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Sony VGC-RA830G User's Guide

1. RAID O Striped A Ghiped sobs ngrores hard disk drive peclormance by treating two hard disk dives as one lege dive Combined size 60 GB Minor No RAID volume e068 l 7 omea Poti S 18GB A Mimored volume improves dala relisbaly by storing the same data Removing an existing RAID configuistion changes on two hard disk dives which appese to the user 33 ane dive prep teal awash OVa bo rs RAID 1 Mirrored Remove RAID configuration 4 When you use hard disk drives that vary in size the RAID volume is related to the size of the smallest drive For more information see RAID 0O limitations or RAID 1 limitations 10 Select one of the three options and click Next A final confirmation message appears A If you have not performed a back up of your computer s data or you do not want to continue with the RAID configuration respond to the final confirmation message by clicking No and exit the wizard See the section Before getting started for advice on how to prepare for RAID configuration RAID Configuration Wizard Final confirmation message RAID Configuration Wizard Changing the RAID configuration deletes all data from the hard disk drives connected to the following Serial ATA ports Poet 0 Poet 1 Back up all of your data before performing this procedure After changing the RAID configuration pexform a Hard Disk Drive Recovery to install the original Factory software configuration orto the n
2. Page 83 Resetting the computer s date and time To reset your computer s date and time 1 Double click the time readout displayed in the Windowse Taskbar Notification area The Date and Time properties window appears 2 From the Date amp Time tab change the settings as desired Click Apply and then click OK Page 84 About Hard Disk Drive Installation Your computer may be equipped with open internal bays to hold additional 3 5 inch hard disk drives When you install an additional hard disk drive the method of attaching connectors and cables may be different from the instructions described in this section Review the manufacturer s information provided with your new hard disk drive before attempting to install it in your computer Certain models are configure to order CTO computers that may already have additional hard disk drives installed that support the Redundant Array of Independent Disks RAID technology See the About RAID Systems section The installation information provided in this section may not apply if you have purchased a VAIO computer that supports RAID Page 85 Replacing the original hard disk drive If you replace the original factory installed hard disk drive you may need to correct your drive mapping create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit or visit the Sony online support Web site for more information About drive mapping When a new hard disk drive is installed the original drive mapping ma
3. Com puter and supplied accessories System unit Sub woofer eC a VGA adapter X a coal Power cord Mouse 2 oy lt K Infrared receiver Remote wg control Remote sensor controls 2 This accessory is available with certain computer models or may vary in appearance Manuals VAIO Computer Quick Start Provides basic information on setting up and registering your computer The Quick Start also provides resources for technical support safety guidelines and owner information About RAID Systems Contains an overview of RAID O and RAID 1 levels along with basic information about RAID configuration This guide is available only with computers that are shipped as RAID O or RAID ready Online Documentation VAIO Computer User Guide Contains features and specifications of your computer It also includes information on the Microsofte Windowse XP Media Center Edition operating system the software programs included with your computer and solving common problems To access the online User Guide 1 Click Start in the Windows 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 the online specifications sheet 1 Connect to the Internet Page 3 2 Go to the Sony online support Web site at http www
4. If your computer stops recognizing your Memory Sticke media you may have removed the media from the Memory Stick drive before the data access process completed If this occurs follow these steps 1 Remove the Memory Stick media from the slot 2 Shut down your computer closing any open software programs and then turn your computer off 3 Wait approximately 30 seconds and then restart your computer Your computer recognizes the Memory Stick media when you insert it into the Memory Stick slot again 1 Some Memory Stick media do not have a write protect tab or the write protect tab is in a different location For details about using your Memory Stick media see the media s supplied information sheet Page 66 Sharing Memory Cards If you plan to share your memory card between your VAIO computer and devices such as a digital camera or music player the card must be formatted properly Format the memory card by using it in the device first See the information supplied with the device for details how to format the memory card If your device does not recognize memory card that has been formatted by your computer follow these steps 1 Save the card s contents to your hard disk drive 2 Reformat the memory card using the device not your computer Page 67 U ij Maintaini VALO i In the future you may want to increase the functionality of your VAIO computer This section describes how to perform basic upgrades and main
5. Line In jack Connection for an audio device Woofer Center jack Connection for a Sub woofer control module or center speaker 5 1 speaker system Rear jack Connection for rear speakers 5 1 speaker system 7 Monitor port Connection for standard VGA monitor TV Out S video video jack Connection for an S video cable DVI D monitor port Connection for a DVI monitor 8 Modem line jack Connection for an RJ 11 telephone cable optional 9 AC Input port Connection for the supplied power cord 10 S PDIF Optical Out port Connection for a digital audio or optical device 11 Ethernet port Page 14 Connection for a 1OBASE T 100BASE TX 1000BASE T Ethernet The port marked with BS Network is for LAN connections only 12 Speaker DC Out jack Connection for the speaker power cable 2 channel speakers 13 Composite audio R In jack Connection for an audio cable optional Composite audio L In jack Connection for an audio cable optional Composite video In jack Connection for a video cable optional S video In jack Connection for an S video cable optional 14 VHF UHF port Connection for a TV coaxial cable supplied 1Certain VAIO computer models may be supplied with a 5 1 speaker system See your computer s specifications sheet for details on supplied accessories 2 Speaker system connections vary by model and manufacturer See the information supplied with your speaker system for setup detai
6. 3 Page 8 6 Optical drive access indicator Light is amber while reading and writing data from and to the optical drives 7 Hard disk drive access indicator Light is amber while reading and writing data from and to the hard disk 8 Headphones Line In jack Q Connection for the supplied speakers optional headphones or audio device Microphone jack a Connection for a microphone optional S video In jack Connection for an S video cable optional Composite video In jack Connection for a video cable optional Composite audio L In jack Connection for an audio cable optional Composite audio R In jack Connection for an audio cable optional 9 Optical drive 1 eject button Ejects a disc from Optical drive 1 10 Optical drive 2 eject button Ejects a disc from Optical drive 2 11 Floppy disk eject button Ejects a floppy disk from the floppy disk drive 12 Memory Sticke memory card reader Reads and writes data from and to Memory Sticke Memory Stick Pro and Memory Stick Duo media Page 9 13 Secure Digital SD MultiMediaCard MMC slot Reads and writes data from and to a Secure Digital SD or MultiMediaCard MMC 14 Media access indicator Light is amber when reading or writing data 15 Power button and power indicator Press the button to turn the computer on and off The power indicator light is green when the computer is on and is amber when the computer is in Stand by mode The power indicator is of
7. RAID Configuration Wizard 9 Z RAID Configuration Wizard Click Next The RAID Configuration Options window appears RAID Configuration Wizard Use this wead to combine two hard dtk dines into 4 single RAJD Redunderk Asay ol Independent Dicks volume You can aso change the configuration of a RAID volume oi remove a RAID configuration to make the two haid disk dives independert volumes Caution Do not attempt lo create change ot remove a RAID configuration without a clear understanding of the reasons foe and consequences of changing pour dive configuration Creating tecorfiguiing ce removing a RAID volune deletes all data rom the allected hard disk dives Back up al of your data before performing thes ptocedute Alte completing the corfiguration peiloen a Hard Disk Dive Recovery to install the cignal factoiy soltware configuration ceto lhe new RAID volume To be combined into a RAID volume two herd dick chives must be connected to port 0 and pail 1 of pour Seri ATA controle RAID Configuration Options Page 101 7 RAW Configuration Wizard RAID Configuration Options Select your desited RAID configuration G Cieate a Stiped RAID 0 voluma and install the cogrval factory soltware C Creste a Miiored RAID 1 volume and install the original lectoey software Remove the existing RAID configuration to make the two drives independent and install the original factory software Combined sze 160 GB Stnpe
8. SonicStage Sony Electronics Inc The SonicStage software program gives you all the tools you need to manage music files on your computer SonicStage software delivers high quality digital audio storage a sleek player skin design and audio CD burning capability Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day SonicStage Mastering Studio Sony Electronics Inc Use SonicStage Mastering Studio software to record songs from analog records or cassette tapes into your computer and then burn them to CD R or CD RW media You can also output this music to audio files in WAV format Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day SpySubtracte Intermute Inc Web site http www intermute com support html VAIO Control Center Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Control Center provides a central location that gathers resources to configure your VAIO personal computer and view your computer s configuration and specifications Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day VAIO Edit Components Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Edit Components is a software plug in for Adobe Premiere software that provides maximum compatibility and video quality when capturing video with your Sony digital camcorder Web site http www sony com
9. 1Certain VAIO computers are not equipped with a floppy disk drive You can purchase a floppy disk drive separately See the online specifications sheet for more information about your computer s hardware configuration Page 157 Sony provides several options to help 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 Software Help and Support Resources for Additional Help and Support Page 158 Immediate Help and Support You can locate helpful information immediately by consulting your hard copy guides and supplements or by accessing the online Computer User Guide and individual software Help files Your computer is supplied with these support options VAIO Computer Quick Start The Quick Start contains information on how to set up your computer quickly and easily You can find instructions on how to connect power cords cables peripheral devices and register your computer with Sonye The Quick Start can also provide basic troubleshooting support VAIO Computer Welcome This supplement provides information about supplied accessories and your computer s hardware configuration About RAID Systems Contains an overview of RAID 0 and RAID 1 levels along with simple instructions on RAID configuration VAIOse Recovery Options Gui
10. 2 Click Shut Down 3 Restart your computer 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 program continues to stop responding or causes your computer to stop responding contact the software publisher or designated technical support provider A Pressing and holding the power button for more than six seconds may result in the loss of data from files that are currently open 1 The window text displayed may vary Page 110 Why does the Windows operating system stop responding during shutdown The Windows operating system may not shut down properly for many reasons including incompatible or conflicting drivers damaged files or non responsive hardware For troubleshooting 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 window 3 Select Startup and Shutdown Troubleshooter Follow the on screen instructions according to your specific situation Page 111 Why is my computer running slowly The computer s responsiveness varies depending with the number of software programs that are open and running Close any programs that you are not currently using Increas
11. This section provides basic information about using your computer s installed memory card readers Your computer may not be equipped with all of the memory card readers described in this section depending on the computer model or configuration purchased To view the installed hardware configuration for your computer see the online Specifications sheet About Your Memory Card Readers Inserting a Memory Card Removing a Memory Card About Memory Stick Media Sharing Memory Cards Page 62 About Your Memory Card Readers Your VAIO computer is equipped with memory card readers that are compatible with many popular types of memory cards You can use your computer s memory card readers to transfer data between digital cameras camcorders music players and other audio video devices Memory card readers and compatible media Secure Digital SD xD ry Card T F SmartMedia p_smereuncet me MultiMediaCard icture E Memory Stick Microd rive Mk CD weer vane 4 eras CompactFlash ae Memory Stick Duo Memory Stick PRO 1 Your computer may not be equipped with all of the memory card readers shown here or the configuration may be different To view the specifications for the installed memory card readers for your computer see the online specifications sheet Page 63 Inserting a Memory Card Your memory card reader s may be located behind a prote
12. Depending on your in home cable access you may require extra cables adapters or connection equipment not supplied with your computer Page 52 Connecting a cable or satellite set top box You can connect your computer to cable or satellite service that requires a set top box Option 1 1 Connect one end of a TV coaxial cable optional to your cable service access Connect the other end to the In jack on the back panel of your set top box 2 Connect a second TV coaxial cable optional to the Out jack on your set top box Connect the other end to the single connection end of a splitter adapter optional 3 Connect a third TV coaxial cable supplied to the double connection end of the splitter adapter Connect the other end to the VHF UHF port on the back panel of your computer 4 Connect a fourth TV coaxial cable optional to the double connection end of the splitter adapter Connect the other end to the VHF UHF port on the rear of your TV monitor or display To connect in set top box mode Option 1 TV coaxial cable optional id Set top box Cable service access wall outlet Splitter TV coaxial cable optional optional TV coaxial cable supplied TV coaxial cable optional VHF UHF port VHF UHF port Option 2 1 Connect one end of the TV coaxial cable supplied to your cable service access Connect the other end to the In jack on the back panel of your set top box 2 Connec
13. IE meme f enan Wages E Drawers ot Mase TD Prete rrr praag 47 timers Mo ther petag pem oe naped fromeest l ospe On ip items sag OEE Ma rman of the Deel Ager amar Aci pumas LEON te fehowmy etare gR Marty RAD Tec temtongy The amity ty Comets menege pad ene few wtepertent SAD misser acter s engir sray DAattyete Laaya hs ott 14 ree fare ewteperwiiert tee Need Gore RAC era The Scope of This Help File The purpose of this help file is to proide a basic overmew of the Intel Application Accelerator software package and s use Below is a list of the topics included in this help fle with a brief description of each topic Introduction prondes a componer and feature overmew of the software package System Requirements beta the minimum hardware and software requirements for running the software successfully Intel Application Accelerator Driver prowdes a basic description of the diver and how i mteracts with the other components of the software package intel Storage Utility describes the features of thes component and prowdes basic instructions for ts use RAID Overview provides an introduction to RAID technology and how t apples to the Inte Application Accelerator software package Event Monitor describes the functions of this component and use of the Intel Application Accelerator Tray Icon RAID Vole Restoration prondes step by step procedures for recovenng RAID volumes for typical scenarios Glossar
14. Page 124 Why did my Click to DVD software recording session capture television instead of video If Media Center starts a scheduled TV recording while you are capturing analog video with Click to DVD software the TV programming may be captured instead of the video and the timed recording may fail Media Center and the analog capture feature of Click to DVD software both require the use a TV tuner MPEG encoder card and cannot access the card at the same time To avoid recording conflicts Do not open Media Center while capturing analog video using Click to DVD or Click to DVD Automatic Mode software Do not schedule a TV recording to start while capturing analog video using Click to DVD or Click to DVD Automatic Mode software If a scheduled TV recording is already set cancel it or postpone the analog recording until the scheduled TV recording has finished Page 125 Why can t I view or record a movie when my computer is connected to an external device such as a VCR or DVD player or when I am using an analog input connection If you see a blue background in the View window the movie may be copyright protected Your computer is not able to display or record a video or DVD that is copyright protected by Macrovision or CGMS A Copy Generation Management System Analog Media Center software does not support recording a movie using analog input from external devices such as a VCR DVD player or Digital video camera Page 126
