Sony PCV-W30 VAIO User Guide (primary manual), Manual

Page 1: ...provided here is designed to help you to become familiar with the hardware and software applications included with your system View the Electronic Flyer which provides updates and supplemental information about your computer View the VAIO Computer Specifications which lists your computer s hardware specifications and preinstalled software information Page 1 ...

Page 2: ... of the Sony VAIO computer Your new high performance multimedia computer combines state of the art computer functionality with the latest audio video and information technology features Unpacking your Computer Planning An Ergonomic Work Space Page 2 ...

Page 3: ...tting up and registering your computer The Quick Start also provides resources for technical support safety guidelines and owner s information Microsoft Windows XP Guide Explains how to use the basic features of the latest Windows operating system Online Documentation VAIO Computer User Guide Contains information on the hardware and preinstalled software applications included with your system To a...

Page 4: ...sk Drive Recovery Your computer is equipped with a utility program that enables you to recover your computer s operating system and preinstalled software For more information about hard disk drive recovery Your VAIO computer is not supplied with System or Application Recovery CDs Use the VAIO Recovery utility to recover your computer s operating system and preinstalled software 1 Click Start in th...

Page 5: ... a relaxed hand and use your whole arm to move it Take breaks during sessions with your computer Excessive use of the mouse or a joystick may strain muscles or tendons Furniture and posture Sit in a chair with good back support and armrests Adjust the level of the chair so your feet are flat on the floor A footrest may make you more comfortable Sit with relaxed upright posture avoid slouching forw...

Page 6: ...K 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 Please refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection Before connecting compatible i LINK devices to your system such as an optica...

Page 7: ... Front panel 1 Stereo speakers built in The stereo speakers provide sound for software audio and video CDs 2 Liquid Crystal Display LCD screen The attached LCD screen provides on screen visual output to your computer s functional capabilities 3 Memory Stick media access indicator Light is amber when the Memory Stick media slot is in use Page 7 ...

Page 8: ...ight is amber while reading and writing data from and to the hard disk 7 Power indicator Light is green while the power is on and amber when the computer is in Stand by mode 8 Shortcut keys S keys Programmable function keys that launch specific applications 9 Keyboard The attached keyboard has programmable buttons for launching your favorite software applications or accessing the Internet Page 8 ...

Page 9: ...tions on your computer Right panel 1 Headphones jack Connection for optional speakers or headphones 2 Line In jack Connection for an audio device 3 Microphone jack Connection for a microphone optional 4 Modem line jack Connection for the modem supplied cable to the wall jack 5 Telephone jack Connection for a telephone cable optional to the computer 6 i LINK 4 pin S400 ports 2 Page 9 ...

Page 10: ...ports 3 Connections for compatible high full low speed USB devices 10 CD RW DVD combo drive Reads data from compatible CD or DVD media Writes data to a CD R or CD RW media 11 PC Card slots 2 A PC Card also called a PCMCIA Card can be inserted into these slots to increase your computer s functional capabilities Left panel 1 Brightness control dial Adjusts the contrast and brightness of the built in...

Page 11: ...3 Memory Stick media slot Reads and writes data from a Memory Stick media 4 AC Input port Connection for the supplied power cord Page 11 ...

Page 12: ...on your system s hardware configuration see the online specifications sheet Install your equipment so that you can easily reach the power outlet in the event of an emergency Connecting a USB Optical Mouse Connecting the Telephone and Modem Cables Connecting the Power Cord Turning on Your Computer Registering your Computer Page 12 ...

Page 13: ...iate surface to enable precision tracking To connect a USB mouse To use an optical mouse An optical mouse requires an ideal surface texture in order to provide precision pointing and tracking Use surfaces such as plain paper card stock or fabric that have minimal repetitive patterning Avoid surfaces such as mirrors smooth glass or magazines that have half tone printing Page 13 ...

Page 14: ... telephone cable 3 Wrap the telephone cable twice around the ferrite core lengthwise with the cable running directly through the center groove of the core 4 Close the ferrite core tightly around the telephone cable until it locks Attaching the ferrite core 5 Unplug your telephone cable from the wall jack 6 Plug the telephone cable into the telephone jack on the right panel of your computer 7 Plug ...

