background image

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 appears. 

  Wireless Network Connection Status Window 

Page  34

Summary of Contents for PCG-R505DC VAIO

Page 1: ...reinstalled 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 VAIO Computer Specifications which lists your computer s hardware specifications and preinstalled software information such as d...

Page 2: ...ry and an AC adapter This chapter explains how to install and use these supplied accessories to power your computer It also describes ways you can efficiently utilize the battery as a power source Using AC Power Using the Battery Conserving Battery Power Page 2 ...

Page 3: ... computer immediately use the supplied AC adapter as the power source While the computer uses AC power it automatically charges the battery if it is inserted See Using the Battery for more information on installing and using your battery Connecting the AC adapter Turning on the computer Page 3 ...

Page 4: ...ached to the AC adapter into the DC IN port on your computer or docking station Connecting the AC Adapter to the Computer 2 Plug one end of the power cord into the AC adapter and plug the other end into an AC outlet Use only the AC adapter supplied with your computer Page 4 ...

Page 5: ...ng the Computer 2 Press the power button until the power indicator turns on Turning on the Computer If you hold the power button down the computer turns off 3 If necessary adjust the brightness controls for the computer screen LCD display as follows To increase light intensity press Fn F5 and then or To decrease light intensity press Fn F5 and then or Page 5 ...

Page 6: ...ys 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 Battery Power for more information Inserting a battery Removing a battery Displaying battery information Charging a battery Notes on batteries Frequently asked questions The battery that comes with you...

Page 7: ... into the LOCK position 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 Some software programs and peripheral devices prevent the system from enabling Hibernate mode when battery power is low You can manually activate a power management mode such as Stand...

Page 8: ...can remove the battery when the computer is on or off 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 Turn the computer over and slide the LOCK UNLOCK switch on the bottom of the computer to the UNLOCK position 2 Slide the battery away from the computer Removing a Battery Page 8 ...

Page 9: ...left Battery Information Toolbar Percentage indicator Displays the percentage of the remaining capacity Time indicator Displays estimated time hours minutes remaining before the battery fully discharges also known as the time to empty To close the Battery Information toolbar 1 Right click the Battery Information toolbar 2 Select Toolbars from the shortcut menu and click to cancel Battery Informati...

Page 10: ...s that appear on the Battery Information toolbar and the Battery Information window indicate the current status of the installed battery Battery icon Battery status Charging Fully charged Discharging No battery Page 10 ...

Page 11: ...ications on the Welcome page for the approximate time needed to charge your battery Charge the battery at temperatures between 50 F and 80 F 10 C to 30 C Lower temperatures require more time to charge 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 Displaying battery information for more information 2 Connect the...

Page 12: ... 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 ...

Page 13: ...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 Page 13 ...

Page 14: ...ng modes and PowerPanel or 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 PowerPanel Frequently asked questions Page 14 ...

Page 15: ...ode consumes the lowest level of power Your computer enters Hibernate mode with the remaining battery charge drops below 5 percent regardless of the setting you select Some software programs and peripheral devices prevent the system from enabling Hibernate mode when battery power is low You can manually activate a power management mode to conserve power but you should save your data frequently to ...

Page 16: ...r Management automatically loads the AC profile unless you disable this feature Games Disables the display and the Hard Disk Standby timer Presentation Keeps the display on at all times while it conserves power This option is ideal for slide show presentations You can establish settings for LCD Video Standby Hard Disk Standby and Standby mode to optimize power management for your system Camera Opt...

Page 17: ...formance Adaptive Battery Life or More Battery Life These selections are listed in order from the greatest to least amount of power consumed System Standby Timer Controls the time it takes the system to activate the Standby mode when it is idle The longer you allow the computer to sit idle while it is not in a power saving mode the more power the computer will consume Hibernate Timer Controls the ...

Page 18: ...dby mode when the system is idle This setting only turns off power to the hard disk drive i LINK Port Controls the power supply to the i LINK port You can disable power to the i LINK port to conserve power Memory Stick Port Power saving Controls the power supply to the Memory Stick slot You can disable power to the Memory Stick slot to conserve power 1 Slows the processor speed Page 18 ...

