Sony VAIO VGN-FS900 Series User Manual Download Page 1

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User Guide

Personal Computer

V G N - F S 9 0 0 S e r i e s

Summary of Contents for VAIO VGN-FS900 Series

Page 1: ...N User Guide Personal Computer V G N F S 9 0 0 S e r i e s ...

Page 2: ...out the Indicator Lights 17 Connecting a Power Source 18 Using the Battery Pack 19 Shutting Down Your Computer Safely 24 Using Your VAIO Computer 25 Using the Keyboard 26 Using the Touch Pad 28 Using the Optical Disc Drive 29 Using PC Cards 38 Using the Memory Stick Media 41 Using the Internet 44 Using Wireless LAN WLAN 45 ...

Page 3: ... Microphone 63 Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB Device 64 Connecting a Printer 67 Connecting an i LINK Device 68 Connecting to a Network LAN 70 Customizing Your VAIO Computer 71 Setting the Password 72 Setting Up Your Computer with VAIO Central 75 Using the Power Saving Modes 76 Managing Power with VAIO Power Management 81 Upgrading Your VAIO Computer 84 Adding and Removing Memory 85 ...

Page 4: ... On Handling Discs 97 On Using the Battery Pack 98 On Using Headphones 99 On Handling Memory Stick Media 99 On Handling the Hard Disk 100 Troubleshooting 101 Computer 102 System Security 111 Battery 113 Internet 115 Networking 117 CDs and DVDs 120 Display 125 Printing 127 Microphone 128 Mouse 129 Speakers 130 Touch Pad 131 Keyboard 132 ...

Page 5: ...5 n N Floppy Disks 133 PC Cards 134 Audio Video 135 Memory Stick Media 136 Peripherals 137 Support Options 138 Sony Support Information 138 Program Support Information 141 ...

Page 6: ...ogy in audio video computing and communications to provide state of the art personal computing Documentation Your documentation includes printed information and user guides to read on your VAIO computer Printed Documentation Welcome mat Contains an overview of connections setting up information etc Safety information Contains safety guidelines and owner information ...

Page 7: ...o the Internet 2 Go to the Sony online support Web site at http esupport sony com EN VAIO for customers in USA at http www sony ca support for customers in Canada or at http esupport sony com ES for customers in Latin American countries or areas VAIO Recovery Guide Provides information about restoring individual software programs software drivers and drive partition s or your entire hard disk driv...

Page 8: ... your forearms horizontal 2 with your wrists in a neutral comfortable position 3 while using the keyboard touch pad 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 feet are fla...

Page 9: ...ocation 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 Make sure t...

Page 10: ...sure to start up your computer with only the supplied accessories connected and set up your system Upon completion connect one device for example a printer external hard disk drive scanner and so on at a time following the manufacturer s instructions Locating Controls and Ports page 11 About the Indicator Lights page 17 Connecting a Power Source page 18 Using the Battery Pack page 19 Shutting Down...

Page 11: ...CD screen page 92 B Speakers C Keyboard page 26 D Touch pad page 28 E Power indicator page 17 F Battery indicator page 17 G Hard disk drive Optical disc drive indicator page 17 H Memory Stick media indicator page 17 I WLAN Wireless LAN switch page 45 J WLAN Wireless LAN indicator page 17 K Headphones jack page 55 L Microphone jack page 63 ...

Page 12: ...12 n N Getting Started A LCD screen lid lock latch B Num lock indicator page 17 C Caps lock indicator page 17 D Scroll lock indicator page 17 E Power button ...

Page 13: ...13 n N Getting Started Back A Air vent B Battery connector page 19 ...

Page 14: ...EEE 1394 S400 port page 68 D Memory Stick media slot 1 page 42 E Hi Speed USB USB 2 0 ports 2 page 64 F Monitor VGA port page 57 G DC IN port page 18 1 Your computer supports Memory Stick Duo media and Memory Stick PRO with high speed and high capacity capabilities 2 Supports high full low speeds ...

Page 15: ...15 n N Getting Started Left A Network Ethernet port page 70 B Modem port page 44 C Optical disc drive page 29 D Manual eject hole page 120 E Drive eject button page 29 ...

Page 16: ...16 n N Getting Started Bottom A Air vents ...

