Sony PCG-Z1A VAIO User Manual Download Page 160

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Troubleshooting

This section describes how to solve some basic problems you may encounter when using your computer. For more
troubleshooting topics refer to the VAIO

Computer User Guide. Many problems have simple solutions, so refer to these

sources before you contact Sony Computing Support (

http://www.sony.com/pcsupport



Troubleshooting Your Computer



Support Options

Page 160

Summary of Contents for PCG-Z1A 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: ...connect the AC adapter 1 Plug the AC adapter cable into the DC IN port Connecting the AC Adapter to the Computer 2 Plug the power cord into the AC adapter and an AC outlet Use only the supplied AC adapter with your computer Page 4 ...

Page 5: ...ator turns on Turning on the Computer If you continue to press the power button the computer turns off 3 If the computer screen is too dark or too bright follow these steps to adjust the brightness To increase brightness press the Fn and F5 keys and then press the Up Arrow or the Right Arrow key To decrease brightness press the Fn and F5 keys and then press the Down Arrow or the Left Arrow key Pag...

Page 6: ...battery Notes on batteries Frequently asked questions When operating your computer on battery power your computer s CPU speed is reduced The battery that comes with your computer is not fully charged at the time of purchase The brightness of your computer screen automatically dims when you switch from AC power to battery power To increase the brightness press the Fn and F5 keys and then press the ...

Page 7: ...e 4 Slide the LOCK UNLOCK latch into the LOCK position If a port replicator is attached to your computer do not insert or remove the battery Lifting and turning the computer with a port replicator attached could cause a temporary loss of power Some programs and peripheral devices prevent the system from automatically entering Hibernate mode If you are using battery power save your data frequently ...

Page 8: ... damaging the battery Remove the battery when the computer is off To remove a battery 1 Turn the computer over and slide the LOCK UNLOCK latch on the bottom of the computer to the UNLOCK position 2 Push and hold the RELEASE latch 3 While holding the RELEASE latch slide the battery away from the computer Removing a Battery Page 8 ...

Page 9: ...bar is hidden behind the taskbar icons right click the taskbar and click to cancel Lock the Taskbar Drag the edge of the Battery Information toolbar to the left until it is in clear view The total charge remaining in the battery is listed in percent and real time values The following toolbar indicates there is 100 percent or approximately 4 hours and 19 minutes of battery charge remaining Battery ...

Page 10: ...To view the Power Meter window if you are using battery power Double click the battery icon in the Taskbar Notification area The Power Meter window appears Power Meter Page 10 ...

Page 11: ... is on or off However the battery will charge faster when the computer is off Charging the battery takes several hours See your printed VAIO Computer Specifications 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 2 Connect the AC adap...

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 should I recharge the battery When the battery level falls below 10 percent When both the battery and power indicators blink When you have not used the battery for a long time When should I replace the battery If after charging the battery the battery power is still low the battery may be reaching the end of its life and should be replaced Should I be concerned that the installed battery is w...

Page 14: ... and PowerPanel utility 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 utility Frequently asked questions Page 14 ...

Page 15: ...ng without being completely off Hibernate mode consumes the lowest level of power Your computer enters Hibernate mode when the remaining battery charge drops below 5 percent regardless of the setting you select Since some programs and peripheral devices prevent the system from entering Hibernate mode save your data frequently to avoid data loss To activate Standby mode 1 Press the Fn and Esc keys ...

Page 16: ...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 conserving 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 Optimizes performa...

Page 17: ... the following table for a description of each power profile 5 Make your changes from the drop down menu 6 Click File and click Save Power profile Description CPU Control1 Controls the processor speed You can select either Battery Life Adaptive 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 tak...

Page 18: ...rve LCD Standby Timer Controls the time it takes the system to turn off power to the computer screen LCD when the system is idle The system itself still functions on full power HDD Standby Timer Controls the time it takes the system to turn off power to the hard disk drive when the system is idle This setting only turns off power to the hard disk drive 1 Slows the processor speed O n selected mode...

