Sony VAIO PCG-R505GCK, User Manual

Page 1: ...ions 21 Conserving Battery Power 22 Using power saving modes 22 Using PowerPanel utility 23 Frequently asked questions 27 Internet and Network Connections 29 Internet Connections 30 Setting up a dial up Internet connection 30 Setting up an Ethernet Internet connection 32 Customizing your Internet connection 34 Frequently asked questions 35 Network Connections 36 Using Ethernet and dial up connecti...

Page 2: ...ur computer 58 Frequently asked questions 59 Printer Connections 63 Printing With Your Computer 64 Connecting a printer 64 Disconnecting a printer 66 Frequently asked questions 67 Computer Features 69 Using the Keyboard 70 Key locations and descriptions 70 Combinations and functions with the Windows key 72 Indicators 73 Combinations and functions with the Fn key 74 Using the Touch Pad 76 Describin...

Page 3: ...s 86 Write protecting Memory Stick media 87 Formatting Memory Stick media 87 Removing Memory Stick media 88 Frequently asked questions 89 Changing the Window Design of Sony Programs 91 Connecting Mice and Keyboards 93 Using External Mice and Keyboards 94 Connecting a mouse or keyboard 94 Disconnecting a mouse or keyboard 96 Frequently asked questions 96 Floppy Disk Drives and PC Cards 99 Using Flo...

Page 4: ...g i LINK Digital Video Recorders 122 Connecting an i LINK digital video recorder 122 Disconnecting the i LINK digital video recorder 123 Using a digital video camera recorder 124 Notes on connecting an i LINK device 124 Frequently asked questions 125 Using Computer Monitors and Projectors 126 Connecting a computer monitor 126 Connecting a projector 128 Selecting a display mode 129 Disconnecting a ...

Page 5: ... a digital video device 148 Adjusting image resolution 148 Saving to your hard disk drive 148 Program Support Information 150 Sony Service Center 151 Memory Upgrades 153 Upgrading Your Computer s Memory 154 Precautions and procedures 154 Typical expansion memory configuration 155 Removing and installing memory modules 155 Confirming added memory capacity 158 Using the Recovery CDs 161 Application ...

Page 6: ...d 174 Troubleshooting the Modem 177 Troubleshooting Networks 178 Troubleshooting DVDs and CDs 181 Troubleshooting Floppy Disk Drives 184 Troubleshooting PC Cards 185 Troubleshooting Audio Video Connections 186 Troubleshooting the Computer Screen LCD 189 Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media 190 Troubleshooting Programs 192 Troubleshooting the Docking Station 194 Computer Support Information 196 ...

Page 7: ...led information on all aspects of using your new VAIO computer from keyboard functions to preinstalled software programs In the left navigation window click the topics you want to learn more about and that information will be displayed in this main window View the Electronic Flyer which provides updates and supplemental information about your computer ...

Page 8: ...VAIO Computer User Guide 8 ...

Page 9: ...battery and an AC adapter This chapter explains how to install and use these supplied accessories to power your computer It also describes ways you can efficiently utilize the battery as a power source Using AC Power Using the Battery Conserving Battery Power ...

Page 10: ...ry for more information on installing and using your battery Connecting the AC adapter Turning on the computer Connecting the AC adapter To connect the AC adapter 1 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter into the DC IN port on your computer or docking station 2 Plug one end of the power cord into the AC adapter and plug the other end into an AC outlet Connecting the AC Adapter to the Computer U...

Page 11: ...holding the bottom of the computer firmly 2 Press the power button until the power indicator turns on 3 If necessary adjust the brightness controls for the computer screen LCD as follows Opening the Computer Turning on the Computer If you hold the power button down the computer turns off OPEN switch Power button Power indicator ...

Page 12: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 12 To increase light intensity press Fn F5 and then or To decrease light intensity press Fn F5 and then or ...

Page 13: ...teries you use you can always extend the life of the battery by conserving power See Conserving Battery Power for more information Inserting a battery Removing a battery Displaying battery information Charging a battery Notes on batteries Frequently asked questions Inserting a battery To insert a battery 1 Turn the computer over and slide the LOCK UNLOCK switch on the bottom of the computer to the...

Page 14: ...formation on how you can manually activate a power saving mode Removing a battery If you are not using the computer for an extended period of time remove the battery from the computer to avoid damaging the battery You can remove the battery when the computer is on or off To remove a battery 1 Turn the computer over and slide the LOCK UNLOCK switch on the bottom of the computer to the UNLOCK positi...

Page 15: ...ry is listed in percent and real time values The following toolbar indicates there is 72 percent or approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes of battery charge left Percentage indicator Displays the percentage of the remaining charge Time indicator Displays estimated time hours minutes remaining before the battery fully discharges also known as the time to empty Removing a Battery If the Battery Informa...

Page 16: ...lick to cancel Battery Information The Battery Information toolbar disappears from the toolbar To display the Battery Information window The battery icons that appear on the Battery Information toolbar and the Battery Information window indicate the current status of the installed battery Battery icon Battery status Charging Fully charged Discharging No battery ...

Page 17: ...pecific information on the battery Alarms tab Displays the alarm settings which notify you when the battery is fully charged or too low You can change your computer s alarm settings on this window Displaying battery information You can display information for each of the batteries installed in your computer Battery Information Window Click Help in the lower right corner of the window for more info...

Page 18: ...ower Options The Power Options Properties window appears 2 Select the Advanced tab and then select Always show icon on the taskbar in the Options box The power icon appears on the taskbar See the power icon descriptions below for more information You can rollover the power icon to view the remaining battery charge and you can double click the power icon to open the Power Meter window which also di...

Page 19: ... You can charge the battery when the computer is on or off However the battery will charge faster when the computer is off Charging the battery takes several hours See your VAIO Computer Specifications on the Welcome page for the approximate time needed to charge your battery 1 Insert the battery into the battery bay 2 Connect the AC adapter to the computer The computer automatically charges the b...

Page 20: ...y heats up This is normal and is not cause for concern Keep the battery away from all sources of heat Keep the battery dry Do not open or disassemble the battery Do not expose the battery to any mechanical shock Battery life is shorter in a cold environment because of decreased battery efficiency at low temperatures Battery Indicator Battery indicator status Description On The computer is using ba...

Page 21: ...ng battery information When is the computer using AC power When the computer is directly connected to the AC adapter it uses AC power even if a battery is installed When should I recharge the battery When the battery level falls below 10 percent When both the battery and power indicators blink When you have not used the battery for a long time ...

Page 22: ...remains on and the computer screen LCD is off Hibernate Saves the state of the system and peripheral devices on the hard disk Power consumption is reduced to the lowest possible setting without being completely off Hibernate mode consumes the lowest level of power Your computer enters Hibernate mode when the remaining battery charge drops below 5 percent regardless of the setting you select To act...

Page 23: ...e Icon Description Maximum Performance Provides the best system performance but conserves minimal power Maximum Battery Life Provides power saving features to give you maximum battery life and good performance It slows the computer and puts it into Standby mode after a specified time Ultimate Battery Life Extends the Maximum Battery Life by disabling the i LINK port Power Management Off Disables a...

