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Getting help

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Getting help

This section describes how to get help and support if something goes wrong with your computer.

Sony offers you many support options for your computer.

Sony documentation

Please see the section 

Documentation pack 

(page 8)

 for details on the printed and online documentation 

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

Other sources of information

Go to the 

online help files

 that accompany your software for instructions on using the software.

VAIO-Link website

: If you have any problems with your computer, you can access the VAIO-Link website 

for troubleshooting. Go to: 

www.vaio-link.com

e-Support

: This interactive part of our website 

www.vaio-link.com

 allows you to get in contact with our 

dedicated support team over the internet. Using a personalised account, you can log your technical 
queries with ease.

VAIO-Link help lines

: Before contacting VAIO-Link by telephone, try to solve the problem by reading 

the online and printed documentation.

Visit the other Sony websites:

www.club-vaio.com 

if you want to know more about VAIO and become part of the growing VAIO 

community.

www.sonystyle-europe.com

 for online purchases.

www.sony.com

 for other Sony products.

You need to set up an Internet connection before you can access the online features described here.

Summary of Contents for VAIO PCV-1136

Page 1: ...N Hardware Guide P C V R Z s e r i e s P C V 1 1 3 6 ...

Page 2: ...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 U S patents and other intellectual property rights Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorised by Macrovision and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwis...

Page 3: ...duce 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 are uniform among participating nations ENERGY STAR is a U S registered mark Environmental information Halogenated flame retardant not used in cabinets Cushions formed b...

Page 4: ...a severe electrical storm The power socket outlet you are using must be installed near the equipment and must be easily accessible Do not move your computer while the system is in Standby mode The magnetic properties of some objects can have serious consequences for your hard disk drive They can erase the data on the hard disk drive and cause the computer to malfunction Do not place your computer ...

Page 5: ...cessible Optical disc drive The use of optical instruments can cause eye hazard As the laser beam used in this product is harmful to the eyes do not attempt any disassembling process For servicing refer to qualified personnel only There is visible and invisible radiation when the optical disc drive is open avoid direct exposure to the laser beam The optical disc drives are classified as CLASS 1 LA...

Page 6: ... are intended for the market surveillance authorities as proof that products satisfy the required 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 A list of matching documents will be displayed a...

Page 7: ...ehold or business waste may be prohibited Please use the public waste collection system Disposing of the AA batteries Some models are delivered with a remote control The bundled remote control is powered by AA batteries For installing the batteries please refer to the Giga Pocket manual in the VAIO Info Centre Do not handle damaged or leaking batteries Dispose of promptly and properly at end of li...

Page 8: ...Giga Pocket technology allowing you to watch TV and record your favourite programs digitally and by remote control Sony Memory Stick slot This compact digital storage medium allows you to easily transfer images sounds data and text between cameras computers and more Interconnectivity Your computer has Memory Stick USB 2 0 i LINK CompactFlash and SmartMedia functionalities Windows XP Your system in...

Page 9: ...cription of the items in your box and how to set up your computer A Specifications sheet containing a table of specifications a list of bundled software and on the reverse side a guide to setting up your VAIO A Guide to Troubleshooting Using the VAIO Recovery and Documentation Disc where you will find solutions to common problems an explanation of the purpose and use of the VAIO disc delivered wit...

Page 10: ...AIO systems Depending on your model you may have the following guides The Giga Pocket manual which explains how to watch and record TV and video on your PC The Network Media Receiver manual explaining how to display audio video and photos files stored on a different computer Further sources Consult the Online Help files of the software you are using for detailed information on features and trouble...

Page 11: ...Hardware Guide Welcome 10 n N Ergonomic considerations Whenever possible try and take into account the following ergonomic considerations when using your new computer whether at home or in the office ...

Page 12: ... proper position Remember to adjust the brightness setting of the display If you are using a CRT monitor make sure that the refresh rate is at an optimal level that is at least 75Hz Furniture and posture Sit in a chair with good back support 4 Adjust the level of the chair so your feet are flat on the floor A footrest may make you more comfortable Sit in a relaxed upright posture and avoid slouchi...

Page 13: ...omputer safely and confidently Read on to get the most out of using your VAIO computer Shutting down your computer safely page 13 Using the keyboard page 14 Using the TV function page 15 Using the mouse page 16 Using the disc drives page 18 Using the floppy disk drive page 22 Using the modem page 24 Using power modes page 26 Using the media slots page 29 Using PC Cards page 38 Expansion capabiliti...