Page 19: ... from entering Hibernate mode save your data frequently See To activate Hibernate mode for information on how you can manually activate Hibernate mode Why can t my computer enter Hibernate mode You may first need to enable Hibernate mode Follow these steps 1 Click Start on the Windows taskbar 2 Click Control Panel Performance and Maintenance and then click Power Options The Power Options Propertie...

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: ...omputer 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 ...

Page 23: ...5 Follow the on screen instructions Page 23 ...

Page 24: ...t 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 2 Click Start point to All Programs Accessories Communications and click New Connection Wizard The New Connection Wizard appears New Connection Wizard 3 Click Next If the Location I...

Page 25: ... You can also regulate content and set 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 25 ...

Page 26: ...cation Recovery CDs 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 Servic...

Page 27: ...ing 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 network connections selected models only Checking your network connection status Frequently asked questions Types of Networks The computers represented in this graphic may not be identical to the model ...

Page 28: ...etwork Setup Wizard appears Network Setup Wizard 3 Click Next If you are prompted to the Local Information dialog box 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 overload and could cause a malf...

Page 29: ... 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 30: ...astructure 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 n...

Page 31: ...e key The key should be between 5 and 13 ASCII characters or 10 to 26 hexadecimal characters 6 Retype the network key in the Confirm network key box 7 Click Connect If the network does not appear in the Available wireless networks list box 1 Click Advanced on the Wireless Network Connection dialog box The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box appears Wireless Network Connection Propert...

Page 32: ...led check box is selected 5 Click to cancel the The key is provided for me automatically check box 6 Type the network key in the Network key box The key should be between 5 and 13 ASCII characters or 10 to 26 hexadecimal characters 7 Retype the network key in the Confirm network key box 8 Click OK The network name appears in the Preferred networks list box To set up a computer to computer ad hoc n...

Page 33: ... Advanced The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box appears Wireless Network Connection Properties 4 Click Add The Wireless network properties dialog box appears Wireless Network Properties Page 33 ...

Page 34: ...m network key box 10 Click to select This is a computer to computer ad hoc network wireless access points are not used 11 Click OK The network name appears in the Preferred networks list box 12 Click Advanced The Advanced dialog box appears Advanced 13 Click to select Computer to computer ad hoc networks only and then click Close To disconnect from a wireless network For computers with built in wi...

Page 35: ...work Connection dialog box appears 2 Click Advanced The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box appears 3 On the Wireless Network tab click Advanced The Advanced dialog box appears 4 Click to select Any available network access point preferred and click Close Page 35 ...

Page 36: ...n To check your network connection status 1 Click Start on the taskbar and click Control Panel Network and Internet Connections and Network Connections The Network Connections window appears 2 Under LAN or High Speed Internet click the enabled network connection to open the connection status window Wireless Network Connection Status Page 36 ...

Page 37: ...ng on how many other devices are communicated 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 MPEG2 data is transferred The typical effective data transfer speed via an access point is 4 5 Mbps when adhering to the IEEE...

Page 38: ...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 39: ...rk Setup Wizard 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 t...

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 and DVDs Inserting and Ejecting CDs or DVDs Copying and Playing CDs Playing DVDs Page 42 ...

Page 43: ...s Insert this type of DVD with the side you want to play facing down Inserting a Disc 4 Press the disc onto the tray until 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 ...

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

Page 45: ... and Playing CDs Your computer comes equipped with a CD RW DVD drive which plays DVD and most DVD R discs and reads and writes data to CD R and CD RW discs Playing CDs Copying files to a CD RW or CD R Page 45 ...

Page 46: ...for playing CDs and DVDs Some programs have built in volume controls which you can adjust If there are no volume controls then 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 the Fn and F4 keys and then press or To decrease volume press the Fn and...

Page 47: ...Page 47 ...