Page 24: ...lay screen You can also establish settings for LCD Video Standby Hard Disk Standby and Standby mode to optimize power management for your system Spreadsheet Optimizes performance and power requirements for spreadsheet programs Communications Extends battery life by initiating a quick display time out The Internal modem remains powered on You can also establish settings for LCD Video Standby Hard D...

Page 25: ...rofile is selected automatically the next time you use the battery to power your computer To customize your profile settings You can customize your profile settings to sustain enough power for a particular computing function 1 Right click the Battery icon on the Windows taskbar See To display the Battery Information window for Battery icon descriptions 2 Select Edit Create Profiles from the shortc...

Page 26: ...ower saving mode the more power the computer consumes Hibernate mode conserves more power than Standby mode ThermalControl Strategy Controls the speed of the processor fan You can set the fan speed to Quiet which conserves the most power or Performance Lid Close Action Controls the state of your system when you close the computer s lid You can select either Standby or Hibernate mode or you can sel...

Page 27: ... replaced Why is the battery warm While the battery is in use or being discharged the battery heats up This is normal and is not cause for concern LCD Standby Timer Controls the time it takes the system to switch the LCD to Standby mode when the system is idle This setting only turns off power to the LCD The system itself still functions on full power HDD Standby Timer Controls the time it takes t...

Page 28: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 28 ...

Page 29: ...29 Internet and Network Connections Internet Connections Network Connections Connecting Another VAIO Computer ...

Page 30: ...onnection Setting up an Ethernet Internet connection Customizing your Internet connection Frequently asked questions Setting up a dial up Internet connection Before you can connect to the Internet you need to connect your computer to a telephone line via a telephone cable not supplied Once you have set up your telephone cable you re ready to connect to the Internet To connect a telephone cable 1 L...

Page 31: ... appears Connecting a Telephone Cable Your computer does not work with party lines cannot be connected to a coin operated telephone and may not work with multiple telephone lines or a private branch exchange PBX Some of these connections may result in excess electrical current and could cause a malfunction in the internal modem If you connect a telephone cable coming through a splitter the modem o...

Page 32: ...uctions Setting up an Ethernet Internet connection Your computer accommodates both 10BASE T and 100BASE TX Ethernet connections with data transfer speeds of between 10 and 100 Mbps depending on the line conditions and Ethernet cable Internet Connection Wizard ...

Page 33: ...onnection See To connect an Ethernet cable for more information 2 Click Start point to Settings Control Panel and click Internet Options The Internet Properties dialog box appears Connecting an Ethernet Cable Your computer does not work with party lines cannot be connected to a coin operated telephone and may not work with multiple phone lines or a private branch exchange PBX Some of these connect...

Page 34: ...Customizing your Internet connection The Internet Properties dialog box enables you to change the way you view the Internet You can change your home page fonts language and colors You can also regulate content and set your browsing preferences To open the Internet Properties dialog box 1 Click Start point to Settings Control Panel and click Internet Options The Internet Properties dialog box appea...

Page 35: ...e Application Recovery CD s for more information Why is my modem connection slow Your computer is equipped with a V 90 compatible modem Many factors may influence modem connection speed including telephone line noise or compatibility with telephone equipment such as fax machines or other modems If you think your modem is not connecting properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your Interne...

Page 36: ...ick Start Help and then Networking Using Ethernet and dial up connections Using wireless LAN connections Checking your network connection status Frequently asked questions Using Ethernet and dial up connections Local area networks LANs comprise a group of computers and associated devices within a small geographic area such as a home or office building For setting up LANs Ethernet is a widely insta...

Page 37: ...rk connection 2 Click Start point to Settings Control Panel and click Internet Options The Internet Properties dialog box appears 3 Click to open the Connections tab and click LAN Settings near the bottom of the page The Local Area Network LAN Settings dialog box appears 4 Click to select the Automatically detect settings check box 5 Click to select the Use automatic configuration script and type ...

Page 38: ...ge to view your VAIO Computer Specifications The Wireless LAN PC Card is designed for a wireless LAN environment You can use the Wireless LAN PC Card with or without the access point There are two types of wireless connections An infrastructure network is one that extends an existing wired local network to wireless devices by providing an access point The access point bridges the wireless and wire...

Page 39: ...Move the Wireless LAN switch to ON The Wireless LAN indicator turns on 2 Click Start point to Programs and click Wireless LAN Configuration Utility The Wireless LAN Utility icon appears on the right side of the taskbar 3 Click the Wireless LAN Utility icon to open the Wireless LAN Card Utility for Windows dialog box 4 Click the Profile tab Connecting to a Wireless LAN Wireless LAN switch Wireless ...

Page 40: ...twork Type box select Infrastructure to connect to or set up a network to access point host connection or click Ad Hoc to connect to or set up a computer to computer connection 10 If the network was not set up with an encryption key click Apply 11 If the network was set up with an encryption key 1 In the WEP Key box select 40bit 64 bit for IEEE 802 11b access points 2 In the Key format box select ...

Page 41: ...uestions Why can t my computer connect to a Wireless LAN Access Point Connection availability is affected by distance and obstructions You may need to move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using Make sure the Wireless LAN switch on the computer is in the ON position Make sure power to the access point is on Make sure the encryption key is correct Why ca...

Page 42: ...ints change the access point channel See your access point instructions for more information Why is the communication speed interrupted or slowed down when MPEG2 data is transferred The typical effective data transfer speed via an access point is 4 5 Mbps when adhering to the IEEE 802 11b standard High rate stream transfers with MPEG2 data may lower this rate How do I avoid data transfer interrupt...

Page 43: ...urs on divided frequency bands known as channels Third party Wireless LAN Access Point channels may be preset to different channels from Sony devices If you are using a Wireless LAN Access Point refer to connectivity information contained in your access point instructions ...

Page 44: ...ected 7 Click OK Your computers are connected 8 To view the folders on your network In the Smart Connect Monitor window right click a computer name and select Open with Explorer Double click My Network Places and click Computers Near Me in the My Metwork Places window i LINK is a trademark of Sony used to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depe...

Page 45: ...e shared with the connected computers 2 Unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK port on each computer To disconnect VAIO computer when the computers are off Unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK port on each computer For more information see Smart Connect Online Help Connecting Another Computer i LINK cable not supplied ...

Page 46: ...er saving mode Standby or Hibernate restart both computers i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other Refer to the documentation that came with your c...

Page 47: ...53 CDs DVDs and Optical Drives Inserting and Ejecting CDs or DVDs Copying and Playing CDs Playing DVDs ...

Page 48: ... 2 Press the Eject button on the optical drive cover to open the drive tray The drive tray slides out 3 Place a disc on the drive tray with the label facing up Avoid using adhesive labels to identify your CDs or DVDs Adhesive labels may damage the optical drive if they come off while the disc is in the drive Ejecting the Drive Tray You can play some DVDs on both sides Insert this type of DVD with ...