Page 19: ...ery 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 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 b...

Page 20: ...Internet and Network Connections Internet Connections Network Connections Connecting Another VAIO Computer Page 20 ...

Page 21: ...nnecting 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 21 ...

Page 22: ...d into the wall jack Connecting a Telephone Cable Your computer does not work with party lines cannot be connected to a coin operated telephone and may not work with multiple telephone lines or a private branch exchange PBX Some of these connections may result in excess electrical current and could cause a malfunction in the internal modem If you connect a telephone cable coming through a splitter...

Page 23: ...t If the Location Information dialog box appears follow the on screen instructions 4 If it is not already selected click to select Connect to the Internet and click Next 5 Follow the on screen instructions Page 23 ...

Page 24: ...nd Controls in the Setting Up chapter of your printed VAIO Computer Quick Start Connecting an Ethernet Cable 2 Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into your computer s Ethernet port and the other into the network connection 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...

Page 25: ...4 If it is not already selected click to select Connect to the Internet and click Next 5 Follow the on screen instructions Page 25 ...

Page 26: ...ou 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 3 Click the tabs to view options 4 Make changes and click Apply to activate your changes 5 Click OK Page 26 ...

Page 27: ...covery 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 Provid...

Page 28: ... 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 Page 28 ...

Page 29: ...nt to All Programs Accessories Communications and click Network Setup Wizard The Network Setup Wizard appears The Network Setup Wizard 3 Click Next 4 Follow the on screen instructions Only connect 10BASE T and 100BASE TX cables to the Ethernet port 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...

Page 30: ... From the Start menu point to All Programs Accessories Communications and click New Connection Wizard 3 Click Next If you are prompted to the Local Information dialog box follow the on screen instructions 4 Click Connect to the network at my workplace and then click Next 5 Follow the on screen instructions 6 Ask your network administrator for the detailed settings and devices needed to connect to ...

Page 31: ...ing 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 ...

Page 32: ...n 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 Move the Wireless LAN switch to ON or insert a Wireless LAN PC Card into the ...

Page 33: ...onnection Status window and click Disable See Checking your network connection status Move the Wireless LAN switch to OFF 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 1 Double click the Safely Remove Hard...

Page 34: ... 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 appears Wireless Network Connection Status Window Page 34 ...

Page 35: ... 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 com...

Page 36: ...nnecting 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 contai...

Page 37: ...product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software programs operating system and compatible i LINK devices A ll 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 P...

Page 38: ... Wizard window 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 th...

Page 39: ... This graphic is for illustration purposes only and may not resemble the unit you purchased Page 39 ...

Page 40: ...sconnect 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 Unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK port on each computer Page 40 ...

Page 41: ...oth computers For more information see Connecting VAIO 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 A ll products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other Refer to the documentation that came wi...

Page 42: ...CDs DVDs and Optical Drives Inserting and Ejecting CDs or DVDs Copying and Playing CDs Playing DVDs Page 42 ...

Page 43: ...il the disc clicks securely into place 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 blinks while your computer is reading data from the drive To eject a CD or DVD 1 Turn on the computer or ex...

Page 44: ...4 Lift the disc from the drive 5 Push the drive tray gently to close it Page 44 ...

Page 45: ... 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 Page 45 ...

Page 46: ...d 6 Click OK To adjust the volume for playing CDs and DVDs Some 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 may appear notifying you when a change occurs To increase volume press Fn F4 then or To decrease volu...

Page 47: ... Rs that are compatible with 16x speed Insert the disc into the optical drive and open the preinstalled Sony SonicStage software by clicking Start All Programs and then SonicStage For instructions on how to use SonicStage software follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Help and Support 2 Click VAIO Multimedia and then VAIO AV Applications 3 Click SonicStage Software Once you finish copying file...

Page 48: ...puter s optical drive and view the video on the computer screen The type of optical drive installed in or connected to your computer may vary depending on the model you purchased Watching DVDs on your computer Frequently asked questions Page 48 ...

