Home

Sony PCG-FXA63 User's Guide

1. 4 VAIO Support Agent You can find VAIO Support Agent by clicking Start and selecting Help and Support Using advanced diagnostic technology Sony s VAIO Support Agent runs scheduled protections of your programs network settings and other important software settings When your software is protected you can use VAIO Support Agent to repair software problems by restoring your software to any of the previously protected states 5 Sony Computing Support This service provides instant access to information on commonly encountered problems Enter a description of your problem and the Knowledge Database searches for the corresponding solutions online You can access Sony Computing Support at http www sony com pcsupport Page 162
2. Quicken software is the fastest easiest way to organize your finances Quicken software works just like your checkbook so it s easy to learn and use You can even pay your bills online Quicken software manages all of your finances bank accounts credit cards investments and loans QuickTimee Apple Computer Inc The versatile QuickTime software is used to play hundreds of different kinds of files including video audio and virtual reality VR movies You can play QuickTime files referred to as QuickTime movies using QuickTime Player or any other application such as a Web browser or word processor that supports QuickTime software RealPlayere RealNetworks Inc RealPlayer software is a high quality streaming media player that supports many digital media formats The user friendly interface has enhanced navigation capabilities allowing you to access and enjoy audio and video programming over the Internet RealPlayer software is your gateway to a superb Internet multimedia experience Smart Capture Sony Electronics Inc Smart Capture is a fun new way to send multimedia messages via e mail Smart Capture manages the i LINKe connection between your notebook and a Sony Digital Handycame Camcorder that supports the i LINK interface It allows you to capture compressed video or still images and save them to your hard disk drive or share via e mail A smart solution for computer digital audio video and network convergence Smart C
3. See the manual that came with your peripheral device for more information on its installation and use Page 54 Watching DVDs ona TV A Do not remove the optical drive when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Doing so may cause the computer to malfunction Before you play a DVD read the following notes to avoid a computer malfunction and ensure the best writing results To play a DVD l Disable the screen saver and the virus checker Select a display Press the Fn F8 key combination to select either the LCD or an external display See Selecting a Display Mode for more information A The Fn F8 key combination will not work once a DVD is inserted into the optical drive Switching the display while a DVD is playing may cause the computer to malfunction and you may need to restart the DVD software Connect the TV to the computer See Connecting Your Computer to a TV for more information Restart the computer and wait for it to restart Insert the DVD into the optical drive The preinstalled DVD software launches the video automatically See Software overview for a description of your preinstalled DVD software For more detailed instructions on how to use the preinstalled DVD software see the help file that is included with the DVD software Systems equipped with a CD RW DVD Combo Drive can read most DVD R media but systems equipped with a DVD ROM drive cannot read DVD R media A Some disc
4. You may need to install the printer software drivers before you use the printer See the instructions that came with your printer for information about installing these drivers If the printer is not functioning after the computer resumes from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate reset the printer connection 1 4 Click Start and click Control Panel Click Printers and Other Hardware and click Printers and Faxes Right click the printer icon that is not functioning and select Properties to open the Properties window Click OK Change the default printer port setting although this setting is generally correct for most printers 1 Click Start and click Control Panel Click Performance and Maintenance and click System The System Properties dialog box appears Select the Hardware tab and click Device Manager The Device Manager window appears Double click Ports COM amp LPT and double click ECP Printer Port LPT1 Select the Port Settings tab and select a different LPT Port Number Page 146 Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad Why doesn t the computer recognize the USB mouse Make sure the mouse is securely plugged into the USB port See Connecting a Mouse or Keyboard for more information You may need to install or reinstall the mouse driver software Use the supplied Application Recovery CD to install the drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Why doesn t th
5. In the Hardware Update Wizard click to select Install from a list or specific location Advanced Click Next Click to cancel the Search removable media floppy CD ROM option Click to select Include this location in the search Insert Application Recovery CD No 1 into the optical drive Click Browse The Browse For Folder dialog box appears Click to open the ARCD folder and then open the drivers folder Click the folder name of the device in which you want to reinstall and click OK The Hardware Update Wizard appears Click Next Select the driver location that you selected in Step 12 and click Next The Microsofte Windowse operating system automatically reinstalls the device driver s from the Application Recovery CD Click Finish and remove the Application Recovery CD from the optical drive Turn off your computer by clicking Start and then Turn off computer Page 137 17 Wait 30 seconds and turn on your computer If you have any questions about using the Application Recovery CD s visit http www sony com pcsupport or contact Sony Customer Support at 1 888 4 SONY PC Page 138 Using the System Recovery CD s The System Recovery CD s enables you to format your hard disk and restores all original software programs Your computer is returned to the original factory settings A The System Recovery process removes all software that you may have installed since you started using your computer Reinstall any so
6. It is recommended that you adjust the display resolution to 1024 x 768 or smaller depending on the size of the external display screen Why does my computer freeze when I try to read a disc The disc your computer is trying to read may be dirty or damaged Restart the computer and eject the disc from the optical drive Examine the disc for dirt or damage If the disc is dirty see Notes on CD and DVD discs for instructions on how to clean it Why did the computer LCD screen go blank Your computer screen may go blank if the computer has lost power or is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is turned on The power indicator on the computer will be on if the computer is on Make sure the battery is inserted properly and is charged If the computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the computer screen Ifthe display mode is set to external display such as TV press and hold the Fn key while you press F7 several times Why don t my changes appear on the computer LCD screen You may need to refresh the computer screen Press the Windows key and press the D key twice How do I adjust the image on the TV screen Use the controls on your external display to adjust the image See the manual that came with your display for more information How do I change the video resolution on the TV screen The video may not appear on t
7. Set the date month day year Press Enter Press the Down Arrow key Y to select System Time and then set the time hour minute second Press Enter Press the Right Arrow key gt to select the Exit tab and then press the Down Arrow key to select Get Default Values The message Load default values for all SETUP items appears Press Enter The Setup Confirmation window appears Select Yes and press Enter Select Exit Save Changes and press Enter The Setup Confirmation window appears again Select Yes and press Enter The computer restarts pai If this occurs on a regular basis contact Sony Computing Support http www sony com pcsupport Why does the message Operating system not found appear whem my computer starts and why won t Windows start If you have connected a docking station with a floppy disk drive or an external floppy disk drive make sure there is no disk in the floppy disk drive non bootable If a non bootable floppy disk is in the drive proceed as follows 1 Turn off the computer and remove the floppy disk 2 Restart the computer and confirm that the Windowse operating system starts properly If Windows still does not start follow these steps to initialize the BIOS Page 142 1 Remove any floppy disk from the floppy disk drive 2 Turn off the computer 3 Remove any peripheral devices connected to the computer 4 Restart the computer 5 Press F2 when the Sony logo appears The BIOS S
8. The external monitor displays the operations you perform on your computer To connect a computer monitor 1 Make sure the computer monitor is plugged into an AC outlet Turn off the computer Plug the display cable connector into the Monitor VGA port te on the computer Turn on the computer monitor if it is not already on and then turn on the computer Press the Fn F7 key combination to toggle the display between your computer and the monitor See Selecting a Display Mode for more information Connecting a Computer Monitor Computer monitor Power cord Monitor VGA port Display cable not supplied Page 100 Connecting a multimedia computer monitor A multimedia computer monitor has built in speakers and or a microphone device Before you can connect your computer to a multimedia computer monitor it must have an AV Out jack For more information see Locating Controls and Ports in the Setting Up chapter of your supplied VAIO Computer Quick Start guide To connect a multimedia computer monitor 1 Plug the multimedia computer monitor into an AC outlet 2 Turn off your computer 3 Plug the display cable into the monitor port on your computer 4 Plug the other end of the display cable into the multimedia computer monitor 5 Turn on the multimedia computer monitor if it is not already on and then turn on your computer 6 Press the Fn F7 key combination to toggle the display between your co
9. Yahoo Inc Personalize your own web portal with Sony on Yahoo Get a free webmail account customized news and local wea er reports comics instant messaging and more Bisge 120 VAIO Support Agent Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Support Agent provides immediate interactive online support with information about your preinstalled software and answers to frequently asked questions WinDVDe InterVideo Inc WinDVD software is a simple to use DVD player including all the features you would expect to find in a standard consumer DVD player while also offering advanced display and navigation features such as zoom pan bookmark and time search WordPerfecte Corel Corp WordPerfect is the word processor from the popular WordPerfect Office suite Create professional looking documents such as newsletters reports and brochures with this outstanding word processor adding graphics charts and tables with ease RealTime Preview lets you preview formatting before applying it to your documents and Reveal Codes increases the control you have over document structure Page 121 Frequently asked questions What do I do when my program stops responding or crashes Contact the software publisher or designated provider for technical support See Software Support Information or contact information Why does the message You must insert the Application CD into your optical drive appear and the software does not start Some titles requ
10. ony F8 Control AV out Toggles between LCD only external only and dual LCD TV display modes Only LCD LCD and external display i Only external display al Select one display at a time to playback DVDs Connect the cable before you turn on the computer otherwise Fn F8 will not work You cannot use the Fn F8 function to switch between LCD and TV once a DVD is inserted into the optical drive Fn Deri Standby Puts the system into Standby mode a power management state To return the system to the active state press any key or press the power button Fn Esc Standby Puts the system into Standby mode a power management state To return the system to the active state press any key or press the power button Fn E Ejects the CD Page 71 Using the Touchpad The keyboard contains a pointing device called a touchpad You can point to select drag and scroll objects on the screen using the built in touchpad Describing touchpad actions Customizing the touchpad Frequently asked questions Page 72 Describing touchpad actions Touchpad Action Description Point Slide one finger on the touchpad to place the pointer on an item or object Click Press the left button once Double click Press the left button twice Right click Press the right button once In many applications this action displays a shortcut menu of context sensitive choices Drag Slide one finger while pressing the left
11. 5 Press the Right Arrow key gt to select the Touchpad tab and press Alt S simultaneously The Mouse Properties dialog box appears 6 Make sure the Buttons tab is open and press the Up M and Down Arrow L keys to change the button assignments Press the Tab key to move between drop down menus 7 Press Enter to save your changes and close the dialog box If you are still experiencing problems make sure another mouse was not installed You may need to use your Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the mouse drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Why doesn t the pointer move when I use the touchpad Try restarting your computer Follow these steps 1 Press the Windows key A 2 Press U The Turn off computer window opens 3 Press R to restart the computer If the computer does not restart 1 Press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Task Manager window appears 2 Press Alt to highlight the menu bar and press the Right Arrow gt key to select Shut Down 3 Press Enter 4 Press R to restart the computer If you still cannot restart your computer press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to turn off the computer If the pointer does not move while playing a disc press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously to stop playback and restart the computer You may need to use your supplied Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the touchpad or mouse drivers See Using the Ap
12. Device window appears when you connect the camera to the computer Select the program you want to use in this window and click OK Click Start and click All Programs Select a software program in which to view your images Click Start and click Experience VAIO Click Movies and select a program in which to view your images Page 96 Notes on connecting an i LINK device Do not connect more than one digital video camera recorder at a time The software supplied with your computer will not recognize multiple cameras Do not connect an external device that requires power from the i LINK port The i LINK port cannot supply power to the external device The computer supports transfer rates up to 400 Mbps however the actual transfer rate is the lowest transfer rate of the external device The i LINK features available may vary depending on the software applications you use See the documentation that accompanied your software for more information Page 97 Frequently asked questions Why can t I use the DV recorder You may not be able to use the DV recorder and the message DV equipment seems to be disconnected or turned off may appear for the following reasons The DV recorder was not connected properly See Using i LINK Digital Video Recorders for more information The i LINK cable connectors are not plugged securely into the ports on the computer and the camera Unplug the connectors and plug them in agai
13. Make sure the PC Card is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is safe to remove the hardware device Push the Release button The Release button pops out Push the Release button a second time The PC Card pops out Gently pull the card out of the slot To remove a PC Card while the computer is off 1 2 3 Push the Release button once The Release button pops out Push the Release button a second time The PC Card pops out Gently pull the card out of the slot To remove slot protectors 1 Push the Release button once The Release button pops out Push the Release button a second time The slot protector pops out Pull the protector out of the slot If you use a Type III PC Card you need to remove both the top and bottom PC Card slot protectors To disconnect a PC Card 1 Close any active programs to help prevent data loss Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware window appears Select the PC Card drive in the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears Make sure the PC Card drive is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is now safe to remove the hardware device Eject the PC Card from the PC Card slot Page 90 Frequently asked questions Why doesn t my PC Card work Make sure the PC Card is inserted properly See To insert a PC Card for more inf
14. Typical expansion memory configuration Total System Memory MB On board MB Slot MB 128 128 0 256 128 128 Page 130 Removing and installing memory modules Make sure you read Precautions and procedures before you remove or install a memory module When installing a memory module do not open the module package until you are ready to install it The package protects the module from Electrostatic discharge ESD To remove and install a memory module 1 Turn off the computer and all peripheral devices 2 Disconnect the power cord and all cables from the computer 3 If installed remove the battery See To remove the battery 4 Wait for the computer to cool down 4 The interior of the computer becomes extremely hot during operation Wait at least one hour for the computer to cool down before you remove the screws 5 Use an appropriate screwdriver to loosen and remove the screw that secures the cover of the memory bay on the bottom of the computer A To avoid damaging the computer do not remove or loosen any other screws Removing the Bottom Screw and Cover Plate 6 Touch a metal object such as the connector panel on the back of your computer to discharge static electricity 7 Remove the memory module by pulling out the tabs see arrows No 1 and pulling out the module in the direction of arrow No 2 Removing a Memory Module 1 Pull the tabs in the direction of the arrows 2 Pull the memory modul