Page 49: ...e programs that are open from the optical drive and wait for the LED indicator to turn off 3 Press the Eject button on the optical drive cover to open the drive tray The drive tray slides out 4 Lift the disc from the drive 5 Push the drive tray gently to close it Inserting a Disc If you do not seat the disc firmly over the hub the disc may come loose while it is in the drive A loose disc may damag...

Page 50: ... the Hardware tab and click Device Manager in the Device Manager box A window with a listing of the computer s hardware devices appears 3 Double click DVD CD ROM drives 4 Double click the listed drive name and select the Properties tab 5 Click to select the Enable digital CD audio for this CD ROM device check box if it is not already selected 6 Click OK To adjust the volume for playing CDs and DVD...

Page 51: ... to avoid data loss Turn off the FindFast program if your computer has preinstalled Microsoft Office programs such as Excel Word and Outlook Connect and use the AC adapter to power your computer Use CD Rs that are compatible with 16x speed Insert the disc into the optical drive and open the preinstalled Sony SonicStage program by clicking Start and pointing to Programs SonicStage and then clicking...

Page 52: ...DVD The preinstalled DVD program launches the video automatically See Program overview for a description of your preinstalled DVD program For detailed instructions on how to use the preinstalled DVD program see the help guide included with the DVD program To play a DVD while using battery power 1 Set the power management profile to DVD 1 Close all open programs 2 Right click the Battery icon on th...

Page 53: ...loth with water wring it out well and use it to wipe the surface of the disc from the center out Wipe off any remaining moisture with a dry soft cloth Do not clean the disc with solvents such as benzine thinner commercially available cleaners or anti static spray which may damage the disc Do not drop or bend the disc Why can t I view the entire DVD video display on a TV screen The display resoluti...

Page 54: ...drive playing my CD or DVD properly Make sure the CD or DVD was inserted into the drive with the label facing up Make sure the necessary software program s is installed according to the manufacturer s instructions If the CD or DVD is dirty or damaged the computer will stop responding Follow these steps 1 Restart the computer by pressing Ctrl Alt Delete and selecting Restart from the Shut Down menu...

Page 55: ...If a region code warning appears the disc may be incompatible with the optical drive Check the DVD package to make sure the region code is compatible with the optical drive If you notice condensation on the computer do not use the computer for at least one hour Condensation can cause the computer to malfunction Why did the computer LCD screen go blank Your LCD screen may go blank if the computer h...

Page 56: ...display for more information How do I change the video resolution on the TV screen The video may not appear on the entire TV screen if your computer resolution is set to 1024 x 768 or greater To change the video resolution follow these instructions 1 Right click the desktop and select Properties from the shortcut menu The Display Properties dialog box appears 2 Select the Settings tab 3 Move the s...

Page 57: ...63 Printer Connections Printing With Your Computer ...

Page 58: ...s compatible with many popular printers The New Hardware Wizard guides you through the software installation process Some printers require separate driver software installation See the instructions that accompanied your printer for more information If you cannot print once you have connected your computer to your printer see Frequently asked questions in this section for more information To connec...

Page 59: ...Plug the printer cable into the Printer port 3 Plug the other end of the printer cable into the port on the printer Connecting a USB Printer Cable See the manual that came with the USB printer for more information on its installation and use Printer USB ports Power cord USB cable not supplied USB cable connector ...

Page 60: ...n the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected 3 Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 4 Make sure the correct printer is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is now safe to remove the hardware device 5 Unplug the printer cable from your computer s USB or Printer port Connecting a Parallel Port Printer See the manual that came with the parallel port printe...

Page 61: ...rt and point to Settings then click Printers The Printers window appears 2 Right click the printer that is not functioning and select Properties to open the Properties window 3 Click OK Change the default printer port setting although this setting is generally correct for most printers 1 Click Start and point to Settings then click Printers The Printers window appears 2 Right click the printer and...

Page 62: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 68 6 Click OK ...

Page 63: ...69 Computer Features Using the Keyboard Using the Touch Pad Using Jog Dial Control Using Memory Stick Media Changing the Window Design of Sony Programs ...

Page 64: ... computer related tasks Key locations and descriptions Combinations and functions with the Windows key Indicators Combinations and functions with the Fn key Key locations and descriptions Keyboard Function keys Print Screen key Navigation keys Windows key Alt key Numeric keypad Ctrl key Fn key Applications key Escape key Correction keys Fn key Shift key Space bar ...

Page 65: ...2 function keys along the top of the keyboard are used to perform designated tasks For example in many programs F1 is the Help key The task associated with each function key may vary from one program to the next Escape key The Esc Escape key is used to cancel commands Print Screen key The Print Screen key takes an electronic snapshot of the screen and moves it to the Clipboard You can then paste t...

Page 66: ...s key displays a shortcut menu of context sensitive choices Pressing this key is the equivalent of clicking the right mouse button Combination Function F1 Displays the VAIO Help and Support Center window Tab Switches the selected button on the taskbar D Displays the desktop E Displays the My Computer window F Displays the Search Results window where you can find a file or folder This is the equiva...

Page 67: ...he computer is using battery power blinks when the battery is running out of power double blinks when the battery is charging Memory Stick Lights up when data is read from or written to the Memory Stick media Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on When the indicator is off the Memory Stick media slot is not being used Hard disk Lights up when data is read from...

Page 68: ... LAN Lights up when the wireless LAN function is running If you switch user identities during a computing session the Fn F7 key functionality if available on your computer will be interrupted To switch to an external display or monitor see Selecting a display mode for more information Combinations Feature Function Fn F3 Mute On Off Toggles the built in speaker off and on Fn F4 Speaker volume Adjus...

Page 69: ...ode press the power button Hibernate mode consumes the lowest level of power Fn Esc Standby Puts the system into Standby mode a power management state To return the system to normal operating mode press any key or press the power button Fn E Ejects the CD Fn B Bass Boost Toggles the bass boost function off and on This feature is available only while using headphones You can also carry out these fu...

Page 70: ...g the built in touch pad Describing the touch pad Customizing the touch pad Frequently asked questions Describing the touch pad Locating and Describing the Touch Pad Action Description Point Slide one finger on the touch pad to place the pointer on an item or object Click Press the left button once Double click Press the left button twice Touch pad Left button Right button ...

Page 71: ...enu The Sony Notebook Setup dialog box appears 3 Click the Touchpad tab and select Disable Touchpad 4 Click Apply 5 Click OK To enable the touch pad 1 Press the Windows key The Start menu appears 2 Press P to display the Programs menu 3 Press the Down Arrow key to select Sony Notebook Setup and press Enter A submenu appears Right click Press the right button once In many programs this action displ...

Page 72: ... Mouse Properties from the shortcut menu The Mouse Properties dialog box appears Frequently asked questions Why doesn t the touch pad work You may have disabled the touch pad without connecting a mouse to the computer See To enable the touch pad Restart the computer to activate the touch pad again If your touch pad is interpreting a single tap as a double click adjust the button assignments Follow...

Page 73: ...the computer does not restart 1 Press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Security dialog box appears 2 Press the Right Arrow key to select Shut Down 3 Press Enter 4 Press R 5 Press Enter If you still cannot restart your computer press and hold the power button to shut down the computer If the pointer does not move while playing a disc press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously to stop playback a...