Page 49: ...matic Profile Selection which sets the power management profile to DVD whenever a DVD is inserted into the optical drive See Conserving Battery Power for more information 2 Restart the computer by pressing Ctrl Alt Delete and then selecting Restart from the Shut Down menu of the Windows Task Manager dialog box 3 Insert the DVD into the CD RW DVD Combo Drive 4 Select a preinstalled DVD program in w...

Page 50: ...uch as a paper clip in the manual eject hole to the right of the Eject button Why isn t the optical drive playing my CD or DVD properly Make sure the CD or DVD was inserted into the drive with the label facing up Make sure the necessary software program s is installed according to the manufacturer s instructions If the CD or DVD is dirty or damaged the computer will stop responding Follow these st...

Page 51: ...se the computer to malfunction Why did the computer screen LCD go blank Your LCD screen may go blank if the computer has lost power or has entered a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate If the computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the LCD screen See Using power saving modes for more information Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is on The power in...

Page 52: ...Printer Connections Printing With Your Computer Page 52 ...

Page 53: ... USB printer or a parallel port printer to your computer To print properly the printer you connect must be compatible with the Microsoft Windows operating system installed on your computer Connecting a printer Disconnecting a printer Frequently asked questions Page 53 ...

Page 54: ... Locate a USB port on the computer and the printer 2 Plug the USB cable into the USB port on your computer 3 Plug the other end of the USB cable into the USB port on the printer Connecting a USB Printer Cable See the guide 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 on your computer 2 Plug the printer ...

Page 55: ...he computer is on or off Disconnecting the printer cable while the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the comuter to malfunction To disconnect the printer cable Unplug the printer cable from the USB or Printer port on the computer Page 55 ...

Page 56: ...inters and Faxes 3 Right click the printer icon that is not functioning and select Properties to open the Properties window 4 Click OK Change the default printer port setting although this setting is generally correct for most printers 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System The System Properties dialog box appears 3 Select the Hardware tab and cl...

Page 57: ...Computer Features Using the Keyboard Using the Touch Pad Using the Jog Dial Control Using Memory Stick Media Changing the Window Design of Sony Programs Page 57 ...

Page 58: ...to a typewriter s but your computer keyboard has additional keys that perform specific computer related tasks Key locations and descriptions Combinations and functions with the Windows key Indicators Combinations and functions with the Fn key Page 58 ...

Page 59: ...el 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 the 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 comma...

Page 60: ...electing Search from the Start menu 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 M Minimizes all displayed windows Shift M Returns all minimized windows to their previous size R Displays the Run window This is the equivalent of selecting Run from the Start menu Fn Insert Dis...

Page 61: ...sk Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator 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 indicato...

Page 62: ...nitor LCD Toggles between the computer screen LCD a connected external display and both the LCD and 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 F12 Hibernate Provides for the lowest level of power consumption When you run this command the state of the system and state of the peripheral devices are...

Page 63: ...board contains a pointing device called a touch pad You can point to select drag and scroll objects on the screen using the built in touch pad Describing the touch pad Customizing the touch pad Frequently asked questions Page 63 ...

Page 64: ...utton twice Right click Press the right button once In many programs this action displays a shortcut menu of context sensitive choices Drag Slide one finger while pressing the left button Scroll Move your finger along the right edge of the touch pad to scroll vertically Move your finger along the bottom to scroll horizontally The scroll function is available only with programs that support a touch...

Page 65: ... check box 5 Click Apply To enable the touch pad 1 Press the Windows key The Start menu appears 2 Press the Up Arrow key to select All Programs and press Enter 3 Press the Up Arrow key to 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 5 Press the Right Arrow key to select the Device tab 6 Pr...

Page 66: ...Tab key to move between shortcut menus 9 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 touch pad Try restarting your com...

Page 67: ...ents from a predefined list The Jog Dial Control and Jog Dial Navigator are compatible with preinstalled software programs that support Jog Dial Navigator functions 1 Locating the Jog Dial Control Using the Jog Dial Bar Using Jog Dial Launcher Using Application and Scroll modes Changing Jog Dial Navigator settings 1 Some programs do not support Jog Dial Navigator Page 67 ...