Page 17: ...uminates when data is read from or written to the hard disk or the optical disc Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on Num lock Press the Num Lk key to activate the numeric keypad Press it a second time to deactivate the numeric keypad The numeric keypad is not active when the indicator is off Caps lock Press the Caps Lock key to type letters in uppercase Lett...

Page 18: ...other end of the power cord into an AC outlet 2 3 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter 3 into the DC IN port 4 on the computer The shape of the DC In plug varies depending on the AC adapter To disconnect the computer completely from AC power unplug the AC adapter Make sure that the AC outlet is easily accessible If you do not use the computer for a long period of time put the computer into Hi...

Page 19: ...mputer is not fully charged at the time of purchase Installing the Battery Pack To install the battery pack 1 Turn off the computer and close the LCD screen lid 2 Slide the lock switch 1 to the UNLOCK position 3 Slide the battery into the battery compartment until it clicks into place ...

Page 20: ...1 to the LOCK position to secure the battery on the computer When the computer is directly connected to AC power and has a battery pack installed it uses power from the AC outlet This computer is designed to operate only with genuine Sony batteries ...

Page 21: ...pter to the computer The computer automatically charges the battery the battery indicator light flashes in a double blink pattern as the battery charges When the battery is about 85 charged the battery indicator turns off Battery indicator light status Meaning On The computer is using battery power Blinks The battery is running out of power Double blinks The battery is charging Off The computer is...

Page 22: ... The battery indicator light is on while you use the battery pack as a power source When the battery life is nearly depleted both the battery and power indicator lights start flashing For some software applications and some peripheral devices the computer may not enter Hibernate mode even when battery life is low To avoid loss of data when using battery power you should save your data frequently a...

Page 23: ...is on and not connected to the AC adapter or if you remove the battery while the computer is in Standby mode To remove the battery pack 1 Turn off the computer and close the LCD screen lid 2 Slide the lock switch 1 to the UNLOCK position 3 Slide and hold the release latch 2 and slide the battery away from the computer ...

Page 24: ...low To shut down your computer 1 Turn off any peripherals connected to the computer 2 Click Start and then Turn Off Computer The Turn off computer window appears 3 Click Turn Off 4 Respond to any prompts warning you to save documents or to consider other users and wait for the computer to turn off automatically The power indicator light turns off ...

Page 25: ...n describes how to get the most out of using your computer Using the Keyboard page 26 Using the Touch Pad page 28 Using the Optical Disc Drive page 29 Using PC Cards page 38 Using the Memory Stick Media page 41 Using the Internet page 44 Using Wireless LAN WLAN page 45 ...

Page 26: ...d the headphones Fn 2 F3 F4 speaker volume Adjusts the built in speaker volume To increase volume press Fn F4 and then M or or keep pressing Fn F4 To decrease volume press Fn F3 and then m or or keep pressing Fn F3 Fn 8 F5 F6 brightness control Adjusts the LCD brightness of your computer screen To increase lightness intensity press Fn F6 and then M or or keep pressing Fn F6 To decrease lightness i...

Page 27: ...ocation and size of software windows may change when the screen view is magnified or the standard view is restored because pressing this key combination changes the resolution When your computer s screen view is magnified switching the view to the external display disables the function and restores the standard view Fn F12 Hibernate Provides for the lowest level of power consumption When you execu...

Page 28: ...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 on the touch pad while pressing the left button Scroll Move your finger along the right edge of the touch pad to scroll vertically Move your finger along the bottom to scroll horizontally the ...

Page 29: ...r is equipped with an optical disc drive To insert a disc 1 Turn on the computer 2 Press the drive eject button 1 to open the drive The tray slides out 3 Place a disc in the middle of the tray with the label side facing up and gently push it until the disc clicks into place ...

Page 30: ...gently Do not remove the optical disc when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Doing so may cause the computer to malfunction If you plan to use an external optical disc drive connect the drive before you launch any preinstalled CD DVD program ...

Page 31: ...DVD R DL CD CD R CD RW DVD most DVD R DVD RW DVD R DVD R DL Double Layer DVD R DL Dual Layer and DVD RW CD R CD RW DVD R DVD RW DVD R DVD R DL Double Layer and DVD RW DVD RW R DL RAM CD CD R CD RW DVD most DVD R DVD RW DVD R DVD R DL Double Layer DVD R DL Dual Layer DVD RW and DVD RAM CD R CD RW DVD R DVD RW DVD R DVD R DL Double Layer DVD RW and DVD RAM DVD RW Supporting DVD R DL CD CD R CD RW DV...