Page 74: ... Dial Control Using launcher mode Using guide mode Using the Jog Dial Control with Sony programs Using the Jog Dial Control with other programs Setting the timer Using VAIO Action Setup VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your computer s Jog Dial Control interface and enables you to set a timer to launch a program or document For more information on customizing the Jog Dial Control or setti...

Page 75: ... arrow is displayed next to an item in the Jog Dial Control window you can display a submenu of that item by selecting it and pressing the Jog Dial Control For more information right click the Jog Dial Control icon or and click Help Topics To open the Jog Dial Launcher Press the Jog Dial Control Double click the Jog Dial Control icon on the taskbar Press the Jog Dial Control while pressing the Ctr...

Page 76: ...mode by pressing the Jog Dial Control and the Ctrl key Using guide mode The Jog Dial Control window is either in the launcher mode or in the guide mode Launcher mode changes to guide mode when a program is active Depending on the program you can select items from the Jog Dial Guide window using the Jog Dial Control With some Sony programs you can change the Jog Dial window to List View Simple Menu...

Page 77: ...on click Start Settings Control Panel Jog Dial and click Help on the VAIO Action Setup window Using the Jog Dial Control with other programs If the program you are using does not support the Jog Dial Control you can still select menu items to perform the following functions Maximize window Minimize window Close window Scroll window Scroll the File menu Jog Dial Guide Dialog Box Some programs do no...

Page 78: ... can launch programs even when the computer is off To set the timer 1 Right click the Jog Dial Control icon or on the taskbar and select VAIO Action Setup The VAIO Action Setup dialog box appears 2 In the left panel click Timer The right panel is updated 3 Make sure the Timer Setting tab is open and follow the on screen instructions ...

Page 79: ...ovided with copyright protection Memory Stick media which does not have the same copyright protection as MagicGate Memory Stick media Some music files with secure copyright protection may be stored on MG Memory Stick media but not on regular Memory Stick media You can also use MagicGate media compatible devices to record and playback music when they are connected to your computer You can store mix...

Page 80: ...dicator blinks Viewing the contents Depending on the model you purchased the Sony Memory Stick window appears automatically when you insert a Memory Stick media From this window you can choose to view print copy or organize your Memory Stick images or data If the Sony Memory Stick window does not appear when you insert your Memory Stick media then follow these steps MG Memory Stick media has the M...

Page 81: ...te protection When the write protect tab of the Memory Stick media is set to LOCK data cannot be recorded or erased Formatting Memory Stick media Memory Stick media is formatted for immediate use when you purchase it If you need to reformat Memory Stick media use the Memory Stick Formatter that is provided with the media For more information about using Memory Stick Formatter refer to Formatter He...

Page 82: ...tinue or exit Reinsert the media into the slot and press Enter to continue This enables the media to finish reading or writing data To remove Memory Stick media 1 Wait a minimum of 10 seconds after the Memory Stick media finishes reading or writing data before removing the media 2 Make sure the access light is off 3 Push the Memory Stick media in toward the computer 4 When the Memory Stick media e...

Page 83: ...ited to private use only Using recorded music for any other purpose requires permission of the copyright holders Sony is not responsible for music files that cannot be recorded from a CD or downloaded from other sources Can I copy images from a digital video camera using Memory Stick media Yes and you can view video clips that you have recorded with Memory Stick media compatible video camera recor...

Page 84: ...t How do I extend the life of the Memory Stick media Use the supplied storage case See the instructions that came with your media for more information on its use Do not use or store the media in a location that is subject to Extremely high temperatures such as in a car parked in the sun Direct sunlight High humidity or places with corrosive substances ...

Page 85: ...rograms only To change the window design 1 Click Start and point to Settings Control Panel and click UI Design Selector 2 Click or to view the designs 3 To select a design that appears in the center window click Apply The UI Design Selector window design changes The window design for your Sony software will match the UI Design Selector window 4 Click OK ...

Page 86: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 92 ...

Page 87: ...93 Connecting Mice and Keyboards Using External Mice and Keyboards ...

Page 88: ...opular mice and keyboards The New Hardware Wizard guides you through the software installation process Some devices require separate driver software installation See the instructions that accompanied your mouse or keyboard for more information If the mouse or keyboard does not work once you have connected it to your computer see Frequently asked questions for more information Your computer can be ...

Page 89: ...95 Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard See the manual that came with your mouse or keyboard for more information on its installation and use Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard to a Docking Station USB ports USB cable USB ports USB cable ...

Page 90: ...Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 4 Make sure the USB device is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is now safe to remove the hardware device 5 Unplug the USB cable from the USB port on the computer Frequently asked questions Why doesn t the computer recognize the USB mouse Make sure the mouse is securely plugged into the USB port See Connecting a mouse or keyboar...

Page 91: ...ent ways Press the Windows key and press U When the Shut Down Windows window appears press R to select Restart and press Enter Press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously When the Windows Security window appears press the Right Arrow key to select Shut Down and then press Enter Use the Down Arrow key to select Restart and press Enter Press and hold the power button When the computer shuts down p...

Page 92: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 98 ...

Page 93: ...99 Floppy Disk Drives and PC Cards Using Floppy Disk Drives Using PC Cards ...

Page 94: ...a floppy disk drive Frequently asked questions Inserting and removing floppy disks Floppy disks are portable devices that store data To protect your floppy disks keep them away from magnets and direct sunlight or other heat sources To insert a floppy disk 1 Hold the floppy disk with the label facing up 2 Push the floppy disk into the drive until it clicks into place Inserting a Floppy Disk Do not ...

Page 95: ...urface of the floppy disk Keep floppy disks away from magnets Keep floppy disk away from direct sunlight and other heat sources Disconnecting a floppy disk drive You can disconnect a floppy disk drive when the computer is on or off Disconnecting the drive when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To avoid losing data do not push the Ejec...

Page 96: ... The computer does not recognize the floppy disk drive First make sure the USB cable is properly connected to the USB port If you need to secure the connection wait a few moments for the computer to recognize the drive If the icon still does not appear follow these steps 1 Close all programs that were opened from the disk and wait for the LED indicator to turn off 2 Push the Eject button and remov...

Page 97: ... Drives 103 If the disk is inserted properly and you are still unable to write data to it the disk may be write protected You can either use a floppy disk that is not write protected or disable the write protect feature ...

Page 98: ...Connecting and disconnecting PC Card drives Frequently asked questions Inserting PC Cards Your computer may contain PC Card slot protectors Remove these protectors before you insert a PC Card into the slot See To remove slot protectors Some PC Cards may require you to disable idle devices when using the PC Card You can use Sony Notebook Setup to disable devices To open Sony Notebook Setup Click St...

Page 99: ...are icon on the taskbar The Unplug or Eject Hardware window appears 2 Select the PC Card in the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected 3 Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears Do not force a PC Card into the slot It may damage the connector pins When a PC Card is inserted do not place your computer in a bag or case Pressure or shock to a PC Card may damage your compute...