Page 68: ... Control to scroll up and down a menu Press the Jog Dial Control to select a menu item Press the Back button on selected models to return to the previous menu If your computer does not come with a Back button you can select Return on the Jog Dial Launcher to go back to the previous menu Page 68 ...

Page 69: ...r when you turn on your computer The arrows on the Jog Dial Navigator icon on the taskbar change to show the direction in which you are turning the Jog Dial Control No arrows appear on the taskbar icon if the Application mode is selected and the Jog Dial Control is not in use Page 69 ...

Page 70: ...Close button Click to display the Jog Dial Navigator window from which you can close the Jog Dial Bar 5 Launcher button Click to display the Jog Dial Launcher 6 Mode button Click to switch the display between scroll mode and application mode 7 Help button Click to display the Help guide which offers detailed Jog Dial information To move hide or close the Jog Dial bar Click and drag the Jog Dial Ba...

Page 71: ...Launcher button on the Jog Dial Bar Press and hold Ctrl and then press the Jog Dial Control To open a program 1 Open Jog Dial Launcher See To open Jog Dial Launcher for more information 2 Rotate the Jog Dial Control until the program you want to select appears highlighted in the center window Jog Dial Launcher 3 Press the Jog Dial Control 4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary to open a program Page ...

Page 72: ...ay format depending on the program Jog Dial Navigator Guide Display Jog Dial Navigator List Display Jog Dial Navigator windows Descriptions Guide Display Appears when a program that supports Jog Dial Navigator has audio features such as volume control This shows the operation guide for the Jog Dial Control List Display Appears when a program that supports Jog Dial Navigator is active This shows me...

Page 73: ... Click SCROLL on the Jog Dial Bar On the Jog Dial Navigator List Display select SCROLL MODE and press the Jog Dial Control Selecting Scroll Mode from Application Mode Page 73 ...

Page 74: ...ngs 1 Click the Jog Dial Setting button on the taskbar The Jog Dial Setting dialog box appears Jog Dial Setting Dialog Box 2 Click the tabs near the top of the dialog box to view options and then make your changes 3 Click Apply and then click OK For information about Jog Dial settings right click the Jog Dial Navigator icon on the taskbar and click Help Page 74 ...

Page 75: ... designed for exchanging and sharing digital data with compatible products Because it is removable the media can be used for external data storage Selecting Memory Stick media Inserting Memory Stick media Viewing the contents Write protecting Memory Stick media Formatting Memory Stick media Removing Memory Stick media Frequently asked questions Page 75 ...

Page 76: ... media compatible devices to record and playback music when they are connected to your computer You can store mixed data on the Memory Stick media For example you can copy an ordinary file on a MG Memory Stick media that already contains music What is MagicGate Memory Stick media MagicGate Memory Stick media provides copyright protection that consists of authentication and encryption technology Au...

Page 77: ...ert Memory Stick media 1 Insert the Memory Stick media with the arrow facing up and toward the Memory Stick media slot Inserting the media in the wrong direction may damage the connector pins 2 Carefully slide the Memory Stick media into the slot until it clicks in place The Memory Stick media indicator briefly flashes Inserting Memory Stick Media Page 77 ...

Page 78: ... print copy or organize your Memory Stick images or data If the Sony Memory Stick window does not appear when you insert your Memory Stick media then follow these steps To view the contents 1 From the Start menu click My Computer The My Computer window appears 2 Click Sony MemoryStick The Sony MemoryStick window appears displaying the contents stored on the Memory Stick media Page 78 ...

Page 79: ... Move the tab to the right or left to set or release write protection When the write protect tab of the Memory Stick media is set to LOCK data cannot be recorded or erased Write protect off Data can be saved on the Memory Stick media Write protect on Data can be read from but not saved on the Memory Stick media Using the Write Protect Tab Page 79 ...

Page 80: ...previously saved to it Before you reformat Memory Stick media confirm that the media does not contain files you want to keep and back up important data To format Memory Stick media 1 Insert the Memory Stick media into the Memory Stick media slot See To insert Memory Stick media for more information 2 From the Start menu click My Computer The My Computer window appears 3 Right click Sony MemoryStic...