15. 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 AC power To remove power from the computer you must turn it off and then unplug the AC power cord from the wall outlet or power strip Do not place heavy objects on the power cord Do not operate the computer with the cover removed Always reinstall the cover before turning it on To disconnect the cord pull it out by the plug Never pull the cord itself Unplug your computer from the wall outlet if you do not intend to use the computer for a long time Do not attempt to open the power supply There are no user serviceable parts in the power supply To avoid personal injury or damage to your equipment refer the repair or replacement of the power supply to qualified personnel only Page 152 About Handling the Computer Your computer uses high frequency radio signals and may cause interference to radio or TV reception If this occurs relocate the computer a suitable distance away from the TV or radio equipment Do not place your Sony computer in a location subject to Heat sources such as radiators or air ducts Direct sunlight Excessive dust Mechanical vibration or shock Strong magnets or speakers that are not mag
16. Why can t I fast forward or rewind a video The rewind and fast forward features are not supported by all video formats Try using the Skip or Replay buttons which provides a similar function Page 127 How do I use the Media Center software or remote control to adjust my monitor when viewing TV programs Media Center software and remote control do not have video adjustment capability Use the controls on the monitor to adjust video settings such as contrast hue and brightness See the information provided with your monitor for instructions on adjusting its video controls Page 128 What can I do if my computer freezes and restarts while I m watching a DVD or live TV Verify that the monitor refresh rate is set to 60 Hz using the following steps 1 Right click on the desktop and click Properties from the shortcut menu The Display Properties window appears 2 Click the Settings tab and then click Advanced 3 Click the Monitor tab and in the Monitor settings box confirm the screen refresh rate is set to 60 Hertz 4 If the refresh rate is not set to 60 Hz click the drop down arrow and select 60 Hertz Page 129 About the Mouse and Keyboard Why doesn t my mouse work properly Confirm that the mouse is plugged securely into the mouse port If you are using a USB mouse verify that the mouse is plugged securely into the appropriate USB port Save and close all open software programs Turn off your computer wait approx
17. Your Sony 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 Ifthe telephone company makes a service call to your home or office and determines that your computer is responsible for the problem the telephone company may bill you for the service call If you do not disconnect your computer when it is adversely affecting the telephone line the telephone company has the right to disconnect your service until you correct the problem Moisture condensation If your computer is brought directly from a cold location to a warm one moisture may condense inside your computer In this case allow at least an hour before turning on your computer If any problem occurs unplug your computer and contact your Sony Service Center Wireless devices Wireless devices such as a wireless keyboard or mouse requires unobstructed communication with your computer for proper operation Do not exceed a maximum distance of 2 feet between your VAIO computer and your wireless device Verify that any infrared receiver s on the computer or wireless device is free of obstructions that may prevent proper operation A P 153 Confirm that the supplied AA batteries are properly installed in the wireless device a95 Use the CONNECT buttons on the wireless device and your computer if available to establish communication betwe
18. and then click Control Panel ee Performance and Maintenance 2 From the Control Panel window click 3 From the Performance and Maintenance window click The Intel Storage Utility main window appears Intele Storage Utility Intel R Storage Utility File View Actions Help amp Intel RAID Controllers Information 4 ntel R 82801FR SATA RAID Controller Arrays This item displays any storage controller s in Ara 0 the system currently managed by the Intel Volumes Storage Utility E RAIDVolID amp RAID Hard Drives E Maxtor 6Y200M0 E 57320082245 4 Click jd open Help The Intele Application Accelerator Help introduction window appears Intele Application Accelerator Help Page 104 Overawa The tet Appi ear Accom ea a Oars o patama e on Weel A pecetea Raced 6 tomes stag ne Sine ee Aere fete COIFA Bansi ATA RAO Contretior CHER mei AMFA Gamat ATA AMC Cortete PEPER ant ered COED Geral ATA RAD Cubsin CHES A cturege cirein n a hertewe teers that cartete of tartenadty sieecated wit the Need eels Cormwr tnd ta E The Weel Aggie Auie As Cotman baleare paid ape oe ererned Hf Re bisang omporerts tet Appir don Ac caterstes Dee kof Dosp iy Bert Meee Thee EAF Appi steer Arama RAD Opine BON re par Saget seperetery Then stewe mahe n ipe oy strgrated mite the oy eiere GALT of the natetest Salawe mit ater n Abn wid toy domatet ter Mc eee Aaga
19. cable 5 Sub woofer unit cable Connects the sub woofer unit to the computer s Headphones jack 6 AC power cord Connects the sub woofer unit to a grounded AC wall outlet or power strip Page 17 About the Keyboard This section describes the special and standard functions available for your keyboard A wireless or PS 2 keyboard may be supplied with your VAIO computer based on the computer model purchased See your computer s specifications sheet for details on your computer s supplied accessories 1A PS 2 keyboard is equipped with a PS 2 type connector that plugs into the back panel of your VAIO computer Page 18 About the wireless keyboard Set up your wireless keyboard and insert the batteries before attempting to establish communication between the keyboard and the computer For instructions see the section Connecting a Wireless Keyboard Wireless keyboard bottom 1 Keyboard feet Extend the feet to adjust the keyboard height 2 CONNECT button Press to enable the wireless keyboard to communicate with the computer 3 Battery compartment Compartment for the supplied AA batteries Identifying keys and functions Your keyboard uses a standard key arrangement with additional keys that perform specific functions Wireless keyboard Volume Volume Function Directional Numeric Arrows Keypad Windows Applications Page 19 KEY DESCRIPTION Function The 12 function key
20. carefully remove it To remove a CompactFlash media 1 Firmly grasp the extended part of the memory card 2 Pull to remove from the reader 1Certain Memory Stick media can be removed using these instructions Page 65 About Memory Stick Media Memory Sticke media are a compact portable and versatile data storage media designed for exchanging and sharing digital data with compatible devices The following types of Memory Stick media are available but compatibility with your computer can vary MagicGate Memory Sticke media Provides copyright protection with authentication and encryption using Sony MagicGate technology Authentication ensures that protected content is only transferred between compliant devices and media Protected content can be recorded and transferred in an encrypted format that prevents unauthorized duplication or playback You can store different data formats on a single Memory Stick media Memory Stick PRO media Provides MagicGate copyright protection and high speed data transfer features when used with compatible Memory Stick PRO devices VAIO computers support Memory Stick PRO media for data storage purposes only High speed data transfer and MagicGate technology features such as authentication and encryption may not be available You can store different data formats on a single Memory Stick media Memory Stick PRO Duo media Provides the same features and benefits of Memory Stick PRO medi
21. cover A If you open the cover or panels immediately after you shut down your computer the components may be too hot to touch Wait until the internal parts of the computer cool down before you attempt to open the unit Page 71 Removing the side panel 1 Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer 2 Unplug your computer and disconnect any peripheral devices 3 Press the release button on the top edge of the side panel Removing the side panel If you plan to remove or install internal components place the computer on its side before removing the side panel 4 Lift the side panel away from the unit and set aside Page 72 About Closing the Computer Replacing the side panel 1 Align the tabs on the bottom of the side panel to the tracks on the edge of the chassis frame 2 Gently press the side panel against the chassis until the release button locks the panel back into place Replacing the side panel Page 73 About Closing the Computer Replacing the side panel 1 Align the tabs on the bottom of the side panel to the tracks on the edge of the chassis frame 2 Gently press the side panel against the chassis until the release button locks the panel back into place Replacing the side panel Page 74 Replacing the top cover 1 Align the tracks on the top cover to the tracks on the chassis frame 2 Gently slide the top cover forward onto the chass
22. drive Replacing the drive holder 14 Replace the side panel See About Closing the Computer 15 Reconnect the power cord to your computer The hard disk drive access light blinks when either internal hard disk drive is active Page 88 Identifying the additional hard disk space When you initialize the new hard disk it must be configured as an extended partition in Windows NT file system NTFS format 1 Log on to Windowse as Administrator 2 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then right click My Computer A shortcut menu appears 3 Select Manage The Computer Management window appears 4 Under the file directory on the right go to Storage and then select Disk Management 5 Right click on the newly installed unformatted hard disk Disk label identified with red marking From the shortcut menu select Initialize Disk 6 Click on the Unallocated area of the disk and then right click to display a shortcut menu 7 Select New Partition The New Partition wizard appears 8 Follow the wizard s on screen instructions to complete the process The Windowse XP operating system recognizes the new hard disk drive and applies the NTFS format Page 89 About RAID SVs Ms When multiple hard disk drives are combined they can provide an affordable answer to your VAIO computer s performance or security requirements This solution is called a Redundant Array of Independent Disks RAID See your computer s specificat
23. experiencing technical problems Try connecting your modem through another telephone line if available Page 136 About the Modem Why is my modem connection slow Many factors can influence modem connection speed such as Telephone line noise Incompatibility with other telephone equipment such as fax machines or other modems Internet Service Providers ISP connection capability may vary If you think your modem is not connecting properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your ISP 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 Ifyou are having a problem connecting with your ISP check that they are not experiencing technical problems Try connecting your modem through another telephone line if available Page 137 Why doesn t my modem work properly Your modem may be experiencing equipment or software conflicts If your modem is not functioning properly check the following Check that the telephone line is properly plugged into the modem line jack Check that the telephone line is working properly You can verify the line by plugging in an externa
24. for updates and follow the on screen instructions Page 115 About System Security This section provides information about keeping your computer operating smoothly and protecting against potential threats to your computer s security How can I protect my computer against security threats such as viruses The Microsoft Windowse operating system is preinstalled on your computer The best way to protect your computer against security threats such as viruses is to download and install the latest Windows updates regularly You can get important Windows updates by doing one of the following The Automatic Updates feature This feature automatically searches for and delivers updates directly to your computer whenever you are connected to the Internet The Windows Updates Web site This site enables you to download computer updates without turning on the Automatic Updates feature Your computer must be connected to the Internet before you can receive updates To use the Automatic Updates feature l Connect to the Internet 2 Click the Automatic Updates oon in the Taskbar notification area 3 The Automatic Updates Setup Wizard appears Click Next and follow the on screen instructions to set up automatic or scheduled updates To visit the Windows Updates Web site l Connect to the Internet Type http windowsupdate microsoft com in the address bar of your browser The Microsoft Windows Update and S
25. is plugged securely into the mouse port If you are using a USB mouse verify that the mouse is plugged securely into the appropriate USB port Save and close all open software programs Turn off your computer wait approximately 10 seconds and then restart your computer If your mouse is not working press ALT F4 to close all open software programs and turn off the computer The mouse driver s may not be working properly Using an optical mouse If you are using an optical mouse use an appropriate surface to ensure proper mouse tracking A good surface requires a certain amount of detail or texture to enable mouse tracking Use surfaces such as plain paper card stock or fabric that do not have a lot of repetitive patterning Avoid surfaces such as mirrors smooth glass or magazines Avoid possible damage to easily scratched surfaces by using a mouse pad Avoid surfaces that may damage or soil your optical mouse Dirt or damage may cause the mouse to malfunction If the cursor is not moving properly try using the mouse on another surface or using a mouse pad Using a standard ball mouse If you are using a standard ball mouse there may be dust or dirt inside the mouse mechanism To clean the mouse follow these steps 1 Save and close all software programs and turn off your computer Turn the mouse upside down Remove the mouse ball cover on the back of the mouse by turning clockwise the ring that covers the mouse ba
26. 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 may present a risk of fire or explosion Page 156 About Recording and Data Storage Media Handling CD or DVD media Do not touch the surface of the disc Do not drop or bend the disc Do not use adhesive labels to identify the disc The label may come off while the disc is in use in the optical drive and damage the drive Cleaning CD or DVD media Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a disc may cause read errors Proper care of the disc is essential to maintain its integrity Do not use solvents such as benzine thinner commercially available cleaners or anti static spray as they may cause damage to the disc For normal cleaning hold the disc by its edge and use a soft cloth to wipe the surface from the center out If the disc is badly soiled moisten a soft cloth 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 Using Memory Stick media MagicGate Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO media are the only media that support MagicGate technology Currently Sonye 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 Soni
27. on your remote control for a similar function Page 118 About Media Center The Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system is not installed on all VAIO Digital Studio computers See your online specifications sheet for more information about your computer s configuration Why doesn t the REW button on the remote control work when I use My Music The REW button does not rewind music files Instead press Replay on your remote control for a similar function Page 119 Why aren t my song information edits visible in My Music If you record a song in OpenMG ATRAC format and make edits such as title artist or genre using SonicStage software the changes become visible when the music file is played in My Music If you make changes to a music file using Media Center the changes are not visible when played in SonicStage software Page 120 Why do my song information edits revert to the original content when I use My Music When you record songs with SonicStage software and then use Windows Media Player software to edit the song s information you may not see your changes when you play the song in My Music Windows Media Player supports playback of songs recorded in OpenMG ATRAC3 or ATRAC3 format but does not support any edits made to the OpenMG format music files Use SonicStage software to edit song information for music files that are recorded in OpenMG format Page 121 Why do my optimized music files t
28. pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day Page 162 VAIO Media Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Media software brings multimedia to your network enabling you to share music video and picture files between your VAIO computers You can set up one or more computers as media servers that store your multimedia files and make them available to other compatible VAIO computers on your wired or wireless home network Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day VAIO Update Sony Electronics Inc The VAIO Update utility helps you maintain your VAIO computer by regularly checking the Sony Online Support Web site for important software updates and up to date information for your specific computer model Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day VAIO Zone Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Zone software delivers an effortless way to browse and enjoy picture music and video files on your computer all through an elegant next generation interface You can enjoy media content stored on other VAIO computers media servers on your network VAIO Zone software enables you to record video and photo slide shows onto recordable DVD media using VAIO computer models equipped with a recordable DVD drive On VAIO computer models equipped with a built in TV tune
