[attic4fester]

I've hated my VAIO since the day I got it, so when it crashed, I was not surprised and promised my son he could have it after I did a recovery. I saved my files and did the recovery, but not only does it have a very odd looking font, it won't let me get online, saying I need a driver for my adapter. My son is getting antsy and I redid the recovery in case I did something wrong. Now it won't even accept the Windows product key. After spending the entire weekend with this hated computer to no avail, I'm begging, will someone please help me or shoot me.

[Rockn]

How are you doing the recovery? From the discs supplied by Sony or just reinstalling the OS from the Windows install media? Not all device drivers will install on a new OS install. What version of Windows are we talikg about ( I am assuming XP)

[TerryNet]

If by "recovery" you mean using the Recovery partition or a set of Recovery DVDs/CDs all the needed drivers should be there. If you mean something else, please tell us what you are doing.

Also, what adapter (brand and model) are you talking about? Is it integrated or PCI or external?

[attic4fester]

Thank you both for replying. I was able to finally get past most of the problems, but it is still not going on line, saying I need to install the network adapter driver. The recovery I did was all that was available after it crashed. The choices were limited and only appeared with a restart, holding down F10. A repair and a restoration were offered, but neither worked, so I rescued my files and chose the only other option available, the recovery. The VAIO is model PCG-71316L which no longer comes up on the Sony site to download the driver (I wouldn't admit to it either), so I am trying to find it elsewhere. It's running Windows 7 and the second recovery did restore my fonts, but I do not think a third will get me on line.

[TerryNet]

Is the networking the only problem? Check in Device Manager for any other warnings or errors.

You may want to "cut your losses" and just get a USB ethernet or wireless adapter.

[attic4fester]

No, there are five total. They are Base System Device, Ethernet Controller, Network Controller, PCI Simple Communications Controller, Unknown Device. Cut my losses? Oh, that doesn't sound good.

[etaf]

you could try this link
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/sel...0,66,24,9,26,5

have a look and see if there are other model numbers on the machine anywhere

see if you get the same model from the PC itself

start>
in the search bar type
CMD
a screen should appear
in that screen type

wmic computersystem get model

[prunejuice]

That's quite an old laptop to be running Windows 7...

[Rockn]

No wonder it won't work.I was wondering why you were trying to even install Win7 on it, you will never find drivers for it.

[attic4fester]

I know computer age quicker than most things sold, but it's only a year old. Why not offer drivers to anything they sold?

[prunejuice]

The model you listed...

Originally Posted by attic4fester

The VAIO is model PCG-71316L

...is quite an old model.


The recovery partition should have a copy of Windows XP Home, not Windows 7 as you claim was restored.

[Rockn]

If it was a year old from Sony they would have Windows 7 drivers on the web site. Just because you purchased it a year ago doesn't mean it was manufacturered a year ago.

[etaf]

can you post the model from the cmd prompt as requested

[attic4fester]

Not only is it coming up Windows 7, now it's coming up Windows 7 Ultimate. It did not say that before. This computer has always acted like something out of Poltergiest, so I'm not surp

[attic4fester]

rised. Oops. That model number came up as VPCEB35FX.