Page 48: ...x speed To copy files to a CD RW or CD R 1 Insert a blank CD R or CD RWdisc into the optical drive For more information see Inserting and Ejecting CDs or DVDs If the CD Drive window appears click Take no action CD Drive 2 Open Windows Explorer by pressing the Windows key and the E key simultaneously 3 In the Folders panel on the left locate the file s or folder s you want to copy and either Right ...

Page 49: ...Do not strike or shake the computer while writing data to a disc 1 The read write drive letter designation may vary depending on your system s hardware configuration Page 49 ...

Page 50: ...play DVDs in your computer s optical drive The type of optical drive installed in or connected to your computer may vary depending on the model you purchased Playing DVDs on your computer Frequently asked questions Page 50 ...

Page 51: ...hen select DVD from the submenu You can also select Automatic 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 Insert the DVD into the optical drive 3 Open a preinstalled DVD program such as WinDVD by following these steps 1 Click Start on the taskbar and point to All Programs 2 Se...

Page 52: ...I do if the drive tray won t open Make sure the computer is on Press the Eject button on the optical drive If the Eject button does not work click Start on the Windows taskbar and click My Computer Right click the optical drive icon and select Eject from the shortcut menu If none of the above options work insert a thin straight object such as a paper clip in the manual eject hole near the Eject bu...

Page 53: ...omputer s hardware devices appears If a X or an exclamation point appear on the listed device you may need to enable the device or reinstall the drivers 3 Double click the optical drive to open the submenu 4 Double click the listed drive name and select the Properties tab 5 Click to select the Enable digital CD audio for this CD ROM device check box if it is not selected You can confirm the driver...

Page 54: ... If the display mode is set to external display use the Fn F7 key combination See Selecting a display for more information Page 54 ...

Page 55: ...Printer Connections Printing With Your Computer Page 55 ...

Page 56: ...atible with many popular printers However to ensure the best performance printers must be compatible with the Microsoft Windows operating system installed on your computer Connecting a printer Disconnecting a printer Frequently asked questions Page 56 ...

Page 57: ... computer See Locating Controls and Ports in the Setting Up chapter of your printed VAIO Computer Quick Start 2 Plug the other end of the USB cable into the USB port on the printer The Found New Hardware Wizard appears Connecting a USB Printer See the guide that accompanied the printer for more information on its installation and use To connect a printer port replicators only 1 Connect the compute...

Page 58: ...ol Panel Printers and Other Hardware and then Printers and Faxes If the computer recognizes the printer it will be listed in the Printers and Other Hardware window If the computer does not recognize the printer you may need to install the printer driver software See the guide that accompanied the printer for more information See the guide that accompanied the printer for more information on its in...

Page 59: ... printer cable when the computer is on or off Disconnecting a printer when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To disconnect a printer Unplug the printer cable from the computer Page 59 ...

Page 60: ... is not functioning after the computer resumes from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate then restart the computer If the bidirectional communication functions are provided with your printer disabling the functions on your computer may enable printing Follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware 3 Click Printers and Faxes 4 Right click an unused p...

Page 61: ...Computer Features Using the Touch Pad Using Memory Stick Media Using the Programmable Keys Using the Multilingual User Interface Language Option Changing the Window Design of Sony Programs Page 61 ...

Page 62: ...ice called a touch pad is located in front of the keyboard 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 62 ...

Page 63: ...liding one finger while pressing the left button Equivalent to using the mouse to drag an item Moving your finger along the right edge of the touch pad Equivalent to scrolling vertically The scroll function is available only with programs that support a touch pad scroll feature Moving your finger along the bottom to scroll horizontally Equivalent to scrolling horizontally The scroll function is av...

Page 64: ...Press S until Sony Notebook Setup is selected 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 Press the Tab key to select the Default button and press Enter A pop up window appears 7 Press the Left Arrow key to select OK and press Enter The Enable Touchpad option i...

Page 65: ...sly to stop playback and restart the computer If you are still experiencing problems make sure another mouse is not installed You may have disabled the touch pad without connecting a mouse to the computer See To enable the touch pad You may need to use your supplied Application Recovery CD s to reinstall the touch pad or mouse drivers See Using the Application Recovery CDs for more information How...

