I have a Sony VGN-SZ4XWN/C which came pre-installed with Vista Business.
I have installed Debian Linux on it, but also decided I'd update to
Vista Ultimate as I need one of the features not available in the
business version of Vista.

Well, what a disaster.

1) Vista screws up the boot partition, so instead of a dual book system,
it now only boots Vista.

2) The microphone and speakers now refuse to work. Apparently Sony were
aware of this and the latest driver is supposed to fix that. But it does
not.

3) The camera built into the laptop no longer works.

So this "upgrade" to Vista Ultimate seems more like a downgrade to me.
I've got 10 GB less disk space, no longer dual booting, camera not
working, audio not working ...and of course I have a £80 cost of the
upgrade license from Sony.

So think twice before "upgrading" Vista. It might turn out to be a
downgrade.

--
Dave (from the UK)

Please note my email address changes periodically to avoid spam.
It is always of the form: month-year@althorne.org
Hitting reply will work for a few months only - later set it manually.

http://chessdb.sourceforge.net/ - a Free open-source Chess Database

Dave (from the UK) wrote:
> I have a Sony VGN-SZ4XWN/C which came pre-installed with Vista Business.
> I have installed Debian Linux on it, but also decided I'd update to
> Vista Ultimate as I need one of the features not available in the
> business version of Vista.
>
> Well, what a disaster.
>
> 1) Vista screws up the boot partition, so instead of a dual book system,
> it now only boots Vista.
>
> 2) The microphone and speakers now refuse to work. Apparently Sony were
> aware of this and the latest driver is supposed to fix that. But it does
> not.
>
> 3) The camera built into the laptop no longer works.
>
> So this "upgrade" to Vista Ultimate seems more like a downgrade to me.
> I've got 10 GB less disk space, no longer dual booting, camera not
> working, audio not working ...and of course I have a £80 cost of the
> upgrade license from Sony.
>
> So think twice before "upgrading" Vista. It might turn out to be a
> downgrade.
>


I would add I know another reason now to be weary of upgrading. Sony
refuse to support a machine which has been upgraded to Vista Ultimate,
despite them including an Anytime Upgrade DVD in the box.

It seems to me if they include the DVD to perform the upgrade, they
should be supporting it, or at least making it very clear if you use an
item in the box the support will cease.


--
Dave (from the UK)

Please note my email address changes periodically to avoid spam.
It is always of the form: month-year@althorne.org
Hitting reply will work for a few months only - later set it manually.

http://chessdb.sourceforge.net/ - a Free open-source Chess Database