29. speaker system Verify that your speaker system is connected correctly Change the computer s audio settings to 6 channel to match your 5 1 speaker system Change the audio settings in the RealTek Sound Effect Manager software program Change the audio settings in the InterVideoe WinDVDe software program Change the audio settings in the Media Center software program s DVD settings 1 Your computer s supplied accessories may not include a 5 1 channel speaker system See your specifications sheet for details on your computer s supplied accessories Page 144 About Using a Microphone Why doesn t my microphone work properly Check that the microphone is plugged into the Microphone jack Page 145 About Using a Microphone Why doesn t my microphone work properly Check that the microphone is plugged into the Microphone jack Page 146 Why is my microphone so sensitive to background noise If you find there is too much background noise when you record sound you should adjust the microphone by following these steps 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Sounds Speech and Audio Devices then click Sounds and Audio Devices 3 From the Audio tab locate 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
30. the battery only with a CR2032 type lithium battery Page 82 Replacing the lithium battery 1 2 5 6 Write down any changes you may have made to the settings in the BIOS Setup utility Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer Unplug your computer and the peripheral devices Gently place the unit on its side and remove the side panel See About Opening the Computer If necessary remove any cables add on cards or other components to access the lithium battery Gently push the battery holder s tab away from the battery and remove the battery from the holder Install the new battery with the plus side facing the battery holder tab Installing a lithium battery 7 Holder tab Replace the side panel See About Closing the Computer The values stored in the CMOS memory are now reset to the factory default values Run the Setup utility to reset the date time passwords and other changes you may have made to the BIOS settings If you do not wish to customize your BIOS settings do not run the Setup utility A 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 Service Center near you visit the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport
31. this may create interference causing your keyboard to stop working properly A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless keyboard Always use the same type and manufacture of battery do not mix alkaline with manganese batteries Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new or different types of batteries can damage the keyboard 1 Some VAIO computer models are equipped with a built in keyboard 2 Operate the keyboard VGP WKB1 within 32 feet of the computer Operate the keyboard PCVA KB6 within 2 5 feet of the computer Page 135 About the Modem Why is my modem connection slow Many factors can influence modem connection speed such as Telephone line noise Incompatibility with other telephone equipment such as fax machines or other modems Internet Service Providers ISP connection capability may vary If you think your modem is not connecting properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your ISP 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 Ifyou are having a problem connecting with your ISP check that they are not
32. wall jack follow these steps to set up your dial up connection to the Internet 1 Click Start from the Windows taskbar and select All Programs 2 Point to Accessories point to Communications and then click New Connection Wizard The New Connection Wizard appears 4 The Location Information and the Phone and Modem Options windows appear when using your computer for the first time Enter your information as requested and continue to the New Connection Wizard window 3 Follow the on screen instructions to finish setting up your dial up connection Page 140 About the Speakers Why is there no sound in any software program Check that the speakers are plugged into the Headphones jack If your speakers have a mute button verify that it is turned off If your speakers are powered by batteries verify that the batteries are inserted properly and that they are charged If your speakers use an external power source verify that the power cord is plugged into a grounded wall outlet or power strip If your speakers have volume control check the volume level You may not hear sound from your speakers if headphones are connected to your computer If the software program you are using has its own volume control check that the volume is turned up Check the volume controls in the Windowse operating system using these steps 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then select Control Panel 2 Select Sounds Speech and Audio
33. wireless mouse you must enable communication between the computer and the mouse To connect your wireless mouse it must be within 11 inches of the computer 4 When attempting to connect the wireless mouse confirm that the AA batteries supplied are properly inserted into the mouse before your computer is turned on 1 Press the CONNECT button located on the bottom of the infrared receiver 2 Turn the wireless mouse over and slide the power button to the ON position 3 Press the CONNECT button on the bottom of the mouse Connecting the mouse Connect button Additional information about using a wireless mouse A wireless mouse requires unobstructed communication with the infrared receiver for proper operation To maintain good communication operate your wireless mouse within 2 feet of the VAIO computer Confirm that the supplied AA batteries are properly installed Press the CONNECT button located on the bottom of the infrared receiver first and then press the Connect button on the bottom of the mouse Verify the infrared receiver is free of obstructions that may prevent proper operation Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near your wireless mouse These devices may cause interference causing your mouse to stop working properly Do not place metal furniture near your computer or wireless mouse as this may create interference causing your mouse to s
34. 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day Microsofts Internet Explorer Microsoft Corp Page 160 Web site http www support microsoft com Microsofte Windows Mediae Player Microsoft Corp Web site http www support microsoft com Microsofts Windowse Movie Maker Microsoft Corp Web site http www support microsoft com Microsofts Works Microsoft Corp Web site http www support microsoft com MoodLogic MoodLogic Inc Web site http www moodlogic com support e mail help moodlogic com Netscape Internet Service America Online Inc Web site http isp netscape com help Telephone 866 541 8233 Norton Internet Security 90 day trial version Symantec Corp Web site http www symantec com techsupp PictureGear Studio Sony Electronics Inc PictureGear Studio is picture management software that can display photos from your hard drive or a Sony digital still camera The photos appear in a convenient light table format so that you can easily view the contents of an entire folder create your own photo albums and make prints Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day Quattro Proe Corel Corporation Web site http www corel com Quicken New User Edition Intuit Inc Web site http www intuit com support Page 161 RecordNow Sonic Solutions Web site http support sonic com
35. Adobee Photoshope Elements Photoshop Album Premieres Reader Adobe Systems Inc Web site http www adobe com telephone 800 685 3652 hours M F 6 AM 5 PM PST America Onlinee Broadband or Dial Up America Online Inc Web site http www aol com AOL Instant Messenger America Online Inc Web site http www aim com Click to DVD Sony Electronics Inc At the touch of a button Click to DVD software enables you to automatically burn DVDs from a digital video DV device Create DVDs by capturing video content straight from a DV device or by importing video from stored files You can also edit the video Create DVD photo albums and slide shows with picture files or by importing pictures from a digital still camera What s more you can easily give a professional look to your DVDs by adding chapter menus backgrounds and menu screens You are only a few clicks away from enjoying your own DVDs Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day DVgate Plus Sony Electronics Inc Connect a compatible digital video camera to your computer s i LINK port and capture video clips and still images Edit clips from your video add new clips and combine clips into new movie segments Save your movies back to your digital video camera or in a variety of popular file formats Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888
36. 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 Volume Control window The sound driver s may not be working properly Page 141 About the Speakers Why is there no sound in any software program Check that the speakers are plugged into the Headphones jack If your speakers have a mute button verify that it is turned off If your speakers are powered by batteries verify that the batteries are inserted properly and that they are charged If your speakers use an external power source verify that the power cord is plugged into a grounded wall outlet or power strip If your speakers have volume control check the volume level You may not hear sound from your speakers if headphones are connected to your computer If the software program you are using has its own volume control check that the volume is turned up Check the volume controls in the Windowse operating system using these steps 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then select Control 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 sel
37. Edition operating system Page 27 Remote control The remote control can start and stop video recording and playback select channels and set viewing preferences This section describes the basic functions of your remote control Remote Control 1 MY MUSIC button Press to view and listen to your music playlists 2 MY TV button Press to view the My TV menu STOP button Press to stop media playback or TV recording session PAUSE button Press to pause media playback Press again to resume playback FWD button Page 28 Press to fast forward media at three speeds SKIP button Press to move media forward for example one audio track one DVD chapter and 30 seconds of recorded TV or video REPLAY button Press to move media backward for example one audio track one DVD chapter and seven seconds of TV or video REW button Press to move media backward at two speeds RECORD button Press to begin recording PLAY button Press to begin media playback 4 BACK button Press to return to the previous window 5 VOL button Press to increase or decrease the volume 6 RECORDED TV button Press to view previously recorded TV programs In My TV window 7 GUIDE button Press to view the TV program guide for your area 8 Channel number buttons 0 9 Press to select specific channels or enter text Press Enter or OK to activate the channel selection 9 CLEAR button Use to backspace an
38. PS 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 computer has a built in monitor confirm that it is plugged into an appropriate power source and that the computer is turned on Verify that the brightness or contrast control dials are adjusted correctly See the manual supplied with your display for details Confirm that the computer is not in Stand by mode by pressing any key on the keyboard 1Certain VAIO computers are not equipped with a floppy disk drive You can purchase this equipment separately Page 109 What can I do if my computer or software stop responding You can try to locate and close the software program that has stopped responding 1 Press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys The Windows Task Manager window appears 2 From the Applications tab locate the software program that has the status message Not responding 3 Select the software program that has a Not Responding status and click End Task Windows attempts to close the program If your computer does not respond or the software program does not close 1 Save and close any open files if possible 2 Press the AIt F4 keys The Shut Down Windows window appears 3 Click the drop down list box and select Restart 4 Click OK The computer turns off and restarts If the Shut Down Windows window does not appear 1l Press Ctrl Alt Delete The Windows Task Manager window appears
39. Port 1 z Lower edge of motherboard 3 Connect the other end of the S ATA data cable s to the corresponding S ATA hard disk drive 4 Connect the S ATA power cable s to the corresponding S ATA hard disk drive If your hard disk drive is equipped with two power connectors connect the S ATA power cable See the information supplied with your hard disk drive for details on proper power connections When all additional hard disk drives are installed you are ready to configure the RAID volume See About RAID Levels for brief descriptions of RAID O and RAID 1 levels Page 100 Using the RAID Configuration Wizard The RAID Configuration Wizard can configure two installed hard disk drives for RAID O or RAID 1 levels You can also use the RAID Configuration Wizard to change your computer s RAID array to RAID 0O or RAID 1 or to remove the RAID configuration l Press the power switch on the computer to turn on the computer Open the optical drive and place the Startup Recovery Disc from the Recovery Media Kit into either optical drive Close the drive and turn off your computer Wait approximately 30 seconds and then turn on the computer again When prompted insert Recovery Disk 1 into the optical drive and then click OK The VAIO Recovery Wizard appears Click Next Select Custom Recovery for Advanced Users and click Next Select RAID Configuration and click Next The RAID Configuration Wizard appears
40. Start in the Windows taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware then click Add a Printer The Add Printer Wizard appears 3 From the Add Printer Wizard click Next 4 Select Local Printer then click Next Fy Place a check mark in the box Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer if you are installing a recently manufactured printer equipped with Plug and Play capability 5 Select the appropriate port usually LPT1 if using the parallel port and then click Next 6 Select the appropriate printer manufacturer and model Follow the on screen instructions to print a test page and complete printer installation If the printer is not included in the list but the printer manufacturer provides a disk with the appropriate Windows XP Printer driver 1 Choose Have Disk 2 Enter the appropriate path for the disk or CD and click OK Ifthe printer is not included in the list and no drivers are provided with the printer 1 Select a similar printer that your printer may emulate 2 Refer to the user manual or guide supplied with your printer 3 Visit the printer manufacturer s Web site for technical support 1 The location of the connection ports for peripheral equipment may vary depending upon your computer s hardware configuration Page 149 The connected printer does not function properly when the computer resumes from a power saving mode Clear the printer memory by turning t
41. USB port located on either the front or back panel of your computer 2 Position the remote sensor to enable unobstructed communication with your remote control Connecting the remote sensor back panel a lt pooooooputidgau Sane Remote sensor supplied Page 56 To connect the remote sensor control 1 Plug the remote sensor control s cable into either jack 1 or 2 located on the back of the remote sensor When you attach the remote control sensor to a cable or satellite set top box you can control the set top box functions with your remote control Connecting the remote sensor and remote sensor control Remote sensor control cable a Remote sensor This supplied accessory may be different from the unit shown here 2 Remove the adhesive tape cover located on the bottom of the remote sensor control 3 Press the remote sensor control onto the set top box near the infrared port without covering the port If the remote sensor control covers the infrared port on the set top box you cannot use the remote control supplied with the set top box Attaching the remote sensor control cable to a cable or satellite set top box Remote sensor control s j Cable or satellite N set top box H Infrared port Do not cover Remote sensor The remote sensor unit must be visible in a line of sight with your remote control in order to function properly Page 57 Connecting Other D
42. Welco me o Thank you for purchasing a Sony VAIO computer Your new computer is a superb blend of high technology and easy to use functionality The information provided here is designed to help you to become familiar with the hardware and software programs included with your computer View the Electronic Flyer which provides updates and supplemental information about your computer Go to the Sony online support Web site to view the VAIO Computer Specifications which lists your computer s hardware specifications and preinstalled software information For information about the Sony software preinstalled on your computer click Start in the Windowse taskbar and then click Welcome to VAIO life Page 1 Congratulations on your purchase 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 Unpacking Your Computer Your computer may not be supplied with all of the accessories shown depending on the computer configuration purchased For details on the accessories supplied with your computer see the online Specifications sheet Your VAIO computer is not supplied with System or Application Recovery CDs Use the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility to recover your computer s operating system and preinstalled software
43. a in a form that is 1 3 smaller in size Memory Sticke media Provides data storage only The Memory Stick media does not provide MagicGate technology or high speed data transfer You can store different data formats on a single Memory Stick media Memory Stick Duo media Provides the same features and benefits of MagicGate Memory Stick media in a form that is 1 3 smaller in size Compatibility between software programs and Memory Stick media formats may vary At this time Sony suggests using only MagicGate Memory Stick media to store and transfer any data created with SonicStage or OpenMG software Visit the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport regularly for the latest information on Memory Sticke media 4 Memory Stick media do not support AVI file playback directly from the media Copy the video file to your hard disk drive and then play back the file To protect data on Memory Stick media Some Memory Stick media are equipped with a write protect tab The write protect tab prevents accidental changes to information recorded 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
