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Using your VAIO computer

Hardware Guide

Using the keyboard

Your computer is delivered with a VAIO keyboard. The features are much the same a standard keyboard, plus some additional 
functions.

For information on the standard keys and shortcuts, please go to the Windows 

Help and Support Center

. The VAIO-Link website 

(

www.vaio-link.com

) also contains glossary information to help you use the keyboard.

Indicators

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 appear in uppercase as you type. The 

<Shift>

 key lowers the case of typed letters when 

Caps Lock

 is on.

Turns off when the letters appear in lowercase as you type (unless 
you hold down the 

<Shift>

 key).

Scroll Lock

Turns on when the screen scrolls differently (not all applications 
support this function).

Turns off when the information moves across the display normally.

Summary of Contents for VAIO PCV-1156

Page 1: ...N Hardware Guide V G C R A s e r i e s P C V 1 1 5 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: ...nergy 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 by corr...

Page 4: ...sing must be installed near the equipment and must be easily accessible Risk of explosion if battery is replaced by an incorrect type Dispose of used batteries according to the instructions 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 ca...

Page 5: ...ing storm Never install telephone jacks in wet locations unless the jack is specifically designed for wet locations Take care when installing or modifying telephone lines To disconnect your VAIO desktop completely from the mains voltage unplug the power cable Make sure that the socket outlet is easily accessible ...

Page 6: ...ese 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 and can be downloaded Please note that the availability of declarations depends on the scope of the EU Directives and the individual produ...

Page 7: ...he disposal of non hazardous batteries in household 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 Do not handle damaged or leaking batteries Dispose of promptly and properly at end of life May explode or leak if recharged disposed o...

Page 8: ...eo storage capacity 8 5GB as compared to 4 7GB standard DVD Giga Pocket Take advantage of the Giga Pocket technology allowing you to watch TV and record your favourite programs digitally and by remote control Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo slot This compact digital storage medium allows you to easily transfer images sounds data and text between cameras computers and more Interconnectivity Your computer...

Page 9: ...will find a brief description 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 and Recovering your VAIO System where you will find solutions to common problems an explanation of how to recover your computer s system if you...

Page 10: ...t manual explains how to watch and record TV and video on your PC My Documentation also gives you A direct link to the VAIO Link website Sony s service centre This will give you troubleshooting hints downloads contact details and everything else you need for the smooth operation of your VAIO Help files about reading the guides Important information about your computer in the form of notices and an...

Page 11: ...y Websites Click on this icon and check out our most popular websites My ISP Click on this icon to find out about the preferred offerings from our partners and access the world of the internet Further sources Consult the Online Help files of the software you are using for detailed information on features and troubleshooting Go to www club vaio com to find online tutorials about your favourite VAIO...

Page 12: ...11 n N Welcome Hardware Guide 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 13: ... 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 14: ...omputer safely and confidently Read on to get the most out of using your VAIO computer Shutting down your computer safely page 14 Using the keyboard page 15 Using the TV function page 17 Using the mouse page 18 Using the disc drives page 20 Using the floppy disk drive page 23 Using the modem page 24 Using power modes page 25 Using the media slots page 28 About PC Cards page 37 Expansion capabiliti...

Page 15: ...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 16: ...use the keyboard Indicators 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 appear in uppercase as you type The Shift key lowers the case of typed letters when Caps Lock is on Turns off when the letters appear in lowercase as you type unless you hold...

Page 17: ...ns or closes the top disc tray Eject lower button Opens or closes the bottom disc tray Video Launches Giga Pocket If Giga Pocket is not installed it launches DVgate Plus Music Launches SonicStage Picture Launches PictureGear Studio Help Launches the Help and Support Center With the keyboard you can also eject discs from both optical drives set the sound with the Mute and Volume control buttons or ...

Page 18: ...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 When you watch TV with Giga Pocket the audio o...

Page 19: ...just the mouse pointer speed and other functions under Mouse Properties To display Mouse Properties go to the Control Panel select Printers and Other Hardware then select Mouse Button Function 1 Left button Click or double click the left button to select items To drag and drop items hold the left button down while sliding the mouse then release the button to drop the item 2 Right button Press the ...

