Sony Vaio PCG-GRT Series Page 101 User Manual Download

Page: 101 / 145

Sony

Notebook U

er Guide

Getting help

100

Getting help

This section describes how to get help and support from Sony, as well as troubleshooting tips for your
computer.

Sony support options

Sony provides several support options for your computer.

Please see the section

Documentation pack

(page 9)

for details on the printed and online documentation

delivered with your computer, as well as further sources of reference.

Other sources of information

❑

The

online help files

that accompany your pre-installed software contain instructions on using the

software.

❑

VAIO-Link website

: if you have any problem with your computer, you can access the VAIO-Link

website. Go to:

http://www.vaio-link.com

❑

VAIO-Link

: Before contacting VAIO-Link, you should try to solve the problem by reading this User Guide

or the manuals and help files.

✍

You need to plug in the phone line and configure your modem for use before using the communication features described in this manual.

Summary of Contents for Vaio PCG-GRT Series

Page 1: ...N Sony Notebook User Guide P C G G R T s e r i e s ...

Page 2: ... whether based on tort contract or otherwise arising out of or in connection with this manual the software or other information contained herein or the use thereof Macrovision This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U S patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners Use of this ...

Page 3: ... energy saving through the use of computers and their office equipment The program backs the development and dissemination of products with functions that effectively reduce energy consumption It is an open system in which business proprietors can participate voluntarily The targeted products are office equipment such as computers displays printers facsimiles and copiers Their standards and logos ...

Page 4: ...ain or moisture Avoid using the modem during a severe electrical storm Do not use the modem or a telephone to report a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak To change the backup battery please contact your nearest Sony Service Centre Before you connect peripherals turn off the computer and all peripherals Connect the power cord only after connecting all cables Turn on the computer only after turnin...

Page 5: ... only with the supplied AC adapter To disconnect your notebook completely from mains voltage unplug the AC adapter Please make sure that the socket outlet is easily accessible Never touch uninsulated telephone wire or terminals unless the telephone line has been disconnected at the network interface Optical disc drive Misuse of the optical instruments supplied with your notebook can cause eye haza...

Page 6: ...ired standards Additionally Sony provides these EU DoC s on the website http www compliance sony de as a service to our customers You can search for all Declarations of Conformity available for a specific product by typing in the model name in the search box above A list of matching documents will be displayed and can be downloaded Please note that the availability of declarations depends on the s...

Page 7: ...age of the Wireless LAN functionality may be restricted For country specific details please refer to the Wireless LAN Regulations leaflet The Wireless LAN PC functionality which is incorporated into this unit has passed Wi Fi certification and complies with the interoperability specifications established by WECA Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance ...

Page 8: ... C 140 F or incinerate Dispose of used batteries promptly and properly Keep away from children In some areas the disposal of lithium ion batteries in household or business waste may be prohibited Use the public collection system Disposing of internal memory backup battery Your notebook is equipped with an internal memory backup battery that should not have to be replaced during the lifetime of the...

Page 9: ...t USB 2 0 High speed Full speed Low speed and i LINK functionalities i LINK is a bidirectional digital interface for exchanging data With the Memory Stick you can easily exchange and share digital data with compatible products Wireless technology Thanks to the Wireless LAN IEEE 802 11b technology you can communicate freely without cables or wires Windows Your system includes Microsoft s Windows XP...

Page 10: ...f specifications and a list of bundled software A Guide to Troubleshooting Using the VAIO Recovery and Documentation Disc booklet where you will find troubleshooting VAIO Link information and an explanation of the purpose and use of the VAIO Recovery and Documentation Disc A Dual Language Operating System leaflet Your Sony Guarantee conditions A Safety Regulations leaflet A Wireless Lan Regulation...

Page 11: ...tebook Glossary refers to terms used in this manual Depending on your model Read the printed Specifications document for more information 2 Refer to your Software Guide for information on the software and the Sony applications About the Software delivered with your computer is a short description of the features of the software delivered with your system Using Video software explains how to use So...

Page 12: ...to install update or uninstall a driver 3 In the VAIO Link Customer Service Guide you will find all the VAIO Link information you need including specific contact numbers for each country Depending on your model Read the printed Specifications document for more information Online documentation 1 Consult the Online Help files of the software you are using for detailed information on features and tro...

Page 13: ...AIO Recovery and Documentation Disc for details Not available with models sold in Belgium or Spain If you find an extra phone plug in the box see Using the correct phone plug page 57 1 Main unit 6 Weight saver 2 VAIO Recovery and Documentation Disc 7 Phone cable 3 Documentation pack 8 Power cord 4 AC adapter 9 Phone plug country specific 5 Rechargeable battery pack ...

Page 14: ...f you 1 Keep your forearms horizontal 2 with your wrists in a neutral comfortable position 3 while using the keyboard touchpad or external mouse Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides Have breaks during sessions with your computer Excessive use of the computer may strain muscles or tendons Furniture and posture Sit in a chair with good back support Adjust the level of the chair so your f...

Page 15: ... Choose a location where windows and lights do not create glare and reflection on the display Use indirect lighting to avoid bright spots on the display You can also purchase accessories for your display that help reduce glare Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work effectiveness Positioning an external display When using an external display set the display at a comfortable viewing distance ...

Page 16: ...g a power source page 21 Starting your notebook page 28 Setting up your notebook with Sony Notebook Setup page 29 Shutting down your notebook page 31 Using the keyboard page 32 Using the touchpad page 37 Using the disc drive page 38 Using the weight saver page 41 Using PC Cards page 42 Using Memory Stick page 45 Using the modem page 56 Using Wireless LAN WLAN page 58 Using power saving modes page ...

Page 17: ...ook User Guide Using your notebook 16 n N Locating controls and connectors Right Do not cover the ventilation slot when the computer is on 1 Battery bay page 22 2 Ventilation slot page 19 3 LCD lock lever page 28 ...