15. adapter 1 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter into the DC In port on your computer or docking station Connecting the AC Adapter to the Computer AC adapter supplied Power cord supplied 2 Plug one end of the power cord into the AC adapter and plug the other end into an AC outlet Use only the supplied AC adapter with your computer Page 4 Turning on the computer To turn on the computer l Slide the release lever to the right and lift the cover while holding the bottom of the computer firmly Opening the Computer Release lever 2 Press the power button until the green power indicator lights up Turning on the Computer Power indicator If you hold the power button down for more than four seconds the computer turns off 3 If necessary adjust the brightness controls for the LCD display as follows To increase light intensity press Fn F5 and then Mor To decrease light intensity press Fn F5 and then Vor e Page 5 Using Batteries A battery is an auxiliary power source you can use when your computer is not plugged into an AC outlet Your computer may come equipped with one or two battery bays depending on the model you purchased If your computer comes with two battery bays you can purchase a second rechargeable battery to extend your computing time Regardless how many batteries you use you can always extend the life of the battery by conserving power See Conserving Batter
16. also change to their desired language s without effecting your existing language settings Page 76 Changing Numbers Currency Time and Date Formats You can change your operating system s number currency time and date formats to coordinate with your chosen country or language settings To change these formats 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Date Time Language and Regional Options and then click Regional and Language Options The Regional and Language Options dialog box appears 3 From the Regional Options tab click the Standards and formats drop down menu to view the available country choices Select the desired country 4 Click Customize to change the number currency time and date settings 5 Click Apply and then OK Page 77 Changing the window design of Sony software This feature is available with UI Design Selector compatible software only To change the window design 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 In the left panel click Switch to Classic View 3 Double click UI Design Selector 4 Click lt lt or gt gt and select a design 5 Click Apply The UI Design Selector window design changes The window design for your Sony software will match the UI Design Selector window 6 Click OK Page 78 o ting Mi L Keyi j Using External Mice and Keyboards Page 79 Using External Mice and Keyboards You can connect a universal serial bus USB
17. be set to mute the volume setting may be too low or the audio option may be disabled See Adjusting the volume and Enabling the audio feature for more information Why don t the Fn F3 or the Fn F4 key combinations work The computer may not recognize the Fn F3 and Fn F4 key combinations if the correct speakers are not selected Follow these steps Right click the Volume icon Bn the taskbar and select Adjust Audio Properties Select the Audio tab and click Advanced in the Sound Playback box The Advanced Audio Properties window appears Click the Speakers tab if it is not already selected Select the correct stereo speakers from the Speaker setup drop down list Why doesn t my volume control dial work Your volume dial control will work only when the Volume icon Bi set to an audible level Use the Volume icon to increase the volume 1 Double click the Volume icon A the taskbar The Volume Control window appears 2 In the Volume Control column move the slider up to increase the volume If Mute all is selected click the check box to cancel it Ao Unlike the Volume icon B the volume dial control adjusts only the sound level from the speakers or headphones f LE You can also press Fn F4 to increase the volume If you double click the Volume icon B the Windowse taskbar you can view your changes on the Volume Control window pai The Volume icon Band Fn F4 shortcuts will work only when the volume dial contr
18. button Scroll Move your finger along the right edge of the touchpad to scroll vertically Move your finger along the bottom to scroll horizontally The scroll function is available only with programs that support a touchpad scroll feature Page 73 Customizing the touchpad Mouse Properties lets you customize your touchpad such as enable or disable the touchpad The Mouse Properties dialog box enables you to set your touchpad and mouse preferences such as changing pointers enabling or disabling the tapping feature clicking both buttons simultaneously and adjusting the touchpad speed To open the Mouse Properties dialog box Right click the Touchpad icon Son the Windowse taskbar and click Mouse Properties from the shortcut menu The Mouse Properties dialog box appears Page 74 Frequently asked questions Why doesn t the touchpad work You may have disabled the touchpad without connecting a mouse to the computer See Customizing the touchpad Restart the computer to activate the touchpad again If your touchpad is interpreting a single tap as a double click adjust the button assignments Follow these steps 1 Press the Windows key 41 The Start menu appears 2 Press the Up Arrow key Fo select All Programs and press Enter 3 Press the Up Arrow key Pio select Sony Notebook Setup and press Enter A submenu appears with Sony Notebook Setup preselected 4 Press Enter The Sony Notebook Setup dialog box appears
19. facing up If the disc requires software make sure the software is installed according to the manufacturer s instructions A dirty or damaged disc may cause the computer to stop responding while it tries to read the disc If necessary restart the computer remove the disc and check the disc for dirt or damage If you see video but cannot hear audio follow these steps Make sure your optical drive does not have the mute setting enabled Check the volume setting in the audio mixer If you are using external speakers check the volume settings and then check the connections between your external speakers and the computer Click Start on the taskbar and then Control Panel Performance and Maintenance and System Select the Hardware tab and click Device Manager Make sure the correct drivers are properly installed Do not use adhesive labels to identify the CD The label may come off while the disc is in use in the optical drive and cause the drive to malfunction If a region code warning appears when you try to use your optical drive it may be that the DVD you are trying to play is incompatible with the optical drive Verify the region code listed on the DVD package Condensation may cause the computer to malfunction If this occurs do not use it for at least one hour Make sure the digital CD audio is enabled for your optical drive Follow these steps Page 152 Click Start on the taskbar and then Control Pane
20. from 1 888 4 SONY PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase WinDVDe InterVideo Inc Web site http www intervideo com phone 510 651 0888 WordPerfect Office 2002 Standard Corel Corp Web site http www corel com telephone 613 274 0500 hours M F 8 30 A M 7 30 P M eastern time Page 160 Sony Service Center For the Sony Service Center nearest you call 1 888 4 SONY PC 1 888 476 6972 or find Sony Customer Service on the Web at http www sony com pcsupport Page 161 Computer Support Information If you have questions about your computer or the preinstalled software refer to the following sources for answers in the sequence listed below 1 VAIOe Computer User Guide The online VAIO Computer User Guide and the printed VAIO Computer Quick Start provide information on how to maximize your computer capabilities and solve common problems 2 Software Manuals and Online Help Files The software preinstalled on your computer may come with an online manual These manuals are stored on the hard disk drive as online Help files You can find the Help files from the Help menu under the specific software application Some software programs may come with a printed manual 3 Operating System Online Support Your computer comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windowse For operating system support you can access Microsofte customer support at http support microsoft com directory
21. mouse or keyboard to your computer To function properly the device you connect must be compatible with the Microsofte Windowse operating system installed on your computer For information about you re computer s built in keyboard and key functions see Using the Keyboard in the Computer Features chapter Connecting a Mouse or Keyboard Disconnecting a mouse or keyboard Frequently asked questions Page 80 Connecting a Mouse or Keyboard Your computer is compatible with many popular mice and keyboards The New Hardware Wizard guides you through the software installation process Some devices require separate driver software installation See the instructions that accompanied your mouse or keyboard for more information If the mouse or keyboard does not work once you have connected it to your computer see Frequently asked questions for more information Your computer can be turned on or off when connecting a mouse or keyboard To connect a USB mouse or keyboard to your computer 1 Locate the USB port Y on your computer port replicator or docking station 2 Plug the USB cable into the USB port Y on the computer One USB port supports one USB device The New Hardware Wizard appears 3 Follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation process Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard USB cable USB ports See the manual that came with your mouse or keyboard for more information on its ins
22. need an optical drive to use these recovery CDs If your computer does not come with an optical drive use an external optical drive Application Recovery CD s Sony Electronics Inc This CD enables you to reinstall individual software programs and device drivers if they become corrupted or are erased System Recovery CD s Sony Electronics Inc This CD enables you to restore the operating system and software that shipped with your computer if they become corrupted or are erased This CD restores your computer to its original factory settings so user data and software programs installed since you started using your computer will be lost Page 135 Using Your Recovery CDs The following sections describe how to use the Application Recovery and System Recovery utilities Using the Application Recovery CD s Using the System Recovery CD s Page 136 Using the Application Recovery CD s The Application Recovery CD s utility enables you to reinstall individual software programs device drivers and repair software programs if they become corrupted or are erased Reinstalling an individual program or device driver may correct a problem you are experiencing with your computer peripheral hardware or software You may not need to reinstall the entire contents of your hard disk To reinstall all the software titles that shipped with your computer use the System Recovery CD s See Using the System Recovery CD s for more informati
23. network such as your workplace network Set up a home or small office network To continue click Next 4 Click Next 5 If it is not already selected click to select Connect to the Internet and click Next 6 Follow the on screen instructions Page 24 Customizing your Internet connection The Internet Properties dialog box enables you to change the way you view the Internet You can change your home page fonts language and colors You can also regulate content and set your browsing preferences To open the Internet Properties dialog box 1 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and then Control Panel 2 Click Network and Internet connections and then Internet Options The Internet Properties dialog box appears Page 25 Frequently asked questions Why doesn t my modem work Make sure the telephone cable is plugged into the cable jack See To connect a telephone cable for more information Make sure the telephone cable is working by plugging the cable into an ordinary telephone and listening for a dial tone Make sure the telephone number the program is dialing is correct Make sure the software you are using is compatible with the computer s modem All preinstalled Sony programs are compatible If you are still experiencing problems use the supplied Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the modem drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Why is my modem co
24. the Modem jack Make sure it clicks into place 3 Plug the other end into the wall jack Connecting a Telephone Cable Telephone cable not supplied Your computer does not work with party lines cannot be connected to a coin operated telephone and may not work with multiple telephone lines or a private branch exchange PBX Some of these connections may result in excess electrical current and could cause a malfunction in the internal modem If you connect a telephone cable coming through a splitter the modem or connected device may not work properly To set up a dial up connection to the Internet 1 Connect your computer to a telephone jack See To connect a telephone cable for more information 2 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories Communications and click New Connection Wizard The New Connection Wizard appears The New Connection Wizard Page 21 New Connection Wizard Welcome to the New Connection Wizard This wizard helps you Connect to the Internet Connect to a private network such as your workplace network Set up a home or small office network To continue click Next 3 Click Next 4 If it is not already selected click to select Connect to the Internet and click Next 5 Follow the on screen instructions Page 22 Setting up an Ethernet Internet connection Your computer accommodates both 10BASE T and 100BASE TX Ethernet connections with data transfer spe
25. the end of its life and should be replaced Why is the battery warm While the battery is in use or being discharged the battery heats up This is normal and is not cause for concern Page 18 internet and Network Cope Internet Connections Network Connections Connecting another VAIO Computer Page 19 Internet Connections This section describes the basic steps for setting up your dial up or Ethernet connection to the Internet The New Connection Wizard guides you through the process of connecting to the Internet and choosing an Internet service provider ISP or setting up an existing account When you connect to the Internet you can register your VAIO computer use online services and gain access to Sony Computing Support Setting up a dial up Internet connection Setting up an Ethernet Internet connection Customizing your Internet connection Frequently asked questions Page 20 Setting up a dial up Internet connection Before you can connect to the Internet you need to connect your computer to a telephone jack via a telephone cable not supplied Once you have set up your telephone cable you re ready to connect to the Internet To connect a telephone cable 1 Locate the Modem jack on your computer For location information see Locating Ports and Controls in the Setting Up chapter of your printed VAIO Computer Quick Start guide 2 Plug one end of the telephone cable into
26. unit to the network contact your network administrator You can connect to your company network from a remote location and use data applications and network resources See Microsoft Windowse Help by clicking Help and Support for the Start menu and then clicking Networking and the Web in the left panel To connect to a remote network using a telephone or Ethernet cable 1 Connect an Ethernet or telephone cable to your computer See To connect an Ethernet cable and Setting up a dial up Internet connection for more information Page 28 From the Start menu point to All Programs Accessories Communications and click New Connection Wizard Click Next If you are prompted to the Local Information dialog box follow the on screen instructions Click Connect to the network at my workplace and then click Next Follow the on screen instructions Ask your network administrator for the detailed settings and devices needed to connect to an existing network Page 29 Using wireless LAN connections A wireless local area network LAN is a network in which you can connect to a LAN through a wireless radio connection You can opt to purchase a Sony Wireless LAN Access Point to set up a LAN The Wireless LAN Access Point is designed for building a wireless LAN environment Because a wireless LAN configuration requires no wiring you can operate multiple computers more freely than ever before You can also purchase an external Wireles
27. 4 Select the correct stereo speakers from the Speaker setup drop down list Why doesn t my microphone work If you are using an external microphone make sure the microphone is properly plugged into the Microphone jack on the computer See Connecting a microphone for more information Page 156 Troubleshooting the LCD screen Why did the computer LCD screen go blank Your computer screen may go blank if the computer has lost power or is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is turned on The power indicator on the computer will be on if the computer is on Make sure the battery is inserted properly and is charged Ifthe computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the computer screen If the display mode is set to external display such as TV press and hold the Fn key while you press F7 or F8 several times Why don t my changes appear on the computer LCD screen You may need to refresh the computer screen Press the Windows key and press the D key twice How do I adjust the image on the TV screen Use the controls on your external display to adjust the image See the manual that came with your display for more information How do I change the video resolution on the TV screen The video may not appear on the entire TV screen if your computer resolution is set to 1024 x 768 or greater To change the video resolution f
28. G2 data is transferred The typical effective data transfer speed via an access point is 4 5 Mbps when adhering to the IEEE 802 11b standard High rate stream transfers with MPEG2 data may lower this rate How do I avoid data transfer interruptions Data transfer interruptions may occur with large files or use of microwaves and cordless telephones when connected to an access point Move the computer closer to the access point Make sure the access point connection is intact 1 From the Start menu click Control Panel Network and Internet Connections The Network and Internet Connections window appears 2 Click Network Connections The Network Connections window appears 3 Check the connection status Page 35 Change the access point channel See your access point instructions for more information Can I connect to an IEEE 802 11a device Most Sony Wireless LAN devices support the IEEE 802 11b standard Devices connecting to a Wireless LAN using the IEEE 802 11a standard cannot connect to devices using the IEEE 802 11b standard What are channels Wireless LAN communication occurs on divided frequency bands known as channels Third party Wireless LAN Access Point channels may be preset to different channels from Sony devices If you are using a Wireless LAN Access Point refer to connectivity information contained in your access point instructions Page 36 Connecting another VAIO Computer The preinstalled Microsoft W