Page 14: ...lows 1 Turn off any peripherals connected to your computer 2 Click the Start button 3 Click Turn Off Computer The Turn off computer window appears 4 Click Turn Off 5 Respond to any prompts warning you to save documents or to consider other users and wait for your computer to turn off automatically The power indicator turns off See the printed Troubleshooting Guide if you have problems shutting dow...

Page 15: ...having to click the shortcut icon on the desktop Use an S Key simply by pressing it If you want to you can use VAIO Action Setup to change the functions of the S Keys All the buttons are reprogrammable Light On Off 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 letters ...

Page 16: ...ge your video units capsules preview them and create multiple folders Set up a timer to record channels at a repeated time Suspend viewing TV time shifting Stream your recorded TV contents via Ethernet or WLAN to connected PCs Export your video capsules to MPEG2 MPEG1 and DVI AVI files Sony cannot guarantee the streaming of recorded content if it is beyond a certain level of high quality For detai...

Page 17: ...ters and Other Hardware then select Mouse Function Action point Move the entire mouse across a flat surface to place the pointer on an item or object click Press the left button 1 once double click Press the left button twice right click Press the right button 2 once In many applications this action displays a context sensitive shortcut menu drag and drop Hold the left button down while sliding th...

Page 18: ...handed users proceed as follows 1 Go to Start select Control Panel then click the Printers and Other Hardware option 2 Click the mouse icon The Mouse Properties dialog box appears 3 In the Buttons tab select the option button next to Switch primary and secondary buttons 4 Click OK The new mouse settings are now in place ...

Page 19: ...s data from DVDs and CDs A CD RW drive reads data from and writes to CDs A CD ROM drive reads data from CDs To insert a disc proceed as follows 1 Turn on the computer 2 Press the appropriate eject button to open the drive The cover flap opens and the tray slides out 3 Place a disc in the tray with the label side facing upwards Make sure the disc is secure in the centre of the tray 4 Close the tray...

Page 20: ...omputer 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 to a disc When using a software application to burn discs make sure you exit and close all other applications Never touch the surface of the disc Fingerprints a...

Page 21: ...access of discs because they may cause the system to become unstable Make sure that the screensaver is deactivated Region codes indicators are labelled on the DVDs to indicate 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...

Page 22: ...el 3 Click Appearance and Themes and then Display The Display Properties dialog box appears 4 Click the Settings tab 5 Click Advanced If the NVIDIA GeForce FX dialog box appears proceed as follows 1 Click nView Display Mode on the left 2 Select the Clone check box 3 Click Overlay Controls on the left 4 Make your required settings here and click OK when you have finished If the ATI RADEON dialog bo...

Page 23: ...py disk with the label side facing up 3 Gently push the disk into the floppy disk drive until it clicks into place 4 Close the cover flap Removing a floppy disk To remove a floppy disk proceed as follows 1 Open the cover flap 2 Wait until the LED indicator turns off 3 Press the eject button and pull the disk out gently 4 Close the cover flap Do not press the eject button when the LED indicator is ...

Page 24: ... disk drive cannot write to a floppy disk The floppy disk is write protected Disable the write protect feature or use a floppy disk that is not write protected Check that the disk is properly inserted into the floppy disk drive Your disk may be corrupt Try to insert another floppy disk ...

Page 25: ...the phone line is working You can check the line by plugging in an ordinary phone and listening for a dial tone Check that the phone number the program is dialling is correct The modem dialling mode may be incompatible with your telephone line The modem may not work properly if you are using a Private Automatic Branch eXchange PABX In the Phone and Modem Options dialog box Control Panel Phone and ...

Page 26: ...ur present location is explained in Configuring your modem in the Software Guide 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 properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your Internet Service Provider check the fo...

Page 27: ...ions sheet for the exact location of the indicators To set the timer for your computer to automatically enter Standby or Hibernate mode after a certain amount of time go to Control Panel click Performance and Maintenance and change the settings under Power Options Colour Mode Blue Computer is in Normal mode Amber Computer is in Standby mode No colour Computer is turned off or in Hibernate mode ...