Page 81: ...media to finish reading or writing data To remove Memory Stick media 1 Wait a minimum of 10 seconds after the Memory Stick media finishes reading or writing data before removing the media 2 Make sure the access light is off 3 Push the Memory Stick media in toward the computer 4 When the Memory Stick media ejects pull it out Be careful when removing the Memory Stick media as it may eject completely...

Page 82: ...ed music for any other purpose requires permission of the copyright holders Sony is not responsible for music files that cannot be recorded from a CD or downloaded from other sources Can I copy images from a digital video camera using Memory Stick media Yes and you can view video clips that you have recorded with Memory Stick media compatible video camera recorders How do I prevent damage to the M...

Page 83: ... Start and then Control Panel 2 In the left panel click Switch to Classic View 3 Double click UI Design Selector 4 Click or to view the designs 5 Click Apply to select a design that appears in the center window 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 83 ...

Page 84: ...Connecting Mice and Keyboards Using External Mice and Keyboards Page 84 ...

Page 85: ...device you connect must be compatible with the Microsoft Windows operating system installed on your computer For information about your 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 85 ...

Page 86: ...questions for more information Your computer can be on or off when connecting a mouse or keyboard To connect a USB mouse or keyboard to your computer 1 Locate the USB port on your computer port replicator or docking station 2 Plug the USB cable into the USB port on the computer One USB port supports one USB device The New Hardware Wizard appears 3 Follow the on screen instructions to complete the ...

Page 87: ... when the computer is 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 Unplug the USB cable from the USB port on the computer Page 87 ...

Page 88: ...e 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 restart the computer You can restart the computer three different ways Press the Windows key and press U When the Turn off computer window appears p...

Page 89: ...Floppy Disk Drives and PC Cards Using Floppy Disk Drives Using PC Cards Page 89 ...

Page 90: ...ou can connect a floppy disk drive to your computer port replicator or docking station The floppy disk drive enables you to read data stored on a floppy disk Inserting and removing floppy disks Frequently asked questions Page 90 ...

Page 91: ...l facing up 2 Push the floppy disk into the drive until it clicks into place Inserting a Floppy Disk Do not open the shutter manually and touch the surface of the floppy disk To remove a floppy disk 1 Close all programs that were opened from the disk and wait for the LED indicator to turn off 2 Push the Eject button and remove the disk To avoid losing data do not push the Eject button when the LED...

Page 92: ...the LED indicator to turn off 2 Push the Eject button and remove the disk 3 Reconnect the floppy disk drive 1 Close any active programs to prevent data loss 2 Insert the USB connector with the USB icon facing upward into the USB port 4 Restart the computer 1 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and click Turn Off Computer 2 Click Restart Why is the drive unable to write data to a floppy disk The flo...

Page 93: ... 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 93 ...

Page 94: ...s 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 Hardware icon appears on the taskbar indicating your system detected the PC Card 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 b...

Page 95: ... a Hardware device window appears 4 Make sure the PC Card is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is safe to remove the hardware device 5 Push the Release button The Release button pops out 6 Push the Release button a second time The PC Card pops out 7 Gently pull the card out of the slot To remove a PC Card while the computer is off 1 Push the Release button once The Release button ...

Page 96: ...the Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted into the PC Card slot the computer may not recognize the PC Card or the connected device Restart your computer Why can t I insert my PC Card Make sure you are inserting the card correctly See Inserting PC Cards for more information You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer Check the guide t...

Page 97: ...Docking Stations Connecting the Docking Station Page 97 ...

Page 98: ...cking station may come with your computer depending on the model you purchased If you wish to purchase an docking station shop Sony online at http www sonystyle com vaio or contact your local retailer Locating features and ports Connecting the docking station Disconnecting the docking station Frequently asked questions Page 98 ...

Page 99: ...net Network port 10BASE T 100BASE TX 2 VGA monitor port 6 i LINK IEEE 1394 S400 port 3 Serial port 7 Printer port 4 DC In port Left 1 Left lever 3 Floppy disk drive 2 Air vent 4 i LINK network switch Right 1 Docking station connector 4 DC In indicator Page 99 ...