29. Network Authentication Shared mode C This is a computer to computer ad hoc network witeless access points are not used 5 Type up to 32 ASCII characters in the Network name SSID box 6 Click to select the Data encryption WEP enabled check box Page 31 7 Click to select the Network Authentication Shared mode check box 8 Click to cancel the The key is provided for me automatically check box 9 Type between 5 and 13 ASCII characters or 10 to 26 hexadecimal characters in the Network key box 10 Click OK Your new network name appears in the Preferred networks list box To set up a computer to computer ad hoc network 1 Insert a Wireless LAN PC Card into the PC Card slot See Inserting PC Cards for more information The Wireless LAN indicator lights up 2 From the Start menu click Control Panel Network and Internet Connections and then click Network Connections The Network Connections window appears 3 Right click Wireless Network Connection and select Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties dailog box appears 4 Click the Wireless Networks tab and then click Add The Wireless Network Properties dialog box is updated Setting Wireless Network Connection Properties Wireless Network Proper PR Network name SSID Wireless network key WEP This network requires a key for the following C Data enesyption WEP enabled C Network Authentication Shared mode C This is a c
30. Welco me e Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO computer and welcome to the online VAIO Computer User Guide This user guide provides detailed information on all aspects of using your new VAIO computer from keyboard functions to preinstalled software programs In the left navigation window click the topics you want to learn more about and that information will be displayed in this main window View the Electronic Flyer which provides updates and supplemental information about your computer View the VAIOs Computer Specifications which lists your computer s hardware specifications and preinstalled software information such as descriptions and contact information Page 1 Your VAIO computer comes with a battery and an AC adapter This chapter explains how to install and use these supplied accessories to power your computer It also describes ways you can efficiently utilize the battery as a power source Using AC Power Using Batteries Conserving Battery Power Page 2 Using AC Power The supplied battery is not charged when you receive your computer To use your computer immediately use the supplied AC adapter as a power source The computer charges the battery while you use AC power See Using Batteries for more information on installing and using batteries Connecting the AC adapter Turning on the computer Page 3 Connecting the AC adapter To connect the AC
31. Why doesn t my computer recognize attached devices For some PC Cards if you alternate between normal power operation and the Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted into the PC Card slot the computer may not recognize the PC Card or the connected device Restart your computer Why can t I insert my PC Card Make sure you are orienting the card correctly See Inserting PC Cards for more information Check the manual that came with your PC Card for more information on its use You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer Why does an exclamation mark appear on the Device Manager tab in the System Properties dialog box You may not be using the most recent software driver provided by the PC Card manufacturer Make sure the necessary drivers are installed You may need to remove the software driver and reinstall it Page 155 Troubleshooting Audio Video Connections Why can t I use the DV recorder You may not be able to use the DV recorder and the message DV equipment seems to be disconnected or turned off may appear for the following reasons The DV recorder was not connected properly See Connecting an i LINK digital video recorder for more information The i LINK cable connectors are not plugged securely into the ports on the computer and the camera Unplug the connectors and plug them in again Why won t my speakers work Make sure the spea
32. a disc l Turn on the notebook When the notebook is in Standby or Hibernate mode you cannot insert a disc See Using power saving modes for more information on Standby and Hibernate modes 2 Press the Eject button to open the optical drive The tray slides out Ejecting the tray Eject button Avoid using adhesive labels to identify your discs Adhesive labels may come off while the disc is in use in your optical drive and may damage the unit 3 Place an optical disc on the tray with the label side facing up For DVDs that can be played on both sides the side of the disc facing up is the side that plays 4 Press the disc onto the hub until the disc clicks securely into place Inserting an optical disc Label side facing up 5 Close the tray by pushing it gently Page 43 To eject a disc When you finish using a disc wait until the LED indicator turns off and then press the Eject button to remove the disc When the notebook is in a power saving mode you cannot remove an optical disc See Using power saving modes for more information about power saving modes If the optical disc does not slide out when you press the Eject button turn off the notebook and insert a thin pointed object such as a paper clip into the manual eject hole A Make sure to seat the disc firmly over the hub fingers If you do not seat the disc firmly you could damage your optical drive and you may not be able to open the tr
33. ablish a connection between two VAIO computers Your computer may not recognize an i LINK connection if the i LINK cable is not plugged securely into the i LINK ports Disconnect the i LINK cable and securely reconnect it to both computers If neither computer responds after a few moments restart both computers If the computers do not recognize the i LINK connection after resuming from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate restart both computers 1 i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other Refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection Before connecting compatible i LINK PC peripherals to your system such as CD RW or hard disk drive confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions Page 40 CDs DVD Optical Dri Using the Optical Disc Drive Inserting and Ejecting CDs or DVDs Copying and Playing CDs Playing DVDs Page 41 Using the Optical Disc Drive Your notebook comes with an optical disc drive Depending on the system you purchased your optical disc drive is either a CD RW DVD Combo Drive or a DVD ROM drive Page 42 To insert
34. acity DVgate software saves files to the D partition This prevents large video capture from consuming the available space on your C partition To maintain optimum performance of DVgate you should defragment or format the D partition regularly To defragment a partition 1 Back up all files you want to save 2 From the Start menu on the Windowse taskbar point to All Programs Accessories System Tools and then click Disk Defragmenter The Disk Defragmenter dialog box appears 3 Select the drive you want to defragment from the list and click Defragment See the Windowse operating system Help guide for more information on defragmenting Page 126 Memory Ss Upgrading Your Computer s Memory Page 127 Upgrading Your Computer s Memory Before you begin upgrading your computer s memory make sure you read Precautions and procedures See VAIO Computer Specifications on the Welcome page for the type of module and amount of memory installed on your computer and also see Typical expansion memory configuration below Expansion memory modules are available as options For memory upgrades and information about which memory modules to use refer to your VAIO Computer Specifications Precautions and procedures Typical expansion memory configuration Removing and installing memory modules Confirming added memory capacity Page 128 Precautions and procedures The procedures described below assume fa
35. arance tab DPI setting Normal size 96 DPI Normal size 96 dpi Compatibility Some programs might not operate properly unless you restart the computer after changing display settings After change display settings Restart the computer before applying the new display settings Apply the new display settings without restarting Ask me before applying the new display settings Some games and other programs must be run in 256 color mode Learn more about running programs in 256 color mode 3 Click the Displays tab and select the display settings by clicking the icon on the panel of your display choice For more information click the Help button If you cannot see your movie or DVD on the external display change the monitor or TV setting by clicking on tage 103 5 Secondary icon and changing it to Primary You may not be able to display the notebook LCD screen and an external display or projector at the same time depending on the types of computer displays and projectors you are using Turn on the notebook after you connect the external display Page 104 Disconnecting a computer monitor or projector You can disconnect the external computer monitor or projector by unplugging the display or Monitor VGA cable from your computer s port Disconnecting the external display when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction Page 105 Using Sp
36. ay Manual eject hole Page 44 To play a DVD To play a DVD you may use the optical disc drive and the preinstalled WinDVDe application For more information on WinDVD see the Help menu WinDVD application 4 Before you use the optical disc drive to play a DVD quit any open applications Your optical drive can read most DVD R media When you are ready to play a DVD read the suggestions below to maximize your video viewing experience If you connect your notebook to a TV display you may need to adjust the display resolution Read the suggestions below to set the display resolution to the proper dimensions Also see Selecting a Display Mode for more information You cannot use the Fn F8 function to switch between LCD and TV once a DVD is inserted into the optical drive Change the settings to disable the screen saver and the virus checker A Some discs recorded at 20 or 24 bits may produce noise while playing If you have audio devices connected this could damage your hearing and the speakers Reduce the volume before playing a DVD Do not switch between LCD and the external display while the DVD is playing This may cause a malfunction and you may need to restart the DVD software Do not switch the power saving modes while you are playing the DVD Do not use memory resident utility software to speed up disc access This may cause the notebook to malfunction Page 45 Notes on CD and DVD discs Do not drop o
37. binations and functions with the Windows key Indicators Combinations and functions with the Fn key Page 66 Key locations and descriptions Keyboard Escape key Function keys Print Screen key Correction keys Shift key Ctrl key Windows Navigation Fn key keys key Applications Numeric key keypad Key Description Numeric keypad Contains the keys found on a typical calculator Use the numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform mathematical calculations such as addition and subtraction Numbers appear on the front beveled edge of the numeric keys Press the Num Lock key to activate the numeric keypad When you do so the Num Lock indicator lights up Press the Num Lock key again to deactivate the numeric keypad Arrow keys The Left Right Up and Down arrow keys move the pointer on the screen and also function as the Home End Page Up and Page Down keys respectively Correction keys The Insert Back Space and Delete keys enable you to make corrections in your documents Function keys The 12 function keys along the top of the keyboard are used to perform designated tasks For example in many applications F1 is the Help key The task associated with each function key may vary from one application to the next Escape key The Esc Escape key is used to cancel commands Print Screen key The Print Screen key takes an electronic snapshot of the screen and moves it to the Clipboard You can then paste t
38. c 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 Do not clean the disc with solvents such as benzine thinner commercially available cleaners or anti static spray which may damage the disc Do not drop or bend the disc Why can t I view the entire DVD video display on a TV screen You may not be able to view the entire video display on a TV because the display resolution is not properly set To adjust the display resolution see Selecting a Display Mode for more information It is recommended that you adjust the display resolution to 1024 x 768 or smaller depending on the size of the external display screen Why does my computer freeze when I try to read a disc The disc your computer is trying to read may be dirty or damaged Restart the computer and eject the disc from the optical drive Examine the disc for dirt or damage If the disc is dirty see How do I maintain CDs and DVDs for instructions on how to clean it Why won t the optical drive tray open Make sure the computer is turned on Press the Eject button on the optical drive If the Eject button does not work open the tray by inserting a thin straight object such as a paper clip in the hole to the right of the Eject button Why isn t the optical drive playing my CD or DVD properly Make sure the disc label is
39. cables Page 27 Using Ethernet and dial up connections Local area networks LANs comprise a group of computers and associated devices within a small geographic area such as a home or office building For setting up LANs Ethernet is a widely installed technology Your computer accommodates both 10BASE T and 100BASE TX Ethernet connections with data transfer speeds of between 10 and 100 Mbps depending on the Ethernet cable To set up an Ethernet LAN 1 Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into your computer s Ethernet port and the other into the network connection Connecting an Ethernet Cable Ethernet Ethernet port cable 2 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories Communications and click Network Setup Wizard The Network Setup Wizard appears The Network Setup Wizard Hehaurk Scluj Wizard Welcome to the Network Sctup Wizard This Gerd ail velp vod 98 Lp cis corpa lo ur on sos PRAS A SUL A A Be u i Syste a gt lera znesli Sun siema Coemceticr Firal Zazie anz lelcers 342164 pliner ocortiave tisk hex 3 Click Next 4 Follow the on screen instructions A Warning Only connect 10BASE T and 100BASE TX cables to the Ethernet port ES Do not connect any other type of network cable or any telephone cable Connecting cables other than those listed above may result in an electric current overload and could cause a malfunction excessive heat or fire in the port To connect the
40. ck the Volume icon Bn the Windowse taskbar The Volume Control window appears 2 Click Properties from the Options menu The Properties window appears 3 Click to select the Recording option in the Adjust volume for box and click OK The Recording Control window appears 4 Click the Select check box at the bottom of the Microphone column if it is not already turned on Close the Recording Control window 5 Click Start and select All Programs Accessories Entertainment and then Sound Recorder The Sound Sound Recorder window appears For help using Sound Recorder click Help in the Sound Recorder window To adjust the volume for recording sound You can only adjust the volume for recording in the Recording Control window 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Click Sounds Speech and Audio Devices and click Sounds and Audio Devices The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties window appears 3 Select the Audio tab and click Volume in the Sound recording box The Recording Control window appears 4 Click and drag the Microphone slider up to increase volume and down to decrease volume Page 115 Frequently asked questions Why doesn t my microphone work If you are using an external microphone make sure the microphone is properly plugged into the Microphone jack on the computer See Connecting a microphone for more information Page 116 Preinstalled Pros Software Programs On Your Computer DVgat
41. dows key A 2 Press U The Turn off computer window opens 3 Press R to restart the computer If the computer does not restart 1 Press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Task Manager window appears 2 Press Alt to highlight the menu bar and press the Right Arrow key to select Shut Down 3 Press Enter 4 Press R to restart the computer If you still cannot restart your computer press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to turn off the computer If the pointer does not move while playing a disc press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously to stop playback and restart the computer Page 147 You may need to use your supplied Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the touchpad or mouse drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Page 148 Troubleshooting the Modem Why doesn t my modem work Make sure the telephone cable is plugged into the computer and the wall jack See To connect a telephone cable for more information Make sure the telephone cable is working by plugging the cable into an ordinary telephone and listening for a dial tone Make sure the telephone number the program is dialing is correct Make sure the software you are using is compatible with the computer s modem All preinstalled Sony programs are compatible If you are still experiencing problems use the supplied Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the modem drivers See Using the Applicatio
42. e and then VAIO AV Applications 3 Click SonicStage Software 4 Once you finish copying files to a CD R that is readable in a CD ROM drive click Finish to complete the writing process before you eject the disc from the optical drive A Do not strike or shake the computer while writing data to a disc 1 For computer models equipped with a CD RW DVD Combo Drive Page 52 Playing DVDs You can play DVDs in your computer s optical drive and view the video on a TV The type of optical drive installed in or connected to your computer may vary depending on the model you purchased Connecting Your Computer to a TV Watching DVDs ona TV Disconnecting the TV from the computer Frequently asked questions Page 53 Connecting Your Computer to a TV In order to connect your computer to a TV your computer must have an AV Out jack Not all VAIO notebook models are equipped with an AV Out jack For more information see Locating Controls and Ports in the Setting Up chapter of your printed online VAIO Computer User Guide To connect a TV to your computer 1 Turn off the computer 2 Locate the AV Out jack on the computer 3 Plug one end of an audio video AV cable into the AV Out jack 4 Plug the other end of the AV cable into the video in ports on the TV Connecting a TV Audio cable not supplied To AV Out jack Video cable not supplied 5 Switch the TV input channel to external input
