vaio laptops and I am able to press boot from USB drive. Normal Windows 7 setup pops up and I proceed to press install and choose language and such. The next page, I get an error saying there are no drivers and I get to browse, but no matter which drive I pick, I am not able to continue with the install. I looked it up online and people said don't use USB 3.0 for the install, but the laptop only has 2 usb ports and they are both 3.0. I pulled out the USB and plugged it into another port, cancelled and install and tried to install again. This time I'm able to select the versions of windows 7 I want. I select the version I want, and proceed with the installs. As I have read online, people suggest that I should delete all the partitions, so I deleted all the partitions and I get the error from windows that say "Windows cannot be installed to Disk 0 Partition 1. (show details)" The details say "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu."

I am absolutely stumped. Since I deleted all the partitions, I cannot use the sony recovery and reload windows 8 because I get a message that says "Operating System Not Found_"

**EDIT**

now when I try to boot from USB, I get "Operating System Not Found". It doesn't even bring me to the windows 7 installer any more..

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

More about : sony vaio pro clean install windows stuck

January 9, 2014 12:42:10 AM

I don't think that the USB 3 ports are your issue, it should be the usb installer.
It looks like the bootable USB wasn't created correctly otherwise it should have worked. I would suggest trying to try making the bootable usb again using another computer and probably a different USB installer. Try Wintoflash (Novicorp), it worked for me.
I personally had to try a few times before getting it to work correctly. I also tried a few different usb installers to get it to work.

During the installation you should delete any partitions in most cases, but when doing this on a stock laptop (especially one with no CD/DVD) you should check if one is a recovery partition. Since that is a done deal, when you do get the installer working and reach the disk management part of the install do delete any partitions. Don't create any yourself, start with a bare unpartitioned disk and let windows do all of that as it sees fit.
If nothing works and you want to keep any sanity you have left, just pick up or borrow an external cd drive and install the os oldschool...

Good luck!!
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January 9, 2014 2:12:58 AM

ngrego said:
I don't think that the USB 3 ports are your issue, it should be the usb installer.
It looks like the bootable USB wasn't created correctly otherwise it should have worked. I would suggest trying to try making the bootable usb again using another computer and probably a different USB installer. Try Wintoflash (Novicorp), it worked for me.
I personally had to try a few times before getting it to work correctly. I also tried a few different usb installers to get it to work.

During the installation you should delete any partitions in most cases, but when doing this on a stock laptop (especially one with no CD/DVD) you should check if one is a recovery partition. Since that is a done deal, when you do get the installer working and reach the disk management part of the install do delete any partitions. Don't create any yourself, start with a bare unpartitioned disk and let windows do all of that as it sees fit.
If nothing works and you want to keep any sanity you have left, just pick up or borrow an external cd drive and install the os oldschool...

Good luck!!


I will try this tomorrow. Stayed up till now (5:00am) reading up on this issue trying to find a solution while waiting to see if I am able to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights outside. No luck with either, so off to bed I go.
I will try "Wintoflash" tomorrow and see it will work. I know the ISO file itself works, because I just reformated my current computer with the same ISO through the disc method yesterday.

I surely am going to go insane soon :pt1cable: 

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January 9, 2014 6:18:13 PM

do not use usb 3 port in my experience everything typically fails installing through 3 use the the other port and it should work
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March 20, 2014 1:24:00 AM

Sir,I just did on my sony vaio (SVE14123CNB) Honestly,Its a bit of a headache as it was windows 8 pre-loaded and i had a original copy of windows 7 ultimate,I was happy with windows 8 until something happened and my drive was locked.I was not able to refresh nor reset the system I had to do a last resort i used assist button and using rescue data and saved all my data to my external hdd.(Its a painful process took a day to do 347gb and have 6 gigs of ram) Then i entered my bios settings and changed the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy(As Windows 7 doesnt support UEFI) then u need to boot from ur cd and install and be warned u need to delete all the partitions on the disk as Windows 8 uses GPT file system then when u delete the partitions u will have unallocated space click on it and continue
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March 23, 2014 1:55:25 PM

sonicito said:
Sir,I just did on my sony vaio (SVE14123CNB) Honestly,Its a bit of a headache as it was windows 8 pre-loaded and i had a original copy of windows 7 ultimate,I was happy with windows 8 until something happened and my drive was locked.I was not able to refresh nor reset the system I had to do a last resort i used assist button and using rescue data and saved all my data to my external hdd.(Its a painful process took a day to do 347gb and have 6 gigs of ram) Then i entered my bios settings and changed the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy(As Windows 7 doesnt support UEFI) then u need to boot from ur cd and install and be warned u need to delete all the partitions on the disk as Windows 8 uses GPT file system then when u delete the partitions u will have unallocated space click on it and continue

Windows 7 does support uefi as it can be installed on gpt partition. Windows 7 does not support secure boot which windows 8 and 8.1 also uses. Other than that you are correct. USB 3.0 for whatever reason will not read bootable USB drives. In order to downgrade the OP will have to enable legacy or disable secure boot and build either a bootable efi windows 7 if the desired partition scheme is gpt. If the OP wants regular BIOS/mbr disable uefi by enabling legacy and wipe hard drive.
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