Page 100: ...2 Optical drive 5 Right lever 3 UNDOCK switch Page 100 ...

Page 101: ...t the docking station while the computer is on 3 Plug one end of the AC adapter cable into the DC IN jack on the docking station and plug the other end into an AC outlet The DC IN indicator turns on 4 Insert the two grooves on the front of the computer into the two corresponding latches protruding from the front of the docking station Connecting the Docking Station 5 Push the two rear corners of t...

Page 102: ...ers of the docking station to release the computer from the docking station Disconnecting the Docking Station 4 Lift the computer up and slightly back to disengage it from the two front latches of the docking station Removing the Docking Station To disconnect the docking station when the computer is on There are two ways to disconnect the docking station when the computer is turned on Using the St...

Page 103: ... Using the UNDOCK switch 1 Slide the UNDOCK switch forward The Undock Complete pop up window appears UNDOCK switch 2 Wait for the docking indicator to switch off before undocking the computer 3 Follow steps 3 and 4 of To disconnect the docking station when the computer is off Page 103 ...

Page 104: ...ttempted to disconnect the docking station An error message may appear if a software application is open or a device is connected to the docking station Close all software applications that are in use and disconnect any devices Try to disconnect the docking station again If an error message appears after doing these steps contact Sony Customer Support How do I remove a disc from the optical drive ...

Page 105: ...Audio and Video Connections Using i LINK Digital Video Recorders Using Computer Monitors and Projectors Using Speakers Using Microphones Page 105 ...

Page 106: ...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 A ll products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other Refer to the documentation that came with your compatibl...

Page 107: ... video recorder 1 Turn on the DV device and the computer 2 Plug the i LINK cable into the i LINK DC In Out port on the DV device 3 Plug the other end of the i LINK cable into the i LINK port on your computer port replicator or docking station The Found New Hardware window appears on the lower right corner of your screen Connecting an i LINK Digital Video Camera Recorder See the guide that came wit...

Page 108: ...INK cable from the i LINK DC In Out port on the computer To disconnect the i LINK digital video recorder when the computer is on 1 Double click Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware window appears 2 Select the i LINK DV recorder in the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected and click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 3 Make sure the i LIN...

Page 109: ...r 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 program the Digital Video 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 program in which to...

Page 110: ...ternal 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 programs you use See the documentation that accompanied your program for more information Page...

Page 111: ... 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 A ll 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...

Page 112: ...nect 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 projector Selecting a Display Mode Disconnecting a computer monitor or projector Page 112 ...

Page 113: ... cable into the Monitor VGA port on the computer 4 Turn on the computer monitor if it is not already on and then turn on the computer 5 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 Connecting a Computer Monitor to a Docking Station You cannot use the Monitor VGA port on yo...

Page 114: ...ay cable into the projector 5 Plug the audio cable into the Headphone jack on the computer 6 Plug the other end of the audio cable into the projector 7 Turn on the projector if it is not already on and then turn on the computer 8 Press the Fn F7 key combination to toggle the display between your computer and the projector See Selecting a Display Mode for more information Connecting a Projector See...

Page 115: ...switch the display mode using the Display Properties settings 1 Plug the external display monitor VGA cable into the Monitor VGA port on your computer 2 Right click the desktop and click Properties from the shortcut list The Display Properties dialog box appears 3 Click the Settings tab and then click Advanced The Sony Notebook LCD and Intel R dialog box appears 4 Click the Intel Graphics Technolo...

Page 116: ...t 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 116 ...

Page 117: ...e 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 117 ...

Page 118: ...d 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 on the computer 3 Plug the other end of the speaker cable into the speaker Connecting External Speakers See the guide that came with your speakers for more information on its installation and use Page 118 ...

Page 119: ...Disconnecting external speakers You can disconnect external speakers when the computer is on or off Simply unplug the speaker cable from the Headphone jack on the computer Page 119 ...

Page 120: ... 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 CD Audio Adjust the volume of the CD in the optional optical drive Microphone Adjust the internal or ext...

Page 121: ...lick 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 select...

Page 122: ...F3 and Fn F4 key combinations if the correct speakers are not selected Follow these steps 1 Right click the Volume icon on 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 4 Select the correct stereo speakers from the Speaker setup sh...