44. 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 after a period of time You can use a screen saver to prevent residual images The screen becomes warm during operation This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction About handling an LCD monitor display Do not place the display near 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 after a period of time You can use a screen saver to prevent residual images The screen becomes warm during operation This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction Do not leave the LCD in direct sunlight as this may damage the screen Use caution when using the computer near a window Do not exert pressure on the LCD or scratch the surface as this may cause the screen to malfunction The LCD screen is manufactured using high precision technology On occasion you may see tiny black or colored points on the LCD This is normal and does not in
45. able into the DC In jack on the back of the right speaker 3 Insert the black plug of the speaker power cable into the DC Out jack located on the back panel of your computer To connect the computer and speakers Speaker power cable black plug Speaker mini stereo plug fi Re Of JODB00000000000t L speaker vi L speaker cable Speaker power cable yellow plug H This cable is already attached on some 2 channel speaker models 4 Insert the mini stereo plug of the cable that is attached to the right speaker into the Front Headphones jack located on the back panel of your computer You can also plug the right speaker s mini stereo plug into the headphones jack located on the lower front panel of your computer To connect a sub woofer unit Certain VAIO computer models are supplied with a sub woofer unit which requires a different setup See your computer s specifications sheet for information about supplied accessories 1 Insert the mini stereo plug of the cable that is attached to the right speaker into the speaker jack located on the left side of the sub woofer unit To connect the speakers and sub woofer unit Page 40 Sub woofer Connect to DC Out jack on computer s back panel R speaker L speaker Connect to the Front Headphone jack on computer s gt back panel AC Power wall outlet 2 Insert the mini stereo plug from the sub woofer unit s cable into th
46. ager window appears Click Speaker Configuration From the drop down menu on the left select Dolby Digital 5 1 Close the Sound Effect Manager window To configure Media Center software Your computer s factory default settings for audio can be changed using the Media Center Settings feature You can switch between 2 channel 6 channel or S PDIF output modes l Use the Media Center remote control your keyboard or mouse to start the Media Center software program Select Settings and press OK The Settings window appears From the Settings window select DVD and then press OK The DVD Settings window appears Select Audio and press OK InterVideoe software s audio settings window appears Select Configuration and press OK From the section Set sound output to match your system use to locate the appropriate speaker system setup To enable S PDIF output select SPDIF Select Save and press OK Press on the remote control to return to the Media Center Start menu Page 43 To configure WinDVD software 1 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar and point to All Programs 2 Point to InterVideo WindDVD 5 and the click on InterVideo WinDVD 5 for VAIO The InterVideo WinDVD for VAIO window opens 3 Right click in the WinDVD window A shortcut menu appears 4 Click Setup to view the Setup dialog box 5 Select the Audio tab 6 From the section Audio Speaker Configuration select 6 channel speaker 5 1 Hom
47. ake so long to appear in My Music When you use SonicStage software to optimize music files to ATRAC3 or ATRAC3 format it may take a few moments for the music files to be available in My Music To access these files sooner start Windows Media Player software first and then play the song with My Music Page 122 Why do I get the error message The input media is invalid when I try to play an MP3 file in My Music If you have added cover art to the MP3 file using SonicStage software your file may contain an unsynchronized ID3v2 header Media Center and Windows Media Play software programs cannot support playback of this file You can go to Microsoft and download a patch to resolve this issue as follows 1 Go to http support microsoft com 2 Enter 814129 in the Search the Knowledge Base text box 3 Click on the topic FIX Error in Windows Media Player 9 Series When You Play Specific MP3 Files located in the Summaries Search Results area 4 Follow the on screen instructions to download and install the patch 1The location of this information is subject to change or removal without prior notice Page 123 Why won t My Music show the albums playlists I recorded with SonicStage software Playlists albums recorded with SonicStage software may not be immediately available in the Media Center Album window To access these files sooner start Windows Media Player software first and then play the song with My Music
48. arger drive is not available for use Page 96 RAID 1 This RAID level uses mirroring Mirroring writes all data onto each hard drive in the RAID array in exactly the same way Your computer s reading performance is improved while writing performance is slower in comparison to a single hard disk drive RAID 1 is the simplest redundant array to set up as only two hard disk drives are required Full fault tolerance is provided in the event of a single hard disk drive failure as all data is still available in the other mirrored hard disk drive Air a single hard disk drive fails RAID 1 the remaining functioning hard disk drive continues to operate without fault tolerance until the failed drive is replaced and mirroring is restored RAID 1 Mirroring f Computer HDD 1 e File 1 File 2 File 3 rs RAID Controller HDD 2 ce File 1 Fil 2 Fil 3 Ou Best uses for RAID 1 RAID 1 is appropriate for situations where data availability and performance are important In environments where finance or payroll software programs are used fault tolerance may be more important than capacity RAID 1 limitations A RAID 1 mirrored volume is approximately the size of the smaller hard disk drive The remaining space on the larger drive is not available This may not be a cost effective solution if data storage capacity is a concern Your computer s write performance is slower because two write commands are generated to di
49. board Connecting the Wireless Mouse Connecting a Keyboard and Mouse Connecting the Speakers Connecting 5 1 6 Channel Speaker Systems Configuring Software for Your Speaker System Connecting the Infrared Receiver Connecting the Telephone and Modem Connecting the Power Cords Turning On Your Computer Page 35 Connecting a Display Monitor 1 Plug the display s cable into the appropriate monitor port 2 If necessary plug the display s cable into the rear of the display To connect a display DVI D monitor port A Video adapter device is required to connect a VGA monitor using the DVI D port Install your equipment so that you can easily reach the power outlet in the event of an emergency Page 36 Connecting a Wireless Keyboard Your VAIO computer is supplied with a wireless keyboard Before attempting to use the wireless keyboard you must enable communication between the computer and the keyboard To connect your wireless keyboard it must be within 11 inches of the computer 4 When attempting to connect the wireless keyboard confirm that the AA batteries supplied are properly inserted into the keyboard before your computer is turned on To connect the wireless keyboard 1 Press the CONNECT button located on the bottom of the infrared receiver 2 Turn the wireless keyboard over 3 Press the CONNECT button on the bottom of the keyboard to activa
50. box appears 5 In the section Show the following volume controls click to select the Microphone check box Click OK 6 From the Recording Control dialog box decrease the microphone volume level by moving the slider bar down 7 Close the Recording Control dialog box and then close the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties window Page 147 About Using Peripheral Equipment How do I install a printer Connect your USB or IEEE 1394 printer to the appropriate port on your computer s front back or side panels If your printer has a USB IEEE 1394 or infrared connection contact the printer manufacturer for information or updates that may be required for proper installation Check the printer manufacturer s Web site for the latest drivers for your operating system before proceeding with installation Some printers do not function properly without the updated drivers for specific operating systems To install your printer follow these steps 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware then click Add a Printer The Add Printer Wizard appears 3 From the Add Printer Wizard click Next 4 Select Local Printer then click Next Fy Place a check mark in the box Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer if you are installing a recently manufactured printer equipped with Plug and Play capability 5 Select the appropriate port usually LPT1 if using the parall
51. cStage and OpenMG software VAIO computers may not support all of the high speed data transfer or access control features of the new Memory Stick PRO media You can use the new Memory Stick PRO media as you would use a standard Memory Sticke media Visit the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport regularly for the latest information on the new Memory Stick PRO media Using memory cards Certain VAIO computers support CompactFlash MultiMediaCard MMC Microdrive SmartMedia xD PictureCards and Secure Digital SD memory cards For more information about installed memory card reader s see your computer s specifications sheet at http www sony com pcsupport Visit the Sony online support Web site regularly for the latest information on compatible memory cards Always insert the correct memory card into the appropriate memory card reader Do not attempt to insert a different memory card or memory card adapter into a different memory card reader An incompatible memory card or adapter may be difficult to remove from the wrong reader and can cause damage your computer Use care when inserting or removing a memory card from the reader Do not force the memory card in or out of the reader Handling floppy disks Do not open the shutter manually and touch the surface of the floppy disk Keep floppy disks away from magnets Keep floppy disks away from direct sunlight and other heat sources
52. can damage disk drives add on cards and other components Follow the procedures described here only at an ESD workstation If such a station is not available do not work in a carpeted area and do not handle materials that produce or hold static electricity for example cellophane wrappers Ground yourself by maintaining continuous contact with an unpainted metal portion of the chassis while performing the procedure Page 69 About Opening the Computer Removing the top cover 1 Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer 2 Unplug your computer and disconnect any peripheral devices 3 Locate the two tabs on the top edge of the back panel 4 Gently lift these tabs and slide the top cover towards the back of the unit 5 Lift the top cover up and set aside Removing the top cover A If you open the cover or panels immediately after you shut down your computer the components may be too hot to touch Wait until the internal parts of the computer cool down before you attempt to open the unit Page 70 About Opening the Computer Removing the top cover 1 Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer 2 Unplug your computer and disconnect any peripheral devices 3 Locate the two tabs on the top edge of the back panel 4 Gently lift these tabs and slide the top cover towards the back of the unit 5 Lift the top cover up and set aside Removing the top
53. ck Start from the Windowse taskbar and then click Help and Support 2 From the VAIO Help and Support Center click VAIO Recovery Options Verify the status of the existing hard disk drive s before creating or changing the RAID volume Use the Intel Storage Utility software program to check drive See the section About the Intel Storage Utility program The VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program can configure the first two hard disk drives into a RAID O striped or RAID 1 mirrored volume Hard disk drives are installed in port O and port 1 Use the Intel Application Accelerator IAA feature of the Intel Storage Utility software program to configure any additional drives See the section About the Intel Storage Utility program Page 99 Installing additional hard disk drives If you have purchased a RAID ready computer you may be required to install an additional drive s You can find details about installing additional hard disk drives in the About Hard Disk Drive Installation section of the online VAIO Computer User Guide See To locate the online VAIOe Computer User Guide 1 Place all S ATA hard disk drives into the drive holder inside the computer s chassis 2 Connect one end of the S ATA data cable s to the S ATA connection starting with Port 0 on the motherboard Connect the data cables of any additional drives to Ports 1 2 and then 3 Motherboard detail Port 2 Port 3 a Cc a Q000 Porto Q000
54. ctive cover on the front of the computer The style and location of front panel cover varies depending on the computer model purchased Certain VAIO computers do not have a covered memory card reader s or the readers may be located on the side panel See your computer s specification sheet for details about your computer s memory card reader configuration Opening a front panel cover Flip the front panel cover down using your fingertip Slide the front panel cover down using your fingertip Do not use force to open the panel cover 1 Locate the appropriate reader for the memory card you want to use 2 Insert the memory card into the reader in the direction of the arrow on the media Do not force the card into the reader If the memory card does not go into the reader easily remove it and verify you are inserting it in the proper direction Page 64 Removing a Memory Card The correct way to remove a memory card from a memory card reader varies depending upon the media reader or computer model Use care when removing a memory card to avoid damage to the reader or card A Do not remove a memory card while the media access indicator light is on The card or its data may become damaged To remove a Memory Sticke media Secure Digital SD MultiMediaCard SmartMedia or xD Picture Card media 1 Press the extended part of the memory card causing it to extend out from the reader s slot 2 When the card extends
55. d into the wireless keyboard as shown You can check your keyboard s battery power level by clicking Bi wireless keyboard icon located in the Windowse taskbar notification area A warning message may also appear on the screen when the keyboard s battery power becomes low A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless keyboard Always use the same type and manufacture of battery Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new batteries can damage the keyboard Inserting batteries into the wireless keyboard If your wireless keyboard does not operate properly the batteries may need to be replaced When your wireless keyboard is not being used for extended periods of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage Page 20 About the VAIO keyboard with Media Center features Certain VAIO computers are supplied with a keyboard that has a standard key arrangement with additional keys and controls that support Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition features VAIO keyboard a m oe m ee rea m O N a A s o 8990 6000 Qs BUTTON DESCRIPTION EJECT 1 Opens and closes the optical drive 1 tray EJECT 2 Opens and closes the optical drive 2 tray MY TV Opens the My TV window of Windowse Media Center GUIDE Opens the TV program guide of Media Center MY MUSIC Opens the My Music window of Media Center MY PICTURES Opens the My P
56. d delete entered text Page 29 10 STANDBY button Press to place the computer in Stand by mode to reduce power consumption 11 MY PICTURES button Press to view pictures or a slide show 12 MY VIDEOS button Press to view videos from your video collection 13 MORE button Press to view additional options that are available for Media Center features 14 Directional arrow buttons Press the Up Down Left and Right arrow buttons to move the pointer on the screen OK button Press OK to select the desired action or window option If watching full screen TV press OK to return to the previous channel Press OK again to switch between channels 15 CH PG Channel Page button Press to change or page up down channels no number input required 16 START WA button Press to open the Media Center Start menu MUTE button Press to turn off the sound Press again to restore the sound 17 DVD MENU button Press to open the main menu on a DVD 18 LIVE TV button Press to view TV programming 19 ENTER button Page 30 Press to activate feature or action such as channel selection or return to previous channel This button s actions are similar to using the OK button Page 31 Setting up the remote control 1 Turn the remote control over 2 Press in the tab and lift the battery cover up 3 Insert two AA batteries supplied into the remote control as shown 4 Align the battery cover to the remote control 5 Press do
57. data availability equipment cost and system performance RAID O See Striped Striping RAID 1 See Mirrored Mirroring Redundant Information Technology use Additional computer components such as hard disk drives that are installed to back up the primary resources in case of failure S ATA An acronym for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment This is a standard that uses serial signaling technology and is used for connecting hard disk drives into computers Striped Striping Data is spread evenly over multiple hard disk drives for improved system performance There is no data protection Page 106 CO This section describes how to solve common problems and provides helpful information about using your computer s hardware features and preinstalled software Your computer may not be equipped with all of the features or software discussed in this section depending on the computer model or configuration purchased About VAIO Computer Functions About System Security About Media Center About the Mouse and Keyboard About the Modem About the Speakers About Using a Microphone About Using Peripheral Equipment Page 107 About VAIO Computer Functions My computer does not start Verify that the computer is plugged into a power source and that it is turned on Check that the power indicator is lit on the front panel of the computer Confirm that a disk is not in the floppy dis
