I reformatted my S360 and installed WinXP Pro. I managed to installed most of the drivers (I think). However, I can't get the function keys and S buttons to work. Could someone please help me with this? I've tried to installed the Hotkeys Utilities from the recovery disc, but it doesn't seem to do anything...

Thanks!

frocer, where did you get sound drivers from? i did the same thing as you, and am having the same problem with the function keys. however, i also can't get any sound out of it.

After you recover your drivers, install SoundMax, which is in the AD1981B folder

Considering the date of your post I suppose you already got Hot Keys working properly right ? . . . but anyway, you must install one set of files from the recovery CD (the one before the folder with the dll that I can't remember the name right now . I can check in case you still need), afterwards the folder with the set of .dll and the Hotkeys then.

Currently working in China, I've bought one Vaio VGN-S36C, quite similar to the S360 but with "lots of different" things according to Vaio Support Centre.
From them I received the information that due to these "lots of different things" it would be impossible getting the system working fine after changing the OS to a XP in English. After being struggling for two days, everything is working now, but there's only one problem: the set of Vaio softwares that comes with the CD are all in chinese and some of them I simply can't install.

Is there any chance to get one of the S360's english CDs and manage Vaio Control, SonicStage and etc to work ??

Obrigado!!

Why don't you just order one from Sony?

I've tried that my friend . . . in vain.
After some phone calls to Vaio Hong Kong, Vaio China and Vaio USA the situation so far is: in Asia they can only provide me with the original chinese CD and the USA branch said they can't send the english CD overseas since it's specific for the american/european model VGN-S360P. Moreover, all the support centres told me the english CD will not work in my chinese typical model VGN-S36C. I have my doubts !!

The machine is working fine under XP control, the bluetooth, hotkeys . . . but the touchpad configuration and some specific Vaio's power management controls for example, are not available in mine.
Actually all those softwares with lots of facilities that usually come with Vaio notebooks (Vaio Control, SonicStage, DVGate, Vaio Media and others) are missing in my notebook.

If you have any other suggestions or even know with who or where I can get one copy of the CD for the american/european model VGN-S360P, please post it here.

By the way, yesterday I printed the VGN-S360P manual out and this machine seems to be exactly similar to the one I've bought (VGN-S36C).

Obrigado.

most of the stuff you can download from the sony website

AFAIK they are the same except for localized keyboards and such. But I don't understand why Sony USA won't ship - it isn't as though any of the software is of a sensitive nature.

I think they don't ship just for market protection reasons probably.

Quite strange for me. It means that if you buy a chinese model you will only get support from the chinese Sony Vaio unit. Maybe here lies the explanation why they don't provide you with a worldwide warranty.

BTW, thank you RIT, LightBulb and Allen2003. I will check Vaio's site carefully and let you all know the results.

S.