Page 32: ...l CD format standard or DVD standard in relation to DVD drives USING NON COMPLIANT DISCS CAN CAUSE FATAL DAMAGE TO YOUR VAIO PC OR CREATE SOFTWARE CONFLICTS AND CAUSE SYSTEM HANGING For inquiries about disc formats contact the individual publisher of the pre recorded disc or the manufacturer of the recordable disc Supports writing data to DVD RW discs compliant with DVD RW version 1 1 1 2 Supports...

Page 33: ...e memory resident utility software while writing data to a disc This may cause the computer to malfunction When using your software application to burn discs make sure you exit and close all other applications Never touch the surface of the disc Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a disc may cause writing errors Do not switch power modes while using the pre installed software and while using t...

Page 34: ...te in which region and on what type of player you can play the disc If the DVD is labeled all this means that you can play this DVD in most regions of the world If the region code of your residence area is different from the label on the DVD disc or on the packaging you cannot play the disc on your computer You can change the DVD region code only a limited number of times When you have exceeded th...

Page 35: ...y an audio CD 1 Insert a disc into the optical disc drive 2 If nothing appears on the desktop then click Start point to All Programs and click to open a CD program such as the SonicStage software If the Audio CD window appears click to select an option ...

Page 36: ...d then click Explorer 3 In the Folders panel on the left locate the file s or folder s you want to copy right click the file s or folder s point to Send To and then click the optical disc drive name 4 Close the window 5 Click Start and then My Computer 6 Click the optical disc drive icon under Devices with Removable Storage A new window appears with the file s or folder s you want to copy listed u...

Page 37: ... to DVDs The DVD writing function is available on selected models only See the online Specifications to find the type of your optical disc drive and then Reading and Writing CDs and DVDs page 31 to find about the supported disc media To copy files to a disc 1 Connect the AC adapter to the computer 2 Insert a disc into the optical disc drive 3 If nothing appears on the desktop then click Start poin...

Page 38: ...tions may not be compatible with the computer You do not need to shut down the computer before inserting or removing a PC Card To insert a PC Card 1 Insert the PC Card into the PC Card slot with the front label facing up 2 Gently push the PC Card into the slot The PC Card is automatically detected by your system The Safely Remove Hardware icon appears on the taskbar ...

Page 39: ...he card is inserted the computer may not enter Hibernate power management mode It may enter Standby mode We recommend that you remove the card before the computer enters Hibernate mode Make sure you use the most recent software driver provided by the PC Card manufacturer If an mark appears on the Device Manager tab in the System Properties window remove the software driver and then reinstall it Do...

Page 40: ...move Hardware window appears 2 Select the hardware you want to unplug 3 Click Stop The Stop a Hardware Device window appears 4 Confirm that the device can be safely removed from the system 5 Click OK A window appears explaining that it is safe to remove the device 6 Click Close 7 Push the PC Card release button so that the release button pops out 8 Push the PC Card release button a second time so ...

Page 41: ...tin American countries or areas Your computer has been tested and found compatible with the Sony branded Memory Stick media with capacity of up to 4 GB that are available as of January 2006 Sony assumes no liability for compatibility with any other Memory Stick media that meet the same conditions Write protecting a Memory Stick Media Some versions of Memory Stick media are designed with an erasure...

Page 42: ...figuration of the computer Be sure to hold the Memory Stick media with the arrow pointing in the correct direction as you insert it into the slot To avoid damaging the computer or the Memory Stick media do not force the Memory Stick media into the slot if it does not insert smoothly Do not insert more than one Memory Stick media into the Memory Stick media slot Inserting the media improperly may d...

Page 43: ... software for details Removing a Memory Stick Media To remove a Memory Stick media 1 Check that the Memory Stick media indicator is off 2 Push the Memory Stick media in toward the computer The Memory Stick media ejects 3 Pull the Memory Stick media out of the slot Always remove the Memory Stick media gently or it may pop out unexpectedly Do not remove the Memory Stick media while the Memory Stick ...

Page 44: ...n operated telephone and may not work with multiple telephone lines or a private branch exchange PBX Some of these connections may result in excess electrical current and could cause a malfunction in the internal modem If you connect a telephone cable coming through a splitter the modem or connected device may not work properly To set up a dial up connection to the Internet 1 Click Start point to ...