Page 18: ... Specifications document for more information 1 MagicGate Memory Stick slot page 45 2 i LINK IEEE1394 S400 port page 96 3 PC Card slots page 42 4 Multipurpose bay for weight saver or second battery with weight saver or removable DVD RW drive or a CD RW DVD ROM combined drive page 24 page 41 page 38 ...

Page 19: ...reen page 35 2 Speakers page 35 3 Keyboard page 32 4 Touchpad page 37 5 Left right buttons page 37 6 Power indicator page 36 7 Battery 1 and 2 indicators page 36 8 Hard disk drive indicator page 36 9 Memory Stick indicator page 36 10 Num Lock indicator page 36 11 Caps Lock indicator page 36 12 Scroll Lock indicator page 36 13 Power button page 28 14 Magnify button 15 Volume down button page 35 16 ...

Page 20: ... 12 Mbps transfer mode Low speed 1 5 Mbps transfer mode Used for low speed devices such as mouse and keyboards There is a ventilation slot located on the left side of the back panel Do not cover the ventilation slot when the computer is on 1 Ventilation slot page 19 2 DC In page 21 3 Printer connector page 95 4 Monitor VGA connector page 77 5 AV Out connector page 80 6 3 USB 2 0 ports page 90 7 Et...

Page 21: ...ook User Guide Using your notebook 20 n N Bottom 1 Port replicator connector cover page 73 2 Modem module page 56 3 Multi purpose bay release lever page 24 page 41 page 38 4 Reset button 5 Memory module page 125 ...

Page 22: ...proceed as follows 1 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter 1 into the DC In connector 2 on the computer 2 Plug one end of the power cord 3 into the AC adapter 3 Plug the other end of the power cord into an AC outlet Use your notebook only with the supplied AC adapter To disconnect your notebook completely from mains voltage unplug the AC adapter Make sure that the socket outlet is easily acces...

Page 23: ...battery pack supplied with your computer is not fully charged at the time of purchase Inserting the battery pack To insert the battery pack proceed as follows 1 Open the cover of the battery bay 2 Insert the battery pack with the label facing up into the battery bay on the right side of the computer 3 Close the cover of the battery bay until it clicks When the computer is directly connected to AC ...

Page 24: ...ry bay on the right side of the computer 2 indicates the status of the battery pack in the multi purpose bay on the left side of the computer When the battery is running out of power both the battery and power indicators blink Keep the battery pack in the computer while it is directly connected to AC power The battery pack continues to charge while you are using the computer If the battery level f...

Page 25: ...irectly connected to AC power and has a battery pack inserted in the battery bay it uses power from the AC outlet Removing the battery pack To remove the battery pack proceed as follows 1 Turn off the computer 2 Open the cover of the battery bay 3 Pull out the battery pack 4 Close the cover of the battery bay You may lose data if you remove the battery pack while the computer is on and not connect...

Page 26: ...rns on 3 Attach the weight saver 3 to the computer to stabilize the battery pack 4 Slide the eject lever on the bottom of the weight saver toward the front of the computer to lock it If you attach two batteries you can remove one of them without shutting down the computer When removing one battery pack make sure that the other battery pack indicator is on If the indicator of the battery pack you a...

Page 27: ...attery pack To charge the second battery pack proceed as follows 1 Keep the battery pack 1 3 in the computer while it is connected to AC power The battery indicator 2 flashes while the battery is charging 2 When the battery indicator stops flashing the battery is 85 charged ...

Page 28: ...the second battery pack To remove the second battery pack proceed as follows 1 Slide the multi purpose bay release lever on the bottom of the computer in the direction of the arrow 2 Remove the weight saver 3 Pull out the battery pack 4 Reinsert the weight saver ...

Page 29: ...ress the power button 2 of the computer until the green power indicator 3 light turns on 3 If necessary press Fn F5 to adjust the brightness controls for the LCD display To increase the brightness use the up or right arrow keys To decrease use the down or left arrow keys Fn F5 is only possible if Windows is running If you press the power button for more than four seconds the computer will turn off...

Page 30: ... you to consult system information specify preferences for system behaviour and set up password protection for your VAIO notebook To use Sony Notebook Setup proceed as follows 1 Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar 2 In All Programs select Sony Notebook Setup and then click Sony Notebook Setup The Sony Notebook Setup window appears ...

Page 31: ...ber and BIOS version Initial Setting Selects the drive and device order you wish to use for loading the operating system You can specify the hard drive as well as other drives inserted into your computer You can change the volume of the sounds played while the operating system is loading Power On Password Sets the password to secure your computer If you use this option remember the password at all...

Page 32: ... down your computer Close all software in use If applicable remove the PC Card To do so double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar Select the hardware you want to unplug and click Stop Disconnect any USB devices Press Alt F4 and select Turn Off from the screen that appears If this does not work you can press the power button for more than four seconds This will shut down the compu...

Page 33: ...Sony Notebook User Guide Using your notebook 32 n N Using the keyboard Your keyboard is very similar to a desktop computer s but has additional keys that perform specific notebook related tasks ...

Page 34: ...is equivalent to clicking the right mouse button Numeric keypad area 7 Contains the keys found on a typical calculator Use the numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform mathematical calculations such as addition and subtraction Note that you must press the Num Lock key to activate the numeric keypad When you do so the Num Lock indicator illuminates Operator keys 8 11 12 Several keys are al...

Page 35: ... is equivalent to selecting Search from the Start menu Ctrl F Displays the Search Results Computers window where you can locate other computers M Minimises all displayed windows Shift M Returns all minimised windows to their previous size R Displays the Run window This is equivalent to selecting Run from the Start menu Fn Insert Displays the System Properties window This is equivalent to double cl...