Page 15: ...nel Connect only 10BASE T and 100BASE TX cables to the Ethernet port Using other cables or a telephone cable may result in an electric current overload that can cause a malfunction excessive heat or fire in the port For help on connecting to a network see your network administrator Page 15 ...

Page 16: ...necting the Power Cord 1 Plug the power cord into the AC input port on the left panel of the computer 2 Plug the power cord into a grounded AC wall outlet or a power strip To connect the power cord Page 16 ...

Page 17: ...y when you start your system the computer may detect new hardware and prompt you to restart your computer Respond to this prompt immediately Press the power button on the computer to turn on the system To turn on your computer Page 17 ...

Page 18: ...problems you may be having with your computer Limited warranty Protect your investment See the Limited Warranty Card for more details You are prompted to register your computer the first time you turn on the unit Follow the on screen instructions to complete the registration process If you are not able to register your computer during the first session you are provided with additional registration...

Page 19: ... information about managing your computer s hard disk drive performance using i LINK devices Memory Stick media PC Cards and changing default settings About i LINK Compatibility About the Memory Stick Media Slot About the PC Card Slot VAIO Action Setup Page 19 ...

Page 20: ...er has two 4 pin i LINK ports available to connect your digital devices The 4 pin i LINK ports do not supply power to a connected i LINK device 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...

Page 21: ...patible i LINK device and on your computer Plug the i LINK cable connector into this port 2 Plug the other end of the cable into the corresponding 4 or 6 pin i LINK port on your computer See the instructions that came with your i LINK device for more information on installation and use Page 21 ...

Page 22: ...VAIO Action Setup VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your computer s Shortcut keys S Keys Page 22 ...

Page 23: ...are set to launch the following applications S1 Mail Microsoft Outlook Express S2 Internet Microsoft Internet Explorer S3 Music SonicStage S4 Picture PictureGear Studio S5 DVD PowerDVD S6 Help VAIO Help Center PCV W series keyboard Page 23 ...

Page 24: ...he Windows taskbar to launch VAIO Action Setup 3 Click the S Key you want to change 4 From the Select Application dialog box click the option for the desired type of function The corresponding applications appear in the list box on the right 5 Select an application from the list Click Next You can drag an application to place it into the list box 6 The Confirmation Application Name window appears ...

Page 25: ...About the Memory Stick Media Slot Your VAIO computer is equipped with a Memory Stick slot that supports certain types of Memory Stick media Page 25 ...

Page 26: ...with compatible Memory Stick PRO devices VAIO computers support Memory Stick PRO media for data storage purposes only Currently high speed data transfer and the MagicGate technology features such as authentication and encryption are not available You can store different data formats on a single Memory Stick media Memory Stick media Provides data storage only The Memory Stick media does not provide...

Page 27: ...mory Stick media slot located on the left panel Inserting a Memory Stick media 2 If the media does not insert easily remove it from the slot and verify that it is not upside down or backwards Carefully reinsert the Memory Stick media but do not force it into the slot Page 27 ...

Page 28: ...emory Stick slot The media extends further enabling you to grasp it 2 Remove the Memory Stick media from the slot Removing a Memory Stick Media Do not remove the Memory Stick media while the media access indicator light is on The media or its data may become damaged Memory Stick media do not support AVI file playback Copy the AVI file to your hard disk drive before attempting to play back the file...

Page 29: ...d on your Memory Stick media When you slide the write protect tab to the LOCK position your Memory Stick media is write protected You cannot delete copy or save information on the media while the write protect tab in the LOCK position When you slide the tab to the un LOCK position you can write to or modify your Memory Stick media s contents Locking the Memory Stick Media Page 29 ...

Page 30: ...computer has a card bus PC Card slot that supports Type I or Type II PC PCMCIA Cards You do not need to shut down your computer when inserting a PC Card For more information see the instructions supplied with your PC Card Page 30 ...

