Can't upgrade from 'Microsoft Basic Display Driver'

Running Windows 8.1 Preview x64. I was attempting to update my graphics drivers on my Vaio SE2C5E using those provided here. Things were already a bit messed up before hand, with the switchable graphics ability randomly disappearing one day. Thinking that I was uninstalling the existing drivers I ran a now unsupported tool available on that site, apparently this was not the case and I honestly don't know what running that program did. At this point I thought I would just try to uninstall the card from device manager and start from there reinstalling. It seems however that I uninstalled the standard included windows graphics driver, so my card now only says 'Microsoft Basic Display Driver'. Catalyst install manager does not recognize the card anymore so won't install the driver. No options within device manager allow me to upgrade to a proper driver. No switchable functionality. The computer is useable at least.

Below is the output from a small program called chat_noir, used on the previously linked leshcatlabs website to help trouble shoot. Any help would be appreciated.

** GRAPHICS ADAPTER(S) **
Catalyst Driver Version: 13.6 Beta 2 UnifL
Name: Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000
Chipset manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Video RAM: 2210398208
Driver version: 9.17.10.2932
ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0126&SUBSYS_907B104D&REV_09\3&11583659&0&10
Status: OK
Name: Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
Chipset manufacturer: (Standard display types)
Video RAM:
Driver version: 6.3.9431.0
ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6741&SUBSYS_907B104D&REV_00\4&B9519B&0&0008
Status: Error
** PROCESSOR, NOTEBOOK AND BIOS INFO **
PC name: VPCSE2C5E
Processor name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2640M CPU @ 2.80GHz
BIOS name: InsydeH2O Version HuronRiver.3.61.05.2051R2087H4
BIOS manufacturer: INSYDE
BIOS version: R2087H4
** OS INFO **
OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro Preview
Version: 6.3.9431
Architecture: 64-bit

From that writeup, it appears you have Hybrid AMD/Intel graphics -- and in that case, you should go only to the Sony site to get the drivers, as drivers from AMD or Intel are likely NOT to work.

I do indeed have hybrid amd/intel graphics. Wherever I get the drivers from, be it Sony or the source I was using (which for a long while have been working fine), at the moment I am unable to install any. I need to find a way to restore the default driver that ships with Windows 8 to allow any install to happen I think. I thought about doing a repair install but will that work now I have installed Windows 8.1 preview? Have tried system restore but it fails each time.

I don't think any "default" driver is going to work because those aren't designed to work with hybrid graphics.

I don't have a hybrid graphics PC so I can't experiment, but unless you can reinstall the graphics drivers that came with the PC, you're likely going to have to do a reinstall.

In future, before you go messing around with drivers like this, it would be a good idea to do an image backup first. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can do a restore and get everything back the way it was.

The graphics drivers that came with the PC are unnecessary, as the third party drivers I linked to (which have been packaged to work with hybrid systems) provide the same functionality. I need the driver the Windows 8 uses when first booted up, before any drivers, made by the original manufacturer or not, can be installed. So how do I do that? Repair install is the only way I can think of, but will that work with Windows 8.1? I should have made an image yes, I thought I would be able to do system restore if thinks went pear shaped.

You can try uninstalling current drivers from device manager and then use something like "Driver Cleaner" (Download Driver Cleaner Professional - MajorGeeks) or "driver sweeper " in safe mode to clean the leftovers. Next time you boot original MS drivers should install.

To me 'Microsoft Basic Display Driver' sounds like it is the default driver used by Windows 8 on a clean install. I would look for and try installing the chip-set drivers for your model. Graphics can be dependent on these basic drivers, especially if your laptop has an APU in it.

I can assure you that 'Microsoft Basic Display Driver' is not the clean install driver. The card when I installed everything just over a month ago was recognised and listed as Radeon 6000 series (the card is a Radeon 6630) in device manager. I will try the chipset drivers though I think I have everything installed already.