Page 28: ...ve your work close all applications and close your Internet connection if applicable 2 From the Start menu on the Windows taskbar select Turn Off Computer Alternatively press Alt F4 to get to the same dialog box 3 Select Stand By The computer goes into Standby mode indicated by the amber light of the power indicator To return to Normal mode press any key on the keyboard You can leave Windows runni...

Page 29: ...1 Save your work 2 From the Start menu on the Windows taskbar select Turn Off Computer Alternatively press Alt F4 until the Turn Off Computer screen is displayed 3 In the Turn Off Computer screen hold down the Shift key to reveal the Hibernate button 4 Click Hibernate The computer goes into Hibernate mode the computer turns off To return to Normal mode quickly press the power button Operation retu...

Page 30: ...n this case you may see a message telling you to format the card Before you use memory cards other than Memory Sticks in devices such as a digital camera or audio device you must format them beforehand on the device which you use to record data Please be aware that formatting the card will delete all the data on it The Sony UMH U HS XX USB Device icon or similar is shown in the taskbar when a USB ...

Page 31: ...ographs The Memory Stick family ranges in capacity and compatibility To find out more about the Memory Stick features go to the VAIO Info Centre click on Welcome Cool Sony Links and then Memory Stick This will take you to the dedicated website Please see your printed Specifications sheet to see which Memory Stick types are compatible with your VAIO and if there are any limitations You can purchase...

Page 32: ...g devices such as digital cameras personal digital assistants PDAs and other handheld devices SmartMedia is similar in size to the CompactFlash card although significantly thinner with storage capacities ranging up to 128 MB This computer supports only SmartMedia with a capacity of 4 MB to 128 MB under a voltage power of 3 3 V The SmartMedia slot is not for any use other than the writing reading o...

Page 33: ...sert the Memory Stick or other card into the slot with the arrow pointing in the correct direction 3 Make sure the card is secure in the slot The Memory Stick or card is automatically detected by your system and appears in the My Computer window with its own drive Always hold memory cards with the arrow pointing in the correct direction when you insert it into the slot To avoid damaging the comput...

Page 34: ...sage confirms the ejection of the card click OK Please do not remove the memory stick when memory card access lamp is on Otherwise the card may not be detected the next time it is inserted into the slot If the card is removed by mistake and is subsequently not detected please shut off the power of the computer wait ten seconds and then turn it on again The Sony UMH U HS XX USB Device icon or simil...

Page 35: ...the tab to the right or left to set or release write protection On the 128 MB Memory Stick move the tab up or down When the erasure prevention switch is off data can be saved on the memory card When the erasure prevention switch is on data can be read from but not saved on the memory card This image does not apply to the 128 MB Memory Stick which has a vertical lock SmartMedia locks may also diffe...

Page 36: ...nclude a high transfer rate for fast copy download and a high storage capacity This slot cannot be use anything except for writing and reading memory cards or storage device cards Some CompactFlash cards may require you to disable idle devices during use You may not be able to use some of the card s features with this computer Your system may run into serious problems if you remove the card or tur...

Page 37: ...n the taskbar when a USB device is in use However it also runs Memory Sticks CompactFlash cards and SmartMedia It is important that you do not use this icon to disable these memory cards as it disables all the slots If you accidentally remove any of the cards via this icon please restart your computer To remove a CompactFlash card proceed as follows 1 Make sure the card is not in use and the indic...

Page 38: ...ce or a similar icon in the task bar the computer can no longer access CompactFlash and SmartMedia cards Please restart your computer and try again This also applies to Memory Sticks Check the write protect switch on your SmartMedia or Memory Stick If it is set to on you cannot write or delete data on the card ...

Page 39: ...ide Using your VAIO computer 38 n N Using PC Cards Your VAIO desktop has a PC Card slot on the front panel that supports Type I or Type II PC Cards PC Cards allow you to interconnect with portable external devices ...

Page 40: ... use the most recent software driver provided by the PC Card manufacturer If the PC Card is operating abnormally go to Control Panel Performance and Maintenance System click the Hardware tab and then Device Manager If an mark appears next to the PC Card device remove the software driver and then reinstall it from the installation CD that accompanies the PC Card Do not force a PC Card into the slot...