Page 45: ...red Equivalent Privacy WEP which is a security protocol and WiFi Protected Access WPA Proposed jointly by the IEEE and Wi Fi Alliance WiFi Protected Access is a specification of standards based interoperable security enhancements that increase the level of data protection and access control for existing WiFi networks WPA has been designed to be forward compatible with the IEEE 802 11i specificatio...

Page 46: ...hoc An ad hoc network is a network in which a local network is created only by the wireless devices themselves with no other central controller or access point Each device communicates directly with other devices in the network You can set up an ad hoc network easily at home ...

Page 47: ...ernet Connections 4 Click Network Connections The Network Connections window appears 5 Right click Wireless Network Connection then click Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears 6 Select the Wireless Networks tab 7 Click the Add button The Wireless network properties window appears 8 Enter a network name SSID 2 You can choose a 32 digit alphanumeric name 9 Select Open ...

Page 48: ...e Computer to computer ad hoc networks only option button 18 Click Close 19 Click OK The computer is ready to communicate with another computer 1 See the online Specifications to see whether your model supports the Bluetooth functionality 2 If you want 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 sam...

Page 49: ...ppears 4 In the right panel under LAN or High Speed Internet right click Wireless Network Connection 5 Click Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears 6 On the Wireless Networks tab click Advanced The Advanced window appears 7 Click to select Any available network access point preferred and click Close 8 Click OK 9 Close the Network Connections window 10 Turn off the WIR...

Page 50: ...s an existing wired local network to wireless devices by providing an access point for example the Sony Access Point The access point bridges the wireless and wired LAN and acts as a central controller for the Wireless LAN The access point coordinates transmission and reception from multiple wireless devices within a specific range ...

Page 51: ... click on the taskbar to display the Wireless Device Switch window Select the Enable 2 4 GHz Wireless LAN check box and click OK 3 Click Start and then Control Panel 4 Click Network and Internet Connections 5 Click Network Connections 6 In the right panel under LAN or High Speed Internet double click Wireless Network Connection The Wireless Network Connection window appears 7 Follow the on screen ...

Page 52: ...On models with the Bluetooth functionality double click on the taskbar to display the Wireless Device Switch window Select the Enable 2 4 GHz Wireless LAN check box and click OK 3 Click Start point to All Programs and click Wireless Setup Utility The Wireless Setup Utility appears 4 Follow the on screen instructions See the online Specifications to see whether your model supports the Bluetooth fun...

Page 53: ...ference may cause lower communication speed narrower communication range or broken wireless connections The communication speed varies depending on the distance between communication devices existence of obstacles between such devices the device configuration the radio conditions and the software in use In addition communications may be cut off depending on the radio conditions The communication r...

Page 54: ...nnecting External Speakers page 55 Connecting an External Display page 56 Selecting Display Modes page 60 Using the Multiple Monitors Function page 61 Connecting an External Microphone page 63 Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB Device page 64 Connecting a Printer page 67 Connecting an i LINK Device page 68 Connecting to a Network LAN page 70 ...

Page 55: ... external speakers 1 Plug the speaker cable 1 into the headphones jack 2 i 2 Plug the other end of the speaker cable to 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 56: ...ith a computer display or a projector Connecting a Computer Display page 57 Connecting a Multimedia Computer Display page 58 Connecting a Projector page 59 Connect the power cord after connecting all other cables Connected external displays are used as second screens On Windows systems only you can also use an external display to set up multiple monitors ...

Page 57: ...our computer To connect a computer display 1 If necessary plug one end of the display s power cord 1 into the display and the other end into an AC outlet 2 Plug the display cable 2 not supplied into the monitor VGA port 3 a on the computer A video adapter device is required to connect a VGA monitor using the DVI D port ...

Page 58: ... to your computer To connect a multimedia computer display 1 Plug the power cord of the multimedia computer display 1 into an AC outlet 2 Plug the display cable 2 not supplied into the monitor VGA port 3 a on the computer 3 Plug the speaker cable 4 into the headphones jack 5 i on the computer 4 Plug the microphone cable 6 into the microphone jack 7 m on the computer ...