Page 66: ...ally 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 66 ...

Page 67: ... 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 68: ...sert 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 blinks Inserting Memory Stick Media Page 68 ...

Page 69: ...t 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 69 ...

Page 70: ... 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 70 ...

Page 71: ...aved to it Before you reformat Memory Stick media confirm that the media does not contain files you want to keep Back up important data before formatting the media 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 Son...

Page 72: ...the media to finish reading or writing data To remove Memory Stick media 1 Wait a minimum of 10 seconds after the Memory Stick media finishes reading or writing data before removing the media 2 Make sure the access light is off 3 Push the Memory Stick media in toward the computer 4 When the Memory Stick media ejects pull it out Be careful when removing the Memory Stick media as it may eject comple...

Page 73: ...uires 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 Memory Stick media Do not use the m...

Page 74: ...unction to a PPK 1 Click Start and point to All Programs and then Sony Notebook Setup 2 From the Sony Notebook Setup submenu click Sony Notebook Setup 3 Click the P1 P2 Buttons tab Sony Notebook Setup 4 Click to select a key assignment from the P1 and P2 drop down menus 5 Click Apply 6 Depending on the key assignment you may be able to customize the PPKs further by clicking Advanced if it becomes ...

Page 75: ...ed 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 on the Windows taskbar and 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...

Page 76: ...Windows taskbar and then click Control Panel 2 Click Date Time Language and Regional Options and click Regional and Language Options The Regional and Language Options dialog box appears 3 From the Regional Options tab click the Standards and formats shortcut menu to view the available country choices Select the desired country 4 Click Customize to change the number currency time and date settings ...

Page 77: ... 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 77 ...

Page 78: ...Mice and Keyboards Using the Keyboard Connecting External Mice and Keyboards Page 78 ...

Page 79: ...lar to a typewriter s but your computer keyboard has additional keys that perform specific computer related tasks Key descriptions Combinations and functions with the Windows key Indicator Lights Combinations and functions with the Fn key Page 79 ...

Page 80: ...ancel 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 Ctrl Alt Shift 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 co...

Page 81: ...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 82: ...rd disk Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on Num Lock Press this key to activate the numeric keypad Press it a second time to deactivate the numeric keypad The numeric keypad is not active when the indicator is off Caps Lock Press this key to type letters in uppercase Letters appear in lowercase if you press Shift while the indicator is on Press the key a se...

Page 83: ...s Fn F5 and then press or Fn F7 Toggles the display between the computer screen LCD a connected external device such as a monitor flat panel display or projector and both the LCD and external device Select one display at a time when playing a DVD Connect the cable before you turn on the computer otherwise Fn F7 will not work Fn F12 Puts the system into Hibernate mode a power management state To re...

Page 84: ... properly the 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 Key descriptions Connecting a mouse or keyboard Disconnecting a mouse or keyboard Frequently asked questions Page 84 ...

Page 85: ...ter 1 Plug the USB cable into the USB port See Locating Controls and Ports in the Setting Up chapter of your printed VAIO Computer Quick Start One USB port supports one USB connection 2 If the New Hardware Wizard appears follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation process Although the New Hardware Wizard guides you through the software installation some devices require separate ...

Page 86: ...e or keyboard when the computer is on or off Disconnecting the mouse or keyboard when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To disconnect a mouse or keyboard Unplug the USB cable from the USB port Page 86 ...

Page 87: ...l 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 press R Press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously When the Windows Task Manager window appears press the Alt key to highlight the menu bar...

Page 88: ...Floppy Disks and PC Cards Using a Floppy Disk Drive Using PC Cards Page 88 ...

Page 89: ... computer The floppy disk drive enables you to read or write data to a floppy disk Connecting a floppy disk drive Inserting and removing floppy disks Protecting floppy disks Disconnecting a floppy disk drive Storing a floppy disk drive Frequently asked questions Page 89 ...