Page 36: ...hen or You can also adjust the volume by pressing the Volume up and Volume down keys below the touchpad of your notebook Fn F5 brightness control Adjusts the brightness of the LCD To increase lightness intensity press Fn F5 and then or To decrease light intensity press Fn F5 and then or Fn F7 switch to the external display Toggles between the LCD external device monitor or TV depending on which de...

Page 37: ... Turns off when the Memory Stick is no longer in use Light On Off Hard disk Data is read from or written to the hard drive The hard drive is not being accessed Num Lock Turns on when the number keys in the numeric keypad are active Turns off when the alphanumeric character keys in the keypad area are active Caps Lock Turns on when the characters appear in uppercase as you type The Shift key lowers...

Page 38: ...e pointer 2 on an item or object Click Press the left button 3 once Double click Press the left button twice Right click Press the right button 4 once In many applications this action displays a shortcut menu Drag Slide one finger while pressing the left button Scroll Move your finger along the right edge of the touchpad to scroll vertically Move your finger along the bottom to scroll horizontally...

Page 39: ... pushing it gently When the computer is in Standby or Hibernate mode you cannot insert or remove a disc Be sure to seat the disc firmly over the disc drive hub fingers If you do not seat the disc firmly you could damage your disc drive and you may not be able to open the tray When you finish using a disc wait until the LED indicator turns off and then press the eject button to remove the disc If t...

Page 40: ...our software Only use circular discs Do not use discs with any other shape star heart card etc as this may damage the optical drive Do not strike or shake the computer while writing data to a disc For optimal writing speed deactivate the screensaver before writing data to a disc Memory resident disc utilities may cause unstable operation or data loss Deactivate these utilities before writing data ...

Page 41: ...ndicate in which region and on what type of player you can play the disc Unless a 2 Europe belongs to region 2 or all this means that you can play this DVD everywhere in the world is labelled on your DVD disc or on the packaging you cannot play the disc on this player Do not try to change the region code settings of the optical drive Any difficulties caused by changing the region code settings of ...

Page 42: ...e installed in the multi purpose bay To attach the weight saver proceed as follows 1 If another device is in the multi purpose bay remove the device 2 Slide the weight saver in the direction of the arrow until it clicks into place To remove the weight saver proceed as follows 1 Slide the multi purpose bay release lever on the bottom of the computer in the direction of the arrow 2 Remove the weight...

Page 43: ...tected by your system The Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the system tray Some devices may not function properly if you repeat returning to Normal mode from Standby mode or Hibernate mode The computer will return to its original state if you restart it The PC Card slots can accommodate at the same time two Type I two Type II or one Type III PC Card These slots are compatible with Card Bus p...

Page 44: ...ing the PC Card in the correct direction See the manual supplied with your PC Card for more information on use For some PC Cards if you alternate between Normal power operation and Standby or Hibernate power management modes while the card is inserted you may find that a device connected to your system is not recognised Restart your system to correct the problem Do not carry your notebook while to...

Page 45: ...Card release button a second time so that the PC Card pops out 10 Gently take hold of the Card and pull it out of the slot 11 If the PC Card release button is still out push it back in to close the front panel cover If you unplug the PC Card from the computer when it is still turned on your system might crash and you might lose data that you did not save before Before you remove the PC Card click ...

Page 46: ...ed into digital data such as pictures music words sounds movies and photographs Foreseen as the universal data storage device of the future the Memory Stick can already be used with an ever increasing range of compatible products including Audio systems Visual devices VAIO products CLIE handhelds Mobile phones There are currently three different types of Memory Stick supported by your VAIO The gen...

Page 47: ...ght and attractive in their design Capacity Its data capacity far exceeds that of a floppy disk Security its lock option means you can protect your data from accidental erasure Versatility memory capacity ranges from 4 MB up to 128 MB the equivalent capacity of 88 floppy disks and up to 1GB for Memory Stick PRO Reliability by way of protecting the hardware and its contents the number of terminals ...

Page 48: ...ou can expand the capabilities of your VAIO computer in the following scenarios With your still digital camera share your holiday pictures instantly by e mail From your handycam to your VAIO make the most of your captured moments with the VAIO s movie editing tools Carry pictures on you by copying image files from the Internet to your VAIO or to your CLIE handheld With your voice recorder add your...

Page 49: ...following features 32 64 and 128 MB capacity versions Storage of up to 120 minutes of audio data Download and save digital music pictures movies and more Combine data files to add music to your home movies for example Transfer and share data between several digital products MagicGate Copyright Protection Technology SDMI Secure Digital Music Initiative Compliance SonicStage software So that you fur...

Page 50: ... SonicStage uses copyright protection technology designed to manage the digital music content downloaded to the PC from CDs the Internet and or other sources Software installed on the PC records music content in encrypted form onto the hard disk As well as allowing you to enjoy music on the PC this technology protects against unauthorized distribution on the Internet Since it is compatible with Ma...

Page 51: ... providing an environment where individuals can record and enjoy third party music data without worrying about copyright infringement Literary works that are recorded by individuals are permitted for private usage only Compatible devices There are nearly 80 Memory Stick enabled products on the market or announced for introduction world wide ranging from camcorders and portable music players to voi...

Page 52: ...51 n N Other VAIO notebooks VAIO desktops CLIE Handheld Entertainment Organiser Sony mobile phones Digital printers AIBO the Sony Entertainment Robot To find out more about the products available in your country go to http www sonystyle europe com ...

Page 53: ...s of 24 36 film Compatible devices You can currently use the Memory Stick PRO with the following Sony products Visual Cyber shot DSC F717 F77 and FX77 digital camera DPP EX5 and EX7 digital photo printers Digital camcorders DCR TRV355 TRV22 TRV33 TRV60 and TRV80 Other MSAC US20 USB Memory Stick adapter MSAC US70 USB optical mouse and Memory Stick adapter MSAC PC3 PC Card Memory Stick adapter MSAC ...