Page 59: ...your computer To connect a projector 1 Connect the power cord 1 of the projector into an AC outlet 2 Plug the RGB signal cable 2 into the monitor VGA port 3 a on the computer 3 Plug the audio cable 4 not supplied into the headphones jack 5 i 4 Plug the RGB signal cable and the audio cable into the jack and port on the projector 6 ...

Page 60: ...see Using the Multiple Monitors Function page 61 for more information To select a display 1 Right click on the desktop to display the context menu 2 Click the menu item for graphic properties 3 Follow the on screen instructions to change the settings You may not be able to display on your computer screen and the external display or projector at the same time depending on the type of your external ...

Page 61: ...o drag objects such as an open application window or a toolbar from one display to the other Your external display may not support the Multiple Monitors function Certain software applications may not be compatible with Multiple Monitors settings Make sure that the computer does not enter Standby or Hibernate mode while you are using Multiple Monitors mode otherwise the computer may not return to N...

Page 62: ...ight click on the desktop to display the context menu 2 Click the menu item for graphic properties 3 Follow the on screen instructions to change the settings Additionally you can set the display colors and resolution for each display and customize the Multiple Monitors mode ...

Page 63: ...e 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 1 into the microphone jack 2 m Make sure your microphone is designed for computer use ...

Page 64: ...e to the USB ports Do not put the computer into a bag or carrying case when it has USB devices connected Connecting a USB Mouse To connect a USB mouse 1 Choose the USB port 1 you prefer to use 2 Plug the USB mouse cable 2 into the USB port You can now use your USB mouse 3 The VAIO USB mouse software driver is preinstalled on the computer As a result you only need to plug the USB mouse into the USB...

Page 65: ...and connect it to your computer To connect a USB floppy disk drive 1 Choose the USB port you prefer to use 2 Plug the USB floppy disk drive cable into the USB port Your USB floppy disk drive is now ready for use When using a USB floppy disk drive do not apply force on the USB port This may cause a malfunction ...

Page 66: ...omputer To disconnect a USB floppy disk drive 1 Close all programs accessing the floppy disk drive 2 Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware window appears 3 Select the floppy disk drive you want to unplug 4 Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 5 Make sure the floppy disk drive is selected and click OK A message appears stating it is n...

Page 67: ...ing a Printer Using the USB Port You can connect a USB printer compatible with your version of Windows to the computer To connect a printer using the USB port 1 Plug the printer power cord into an AC outlet 1 2 Choose the USB port 3 you prefer to use 3 Plug one end of a USB printer cable 2 into the USB port and the other end to your printer ...

Page 68: ...INK cables compatible with the computer include cables with the following part numbers VMC IL4415 a 1 5 meter cable with a 4 pin connector at each end VMC IL4408 Series a 0 8 meter cable with a 4 pin connector at each end The optional i LINK cables may not be available depending on the country or area of your residency An i LINK connection with other compatible devices is not fully guaranteed The ...

Page 69: ...into the DV In Out ports 3 on the digital video camcorder 2 Launch the DVgate Plus software On Sony digital video cameras ports labeled DV Out DV In Out or i LINK are i LINK compatible The Sony digital video camcorder shown here is an example your digital video camcorder may need to be connected differently You cannot access the pictures stored on a Memory Stick media when using an i LINK connecti...

Page 70: ...ork see your network administrator The computer can be connected to the network with the default settings Telephone lines cannot be connected to the Network LAN connector on your computer If the Network LAN connector is connected to the telephone lines mentioned below high electric current to the connector may cause damage overheating or fire Home intercom speakerphone or business use telephone li...

Page 71: ...ge the main settings of your computer Among other things you will learn how to use and customize the look of your Sony software and utilities etc Setting the Password page 72 Setting Up Your Computer with VAIO Central page 75 Using the Power Saving Modes page 76 Managing Power with VAIO Power Management page 81 ...

Page 72: ...the power on password and need assistance to reset it a password reset fee will be charged and your computer may need to be sent in for depot service for password reset To add the power on password 1 Turn on the computer 2 Press the F2 key when the VAIO logo appears The BIOS setup screen appears If not restart the computer and press the F2 key several times when the VAIO logo appears 3 Press the o...

Page 73: ...der Security Press the space bar to change the setting from Disabled to Enabled 6 Press the or key to select Exit select Exit Save Changes or Exit Setup and then press the Enter key On the Setup Confirmation screen make sure that Yes is selected and then press the Enter key ...