Page 20: ...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 21: ...s data onto DVD and CD A DVD ROM drive reads 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 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 tra...

Page 22: ... recommendations Only use circular discs Do not use discs with any other shape star heart card etc as this may damage the disc 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 23: ...s 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 DVD drive Any difficulties caused by changing the region code settings of the DVD drive are out of warranty Using two screens while watching a DVD To use two screens and change the DVD playback settings pr...

Page 24: ...e down the front cover as shown 2 Hold the floppy disk with the label side facing up and gently push the disk into the floppy disk drive until it clicks into place To remove a floppy disk proceed as follows 1 Wait until the LED indicator turns off 2 Press the eject button and pull the disk out gently Do not press the eject button when the LED indicator is turned on Otherwise data may be lost ...

Page 25: ...disk Using the modem Your VAIO desktop is equipped with an internal modem As described in the printed Getting Started guide use the single RJ 11 jack to connect the supplied modem cable to the phone line Once you have connected the phone line and registered with an Internet Service Provider you can take advantage of online services and the Internet to register your computer and software online and...

Page 26: ... 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 Schemes Power indicator Mode Green Computer is in Normal mode Amber Computer is in Standby mode No light Computer is turned off or in Hibernate mod...

Page 27: ...lose all applications and close your Internet connection if applicable 2 Press the Standby button on the keyboard Alternatively 1 From the Start menu on the Windows taskbar select Turn Off Computer 2 Select Stand By The computer goes into Standby mode indicated by the amber light of the power indicator To return to Normal mode press the Standby button again or any key on the keyboard You can leave...

Page 28: ...s taskbar select Turn Off Computer 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 returns to the same state as before You can leave Windows running when using Hibernate If you press the power button for more than ...

Page 29: ... About Memory Sticks Your VAIO computer is designed to support Sony s Memory Stick The Memory Stick is a compact portable and versatile device especially designed for exchanging and sharing digital data with compatible products such as digital cameras mobile phones and CLIÉ handheld devices Because it is removable it can be used for external data storage Use the flash memory technology to download...

Page 30: ...lots 2 Insert the memory stick into the slot with the arrow side pointing upwards 3 Make sure the memory stick is secure in the slot The memory stick is automatically detected by your system and appears in the My Computer window with its own drive Always hold memory sticks with the arrow pointing in the correct direction when you insert it into the slot To avoid damaging the computer or the memory...

Page 31: ...ears when you remove it insert the memory stick into the slot again and press Enter Wait until the active application finishes then remove the memory stick If the message confirms the ejection of the card click OK Please do not remove the Memory Stick when the memory card access lamp is on Otherwise the card may not be detected the next time it is inserted into the slot If the stick is removed by ...

Page 32: ... data from accidental erasure or overwriting Move the tab horizontally or vertically 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 Some kinds of Memory Stick do not have a lock switch LOCK LOCK LOCK ...

Page 33: ...cture card To insert an xD Picture card proceed as follows 1 Pull and slide down the front panel cover and locate the appropriate memory card slot See the printed Specifications sheet for the exact location of the slots 2 Insert the memory card into the slot with the arrow side pointing upwards 3 Make sure the card is secure in the slot The card is automatically detected by your system and appears...

Page 34: ...age appears when you remove it insert the memory card into the slot again and press Enter Wait until the active application finishes then remove the memory card If the message confirms the ejection of the card click OK Please do not remove the memory card when the 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 a...

Page 35: ...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 36: ...f you have difficulty inserting a CompactFlash card check that you are inserting the card in the correct direction See the manual supplied with your card for more information on use Removing a CompactFlash card To remove a CompactFlash card proceed as follows 1 Make sure the card is not in use and the indicator is not lit 2 Push the card in to release it and then pull it out If you remove the Comp...

Page 37: ...l appear with its own icon under My Computer Do not force the SD card into the slot If you have difficulty with it check that you are inserting the card in the correct direction See the manual supplied with your card for more information on use Removing a Secure Digital card To remove an SD card proceed as follows 1 Make sure the card is not in use and the indicator is not lit 2 Push the card in t...

Page 38: ...pins If you have difficulty inserting a PC Card check that you are inserting the PC Card in the correct direction See the manual supplied with your PC Card for more information on use Some PC Cards may require you to disable idle devices when using the PC Card You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer Make sure you use the most recent software dri...