Page 90: ...omputer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction To connect a USB floppy disk drive 1 Close any active programs to prevent data loss 2 Plug the USB cable with the USB icon facing upward into the USB port The Found New Hardware pop up message appears Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive Page 90 ...

Page 91: ...th the label 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 access the floppy disk 2 Wait for the LED indicator on the floppy disk drive to turn off 3 Push the Eject button and remove the disk To avoid losing data do not pus...

Page 92: ...Protecting floppy disks Do not open the shutter manually or touch the surface of the floppy disk Keep floppy disks away from magnets direct sunlight and heat sources Page 92 ...

Page 93: ...ose all programs that access the floppy disk 2 Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware dialog box appears 3 Click to select the floppy disk drive in the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected 4 Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 5 Make sure the appropriate device is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is...

Page 94: ...Storing a floppy disk drive Fold the floppy disk drive cable and connector into the side compartment on the floppy disk drive Storing a Floppy Disk Drive Page 94 ...

Page 95: ...rive to turn off 3 Push the Eject button and remove the disk 4 Reconnect the floppy disk drive by inserting the USB connector with the USB icon facing upward into the USB port 5 Restart the computer by clicking Start on the Windows taskbar Turn Off Computer and then Restart Why is the drive unable to write data to a floppy disk Make sure the floppy disk is properly inserted in the drive See Insert...

Page 96: ...ppy disk drive or Network Interface Card NIC See your VAIO Computer Specifications for the type of PC Card that is compatible with your computer This slot is compatible with CardBus 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 96 ...

Page 97: ...Card into the slot this 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 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 Page 97...

Page 98: ...ove Hardware dialog box appears 2 Click to select the PC Card in the Hardware devices window if it is not already selected 3 Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 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 ...

Page 99: ... 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 that accompanied your PC Card for more information on its use Why does an exclamation mark appear...

Page 100: ...Port Replicators Locating Ports and Jacks Connecting a Port Replicator Connecting a Flat Panel Display Disconnecting a Port Replicator Page 100 ...

Page 101: ...pending on the model you purchased If you wish to purchase a port replicator shop Sony online at http www sonystyle com vaio or contact your local retailer The printer port on this port replicator is intended for printer connections only Port Replicator Back Panel 1 DC IN port 4 Monitor VGA port 2 USB 2 0 ports 5 DVI D port 3 Printer port 6 Network Ethernet port 10BASE T 100BASE TX Page 101 ...

Page 102: ...puter slide the port replicator cover down until the port replicator connector is completely visible Sliding the Port Replicator Cover You can charge the battery by installing it before you connect the port replicator The battery automatically charges once you connect the AC adapter 3 Plug the AC adapter into the DC IN port on the port replicator and plug the power cord into the AC adapter and an ...

Page 103: ...Securing a Port Replicator 5 Make sure the port replicator is securely fastened to the computer 6 Turn on the computer Page 103 ...

Page 104: ...To connect the computer to a flat panel display 1 Connect the computer to the port replicator See Connecting a Port Replicator for more information 2 Plug the flat panel display into an AC outlet 3 Plug the display cable into the DVI port on the computer flat panel display 4 Turn on the computer and flat panel display 5 Press the Fn F7 keys to toggle the display between your computer the flat pane...

Page 105: ... when the computer is on or off When the battery is low turn off the computer before you disconnect a port replicator To disconnect a port replicator 1 Close any active programs to prevent data loss 2 Pull the release latches on each side of the port replicator to release the computer from the port replicator Releasing a Computer from a Port Replicator 3 Lift the computer away from the port replic...

Page 106: ...Audio and Video Connections Using i LINK Digital Video Recorders Using Computer Monitors and Projectors Using Speakers Using Microphones Page 106 ...

Page 107: ...ly 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 compatible i LINK device for more information...

Page 108: ... device The i LINK port supports transfer rates of 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 help guide that accompanied your program for more information To connect an i LINK digital video recorder 1 Turn on the digital video DV device and the computer 2 Plug t...