43. e unless you hold down the Shift key Scroll Lock Lights up when the screen scrolls differently Exactly how it scrolls depends on the specific application This function does not work with all applications When the indicator is off information moves across the display normally Page 70 Combinations and functions with the Fn key 4 If you switch user identities during a computing session the Fn F7 key functionality if available on your computer will be interrupted To switch to an external display or monitor see Selecting a Display Mode for more information Combinations Feature Function 4 o Fn xX F3 Mute On Off Toggles the built in speaker off and on pai aa F4 Speaker volume Adjusts the built in speaker volume An on screen display appears notifying you when a change occurs To increase volume press Fn F4 then F or gt To decrease volume press Fn F4 then Vor n 65 Brightness control Adjusts the brightness of the LCD To increase light intensity press Fn F5 and then Mor gt To decrease light intensity press Fn F5 and then Vor F m O 67 Switch to the external monitor LCD Toggles between the LCD a connected external display and both the LCD and external display Only LCD LCD and external display bo Only external display __ Select one display at a time to playback DVDs Connect the cable before you turn on the computer otherwise Fn F7 will not work Fn LCD
44. e Application Notes Page 117 Software Programs On Your Computer Your computer may not be supplied with all of the software listed in Software overview depending on the configuration you purchased Preinstalled software may not be identical to retail versions or include supporting documentation Software overview Frequently asked questions Page 118 Software overview Adobee Acrobats Readers Adobe Systems Inc Acrobat Reader software allows you to view navigate and print electronic documents in Adobe s Portable Document Format PDF an open file format that is intended to preserve the fidelity of documents created on all major computer platforms Adobee Photoshope Elements Trial Version Adobe Systems Inc Using state of the art image editing tools you can unleash your artistic ability and create digital images for print e mail and posting to the Web The versatile image capturing options enable you to start working with digital and traditional photos immediately Explore extensive creative possibilities for your personal images with Adobe Photoshop Elements software This trial version allows you to evaluate the software for 30 days after which you can purchase the full program for a special price America Onlines America Online Inc America Online is a popular Internet online service Stay in touch with family and friends with easy to use e mail Manage your personal finances get the latest news and sport
45. e System Recovery CDs insert the first CD to run the System Recovery program You are prompted to insert the second CD once the information from the first CD has been installed The recovery process takes from 30 to 60 minutes to complete After recovering your system using the System Recovery CD s you may be prompted to insert your Application Recovery CD s after restarting the Windows operating system Insert the Application Recovery CD to automatically complete recovery of your system Page 140 This section describes how to solve common problems you may encounter when using your computer Many problems have simple solutions so try these suggestions before you contact Sony Computing Support http www sony com pcsupport Troubleshooting Your Computer Troubleshooting Batteries Troubleshooting the Printer Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad Troubleshooting the Modem Troubleshooting Networks Troubleshooting DVDs and CDs Troubleshooting Floppy Disk Drives Troubleshooting PC Cards Troubleshooting Audio Video Connections Troubleshooting the LCD screen Troubleshooting Software Software Support Information Computer Support Information Page 141 Troubleshooting Your Computer Why doesn t my computer start Make sure the computer is securely plugged into a power source and is turned on Make sure the power indicator shows the power i
46. e To remove slot protectors To insert a PC Card 1 Make sure the front label of the PC Card is facing up 2 Push the PC Card gently into the slot The PC Card is automatically detected by your system The Safely Remove ue Hardware icon appears on the taskbar indicating your system detected the PC Card A Do not force a PC Card into the slot It may damage the connector pins When a PC Card is inserted do not place your computer in a bag or case Pressure or shock to a PC Card may damage your computer Touching the head of the PC Card will not damage to the connector pins but damage may occur if the head of the PC Card is sticking out of the PC Card slot while the computer is being transported Inserting a PC Card Arrow facing A ZSR SSS the slot SS PC Card Page 89 Removing PC Cards You can remove PC Cards while the computer is on or off PC Cards draw power from the computer when they are inserted into the PC Card slot whether or not you use the card If you are not using your PC Card and you are using a battery as a power source remove the PC Card from the PC Card slot to conserve battery power To remove a PC Card while your computer is on ra Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware dialog box appears Click to select the PC Card in the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears
47. e in the direction of the arrow 8 Remove the existing memory module 9 Remove the new memory module from its packaging 10 Install the memory module by sliding it into the open slot at a 45 degree angle Page 131 A Do not touch any part of the motherboard or the other components inside the computer Installing a New Memory Module 1 Slide the memory module into the slot 2 Press the module gently until it clicks into place 11 Snap the connectors into place when the board is correctly seated 12 Close the computer cover and replace the fastening screw and cover plate on the bottom of the computer 13 Make sure the system memory matches the amount of installed memory See Confirming added memory capacity Page 132 Confirming added memory capacity After you ve installed a new memory module make sure the operating system s memory corresponds with the memory upgrade To check your system s memory 1 Turn on the computer 2 From the Windowse taskbar click Start Control Panel Performance and Maintenance and System The System Properties dialog box appears 3 Make sure the General tab is selected Your system s memory information is listed on the General tab Page 133 Using the Recovery CDs Application and System Recovery CDs Using Your Recovery CDs Page 134 Application and System Recovery CDs Your computer comes with the following Application Recovery and System Recovery CDs You will
48. e information If you cannot print once you have connected your computer to your printer see Frequently asked questions in this section for more information To connect a USB printer 1 Locate a USB port Y on the computer and the printer 2 Plug the USB cable into the USB port Y on your computer 3 Plug the other end of the USB cable into the USB port on the printer Connecting a USB Printer Cable Power cord Printer USB cable optional See the manual that came with the USB printer for more information on its installation and use To connect a parallel port printer 1 Locate the Printer port yon your computer A 2 Plug the printer cable into the Printer port amp on your computer 3 Plug the other end of the printer cable into the port on the printer Connecting a Parallel Port Printer Printer cable optional Printer parallel port Parallel connector Page 61 See the manual that came with the parallel port printer for more information on its installation and use Page 62 Disconnecting a printer If your computer is turned off simply unplug the printer cable from your computer s USB or Printer port Page 63 Frequently asked questions Why can t I print a document Make sure the printer is turned on and the printer cable is securely connected to the ports on your printer and computer Make sure the printer is compatible with the Microsofte Windowse operating sy
49. e pointer move when I use the USB mouse Make sure another mouse was not installed You may need to install or reinstall the mouse driver software Use the supplied Application Recovery CD s See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information If you are playing a disc press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously to stop playback and restart the computer If you still cannot use the pointer turn off and restart the computer You can turn off the computer three different ways 1 Press the Windows key 4 and press U When the Turn off computer window opens press R 2 Press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously When the Windows Task Manager window appears press the Alt key to highlight the menu bar and press the Right Arrow key to select Shut Down Press Enter and then press R 3 Press and hold the power button for more than four seconds Why doesn t the touchpad work You may have disabled the touchpad without connecting a mouse to the computer See Customizing the touchpad for more information Restart the computer to activate the touchpad again If you are still experiencing problems make sure another mouse was not installed You may need to use your Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the mouse drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Why doesn t the pointer move when I use the touchpad Try restarting your computer Follow these steps 1 Press the Win
50. e sure the appropriate device name is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is now safe to remove the hardware device 4 Remove the PC Card See Removing a PC Card for more information A Turning off the Wireless LAN functionality while accessing remote documents files or resources may result in data loss Page 33 Checking your network connection status Whether you have a wireless Ethernet or dial up connection you can check the status of that connection by double clicking the Wireless Network Connection icon on your taskbar The Wireless Network Connection Status window opens Wireless Network Connection Status Window Wireless Network Connection Status o Connection Status Duration Speed Signal Strength Activity Sent Q U Packets 78 Page 34 Frequently asked questions Why can t my computer connect to a Wireless LAN Access Point Connection availability is affected by distance and obstructions You may need to move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using Make sure the Wireless LAN PC Card is properly inserted Make sure power to the access point is on Make sure the access point is displayed in the Available networks window 1 From the Start menu click Control Panel Network and Internet Connections and then Network Connections 2 Right click Wireless Network Connection and select Properties The Wireless Network Connection Pr
51. eakers Your computer comes with built in stereo speakers If you wish to enhance the sound quality of your computer you can purchase and connect external speakers If you want to purchase speakers make sure the speakers are designed for computer use You can shop Sony online at http www sonystyle com vaio or contact your local retailer Connecting speakers Disconnecting external speakers Adjusting the volume Enabling the audio feature Frequently asked questions Page 106 Connecting speakers You can connect speakers to your computer to enhance the sound quality of your computer A Do not place floppy disks on the speakers The speakers magnetic field may damage the data stored on the floppy disks To connect speakers to your computer 1 Turn down the volume of the speakers 2 Plug the speaker cable into the Headphone jack Qon the computer 3 Plug the other end of the speaker cable into the speaker Connecting External Speakers Speakers not supplied Headphone i Speaker cable jack not supplied See the manual that came with your speakers for more information on their installation and use Page 107 Disconnecting external speakers You can disconnect external speakers when the computer is on or off Simply unplug the speaker cable from the Headphone jack Qon the computer Page 108 Adjusting the volume To adjust the volume for playing CDs and DVDs use the Vol
52. ed to enable the audio feature To enable the audio feature 1 Click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System The System Properties window appears 3 Select the Hardware tab and click Device Manager The Device Manager window which lists the hardware devices appears 4 Double click DVD CD ROM drives 5 Double click the listed drive name and click the Properties tab 6 Click the Enable digital CD audio for this CD ROM device check box if it is not already selected Page 110 Frequently asked questions Why won t my speakers work Make sure the speakers are properly connected and the volume is turned up loud enough to hear sound Your speakers may not be designed for computer use If the speakers have a mute button set the button to off If you are using battery power make sure the battery s is inserted properly and is charged If you have connected an audio cable to the Headphone jack disconnect the cable and use the speaker cable that was supplied with the speakers Use the Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Why can t I hear sound from my speakers If you are using battery power make sure the battery is properly inserted and is charged If you are using an application that has its own volume control make sure the volume control is properly set Your speakers may
53. eds of between 10 and 100 Mbps depending on the line conditions and Ethernet cable To connect an Ethernet cable 1 Locate the Ethernet port on your computer For location information see Locating Ports and Controls in the Setting Up chapter of your printed VAIO Computer Quick Start guide Connecting an Ethernet Cable Ethernet Ethernet port cable 2 Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into your computer s Ethernet port and the other into the network connection Your computer does not work with party lines cannot be connected to a coin operated telephone and may not work with multiple phone lines or a private branch exchange PBX Some of these connections may result in excess electrical current and could cause a malfunction in the internal modem If you connect a telephone cable via a splitter the modem or connected device may not work properly To set up an Ethernet connection to the Internet 1 Connect your computer to a network connection See To connect an Ethernet cable for more information 2 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories Communications and click New Connection Wizard The New Connection Wizard appears 3 The Location Information window may appear on the screen as well Follow those instructions as necessary The New Connection Wizard Page 23 New Connection Wizard Welcome to the New Connection Wizard This wizard helps you Connect to the Internet Connect to a private
54. eo resolution follow these instructions 4 If you are using a TV Out jack plug the TV Out jack into the computer before you start the computer Also set the screen resolution to 640 x 480 dots 1 Right click the desktop and select Properties from the drop down list The Display Properties dialog box appears 2 Click the Settings tab 3 Move the screen resolution slider to the left to reduce the size and to the right to increase the size of the video resolution How do I switch the computer LCD screen from LCD to TV See Selecting a Display Mode for instructions on how to switch the display mode to LCD and TV Page 153 Troubleshooting Floppy Disk Drives Why is the drive unable to write data to a floppy disk The floppy disk drive cannot write data to a disk if it is inserted into the drive improperly See To insert a disk for instructions on how to insert the disk properly If the disk is inserted properly and you are still unable to write data to it the disk may be write protected You can either use a floppy disk that is not write protected or disable the write protect feature Page 154 Troubleshooting PC Cards Why doesn t my PC Card work Make sure the PC Card is inserted properly See Inserting PC Cards for more information Make sure the PC Card is compatible with the Microsoft Windowse operating system installed on your computer Make sure any necessary drivers were installed properly
55. ery charge drops below 5 percent regardless of the setting you select To activate Standby mode 1 Press the key combination Fn Esc or Fn Fi2 The amber power indicator flashes in this mode 2 Press any key to return to Normal mode To activate Hibernate mode 1 Press the power button and release it immediately Do not move the computer until the power indicator turns off 2 Press the power button to return to normal mode Fy If the computer does not activate Hibernate mode see Frequently asked questions for more information Page 15 Using power schemes You can use the preset power schemes or you can customize the power scheme settings to conserve power By using the power schemes you control the power supplied to different devices in your computer such as the LCD screen and the hard disk drive You also control when the computer activates a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate To set your battery alarm You can set your computer to notify you when your battery charge reaches a certain level 1 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears 3 Select the Alarms tab and then select the type of alarm you want the computer to activate a low battery alarm or a critical battery alarm 4 Drag the slider to the battery level at which you want the computer to activate the alarm The Low battery ala
56. etup window appears 6 Press the Right Arrow key to select the Exit menu 7 Press the Down Arrow key to select Get Default Values The message Load default values for all SETUP items appears 8 Press Enter The Setup Confirmation window appears 9 Select Yes and press Enter 10 Select Exit Save Changes and press Enter The Setup Confirmation window appears again 11 Select Yes and press Enter The computer restarts If your computer continues to display the message Operating system not found and Windows does not start use your supplied System Recovery CD s to restore the software titles shipped with your computer See Using the System Recovery CD s for more information A The System Recovery CD restores your computer to its original state so user data and applications will be lost Why does my computer stop responding or won t turn off It is best to turn off your computer using the Turn Off Computer command on the Windows Start menu Using other methods including those listed below may result in loss of unsaved data Click Start on the Windowse taskbar select Turn Off Computer and then click Turn Off If your computer does not turn off press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Task Manager dialog box appears and you can turn off the computer from the Shut Down menu If your computer still does not turn off press and hold the power button for at least four seconds to turn off the power Unp
