Question

sony vaio pcg-f801 connectivity

Asked by: CEHJ

Just trying to get one of these old machines connected to broadband. It seems to have a firewire (although i think Sony called it 'i-Link') network adapter, but it would be most convenient to use usb.

I'm not sure if it's capable of usb. There *was* something listed in Device Manager that looked like some sort of usb-ethernet bridge, by Kawasaki. This wasn't showing up along with the networking component in Network, so i deleted it, hoping for it to be redetected. It wasn't and never showed again. I can't investigate this further as i can't find a full spec.

I can't find a spec for this box and no usable network adapter is showing in ipconfig. How can i get it going with usb. I can run a short usb cable to the router.

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Asked On
2009-08-05 at 07:10:23ID24628102
Tags

vaio

,

pcg-f801

,

network

,

interfaces

Topic

Windows 98 Operating System

Participating Experts
2
Points
400
Comments
18

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Answers

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-08-06 at 00:11:46ID: 25030779

try the generic usb drivers from :  http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-06 at 00:44:54ID: 25030921

Is the computer running Windows 98 (First Edition) or Windows 98 SE (Second Edition)?

Right-Click on My Computer > Properties.  Windows 98 1st Edition will show the OS as being version 4.10.1998 and the Second Edition will show as version 4.10.2222.  You may or may not see an "A" after the SE version number.

Next, have you visited the Sony support site to download all drivers for that Model number that apply to Win98/98se?

If you have Second Edition, then USB support was better in that than in the 1st Edition, but you may have great difficulty finding Win98 USB Drivers for some hardware.  In that case there are UNOFFICIAL Windows 98 Second Edition "Service Packs" that do upgrade USB support as well as a lot of other things.  Many of the updates in these unofficial service packs work by upgrading some Windows components with Windows ME versions (4.10.2223).

In fact, the USB updates linked to by nobus are most probably the ones installed by the unofficial Win98se service pack.  After installing the updated drivers from nobus's linked page,  got my Win98se PC to recognise and load a Crucial USB 2.0 Flash Drive that no amount of coaxing or other drivers would allow my system to load and use.

I have never experienced anything other than very minor glitches with these unofficial Win98se service packs, but there is always the possibility of them screwing up your system such that a full reinstallation would be required.  be aware that it does replace some icons to resemble Windows ME/2000, and the new USB "Safely Disconnect" System Tray icon is a very clunky affair compared with XP.  The Win98 USB update actually replaces the program file responsible for displaying your System Tray.  Don't expect the System File Checker (SFC.EXE) to do anything other than throw up messages about changed files, so avoid running it if you choose to update your system this way.

On that subject, do you have a FULL reinstallation CD of the installed Win98 version currently on the computer?  I would strongly suggest that you have one if trying these updates, just in case.

If you want to take the risk, then you will find the necessary release notes, information, and installer package links for the "UNOFFICIAL Windows 98 Second Edition Service Pack 2.1a" here:

http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-06 at 00:50:41ID: 25030944

Well it's Millenium Edition actually

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-06 at 01:06:36ID: 25031011

Actually - better put that on hold - i'll check later again

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-08-06 at 03:58:18ID: 25031890

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-06 at 04:52:46ID: 25032170

No - i think i must have not remembered correctly, as http://www.dealtime.co.uk/xPF-Sony-VAIO-F801-PCG-F801 gives Windows SE

>>try installing  the latest drivers

The model in question not supported there unfortunately afaics

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-06 at 05:01:43ID: 25032219

I'm just about to post direct links to the European support site with its downloads.  The site given by Nobus is for US, canada, Brazil and your model seems to only be a European one.  Two minutes and I'll post the links.

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-06 at 05:07:45ID: 25032269

Originally Installed Software:

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/preinstalled/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=PCG-F801_A

Updates (Scroll down for Win98(SE) section:

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/updates/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=PCG-F801_A

It looks like your deleted "usb-ethernet bridge by Kawasaki" was probably the driver under the "Originally Installed Software" page described as "USB Ethernet Driver".  It does say on that page, near the top of each OS section, that if the OS came preinstalled then you may have a copy of the setup packages for drivers and software in either "C:\Drivers" or "C:\Utilities".