Page 109: ...ct the digital video recorder while the computer is on or off Simply unplug the i LINK cable from the i LINK port on the computer Disconnecting the cable when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate may cause the computer to malfunction Page 109 ...

Page 110: ...igital 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 programs 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 v...

Page 111: ...rademark 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 pro...

Page 112: ...tors You can connect an external display such as a computer monitor or a projector to your computer Connecting a computer monitor Connecting a multimedia device Selecting a display Disconnecting a computer monitor or projector Page 112 ...

Page 113: ...t 2 Plug the display cable into the Monitor VGA port on the computer 3 If it is not already on turn on the computer monitor 4 Press the Fn F7 keys to toggle the display between your computer the monitor or both the computer and monitor See Selecting a display for more information You cannot use the Monitor VGA port on your computer when a port replicator is connected to the computer Use the Monito...

Page 114: ...r computer If you are using a multimedia computer monitor which has built in speakers and a microphone plug the audio cable into the Headphone jack on your computer to hear sound To locate the Monitor port and Headphone jack see Locating Controls and Ports in the Setting Up chapter of your printed VAIO Computer Quick Start Connecting a Projector 3 Turn on the device if it is not already on and the...

Page 115: ...as a monitor or projector 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 To switch the display using the Display Properties settings 1 Plug the display VGA cable into the Monitor VGA port on your computer 2 Right click the desktop and click Properties from the shortcut menu The Display Properties di...

Page 116: ...see your movie or DVD on the external display change the monitor or TV setting by clicking on the Primary icon on the display panel of your choice You may not be able to display the computer screen LCD and an external display or projector at the same time depending on the types of computer displays and projectors you are using Page 116 ...

Page 117: ...connect the external computer monitor or projector by unplugging the 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 117 ...

Page 118: ...chase 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 speakers Adjusting the volume Enabling the audio feature Frequently asked questions Page 118 ...

Page 119: ...ield 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 Speakers See the guide that accompanied your speakers for more information on its installation and use Page 119 ...

Page 120: ...Disconnecting 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 120 ...

Page 121: ...crease 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 Player Adjust the volume of the CD in the optical drive Microphone Adjust the internal or external microphone vo...

Page 122: ...he 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 drives1 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 1 The read write drive letter designation may v...

Page 123: ... are using a program that has its own volume control make sure the volume control is properly set See that program s help guide for more information 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 Fn F3 keys t...

Page 124: ...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 to record sound Frequently asked questions Page 124 ...

Page 125: ...crophone jack1 on the computer Connecting a Microphone See the guide that accompanied 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 125 ...

Page 126: ...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 126 ...

Page 127: ...selected 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 Right click the Volume icon on the tas...

Page 128: ...hy doesn t my microphone work If you are using an external microphone make sure the microphone is turned on and is properly plugged into the Microphone jack on the computer See Connecting a microphone for more information Page 128 ...

Page 129: ...ety information in Precautions and procedures For the type of module and amount of memory installed on your computer see the Welcome page to view the VAIO Computer Specifications Precautions and procedures Removing and installing memory modules Confirming added memory capacity Page 129 ...

Page 130: ...stances or objects into the memory slots or other internal components of the computer will result in damage to the computer Electrostatic discharge ESD can damage disk drives memory modules 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 e...

Page 131: ...bles and remove the battery if it is installed See To remove the battery 3 Wait for the computer to cool down 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 4 Turn the computer over and use an appropriate screwdriver to loosen and remove the two screws on the bottom of the computer To avoid damag...

Page 132: ...e the memory module by pulling out the tabs see arrows No 1 and pulling out the module in the direction of arrow No 2 See To install a memory module for more information Removing a Memory Module To install a memory module 1 Remove the new memory module from its packaging and install the memory module by sliding it into the open slot at a 45 degree angle See To remove a memory module Installing a N...

Page 133: ...ted gently flip the keyboard back over the computer making sure the keyboard is also correctly seated 4 Replace the fastening screws on the bottom of the computer 5 Make sure the system recognizes the new memory module See Confirming added memory capacity for more information Page 133 ...