Page 74: ...y to select Security to display the Security tab select Set Machine Password and then press the Enter key 5 On the password entry screen enter the current password once and a new password twice and then press the Enter key To remove the password leave the Enter New Password and Confirm New Password fields blank and press the Enter key When confirmation to save the changes is prompted press the Ent...

Page 75: ...references for system behavior To use VAIO Central 1 Click Start point to All Programs and click VAIO Central The VAIO Central window appears 2 Select the desired control item and change the settings 3 Once finished click OK The setting of the desired item has been changed Some of the control items will not be visible if you open VAIO Central as a limited user ...

Page 76: ...ower you should be aware that the computer automatically enters Hibernate mode when the remaining battery charge becomes short regardless of the power management setting you select If the battery level falls below 10 percent you should either attach the AC adapter to recharge the battery or shut down the computer and install a fully charged battery Using Normal Mode This is the normal state of the...

Page 77: ...he computer will switch off automatically You will lose any unsaved data When the computer is in Standby mode you cannot insert a disc The computer comes out of Standby mode quicker than out of Hibernate mode Standby mode uses more power than Hibernate mode If the battery runs down when the computer enters Standby mode you will lose any unsaved data Going back to the previous work state is impossi...

Page 78: ...o change the Standby mode settings 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance 3 Click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears 4 Select the Power Schemes tab 5 Change the System Standby settings ...

Page 79: ... is off in this mode To activate Hibernate mode Press the Fn F12 keys The Hibernating screen appears and the computer enters Hibernate mode Alternatively 1 Click Start and then Turn Off Computer 2 Click Hibernate To return to Normal mode Turn on the computer by pressing the power button The computer returns to its previous state If you press the power button for more than four seconds the computer...

Page 80: ... time of shutting down or resuming When the computer is in Hibernate mode you cannot insert a disc Hibernate mode requires more time than Standby mode to be activated It takes more time to return to Normal mode from Hibernate mode than from Standby mode Hibernate mode uses less power than Standby mode Do not move the computer until its power indicator light turns off ...

Page 81: ...equirements for power consumption VAIO Power Management is a software application developed exclusively for VAIO computers With this software application you can enhance the Windows power management functions to ensure better operations of your computer and for longer battery life For more information on VAIO Power Management see the help file on the VAIO Power Management software ...

Page 82: ...ur power status VAIO Power Management functionalities are added to the Windows Power Options Properties To activate VAIO Power Management 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance 3 Click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears 4 Select the VAIO Power Management tab To restore the default settings 1 On the VAIO Power Management tab click Advanced Th...

Page 83: ...r scheme 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance 3 Click Power Options The Power Options Properties window appears 4 Select the tab for power scheme settings 5 Select a power scheme from the drop down list 6 If you now select the VAIO Power Management tab you see that the selected power scheme appears on the tab 7 If necessary you can change the items in the list f...

Page 84: ...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 computer You do not touch the connectors or open the memory panel For the type of module and amount of memory installed on your model refer to the online Specifications For assistance contact an authorized Sony Service Center To find the nearest center or ag...

Page 85: ...dule ensure the following The procedures described in this document assume familiarity with the general terminology associated with personal computers and with the safety practices and regulatory compliance required for using and modifying electronic equipment Turn off the computer and disconnect the system from its power source that is battery or AC adapter and from any telecommunication links ne...

Page 86: ...e computer and any repair costs will not be covered by the warranty Do not place the memory module in places subject to Heat sources 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 95 F 35 C or less than 41 F 5 C High humidity Handle the memory module with care...

Page 87: ...t all peripheral devices 2 Unplug the computer and remove the battery pack 3 Wait until the computer cools down 4 Unscrew the screw indicated by the arrow below on the bottom of the computer and remove the memory module compartment cover 5 Touch a metal object such as the connector panel on the back of the computer to discharge static electricity ...

Page 88: ...e the memory module Pull the latches in the direction of the arrows 1 The memory module is released Make sure that the memory module tilts up and then pull it out in the direction of the arrow 2 7 Remove the new memory module from its packaging ...

Page 89: ... it in until it clicks into place Do not touch any other components on the motherboard Do not damage the insulation sheet equipped for module protection 9 Replace the memory module compartment cover 10 Tighten the screw on the bottom of the computer 11 Reinstall the battery and turn on the computer ...