Page 39: ...le click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware dialog box appears 3 Select the hardware you want to unplug and click Stop 4 In the Stop a Hardware Device dialog box select the device confirm that it can be safely removed from the system and click OK You see the message that it is safe to remove the device 5 Click Close 6 Open the panel cover and press the PC Car...

Page 40: ...cond slot Empty PCI slot Third slot This is a PCI slot containing the Giga Pocket ports Bottom slot PCI Express slot containing the modem card and PCMCIA interface 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 internal hardware compo...

Page 41: ...onnecting a sound system page 45 Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB device page 45 Connecting a printer page 46 Connecting an i LINK device page 47 Connecting an S PDIF device page 48 Connecting a microphone page 48 Connecting to a network page 49 Sony computer supplies accessories and peripherals can be purchased from your local retailer or from the Sony website www sonystyle europe com For mo...

Page 42: ...rt a CRT or LCD screen using the VGA Monitor connector Please make note of the following viewing possibilities If you have a VGA and a DVI connected the image is shown on both screens by default 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 have a VGA a DVI and a TV connec...

Page 43: ...e display s as described in the printed Getting Started or in the instructions delivered with the display if applicable 2 Go to Control Panel 3 Click Appearance and Themes then Display The Display Properties dialog box appears 4 Click the Settings tab and then Advanced 5 On the Displays tab select DVI and click OK when you have finished ...

Page 44: ...d as follows 1 Plug one end of the video cable into the S video video Combo output port on the back of your computer 2 Take your composite cable not supplied and connect one end to the inserted video 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 port eith...

Page 45: ...utput port on the back of your computer 2 Plug the other end of the S Video cable into your TV s S Video port 3 Connect the audio cable not supplied Picture may vary from actual configuration 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 and then Advanced 5 On the Display...

Page 46: ...as the documentation provided with your amplifier home cinema equipment for connection information Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB device You can connect a USB device such as a scanner a floppy disk drive or a printer to your VAIO desktop To connect a USB device simply plug in the USB cable of the device into one of the ports on your computer USB devices are hot plug and play devices You do ...

Page 47: ...inter 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 th...

Page 48: ...nd compatible i LINK devices Not all products with 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 camera To connect a digital camera proceed as follows 1 Plug one end of the i LINK cable not supplied into the i LINK por...

Page 49: ... not use the conversion to and from an analog format which could 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 ex...

Page 50: ...ers right click the name of the adapter and click Properties 5 Under Device Usage select Use this device enable 6 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 computer in Germany please m...

Page 51: ...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 52: ...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 53: ...amiliar with upgrading memory on a computer we highly recommend that 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 2 Wait for the computer to cool down 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 3 With th...

Page 54: ...e Guide 5 To remove an existing memory module release the end latches and gently lift out the module as shown may vary from actual configuration 6 To insert a new memory module remove it from its anti static package handling it only by the edges ...

Page 55: ...utomatically as shown 10 Align the tabs on the side cover to the rim of the unit and press the side cover firmly against the unit until it snaps into place The illustrations here may vary from the actual configuration of your VAIO Use only the memory modules specified on the printed Specifications sheet To avoid damaging a memory module or the memory module slot move the side latches slightly outw...

Page 56: ... 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 57: ...upport 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 your fi...

Page 58: ...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 59: ...rotect your computer from potential damage Please contact VAIO Link if you need assistance On handling the hard disk page 59 On using the power source page 60 On handling your computer page 61 On handling LCD screens page 62 On handling floppy disks page 63 On handling discs page 63 On handling Memory Sticks page 64 ...

Page 60: ...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 61: ...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 62: ...rect 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 internal heat from buildin...

Page 63: ...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 residual image disappears ...

Page 64: ...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 65: ...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 66: ...ted MoodLogic is a trademark of MoodLogic Inc Norton Internet Security 2004 and Norton Password Manager are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation Click to DVD is a trademark of Sony Electronics Drag n Drop CD and Drag n Drop CD DVD are registered trademarks of Easy Systems Japan Ltd and DigiOn Inc WinDVD for VAIO is a trademark of InterVideo Inc Sun Java VM is a trademark of ...

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