The Win98se and ME setup package for the "USB Ethernet Driver" is at this direct link:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_USBEthernet.zip

Other direct download links for Win98/SE/ME setup packages for  preinstalled drivers/utilities:

Audio Driver:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_audio driver.zip

cd-rw51 cardbus driver:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_cd-rw51 cardbus.zip

Graphics Driver:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_video.zip

MS Formatter:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_MS Formatter.zip

Pointing Device Driver:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG-F801A_touchpad.zip

Sony ilink:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_Sony i_link.zip

Sony Shared Library:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_SharedLibrary.zip

Vaio System Information:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_Vaio System Information.zip

Under the UPDATES section, the only really relevant drivers are:

Network (Ethernet) Drivers - 3.4.0.0 for Windows 98/SE:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Network/NWD_klsi_340008022000.exe

Smartconnect (iLink) Drivers - 3.0.0.3150 for Windows ME:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/iLink/ILD_sny_3003150.exe

Hope this helps
Bill

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-06 at 05:16:06ID: 25032340

I'm trying to get back to their thick, syrupy support pages, but they load as fast as artex running off sandpaper - a fact I just mentioned to them in the feedback function.

At last!

User Manual:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Manuals/Notebooks/F/F800/F801_H_UK.pdf

Software Manual:
ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Manuals/Notebooks/F/F800/F801_S_UK.pdf

Specifications page:
http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/specifications/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=PCG-F801_A

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-06 at 05:28:55ID: 25032436

I see that they refer to PCG-F801 and F-801 A.  It's probable that the PCG-F801 came with Win98SE and the F-801 A came with Windows ME, but the spec is otherwise the same.

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-06 at 05:59:27ID: 25032700

BillDL, this is all fantastic detective work! I'm hoping that the third and penultimate of your links are going to be sufficient. I'll let you know

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-06 at 06:17:27ID: 25032900

Good luck :-)

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-06 at 09:05:58ID: 25035033

Actually i'm not totally sure how to install

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Original/PCG_F801A_USBEthernet.zip

For instance, for what named device would this be?

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-06 at 09:21:49ID: 25035222

I'm also attaching a bootlog.txt. The only minor problem i can see is a failure in a fax/modem driver (unimportant). But is there anything missing? I certainly couldn't notice anything tcp/ip or usb -related...

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-07 at 00:38:33ID: 25040549

As with most drivers that come as a .zip file and not as an installer *.exe type package, you will find an *.INF file when you unzip the contents to their own folder.  In this case the file is KLSIENET.INF.

When Windows detects new hardware, it is looking for an *.INF file containing instructions.  These instructions are normally commands to create new registry keys and values relating to the device, and to copy one or more of the other files that unzippped to the same folder (ie. the actual Driver files).

Reading through KLSIENET.INF, I can clearly see that it creates the required registry settings and copies driver files to the correct folders to support the device it calls "Kawasaki LSI USB-Ethernet Adapter".

If you have a device showing a yellow ! in Device manager, you can usually open the device's properties, go to the Driver tab, and click an "Update Driver" button.  This is from memory, as I'm on a Windows XP system, but you should see the options if you double-click on any driver in device manager showing a yellow !

If you do this and tell it to look in a specific folder, namely the one containing your *.INF file, it should pick it up and install the driver files.  In this case the actual driver files are USBENET.SYS.  This would be copied to (guessing from memory here) C:\Windows\System along with the "Virtal Device Drivers" AMOS.VXD and BASIC2.VXD if they were required for your operating system.

With any *.INF file, if you RIGHT-Click on it, you have an "Install" menu option which should do the same as happens when you "update drivers" from device manager or when you tell it where to look for an *.inf file when Windows detects new hardware.

Try the Right-Click > Install Option then reboot the system.

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-07 at 00:49:45ID: 25040586

Once again Bill, what probably ought to be a boilerplate example of the best way to answer questions. I'm going to try this on the box this evening, so shall let you know how i get on.

 

by: CEHJPosted on 2009-08-19 at 09:15:19ID: 31611932

An excellent level of detail in the answers thanks.

After making sure the basic net drivers were OK, i took the easy, stable option and used a wired Ethernet connection to the router

Thanks

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2009-08-20 at 03:59:03ID: 25140948

Thank you CEHJ.  I'm glad you got it working in the end.  I'm sure you didn't need all the frustration.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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