Page 90: ...t point to All Programs and click VAIO Central 3 Click the System Information tab in the VAIO Central window 4 Double click the System Information folder 5 Double click the System Information icon You can view the amount of system memory If the additional memory does not appear repeat the whole procedure and restart the computer ...

Page 91: ...r from potential damage On Handling the LCD Screen page 92 On Using the Power Source page 93 On Handling Your Computer page 94 On Handling Floppy Disks page 96 On Handling Discs page 97 On Using the Battery Pack page 98 On Using Headphones page 99 On Handling Memory Stick Media page 99 On Handling the Hard Disk page 100 ...

Page 92: ...idual image may appear on the screen if the same image is displayed for a lengthy period of time The residual image disappears in a while You can use a screen saver to prevent residual images The screen becomes warm during operation This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction The LCD screen is manufactured using high precision technology You may however see tiny black points and or bright p...

Page 93: ...d 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 the computer from the AC outlet if you are planning to not use the computer for a long time Make sure that the AC outlet is easily accessible When the AC adapter is not used unplug it from the AC outlet Use the AC ...

Page 94: ... ducts Direct sunlight Excessive dust Moisture or rain Mechanical vibration or shock Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded Ambient temperature of more than 95 F 35 C or less than 41 F 5 C High humidity Do not place electronic equipment near the computer The electromagnetic field of the computer may cause a malfunction Provide adequate air circulation to prevent internal hea...

Page 95: ... In this case allow at least one hour before turning on the computer If any problems occur unplug the computer and contact an authorized Sony Service Center To find the nearest center or agent visit the Sony online support Web site Make sure you disconnect the power cord before cleaning the computer To avoid losing data if the computer is damaged back up your data regularly ...

Page 96: ...heat Keep the floppy disk away from any liquid Do not let the floppy disk get wet When you are not using the floppy disk always remove it from the floppy disk drive and use a storage case If the floppy disk comes with a label make sure that the label is properly attached If the edge of the label is curled up the label may stick to the inside of the floppy disk drive and cause a malfunction or dama...

Page 97: ... use solvents such as benzine thinner alcohol commercially available cleaners or anti static spray which 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 center out If the disc is badly soiled moisten a soft cloth with water wring it out well and use it to wipe the surface of the disc from the center out Wipe off any remai...

Page 98: ...ng charged the battery pack heats up This is normal and is not cause for concern Keep the battery pack away from all sources of heat Keep the battery pack dry 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 bat...

Page 99: ...me or discontinue use On Handling Memory Stick Media Do not use the media in locations that are subject to static electricity or electrical noise Do not touch the Memory Stick media connector with your finger or metallic objects Use only the label supplied with the Memory Stick media as a label Do not bend drop or apply strong shock to the Memory Stick media Do not disassemble or modify Memory Sti...

Page 100: ...ould be careful when handling the computer To avoid damaging your hard disk Do not subject the computer to sudden movements Keep the computer away from magnets Do not place the computer in a location subject to mechanical vibration or in an unstable position Do not move the computer while the power is on Do not turn off the power or restart the computer while reading or writing data to disk Do not...

Page 101: ...n USA at http www sony ca support for customers in Canada or at http esupport sony com ES for customers in Latin American countries or areas Computer page 102 System Security page 111 Battery page 113 Internet page 115 Networking page 117 CDs and DVDs page 120 Display page 125 Printing page 127 Microphone page 128 Mouse page 129 Speakers page 130 Touch Pad page 131 Keyboard page 132 Floppy Disks p...

Page 102: ...e sure it is plugged into a power source and turned on Make sure the brightness and contrast controls are adjusted correctly See the manual that came with your display for details Disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery Wait three to five minutes Reattach the AC adapter and reinstall the battery and press the power button to turn on your computer Condensation may cause your computer to ma...

Page 103: ... and then set the time hour minute second Press the Enter key 4 Press the key to select the Exit tab and then press the F9 key The message Load default configuration now appears 5 Select Yes and press the Enter key 6 Select Exit Save Changes or Exit Setup and press the Enter key The message Save configuration changes and exit now appears 7 Select Yes and press the Enter key Your computer restarts ...

Page 104: ...1 Press the power button for more than four seconds to check that the power indicator goes out Then turn on your computer again 2 If your computer screen still stays blank unplug the AC adapter remove the battery and leave the computer for about a minute Then plug in the AC adapter install the battery and turn on the computer again ...