58. de Provides information about restoring individual software programs software drivers drive partition s or your entire hard disk drive to the original factory installed settings VAIO Computer User Guide The online User Guide provides information about configuring maintaining and upgrading your computer This support resource offers a variety of available topics enabling you to quickly view specific information using context sensitive search features To access the online guide 1 Click Start in the Windowse 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 the online specifications sheet 1 Connect to the Internet 2 Go to the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport 3 Click the Documentation button and follow the on screen instructions to locate your model s specifications sheet Preinstalled software Help files Each preinstalled software program provides online Help within the software that describes the software s features In these Help files you can find tutorials that teach you to use the software and locate troubleshooting support should problems occur To access software Help files 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar and point to All Programs A submenu appears listing all preinstalled so
59. dicate a malfunction Avoid rubbing the screen as this can damage the LCD Use a soft dry cloth to clean the display Monitor setup You can verify your monitor s settings before video playback Color quality Use factory default settings 32 bit Screen resolution Set to 1024 x 768 pixels Using other display settings may cause an improper screen image or a poor TV video recording pai Some displays may require the screen resolution to be set to 1280 x 1024 pixels For information on your display s setting requirement see the instructions supplied with your display Check your display setup in the Microsofte Windowse operating system before starting up video playback or recording software For more information refer to the monitor s operating manual Do not change the display setup while recording TV or video Your computer may operate improperly and provide a poor TV video recording 1The PCV W and PCV V series models have a built in LCD monitor Page 155 About Disposing of the 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 For the Sony Service Center nearest you visit the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport A Do not handle damaged or leaking lithium batteries The lithium battery
60. e Headphones jack located on the back panel of your computer 4 You can also plug the sub woofer s mini stereo plug into the headphones jack located on the lower front panel of your computer 3 Plug the sub woofer unit s power cord into a grounded AC wall outlet or power strip To connect the sub woofer to the computer Front Head phones jack Computer Sub woofer unit AC Power wall outlet 1 For details about using a 5 1 channel speaker system see the information provided with the equipment 2This cable is already attached on some 2 channel speaker models Page 41 Connecting 5 1 6 Channel Speaker Systems Certain VAIO computers are supplied with a 5 1 channel speaker system or you may wish to use your 5 1 6 channel speaker system Speaker configuration can vary depending on the speaker components used To set up the speakers with your computer Match the color of the mini stereo plugs speaker system to the color of the speaker jacks on the back panel of your computer Review the connection instructions provided with your speaker system as the connection setup may vary Audio jacks computer back panel detail Red Green Blue Jack color Description Connection Orange Woofer Center Connect a Sub wooferz control module or Center speaker 5 1 channel speaker system Black Rear Connect rear speakers 5 1 channel speaker system Red Microphone Connection an optional micropho
61. e Theater or the desired speaker configuration To enable S PDIF go to Audio Output Configuration and select Digital S PDIF out to External Processor 7 Click Apply and then click OK 4 InterVideo software automatically detects the type of speaker system You may notice that some options are disabled or are not available Page 44 Connecting the Infrared Receiver The infrared receiver enables your VAIO computer to communicate with the wireless keyboard and mouse To connect the infrared receiver 1 Plug the infrared receiver unit to a USB port located on either the front or back panel of your computer 2 Press the CONNECT button on the bottom of the infrared receiver to activate communication between the wireless keyboard and the computer 3 Position the infrared receiver to enable unobstructed communication with your wireless keyboard and mouse To connect the infrared receiver jifeteyeyitelepifetapifetaiiie lt amp DOCDODTCODNODEL Infrared receiver 1Certain VAIO computer models are supplied with a wireless keyboard and mouse See your computer s specifications sheet for details on supplied accessories Page 45 Connecting the Telephone and Modem Your computer is equipped with a single modem line jack to connect your installed modem with your telephone wall jack To use your wall jack for both telephone and modem lines purchase an additional RJ 11 telephone cable and a 1 to 2 jack adapter d
62. ected in the Volume Control window The sound driver s may not be working properly Page 142 Why is the S PDIF option disabled in the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center software program S PDIF is enabled in Media Center by changing the DVD settings This feature is disabled because the appropriate output setting is not selected in the InterVideo WinDVD software program s audio setup To change audio settings in the WinDVD software program l Click Start in the Windowse taskbar and point to All Programs Point to InterVideo WindDVD 5 and the click on InterVideo WinDVD 5 for VAIO The InterVideo WinDVD for VAIO window opens Right click in the WinDVD window A shortcut menu appears Click Setup to view the Setup dialog box Select the Audio tab From the section Audio Speaker Configuration select 6 channel speaker 5 1 Home Theater or the desired speaker configuration To enable S PDIF go to Audio Output Configuration and select Digital S PDIF out to External Processor Click Apply and then click OK InterVideo software automatically detects the type of speaker system You may notice that some options are disabled or are not available 1The Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system is installed on certain VAIO computers See your specifications sheet for details on your computer s configuration Page 143 Why can t I hear dialogue during DVD movie playback using my 5 1 channel
63. ecurity Warning windows appear In the Security Warning window click Yes to install and run Windows Update In the Microsoft Windows Update window click Scan for updates and follow the on screen instructions Page 116 How do I keep my preinstalled antivirus software updated You can keep the preinstalled Norton Internet Security software program current with the latest updates from Symantec Corporation To download and install the latest security update 1 Double click the Norton Internet Security icon g in the Taskbar notification area If you have not previously registered the antivirus software a series of information wizards appear 1 Follow the on screen instructions to complete each wizard 2 Double click the Norton Internet Security icon again The Norton Internet Security window appears If you have previously registered this antivirus software the Norton Internet Security window automatically appears 2 Click Live Update located near the top of the window 3 Follow the on screen instructions to select and download updates Page 117 About Media Center The Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system is not installed on all VAIO Digital Studio computers See your online specifications sheet for more information about your computer s configuration Why doesn t the REW button on the remote control work when I use My Music The REW button does not rewind music files Instead press Replay
64. el port and then click Next 6 Select the appropriate printer manufacturer and model Follow the on screen instructions to print a test page and complete printer installation If the printer is not included in the list but the printer manufacturer provides a disk with the appropriate Windows XP Printer driver 1 Choose Have Disk 2 Enter the appropriate path for the disk or CD and click OK Ifthe printer is not included in the list and no drivers are provided with the printer 1 Select a similar printer that your printer may emulate 2 Refer to the user manual or guide supplied with your printer 3 Visit the printer manufacturer s Web site for technical support 1 The location of the connection ports for peripheral equipment may vary depending upon your computer s hardware configuration Page 148 About Using Peripheral Equipment How do I install a printer Connect your USB or IEEE 1394 printer to the appropriate port on your computer s front back or side panels If your printer has a USB IEEE 1394 or infrared connection contact the printer manufacturer for information or updates that may be required for proper installation Check the printer manufacturer s Web site for the latest drivers for your operating system before proceeding with installation Some printers do not function properly without the updated drivers for specific operating systems To install your printer follow these steps 1 Click
65. emory card reader configuration Page 86 Installing an additional hard disk drive 1 Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer 2 Unplug your computer and any peripheral devices 3 Gently place the unit on its side and remove the side panel See About Opening the Computer 4 Detach the power and interface cables from the original hard disk drive that is preinstalled in your computer 5 Unlock the drive holder from the chassis by lifting the drive holder handle straight out from the unit 6 Use the handle to slide the drive holder out Removing the drive holder 7 Slide the new drive into the drive holder and align the holes on each side of the drive bay 8 Secure the drive to the drive holder with screws through the holes on each side of the drive holder Attaching the drive screws Your new hard disk drive is supplied with the necessary screws Do not overtighten these screws when securing the drive to the drive holder 9 Align the drive holder with the tracks on the inside of the chassis Slide the drive holder in completely Page 87 10 Push the drive holder handle down to lock the drive into position 11 Reconnect the SATA and power connectors to the original drive 12 Connect another SATA interface cable between the new drive and an unused SATA port on the motherboard 13 Connect the second power connector to the new drive following the instructions supplied with the
66. en the equipment Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near your wireless keyboard These other devices may cause interference causing your wireless keyboard or mouse to stop working properly Do not place metal furniture near your computer or wireless device as this may create interference causing your wireless device to stop working properly The hard disk drive Do not place the computer in a location that is subject to vibration or shock Do not move the computer during operation Do not subject the computer to sudden changes in temperature Do not turn off the power while the computer is accessing the hard disk drive 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 halftone printing Page 154 About Using a Monitor Display DVD playback and certain video related software may not function correctly when your monitor is set to a high refresh rate If your monitor does not play back video content properly try setting the display to a lower refresh rate Do not place the display near a strong magnetic force Do not block the ventilation slots on the display Using the computer in low temperature conditions may produce
67. er Guide Page 94 About RAID Levels RAID is intended to protect data and create fault tolerance Important factors such as availability reliability fault tolerance and performance are essential to selecting a RAID level that meets your computing needs Page 95 RAID O This RAID level uses striping without parity Striping breaks data into small pieces and then simultaneously writes or reads to multiple locations This increases your computer s performance and data storage capacity RAID 0O Striping without parity HDD 1 Ey File 1 blocks 1 3 SEF ie 2 blck 2 4 HDD 2 lt _ ee File 1 blocks 2 4 A File 2 blocks 1 3 Fie 3 Best uses for RAID 0O This RAID level is appropriate for situations where read write performances is more important than data security Some examples are environments that use high bandwidth software programs for video production video editing or pre press production RAID 0 limitations RAID 0O does not provide fault tolerance All computer data on the array is lost if a single drive in the physical array fails This RAID level is not a true RAID configuration as it does not provide redundancy When using a RAID O array your data storage capacity may be increased but is limited to twice the size of the smallest hard disk drive in the array As an example if your array uses a 60 GB drive and a 20 GB drive your total hard disk drive volume is 40 GB The remaining space on the l
68. es the capacity of the array the security of your data and the quality of your computer s overall performance 4 To aid your understanding of RAID terminology see the RAID Glossary You may decide that a RAID array meets your needs when Your computer s data needs increased fault tolerance to protect against interruptions or hardware failure Your computer performs intensive work such as video or graphics design and require improved computing speed Page 92 RAID array organization A single hard disk drive has two basic functions writing and reading data These functions are handled differently when using a RAID array A RAID array is organized from the physical drives into a physical array The hard disk drives are combined into the array These physical arrays are then formatted into a single logical drive which communicates with your computer This organization enables your computer to use the RAID array as a single hard disk drive Page 93 Additional Information To locate the online VAIO Computer User Guide The online User Guide provides information about configuring maintaining and upgrading your computer This support resource offers a variety of topics enabling you to quickly view specific information using context sensitive search features To access the online user guide 1 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar then click Help and Support 2 From the VAIO Help And Support Center menu click VAIO Us
69. evice splitter To connect the modem 1 Unplug your telephone from the wall jack and set aside 2 Plug another telephone cable optional into the modem line jack located on the back panel of your computer 3 Plug the other end of the cable into the wall jack To connect the telephone and modem 1 Unplug your telephone cable from the wall jack 2 Insert the telephone s cable into one of the jacks on an optional 1 to 2 jack adapter device splitter 3 Insert one end of a second telephone cable optional into the other jack on the splitter device 4 Insert the plug end of the splitter device into the wall jack 5 Plug the second telephone cable into the modem line jack located on the back panel of the computer To connect the telephone and modem RJ 11 telephone cable optional 1 to 2 jack adapter splitter optional A Your computer has a protective sticker SX covering the Ethernet port located on the rear panel Connect 10BASE T 100BASE TX or 1000BASE T cables to the Ethernet port depending on your computer s Ethernet port specification Using incorrect cables or a telephone cable may result in an electric current overload that can cause a malfunction excessive heat or fire in the Ethernet port For help on connecting to a network see your network administrator Page 46 Connecting the Power Cords 1 Plug the power cord into the back of the computer 2 Plug both the display and computer p
70. evices This section illustrates how to connect other devices to your VAIO Digital Studio computer Your computer has both audio and video connection capability You can locate the appropriate connections on the back panel or behind the lower bottom panel on the front of the computer You can connect a VCR or camcorder using the composite audio In jacks Your VCR or camcorder may have either standard video or S video connection capability Connecting a device with an audio cable 1 Connect a dual audio cable optional to the composite audio L and R In jacks located on the either the front or rear panels of your computer 2 Connect the other ends of the dual audio cable to your VCR or camcorder Connecting a device with an S video cable 1 Connect an S video cable optional directly into the S video jack on either the front or back panel of your computer 2 Connect the other end of the S video cable into the appropriate port on your compatible VCR or camcorder Connecting a device with a stereo A V dubbing cable 1 Connect a stereo A V dubbing cable with triple RCA plugs at each end optional directly into the composite video port composite audio L and R jacks located on either the front or back panel of your computer 2 Connect the other ends of the stereo A V dubbing cable into the appropriate jacks on your compatible VCR or camcorder To connect a VCR or camcorder using an audio and S video cable Audio cable Camco
71. ew RAID volume Are you sure you want to change the RAID configuration re De 11 Click Yes to configure your RAID array 12 Do not remove the VAIO Recovery Media Kit disc from your computer s optical disc drive Click Restart to start the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program Page 102 Using the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program A complete hard disk drive recovery restores the original factory settings and recovers all of the preinstalled software programs 1 From the VAIO Recovery Wizard main window click Next 2 Select Custom Recovery for Advanced Users and click Next 3 Select either option as shown below and then click Next Complete Recovery with the Recovery Drive Recommended Complete Recovery without the Recovery Drive 4 If installation messages and prompts appear follow the instructions provided by each installation wizard and respond to each prompt or message Your computer may restart during this process 5 When the optical disc drive opens remove the disc and close the drive door Click Next Your computer may restart several times before it becomes available for use Page 103 About the Intel Storage Utility program You can find information about RAID volume configuration in the Intel Storage Utility program This utility program contains the Intel Application Accelerator RAID edition feature Locating the Intel Storage Utility program 1 Click Start from the Windows taskbar