Page 54: ...valuable data from accidental erasure or overwriting Move the tab to the right or left to set or release write protection When the erasure prevention switch is off data can be saved on the Memory Stick When the erasure prevention switch is on data can be read from but not saved on the Memory Stick The 128 MB Memory Stick has a vertical lock LOCK LOCK LOCK ...

Page 55: ...from your digital device insert the Memory Stick with the arrow facing up and toward the Memory Stick slot 2 Carefully slide the Memory Stick into the slot until it clicks in place The Memory Stick is automatically detected by your system and appears in your My Computer window as a local drive under the appropriate letter depending on the configuration of your computer Hold the Memory Stick with t...

Page 56: ...slot proceed as follows 1 Check that the access light is off 2 Push the Memory Stick in towards the notebook The Memory Stick ejects 3 Pull the Memory Stick out of the slot Always remove the Memory Stick gently or it may pop out unexpectedly It is recommended that you remove the Memory Stick before shutting down the computer ...

Page 57: ...wall jack We recommend you to use the supplied plug because the usage of any other phone plug can decrease the connection quality Your computer cannot be connected to a coin operated telephone and may not work with multiple phone lines or a private branch exchange PBX If you connect the modem to a parallel connected phone line the modem or the other connected device may not function properly Some ...

Page 58: ...rect phone plug If there are two phone plugs in the box make sure you use the correct one for the country you are in as follows UK The connector can be identified by its cuboid shape and flat pins The Netherlands The connector can be identified by its protruding pins ...

Page 59: ...ich allows you to create a full infrastructure network infrastructure In some countries using WLAN products may be restricted by the local regulations e g limited number of channels Therefore before activating the WLAN functionality read the Wireless LAN Regulation leaflet carefully Channel selection is explained further in this manual see Wireless LAN channel selection page 63 WLAN uses the IEEE ...

Page 60: ...cate without Access Point ad hoc proceed as follows 1 Turn on the Wireless LAN switch of the computer The Switch wireless devices dialog box appears 2 Double click the network icon in the taskbar displaying Wireless Network Connection The Wireless Network Connection dialog box appears 3 Click the Properties button The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box appears 4 Select the Wireless ...

Page 61: ...t to communicate between two or more computers you need to configure all these computers the exact same way This means that you need to enter the same Network name and the same Network key on all computers as on the first computer you configure ASCII The basis of character sets used in almost all present day computers ASCII is a code for representing English characters as numbers with each letter ...

Page 62: ...ices within a specific range To communicate with an Access Point infrastructure proceed as follows 1 Turn on the Wireless switch of the computer The Switch wireless devices dialog box appears 2 Right click the network icon in the taskbar displaying the Wireless Network Connection message 3 Click View Available Wireless Networks The Wireless Network Connection dialog box appears 4 Select the networ...

Page 63: ... point see the documentation supplied with your Access Point In France only channels 10 and 11 are legally allowed when using WLAN For more information on channel selection see the Wireless LAN Regulations leaflet The length of the network key can be set up as in the case of ad hoc network meaning 5 or 13 ascii characters or 10 or 26 hexadecimal characters long ...

Page 64: ...r 11 indoor and outdoor If you use a non Sony Access Point read the manual of the Access Point to be sure which channel to use For more information on Wireless LAN read the Wireless LAN Regulations leaflet Infrastructure network The channel is automatically set by the Access Point Ad hoc network By default the channel is set to 11 When you change the channel number on one computer you need to chan...

Page 65: ...rge the battery or shut down your computer and insert a fully charged battery Using Normal mode This is the normal state of your computer when it is in use The green power indicator light is on in this mode To save power while not working you can turn off a specific device such as the LCD or the hard disk Using Standby mode Standby mode turns off the LCD screen and sets the hard disk and the CPU t...

Page 66: ...e To activate Hibernate mode proceed as follows Press Fn F12 The Hibernating screen appears and the notebook enters Hibernate mode Alternatively Click Start and then Turn Off Computer In the Turn off computer screen hold down the Shift key and press Hibernate To return to Normal mode proceed as follows Turn on the computer by pressing the power button The computer returns to its previous state If ...

Page 67: ...eeds with the goal of extended battery life PowerPanel has the following features Automatic Profile Selection APS based on the currently active application Ability to select specific Power Profiles manually from the menu Ability to edit and create new profiles Ability to display detailed battery information It works in harmony with your Windows settings Support for Windows XP Theme ToolTips to sig...

Page 68: ...ement profile by default If you select a different power management profile while using battery power the same profile will automatically be selected the next time you use the battery pack to power your computer Activating power management profiles PowerPanel provides several predefined power management profiles Each profile consists of a group of power management settings that are designed to mee...

Page 69: ...Stick port is shut off also If you want to use the optical drive or the Memory Stick port return to Maximum Battery Life Maximum Performance Provides the best system performance while still conserving power Word Processing Optimises power management with longer timeouts on the hard disk and display screen You can also establish settings for LCD Video Standby Hard Disk Standby and Standby to optimi...

Page 70: ...rs such as LCD brightness or hard disk activity To select automatic profiles proceed as follows 1 Right click the PowerPanel icon in the taskbar and select Profiles 2 Select Automatic Profile Selection The Automatic Profile Selection feature deactivates when you manually select another power profile from the menu Games Disables the display and the Hard Disk timer DVD Optimises performance and powe...

Page 71: ...ntains information such as the estimated battery life remaining and charging time Display the Battery Information toolbar on the screen which shows the battery status icon the percentage of remaining capacity and the amount of running time left in the battery To display the Battery Information toolbar right click the taskbar and select Toolbars then Battery Information from the menu Battery icon B...

Page 72: ...e to edit existing profiles Users whose account type is Limited can only open the Power Profile tab in the Power Panel window in view mode To check your user account information select the User Accounts category in the Control Panel Your account type must be Computer administrator to be able to edit power profile Creating a power profile To create a power profile proceed as follows 1 Right click t...