Page 123: ...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 123 ...

Page 124: ...rophone jack1 on the computer Connecting a Microphone Jack See the guide that came with your microphone for more information on its installation and use 1 A protruding dot located next to the Microphone jack distinguishes this jack from the Headphone jack Page 124 ...

Page 125: ...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 125 ...

Page 126: ... 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 wi...

Page 127: ...stions 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 127 ...

Page 128: ...Preinstalled Programs Software Programs On Your Computer DVgate Application Notes Program Support Information Page 128 ...

Page 129: ...e 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 Program overview Frequently asked questions Page 129 ...

Page 130: ...s 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 Access 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 ...

Page 131: ...ence 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 pl...

Page 132: ...rives If this occurs the program you are using may not find certain 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 docking station disk drives or the PC Card disk drives See the Windows help file or the program guide for instructions on how to change the drive letters Which program do I u...

Page 133: ...DVgate Application Notes Recording images to a digital video device Adjusting image resolution Saving to your hard disk drive Page 133 ...

Page 134: ...tatus cable connection while you are recording images to a digital video device using DVgate software close all open programs 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 134 ...

Page 135: ... 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 135 ...

Page 136: ...deo 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 Windows taskbar point to All Programs Accessories System Tools and then click Disk Defragmenter The Disk Defragmenter dialog box appears 3 Se...

Page 137: ...thLink Network Total Access EarthLink Inc Web site http support earthlink net e mail support earthlink net telephone 800 890 5128 or 800 890 6356 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day PC Cillin 2000 Trend Micro Inc Web site http www antivirus com pc cillin support telephone 510 859 0308 900 820 83241 hours M F 8 A M 5 P M Pacific time 1 Support from 510 859 0308 is free of charge but subject to delay...

Page 138: ... 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 1 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day 1 Support from 1 888 4 SO NY PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase Windows Operating System Word Microsoft Corp Web site http www sony com pcsupport telephone 888 4SONYPC 888 476 6972 1 hours 7 days a week 24 hours a day 1 Support from 1 888 4 SO NY PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original da...

Page 139: ...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 139 ...

Page 140: ...Memory Upgrades Upgrading Your Computer s Memory Page 140 ...

Page 141: ...dule and amount of memory installed on your computer See also Typical expansion memory configuration 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 capacit...

Page 142: ...urce 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 mate...

Page 143: ...Typical expansion memory configuration Total System Memory MB On board MB Slot MB 256 128 128 384 128 256 Page 143 ...

Page 144: ...cool down before you remove the screws 4 Use an appropriate screwdriver to loosen and remove the screws on the bottom of the computer To avoid damaging the computer do not remove or loosen any other screws Removing the Bottom Screws 5 Turn the computer over so you are looking at the keyboard and place your fingers behind the last row of keys 6 Gently lift the keyboard up and turn it over the touch...

Page 145: ...en slot at a 45 degree angle Do not touch any part of the motherboard or the other components inside the computer Installing a New Memory Module 3 Snap the connectors into place when the board is correctly seated and close the computer cover 4 Replace the fastening screws on the bottom of the computer 5 Make sure the system memory matches the amount of installed memory See Confirming added memory ...

Page 146: ...kbar point to All Programs and then point to Sony Notebook Setup 3 Select Sony Notebook Setup from the submenu The Sony Notebook Setup dialog box appears 4 On the About This Computer tab make sure the System Memory displayed in the System Information box matches the amount of memory installed The displayed memory may be less than the installed memory due to the amount used by the display adapter S...

Page 147: ...Using the Recovery CDs Application and System Recovery CDs Using Your Recovery CDs Page 147 ...

Page 148: ...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 ...

Page 149: ...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 149 ...

Page 150: ...pplication 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 1 Click Start on the Windows taskbar and right click My Computer 2 Click Properties The System Properties dialog box appears 3 Click the Hardware tab and click Dev...

Page 151: ...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 151 ...

Page 152: ...nd 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 The System Recovery utility does not back up your system s data If you wish to retain your system data perform a backup to an exter...