Page 31: ... PC Card gently into the slot The card is automatically detected and the Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the Windows taskbar If the PC Card does not insert easily remove it from the PC Card slot and verify that it is not upside down or backwards Carefully reinsert the PC Card without forcing it into the slot Page 31 ...

Page 32: ...e Device window appears Click OK 4 When the message Safe to Remove Hardware appears push the PC Card Eject button on the right panel of the system unit Be sure to extend the Eject button out from the computer before attempting to eject the card Removing a PC Card 5 When the PC Card ejects from the PC Card slot remove the card by holding the edges and pulling it out carefully If you eject the PC Ca...

Page 33: ...n the future you may want to increase the functionality of your VAIO computer This section provides information about upgrading and maintaining your system Overview Installing Memory Replacing the Lithium Battery Replacing a Hard Disk Drive Page 33 ...

Page 34: ...w computer Your local dealer is knowledgeable of this specialized personal computer and familiar with the safety practices and regulatory compliance required for using and modifying electronic equipment To view the hardware configuration for your computer see the online specifications sheet Page 34 ...

Page 35: ...ion you purchased Your computer may ship with all available memory slots filled See the online specifications sheet for details about the memory installed in your computer Do not attempt to remove or replace the memory modules Contact your local dealer for memory replacement and upgrades Page 35 ...

Page 36: ...replaced incorrectly Contact your local dealer to replace the lithium battery Replace the battery only with a CR2032 type lithium battery Dispose of the lithium battery properly In some areas the disposal of lithium batteries in household or business trash may be prohibited You can return your unwanted lithium batteries to your nearest Sony Service Center or Factory Service Center To locate a Serv...

Page 37: ...overy CD Assembly Partition Recovery ASSY to restore your system Follow these steps to order the Partition Recovery CD Assembly 1 Connect to the Internet 2 Go to the Sony Direct Accessories and Parts Center Web site at http servicesales sel sony com 3 In the section Search by Model for Accessories type in your computer model and click List Parts and accessories 4 From the list of accessories locat...

Page 38: ...d preinstalled software Your computer may not be equipped with all of the features or software discussed in this section depending on the system configuration purchased About VAIO Computer Functions About Using the Optical Disc Drive s About the Mouse and Keyboard About the Modem About the Speakers About Using a Microphone About Using Peripheral Equipment Page 38 ...

Page 39: ...ed the computer into a power strip or Uninterruptible Power Supply UPS make sure the power strip or UPS is turned on and working Verify that the monitor is plugged into a power source and turned on If your system has a built in monitor confirm that it is plugged into an appropriate power source and that the system is turned on Verify that the brightness or contrast control dials are adjusted corre...

Page 40: ...ed the computer into a power strip or Uninterruptible Power Supply UPS make sure the power strip or UPS is turned on and working Verify that the monitor is plugged into a power source and turned on If your system has a built in monitor confirm that it is plugged into an appropriate power source and that the system is turned on Verify that the brightness or contrast control dials are adjusted corre...

Page 41: ...ot respond or the application does not close try the following steps 1 Save any open files if possible 2 Press the Alt F4 keys The Turn Off Computer window appears 3 Click Restart If your computer still does not respond and you cannot restart shut down your computer by pressing and holding the power button for more than six seconds If the software application continues to stop responding or causes...

Page 42: ...ubleshooting information you can search Windows Help 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar and select Help and Support The VAIO Help and Support Center menu appears 2 Select Fixing a Problem and then select Startup and Shut Down problems A list of specific problem topics appears on the right side of the dialog box 3 Select Startup and Shutdown Troubleshooter Follow the on screen instructions accord...

Page 43: ...ny applications that you are not currently using Increasing the system memory may also help For information on installing memory please see the online VAIO User Guide To access the online User Guide 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar and then click Help and Support 2 From the VAIO Help and Support Center menu click VAIO User Guide Page 43 ...

Page 44: ... in the Windows taskbar and then select Control Panel 2 Select Appearance and Themes and then select Change the screen resolution 3 Click the Settings tab 4 Change the Screen resolution and Color quality to the desired levels 5 Click Apply and then click OK Page 44 ...