Page 100: ... protector out of the slot If you use a Type III PC Card you need to remove both the top and bottom PC Card slot protectors Connecting and disconnecting PC Card drives The PC Card drive enables you to read data stored on a DVD or CD Your computer may come with an external PC Card drive depending on the model you purchased If you wish to purchase an optional PC Card drive shop Sony online at http w...

Page 101: ...he PC Card into the PC Card slot with the arrow facing the slot See To insert a PC Card for more information Instructions on connecting an optical drive may vary depending on the specific drive you purchased Removing a PC Card Connecting a PC Card Drive Arrow facing the slot PC Card slot ...

Page 102: ...ing it is now safe to remove the hardware device 6 Eject the PC Card from the PC Card slot Frequently asked questions Why doesn t my PC Card work Make sure the PC Card is inserted properly See Inserting PC Cards for more information Make sure the PC Card is compatible with the Microsoft Windows operating system installed on your computer Use the Sony Notebook Setup utility to disable devices you a...

Page 103: ...re you are inserting the card correctly See Inserting PC Cards for more information You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer Check the manual that came with your PC Card for more information on its use Why does an exclamation mark appear on the Device Manager tab in the System Properties dialog box You may not be using the most recent driver soft...

Page 104: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 110 ...

Page 105: ...111 Docking Stations Connecting the Docking Station ...

Page 106: ...hased If you wish to purchase a docking station shop Sony online at http www sonystyle com vaio or contact your local retailer Locating features and ports Connecting the docking station Disconnecting the docking station Frequently asked questions Locating features and ports Back Panel 1 USB ports 5 Ethernet Network port 10BASE T 100BASE TX 2 VGA monitor port 6 i LINK IEEE 1394 S400 port 3 Serial p...

Page 107: ...ng the Docking Station 113 Left Panel 1 Left lever 3 Floppy disk drive 2 Air vent 4 i LINK network switch Right Panel 1 Docking station connector 4 DC IN indicator 2 Optical drive 5 Right lever 3 UNDOCK switch ...

Page 108: ...nect the docking station while the computer is on 3 Plug one end of the AC adapter cable into the DC IN jack on the docking station and plug the other end into an AC outlet The DC IN indicator turns on 4 Insert the two grooves on the front of the computer into the two corresponding latches protruding from the front of the docking station 5 Push the two rear corners of the computer onto the docking...

Page 109: ...sconnect the docking station when the computer is on use the Start menu or UNDOCK switch To disconnect the docking station when the computer is off 1 Disconnect all peripheral attached devices from the computer and the docking station 2 Remove all objects placed on top of the computer 3 Pull the two release levers on the rear corners of the docking station to release the computer from the docking ...

Page 110: ...ppears 2 Wait for the docking indicator to turn off before undocking the computer Disconnecting the Docking Station Removing the Docking Station If you switch user accounts using Fast User Switching the UNDOCK switch function on the docking station will be interrupted Instead follow the instructions to disconnect the docking station from the Start menu Release levers on rear corners of docking sta...

Page 111: ...f To disconnect the docking station using the UNDOCK switch 1 Slide the UNDOCK switch forward 2 Wait for the docking indicator to switch off before undocking the computer 3 Follow steps 3 and 4 of To disconnect the docking station when the computer is off Docking Indicator UNDOCK Switch Docking indicator UNDOCK switch ...

Page 112: ...nnect the AC adapter and all cables from the docking station 3 Disconnect the computer from the docking station See Disconnecting the docking station for more information 4 Move the i LINK network switch on the bottom of the docking station to the unmarked side using a thin pen tip If you move the i LINK network switch when the computer is on the computer may malfunction i LINK is a trademark of S...

Page 113: ...pport How do I remove a disc from the optical drive The computer must be on to remove a disc from the optical drive If the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate you must return to Normal mode before you can remove a disc 1 Press any key to return to Normal mode 2 Press the Eject button How can I open the optical drive tray if the Eject button does not work Your computer comes wit...

Page 114: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 120 ...

Page 115: ...121 Audio and Video Connections Using i LINK Digital Video Recorders Using Computer Monitors and Projectors Using Speakers Using Microphones ...

Page 116: ...ause the computer to malfunction To connect an i LINK digital video recorder 1 Turn on the DV device and the computer 2 Plug the i LINK cable into the i LINK DC IN OUT port on the DV device 3 Plug the other end of the i LINK cable into the i LINK port on your computer port replicator or docking station The Found New Hardware window appears on the lower right corner of your screen i LINK is a trade...

Page 117: ... Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To disconnect the i LINK DV recorder when the computer is off 1 Turn off the computer and the i LINK DV device 2 Unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK DC In Out port on the computer Connecting an i LINK Digital Video Camera Recorder See the manual that came with your digital video camera recorder for more information on its installation and use i ...

Page 118: ... driver software install these drivers before you use the camera To view images You can view the images captured by your digital video camera recorder three different ways Select one set of instructions from the following list If your digital video camera recorder is compatible with the preinstalled software the Digital Video Device window appears when you connect the camera to the computer Select...

Page 119: ... into the i LINK ports on the computer or camera Unplug the connectors and plug them in again See Connecting an i LINK digital video recorder for more information i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with a...

Page 120: ...the images on your computer s LCD screen onto an external computer monitor The external monitor displays the operations you perform on your computer To connect a computer monitor 1 Make sure the computer monitor is plugged into an AC outlet 2 Turn off the computer 3 Plug the display cable connector into the Monitor VGA port on the computer 4 Turn on the computer monitor if it is not already on and...

Page 121: ...and Projectors 127 Connecting a Computer Monitor Connecting a Computer Monitor to a Docking Station Monitor port VGA Power cord Computer monitor Display cable not supplied Display cable not supplied VGA monitor port Power cord ...

Page 122: ...able into the projector 5 Plug the audio cable connector into the Headphone jack on the computer 6 Plug the other end of the audio cable into the projector 7 Turn on the projector if it is not already on and then turn on the computer 8 Press the Fn F7 key combination to toggle the display between your computer and the projector See Selecting a display mode for more information You cannot use the M...

Page 123: ...u can switch the display mode between your computer s LCD display and the external display using shortcut keys or the Display Properties settings Connecting a Projector See the manual that came with your projector for more information on its installation and use VGA port Power cord Headphone jack Projector Display cable not supplied Audio cable not supplied ...

Page 124: ...og box appears 3 Click the Settings tab and then click Advanced The Sony Notebook LCD and Intel R dialog box appears 4 Click the Intel Graphics Technology tab and then click Graphic Properties Shortcut keys Result Fn F7 Toggles between the LCD a connected external display projector or computer monitor and both the LCD and external display Select one display at a time Connect the cable before you t...

Page 125: ...ector by unplugging the display or Monitor VGA cable from your computer s port Disconnecting the external display when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction You may not be able to display the notebook LCD screen and an external display or projector at the same time depending on the types of computer displays and projectors you are using T...

Page 126: ...al retailer Connecting speakers Disconnecting external speakers Adjusting the volume Enabling the audio feature Frequently asked questions Connecting speakers You can connect speakers to your computer to enhance the sound quality of your computer To connect speakers to your computer 1 Turn down the volume of the speakers 2 Plug the speaker cable into the Headphone jack on the computer 3 Plug the o...