72. f when the computer is turned off 16 Universal Serial Bus USB 2 0 ports 3 Connections for compatible high full low speed USB devices 17 i LINK 4 pin S400 port IEEE 1394 Connection for a compatible digital device 1The media access indicator lights when reading or writing data with the Secure Digital SD Memory Stick xD Picture Card or CompactFlash Microdrive slots d 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 programs 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 compatible i LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection Before connecting compatible i LINK devices to your computer such as an optical or hard disk drive confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions To open and close the optical disc drive doors Your computer is equipped with one or more optical disc drives that have a drive eject button located on the drive door After pressing the eject button wait for the drive to stop reading the CD It may take a few moments for the drive tray to eject Gently push the drive tray in when closing the optical drive door Do not force the door or handle roughly After closing the drive door wait a few moments
73. for the drive to begin reading the CD To open the upper and lower front panel covers The front of your computer is equipped with panels that cover drives media card slots jacks and ports Do not force the panel covers or handle roughly Opening the front panel covers Page 10 Slide the upper front panel cover down using your fingertip Flip the lower front panel cover down using your fingertip Page 11 About the Back Panel The back panel of your computer contains the ports for supplied and optional accessories The icons on the back panel locate and identify the ports on your computer Page 12 Back panel The location of certain ports and jacks may vary from the illustration based on the computer model purchased Back panel a we 22n n E a S E c HESS 1 Mouse port Connection for a PS 2 mouse 2 Keyboard port Connection for a PS 2 keyboard 3 Printer port Connection for a parallel device such as a printer or scanner 4 i LINK 6 pin S400 port IEEE 1394 Connection and power for a compatible digital device such as a Sony Digital Handycame camcorder 5 Universal Serial Bus USB 2 0 ports 4 Connections for compatible high full low speed USB devices Page 13 6 Microphone jack a Connection for a microphone optional Front Headphones jack Q Connection for the supplied speakers 2 channel front speakers 5 1 speaker system or optional headphones
74. ftware programs 2 Click the desired software program The software s main window appears 3 From the menu bar click Help The software program s Help appears VAIO Software This feature provides specific information on preinstalled software on your computer To access this online software information 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar 2 Click Welcome to VAIO life 1Certain VAIO computers are not supplied with the Quick Start guide they are supplied with the VAIO Computer Welcome 2Certain VAIO computers are not supplied with the Welcome supplement they are supplied with the VAIO Computer Quick Start 32 This booklet is only supplied with certain VAIO computers that have RAID capability or are RAID ready See the online specifications sheet for details about your computer s hardware configuration 4You can locate the online Help for Sony software programs by pointing to the individual software program s icon and selecting Help from the submenu Page 159 Software Help and Support Technical support information for the preinstalled software on your computer is located in this section Sony software support is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase Your computer may not be supplied with all of the software discussed in this section depending on the computer purchased To view information about the specific software preinstalled on your computer see the software program s online Help
75. g smoothly and protecting against potential threats to your computer s security How can I protect my computer against security threats such as viruses The Microsoft Windowse operating system is preinstalled on your computer The best way to protect your computer against security threats such as viruses is to download and install the latest Windows updates regularly You can get important Windows updates by doing one of the following The Automatic Updates feature This feature automatically searches for and delivers updates directly to your computer whenever you are connected to the Internet The Windows Updates Web site This site enables you to download computer updates without turning on the Automatic Updates feature Your computer must be connected to the Internet before you can receive updates To use the Automatic Updates feature l Connect to the Internet 2 Click the Automatic Updates oon in the Taskbar notification area 3 The Automatic Updates Setup Wizard appears Click Next and follow the on screen instructions to set up automatic or scheduled updates To visit the Windows Updates Web site l Connect to the Internet Type http windowsupdate microsoft com in the address bar of your browser The Microsoft Windows Update and Security Warning windows appear In the Security Warning window click Yes to install and run Windows Update In the Microsoft Windows Update window click Scan
76. he 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 150 Notes Op Se The information in this section provides basic procedures for handling your computer and common peripheral devices and using storage media About the Power Source About Handling the Computer About Using a Monitor Display About Disposing of the Lithium Battery About Recording and Data Storage Media Page 151 About the Power Source Before opening your computer turn the computer off and let it cool down for 10 minutes This protects you against internal components that may be too hot to handle Your computer operates on 100 220 V AC 50 60 Hz only Plug all the power cords for your computer and its peripheral equipment into the same AC supply line AC derived from different supply lines may result in voltage differences that can cause unstable operation or unwanted weak currents at the time of connection Do not share the AC outlet with any other power consuming equipment such as copying machines or shredders You can purchase a power strip with a surge protector This device prevents damage to your computer caused by sudden power surges such as those that may occur during an electrical storm If you live in an area that experiences frequent power fluctuations you may want to purchase an Uninterruptible Power
77. ictures window of Media Center MY VIDEOS Opens the My Videos window of Media Center INTERNET Starts the assigned Internet browser MAIL Starts the e mail software program HELP Starts the Media Center Help if Media Center software is running If Media Center software is not running the Help and Support Center is started REC Records TV programs PREV Press once to return to the beginning of the DVD chapter video track or audio track Press twice to return to the previous DVD chapter video track or audio track STOP Stops media recording or playback PLAY PAUSE Pauses the movie video slide show or audio track Press again to resume playback Page 21 NEXT Advances to the next DVD chapter video track or audio track VOLUME knob Increases and decreases the volume as you turn the knob MUTE Turns the sound off Press again to restore sound STANDBY Places the computer in Stand by mode to reduce power consumption Press any key briefly to resume normal operation 1This is a PS 2 keyboard equipped with a PS 2 connector that plugs into the back panel of your VAIO computer The keyboard is supplied with certain VAIO computer models See your computer s specifications sheet for details Page 22 About the Wireless Mouse Your VAIO computer may be supplied with a wireless mouse Before attempting to use the wireless mouse with your computer see the section Connecting the Wireless Mouse 2 Wire
78. imately 10 seconds and then restart your computer If your mouse is not working press ALT F4 to close all open software programs and turn off the computer The mouse driver s may not be working properly Using an optical mouse If you are using an optical mouse use an appropriate surface to ensure proper mouse tracking A good surface requires a certain amount of detail or texture to enable mouse tracking Use surfaces such as plain paper card stock or fabric that do not have a lot of repetitive patterning Avoid surfaces such as mirrors smooth glass or magazines Avoid possible damage to easily scratched surfaces by using a mouse pad Avoid surfaces that may damage or soil your optical mouse Dirt or damage may cause the mouse to malfunction If the cursor is not moving properly try using the mouse on another surface or using a mouse pad Using a standard ball mouse If you are using a standard ball mouse there may be dust or dirt inside the mouse mechanism To clean the mouse follow these steps 1 Save and close all software programs and turn off your computer Turn the mouse upside down Remove the mouse ball cover on the back of the mouse by turning clockwise the ring that covers the mouse ball Turn the mouse upright and drop the mouse ball into your hand Using a piece of tape remove any dust or dirt on the mouse ball and inside the mouse ball socket Return the mouse ball to the socket and replace the m
79. ing the computer 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 112 How do I change the video resolution of my display 1 Click Start 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 113 Why doesn t my computer resume normal operation from Stand by mode If your keyboard has a Stand by key C press it briefly to resume normal operation If your keyboard is not equipped with a Stand by key press any key to resume normal operation For troubleshooting 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 window 3 Select Startup and Shutdown Troubleshooter Follow the on screen instructions according to your specific situation Page 114 About System Security This section provides information about keeping your computer operatin
80. ions sheet for details on your computer s hardware configuration A RAID Overview About RAID Levels Configuring a RAID Array RAID Glossary 1 Also known as Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks Page 90 A RAID Overview You have purchased a VAIO computer with one of the following options RAID O Your computer is configured for RAID 0 and has two or more preinstalled S ATA hard disk drives RAID ready Your computer has RAID capability and requires you to install one or more S ATA hard disk drives In either situation you can Install and configure hard disk drives for RAID O or RAID 1 Change the existing RAID configuration to RAID O or RAID 1 Remove the RAID configuration completely Your VAIO computer s drive bay can accommodate a total of four S ATA hard disk drives When installing your own drives Sony suggests using hard disk drives that are identical in size and manufacture If you use drives that vary in size not all space on the larger drive is available for use For more information see RAID O limitations or RAID 1 limitations Page 91 Reasons for using a RAID array system When hard disk drives are grouped together in a RAID array they are configured formatted and managed to perform ina specific way Your computer s data is spread across these drives in a manner that determines the level of RAID performance and protection The level of RAID protection and redundancy determin
81. is until the back panel tabs lock the panel into place Replacing the top cover Page 75 About Add on Card Installation Your computer may have one or more open expansion slots depending on the model configuration An expansion slot enables you to install add on cards to expand the functionality of your computer The length of the add on card should not exceed 9 05 inches 4 Add on card configuration varies by model Some models such as Configure to Order CTO computers may have all expansion slots filled A Observe the proper safety precautions when you add cards to your Sony computer See Before upgrading your computer Page 76 Installing an add on card 1 Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer 2 Unplug your computer and any peripheral devices 3 Gently place the unit on its side and remove the side panel See About Opening the Computer 4 Locate an available expansion slot Remove the slot cover s screw and then remove the slot cover A When removing a slot cover be careful not to damage components on the system board or add on cards You may need to temporarily remove add on cards or other components that may be next to the slot cover you want to remove Removing the slot cover 5 Install the add on card by inserting it into the expansion slot and secure it with the screw from the expansion slot cover Installing an add on card Page 77 Attach any i
82. isk drive recovery 1 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar then click Help and Support 2 From the VAIO Help And Support Center click VAIO Recovery Options You can create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit using CD R single layer DVD R or single layer DVD R media on VAIO computers equipped with the appropriate optical drive a CD RW DVD RW or DVD RW drive DVD RW DVD RW double layer DVD R and double layer DVD R media when it becomes available cannot be used to create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit Other A software library containing the Microsoft software and Sony end user license agreements Page 4 Planning an Ergonomic Work Space Before you set up your new computer find the best location for your new computer and plan your work space There are several ergonomic factors to consider when you arrange your work space Stable work surface Use a stable work surface large enough to support the computer and other peripheral equipment Ventilation Leave at least eight inches of space on the left and back sides of your computer to enable proper ventilation Placement of the keyboard mouse and other input devices Place your keyboard mouse and other input devices so that your arms and hands are in a relaxed comfortable position The keyboard should be directly in front of you Adjust the level of the keyboard so that your lower arms are parallel to the floor Keep your wrists in a relaxed position when you are
83. k drive unless you are using a bootable floppy disk Confirm that a CD or DVD is not in an optical drive unless you are using bootable media Confirm that the power cord and all cables are connected firmly If you plugged 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 computer has a built in monitor confirm that it is plugged into an appropriate power source and that the computer is turned on Verify that the brightness or contrast control dials are adjusted correctly See the manual supplied with your display for details Confirm that the computer is not in Stand by mode by pressing any key on the keyboard 1Certain VAIO computers are not equipped with a floppy disk drive You can purchase this equipment separately Page 108 About VAIO Computer Functions My computer does not start Verify that the computer is plugged into a power source and that it is turned on Check that the power indicator is lit on the front panel of the computer Confirm that a disk is not in the floppy disk drive unless you are using a bootable floppy disk Confirm that a CD or DVD is not in an optical drive unless you are using bootable media Confirm that the power cord and all cables are connected firmly If you plugged the computer into a power strip or Uninterruptible Power Supply U
84. l device such as a standard telephone or fax machine and listening for a dial tone Check that the access telephone number POP is correct All software programs that are preinstalled by Sony are compatible with your computer s modem If you have installed other software contact the software publisher for information on how to configure the software in order to recognize 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 modem is not working properly click the Troubleshoot button The Help and Support Center window appears 6 Follow the on screen instructions to resolve the problem The modem driver s may not be working properly Page 138 How do I change my modem to rotary or touch tone dialing 1 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 139 How do I set up a dial up connection After you have connected your computer s modem to a telephone
85. le the memory module by the sides only Avoid touching the pins located at the bottom edge of the module Removing Installing memory Page 80 Installing a memory module 1 Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer 2 Unplug your computer and any peripheral devices 3 Gently place the unit on its side and remove the side panel See About Opening the Computer If necessary remove any cables add on cards or other components to access the memory module slots 4 Remove the memory module from its anti static package handling it by the the edges 5 Locate the notch on the bottom edge of the module and align it over the open memory slot 6 Firmly insert the bottom edge of the memory module into the slot 7 Press down evenly against the module s upper corners The end latches snap into position holding the module in place A To avoid damaging a memory module slot move the end latches slightly outward to relieve pressure The module clicks into place 8 Reinstall any components or add on cards you may have removed 9 Replace the side panel See About Closing the Computer Page 81 About the Lithium Battery The lithium battery starts to weaken after several years and the system settings such as the date and time stored in CMOS RAM may become inaccurate Replace the lithium battery when this occurs A There is danger of the battery exploding if it is replaced incorrectly Replace
86. less mouse top 1 Left mouse button Press to perform specific mouse functions 2 Wheel Rotate the wheel to scroll up or down on the LCD screen 3 Right mouse button Press to perform specific mouse functions Wireless mouse Side and bottom 1 Power switch Slide power switch to turn the mouse on or off 2 CONNECT button Press to enable communication between your VAIO computer and the wireless mouse To set up the wireless mouse Page 23 Insert two AA batteries supplied into the wireless mouse as shown You can check your mouse s battery power level by clicking Ea wireless mouse icon located in the Windowse taskbar notification area A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless mouse Always use the same type and manufacture of battery Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new batteries can damage the mouse Inserting batteries into the wireless mouse If your wireless mouse does not operate properly the batteries may need to be replaced When your wireless mouse is not being used for extended periods of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage 1 See your computer s specifications sheet for details about supplied accessories Page 24 About the Wireless Mouse Your VAIO computer may be supplied with a wireless mouse Before attempting to use the wireless mouse with your computer see the section Connecting the Wireless M
