Sony VAIO Chokes on XP Upgrade

Many OEMs are counting on Windows XP to boost sagging PC sales amid the economic downturn. Advertisements have appeared both on the Web and in print, in combination with rebates and other incentives, to draw customers into what is promised to be a new experience.
Sony has used this momentum to showcase its series FXA series of VAIO laptops – designed for Windows XP.

A total of 36 laptops have been released by Sony - built specifically for Windows XP. A handful of these were ready for consumers early on, and came pre-loaded with the operating system prior to its official launch date. Sony touted a versatile product line equipped with the latest technology available. Alongside Bill Gates during his keynote address on October 25, a display of Sony PCs shared a glimmer of the spotlight as events unfolded.

The Sony Vaio FXA36 comes equipped with 1-GHz AMD Athlon, 256MB of SDRAM, a CD-RW/DVD combo drive, a 20GB hard drive, and an ATI Rage Mobility M1. It represents the zenith of its series, however it holds one dirty secret. Despite being shipped with Windows XP Home Edition –- a version of the operating system that according to Microsoft's own design is upgradeable to the Professional edition -- the FXA36 cannot follow the upgrade path.

A well placed source within Microsoft told BetaNews that customers have contacted support seeking answers while also confirming the existence of the snafu. Postings to Microsoft's support newsgroups continued to spell out tales of the failed upgrade, as customers flocked together to troubleshoot theirs issues.

One newsgroup posting read, "The last tech I talked to said they (Sony) don't support XP Pro since it wasn't the original software installed. Sorry, but my little sticker says "designed for Windows XP," said the post, detailing the depth of the frustration felt by users who expected a relatively painless experience.

According to the newsgroup postings, it appears as if either OEM software or drivers are at fault. Users claim that the process freezes roughly 32 minutes into the installation.

Although initially caught off guard, Microsoft has assigned a team of engineers to investigate the issue and is currently working in conjunction with representatives from Sony. A technical explanation is expected to become available within days. In the meantime, users continue to investigate ways to force the upgrade.

Sony could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts at contact.

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