Page 127: ...g CDs or DVDs To adjust the volume of your speakers 1 Right click the Volume icon on the Windows taskbar and select Open Volume Control The Volume Control window appears 2 Click and drag the Volume Control slider up to increase volume and down to decrease volume Connecting External Speakers See the manual that came with your speakers for more information on its installation and use You can only ad...

Page 128: ...eakers or headphones Wave Adjust the wavfile sound or the system sound of Windows SW Synth Adjusts the internal or external synthesizer volume CD Audio Adjust the volume of the CD in the optional optical drive Microphone Adjust the internal or external microphone volume Telephony Adjust the modem or telephone volume PC Beep Adjust the beep sound when inserting or removing the PC Card and other dev...

Page 129: ...d use the speaker cable that was supplied with the speakers You may need to install or reinstall speaker driver software Use the Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information If you are using battery power make sure the battery s is inserted properly and is charged See Using the Battery for more information Why can t I hear sound fr...

Page 130: ...PU control is set to Automatic Profile Selection Use the preinstalled PowerPanel software to set the CPU control to Performance or Battery Life If you are using a memory intensive application set the CPU to Performance Follow these steps 1 Right click the CPU icon on the Windows taskbar and click Edit Create Profiles The Profile Editor window appears 2 In the left panel click the power management ...

Page 131: ...can also press Fn F4 to increase the volume If you double click the Volume icon on the Windows taskbar you can view your changes on the Volume Control window The Volume icon and Fn F4 shortcuts will work only when the volume dial control is set to an audible level ...

Page 132: ...icrophone or other device to record Frequently asked questions Connecting a microphone Plug the microphone cable into the Microphone jack on the computer Disconnecting a microphone You can disconnect an external microphone when the computer is on or off Simply unplug the microphone cable from the Microphone jack on the computer A protruding dot located next to the Microphone jack distinguishes thi...

Page 133: ...ontrol window appears 4 Click the Select check box at the bottom of the Microphone column if it is not already turned on Close the Recording Control window 5 Click Start and select All Programs Accessories Entertainment and then Sound Recorder The Sound Sound Recorder window appears To adjust the volume for recording sound You can only adjust the volume for recording in the Recording Control windo...

Page 134: ...Frequently asked questions Why doesn t my microphone work If you are using an external microphone make sure the microphone is properly plugged into the Microphone jack on the computer See Connecting a microphone for more information ...

Page 135: ...141 Preinstalled Programs Software Programs On Your Computer DVgate Application Notes Program Support Information ...

Page 136: ...otoshop Elements Trial Version Adobe Systems Inc Using state of the art image editing tools you can unleash your artistic ability and create digital images for print e mail and posting to the Web The versatile image capturing options enable you to start working with digital and traditional photos immediately Explore extensive creative possibilities for your personal images with Adobe Photoshop Ele...

Page 137: ... world s largest Internet Service Providers offers dial up and broadband access to the Internet Member benefits include e mail newsgroups a Personal Start Page free storage space for your personal Web site a member magazine and 24 hour technical support Microsoft Word Microsoft Corp Microsoft Word software makes it easy to create common Web e mail and print documents for use around the world Word ...

Page 138: ...appear in a convenient light table format so that you can easily view the contents of an entire folder and create your own photo albums and make prints PicoPlayer Sony Electronics Inc PicoPlayer software is a video player utility that enables you to use Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder functions on a computer that does not have Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder installed You can play Video Ca...

Page 139: ...nload music directly to your Sony MiniDisc Walkman or your Sony Memory Stick Walkman Smart Connect Sony Electronics Inc Smart Connect software enables you to use an i LINK cable to connect your VAIO computer to another VAIO computer that supports Smart Connect You can use one computer to copy delete and edit files on the other computer You can also print from a printer attached to either computer ...

Page 140: ...arting your computer 1 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and click Shut Down 2 Press R and click OK If restarting your computer does not work contact the software publisher or designated provider for technical support See Program Support Information for contact information Why does the message You must insert the Application CD into your optical drive appear and the program does not start Some ti...

Page 141: ...ows help file or the program guide for instructions on how to change the drive letters Which program do I use for CD R CD RW functions Use the preinstalled Sony SonicStage software and Windows software to create CDs on your VAIO computer if the specific model you purchased is preconfigured with all of the necessary components for CD R and CD RW capability You can also download the RealJukebox CD b...

Page 142: ...smoothly the resolution may not be set correctly To check the resolution 1 From the DVgate Motion Monitor window click Setup 2 From the shortcut menu point to Settings and then select Low Resolution The settings you change in this menu affect the images in the monitor window only Movie data imported to your hard drive and images recorded to DV devices will not be affected Saving to your hard disk ...

Page 143: ...art menu on the Windows taskbar point to Programs Accessories System Tools and then click Disk Defragmenter The Disk Defragmenter dialog box appears 3 Select the drive you want to defragment from the list and click Defragment See the Windows operating system Help guide for more information on defragmenting ...

Page 144: ...cific time Web site http www aol com telephone 800 827 6364 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day Web site http support earthlink net e mail support earthlink net telephone 800 890 5128 or 800 890 6356 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day Web site http www antivirus com pc cillin support telephone 510 859 0308 900 820 8324 Support from 510 859 0308 is free of charge but subject to delays Support from 9...

Page 145: ... charge Web site http www apple com telephone 800 275 2273 hours M F 6 A M 6 P M Pacific time Web site http service real com rjoptions html e mail http service real com help call html online email form Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 Support from 1 888 4 SONY PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase hours 7 days a week 24 hours ...

Page 146: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 152 ...

Page 147: ...153 Memory Upgrades Upgrading Your Computer s Memory ...

Page 148: ... required for using and modifying electronic equipment Disconnect the computer from its power source and from any telecommunications links networks or modems before you install or remove a memory module Failure to do so may result in personal injury or equipment damage Electrostatic discharge ESD can damage disk drives and other components Perform the procedures described below only at an ESD work...

Page 149: ...age until you are ready to install it The package protects the module from Electrostatic discharge ESD To remove a memory module 1 Turn off the computer and all peripheral devices 2 Disconnect the power cord all cables and remove the battery if it is installed See To remove the battery 3 Wait for the computer to cool down 4 Use an appropriate screwdriver to loosen and remove the screws on the bott...

Page 150: ...keyboard 7 Touch a metal object such as the connector panel on the back of your computer to discharge static electricity 8 Remove the memory module by pulling out the tabs see arrows No 1 and pulling out the module in the direction of arrow No 2 See To install a memory module for information about installing a memory module Removing the Bottom Screws Lifting the Keyboard Screws Cable Place your fi...

Page 151: ...the computer See To remove a memory module for more information 2 Remove the new memory module from its packaging and install the memory module by sliding it into the open slot at a 45 degree angle Removing a Memory Module Do not touch any part of the motherboard or the other components inside the computer ...