Page 73: ...al display page 77 Selecting display modes page 83 Using the Dual Display function page 84 Connecting external speakers page 87 Connecting an external microphone page 88 Connecting an external mouse or keyboard page 89 Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB device page 90 Connecting a printer page 94 Connecting an i LINK device page 96 Connecting to a network LAN page 99 Hot plug and play devices s...

Page 74: ...pter from the port replicator or the AC outlet when using the port replicator this may cause data damage or hardware malfunctions When connecting video cables to S Video out and Video out simultaneously only the S Video out connector can be used 1 USB port page 90 8 Video out connector page 80 2 Serial port 9 S Video out connector page 80 3 Audio in connector R L page 80 10 Monitor VGA port page 7...

Page 75: ... your computer to the port replicator proceed as follows 1 Disconnect all peripherals from the computer 2 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter 1 into the DC In port 2 on the port replicator 3 3 Plug the power cord 4 into the AC adapter and an AC outlet The power indicator DC IN 5 of the port replicator turns green ...

Page 76: ...til it clicks into place 6 Turn on the notebook When you use the port replicator for the first time the installation of the network drivers starts automatically When attaching your computer to the port replicator do not attempt to insert or remove the battery pack Lifting and turning the computer with the attached port replicator may cause a temporary loss of power Use the AC adapter that comes wi...

Page 77: ... port replicator to disconnect the computer from the port replicator 3 Lift the notebook away from the port replicator 4 Close the port replicator connector cover on the bottom of your computer It is extremely important to close the port replicator connector cover after removing your computer from the port replicator If the cover is left open dust may get inside and damage the computer To disconne...

Page 78: ...ay monitor Multimedia computer display TV Projector Turn off your computer and the peripherals unplug the AC adapter and the power cord before connecting the external display Connect the power cord after connecting all other cables Turn on the peripherals then turn on your computer Connected external displays are used as second screens On Windows systems only you can also use an external display t...

Page 79: ...optional port replicator To connect a computer display proceed as follows 1 Plug the display cable 1 not supplied into the monitor VGA connector 2 on the notebook 2 If necessary plug one end of the display s power cord 3 into the display and the other end into an AC outlet You cannot use the monitor connector on your notebook when the port replicator is connected to the notebook ...

Page 80: ...mputer display that includes built in speakers and a microphone To connect a multimedia computer display proceed as follows 1 Plug the display cable 1 into the monitor VGA connector 2 on the computer 2 Plug the speaker cable 3 into the headphone connector 4 on the computer 3 Plug the microphone cable 5 into the microphone connector 6 on the computer ...

Page 81: ...ation on installation and use If you insert a DVD in your DVD ROM drive to watch a video on your TV the Fn F7 key combination might not activate the function to toggle between your LCD and TV Solution 1 Eject your DVD from your computer 2 Once the DVD is ejected toggle between your LCD and your TV with the combination Fn F7 Your image displays now on both LCD and TV Re insert your DVD to launch yo...

Page 82: ...udio video cable 1 optional into the Audio out R L and Video out connectors 2 on your notebook and the other end into the Audio R L and Video connectors on your TV 3 Plug one end of the S Video cable 3 optional into the S Video out connector 4 and the other end into the S Video connector on your TV 4 Switch the input channel of the TV to external input 5 Set up the TV configuration system ...

Page 83: ...by the symbol 2 Plug the audio cable 3 not supplied into the earphone connector 4 identified by the symbol 3 Plug the RGB signal cable and the audio cable into the connectors of the projector 5 4 Connect the power cord 6 of the projector into an AC outlet Under certain circumstances you may not be able to display the notebook LCD screen and an external display or a projector at the same time You c...

Page 84: ...n To change the primary monitor proceed as follows 1 Click the Start button and then Control Panel The Control Panel appears 2 Click Appearance and Themes 3 Click Display The Display Properties dialog box appears 4 Click the Settings tab 5 Click the display marked 2 By default your notebook LCD screen is the display marked 1 If you do not know whether your notebook screen or the external screen is...

Page 85: ...or a toolbar from one display to the other This configuration of a single desktop distributed across separate displays is referred to as a virtual desktop Your monitor or TV hardware may not support the Dual Display function Certain software applications may not be compatible with Dual Display settings Make sure that your computer does not enter Standby or Hibernate mode while you are using Dual D...

Page 86: ... not support the Dual Display function Setting the colours and resolution for each display You can set the display colours and resolution for each display that is part of a virtual desktop To set the display colours and resolution for each display proceed as follows 1 Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar 2 Click Control Panel 3 Click Appearance and Themes 4 Click the Display icon 5 Select...

Page 87: ...onitor icons to match the physical arrangement of your monitors The two monitor icons must be connected to create a virtual desktop 7 Click Apply and then OK Deactivating the Dual Display function To deactivate the Dual Display function proceed as follows 1 Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar 2 Click Control Panel 3 Click Appearance and Themes 4 Click the Display icon 5 Click the Setting...

Page 88: ...nect external speakers proceed as follows 1 Plug the speaker cable 1 into the headphone connector 2 2 Plug the other end of the speaker cable into the external speaker 3 3 Turn down the volume of the speakers before you turn them on Make sure your speakers are designed for computer use Do not place floppy disks on the speakers their magnetic field may damage the data on the disks ...

Page 89: ...an internal microphone If you need to use a sound input device for example to chat on the Internet you need to plug in an external microphone To connect an external microphone proceed as follows Plug the microphone cable 1 into the microphone connector 2 identified by the symbol Make sure your microphone is designed for computer use ...

Page 90: ... time Of course you can always connect an external USB mouse or keyboard See Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB device page 90 Before you connect or disconnect the mouse or the keyboard turn off the computer To connect an external mouse or keyboard proceed as follows Plug the mouse cable 1 or the keyboard cable 2 with the symbol facing up into the PS 2 mouse keyboard connector 3 identified by M...

