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Using your VAIO computer

Hardware Guide

Write-protecting Memory Sticks

Some Memory Sticks are designed with an erasure prevention switch to protect valuable 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

Summary of Contents for VAIO PCV-A11M

Page 1: ...N Hardware Guide V G C R A s e r i e s P C V A 1 1 M ...

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: ...rgy 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 retardants are not used in cabinets Corrugated cardboard...

Page 4: ...quipment 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 cause the computer to malfunction D...

Page 5: ...ions 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 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 ...

Page 6: ... the products they sell and to draw up a Declaration of Conformity DoC Primarily the Declarations of Conformity 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 ...

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: ...ndard DVD VAIO Zone Take advantage of this new software application allowing you to enjoy music video and photos locally or through a home networking environment If your computer has TV tuner functionalities you can also watch record TV on your VAIO TVTV tvtv takes your VAIO s TV functions to a new level Never miss your favourite TV programme again by remote recording it via the Internet onto your...

Page 9: ...IO Link website for a possible solution www vaio link com Before contacting VAIO Link please try to solve the problem by reading this guide your printed Guide to Troubleshooting and Recovering your VAIO System the online help files in the Windows Help and Support Center or the manuals and help files for the peripherals or software ...

Page 10: ...e most from your PC The user guides are collected under My Documentation which can be shown as follows 1 Go to Start and click the My Info Centre icon 2 From My Home select your country and language from the drop down boxes 3 From the pictures at the top of the window click My Documentation 4 Select the guide you want to read You can manually browse to the user guides by going to My Computer VAIO ...

Page 11: ...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 the purpose and use of the VAIO disc delivered with your computer and VAIO Link information Booklets containing the following information Sony Guarantee conditions Safety Regulations Modem Regulations and Wireless LAN ...

Page 12: ... you Help files about reading the guides Important information about your computer in the form of notices and announcements In My Info Centre you can also find My Software Feeling creative Click this icon for an overview of your software and check out our upgrade options My VAIO essentials Want to expand the capabilities of your VAIO Click on this icon and have a look at your compatible accessorie...

Page 13: ... tips and tricks 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 software Go to www vaio link com to find extra guides for wireless connection setup depending on your model ...

Page 14: ...13 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 15: ... 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 16: ...d confidently Read on to get the most out of using your VAIO computer Shutting down your computer safely page 16 Using the keyboard page 17 Using the pointing device page 22 Using the TV function page 24 Using the mouse page 25 Using the disc drives page 29 Using the floppy disk drive page 33 Using the modem page 34 Using power modes page 35 Using the media slots page 38 Using PC Cards page 47 Exp...

Page 17: ...y 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 Guide to Troubleshooting and Recovering your VAIO System if you have prob...

Page 18: ...m from the receiver The keyboard has a standard key arrangement and additional keys that perform specific functions For more information on the standard keys and shortcuts please go to the Windows Help and Support Center Start Help and Support The VAIO Link website www vaio link com also contains glossary information to help you use the keyboard Effective usage distance depending on the environmen...

Page 19: ...he numeric keypad Press the Num Lock key again to deactivate the numeric keypad 3 Directional arrows The Up Down Left and Right arrow keys move the pointer on the screen 4 Applications The Applications key displays a shortcut menu in certain software programmes Pressing this key is equivalent to clicking the right mouse button 5 Pointing device See Using the pointing device page 22 for more inform...

Page 20: ...xt 9 LED screen Num Lock Turns on when the number keys in the numeric keypad are active Caps Lock Turns on when the letters appear in uppercase as you type The Shift key lowers the case of typed characters when Caps Lock is on Scroll Lock Turns on when the screen scrolls differently not all applications support this function Battery A battery LED indicator shows you when the battery is full or emp...

Page 21: ...eed as follows 1 Insert the 4 AA batteries into the wireless keyboard as shown 1 2 Connect the receiver to a USB connector on the main unit 2 3 Turn on the computer 4 Slide the power switch on the right hand side of the keyboard to turn on the keyboard 3 5 Press the CONNECT button on the receiver 4 6 Turn the wireless keyboard over and press the CONNECT button 5 You need to press the CONNECT butto...