Page 153: ...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 153 ...

Page 154: ...upport Troubleshooting Your Computer Troubleshooting Batteries Troubleshooting the Printer Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touch pad Troubleshooting the Modem Troubleshooting Networks Troubleshooting DVDs and CDs Troubleshooting PC Cards Troubleshooting Audio Video Connections Troubleshooting the Computer Screen LCD Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media Troubleshooting Programs Troubleshooting the Dock...

Page 155: ...p 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 F1 to resume F2 to setup may appear at the bottom of the screen Follow these steps 1 Press F2 The BIOS Setup menu appears 2 Set the date month day year Press Enter 3 Press the Down Arrow key to sel...

Page 156: ...ata Click Start on the Windows 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 to turn off the computer Unplug the computer from the AC adapter ...

Page 157: ...tor window appears 2 Double click System to open the file if it isn t already opened 3 Double click Thermal Control Strategy Performance and select Quiet 4 Restart your computer Why does the System Properties dialog box display a slower CPU speed than advertised This is normal Because your computer s CPU utilizes a type of CPU speed controlling technology for power conservation purposes System Pro...

Page 158: ...nt 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 aft...

Page 159: ...t click the printer icon that is not functioning and select Properties to open the Properties window 4 Click OK Change the default printer port setting although this setting is generally correct for most printers 1 Click Start and click Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance and click System The System Properties dialog box appears 3 Select the Hardware tab and click Device Manager The ...

Page 160: ...mputer turns off press the power button again to restart the computer Why doesn t the touch pad work You may have disabled the touch pad without connecting a mouse to the computer See Customizing the touch pad for more information Restart the computer to activate the touch pad again If your touch pad is interpreting a single tap as a double click adjust the button assignments Follow these steps 1 ...

Page 161: ...t 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 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 touch pad or mouse dri...

Page 162: ...overy 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 Provide...

Page 163: ... 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...

Page 164: ...INK 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 For more information see Connecting VAIO computers 1 i LINK ...

Page 165: ...al drive playing my CD or DVD properly Make sure the disc label is 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 canno...

Page 166: ...in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is on The power indicator on the computer will be on if the computer is on Make sure the battery is inserted properly and is charged If the computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the computer screen If the display mode is set to external display press and hold the Fn key w...

Page 167: ...he Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted into the PC Card slot the computer may not recognize the PC Card or the connected device Restart your computer Why can t I insert my PC Card Make sure you are inserting the card correctly See Inserting PC Cards for more information You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer Check the guide th...

Page 168: ... 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 1 Right click the Volume icon on the taskbar and select Adjus...

Page 169: ...nnection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices A ll 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 syste...

Page 170: ...wer indicator on the computer will be on if the computer is on Make sure the battery is inserted properly and is charged If the computer is in LCD Video Standby mode press any key to activate the computer screen If the display mode is set to external display such as TV press and hold Fn while you press F7 several times Why don t my changes appear on the computer screen LCD You may need to refresh ...

Page 171: ...orded music for any other purpose requires permission of the copyright holders Sony is not responsible for music files that cannot be recorded from a CD or downloaded from other sources Can I copy images from a digital video camera using Memory Stick media Yes and you can view video clips that you have recorded with Memory Stick media compatible video camera recorders How do I prevent damage to th...

Page 172: ...this occurs the program you are using may not find certain 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 docking station disk drives or the PC Card disk drives See the Windows help file or the program guide for instructions on how to change the drive letters Which program do I use for CD...

Page 173: ... if a program is open or a device is connected to the docking station Close all programs that are in use and disconnect any devices Try to disconnect the docking station again If an error message still appears contact Sony Customer Support by visiting http www sony com pcsupport How do I remove a disc from the optical drive The computer must be on to remove a disc from the optical drive If the com...

Page 174: ... Your computer comes preinstalled with a Microsoft Windows operating system For operating system support you can visit Microsoft customer support at http support microsoft com directory 4 VAIO Support Agent You can find VAIO Support Agent by clicking Start and selecting Help and Support Using advanced diagnostic technology Sony s VAIO Support Agent runs scheduled protections of your programs netwo...

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