57. ftware programs that were not included with the computer when you purchased it You can use the System Recovery CD s to reinstall the operating system and software titles that shipped with your computer if they become corrupted or are erased You may not need to reinstall the entire contents of your hard drive If you experience a problem with your computer reinstalling an individual device driver or software title may correct the problem Use the Application Recovery CD s to reinstall individual programs and to reinstall device drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information The System Recovery CD s contains a backup copy of all the software originally installed on your hard disk It can be used only to recover the hard disk of the computer you purchased System Recovery options Default System Drive Recovery All data on Drive C is deleted The factory default settings and software programs are restored on this drive only Change Partition Size All partitions custom installations and changes are removed from the hard drive You can set the partition sizes for both the Drive C and Drive D The original preinstalled operating system and software programs are restored Recovery to Original Factory Defaults All data and partitions are removed from the hard drive All original factory settings operating system and preinstalled software are restored A The System Recovery utility does not back up yo
58. g the battery You can remove the battery when the computer is on or off A If the computer is on connect the AC adapter and exit a power saving mode before you remove the battery To remove a battery 1 Push the battery bay cover down to open it 2 Pull the battery out of the battery bay Removing a Battery 3 Push in and lift up the battery bay cover until it clicks into place Page 8 Using a second battery To insert a second battery 1 If another device is in the multipurpose bay remove that device 2 Insert the battery into the multipurpose bay and insert the weight saver The battery 2 indicator turns on when the computer uses that battery Second Battery in Multipurpose Bay Second battery Weight saver To remove the second battery 1 Make sure the indicator of the battery you are not removing is on If the indicator of the battery you are removing is on right click the battery icon on the taskbar and click Switch discharge battery 2 Turn the computer over and slide the multipurpose bay Release lever in the direction of the arrow to unlock the battery Multipurpose Bay Release Lever 3 Pull the battery gently from the multipurpose bay If the battery was installed with the weight saver pull the weight saver and battery from the multipurpose bay 4 Insert the weight saver into the multipurpose bay to protect the bay Page 9 Displaying battery information You can display information f
59. ght click Wireless Network Connection and select Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box appears 3 Select the Wireless Networks tab and make sure the access point is displayed in the Available networks box If it is not displayed see To connect to an existing wireless network for more information Make sure the encryption key is correct Why can t I access the Internet Make sure the Wireless LAN PC Card purchased separately is properly inserted into the PC Card slot Check the access point settings Refer to the instructions supplied with the access point Make sure your computer and the access point are connected to one another Move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using Make sure your computer is properly configured for Internet access Why is the data transfer speed slow The Wireless LAN data transfer speed is affected by distance and obstructions between devices and access points Other factors include device configurations radio conditions and software compatibility To maximize the data transfer speed move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using If you are using a Wireless LAN Access Point the device may be temporarily overloaded depending on the number of other devices communicating via the access point If your access point interferes with other access points change the access point channel See you
60. he entire TV screen if your computer resolution is set to 1024 x 768 or greater To change the video resolution follow these instructions 4 If you are using a TV Out jack plug the TV Out jack into the computer before you start the computer Also set the screen resolution to 640 x 480 dots 1 Right click the desktop and select Properties from the drop down list The Display Properties dialog box appears 2 Click the Settings tab Page 57 3 Move the screen resolution slider to the left to reduce the size and to the right to increase the size of the video resolution How do I switch the computer LCD screen from LCD to TV See Selecting a Display Mode for instructions on how to switch the display mode to LCD and TV Page 58 Printer C ti Printing With Your Computer Page 59 Printing With Your Computer You can connect a universal serial bus USB printer or a parallel port printer to your computer To print properly the printer you connect must be compatible with the Microsofte Windowse operating system installed on your computer Connecting a printer Disconnecting a printer Frequently asked questions Page 60 Connecting a printer Your computer is compatible with many popular printers In many cases you can simply connect the printer to the computer and begin printing Some printers require separate driver software installation See the instructions that accompanied your printer for mor
61. he other end of the i LINK cable into the i LINK port b on your computer port replicator or docking station The Found New Hardware window appears on the lower right corner of your screen Connecting an i LINK Digital Video Camera Recorder Digital video camera recorder i LINK cable not supplied See the manual that came with your digital video camera recorder for more information on its installation and use Page 94 Disconnecting the i LINK digital video recorder You can disconnect the i LINK digital video recorder when the computer is powered on or off Disconnecting the DV device when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To disconnect the i LINK DV recorder when the computer is off 1 Turn off the computer and the i LINK DV device 2 Unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK DC In Out port on the computer Page 95 Using a digital video camera recorder Your computer comes with preinstalled driver software that is compatible with most Sony digital video camera recorders If you purchased a camera that comes with its own driver software install these drivers before you use the camera To view images You can view the images captured by your digital video camera recorder three different ways Select one set of instructions from the following list If your digital video camera recorder is compatible with the preinstalled software the Digital Video
62. he screen shot into a document and print it Operator keys Shift Ctrl Alt keys Several keys are always used with at least one other key Ctrl Alt and Shift When held down with another key the Ctrl Control and Alt Alternate keys offer another way to give commands For example in many applications instead of choosing the Save command from a menu you can hold down Ctrl and press S referred to as Ctri S The Shift key operates the same way as on a typewriter it is used to produce capital letters or special symbols such as and Windows key A Page 67 The key with the Windowse operating system logo displays the Start menu it is the equivalent of clicking Start on the taskbar See Combinations and functions with the Windows key for more information Fn key The Fn key is used in combination with other keys to issue commands See Combinations and functions with the Fn key for more information Applications key The Applications key displays a shortcut menu of context sensitive choices Pressing this key is the equivalent of clicking the right mouse button Page 68 Combinations and functions with the Windows key Combination Function 4 F1 Displays VAIO Help and Support Center window S Tab Switches the selected button on the taskbar Hsp Displays the desktop Aye Displays My Computer window Air Displays the Search Results window where you can find a file or folder This is the equivalent of selecting Sea
63. heart desires as you meet new friends from around the world and face epic challenges MovieShaker Sony Electronics Inc Sony s original MovieShaker software creates personal movies that have transitions background music and text Just import your video clips and shake with a click of the mouse Your personal movies are easy to create and fun to share with family and friends OpenMG Jukebox Sony Electronics Inc OpenMG Jukebox software enables you to import digital audio files by downloading audio files from Electronic Music Distribution EMD services over digital networks such as the Internet You can record audio CDs onto your hard drive in a variety of formats PC Cilline 2000 Trend Micro Inc PC Cillin software provides portable easy to use real time antivirus security at your computer s entry point beamife ge 119 synchronization Internet access to defend against potential threats hidden inside files e mail or on the Web PicoPlayer Sony Electronics Inc PicoPlayer software is a video player utility that enables you to use Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder functions ona computer that does not have Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder installed You can play Video Capsules created by Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder and if a Giga Pocket Server is available on your home network watch TV streamed from the Giga Pocket Server and remotely control the Giga Pocket Server s TV programming functions Quickene Intuit Inc
64. icator blinks in a double pattern while the battery charges The battery indicator stops blinking when the battery is 85 percent full To ensure the battery is 100 percent full continue charging it for at least an additional hour after the indicator stops blinking 4 When using two batteries the battery you insert first charges first The second battery you insert begins charging when the first battery is 85 percent full Battery Indicator Battery Indicator Status Description On The computer is using battery power Single blink The battery is running out of power Double blink The battery is charging Off The computer is using AC power Page 11 Notes on batteries Never leave the battery in temperatures above 140 F 60 C such as under direct sunlight or in a car parked in the sun While the battery is in use or being discharged the battery heats up This is normal and is not cause for concern Keep the battery away from all sources of heat Keep the battery dry Do not open or disassemble the battery Do not expose the battery to any mechanical shock Battery life is shorter in a cold environment because of decreased battery efficiency at low temperatures Page 12 Frequently asked questions How do I know when the battery is charged To determine the remaining battery charge see Displaying Battery Information in the online VAIO Computer User Guide for more information When is the computer u
65. indowse XP operating system enables you to connect a compatible i LINK cable not supplied between your VAIO computer and another compatible computer Connecting VAIO computers Disconnecting VAIO computers Frequently asked questions 1j LINK is a trademark of Sony used 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 connector 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 PC peripherals to your system such as a CD RW or hard disk drive confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions Page 37 Connecting VAIO computers When you connect two VAIO computers you can use one computer to edit copy or delete files on the other computer You can also print from a printer attached to either computer To connect VAIO computers 1 Plug one end of the i LINK cable into the i LINK port on each computer 2 Click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click Control Panel 3 Click Network and Internet Connections and click Set up or change your home or small office network The Network Setup Wizard appears The Network Setup Wizard window Network Setup Wizard Welcome to the Ne
66. ing battery charge see Displaying Battery Information in the online VAIO Computer User Guide for more information When is the computer using AC power When the computer is directly connected to the AC adapter it uses AC power even if a battery is installed When should I recharge the battery When the battery level falls below 10 percent When both the battery and power indicators blink When you have not used the battery for a considerable amount of time Can my computer enter Hibernate mode while using battery power For some software programs and some peripheral devices your computer may not enter Hibernate mode when the battery life is low To avoid loss of data when using battery power you should save your data frequently and manually activate a power management mode such as Standby or Hibernate When should I replace the battery If after fully charging the battery the battery power is still low the battery may be reaching the end of its life and should be replaced Why is the battery warm While the battery is in use or being discharged the battery heats up This is normal and is not cause for concern Page 145 Troubleshooting the Printer Why can t I print a document Make sure the printer is turned on and the printer cable is securely connected to the ports on your printer and computer Make sure the printer is compatible with the Microsoft Windowse operating system installed on your computer
67. ing data to a disc Always use the AC adapter as the power source for your notebook if you are writing data to a CD RW or CD R disc Using battery power may result in data transfer failure 1 For notebook models equipped with a CD RW DVD Combo Drive Page 47 Inserting and Ejecting CDs or DVDs Avoid using adhesive labels to identify your CDs or DVDs Adhesive labels may damage the optical drive if they come off while the disc is in the drive To insert a CD or DVD 1 Turn on the computer and exit a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate if one is active For more information on power saving modes see Using power saving modes for more information 2 Press the Eject button on the optical drive cover to open the drive tray The drive tray slides out Ejecting the drive tray Eject button 3 Place a disc on the drive tray with the label facing up 4 You can play some DVDs on both sides Insert this type of DVD with the side you want to play facing up Inserting a Disc Disc label facing up 4 Press the disc onto the hub until the disc clicks securely into place A If you do not seat the disc firmly over the hub the disc may come loose while it is in the drive A loose disc may damage the optical drive and make opening the drive tray difficult 5 Push the drive tray gently to close it The Busy indicator on the drive flashes while your computer is reading data from the drive To ejecting a CD or DVD 1 T
68. ion If this occurs a program you are using may not find files Do one of the following Remove the PC Card and restart your computer Do not insert the PC Card while using that program Change the drive letters of the disk drives of the docking station or the PC Card disk drives See the Windowse help files or the program guide to change the drive letters What software do I use for CD R CD RW software functions Sony recommends using the preinstalled SonicStage software and Windowse XP to create CDs on your VAIO computer if the specific model you purchased is preconfigured with all of the necessary components for CD R and CD RW capability Downloading the optional RealJukebox CD burning component to create CDs on your computer may interfere with normal system operations Why can t I use the DVgate software If your computer is using the Ultimate Battery Life profile as a power saving mode you cannot use DVgate software Please select another profile Preferably connect your computer to AC power when using these features Page 158 Software Support Information Adobe Acrobats Reader Photoshope Elements Adobe Systems Inc Web site http www adobe com e mail techdocs adobe com phone 206 675 6126 fee based support fax 206 628 5737 hours M F 6 AM 5 PM PST America Onlinee America Online Inc Web site http www aol com phone 800 827 6364 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day EarthLin
69. ire specific files that are located on the Application Recovery CD Insert the disc and try starting the program again Your optical drive may not be reading the disc Make sure you place the CD in the tray with the label side facing up Why can t the program find a file while a PC Card is inserted When inserted into a computer that is connected to the docking station some PC Cards may change the drive letters of the disk drives in the docking station If this occurs a program you are using may not find files Do one of the following Remove the PC Card and restart your computer Do not insert the PC Card while using that program Change the drive letters of the disk drives of the docking station or the PC Card disk drives See the Windowse help files or the program guide to change the drive letters What software do I use for CD R CD RW software functions Sony recommends using the preinstalled SonicStage software and Windowse XP to create CDs on your VAIO computer if the specific model you purchased is preconfigured with all of the necessary components for CD R and CD RW capability Downloading the optional RealJukebox CD burning component to create CDs on your computer may interfere with normal system operations Why can t I use the DVgate software If your computer is using the Ultimate Battery Life profile as a power saving mode you cannot use DVgate_ Please select another profile Preferably connect your compute
70. k Network Total Accesses EarthLink Inc Web site http support earthlink net e mail support earthlink net phone 800 890 5128 or 800 890 6356 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day PC Cillin 2000 Trend Micro Inc Web site http www antivirus com pc cillin support phone 510 859 0308 900 820 8324 hours M F 8 AM 5 PM PST 1 Support from 510 859 0308 is free of charge but subject to delays Support from 900 820 8324 is fee based but offers immediate response Quickene Intuit Inc Web site http www intuit com support phone 900 555 4932 800 644 3193 hours M F 5 AM 5 PM PST 1 Support from 900 555 4932 is fee based Support from 800 644 3193 is automated and free of charge Page 159 QuickTimes Apple Computer Inc Web site http www apple com phone 800 275 2273 hours M F 6 AM 6 PM PST RealPlayere RealNetworks Inc Web site http service real com rjoptions html e mail http service real com help call htm online email form Sony Applications Sony Electronics Inc Web site http www sony com pcsupport phone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day 1 Support from 1 888 4 SONY PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase Windows Operating System Microsoft Corp Web site http www sony com pcsupport phone 888 4SONYPC 888 476 6972 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day 1 Support