Page 22: ...laced If your wireless keyboard is not being used for extended periods of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage Always make sure to use the same type of batteries Do not use new and old batteries at the same time If you want to put the keyboard in a more ergonomical position open the keyboard feet ...

Page 23: ...on the screen using the built in pointing device Action Description Point Slide one finger on the pointing device to place the 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 and select Slide one finger while pressing the left button ...

Page 24: ...ou must activate it To activate the pointing device proceed as follows 1 Fold the keyboard out 2 Turn on the Pointing Device switch 1 3 Close the lower part of the cover as shown 2 You can now use the pointing device together with your keyboard 4 If you only want to use the pointing device close the cover completely as shown 3 ...

Page 25: ...n you watch TV with Giga Pocket the audio output is analogue only You cannot use the optical out port for digital viewing with Giga Pocket Sony cannot guarantee the streaming of recorded content if it is beyond a certain level of high quality For details on using VAIO Zone and the remote control please see the dedicated guide Otherwise read the help files within the software itself tvtv takes your...

Page 26: ... and Other Hardware then select Mouse When the remaining battery level is low the back end of the mouse lights up 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 right button once to display a context sensitive shortcut menu not always an ac...

Page 27: ...r and slide the power button to the OFF position 1 2 Insert the two specific AA batteries into the wireless mouse as shown 2 3 Make sure the wireless receiver is connected to a USB connector 3 on the main unit 4 Turn on the computer 5 Turn the wireless mouse over and slide the power button to the ON position 4 6 Press the CONNECT button on the wireless receiver 5 7 Press the CONNECT button on the ...

Page 28: ...r wireless mouse does not operate properly the batteries may need to be replaced If your wireless mouse is not being used for an extended period of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage Always make sure to use the same type of batteries Do not use new and old batteries at the same time ...

Page 29: ...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 30: ...nd 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 tray 4 Close the tra...

Page 31: ... 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 32: ...t 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 proceed...

Page 33: ...ur VAIO computer Hardware Guide Troubleshooting discs If you have problems with your optical disc check the printed Guide to Troubleshooting and Recovering your VAIO System and the VAIO Link website www vaio link com ...

Page 34: ...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 35: ...dem 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 to contact VAIO ...

Page 36: ... 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 37: ...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 38: ...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 39: ... Using 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 40: ...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 41: ...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 42: ... 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 43: ...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 44: ...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 45: ...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 46: ...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 47: ...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 48: ...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 49: ...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 50: ...econd slot Empty PCI slot Third slot This is a PCI slot containing the TV tuner 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 compone...

Page 51: ...ng a printer page 56 Connecting an i LINK device page 57 Connecting an S PDIF device page 58 Connecting a microphone page 58 Connecting to a network page 59 To identify and locate the ports on your computer please see the printed Specifications sheet 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 52: ... 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 D 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 D and a TV connected the image is shown on both screens by default If you have a VGA a DVI D and a TV conn...

Page 53: ...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 D and click OK when you have finished ...

Page 54: ...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 55: ...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 56: ...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 57: ...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 the installation pro...

Page 58: ...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 59: ...e is that is does 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...

Page 60: ...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 1000BASE T 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 Germa...

Page 61: ...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 62: ...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 63: ...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 64: ...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 65: ...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 66: ...IO 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 VA...

Page 67: ...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 68: ...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 69: ...rotect your computer from potential damage Please contact VAIO Link if you need assistance On handling the hard disk page 69 On using the power source page 70 On handling your computer page 71 On handling LCD screens page 72 On handling floppy disks page 73 On handling discs page 73 On handling Memory Sticks page 74 ...

Page 70: ...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 71: ...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 72: ...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 73: ...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 74: ...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 75: ...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 76: ...p Album Adobe Reader Adobe Premiere Standard and Adobe Photoshop Elements are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated MoodLogic is a trademark of MoodLogic Inc Norton Internet Security 2004 and Norton Password Manager 2004 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation RecordNow is a trademark of Sonic WinDVD for VAIO is a trademark of InterVideo Inc Sun Java VM is a trademark of...

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