87. ll Turn the mouse upright and drop the mouse ball into your hand Using a piece of tape remove any dust or dirt on the mouse ball and inside the mouse ball socket Return the mouse ball to the socket and replace the mouse ball cover Secure the cover by turning the ring counter clockwise Using a wireless mouse If you are using a wireless mouse Confirm that the supplied AA batteries are properly installed To maintain good communication operate your wireless mouse within the distance limitations of the mouse Press the CONNECT button on the mouse and the computer to reestablish the connection between the two devices Verify the infrared receiver on the computer s front panel is free of obstructions that may prevent proper operation Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near your wireless mouse These devices may cause interference causing your mouse to stop working properly Do not place metal furniture near your computer or wireless mouse as this may create interference causing your mouse to stop working properly Page 132 A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless mouse Always use the same type and manufacture of battery do not mix alkaline with manganese batteries Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new or different types of batteries can damage the mouse 1 For wireless or standard optical mice 2 Opera
88. ls 3A sub woofer is available with certain VAIO computer models See your computer s specification sheet for details about supplied accessories 4 Certain VAIO computers that are configured to order CTO may have a DVI D monitor port installed in this location See your computer s specifications sheet for hardware configuration details 5 An optional 1 to 2 jack adapter device splitter is required to connect both a telephone and modem line to your computer Page 15 About the Sub woofer Certain VAIO computers are supplied with a sub woofer unit to enhance your computer s sound capability See your computer s online specifications sheet for information about supplied accessories Go to the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport Page 16 Sub woofer unit The sub woofer is compatible with the speakers supplied with your VAIO computer See the section To connect a sub woofer unit for connecting instructions Sub woofer unit Right side Left side Front panel 1 Port The port extends the low frequency response to extend the volume output of the sub woofer unit 2 Power knob volume control Rotate the knob clockwise to turn on the sub woofer unit Control the volume by rotating the knob until the desired volume is reached Rotate the knob counter clockwise to turn off the sub woofer unit 3 Power indicator Light is green while the power is on 4 Speaker jack Connection for the speaker
89. ne Green Front Headphones Connect the supplied speakers 2 channel front speakers 5 1 channel speaker system or optional headphones Blue Line In Connect an audio device 1 Speaker system connections vary by model and manufacturer See the information supplied with your speaker system for setup details 2A sub woofer is available with certain VAIO computer models See your computer s specification sheet for details about supplied accessories 3 Certain VAIO computer models may be supplied with a 5 1 channel speaker system See your computer s specifications sheet for details on supplied accessories Page 42 Configuring Software for Your Speaker System When using 5 1 channel digital or analog speaker systems certain software programs require setting changes to enable proper audio performance To configure RealTeke Sound Effect Manager software For 6 channel analog speakers l U 4 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar and then click Control Panel Click Sounds Speech and Audio Devices and then click Sound Effect Manager The Sound Effect Manager window appears Click Speaker Configuration From the drop down menu on the left select 6CH Speaker Close the Sound Effect Manager window For 6 channel digital speakers 1 U 4 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar and then click Control Panel Click Sounds Speech and Audio Devices and then click Sound Effect Manager The Sound Effect Man
90. netically shielded Ambient temperature of more than 95 F 35 C or less than 50 F 10 C High humidity moisture or rain Do not place electronic equipment near your computer The computer s electromagnetic field may cause a malfunction Provide adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat build up Do not place your computer on loose surfaces such as rugs or blankets or near materials Such as curtains or draperies that may block its ventilation slots Leave a space of at least 8 inches from the back panel of your computer Clean the cabinet with a soft dry cloth or a soft cloth lightly moistened with a mild detergent solution Do not use any type of abrasive pad scouring powder or solvent such as alcohol or benzine as it may damage the finish of your Sony computer Should any solid object or liquid fall into the cabinet keyboard or mouse shut down your computer and then unplug it You may want to have the computer checked by qualified personnel 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 parts Do not drop them or bump them against other objects
91. nternal cables that the card requires See the instructions supplied with the add on card Replace the side panel See About Closing the Computer Reconnect the power cord and all peripheral devices Turn on the computer Page 78 Installing Memory The amount of preinstalled memory may vary depending on the computer purchased Your computer may ship with all available memory slots filled For memory replacement or upgrades use the correct memory module for your computer s configuration See the online Specifications sheet for details about the memory installed in your computer You can purchase additional memory modules accessories and peripheral equipment from your local retailer A Observe the proper safety precautions when you add or remove the memory in your computer See Before upgrading your computer Page 79 Removing a memory module 1 Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as your printer 2 Unplug your computer and all peripheral devices 3 Gently place the unit on its side and remove the side panel See About Opening the Computer If necessary remove any cables add on cards or other components to access the memory module slots 4 Locate the memory module s you wish to remove 5 Push down on the latches located on both sides of the module to gently eject it from the slot 6 Grasp one edge of the module and lift it out Store the module in a static free bag A Gently hand
92. ouse 2 Wireless mouse top 1 Left mouse button Press to perform specific mouse functions 2 Wheel Rotate the wheel to scroll up or down on the LCD screen 3 Right mouse button Press to perform specific mouse functions Wireless mouse Side and bottom 1 Power switch Slide power switch to turn the mouse on or off 2 CONNECT button Press to enable communication between your VAIO computer and the wireless mouse To set up the wireless mouse Page 25 Insert two AA batteries supplied into the wireless mouse as shown You can check your mouse s battery power level by clicking Ea wireless mouse icon located in the Windowse taskbar notification area A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless mouse Always use the same type and manufacture of battery Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new batteries can damage the mouse Inserting batteries into the wireless mouse If your wireless mouse does not operate properly the batteries may need to be replaced When your wireless mouse is not being used for extended periods of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage 1 See your computer s specifications sheet for details about supplied accessories Page 26 About the Remote Control The Media Center remote control is supplied with VAIO Digital Studio computers that are equipped with the Microsofte Windowse XP Media Center
93. ouse ball cover Secure the cover by turning the ring counter clockwise Using a wireless mouse If you are using a wireless mouse Confirm that the supplied AA batteries are properly installed To maintain good communication operate your wireless mouse within the distance limitations of the mouse Press the CONNECT button on the mouse and the computer to reestablish the connection between the two devices Verify the infrared receiver on the computer s front panel is free of obstructions that may prevent proper operation Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near your wireless mouse These devices may cause interference causing your mouse to stop working properly Do not place metal furniture near your computer or wireless mouse as this may create interference causing your mouse to stop working properly Page 130 A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless mouse Always use the same type and manufacture of battery do not mix alkaline with manganese batteries Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new or different types of batteries can damage the mouse 1 For wireless or standard optical mice 2 Operate the mouse VGP WMS1 within 32 feet of the computer Operate the mouse PCVA MS2 within 2 5 feet of the computer Page 131 About the Mouse and Keyboard Why doesn t my mouse work properly Confirm that the mouse
94. ower cords into a grounded AC wall outlet or a power strip To connect the power cords Page 47 Turning On Your Computer When you start your computer for the first time your computer may detect new equipment and display a dialog box that prompts you to restart your computer Respond to this prompt immediately Before turning on your computer set up the cables and connections required to use Microsoft Windowse XP Media Center Edition features See the section Setting Up Media Center 1 Press the power button on the computer to turn on the power 2 Press the power button on the display to turn on the power To turn on your computer Page 48 Setting Up Media Cen Your VAIO Digital Studioe computer has the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system to enhance your computing experience Media Center provides you with a wide range of TV DVD and video viewing as well as music recording and playback This section describes how to set up your TV set top box and other equipment Setting Up TV Connections Connecting the Remote Sensor and Remote Sensor Control Connecting Other Devices Registering Your Computer Turning Off Your Computer Page 49 Setting Up TV Connections The best method of connecting your computer TV monitor or display and TV programming access is determined by the type of cable service connection available in your home Your computer s hard
95. r VAIO Zone software includes a complete personal video recorder enabling you to record TV programs and burn them to DVD Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day WinDVDe for VAIO InterVideo Inc Web site http www intervideo com jsp Support jsp telephone 510 651 0888 WordPerfect Corel Corporation Web site http www corel com Page 163 Resources for Additional Help and Support If the information provided with your VAIO computer does not offer an immediate solution or you would like to get direct support try these additional help and support resources Sony online support Web site Online help and support are available 24 hours a day seven days a week when you visit the Sony online support Web site You can access the Web site at http www sony com pcsupport The Sony online support Web site provides Information about your specific computer model such as hardware and software specifications 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 locations arrange for repairs or check repair status review warranty information e mail your question or comments to the Sony Cus
96. rder optional s video cable optional Page 58 Connecting a TV monitor display 1 Connect the video connector end of the video cable adapter optional to the TV Out S video video jack on the back panel of your computer 2 Connect the jack end of the video cable adapter to either end of a video cable optional Connect the other end of the video cable to the Video In jack on your TV monitor or display located on either the side or back of your TV monitor display 3 Connect the single jack end of an audio cable optional to the Headphones jack located on the front or back panel of your computer Connect the double jack end of the audio cable to the Audio In L R on your TV monitor or display The Audio In jacks may be located on the side or rear of your TV monitor display Connecting a TV monitor or display Video cable Video cable adapter optional optional _ I optional The video cable adapter is not necessary if you use an S video cable to connect your TV to the computer s TV out S video video jack Page 59 Registering Your Computer Register your computer and take advantage of Sony s commitment to quality customer support About the benefits of registering with Sony Sony Customer Support Communicate with a Support Representative to troubleshoot problems you may be having with your computer Limited warranty Protect your investment See the Limited Warranty Card for mo
97. re details You are prompted to register your computer the first time you turn on the computer Follow the on screen instructions to complete the registration process If you are not able to register your computer during the first session you can register your computer online at the Sony VAIO PC Registration Web site Go to http www sony com vaioregistration 1 Sony product registration is voluntary failure to register will not diminish your limited warranty rights Page 60 Turning Off Your Computer Follow these steps when you are ready to turn off your computer for an extended period of time A To avoid loss of data do not use the Power button to turn off the computer To turn off your computer 1 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar then select Turn Off Computer The Turn Off Computer dialog box appears 2 Select the Turn Off option Respond to any prompts about saving your documents 3 Wait for your computer to turn off automatically the power indicator light turns off 4 Turn off any peripheral devices connected to your computer If you plan to stop using your computer for a short period of time use Stand by mode About the power button If your computer stops responding press and hold the Power button for more than six seconds to force your system to shut down You may need to repeat this procedure if your computer does not shut down on the first attempt Page 61 Using Memory Cards and Memory Card Readers
98. rect the data to two separate hard disk drive locations Page 97 Configuring a RAID Array Certain VAIO computers are available for purchase as RAID 0O or RAID ready The number of preinstalled S ATA hard disk drives can vary depending on the hardware configuration purchased See your computer s specification sheet for details about your specific hardware configuration If you purchase a RAID 0 computer You can change the RAID O configuration to RAID 1 You can remove RAID configuration completely and use each individual drive separately If you purchase a RAID ready computer You can install an additional drive s and set up a RAID O or RAID 1 configuration You can choose to use any additional drive s as a separate drive without RAID configuration 4 Install identical S ATA hard disk drives when possible If you install drives that vary in size not all space on the larger drive is available for use For more information see RAID O limitations or RAID 1 limitations 1 Use identical hard disk drives if possible Page 98 Before getting started Back up your computer s data to external media Creating altering or configuring for RAID deletes all data from affected hard disk drives Create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit so that you can configure the RAID volumes and perform a hard disk drive recovery For more information about creating recovery media using the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program 1 Cli
99. rive This new folder is the default location to save files created with Click to DVD software Ifthe Microsoft Windowse operating system identifies the new hard disk drive as drive D the Click to DVD software program saves its files to a new folder on the new drive D If the Windows operating system assigns another letter to the new hard disk drive such as drive E or J the Click to DVD software program creates the new save folder on the new drive When you start Click to DVD software for the first time after recovering the computer or installing a new hard disk drive the software program automatically creates a new save folder on the new drive Before you install a new hard disk drive If your computer is equipped with a Serial ATA SATA hard disk drive you do not need to configure the new drive The instructions provided here do not apply if you want to set up a RAID configuration Follow the configuration instructions supplied with your new hard disk drive See your computer s specifications sheet for details about the installed hard disk drive 1 Drive mapping refers to the assignment of an identifying letter to a specific drive such as Drive C or Drive D which identify the original hard disk drive 2 Your computer may be equipped with other memory card readers for media such as Memory Stick SD media CompactFlash or Microdrive cards See the online Specification sheet for more information about your computer s m
100. s along the top of the keyboard are used to perform certain tasks The task associated with each function key may vary between software programs Numeric keypad Use the numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform basic math calculations Press the Num Lock key to activate the numeric keypad The Num Lock indicator lights Press the Num Lock key again to deactivate the numeric keypad Directional Arrows The up down left and right arrow keys move the pointer on the screen Applications The Applications key displays a shortcut menu in certain software programs Pressing this key is equivalent to clicking the right mouse button Windows The key with the Microsofte Windowse logo displays the Start menu Pressing this key is equivalent to clicking Start on the taskbar INDICATORS FUNCTION Num Lock The Num Lock indicator lights when the numeric keypad is activated When the indicator is off the directional arrow and correction keys on the numeric keypad area are active Caps Lock The Caps Lock indicator lights to advise you that the keyboard is set to type letters in uppercase When the indicator is off the letters appear in lower case as you type Scroll Lock The Scroll Lock indicator lights to advise you that your screen s scrolling pattern has changed When the indicator is off the screen scrolls normally This function is not available with all software programs To set up a wireless keyboard Insert two AA batteries supplie