Page 152: ...amount of installed memory See Confirming added memory capacity for more information Confirming added memory capacity After you ve installed a new memory module make sure the operating system s memory corresponds with the memory upgrade To check your system s memory 1 Turn on the computer 2 Click Start on the Windows taskbar point to All Programs and then point to Sony Notebook Setup Installing a ...

Page 153: ... Setup dialog box appears 4 On the About This Computer tab make sure the System Memory displayed in the System Information box matches the amount of memory installed The displayed memory may be less than the installed memory due to the amount used by the display adapter Sony Notebook Setup Dialog Box ...

Page 154: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 160 ...

Page 155: ...161 Using the Recovery CDs Application and System Recovery CDs Using Your Recovery CDs ...

Page 156: ... programs installed since you started using your computer will be lost Using Your Recovery CDs The following sections describe how to use the Application Recovery and System Recovery utilities Using the Application Recovery CD s Using the System Recovery CD s Using the Application Recovery CD s The Application Recovery CD s utility enables you to reinstall individual software programs device drive...

Page 157: ... desktop 2 Insert Application Recovery CD No 1 into your computer s optical drive 3 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and right click My Computer 4 Click Properties The System Properties dialog box appears 5 Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager 6 Right click the unknown device or the device that requires the driver installation and click Update Driver from the shortcut menu 7 In the Ha...

Page 158: ...r computer by clicking Start and then Turn off computer 17 Wait 30 seconds and turn on your computer If you have any questions about using the Application Recovery CD s visit http www sony com pcsupport or contact Sony Customer Support at 1 888 4 SONY PC Using the System Recovery CD s The System Recovery CD s enables you to format your hard disk and restores all original software programs Your com...

Page 159: ... software programs are restored on this drive only Change Partition Size All partitions custom installations and changes are removed from the hard drive You can set the partition sizes for both the Drive C and Drive D The original preinstalled operating system and software programs are restored Recovery to Original Factory Defaults All data and partitions are removed from the hard drive All origin...

Page 160: ...er again to select Yes 6 Make sure Exit Save Changes is selected and then press Enter The Setup Confirmation window appears again 7 Make sure Yes is selected and press Enter The computer restarts from the Recovery CD After recovering your system using the System Recovery CD s you may be prompted to insert your Application Recovery CD s after restarting the Windows operating system Insert the Appli...

Page 161: ...bleshooting Your Computer Troubleshooting Batteries Troubleshooting the Printer Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touch Pad Troubleshooting the Modem Troubleshooting Networks Troubleshooting DVDs and CDs Troubleshooting Floppy Disk Drives Troubleshooting PC Cards Troubleshooting Audio Video Connections Troubleshooting the Computer Screen LCD Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media Troubleshooting Programs ...

Page 162: ... for details Remove the battery from the computer unplug the power cord and plug it in again Turn on the power If the computer does not turn on remove the AC adapter and battery Wait one minute and reattach them before pressing the power button Condensation may cause the computer to malfunction If this occurs do not use the computer for at least one hour Unplug the power cord press the reset butto...

Page 163: ...disk drive non bootable If a non bootable floppy disk is in the drive follow these steps 1 Turn off the computer and remove the floppy disk 2 Restart the computer and confirm that the Microsoft Windows operating system starts properly If Windows still does not start follow these steps to initialize the BIOS 1 Remove any floppy disk from the floppy disk drive 2 Turn off the computer 3 Remove any pe...

Page 164: ...ss Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Security dialog box appears and you can shut down the computer from the Shut Down menu If your computer still does not shut down press and hold the power button to shut down the computer Unplug the computer from the AC adapter and remove the battery from your computer If your computer stops responding while playing a CD or DVD press Ctrl Alt Delete sim...

Page 165: ...ed See PowerPanel Help for more information To reduce fan noise 1 Right click the Battery icon on the taskbar and select Edit Create Profiles The Profile Editor window appears 2 If it isn t already opened double click the System folder in the right panel 3 Double click Thermal Control Strategy Performance and select Quiet 4 Click the File menu and click Save 5 Restart your computer Why does the Sy...

Page 166: ... considerable amount of time Can my computer enter Hibernate mode while using battery power For some software programs and some peripheral devices your computer may not enter Hibernate mode when the battery life is low To avoid loss of data when using battery power you should save your data frequently and manually activate a power management mode such as Standby or Hibernate When should I replace ...

Page 167: ...ng these drivers If the printer is not functioning after the computer resumes from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate reset the printer connection 1 From the Start menu point to Settings and click Printers 2 Right click the icon of the printer that is not functioning and select Properties 3 Click OK The printer should now function properly You may need to set or reset your computer s printer...

Page 168: ...eys simultaneously to stop playback and restart the computer If you still cannot use the pointer restart the computer You can restart the computer three different ways Press the Windows key and press U When the Shut Down Windows window appears press R to select Restart and press Enter Press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously When the Windows Security window appears press the Right Arrow key t...

Page 169: ...Application Recovery CD s for more information Why doesn t the pointer move when I use the touch pad Try restarting your computer Follow these steps 1 Press the Windows key 2 Press U The Turn off computer window opens 3 Press R to restart the computer 4 Press Enter If the computer does not restart 1 Press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Security window appears 2 Press the Right Arrow ke...

Page 170: ...VAIO Computer Quick Start 176 You may need to use your supplied Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the touch pad or mouse drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information ...

Page 171: ...he Application Recovery CD s for more information Why is my modem connection slow Your computer is equipped with a V 90 compatible modem Many factors may influence modem connection speed including telephone line noise or compatibility with telephone equipment such as fax machines or other modems If you think your modem is not connecting properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your Intern...

Page 172: ...r to the instructions supplied with the access point Make sure your computer and the access point are connected to one another Move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using Make sure your computer is properly configured for Internet access Why is the data transfer speed slow The wireless LAN data transfer speed is affected by distance and obstructions bet...

Page 173: ...ccess point Make sure the access point connection is intact Change the access point channel See your access point instructions for more information Can I connect to a IEEE 802 11a device Computers with built in wireless LAN support the IEEE 802 11b standard only Devices connecting to a wireless LAN using the IEEE 802 11a standard cannot connect to devices using the IEEE 802 11b standard What are c...

Page 174: ...t both computers For more information see Connecting Another VAIO Computer i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other Refer to the documentation that ...

Page 175: ...deo display on a TV because the display resolution is not properly set To adjust the display resolution see Selecting a display mode for more information It is recommended that you adjust the display resolution to 1024 x 768 or smaller depending on the size of the external display screen Why does my computer stop responding when I try to read a disc The disc your computer is trying to read may be ...

Page 176: ...rdware tab and click Device Manager Make sure the correct driver software is properly installed Do not use adhesive labels to identify the CD The label may come off while the disc is in use in the optical drive and cause the drive to malfunction If a region code warning appears when you try to use your optical drive it may be that the DVD you are trying to play is incompatible with the optical dri...

Page 177: ...s charged If the computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the computer screen If the display mode is set to external display press and hold the Fn key while you press F7 several times Why don t my changes appear on the computer screen LCD You may need to refresh the computer screen Press the Windows key and press D twice Is the CD RW reading speed slower than the CD ROM or C...