Page 41: ...rdware icon in the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware dialog box appears 3 Select the hardware you want to unplug 4 Click Stop 5 In the Stop a Hardware Device dialog box select the device and confirm that it can be safely removed from the system 6 Click OK You see the message that it is safe to remove the device 7 Click Close 8 Open the panel cover and press the PC Card release button once so it i...

Page 42: ...rd slot If your model has Giga Pocket functions this is a PCI slot containing the Giga Pocket the ports Otherwise this is an empty slot Bottom slot CNR slot containing the modem card Empty PCI slots allow you the choice of adding to the expansion capabilities of your computer You are strongly advised not to add hardware yourself Please contact your local Sony dealer for advice on changing the inte...

Page 43: ...display page 43 Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB device page 47 Connecting a printer page 48 Connecting an i LINK device page 49 Connecting an S PDIF device page 51 Connecting a microphone page 51 Connecting to a network page 52 Sony computer supplies accessories and peripherals can be purchased from your local retailer or from the Sony website www sonystyle europe com For more information ab...

Page 44: ... of the following viewing possibilities If you have a VGA and a DVI display connected at the same time you can switch from one display to the other the default is VGA but you cannot display the image on both at the same time If you have a VGA and a TV connected the image is shown on both screens by default If you have a DVI and a TV connected the image is shown on both screens by default If you ha...

Page 45: ...s 1 Click nView Display Mode on the left 2 Select the Device Settings button 3 Click Select Output Device and select the required display 4 Click OK If the ATI RADEON dialog box appears proceed as follows 1 Click the Displays tab 2 Select the device button you want to use 3 Click OK If you reboot after changing the settings as above the default setting returns and the image is shown on the VGA scr...

Page 46: ... proceed as follows 1 Plug one end of the TV video out cable into the TV video out port on the back of your computer 2 Take your composite cable not supplied and connect one end to the inserted TV video out cable 3 Connect the other end to the yellow coloured port video in on your TV set The video output is now in place 4 Connect the single end of your audio cable not supplied to the headphones po...

Page 47: ...er end of the S video cable into your TV s S video port To enable TV output proceed as follows 1 Go to Control Panel 2 Click Appearance and Themes 3 Click Display The Display Properties dialog box appears 4 Click the Settings tab 5 Click Advanced If the NVIDIA GeForce FX dialog box appears proceed as follows 1 Click nView Display Mode on the left 2 Select Clone and click Apply If the ATI RADEON di...

Page 48: ...nnecting these devices unless the manual supplied with the device states otherwise For some USB devices you need to install the software before you connect the device Not following this procedure might cause the device not to work properly For more information check the manual provided with the USB device The Sony UMH U HS XX USB Device icon or similar is shown in the taskbar when a USB device is ...

Page 49: ...rinter s USB cable into one of the USB ports on your computer the Found New Hardware Wizard will guide you through any setup procedure you need to follow If the printer is not automatically installed you can try the following 1 From the Control Panel select Printers and Other Hardware then Printers and Faxes 2 Under Printer Tasks click Add a printer 3 Let the Add Printer Wizard guide you through t...

Page 50: ...th an i LINK connection may communicate with each other Please refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i LINK device and software for information on operating conditions and proper connection Connecting a digital video camera recorder To connect a digital video camera recorder proceed as follows 1 Plug one end of the i LINK cable not supplied into the i LINK port of the computer ...

Page 51: ...I record images to a digital video device using DVgate I see an error message Close all open applications and restart your computer Frequently recording 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 I cannot use digital devices Check that the DV device is turned ...

Page 52: ...ld degrade the signal quality Please read the documentation provided with your optical device for connection information Connecting a microphone Your VAIO desktop does not contain 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 plug the microphone cable into the microphon...

Page 53: ...s 4 Under Network Adapters right click the name of the adapter 5 Click Properties 6 Under Device Usage select Use this device enable 7 Click OK to close the Properties window The Ethernet connection is now enabled Connect only 10BASE T 100BASE TX cables to the Ethernet port Using other cables or a telephone cable may cause a malfunction excessive heat or even fire in the port If using this compute...

Page 54: ...tion of your system may vary from the illustrations depending on the computer purchased To view the hardware configuration for your computer see the printed Specifications sheet Your VAIO desktop and memory modules use high precision components and electronic connector technology To avoid the invalidation of your guarantee by mishandling it is recommended that You contact your local Sony dealer to...