Page 134: ... 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 Sony Notebo...

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

Page 136: ...with all of the programs listed in the Programs overview section depending on the configuration you purchased Preinstalled programs may not be identical to retail versions or include supporting documentation Programs overview Frequently asked questions Page 136 ...

Page 137: ...ersonal video clips that are up to three hours in length with complete audio video synchronization Upgrade possible to full version of Adobe Premiere software America Online Broadband or Dial Up 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 sports scores and ...

Page 138: ...gments You can also save your images in a variety of popular file formats EarthLinkSM Total Access 2003 DSL or Dial Up EarthLink Inc EarthLink one of the world s largest Internet Service Providers offers dial up and broadband access to the Internet Member benefits include e mail newsgroups a Personal Start Page free storage space for your personal Web site a member magazine and 24 hour technical s...

Page 139: ...ly helps you control spam from polluting your Inbox Powered by advanced rule based and list based filtering technologies SpamKiller enables users to both protect their Inboxes from spam and fight back against the source of the problem email spammers Men in Black II Crossfire Trial version Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment You are the newest MIB agent Your ultimate mission is to save the Earth A ...

Page 140: ...soft Corp Get fast and flexible playback with the best audio and video quality for Windows and the Web Includes special new features optimized for the Windows XP operating system You can use Microsoft Windows Media Player to play and organize digital media files on your computer and on the Internet In addition you can use the Player to listen to radio stations from all over the world play and copy...

Page 141: ...er versions QuickTime Apple Computer Inc The versatile QuickTime software plays many many different kinds of media 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 RealOne Player RealNetworks Inc RealOne Playe...

Page 142: ...anages the settings for your computer s Shortcut keys VAIO Edit Components Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Edit Components is a software plug in for Adobe Premiere software that provides maximum compatibility and video quality for capturing video from your Sony digital camcorder VAIO Hints and Tips Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Hints and Tips provides helpful information about using your computer s preinsta...

Page 143: ...ewsletters reports presentations and brochures while incorporating graphics spreadsheets charts and tables with ease This comprehensive suite includes the popular WordPerfect 10 word processor the Quattro Pro 10 spreadsheet program the Corel Presentations 10 presentation program and a wide range of additional productivity enhancing features Page 143 ...

Page 144: ...label facing up For computers with external optical drives Make sure the optical drive is properly connected to your computer Which program do I use for CD R CD RW functions To write data files to a CD R or CD RW disc use the Microsoft Windows operating system software on your computer To write audio files to a CD R or CD RW use the Sony SonicStage program preinstalled on your computer Follow thes...

Page 145: ...s i LINK port and capture 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 Recording images to a digital video device Adjusting image resolution Saving to your hard disk Page 145 ...

Page 146: ...us cable connection while you are recording images to a digital video device using the DVgate program 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 the DVgate program see the DVgate online help Page 146 ...

Page 147: ...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 147 ...

Page 148: ... space on your C partition To maintain optimum DVgate program performance defragment the D partition regularly To defragment a partition 1 Back up files you want to save 2 From the Start menu 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 Mi...

Page 149: ...nline Broadband or Dial Up Web site s http www aol com AT T WorldNet Service Web site http help att net Boingo Wireless Web site s http www boingo com servicecenter html e mail support boingo com phone 800 880 4117 hours M F 4 AM 10 PM PST Weekend 6 AM to 3 PM PST Corel WordPerfect 10 Web site http www corel com phone 613 274 0500 hours M F 8 30 AM 7 30 PM EST DirecTV DSL Web site http www directv...

Page 150: ...s http www sonicfoundry com support phone 900 407 6642 fee based support hours M F 9 AM 5 PM central time Microsoft programs Web site http support microsoft com Microsoft Windows operating system Web site http www sony com pcsupport MoodLogic Web site s http www moodlogic com e mail support moodlogic com PC cillin Web site http www trendmicro com en support phone 866 722 4554 hours M F 8 AM 5 PM P...

