Sony Vaio computer systems include a restoration utility for resetting the system back to its original factory specifications. This process is useful for cleaning out a cluttered PC, deleting sensitive information prior to a change of ownership or as a last resort when infected with a virus or other malicious program. This process will erase the contents of the installation drive, so create any necessary backups of personal information before performing the recovery. You must reinstall any programs you wish to use again after the recovery.
Step 1
Click the Start menu and type "VAIO Recovery Center" (without quotes) into the search bar, then press "Enter." For Windows XP users, open the Control Panel and select "Performance and Maintenance." Scroll down and select "VAIO Recovery Wizard" from the list of icons.
Step 2
Close any other programs running on the system and disconnect all network connections and unneeded peripheral devices. Click the "Restore Complete System" button in Windows 7 or Vista. In XP, click "Next."
Step 3
Click the "Start" button in Windows Vista or Windows 7, then click "Next." Configure the backup drives and drive size options as desired, then click "Start." In Windows XP, click the "Proceed with System Recovery" radio button and click "Next." Click the "C Drive Recovery" radio button and click "Next" twice, then select "Finish."
Step 4
Wait for the system to restart and the VAIO Recovery Wizard to finish restoring the hard drive. This may take some time. When completed, click "Finish" to restart the system again.
Step 5
Follow the Windows first time setup instructions to create an account and log on to the recovered system. The operating system may have changed if you performed any upgrades since purchasing the system, as the recovery uses the original operating system and configuration. Click "Finish" to restart the computer a final time.
Step 6
Wait for the system to recover the factory default applications. When finished, you may log on and begin using the recovered system.
Warning
- The Recovery Wizard uses files stored in the "Recovery" partition of the hard drive. Modifying or removing this partition will make the Wizard inoperable or cause it to malfunction.
