Sony Vaio vpceb2m1e - Reinstall Windows

Hello folks,
So ive been using this notebook since late 2010 and never reinstalled its windows 7.
I know how to install OS'et, because I have done it 100 of times on desktops but notebooks freaks me out,
maybe because my last attempt with an notebook resulted in a brick.

I have NO CD'a for the Windows 7 its running (but no problem getting AT ALL.)
Really I would like to install Windows 8.1 - but is this even possible on a notebook like this?

And If I where to format C:/ pop in a USB flash drive with Windows 8.1 - WHERE would I get all the crucial DRIVERS for the CPU, Motherboard, etc etc. you get my point.

Im just SO NEW to installing things on notebooks that its embarassing and I need to take babysteps and ask you pros.

Thanks in advance!

 

I see its a UK model, you can get the drivers and upgrade info from here: Support for VPCEB2M1E | Sony

Vaio's do not come with restore CD's. If your running the original OS, there should be a utility to burn the dvd's from the restore partition.
I know sometimes the UK vaio support site doesn't provide all the drivers; check the US site and you might find more drivers from a model that is similar.
Sony eSupport - - Select a Model
You may have a problem finding newer video drivers. Sony is really bad about releasing updated video drivers.

also search the "E" series owners thread, it will probably have the info your looking for: http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...538-official-vaio-e-series-owners-thread.html

 

Hey!
Actually Im from Sweden and bought it from a Swedish store but im sure its build in the UK - I have no clue to be honest.
IF I remember correctly last time (sometime in 2007) I have an notebook that ran WIn XP if im not misstaken and I wanted to install something else like Win ME.
After I had inserted the Win ME disc, booted into it and formated the C:/ partition and rebooted the CD-Drive didn't work anymore so the notebook became a pricy brick, THAS MY FEAR NOW:

Now I never use CD-ROM anymore but won't this exact thing happen but to my notebooks USB ports if I format the system partition?

 

Well there is a big difference between winXP and previous windows versions. winXP was really the first version of windows that supported a lot of legacy hardware. Win98 was always asking for a driver or install disk. It doesn't surprise me that your winME install got messed up.

I wouldn't worry about a re-install of win7 not recognizing your usb or cdrom. Those issues are pretty rare these days. I've re-installed win7 on my vaio vgn-sr290 a couple times and everything worked fine - although you still need to install the recommended drivers later on.

Did you check to see if you can burn the recovery dvd's? That would be your best bet for a worry-free reinstall.
If your really worried, buy another hdd or ssd (prefer ssd) and install that so you can install win7 or 8 on it and keep your old hdd in case you need to revert back. That's what I did when i started experimenting with linux.

 

I guess its just me being hesitant because of my earlier misstakes. But as you pointed out the machines and OS's have gotten a lot safer in that regard.

I have External Disks connected to the notebook.

So just to clarify, say I boot the notebook with my USB flashdrive that has a windows installation on it 7 or 8.
I format the main system partition C:/ and then reboot to begin to install win 7 or 8 - the USB interface/ports Will still work ?

 

You won't even need to reboot. When installing, choose "custom" install and one of the screens will show you your partitions which you can delete, create, etc. right there and then continue the install.