Page 151: ...hours a day RealOne Player Web site s http service real com rjoptions html e mail http service real com help call html online email form phone 206 674 2680 fax 206 674 3586 hours M F 8 AM 6 PM PST Sat Sun 7 30 AM 4 PM PST RecordNow Web site http www easy co jp jrn45 sony Sony on Yahoo Web site http help yahoo com TurboTax for the Web Web site http www intuit com support phone 900 555 4932 800 644 ...

Page 152: ...a day 1 Support from 1 888 4 SO NY PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase WinDVD 4 for VAIO Computers Web site http www intervideo com phone 510 651 0888 WordPerfect Office 2002 Web site http www corel com phone 613 274 0500 hours M F 8 30 AM 7 30 PM eastern time Page 152 ...

Page 153: ...ion Recovery and System Recovery CDs You can restore your system individual programs or drivers using the Application Recovery and System Recovery CDs Application and System Recovery CDs Using Your Recovery CDs Page 153 ...

Page 154: ...ery CDs Sony Electronics Inc These CDs enable you to reinstall individual programs and device drivers if they become corrupted or are erased System Recovery CDs Sony Electronics Inc These CDs enable you to restore the operating system and programs that shipped with your computer if they become corrupted or are erased These CDs restore your computer to its original factory settings so user data and...

Page 155: ...Using Your Recovery CDs The following sections describe how to use the Application Recovery and System Recovery utilities Using the Application Recovery CDs Using the System Recovery CDs Page 155 ...

Page 156: ... begins 7 Follow the on screen instructions to complete the recovery process To reinstall device drivers using Windows XP operating system The Microsoft Windows XP operating system is capable of reinstalling the original factory installed device drivers without using the Application Recovery CD s 1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar then right click My Computer A shortcut menu appears 2 Click Prop...

Page 157: ...ce in which you want to reinstall and click OK The Hardware Update Wizard appears 14 Click Next and select the device folder The Microsoft Windows operating system automatically reinstalls the device driver s from the Application Recovery CD 15 Click Finish and remove the Application Recovery CD from the optical drive 16 Turn off your computer by clicking Start and then Turn off computer 17 Wait 3...

Page 158: ...from the hard drive All original factory settings the operating system and preinstalled programs 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 external media To use the System Recovery CDs Your system may take a few minutes to load necessary files A blue screen may appear during the downloading process You...

Page 159: ...ter The Setup Confirmation window appears again 7 Make sure Yes is selected and press Enter The computer restarts from the Recovery CD If you have more than one System Recovery CD 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 30 to 60 minutes to complete After reco...

Page 160: ...nter when using your computer For more troubleshooting topics refer to the VAIO Computer User Guide Many problems have simple solutions so refer to these sources before you contact Sony Computing Support http www sony com pcsupport Troubleshooting Your Computer Support Options Page 160 ...

Page 161: ...on 3 Reinsert the power cord and the battery 4 Turn on the computer What do I do if a BIOS error appears when my computer starts If the message Press F1 to resume F2 to setup appears 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 select System Time and then set the time hour minute second...

Page 162: ...rn off my computer It is best to turn off your computer using the Turn Off Computer option on the Microsoft Windows Start menu located on the taskbar Using other methods including those listed below may result in loss of unsaved data Click Start on the Windows taskbar select Turn Off Computer and then click Turn Off If your computer does not turn off press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously W...

Page 163: ...t click either the CPU icon or Profile icon depending on the model you purchased 2 Select Edit Create Profiles The AC Power Profile Editor window appears 3 Double click System to open the System submenu if it is not already open 4 Double click CPU Fan Control and select Level 1 Quiet 5 Restart your computer See PowerPanel Help for more information To lower the CPU speed using the power schemes 1 C...

Page 164: ...dows 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 All Programs Programs for Windows 2000 and VAIO Support and VAIO Support Agent Using advanced diagnostic technology Sony s VAIO Support Agent runs scheduled protections of your programs network...

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