Page 91: ...computer Before connecting or disconnecting a USB peripheral you do not need to shut down the computer You may need to install software device drivers supplied with your USB device before using the USB device There are 3 USB 2 0 ports at the back of your notebook and 2 USB 2 0 ports at the back of the optional port replicator Connecting a USB mouse page 91 Connecting a USB floppy disk drive page 9...

Page 92: ...e USB connector you prefer to use at the back of the notebook 1 or the optional port replicator 2 Plug the USB mouse cable 2 into the USB connector You can use your USB mouse 3 The VAIO USB mouse software driver is preinstalled on your notebook therefore you only need to plug the USB mouse into the USB connector and you can start working ...

Page 93: ... the USB floppy disk drive cable into the USB connector The VAIO logo on the disk drive should be facing up Your USB floppy disk drive is now ready for use To remove a USB floppy disk drive proceed as follows If your computer is on wait until the floppy drive LED indicator turns off and then unplug the USB cable If the floppy disk drive is not removed properly your system may crash and you may los...

Page 94: ...isk To remove a floppy disk proceed as follows When you have finished using the floppy disk wait until the LED indicator 1 turns off and then press the eject button 2 to remove the disk Before pressing the eject button make sure that the LED indicator is turned off If the disk does not come out by pressing the eject button disconnect the floppy disk drive from the computer Do not press the eject b...

Page 95: ...nter using the USB connector You can connect a USB printer compatible with your version of Windows to your computer To connect a printer using the USB connector proceed as follows 1 Plug a USB printer cable 1 into one of the USB connectors 2 on your notebook A USB connector is identified by the symbol on your notebook and printer 2 Plug the printer power cord into an AC outlet 3 ...

Page 96: ...lows 1 Plug the printer cable 1 supplied with the printer into the printer connector 2 identified by the symbol 2 Plug the printer power cord 3 into an AC outlet Before using the printer you may need to change the Printer settings in the Sony Notebook Setup software Turn off your computer and the printer unplug the AC adapter and the power cord before connecting the printer ...

Page 97: ...lications you use Refer to the documentation that came with your software for more information i LINK cables compatible with your VAIO notebook include cables with the following part numbers VMC IL4415A a 1 5 meter cable with a 4 pin connector at each end VMC IL4408Series a 0 8 meter cable with a 4 pin connector at each end Connecting a digital video camera recorder page 97 Connecting two VAIO not...

Page 98: ...ion On Sony digital video cameras connectors labelled DV Out DV In Out or i LINK are i LINK compatible The Sony digital video camera recorder is an example your digital video camera recorder may need to be connected differently If your digital video camera recorder includes a Memory Stick slot you can copy images from it to your computer via a Memory Stick To do so simply copy images on the Memory...

Page 99: ...eripheral devices 98 n N Connecting two VAIO notebooks You can copy edit or delete files on another VAIO computer to your computer with an optional i LINK cable You can also print a document on a printer connected to another VAIO computer ...

Page 100: ... network consult your Network Administrator The default settings make your computer able to connect to the network If the main unit is docked you can only use the Ethernet network connector on the port replicator For more information about connecting your notebook to the network please consult the Hardware troubleshooting section of the VAIO Link website How to troubleshoot network problems Do not...

Page 101: ...puter as well as further sources of reference Other sources of information The online help files that accompany your pre installed software contain instructions on using the software VAIO Link website if you have any problem with your computer you can access the VAIO Link website Go to http www vaio link com VAIO Link Before contacting VAIO Link you should try to solve the problem by reading this ...

Page 102: ...k e Support Web Portal How can I access the e Support portal When you register your VAIO computer online at Club VAIO www club vaio com you will automatically receive an email with the link to the e Support Web Portal your Customer ID and some basic explanation a few hours later All you need to do is activate your account by clicking on the provided link in the email You are now ready to create yo...

Page 103: ... your queries from Monday till Friday between 8am and 6pm Is there a cost involved for using e Support No this is a complete free of charge service offered to all registered VAIO customers How do I know when the e Support Team has handled my query case As soon as your case has been dealt with by our e Support Team you will receive an email notifying you that your case has been updated ...

Page 104: ...tions Please try these suggestions before contacting VAIO Link About the computer and software page 104 About the display page 109 About discs page 110 About floppy disks page 114 About sound page 115 About the modem page 116 About peripherals page 117 About digital video captures and DVgate page 119 About power management page 120 About i LINK devices page 121 About Wireless LAN page 122 ...

Page 105: ...f the cable is twisted around the AC adapter during transport If you cannot start Windows make sure there is no disk in the floppy disk drive Confirm that the power cord and all cables are connected firmly If you have plugged the computer into a UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply make sure the UPS is turned on and works Unplug all external devices and cables including the Internet connection Remove ...

Page 106: ... Sony logo appears The BIOS setup menu screen appears 4 Set the date month day year 5 Press Enter 6 Press the arrow keys to select System Time 7 Set the time hour minute second 8 Press Enter 9 Press the arrow keys to select the Exit menu 10 Press the arrow keys to select Get Default Values and then press Enter The Load default configuration now message appears 11 Make sure that Yes is selected and...

Page 107: ...rns off the power Unplug the computer from the AC adapter and remove the battery pack from your computer My computer or software program is not responding If you suspect one application is locking your system you can try to stop it as follows 1 Press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously The Windows Task Manager screen appears 2 Scroll down until you see an application with the status Not responding 3 Se...

Page 108: ...echnical support Make sure the software is compatible with your equipment and operating system Try reinstalling the software My touchpad interprets a single tap as a double click Open the Mouse icon in the Control Panel and change the button assignments in the Mouse Properties dialog box One of the buttons is assigned to the double click action My mouse does not work If you are using an external s...

