1. Download the SOA8C03NCZ.EXE file to a temporary or download directory (please note this directory for reference).
2. Go to the directory where the file was downloaded and double-click the SOA8C03NCZ.EXE file to begin the installation.
3. At "BIOS R0228C0 Update Utility For Windows XP - InstallShield Wizard" Click Next. Please wait for this update to check your system model.
   NOTE: If the Windows XP Operating System was clean installed, this update will restart the computer. If the computer doesn't restart automatically, please do it manually.
4. After the computer restarts, please continue with the appropriate file system instructions below.
   • FAT32 File System Only
   • NTFS File System Only

For FAT32 File System

1. At "Information box" , insert the System Recovery CD for this computer, and click OK.
2. At "InstallShield Wizard Complete" screen, Verify that "Yes, I want to restart my computer now" is selected and click Finish. As the computer restarts, it will boot from the Recovery CD instead of the hard drive. The BIOS update utility will launch. The Sony BIOS Flash Program will launch and start the BIOS installation. Please wait as the installation of the BIOS will take one to two minutes to complete. Once the installation is complete, the computer will power off.
3. Power on the computer, eject the Recovery CD from the DVD ROM drive.

After the computer restarts, the installation of the BIOS is complete.

For NTFS File System

1. Connect the USB floppy drive to the computer system.
2. Insert the blank floppy diskette into the floppy drive.
3. At the "Creating the CRISIS diskette on drive A:" screen, press ENTER.
4. At the "The CRISIS diskette in drive A: is being formatted" screen, press ENTER. Please wait as the floppy is formatted.
5. At the "Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)?" prompt, type in a name (such as BIOSUPD) and press ENTER.
6. At the "QuickFormat another (Y/N)?" prompt, press the N key and press ENTER.
7. Press ENTER a second time to continue. Please wait as the BIOS installation files are copied to the floppy disk.
8. At the "Press any key to continue..." prompt, press ENTER. Please wait as the BIOS installation disk is made bootable.
9. At the "Press any key to continue..." prompt, press ENTER.
10. At the "CRISIS diskette on drive A: successfully created" screen, leave the floppy disk in the drive and press ENTER.
11. At the "InstallShield Wizard Complete" screen, verify that "Yes, I want to restart my computer now" is selected and click Finish. Be sure to leave the bootable floppy disk with the BIOS files in the floppy drive. As the computer restarts, it will boot from the floppy disk instead of the hard drive. The PhoenixPhlash Utility will launch.
12. At the "Phoenix Phlash Utility" box, press the Y key to begin the update process. Please wait as the installation of the BIOS will take one to two minutes to complete. Once the installation is complete, the computer will automatically turn off.
13. Eject the bootable BIOS installation disk from the drive.
14. Turn on the computer.

After the computer restarts, the installation of the BIOS is complete.

This utility updates the computer system BIOS to resolve the following issues:

• Improves system stability after returning from standby mode.
• The computer hangs when removing and re-inserting an optical drive.
• The computer hangs if you push a key during the BIOS boot up screen.

• Prior to the installation of this BIOS revision, please identify the file system type of the disk partition or drive containing the WINNT directory.
  1. Click the My Computer icon
  2. At the "My Computer" window, right-click on the "Local Disk" icon which represents the drive containing the WINNT directory. The default is (C:).
  3. From drop-down menu, click Properties.
  4. At the "Local Disk (C:) Properties" window, locate "File System."
     The file system type will either be listed as FAT32 or NTFS.
     • If the WINNT directory is on a FAT32 disk partition, the "Sony System Recovery CD Disc #1" is needed for this update.
     • If the WINNT directory is on an NTFS disk partition, a USB floppy disk drive and a blank 3½ floppy diskette are needed for this update.
• Before installing this update, be sure the computer is running from AC power. If the installation of the BIOS is interrupted by power loss, the computer may not operate correctly or at all!
• Before installing this BIOS update, please connect a floppy disk drive to the computer and make sure you have a blank 3½ floppy disk available. This program will format and create a bootable disk. All the data in the floppy will be erased when the disk is formatted!
• Please read the Sony Windows® XP Upgrade Information page, if the computer will be or has been upgraded to the Windows® XP operating system. If the new operating system is not installed or configured correctly, some updates may not install properly.
• During the installation of this update, be sure that you are logged in as the Administrator or as a user with Administrative rights.
• To ensure that no other program interferes with the installation, save all work and close all other programs. The Taskbar should be clear of applications before proceeding.
• It is highly recommended to print out these instructions as a reference during the installation process.