71. kers are properly connected and the volume is turned up loud enough to hear sound Your speakers may not be designed for computer use Ifthe speakers have a mute button set the button to off If you are using battery power make sure the battery s is inserted properly and is charged Ifyou have connected an audio cable to the Headphone jack disconnect the cable and use the speaker cable that was supplied with the speakers Use the Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Why can t I hear sound from my speakers If you are using battery power make sure the battery is properly inserted and is charged If you are using an application that has its own volume control make sure the volume control is properly set Your speakers may be set to mute the volume setting may be too low or the audio option may be disabled See Adjusting the volume and Enabling the audio feature for more information Why don t the Fn F3 or the Fn F4 key combinations work The computer may not recognize the Fn F3 and Fn F4 key combinations if the correct speakers are not selected Follow these steps Dy 1 Right click the Volume icon Bon the taskbar and select Adjust Audio Properties 2 Select the Audio tab and click Advanced in the Sound Playback box The Advanced Audio Properties window appears 3 Click the Speakers tab if it is not already selected
72. l Performance and Maintenance and System The System Properties window opens Select the Hardware tab and then click Device Manager The Device Manager window appears Double click the listed DVD CD ROM drive The Properties window opens Click the Properties tab and then select the Enable digital CD audio for this CD ROM device check box Why did the computer LCD screen go blank Your computer screen may go blank if the computer has lost power or is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is turned on The power indicator on the computer will be on if the computer is on Make sure the battery is inserted properly and is charged If the computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the computer screen Ifthe display mode is set to external display such as TV press and hold the Fn key while you press F7 or F8 several times Why don t my changes appear on the computer LCD screen You may need to refresh the computer screen Press the Windows key and press the D key twice How do I adjust the image on the TV screen Use the controls on your external display to adjust the image See the manual that came with your display for more information How do I change the video resolution on the TV screen The video may not appear on the entire TV screen if your computer resolution is set to 1024 x 768 or greater To change the vid
73. l Alt Delete keys simultaneously When the Windows Task Manager window appears press the Alt key to highlight the menu bar and press the Right Arrow gt key to select Shut Down Press Enter and then press R 3 Press and hold the power button for more than four seconds Page 83 PC Card LEI Disk Dri Using Floppy Disk Drives Using PC Cards Page 84 Using Floppy Disk Drives Your computer comes with a floppy disk drive in the multipurpose bay To insert a disk 1 Hold the disk with the label side facing up 2 Gently insert the disk into the drive until it clicks into place Inserting the floppy disk drive Multipurpose bay Floppy disk drive To remove a disk 1 Wait until the LED indicator light turns off and then press the Eject button to remove the disk Removing a disk Eject button LED indicator light 4 Do not push the eject button when the LED indicator is turned on Otherwise data may be lost To remove the floppy disk drive 1 Turn off the notebook 2 There is a RELEASE lever on the bottom of the computer Slide this lever in the direction of the arrow Multipurpose bay release lever Page 85 3 Slide the drive out of the multipurpose bay 4 Insert the weight saver See Using a second battery for details To reinsert the floppy disk drive 1 Turn off the notebook 2 If another device is in the multipurpose bay remove the device See Using a second battery f
74. lug the computer from the AC adapter and remove the battery from your computer If your computer stops responding while playing a CD or DVD press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Task Manager dialog box appears and you can turn off the computer from the Shut Down menu 4 Pressing the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously or turning off the computer with the power button may result in data loss in files that are currently open Why won t the power management respond Your computer s operating system may become unstable if a lower power state such as Hibernate is initiated and changed before the computer completely enters the lower power state To restore the computer to its normal operating stability 1 Close all open programs 2 Restart the computer by pressing Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Task Manager dialog box appears and you can restart the computer from the Shut Down menu 3 If this procedure does not work press and hold the power button for four seconds or longer to turn off the computer Why does the System Properties dialog box display a slower CPU speed than advertised Page 143 This is normal Because your computer s CPU utilizes a type of CPU speed controlling technology for power conservation purposes System Properties may display the CPU s current speed instead of the maximum speed Page 144 Troubleshooting Batteries How do I know when the battery is charged To determine the remain
75. mation contained in your access point instructions Why can t I establish a connection between two VAIO computers Your computer may not recognize an i LINK connection if the i LINK cable is not plugged securely into the i LINK ports Disconnect the i LINK cable and securely reconnect it to both computers If neither computer responds after a few moments restart both computers If the computers do not recognize the i LINK connection after resuming from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate restart both computers 1 i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other Refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection Before connecting compatible i LINK PC peripherals to your system such as CD RW or hard disk drive confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions Page 151 Troubleshooting DVDs and CDs How do I maintain DVDs Avoid touching the surface of the disc with your fingers Fingerprints and dust on the surface of the disc may cause reading errors To clean the disc hold the edge of the disc and use a soft cloth to wipe the surface from the center out If the dis
76. miliarity with the general terminology associated with personal computers and with the safety practices and regulatory compliance required for using and modifying electronic equipment A Sony recommends that memory upgrades be performed by an authorized Sony Service Center To find the nearest center or agent go to http www sony com pcsupport When installing a memory module in your computer and make sure you read the proper safety precautions below Mistakes that occur when installing or removing a memory module may cause a malfunction Disconnect the computer from its power source and from any telecommunications links networks or modems before you install or remove a memory module Failure to do so may result in personal injury or equipment damage Electrostatic discharge ESD can damage disk drives and other components Perform the procedures described below only at an ESD 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 cellophane wrappers for example Ground yourself by maintaining contact with an unpainted metal portion of the chassis while performing the procedure Do not open the memory module package until you are ready to install the module The package protects the module from ESD Use the special protective package to store a memory module and prevent ESD or wrap the memory module in aluminum foil Page 129
77. mputer and the monitor See Selecting a Display Mode for more information Connecting a Multimedia Computer Monitor Power cord supplied with monitor Audio cable not supplied To AV Out jack A Video cable not supplied See the manual that came with your multimedia computer monitor for more information on its installation and use Page 101 Connecting a projector You can use a projector to display the actions and images on your computer s LCD screen To connect a projector 1 Plug the projector into an AC outlet 2 Turn off the computer 3 Plug the display cable connector into the AV Out jack on the computer 4 Plug the other end of the display cable into the projector 5 Plug the audio cable connector into the Headphone jack Q on the computer 6 Plug the other end of the audio cable into the projector 7 Turn on the projector if it is not already on and then turn on the computer 8 Press the Fn F7 key combination to toggle the display between your computer and the projector See Selecting a Display Mode for more information Connecting a Projector To headphone jack Projector Display cable Audio cable not supplied not supplied See the manual that came with your projector for more information on its installation and use Page 102 Selecting a Display Mode This computer uses the ATI video controller When you connect your computer to an external display projector computer m
78. n Multiple i LINK devices are connected to the computer The software supplied with your computer will not recognize multiple i LINK devices Turn off your computer and all connected devices Disconnect the devices that are not in use See Using i LINK Digital Video Recorders for instructions on reconnecting the i LINK device 1 i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other Refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection Before connecting compatible i LINK PC peripherals to your system such as CD RW or hard disk drive confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions Page 98 Using Computer Monitors and Projectors You can connect an external display such as a computer monitor or a projector to your computer port replicator or docking station Connecting a computer monitor Connecting a multimedia computer monitor Connecting a projector Selecting a Display Mode Disconnecting a computer monitor or projector Page 99 Connecting a computer monitor You can display the images on your computer s LCD screen onto an external computer monitor
79. n Recovery CD s for more information Why is my modem connection slow Your computer is equipped with a V 90 compatible modem Many factors may influence modem connection speed including telephone line noise or compatibility with telephone equipment such as fax machines or other modems If you think your modem is not connecting properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your Internet Service Provider ISP follow these steps Ask your telephone company to verify your telephone line is free of any line noise If your problem is fax related make sure there are no problems with the fax machine you are calling and that it is compatible with fax modems If you are having a problem connecting with your ISP make sure the ISP is not experiencing technical problems If you have a second telephone cable available try connecting the modem to that cable Page 149 Troubleshooting Networks Why can t my computer connect to a Wireless LAN Access Point Connection availability is affected by distance and obstructions You may need to move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using Make sure the Wireless LAN PC Card purchased separately is properly inserted Make sure power to the access point is on Make sure the access point is displayed in the Available networks window 1 From the Start menu click Control Panel Network and Internet Connections and then Network Connections 2 Ri
80. nel 3 Click Network and Internet Connections and then click Network Connections 4 Double click Wireless Network Connection The Connect to Wireless Network dialog box appears Connecting to a Wireless LAN Page 30 Connect to Wireless Network The following network s are available To access a network select it from the list and then click Connect Available networks yyy XXX zzz c If you are having difficulty connecting to a network click Advanced Advanced 5 Select a network from the Available networks list box 6 Type the network key of the available network in the Network key box See your network administrator for this information 7 Click Connect To set up a wireless network 1 Insert a Wireless LAN PC Card into the PC Card slot See Inserting PC Cards for more information The Wireless LAN indicator lights up 2 From the Start menu click Control Panel Network and Internet Connections and then click Network Connections 3 Right click Wireless Network Connection and select Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties dailog box appears 4 Click the Wireless Networks tab and then click Add The Wireless Network Properties dialog box is updated Setting Wireless Network Connection Properties Wireless Network Proper eda Nelwerk name SSID Wireless network key WEP This network requires a key for the following C Data encryption WEP enabled C
81. nnection slow Your computer is equipped with a V 90 compatible modem Many factors may influence modem connection speed including telephone line noise or compatibility with telephone equipment such as fax machines or other modems If you think your modem is not connecting properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your Internet Service Provider ISP follow these steps Ask your telephone company to verify your telephone line is free of any line noise If your problem is fax related make sure there are no problems with the fax machine you are calling and that it is compatible with fax modems If you are having a problem connecting with your ISP make sure the ISP is not experiencing technical problems If you have a second telephone cable available try connecting the modem to that cable Page 26 Network Connections With a Sony computer you can easily set up or connect to a variety of networks The New Connection Wizard and Network Setup Wizard make it easy to gain access to remote and local area networks LANs using wireless Ethernet or dial up connections For more information about networking click Start Help and Support and then Networking and the Web Using Ethernet and dial up connections Using wireless LAN connections Checking your network connection status Frequently asked questions Types of Networks Access point wireless Computer to com puter wireless Ethernet
82. ol is set to an audible level Page 111 Using Microphones You can connect an external microphone to your computer to enhance the sound input to your computer Make sure your microphone is designed for computer use If you wish to purchase a microphone shop Sony online at http www sonystyle com vaio or contact your local retailer Connecting a microphone Disconnecting a microphone Using a microphone or other device to record Frequently asked questions Page 112 Connecting a microphone Plug the microphone cable into the Microphone jack on the computer Connecting a Microphone Jack Microphone Microphone jack See the manual that came with your microphone for more information on its installation and use 1A protruding dot located next to the Microphone jack distinguishes this jack from the Headphone jack Page 113 Disconnecting a microphone You can disconnect an external microphone when the computer is on or off Simply unplug the microphone cable from the Microphone jack on the computer Page 114 Using a microphone or other device to record You can record messages memos or other recordings in analog by connecting a microphone or other audio device to the Microphone jack on your computer port replicator or docking station and switching the jack functionality The Microphone jack is for MIC IN monaural To record from a microphone or audio device 1 Double cli
83. ollow these instructions pai If you are using a TV Out jack plug the TV Out jack into the computer before you start the computer Also set the screen resolution to 640 x 480 dots 1 Right click the desktop and select Properties from the drop down list The Display Properties dialog box appears 2 Click the Settings tab 3 Move the screen resolution slider to the left to reduce the size and to the right to increase the size of the video resolution How do I switch the computer LCD screen from LCD to TV See Selecting a Display Mode for instructions on how to switch the display mode to LCD and TV Page 157 Troubleshooting Software What do I do when my program stops responding or crashes Contact the software publisher or designated provider for technical support See Software Support Information or contact information Why does the message You must insert the Application CD into your optical drive appear and the software does not start Some titles require specific files that are located on the Application Recovery CD Insert the disc and try starting the program again Your optical drive may not be reading the disc Make sure you place the CD in the tray with the label side facing up Why can t the program find a file while a PC Card is inserted When inserted into a computer that is connected to the docking station some PC Cards may change the drive letters of the disk drives in the docking stat
84. omputer to computer ad hoc network wireless access points are not used 5 Type up to 32 ASCII characters in the Network name SSID box 6 Click to select the Data encryption WEP enabled check box 7 Click to select the Network Authentication Shared mode check box 8 Click to cancel the The key is provided for me automatically check box 9 Type between 5 to 13 ASCII characters or 10 to 26 hexadecimal characters in the Network key box 10 Click to select the This is a computer to computer ad hoc network wireless access points are not used check box 11 Click OK Your new network name appears in the Preferred networks window To disconnect from a wireless network For computers with built in Wireless LAN functionality open the Wireless Network Connection Status window and click Disable See Checking your network connection status Move the Wireless LAN switch to the OFF position The Wireless LAN indicator turns off For Wireless LAN PC Card connections open the Wireless Network Connection Status window and click Disable See Checking your network connection status Follow these steps to remove the Wireless LAN PC Card Page 32 ro 1 Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware window appears 2 Select the appropriate device name in the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected and click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 3 Mak
85. on You must be using a Windowse operating system to run the Application Recovery CD utility To reinstall programs with the Application Recovery CD s 1 Turn on your computer If your computer is already on close all open programs When the Windowse desktop appears insert Sony Application Recovery CD No 1 into your computer s optical drive The Application Recovery utility loads automatically Click OK in the VAIO welcome window The Sony Application Recovery Program window appears Double click the Software folder icon Select the icon for the application you want to restore and then follow the on screen instructions to complete the recovery process 4 Your system may include one or more Application Recovery CDs If you have more than one Application Recovery CD insert the first CD to run the Application Recovery program You may be prompted to insert the next CD depending on the application you wish to restore To reinstall device drivers with the Application Recovery CD s l 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and right click My Computer Click Properties The System Properties dialog box appears Click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager Right click the unknown device or the device that requires the driver installation and click Update Driver from the shortcut menu pai The unknown devices s is identified by a yellow question mark or exclamation point