Page 45: ... Optical Disc Drive s Your computer may not be equipped with all of the hardware features listed in this section To view the specific hardware configuration for your system see the online specifications sheet Page 45 ...

Page 46: ... Computer icon 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then select My Computer 2 Right click the appropriate optical drive icon 3 Select Eject from the shortcut menu Avoid using adhesive labels to identify your CD or DVD media Adhesive labels may come off while the CD or DVD media is in use in your optical drive s and may cause damage to the unit Page 46 ...

Page 47: ...s instructions If your drive reads some DVDs or CDs but not others check the shiny side of the disc for dirt or scratches The preinstalled CD or DVD software may not be working properly To recover this software see the online guide VAIO Recovery Options for more information To access VAIO Recovery Options follow these steps 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar and click Help and Support 2 From the...

Page 48: ...f you see video but cannot hear audio check all of the following 1 Verify that your DVD player s mute feature is turned off 2 Check the master volume setting in the Audio Mixer 3 Check the volume settings on your computer speakers 4 Check the connections between your speakers and the computer 5 Verify that drivers are installed properly by following these steps 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar...

Page 49: ...l Panel 2 Select Sounds Speech and Audio Devices then click Adjust the system volume 3 From the Volume tab adjust the Device volume by moving the slider bar to the desired sound level Verify that the Mute option is not selected Check that the Mute check box is not selected in the Windows volume control The sound driver s may not be working properly To recover your sound drivers see the online guid...

Page 50: ...l Panel 2 Select Sounds Speech and Audio Devices then click Adjust the system volume 3 From the Volume tab adjust the Device volume by moving the slider bar to the desired sound level Verify that the Mute option is not selected Check that the Mute check box is not selected in the Windows volume control The sound driver s may not be working properly To recover your sound drivers see the online guid...

Page 51: ...SP check the following Contact your telephone company and ask them to verify that your telephone line is free from line noise If your problem is fax related check that there are no problems with the fax machine you are calling and that it is compatible with fax modems For optimum performance verify that your ISP point of presence POP telephone number is compliant with V 90 standards If you are hav...

Page 52: ...SP check the following Contact your telephone company and ask them to verify that your telephone line is free from line noise If your problem is fax related check that there are no problems with the fax machine you are calling and that it is compatible with fax modems For optimum performance verify that your ISP point of presence POP telephone number is compliant with V 90 standards If you are hav...

Page 53: ... the modem If it appears that your modem is not functioning properly check the device status 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware and then select Phone and Modem Options 3 From the Modems tab click to select your modem 4 Click Properties The Modem Properties window appears 5 Review the information in the Device status section If your mod...

Page 54: ... Click Start in the Windows taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware then click Phone and Modem options 3 From the Dialing Rules tab click Edit The Edit Location dialog box appears 4 Select the Tone or Pulse option Click OK Page 54 ...

Page 55: ...About Using a Microphone Why doesn t my microphone work properly Check that the microphone is plugged into the Microphone jack Page 55 ...

Page 56: ...About Using a Microphone Why doesn t my microphone work properly Check that the microphone is plugged into the Microphone jack Page 56 ...

Page 57: ...ate the Sound recording section and click Volume The Recording Control dialog box appears If the volume control for the microphone is visible skip to step 6 4 Select the Options menu and click Properties The Properties dialog box appears 5 In the section Show the following volume controls select the Recording option Click OK 6 From the Recording Control dialog box decrease the microphone volume le...

Page 58: ...e to malfunction If the cursor is not moving properly try using the mouse on another mousing surface or using a mouse pad If you are using a trackball mouse there may be dust or dirt inside the mouse mechanism To clean the mouse follow these steps Save and close all applications and turn off your computer Turn the mouse upside down Remove the mouse ball cover on the back of the mouse by turning cl...

Page 59: ...e to malfunction If the cursor is not moving properly try using the mouse on another mousing surface or using a mouse pad If you are using a trackball mouse there may be dust or dirt inside the mouse mechanism To clean the mouse follow these steps Save and close all applications and turn off your computer Turn the mouse upside down Remove the mouse ball cover on the back of the mouse by turning cl...