Page 109: ...te Memory Stick slot rather than via the PC Card slot The power management profile should not be Ultimate Battery Life Please select AC Power when plugged in or Maximum Battery Life when running on batteries Can I install the SonicStage software on other non Sony computers You cannot install SonicStage from the VAIO Recovery and Documentation Disc onto a non Sony computer If you have any other pro...

Page 110: ... display It will take a few seconds for the screen content to appear The computer display may be in Hibernate mode If so press the power button to activate the system It will take a few seconds for the screen content to appear The display mode may be set to external display mode Press and hold the Fn key while pressing F7 several times The screen image on my external display is not centred or size...

Page 111: ...m to detect it before you try to access it Make sure the label of the disc is facing up If the disc requires software make sure the software is installed according to the instructions of the program Check the volume of your speakers Clean the disc with an appropriate cleaner Make sure your computer is running on AC power supply only and try the disc again There may be condensation in the drive Rem...

Page 112: ...our PG settings Parental Guidance in the DVD software as they might be preventing you from playing certain DVDs when they are activated On your computer the default DVD region code is 2 Do not change this setting using the Region Code Change function in Windows or using any other software applications System malfunctions originating from the user changing the DVD region code are beyond the scope o...

Page 113: ...eading speed can also vary depending on the type of format Why does my DVD RW drive not record at the highest speed You must use 16x CD R or 8x CD RW media or higher to achieve optimum performance If you want to use other media and are having difficulty formatting non 8x CD RW discs change the writing speed from 8x to a lower setting To change the writing speed from the default to a lower speed pr...

Page 114: ... Standby or Hibernate mode The disc tray ejects even when it has been locked into place Ensure that the disc is placed with the label side facing up Clean the disc and the disc drive lens with an appropriate cleaner The disc may be scratched Place another disc to see if that is the reason There may be condensation in the drive Remove the disc and leave the drive open for approximately one hour Rem...

Page 115: ...sk The optional PCGA UFD5 A USB floppy disk drive is not recognised as drive A To set the UFD5 A to A proceed as follows 1 Turn the system power on 2 Connect the UFD5 A 3 Select Control Panel from the Start menu 4 Double click System 5 Select the Hardware tab then click Device Manager 6 Select Universal Serial Bus controllers then Y E Data USB Floppy 7 From the Action menu click Uninstall 8 Keep c...

Page 116: ...t it is charged If you are using an application that has its own volume control check that the volume is turned up Check the volume controls in Windows If you use external speakers check that the speakers are properly connected and the volume is turned up If the speakers have a mute button make sure it is off If batteries power the speakers check that the batteries are inserted properly and that t...

Page 117: ...b and that the location information is correct on the Dialing Rules tab If you do not see the Phone and Modem Options icon click Switch to Classic View on the left side My modem connection is slow Many factors 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 prope...

Page 118: ...ause problems with the i LINK devices My PC Card is not working Make sure the PC Card is compatible with your version of Windows Use the Sony Notebook Setup utility to disable devices you are not currently using I cannot print Check that all the cables of the printer are properly connected Check the cable to see if the pins connectors are not bent or missing completely Check the manual supplied wi...

Page 119: ... printers If the printer port is set to Bidirectional change it to ECP 6 Select Parallel Port Mode then press the Enter key 7 Select a printer port option using the arrow keys then press Enter 8 Press F10 and save the new configuration Your computer restarts If you still cannot print try resetting the printer connection as follows 1 Click the icon of the printer installed on your computer 2 In the...

Page 120: ...essage Recording to DV device failed Check the power and cable connections to the DV device and try the operation again Close all open applications and restart your computer Frequent recording of images to a digital video device while using DVgate sometimes causes this error Your DV device will need to have DV In Out in order to be able to transfer your files to the DV device ...

Page 121: ...initiated and then changed before the notebook completely enters the lower power state To restore the notebook to its normal operating stability proceed as follows 1 Close all open applications 2 Press Ctrl Alt Delete simultaneously and select Restart from the drop down list The notebook restarts 3 If the procedure does not work press and hold the power button for four seconds or longer to shut do...

Page 122: ...f you still have no connection after waiting for a while restart both computers If either computer has just returned from a power saving mode the connection may be affected In this case make sure you perform a full restart before connecting them If the second computer has a different operating system for example Windows 2000 you need a software application such as Smart Connect ...

Page 123: ...e Wireless Networks tab Check if the Access Point is displayed in Available networks Connection availability is affected by distance and obstructions You may need to move your computer away from obstructions or neared to any Access Point you may be using The data transfer speed is slow The maximum communication speed can vary depending on the obstacles or the distance between the communication dev...

Page 124: ...are communicating Make the distance between the Access Point and your machine smaller The maximum communication speed is not reached The maximum communication speed is 11 Mbps but this can never be reached The normal speed is 4 to 5 Mbps Playing MPEG2 data can slow down during a wireless transfer MPEG2 needs up to 11Mbps of bandwidth WiFi Wireless Fidelity is not able to supply it constantly ...

Page 125: ...es use high precision components and electronic connectors technology To avoid the invalidation of your guarantee by mishandling it is recommended that You contact your dealer to install a new memory module You do not install it yourself if you are not familiar with upgrading memory on a notebook You do not touch the connectors or open the memory panel Please contact VAIO Link if you need assistan...

Page 126: ...er source that is battery or AC adapter and from any telecommunication links networks or modems before you open the system Failure to do so may result in personal injury or equipment damage Electrostatic Discharge ESD can damage memory modules and other components Install the memory Module only at an ESD workstation If such a station is not available do not work in a carpeted area and do not handl...

Page 127: ... such as radiators or air ducts Direct sunlight Excessive dust Mechanical vibration or shock Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded Ambient temperature of more than 35 C or less than 5 C High humidity Depending on the configuration of your notebook the number of available slots can vary ...