86. onitor or TV you can switch the display mode between your computer s LCD display and the external display using shortcut keys or the Display Properties settings Shortcut keys Result Fn Ec F7 Toggles between the LCD a connected external display projector or computer monitor and both the LCD and external display Select one display at a time Connect the cable before you turn on the computer otherwise Fn F7 will not work Fn CO ony F8 Toggles between LCD only TV only and dual LCD TV display modes Select one display at a time to playback DVDs Connect the cable before you turn on the computer otherwise Fn F8 will not work You cannot use the Fn F8 function to switch between LCD and TV once a DVD is inserted into the optical drive To switch the display mode using the Display Properties settings 1 Right click the desktop and click Properties from the drop down list The Display Properties dialog box appears 2 Click the Settings tab and then click Advanced The Default Monitor and ATI RAGE MOBILITY M1 AGP dialog box appears Default Monitor and ATI RAGE MOBILITY M AGP dialog box Multiple Monitors and ATI RAGE MOBILITY M1 AGP FP R Color Management Displays Color Options General Adapter Monitor Troubleshoot Display If your screen resolution makes screen items too small to view comfortably you can increase the DPI to compensate To change font sizes only click Cancel and go to the Appe
87. onnect On selected models Sony Electronics Inc Smart Connect enables you to use an i LINKe cable to connect your VAIO computer to another VAIO computer that supports Smart Connect You can then use one computer to copy delete and edit files on the other computer You can also print from a printer attached to either computer SonicStage Sony Electronics Inc This new jukebox application adds a host of new features to its predecessor OpenMG Jukebox Continuing to take advantage of Sony s copyright protected ATRAC3 format for high quality digital audio storage SonicStage software sports a new music visualizer a sleek new player skin design audio CD burning capability and a parametric equalizer for fine tuning audio playback Sony ScreenBlast ACID On selected models Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment With the powerful Sony ScreenBlast ACID software you can create royalty free music by utilizing its loop based production tool including unlimited tracks and enhanced effects Sony ScreenBlast Sound Forge On selected models Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment Sony ScreenBlast Sound Forge allows you to record edit and process mono or stereo audio files for your multimedia or Internet projects Whether you want to use a number of professional effects convert video into streaming media or synchronize audio to video this software has everything you need to create rich immersive multimedia and Internet content Sony on Yahoo
88. operties dialog box appears 3 Select the Wireless Networks tab and make sure the access point is displayed in the Available networks box If it is not displayed see To connect to an existing wireless network for more information Make sure the encryption key is correct Why can t I access the Internet Make sure the Wireless LAN PC Card is properly inserted into the PC Card slot Check the access point settings Refer to the instructions supplied with the access point Make sure your computer and the access point are connected to one another Move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using Make sure your computer is properly configured for Internet access Why is the data transfer speed slow The Wireless LAN data transfer speed is affected by distance and obstructions between devices and access points Other factors include device configurations radio conditions and software compatibility To maximize the data transfer speed move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using If you are using a Wireless LAN Access Point the device may be temporarily overloaded depending on the number of other devices communicating via the access point If your access point interferes with other access points change the access point channel See your access point instructions for more information Why is the communication speed interrupted or slowed down when MPE
89. or details 3 Insert the floppy disk drive with the VAIO label facing up into the multipurpose bay until the RELEASE lever locks into place Inserting the floppy disk drive Multipurpose bay Page 86 Frequently asked questions Why is the drive unable to write data to a floppy disk The floppy disk drive cannot write data to a disk if it is inserted into the drive improperly See Using Floppy Disk Drives for instructions on how to insert the disk properly If the disk is inserted properly and you are still unable to write data to it the disk may be write protected You can either use a floppy disk that is not write protected or disable the write protect feature Page 87 Using PC Cards Your computer includes one or more PC Card slots A PC Card enables you to connect portable external devices such as another hard disk drive or a PC Network Interface Card NIC to connect to a network See your VAIO Computer Specifications for the type of PC Card that is compatible with your computer These slots are compatible with CardBus If your computer has more than one PC Card slot use the lower slot for Type III PC Cards You do not need to turn off your computer to insert or remove a PC Card Inserting PC Cards Removing PC Cards Frequently asked questions Page 88 Inserting PC Cards Your computer may contain PC Card slot protectors Remove these protectors before you insert a PC Card into the slot Se
90. or each of the batteries installed in your computer To display battery information 1 Click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears 3 Select the Power Meter tab The total remaining battery charge is listed as a percentage If your computer comes with more than one battery you have the option of viewing information on both batteries or just the primary battery You may also use the power icon on the Windowse taskbar to quickly view battery information See To display the power icon on the taskbar for instructions on how to set up this shortcut To display the power icon on the taskbar 1 Click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears 3 Select the Advanced tab and then select Always show icon on the taskbar in the Options box The power icon appears on the taskbar See the power icon descriptions for more information You can rollover the power icon to view the remaining battery charge and you can double click the power icon to open the Power Meter window which also displays the remaining battery charge Power icon Power status Computer is using AC power Computer is using AC power and charging the battery Battery is charging Battery is fully charged Gel Si x Ba
91. ormation Make sure the PC Card is compatible with the Microsoft Windowse operating system installed on your computer Make sure any necessary drivers were installed properly Why doesn t my computer recognize attached devices For some PC Cards if you alternate between normal power operation and the Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted into the PC Card slot the computer may not recognize the PC Card or the connected device Restart your computer Why can t I insert my PC Card Make sure you are orienting the card correctly See To insert a PC Card for more information Check the manual that came with your PC Card for more information on its use You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer Why does an exclamation mark appear on the Device Manager tab in the System Properties dialog box You may not be using the most recent software driver provided by the PC Card manufacturer Make sure the necessary drivers are installed You may need to remove the software driver and reinstall it Page 91 Audi Video ti Using i LINK Digital Video Recorders Using Computer Monitors and Projectors Using Speakers Using Microphones Page 92 Using i LINK Digital Video Recorders You can connect an i LINK digital video DV recorder such as an i LINK digital video camera recorder to the i LINK S400 B IEEE 1394 por
92. plication Recovery CD s for more information Page 75 Using the Multilingual User Interface Language Option Windowse XP Pro only After you have initially setup your new VAIO computer you can change the language displayed in Microsofte Windowse XP Professional operating system The multilingual user interface MUI language option changes the text controlled by Windows XP Professional operating system Menus help files and icons generated by Windows XP Professional are shown in your selected language All other software applications are displayed in English as the default language The multilingual user interface language option is not designed to replace a localized version of the Microsoft Windows XP Professional operating system Under certain conditions some third party software applications may not function properly To Change the Language Option 1 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar then click Control Panel 2 Click Date Time Language and Regional Options then click Regional and Language Options The Regional and Language Options dialog box appears 3 Click the Languages tab 4 From the Language used in menus and dialogs drop down menu select the desired language English francais Portugu s espa ol 5 Click Apply and then click OK 6 The Change Regional Options pop up window appears Click OK 7 Click Start in the Windowse taskbar then click Logoff Restart your computer Additional users can
93. r access point instructions for more information Why is the communication speed interrupted or slowed down when MPEG2 data is transferred The typical effective data transfer speed via an access point is 4 5 Mbps when adhering to the IEEE 802 11b standard High rate stream transfers with MPEG2 data may lower this rate How do I avoid data transfer interruptions Data transfer interruptions may occur with large files or use of microwaves and cordless telephones when connected to an access point Move the computer closer to the access point Make sure the access point connection is intact 1 From the Start menu click Control Panel Network and Internet Connections The Network and Internet Connections window appears 2 Click Network Connections The Network Connections window appears Page 150 3 Check the connection status Change the access point channel See your access point instructions for more information Can I connect to a IEEE 802 11a device Computers with built in Wireless LAN support the IEEE 802 11b standard only Devices connecting to a Wireless LAN using the IEEE 802 11a standard cannot connect to devices using the IEEE 802 11b standard What are channels Wireless LAN communication occurs on divided frequency bands known as channels Third party Wireless LAN Access Point channels may be preset to different channels from Sony devices If you are using a Wireless LAN Access Point refer to connectivity infor
94. r bend the disc Do not touch the surface of the disc Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a disc may cause reading errors Proper care of the disc is essential to maintain its reliability 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 Page 46 To write data to a CD RW or CD R disc You can use Sony SonicStage and Microsoft Windowse XP to write data to a CD R or CD RW disc To create a CD R disc that is readable in a CD ROM drive make sure that you finish the writing process before ejecting the disc For more information see the instructions included with Windowse XP Notes on writing data to a CD RW or CD R disc For optimal writing speed deactivate the screen saver and exit anti virus software before writing data to a disc For best results use CD Rs that are compatible with 8x speed Your notebook does not support 1x writing speed If your notebook computer has preinstalled Microsofte Office applications such as Excel Word and Outlook turn off the FindFast application A Do not strike or shake the notebook while writ
95. r to AC power when using these features Page 122 DVgate Application Notes Recording images to a digital video device Adjusting image resolution Saving to your hard disk drive Page 123 Recording images to a digital video device If your system displays the message Failed to record to DV deck please check deck s power status cable connection while you are recording images to a digital video device using DVgate software close all open applications and restart your computer Frequent recording of images to a digital video device while using DVgate may cause this situation to occur For more information on DVgate software see the DVgate online help Page 124 Adjusting image resolution If the images on the LCD do not display smoothly the resolution may not be set correctly To check the resolution 1 From the DVgate Motion Monitor window click Setup 2 From the shortcut menu point to Settings and then select Low Resolution The settings you change in this menu affect the images in the monitor window only Movie data imported to your hard drive and images recorded to DV devices will not be affected Page 125 Saving to your hard disk drive In order to improve the performance of your computer s DVgate motion software the hard disk drive on your computer has been formatted with two partitions C and D The C partition holds 40 percent and the D partition holds 60 percent of the entire drive cap
96. rch from the Start menu 4 Ctrl F Displays the Search Results Computers window where you can locate other computers This is the equivalent of selecting Search and then Computer from the Start menu Him Minimizes all displayed windows Shift 2 M Returns all minimized windows to their previous size Hip Displays the Run window This is the equivalent of selecting Run from the Start menu Fn 4 Insert Displays the System Properties window This is the equivalent of selecting Control Panel and then System from the Start menu Page 69 Indicators Indicator Function Power Lights up when the power to the computer is turned on flashes in Standby mode and turns off when the computer is in Hibernate mode or powered off Battery 1 Lights up when the computer is using battery power flashes when the battery is running out of power double flashes when the battery is charging Hard disk 0 Lights up when data is read from or written to the hard disk drive Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator light is on Num Lock Lights up when the number keys area in the numeric keypad are active When the indicator is off the alphanumeric character keys in the keypad area are active Caps Lock Lights up when the letters appear in uppercase as you type The Shift key lowers the case of typed letters when Caps Lock is on When the indicator is off the letters appear in lower case as you typ
97. re programs have built in volume controls which you can adjust If there are no volume controls then you can adjust the volume of your computer s built in speakers by doing one of the following Using the Function keys An on screen display appears notifying you when a change occurs To increase volume press Fn F4 then Mor gt To decrease volume press Fn F4 then Vor Using the Volume icon 1 Double click the Volume icon A the Windowse taskbar The Volume Control dialog box appears 2 In the Volume Control and AC Audio columns move the Volume sliders up to increase the volume and down to decrease the volume Page 51 Copying files to a CD RW or CD R Before you write data to a CD RW or CD R read the following notes to avoid a computer malfunction and ensure the best writing results Deactivate the screen saver and exit anti virus software Deactivate memory resident disc utilities to avoid data loss Turn off the FindFast application if your computer has preinstalled Microsoft Office applications such as Excel Word and Outlook Connect and use the AC adapter to power your computer Use CD Rs that are compatible with 8x speed Your computer does not support 1x writing speed Insert the disc into the optical drive and use the preinstalled Sony SonicStage software For instructions on using SonicStage software 1 Click Start and then Help and Support 2 Click VAIO Multimedia Softwar
98. rm is set to 10 percent and the Critical battery alarm is set to 3 percent by default 4 To further customize your alarm settings click Alarm Action Here you can select the type of alarm you want the computer to activate and how you want the computer to respond to the alarm To select a power scheme 1 Click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears with the Power Schemes tab selected 3 Select a power scheme from the drop down power schemes list Each power scheme is preset to utilize your power supply efficiently according to your computing functions Select the power scheme that best explains how you want to use your computer 4 Click Apply The computer detects your changes To create a power scheme 1 Click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears with the Power Schemes tab selected You can also right click the power icon on the Windowse taskbar and select Adjust Power Properties to open the Power Options Properties window 3 Select your changes from the drop down lists in the Settings for power scheme box and click Save As in the Power schemes box The Save Scheme window appears 4 Type a name for your customized power scheme and click OK The power scheme you created appear
99. s LAN PC Card separately The Wireless LAN PC Card is designed for a wireless LAN environment You can use the Wireless LAN PC Card with or without the access point Most Sony Wireless LAN devices support the IEEE 802 11b standard Devices connecting to a Wireless LAN using the IEEE 802 11a standard cannot connect to devices using the IEEE 802 11b standard For more information on Sony Wireless LAN go to http www sonystyle com vaio There are two types of wireless connections An infrastructure network is one that extends an existing wired local network to wireless devices by providing an access point The access point bridges the wireless and wired LAN and acts as a central controller for the Wireless LAN The access point coordinates transmission and reception from multiple wireless devices within a specific range A computer to computer ad hoc network is one in which a local network is created only by the wireless devices themselves with no other central controller or access point Each device communicates directly with other devices in the network You can set up an ad hoc network easily at home To connect to an existing wireless network 1 Insert a Wireless LAN PC Card not supplied into the PC Card slot See Inserting PC Cards for more information The Wireless LAN indicator on the card lights up Connecting to a Wireless LAN Wireless LAN PC Card not supplied 3 2 From the Start menu click Control Pa