101. sony com pcsupport 3 Click the Documentation button and follow the on screen instructions to locate your model s specifications sheet Creating CDs or DVDs with Sony software Create picture amp video with DVDs with Click to DVD software Make picture or personal video DVDs Use JPEG BMP of TIFF files for slide shows import MPEG AVI or Microsoft DVR MS files for video or capture footage from an i LINK IEEE 1394 camera or analog source Create music CDs with SonicStage software Burn music CDs from MP3 WMA WAV and OpenMG files create ATRAC CDs for your Sony ATRAC CD Walkman or make backup copies of your CDs SonicStage Mastering Studio software Burn music CDs of your collection of vinyl records or cassette tapes Sonic RecordNow software Burn music CDs from MP3 WMA WAV and CDA files or make backup copies of your CDs Back up your data with Sonic RecordNow software Drag and drop to make custom data CDs or DVDs or make backup copies of your CDs and DVDs For more information about using the Sony software programs preinstalled on your computer visit VAIO Life To access this software information 1 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar 2 Click Welcome to VAIO life Hard Disk Drive Recovery Your computer is equipped with the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program that recovers your computer s operating system and preinstalled software For online information about hard d
102. t a second TV coaxial cable optional to the Out jack on your set top box Connect the other end to the VHF UHF port on the rear of your TV monitor or display 3 Connect one end of a stereo A V dubbing cable with triple RCA plugs optional to the Video Out and Audio OUT L R jacks on the back panel of your set top box matching the plug and jack colors 4 Connect the other ends of the stereo A V dubbing cable into the Audio R IN Audio L IN and Composite video IN jacks on the back panel of your computer matching the plug and jack colors To connect in set top box mode Option 2 Page 53 Stereo A V dubbing cable with triple RCA plugs optional BE _ service ae access H H i i bat 23 Audio R In DAs Audio L In i 1 supplied Composite Video VHF UHF port You can connect your computer to a set top box using an S video cable optional and an audio cable optional instead of a stereo A V dubbing cable optional See Connecting Other Devices Page 54 Connecting the Remote Sensor and Remote Sensor Control The remote sensor communicates with the Media Center remote control enabling you to change channels and to perform other functions If you are using a cable or satellite set top box you can attach the remote sensor control which enables you to control the set top box with the Media Center remote control Page 55 To connect the remote sensor 1 Connect the remote sensor unit to a
103. t be equipped with all of these hardware features or accessories The location of the controls ports and jacks may vary from the illustrations shown in this section To view the specific connection capabilities for your computer see the online Specifications sheet About the Front Panel About the Back Panel About the Sub woofer About the Keyboard About the Wireless Mouse About the Remote Control About the i LINK Port Page 6 About the Front Panel The front panel of your VAIO Computer enables access to drives memory card readers ports and jacks that enable you to connect compatible peripheral devices Page 7 Front panel Your computer may not be equipped with all of these hardware features or accessories The location of the controls ports and jacks may vary from the illustrations shown in this section Front panel i Ti a lh e N e ai Sails amp NI 1 Optical drive 1 See the online Specifications sheet for optical drive information 2 Optical drive 2 See the online Specifications sheet for optical drive information 3 Floppy disk drive Reads and writes data from and to a 3 5 inch floppy disk 4 xD Picture Card memory card reader Reads and writes data from and to xD Picture Card media 5 CompactFlashe and Microdrive memory card reader Reads and writes data from and to CompactFlash and Microdrive media S lo
104. te communication between the wireless keyboard and the computer Connecting the keyboard Connect button Additional information about using a wireless keyboard The wireless keyboard requires unobstructed communication with the infrared receiver for proper operation To maintain good communication operate your wireless keyboard within 2 feet of the VAIO computer Confirm that the supplied AA batteries are properly installed Press the CONNECT button located on the bottom of the infrared receiver first and then press the Connect button on the bottom of the keyboard Verify the infrared receiver is free of obstructions that may prevent proper operation Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near your wireless keyboard These devices may cause interference causing your keyboard to stop working properly Do not place metal furniture near your computer or wireless keyboard as this may create interference causing your keyboard to stop working properly A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless keyboard Always use the same type and manufacture of battery Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new batteries can damage the keyboard 1 Operate the keyboard within 2 5 feet of the computer Page 37 Connecting the Wireless Mouse Your VAIO computer is supplied with a wireless mouse Before attempting to use the
105. te the mouse VGP WMS1 within 32 feet of the computer Operate the mouse PCVA MS2 within 2 5 feet of the computer Page 133 How do I set up my mouse for left hand use 1 Click Start in the Windows 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 134 Why doesn t my keyboard work properly Check that the keyboard is securely plugged into the keyboard port Save and close all open software programs Turn off your computer wait approximately 10 seconds and then restart your computer If you are using a wireless keyboard Confirm that the supplied AA batteries are properly installed To maintain good communication operate your wireless keyboard within the distance limitations of keyboard 2 Press the CONNECT button on the keyboard and the computer to reestablish the connection between the two devices Verify the infrared receiver on the computer s front panel is free of obstructions that may prevent proper operation Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near your wireless keyboard These devices may cause interference causing your keyboard to stop working properly Do not place metal furniture near your computer or wireless keyboard as
106. tenance on your computer Overview About Opening the Computer About Closing the Computer About Add on Card Installation Installing Memory About the Lithium Battery About Hard Disk Drive Installation Page 68 Overview The upgrading procedures described in this section assume that you are familiar with the general terminology associated with personal computers safety practices required regulatory compliances and the modification of electronic equipment Before upgrading your computer Disconnect the computer from its power source and from telecommunications links networks or modems before you open the unit or follow any procedures described in this section A Failure to disconnect your computer from its power source may result in personal injury or equipment damage Always turn the power off before you open the computer or connect your computer to peripheral equipment Otherwise damage may occur to the integrated circuits Your computer may not be equipped with all of the hardware features mentioned in this section The interior hardware configuration of your computer may vary from the illustrations depending on the computer purchased To view the specific hardware configuration for your computer see the online specifications sheet 4 You may need to temporarily remove add on cards or other components that may be near the slot cover you plan to remove A Electrostatic discharge ESD
107. tomer Information Services Center check pricing and availability for products accessories and parts as well as purchase online access the Sony Solutions Knowledge Base a database that contains answers to many frequently asked questions Sony Customer Information Services Center If other support options do not resolve your issue you can contact a Sony Support representative directly Before making a call to the Sony Customer Information Services Center have this basic information readily available l VAIO computer type Model number Serial number TA T Example Serial 3000001 Operating system Hardware feature or software program that has a problem See the online VAIO Computer User Guide for the appropriate software technical support information Brief description of the issue For VAIOe 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 164
108. top working properly A wireless mouse requires an appropriate surface texture in order to provide precision pointing and tracking Use surfaces such as plain paper card stock or fabric that have minimal repetitive patterns Avoid surfaces such as mirrors smooth glass or magazines that have half tone printing A Do not mix old used and new batteries when replacing batteries in the wireless mouse Always use the same type and manufacture of battery Using incompatible batteries or mixing used new batteries can damage the mouse Page 38 Connecting a Keyboard and Mouse Your VAIO computer may be supplied with a PS 2 keyboard and mouse For details on the accessories supplied with your computer see the online Specifications sheet 1 Plug the keyboard cable into the keyboard port on the back of the computer 2 Plug the mouse cable into the mouse port on the back of the computer To connect the keyboard and mouse m oh Page 39 Connecting the Speakers Certain VAIO computer models are supplied with 2 channel speakers while other models are supplied with a sub woofer unit or 5 1 speaker systems Go to the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport to view your computer s specifications sheet To connect 2 channel speakers 1 Plug the cable attached to the back of the left speaker into the Speaker L jack on the back of the right speakerz 2 Insert the yellow plug of the speaker power c
109. using the keyboard not angled up or down Use the palmrest briefly for resting While typing never use the palmrest or rest your hands on the table Position the mouse at the same level as the keyboard Hold the mouse with 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 forward or leaning far backward Viewing angle of the display Position the display 18 to 26 inches directly in front of you with the top of the screen at or a little below eye level Use the display s tilting feature to find the best position You can reduce eye strain and muscle fatigue by placing the display in the proper position Lighting Choose a location where windows and lights do not create glare and reflection on the display Use indirect lighting to avoid bright spots on the display You can also purchase accessories for your display that help reduce glare Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work effectiveness Page 5 Locating Controls And Ports e This section is intended to familiarize you with the controls ports and jacks on your computer and supplied accessories Your computer may no
110. vice access wall outlet TV coaxial cable optional VHF UHF Page 51 Connecting to a standard antenna air system You can connect your computer to an indoor outdoor antenna system using Option 1 or 2 from the previous section Connecting to standard cable access CATV The antenna system in your home may require a VHF UHF RF combiner transformer optional to connect your computer and the indoor outdoor antenna system If you are connecting to an indoor outdoor antenna system you may need to reorient the antenna for better reception Option 1 1 Connect one end of a TV coaxial cable optional to your antenna outlet Connect the other end to a VHF UHF RF combiner transformer optional 2 Connect the TV coaxial cable supplied from the combiner transformer to the VHF UHF port on the back panel of your computer Option 2 1 Connect both ends of the antenna s twin lead cable to the screw type grips on the combiner transformer 2 Connect the TV coaxial cable Supplied from the combiner transformer to the VHF UHF port on the back panel of your computer To connect in standard antenna mode air Option 1 Nenia TV coaxial cable system optional VHF UHF RF gt Combiner Transformer optional N Option 2 P eee TV coaxial cable E aT supplied Antenna 300 ohm VHF UHF port system Twin lead cable Air optional 4 Your VAIO Digital Studioe computer is supplied with certain video cables
111. ware configuration may vary from the illustrations shown in this section See the online Specifications sheet for details about your computer s hardware configuration 4 Your VAIO Digital Studio e computer is supplied with certain video cables Depending on your in home cable access you may require extra cables adapters or connection equipment that are optional for your computer Page 50 Connecting to standard cable access CATV Option 1 1 Connect one end of the TV coaxial cable supplied to your cable service access 2 Connect the other end of the TV coaxial cable to the VHF UHF port on the back panel of your computer To connect in CATV mode Option 1 VHF UHF port Cable service access wall outlet oe 5 TV coaxial cable supplied Option 2 1 Connect one end of a TV coaxial cable optional to your cable service access Connect the other end to the single connection side of a splitter adapter 2 Connect the TV coaxial cable supplied to the double connection side of the splitter adapter Connect the other end to the VHF UHF port on the back panel of your computer 3 Connect a third TV coaxial cable optional to the double connection side of the splitter adapter Connect the other end to the VHF UHF port on the back of your TV monitor or display To connect in CATV mode Option 2 TV coaxial cable TV coaxial cable optional supplied Splitter optional VHF UHF port L Cable ser
112. wn until the cover clicks into place Inserting batteries into the remote control Tab If your remote control does not operate properly you may need to replace the batteries When your remote control is not being used for extended periods of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage Page 32 About the i LINK Port Your VAIO computer is equipped with a 4 pin and a 6 pin i LINK port A 4 pin i LINK port cannot supply power to a connected i LINK device A 6 pin i LINK port can supply power 10V to 12V to a connected i LINK device if the device is equipped with a 6 pin connector A The total power supplied by the 6 pin i LINK port does not exceed 6 watts Page 33 Connecting an i LINK IEEE 1394 device e 1 Use the symbol to locate the i LINK port on your compatible 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 4 See the instructions supplied with your i LINK device for more information on installation and use Page 34 Your computer may not be equipped with all of the hardware features described in the section The location of the controls ports and jacks may vary from the illustrations shown See the online Specifications sheet for your computer s specific hardware configuration Connecting a Display Monitor Connecting a Wireless Key
113. y defines the terminology associated with this software package The Intel Application Accelerator Help file provides basic information on setting up additional hard disk drives as a RAID array You can find more information on this topic at http support intel com support go iaa kb_r htm Page 105 RAID Glossary This glossary contains some basic terms that may aid your understanding of RAID technology Term Definition Array Two or more hard disk drives that are grouped together and function as a single drive to the host computer Fault tolerance The ability of a computer to continue its function even after one or more hard disk drives have failed Intele Application Accelerator RAID edition IAA Software program that replaces the original ATA drivers provided with the Microsofte Windowse operating system The IAA replacement drivers are optimized for computers using certain Intele chipsets Logical drive Two or more hard disk drives that are grouped together so that they appear and function as a single or logical drive to the host computer Mirrored Mirroring All data on a primary hard disk drive is duplicated on a secondary drive to provide data protection Parity A type of data protection that uses verification to detect errors in data Physical drive The actual hard disk drive RAID An acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks This method of combining small inexpensive hard disk drives offers advantages for
114. y be changed The identified drives including those for removable media2 may not reflect correct drive icon associations For more information on how to correct your drive mapping visit the Sony online support Web site at http www sony com pcsupport About hard disk drive recovery When you replace the original hard disk drive the preinstalled VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program cannot restore the drive partitions operating system or original software programs Before replacing the hard disk drive create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit or purchase a kit from Sony 4 Your VAIO computer is not supplied with System or Application Recovery CDs Use the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility to recover your computer s operating system and preinstalled software programs For more information about the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program 1 Click Start from the Windowse taskbar and then click Help and Support 2 From the VAIO Help and Support Center click VAIO Recovery Options A Observe the proper safety precautions when you upgrade your Sony computer See Before upgrading your computer Drive letter assignment When a new hard disk drive is installed an identifying drive letter is assigned The drive letter assignment becomes effective after you register for the first time or after recovering your computer with the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program The Click to DVD software program creates a new folder location on the new hard disk d

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