Page 128: ...ll peripheral devices 2 Unplug the computer and remove the battery packs 3 Wait until the computer cools down 4 Turn your computer upside down 5 Open the cover on the bottom by unscrewing the screw turn counter clockwise 6 To remove the memory module pull the tabs in the direction of the arrows 1 The memory module is released 7 Pull the memory module in the direction of arrow 2 ...

Page 129: ... memory module from its packaging 9 Install the memory module by sliding it into the memory module slot as shown 10 Press the module into place until it clicks 11 Close the computer cover 12 Tighten the screw on the bottom of the notebook 13 Turn on the computer ...

Page 130: ...ry proceed as follows 1 Turn on the computer 2 Go to Sony Notebook Setup via the Start menu The Sony Notebook Setup dialog box appears 3 In the About this Computer tab you can view the amount of system memory If the additional memory does not appear repeat the whole procedure and restart the notebook ...

Page 131: ...ard disk page 131 On handling the LCD screen page 131 On using power source page 132 On handling your notebook page 132 On handling floppy disks page 134 On handling discs page 134 On using the battery pack page 134 On using headphones page 136 On handling the Memory Stick page 136 ...

Page 132: ... or writing data Do not use your computer in a place subject to extreme change of temperature Do not move your computer while the system is in Standby mode If the hard disk is damaged the data cannot be restored On handling the LCD screen Do not leave the LCD facing the sun as it can damage the LCD Be careful when using the computer near a window Do not scratch the LCD or exert pressure on it This...

Page 133: ...that may occur during an electrical storm Do not place heavy objects on the power cord To disconnect the cord pull it out by the plug Never pull the cord itself Unplug your computer from the wall outlet if you will not be using the computer for a long time When the AC adapter is not used unplug it from the AC outlet Use only the supplied AC adapter Do not use any other AC adapter On handling your ...

Page 134: ...ar material such as curtains or draperies that may block its ventilation slots The computer uses high frequency radio signals and may cause interference to radio or TV reception Should this occur relocate the computer a suitable distance away from the set Use only specified peripheral equipment and interface cables otherwise problems may result Do not use cut or damaged connection cables Your comp...

Page 135: ...y cause read errors Proper care of the disc is essential to maintain its reliability Do not use solvents such as benzine thinner commercially available cleaners or anti static spray as they may cause damage to the disc For normal cleaning hold the disc by its edge and use a soft cloth to wipe the surface from the centre out If the disc is badly soiled moisten a soft cloth with water wring it out w...

Page 136: ...ry Do not open or try to disassemble the battery pack Do not expose the battery pack to any mechanical shock If you are not using the computer for an extended period of time remove the battery pack from the computer to prevent damage to the battery If after fully charging the battery pack the battery power is still low the battery pack may be reaching the end of its life and should be replaced You...

Page 137: ...d and extended play If you experience a ringing in your ears reduce the volume or discontinue use On handling the Memory Stick Do not touch the Memory Stick connector with your finger or metallic objects Use only the label supplied with the Memory Stick as a label Do not bend drop or apply strong shock to the Memory Stick Do not disassemble or modify Memory Sticks Do not let Memory Sticks get wet ...

Page 138: ... off and to control the amount of power given to each device attached to the computer With ACPI a CD ROM player can be turned off by the operating system if it is not in use BIOS An acronym for Basic Input Output System The BIOS is a program that enables the computer to start when you turn it on It monitors the data stream between the operating system and the computer s hardware devices CardBus Ca...

Page 139: ...h 17 GB This high storage power makes it the ideal medium for storing films DVD R A writable DVD based on the DVD R format that can be used to write a program or other data DVD R A writable DVD based on the DVD R format that can be used to write a program or other data DVD RW A rewritable DVD based on the DVD R format that can be used to write erase and rewrite a program or other data approximatel...

Page 140: ... as digital cameras etc ISP An ISP Internet Service Provider is a company which provides you with a user name password and telephone number in order to connect to the Internet L2 cache memory Cache memory is RAM like memory that enables quick access to data that has already been read by the computer L1 and L2 are levels of cache memory in a computer LAN A LAN Local Area Network is a group of compu...

Page 141: ...de your computer It holds the CPU the BIOS the memory and so on MPEG MPEG or Moving Pictures Experts Group is a standard for audio visual compression of video sequences MPEG achieves high compression rates by storing only the changes from one frame to another The decrease in data is generally imperceptible to the human eye MPEG 1 was developed for digital storage of video and audio data on CD ROM ...

Page 142: ... plug in boards for laptop computers The cards used to be called PCMCIA cards but as this was rather unpronounceable these cards are now termed PC cards An example of a PC card is a credit card sized modem Pixel A pixel Picture Element is a part of your screen Your screen is made up of thousands of pixels enabling you to see colours and pictures on it The more pixels the higher the resolution and ...

Page 143: ... cable that requires separate transmission types for the three colours on the display SDRAM Synchronous DRAM is a kind of dynamic random access memory running at a much higher clock speed than regular memory Standard RAM The amount of RAM that is available on your computer when you purchase it System recovery A recovery process that enables you to recover the hard disk image initially available on...

Page 144: ...d software VAIO branded items are all designed to make the best use of Sony s Audio Video AV and Information Technology IT skills VAIO Recovery and Documentation Disc Disc that enables a VAIO computer user to recover the hard disk image that was available when the computer was purchased It also contains the online documentation The disc is delivered with your computer For more information please r...

Page 145: ...ed QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks used under licence QuickTime is registered in the U S and other countries RealOne Player is a trademark or registered trademark of RealNetworks Inc in the U S and other countries PowerPanel is a trademark of Phoenix Technologies Ltd Symantec Norton Antivirus is a trademark of Symantec Corporation EverQuest is a registered trademark of Sony Compute...

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