100. s in the Power schemes box 4 If you want to delete a power scheme select the power scheme and click Delete When the Delete Scheme window appears click Yes To customize your power properties 1 Click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears 4 If you want to access the power scheme information quickly from the Windowse taskbar see To display the power icon on the taskbar for more information Page 16 3 Select the Advanced tab and select your changes from the drop down lists in the Power buttons box See Frequently asked questions for information on how Standby and Hibernate modes affect power consumption 4 Click Apply The computer detects your changes Fy To activate Hibernate mode you must first enable the Hibernate mode See To activate Hibernate mode for more information Page 17 Frequently asked questions Can my computer enter Hibernate mode while using battery power For some software programs and some peripheral devices your computer may not enter Hibernate mode when the battery life is low To avoid loss of data when using battery power you should save your data frequently and manually activate a power management mode such as Standby or Hibernate When should I replace the battery If after fully charging the battery the battery power is still low the battery may be reaching
101. s on See Powering Your Computer for more information Make sure the battery is inserted properly and is charged If you are connected to a docking station with a floppy disk drive or an external floppy disk drive make sure the floppy disk drive is empty If the computer is plugged into a power strip or Uninterruptible Power Supply UPS make sure the power strip or UPS is turned on and working If you are using an external display make sure it is plugged into a power source and turned on Make sure the brightness and contrast controls are adjusted correctly See the manual that came with your display for details Remove the battery from the computer unplug the power cord and plug it in again Turn on the power If the power control button does not function remove the AC adapter and battery Wait one minute and then reattach them before pressing the power button Condensation may cause the computer to malfunction If this occurs do not use the computer for at least one hour Unplug the power cord press the reset button by using a thin straight object such as a paper clip remove the battery plug it in again and turn on the power Why does a BIOS error appear when my computer starts When the battery is low on power your system may not start properly and the message Press lt F1 gt to resume lt F2 gt to setup may appear at the bottom of the screen Follow these steps 1 Press F2 The BIOS Setup menu appears
102. s recorded at 20 or 24 bits may produce noise while playing If you have audio devices connected this may damage your hearing and the speakers Reduce the volume before playing a DVD Do not switch the power saving modes while you are playing the DVD Do not use memory resident utility software to speed up disc access This may cause the computer to malfunction Page 55 Disconnecting the TV from the computer If the computer is turned off unplug the audio video cable connector from the AV Out port on the computer Page 56 Frequently asked questions How do I maintain CDs and DVDs Avoid touching the surface of the disc with your fingers Fingerprints and dust on the surface of the disc may cause reading errors To clean the disc hold the edge of the disc 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 Do not clean the disc with solvents such as benzine thinner commercially available cleaners or anti static spray which may damage the disc Do not drop or bend the disc Why can t I view the entire DVD video display on a TV screen You may not be able to view the entire video display on a TV because the display resolution is not properly set To adjust the display resolution see Selecting a Display Mode
103. s scores and chat with thousands of others who share your interests DigitalPrint Sony Electronics Inc This image management software makes it fun and easy to edit import and organize your digital pictures in a photo album for rich digital printing to any standard color laser or ink jet printer DigitalPrint can also be used to make custom CD labels for your audio CDs DVgate Sony Electronics Inc Connect a digital video camera recorder to the i LINK port and capture your own video clips and still images You can edit clips from your video add new clips and combine clips into new movie segments You can also save your images in a variety of popular file formats EarthLink Network Total Accesse EarthLink Inc An Internet Service Provider that supplies access information and assistance to its customers introducing them to the Internet Member benefits include e mail newsgroups a Personal Start Page free storage space for your personal Web site a member magazine and 24 hour technical support EverQuest On selected models Sony Online Entertainment Inc This introductory edition of EverQuest a living constantly evolving fantasy world takes users to new heights of online role playing gaming Enter an enormous virtual environment an entire world with its own diverse species economic systems alliances and politics Make yourself a noble human knight a vicious dark elf thief a greedy dwarven merchant or whatever your
104. sing AC power When the computer is directly connected to the AC adapter it uses AC power even if a battery is installed When should I recharge the battery When the battery level falls below 10 percent When both the battery and power indicators blink When you have not used the battery for a considerable amount of time Page 13 Conserving Battery Power You may use the power saving modes and power schemes to conserve battery power Conserving battery power may significantly extend your computing time depending on how you use your computer Using power saving modes Using power schemes Frequently asked questions Page 14 Using power saving modes In addition to the normal operating mode which allows you to turn off specific devices your computer has two distinct power saving modes Standby and Hibernate You can use the Standby and Hibernate power saving modes to override a profile setting or initiate an immediate action Standby Saves the state of the system and peripheral devices in memory RAM Power consumption reduces to a minimum and the system remains on Hibernate Saves the state of the system and peripheral devices in the Save to Disk Partition on the hard disk and power is turned off Power consumption reduces to a minimum and the system is turned off Hibernate mode consumes the lowest level of power The computer automatically enters Hibernate mode when the remaining batt
105. stem installed on your computer You may need to install the printer software drivers before you use the printer See the instructions that came with your printer for information about installing these drivers If the printer is not functioning after the computer resumes from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate reset the printer connection 1 Click Start and click Control Panel Click Printers and Other Hardware and click Printers and Faxes Right click the printer icon that is not functioning and select Properties to open the Properties window Click OK Change the default printer port setting although this setting is generally correct for most printers 1 Click Start and click Control Panel Click Performance and Maintenance and click System The System Properties dialog box appears Select the Hardware tab and click Device Manager The Device Manager window appears Double click Ports COM amp LPT and double click ECP Printer Port LPT1 Select the Port Settings tab and select a different LPT Port Number Page 64 Computer FS Using the Keyboard Using the Touchpad Using the Multilingual User Interface Language Option Changing the window design of Sony software Page 65 Using the Keyboard Your keyboard is very similar to a typewriter s but your computer keyboard has additional keys that perform specific computer related tasks Key locations and descriptions Com
106. t on your computer port replicator or docking station The i LINK digital video camera recorder is an external device that allows you to record images digitally Connecting an i LINK digital video recorder Disconnecting the i LINK digital video recorder Using a digital video camera recorder Notes on connecting an i LINK device Frequently asked questions 1 i LINK is a trademark of Sony used to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connector The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software application 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 more information on operating conditions and proper connection Before connecting compatible i LINK PC peripherals to your system such as a CD RW or hard disk drive confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions Page 93 Connecting an i LINK digital video recorder You can connect an i LINK digital video DV recorder when the computer is powered on or off Connecting the DV recorder when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To connect an i LINK digital video recorder 1 Turn on the DV device and the computer 2 Plug the i LINKe cable into the i LINK DC In Out port on the DV device 3 Plug t
107. tallation and use Page 81 Disconnecting a mouse or keyboard You can disconnect a USB mouse or keyboard when the computer is turned on or off Disconnecting the USB mouse or keyboard when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To disconnect the USB mouse or keyboard when the computer is off e Unplug the USB cable from the USB port Y on the computer Page 82 Frequently asked questions Why doesn t the computer recognize the USB mouse Make sure the mouse is securely plugged into the USB port See Connecting a Mouse or Keyboard for more information You may need to install or reinstall the mouse driver software Use the supplied Application Recovery CD to install the drivers See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information Why doesn t the pointer move when I use the USB mouse Make sure another mouse was not installed You may need to install or reinstall the mouse driver software Use the supplied Application Recovery CD s See Using the Application Recovery CD s for more information If you are playing a disc press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously to stop playback and restart the computer If you still cannot use the pointer turn off and restart the computer You can turn off the computer three different ways 1 Press the Windows key 4 and press U When the Turn off computer window opens press R 2 Press the Ctr
108. ttery is discharging J FARE ty 1 Af No battery is inserted in the computer Page 10 Charging a battery You will need to charge the battery if battery power drops below 10 percent or you have not used the battery for a considerable amount of time The lithium ion battery supplied with your computer may be recharged at any time whether you wait until the battery is completely or partially discharged Charging a partially discharged battery does not affect battery life If you charge the battery and find that battery power is still low the battery may be reaching the end of its life and you may need to replace it The battery supplied with your computer is not charged at the time of purchase To charge a battery You can charge the battery when the computer is on or off However the battery will charge faster when the computer is off Charging the battery takes several hours See your VAIO Computer Specifications for the approximate time needed to charge your battery 4 Charge the batteries at temperatures between 50 F and 80 F 10 C to 30 C Lower temperatures require a longer charging time 1 Insert the battery into the battery bay If you want to charge more than one battery insert the second battery into the computer See Inserting a battery for more information 2 Connect the AC adapter to the computer The computer automatically charges the battery as long as the computer is using AC power The battery ind
109. twork Setup Wizard This wazard wil help you set up this computer to un on youa network With a network you oan Share an irternet connection Set up terol Connector Firewall Share hios and loiders Share a perter 4 Follow the on screen Network Setup Wizard instructions 5 When you are prompted type in a unique computer name for each computer You will use this unique name to differentiate the two computers once they are networked together The Workgroup name should remain the same for the two networked computers 6 When you finish the Network Setup Wizard on screen instructions click Start on the Windowse taskbar and click My Computer 7 Click My Network Places in the Other Places menu The My Network Places window appears 8 Click View workgroup computers in the Network Tasks menu The computers that are networked under the same workgroup name are displayed in this window Connecting Another Computer i LINK cable not supplied Page 38 Disconnecting VAIO computers You can disconnect two VAIO computers when the computers are on or off To disconnect VAIO computers when the computers are on 1 Close all open files that are shared with the connected computers 2 Unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK port on each computer To disconnect VAIO computer when the computers are off e Unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK port on each computer Page 39 Frequently asked questions Why can t I est
110. ume icon Bn the Windowse taskbar or the volume dial control Adjusting the volume for playing CDs or DVDs does not adjust the volume for recording CDs or DVDs 4 You can only adjust the recording volume in the Recording Control window See Using a microphone or other device to record for instructions on how to open this window To adjust the volume of your speakers 1 Right click the Volume icon Bn the Windowse taskbar and select Open Volume Control The Volume Control window appears 2 Click and drag the Volume Control slider up to increase volume and down to decrease volume 3 Click to cancel any Mute check boxes that are selected Sound device Function Volume Control Adjust the sound level from the speakers or headphones Wave Adjust the wavfile sound or the system sound of Windows SW Synth Adjusts the internal or external synthesizer volume 3D Depth Adjusts the sound depth CD Audio Adjust the volume of the CD in the optional optical drive Microphone Adjust the internal or external microphone volume Telephony Adjust the modem or telephone volume Line Adjusts the sensitivity of volume input 1 On selected models only pai As a short cut you can use the Fn F4 key combination and the arrow keys t or gt to change the volume setting You can also use the Fn F3 key combination to toggle the mute option on and off Page 109 Enabling the audio feature If you do not hear sound when playing a CD or DVD you may ne
111. ur system s data If you wish to retain your system data perform a backup to an external media To use the System Recovery CD s Your system may take a few minutes to load necessary files A blue screen may appear during the downloading process 1 Insert the Sony System Recovery CD in the optical drive The first CD must be in the drive before you restart your computer 2 Turn off your computer by clicking Start and then Turn off computer 3 Wait 30 seconds and turn on your computer The System Recovery utility restarts from the optical drive 4 When the VAIO System Recovery Utility wizard appears click Next 5 Follow the on screen instructions to complete the recovery process If your computer does not start from the Recovery CD 1 Press the power button and hold it for more than four seconds to turn off the computer 2 Turn on the computer When the Sony logo is displayed press the F2 key The BIOS Setup Utility appears 3 Press the right arrow key gt to select the Exit menu 4 Press the down arrow key to select Get Default Values and press Enter The Setup Confirmation window appears 5 Press Enter again to select Yes 6 Make sure Exit Save Changes is selected and then press Enter The Setup Confirmation window appears again 7 Make sure Yes is selected and press Enter The computer restarts from the Recovery CD Page 139 4 Your system may include one or more System Recovery CDs If you have more than on
112. urn on the computer and exit a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate if one is active See Using power saving modes for more information on power saving modes 2 Close all software programs that are open from the optical drive and wait for the LED indicator to turn off 3 Press the Eject button on the optical drive cover to open the drive tray The drive tray slides out If the Eject button does not work turn off the computer and insert a thin straight object such as a paper clip into the manual eject hole next to the Eject button Page 48 4 Lift the disc from the drive 5 Push the drive tray gently to close it Page 49 Copying and Playing CDs Your optical drive can read CDs and DVDs The type of optical drive installed in or connected to your computer may vary depending on the model you purchased If you are using a CD RW DVD Combo Drive you can write data to CD Rs and CD RWs Playing CDs Copying files to a CD RW or CD R A Do not remove the optical drive when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Doing so may cause the computer to malfunction If you plan to use an external optical drive connect the drive before you begin Page 50 Playing CDs To play an audio CD 1 Insert the disc into the optical drive See To insert a CD or DVD 2 Click to select an option in the Audio CD window 3 Click OK To adjust the volume for playing CDs and DVDs Some softwa
113. y Power for more information Inserting a battery Removing a battery Using a second battery Displaying battery information Charging a battery Notes on batteries Frequently asked questions The battery that comes with your computer is not fully charged at the time of purchase Page 6 Inserting a battery To insert a battery 1 Push the battery bay cover down to open it The battery bay cover swings out but does not detach from the computer Opening the Battery Bay 2 Slide the battery into the battery bay If the computer is on it automatically detects the battery Inserting a Battery VAIO logo facing up Battery supplied 3 Push the battery bay cover up until it clicks into place If the port replicator is attached to your computer do not insert or remove the battery Lifting and turning the computer with the port replicator attached could cause a temporary loss of power For some software programs and some peripheral devices your computer may not enter Hibernate mode when the battery life is low To avoid loss of data when using battery power you should save your data frequently and manually activate a power management mode such as Standby or Hibernate See Using power saving modes for more information Page 7 Removing a battery If you are not using the computer for an extended period of time remove the battery from the computer to avoid damagin

Sony PCG-FXA63 User's Guide

Contents

Download Pdf Manuals

Related Search

Related Contents