Page 178: ...e disk and wait for the LED indicator to turn off 2 Push the Eject button and remove the disk 3 Reconnect the floppy disk drive 1 Close any active programs to prevent data loss 2 Insert the USB connector with the USB icon facing upward into the USB port 4 Restart the computer 1 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and click Shut Down 2 Select Restart and click OK Why is the drive unable to write dat...

Page 179: ...er operation and the Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted into the PC Card slot the computer may not recognize the PC Card or the connected device Restart your computer Why can t I insert my PC Card Make sure you are inserting the card correctly See Inserting PC Cards for more information You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer ...

Page 180: ...ivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information If you are using battery power make sure the battery s is inserted properly and is charged See Using the Battery for more information Why can t I hear sound from my speakers If you are using battery power make sure the battery is properly inserted and is charged See Using the Battery for more information If you are using a program ...

Page 181: ...akers or headphones You may experience noise distortion while listening to music with speakers or headphones if the CPU control is set to Automatic Profile Selection Use the preinstalled PowerPanel software to set the CPU control to Performance or Battery Life If you are using a memory intensive program set the CPU to Performance Follow these steps 1 Right click the CPU icon on the Windows taskbar...

Page 182: ...on the Windows taskbar you can view your changes on the Volume Control window Why doesn t my microphone work If you are using an external microphone make sure the microphone is properly plugged into the Microphone jack on the computer See Connecting a microphone for more information The Volume icon and Fn F4 shortcuts will work only when the volume dial control is set to an audible level ...

Page 183: ...er source and is on The power indicator on the computer will be on if the computer is on Make sure the battery is inserted properly and is charged If the computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the computer screen If the display mode is set to external display such as TV press and hold Fn while you press F7 several times Why don t my changes appear on the computer screen LC...

Page 184: ...s limited to private use only Using recorded music for any other purpose requires permission of the copyright holders Sony is not responsible for music files that cannot be recorded from a CD or downloaded from other sources Can I copy images from a digital video camera using Memory Stick media Yes and you can view video clips that you have recorded with Memory Stick media compatible video camera ...

Page 185: ...et wet How do I extend the life of the Memory Stick media Use the supplied storage case See the instructions that came with your media for more information on its use Do not use or store the media in a location that is subject to Extremely high temperatures such as in a car parked in the sun Direct sunlight High humidity or places with corrosive substances ...

Page 186: ...our optical drive may not be reading the disc Make sure you place the CD in the tray with the label side facing up Make sure the optical drive is properly connected to your computer See Connecting External Optical Disc Drives for more information Why can t the program find a file while a PC Card is inserted When a PC Card is inserted into a computer that is connected to the docking station it may ...

Page 187: ...are and Windows software to create CDs on your VAIO computer if the specific model you purchased is preconfigured with all of the necessary components for CD R and CD RW capability You can also download the RealJukebox CD burning component to create CDs but it may interfere with your computer s normal system operations ...

Page 188: ...r and all cables from the docking station 3 Disconnect the computer from the docking station 4 Move the i LINK network switch on the bottom of the docking station to the unmarked side using a thin pen tip 5 Connect the docking station to the computer If you move the i LINK network switch when the computer is on the computer may malfunction i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that ...

Page 189: ...isc from the optical drive The computer must be on to remove a disc from the optical drive If the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate you must return to Normal mode before you can remove a disc 1 Press any key to return to Normal mode 2 Press the Eject button How can I open the optical drive tray if the Eject button does not work Your computer comes with a manual eject hole on ...

Page 190: ...ed manual 3 Operating System Online Support Your computer comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows For operating system support you can access Microsoft customer support at http support microsoft com directory 4 VAIO Support Agent You can find VAIO Support Agent by clicking Start and selecting Help and Support Using advanced diagnostic technology Sony s VAIO Support Agent runs scheduled protectio...

Page 191: ...io video AV connecting i LINK 122 B bass boost 75 battery Battery Information toolbar 17 charge status icons 18 power saving modes 22 Battery Information toolbar 17 battery pack inserting 13 notes 20 battery packs charge status icons 16 charging 19 indicator lights 73 brightness adjusting 11 74 brightness control 11 buttons Eject 54 55 C cameras digital video recorder 124 Caps Lock indicator light...

Page 192: ... telephones 31 33 computers 50 dial up 30 digital video recorder 124 docking station 114 Ethernet 38 floppy disk drive 100 hard drives 104 i LINK device 122 Internet 30 microphone 138 multiple phone lines 31 33 network 104 112 party phone lines 31 33 PBX 31 33 port replicator 112 printer 64 projector 128 Serial port 112 speakers 132 telephone line 30 controls brightness 11 correction keys 71 D dia...

Page 193: ... DVD ROM drive tray troubleshooting 60 181 DVgate application 148 E Eject button 54 55 Escape key 71 Ethernet connecting 38 external devices projectors 128 speakers 132 external display connecting 128 F floppy disk drive connecting 100 disconnecting 101 floppy disks handling 101 troubleshooting 102 184 Fn key 72 combination commands 74 function keys 71 G Guide mode 82 H handling ...

Page 194: ...EEE 1394 124 image resolution DVgate 148 indicator lights 73 battery 73 Caps Lock 74 hard disk 73 Memory Stick 73 Num Lock 73 Scroll Lock 74 Wireless LAN 74 inserting battery pack 13 installing hard drives 104 Internet connecting 30 J jacks modem 30 Jog Dial Control 80 K key locations 70 keyboard key combinations 72 74 key locations 70 using 70 L Launcher mode 81 ...

Page 195: ...splaying contents 86 formatting 87 indicator light 73 inserting 86 Magic Gate 85 MagicGate 85 removing 88 troubleshooting 190 types 85 using 85 write protecting 87 microphone connecting 138 troubleshooting 140 188 modem troubleshooting 35 177 modem jack 30 monitor switching modes 75 mouse troubleshooting 96 174 multiple phone lines 31 33 N navigation keys 71 network connecting 104 connector 112 ...

Page 196: ...3 PC Card inserting 104 using 104 port replicator connecting 112 network 112 ports network 112 printer 64 Serial port 112 power 73 power button 11 Power Management Off power setting 23 power saving modes 22 Hibernate 22 75 Standby 22 power setting AC Profile 23 Maximum Battery Life 23 Maximum Performance 23 Power Management Off 23 power source 10 battery packs 13 Print Screen key 71 printer connec...

Page 197: ...ht 74 search 72 Serial port 112 software changing window design 91 DVgate 148 support information 150 using the Jog Dial control with 83 Software list 141 Sony Service Center 151 speakers built in 74 connecting 132 off and on 74 volume 74 Standby mode 22 support software 150 System Recovery CD 164 T telephone connecting line 30 jack 30 touchpad disable 77 enable 77 ...

Page 198: ...4 Memory Stick media 190 mouse and touchpad 174 printer 173 U USB printer 64 using PC Card 104 V VAIO Action Setup 80 video camera 124 volume speakers 74 W window design of Sony software 129 Windows Find window 72 help 72 Windows key 72 combinations and functions 72 Wireless LAN indicator light 74 ...