How to perform a custom recovery using the VAIO Care version 6 software.

The VAIO Care version 6 software has custom recovery options. When you perform the system recovery, you have the options to change the size of your C: drive, create a D: drive, perform a recovery of the C: drive only, and remove the hidden recovery partition. Follow the procedure below to perform a custom recovery:

WARNING: All data, settings, and programs added to the computer will be deleted. During this procedure you will have a chance to back up your data. Although, Sony does not guarantee your personal data can be backed up and restored properly.

1. Use one of the following procedures to open the VAIO Care Rescue application:

   NOTE: If the operating system will not start, you must use the F10 key (B) or Recovery Disc (C) procedure.

   1. Open the application from within the operating system.
      1. Close all open programs.
      2. Click the Start button and then click All Programs.
      3. In the All Programs menu, click the VAIO Care folder and then click VAIO Care.

         NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password, or click Yes.

      4. In the VAIO Care window, in the left pane, click Recovery & restore.
      5. Under Recovery & restore, click Recovery.
      6. In the Recovery window, click Recover Computer.
      7. In the VAIO Care window, click the Yes button.

         NOTE: The computer will restart.

   2. Use the F10 key during bootup.

      NOTE: If the special recovery partition has been removed or corrupted, you must use the Recovery Disc (C) procedure.

      1. Turn off the computer.
      2. Turn on the computer.
      3. When the initial VAIO screen is displayed, press the F10 key.

         NOTES:

         • If an Edit Boot Options screen appears, press the Enter key.
         • If a Windows Boot Manager screen appears, select VAIO Recovery Environment and then press the Enter key.
   3. Use the Recovery Discs.
      1. Turn on the computer.
      2. Insert Recovery Disc #1 into the optical drive.
      3. Turn off the computer.
      4. Turn on the computer.
      5. In the Windows Boot Manager window, verify Start VAIO Care Rescue is selected and then press the Enter key.
2. In the VAIO Care Rescue window, click Tools.
3. In the Tools window, click Start advanced recovery wizard.
4. In the Do you need to rescue your data? window, click Yes, I'd like to rescue my data.

   NOTE: If you do not have any data on your computer that you need to back up, click the Skip Rescue button and proceed to step 10.

   
5. Connect an external storage device to the computer, such as a USB hard drive or thumb drive.
6. In the Select Rescue type window, click Easy rescue.

   NOTE: If you would like to manually select files to back up, click Custom Rescue and then follow the on-screen instructions.

   

   NOTE: The software will automatically detect your data.

   
7. Click to select the drive where you would like to back up your data and then click the Next button.

   NOTE: This screen displays the amount of disc space required and the amount of free space on the external drive.

   
8. In the Confirm options and start rescue window, click the Start Rescue button.

   NOTE: A progress window will show the status of the backup.

   
9. In the Rescue has completed successfully window, click the Next button.

   IMPORTANT:

   • If you remove the recovery drive contents, you must have Recovery Discs to perform a system recovery in the future.
   • If you started the recovery from the special recovery partition using the F10 key or through the VAIO Care software in the operating system, you will not have the option to remove the recovery drive contents.
10. In the Select recovery type window, click to select the desired recovery option:
    • Factory condition: Restores the computer to the original factory software configuration.
    • Custom recovery - Remove recovery contents: Removes the recovery drive and restores the computer to the original factory software configuration.
    • Custom recovery - Resize C: and create D: drive: Allows you to change the size of the C: drive and allocates the remaining space to a newly created D: drive.
    • Custom recovery - C: drive only: Restores the C: drive to the original factory software configuration. If a second partition exists on the hard drive, such as a D: drive, the files stored there will not be deleted.
    
11. In the Are you sure you want to start recovery? window, click to select Yes, I'm sure and then click the Start Recovery button.

    NOTE: This window will display the recovery options you selected. In the example below, Custom recovery - Resize C: and create D: drive was selected using 50 GB for the size of the C: drive.

    

    NOTE: A status window is displayed indicating the progress of the different applications. No action is required. This process may take up to 2 hours and the computer may restart several times.

    
12. In the Recovery complete window, click the Restart button.

    NOTE: The computer will restart.

13. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the operating system and complete the system recovery.