Page 55: ...mputer from the mains 3 Wait until the computer cools down 4 The inside of the main unit becomes very hot during operation Wait for about one hour for the computer to cool down before opening the unit 5 With the main unit s back panel facing you position the main unit on its left side 6 Locate the tabs on the side cover and pull them up until the cover releases 7 Slide the cover away from the unit...

Page 56: ...gulatory compliance required for using and modifying electronic equipment Disconnect the system from its power source 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 Do not open the memory module package until you are ready to install the module The package protects the module from ESD Use the spe...

Page 57: ...t you contact your dealer To add or change a memory module proceed as follows 1 Shut down the computer unplug it and remove any peripheral devices Wait for the computer to cool down 2 Open the unit see Opening the side cover page 54 3 To remove an existing memory module release the end latches and gently lift out the module as shown may vary from actual configuration ...

Page 58: ...odule is facing the correct way 7 Press evenly against the memory module s upper corners The end latches snap into position automatically as shown 8 Reinstall any add on cards or components you removed 9 Replace the side cover as described in Closing the side cover page 59 There is only one correct way to insert the memory module Make sure the rivet of the module is lined up with the connector Use...

Page 59: ...g the amount of memory To view the amount of memory proceed as follows 1 Turn on the computer 2 Click the Start button point to All Programs then VAIO System Information and click VAIO System Information again You can view the amount of installed memory here ...

Page 60: ... your VAIO computer 59 n N Closing the side cover To replace the side cover proceed as follows 1 Align the tabs on the side cover to the rim of the unit 2 Press the side cover firmly against the unit until it snaps into place ...

Page 61: ... your computer you can access the VAIO Link website for troubleshooting Go to www vaio link com e Support This interactive part of our website www vaio link com allows you to get in contact with our dedicated support team over the internet Using a personalised account you can log your technical queries with ease VAIO Link help lines Before contacting VAIO Link by telephone try to solve the problem...

Page 62: ...upport Team Who can use e Support All registered VAIO customers are entitled to unlimited access to the VAIO Link 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 ...

Page 63: ... any time Yes you can submit your questions 24 7 but please keep in mind that our e Support Team can only treat 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 ...

Page 64: ...rotect your computer from potential damage Please contact VAIO Link if you need assistance On handling the hard disk page 64 On using the power source page 65 On handling your computer page 66 On handling LCD screens page 67 On handling floppy disks page 68 On handling discs page 68 On handling Memory Sticks page 69 ...

Page 65: ...u should be careful when handling your computer To avoid damaging your hard disk Do not subject your computer to sudden movements Keep the computer away from magnets Do not place your computer in a location subject to mechanical vibration or in an unstable position Do not move your computer while the power is on Do not turn off the power or restart the computer while reading or writing data to dis...

Page 66: ...er You can purchase a power strip with a surge protector This device prevents damage to your computer caused by sudden power surges in an electrical storm for example 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 are planning to not use the computer for a long time Make sure th...

Page 67: ...iators or air ducts Direct sunlight Excessive dust Moisture or rain Mechanical vibration or shock Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded An ambient temperature of more than 35ºC or less than 5ºC High humidity Do not place electronic equipment near your computer The electromagnetic field of your computer may cause a malfunction Provide adequate air circulation to prevent inte...

Page 68: ...uter near a window Do not scratch the LCD or exert pressure on it This could cause malfunction Using the computer in low temperature conditions may produce a residual image on the screen This is not a malfunction When the computer returns to normal temperature the screen returns to normal A residual image may appear on the screen if the same image is displayed for a lengthy period of time The resi...

Page 69: ...ts edge and central hole as shown Proper care of the disc is essential to its continuous reliability Do not use solvents such as benzene thinning agents 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 w...

Page 70: ...y Stick as a label Do not bend drop or apply heavy shock to the Memory Stick Do not disassemble or modify Memory Sticks Do not let Memory Sticks get wet Do not use or store Memory Sticks in a location subject to Extremely high temperatures such as in a car parked in the sun Direct sunlight High humidity or Corrosive substances Use the storage case supplied with the Memory Stick ...

Page 71: ... 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 MoodLogic is a trademark of MoodLogic Inc PowerPanel is a trademark of Phoenix Technologies Ltd Norton Internet Security 2003 is a trademark of Symantec Corporation EverQuest is a registered trademark of S...

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