Page 60: ...ws taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware then click Mouse The Mouse Properties dialog box appears 3 From the Buttons tab select Switch primary and secondary buttons under the Button Configuration options 4 Click Apply then click OK Page 60 ...

Page 61: ...that the keyboard1 is securely plugged into the keyboard port Save and close all open applications Turn off your computer wait approximately 10 seconds and then restart your computer 1 The V A IO W series computer has a built in keyboard Page 61 ...

Page 62: ...l Printer then click Next Place a check mark in the box for Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer if you are installing a recently manufactured printer with Plug and Play capability 5 Select the appropriate port usually LPT1 and then click Next 6 Select the appropriate printer manufacturer and model 7 Follow the on screen instructions to print a test page and complete printer i...

Page 63: ...l Printer then click Next Place a check mark in the box for Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer if you are installing a recently manufactured printer with Plug and Play capability 5 Select the appropriate port usually LPT1 and then click Next 6 Select the appropriate printer manufacturer and model 7 Follow the on screen instructions to print a test page and complete printer i...

Page 64: ...y when the computer resumes from a power saving mode Clear the printer memory by turning the printer off for approximately 10 seconds and then turning it back on If your printer does not resume normal operations try restarting your computer Page 64 ...

Page 65: ...s using storage media and locating upgrade procedures A support resource listing is also provided to help you locate the appropriate support options About the Power Source About Disposing of the Lithium Battery About Handling the Computer System About Handling a Monitor Display About Recording and Data Storage Media Page 65 ...

Page 66: ...ns you may want to purchase an Uninterruptible Power Supply UPS This device contains both a surge protector and a battery backup The surge protector prevents damage to your computer caused by power surges The battery backup safeguards your data during a brief period of power loss The power control button on the front panel does not turn off the system AC power To remove power from the system you m...

Page 67: ... Service Center or Factory Service Center For the Sony Service Center nearest you visit the Sony Computing Support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport Do not handle damaged or leaking lithium batteries The lithium battery may explode if mistreated Do not disassemble it or dispose of it in fire Replace the battery with a Sony CR2032 lithium battery Using a type of battery other than a CR2032 ma...

Page 68: ...sonnel before operating it any further Use only specified peripheral equipment and interface cables otherwise problems may result Do not use cut or damaged connection cables Always switch the power off before connecting your computer to peripheral equipment otherwise damage may occur to the integrated circuits in your computer Your computer keyboard and mouse consist of high precision electronic p...

Page 69: ...ear a strong magnetic force Do not block the ventilation slots on the display Using the computer in low temperature conditions may produce a residual image on the screen This is not a malfunction When the computer returns to normal temperature the screen returns to normal A residual image may appear on the screen if the same image is displayed for a lengthy period of time The image disappears afte...

Page 70: ...maining moisture with a dry soft cloth Using Memory Stick media MagicGate Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO media are the only media that support MagicGate technology Currently Sony SonicStage and OpenMG software are not compatible with the new Memory Stick PRO media Sony suggests using only the MagicGate Memory Stick media to store and transfer any data created with SonicStage and OpenMG software...

Page 71: ...p solve common problems or to locate support for your VAIO computer This section describes all available resources and offers suggestions on how to access this information for maximum results Immediate Help and Support Help and Support Resources Page 71 ...

Page 72: ...taskbar then click Help and Support 2 From the VAIO Help and Support Center menu click VAIO User Guide Specifications The online specifications sheet describes the hardware and software configuration of your VAIO computer To view this online information 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar and click Help and Support 2 From the VAIO Help and Support Center menu click VAIO User Guide 3 Locate the li...

Page 73: ...Information about your specific model computer such as hardware and software specifications upgrade and maintenance procedures safety and legal information quick solutions to common problems An automated tutorial library that contains interactive easy to understand lessons on using your computer s hardware and software features Links that enable you to quickly find the nearest Sony service center ...

Page 74: ... appropriate software contact information 6 Brief description of the issue For VAIO computers purchased in the U S and Canada contact a Sony Support representative at 1 888 476 6972 1 The serial number is located on the back panel of your computer The serial number is on a white barcode label Page 74 ...