Page 105: ...w appears click Turn Off from the Shut Down menu When the Windows Security window appears click Shut Down If your computer still does not turn off press and hold the power button or slide and hold the power switch until the computer turns off If your computer stops responding while playing a CD or DVD press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously You can turn off the computer from the Windows Task...

Page 106: ...4 If this procedure does not work press and hold the power button or slide and hold the power switch until the computer turns off What should I do if the battery indicator is flashing and my computer does not start This symptom could be due to the battery pack not being installed properly To resolve this symptom turn off your computer and remove the battery pack Then install the battery pack to th...

Page 107: ...pack is not compatible Remove the battery pack and contact an authorized Sony Service Center To find the nearest center or agent visit the Sony online support Web site Why is the sound of my computer s fan so loud Your computer s fan may be running at a high speed to cool the CPU By lowering the CPU speed you also lower the speed and noise level of the computer s fan You can use the power schemes ...

Page 108: ...l not start Press the power button for more than four seconds to check that the power indicator goes off Wait for 10 or 15 seconds then restart your computer and enter the correct password When entering the password check that the Num lock indicator and Caps lock indicator are off If any are lit press the Num Lk key or the Caps Lock key to turn off the indicator before entering the password What s...

Page 109: ...reen appears due to network security checkups Why doesn t my computer screen turn off when the time selected for the automatic turn off action has passed The originally selected VAIO s screen saver disables the timer setting which you can select using the Windows power options for your computer screen to turn off Change the originally selected VAIO s screen saver What should I do if I cannot boot ...

Page 110: ...ey to select Exit select Exit Save Changes or Exit Setup and then press the Enter key The message Save configuration changes and exit now appears 6 Select Yes and press the Enter key Your computer restarts and you will hear the startup sound at the specified volume level You can also show hide the VAIO animation logo at startup To show the logo select VAIO Animation Logo or Show VAIO Animation Log...

Page 111: ... updates regularly You can get important Windows updates by doing one of the following The Automatic Updates feature This feature automatically searches for and delivers updates directly to your computer whenever it is connected to the Internet The Windows Updates web site This site enables you to download computer updates without turning on the Automatic Updates feature Your computer must be conn...

Page 112: ...eep the Norton Internet Security software program current with the latest updates from Symantec Corporation To download and install the latest security update 1 Double click the Norton Internet Security icon on the taskbar If you have not previously registered the antivirus software a series of information wizards appears 1 Follow the on screen instructions to complete each wizard 2 Double click t...

Page 113: ...uld I recharge the battery When the battery level falls below 10 percent When both the battery and power indicators blink When you have not used the battery for a long time When should I replace the battery If the battery power is still low after charging it the battery may be reaching the end of its life and should be replaced Should I be concerned that the installed battery is warm No it is norm...

Page 114: ...em from entering Hibernate mode save your data frequently to avoid losing data See Using Hibernate Mode page 79 for information on how you can manually activate Hibernate mode Why doesn t my computer enter Hibernate mode You may first need to enable Hibernate mode Follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Performance and Maintenance 3 Click Power Options The Power Options Pro...

Page 115: ...elephone number the program is dialing is correct Make sure the software you are using is compatible with your computer s modem All preinstalled Sony programs are compatible Make sure the modem is the only device connected to your phone line Follow these steps to check the settings 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware 3 Click Phone and Modem Options 4 On the Mod...

Page 116: ... properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your Internet Service Provider ISP do any of the following Ask your telephone company to verify your telephone line is free of any line noise If your problem is fax related make sure there are no problems with the fax machine you are calling and that it is compatible with fax modems If you are having a problem connecting with your ISP make sure th...

Page 117: ... the WIRELESS or WIRELESS LAN switch is on and the WIRELESS LAN indicator is lit on your computer Make sure power to the access point is on Follow these steps to check the settings 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Network and Internet Connections 3 Click Network Connections 4 Right click Wireless Network Connection 5 Click Properties 6 Click the Wireless Networks tab 7 Click View Wirel...

Page 118: ... data transfer speed move your computer away from obstructions or closer to any access point you may be using If you are using a wireless LAN access point the device may be temporarily overloaded depending on how many other devices are communicating via the access point If your access point interferes with other access points change the access point channel See the manual that came with your acces...

Page 119: ... using a wireless LAN access point see connectivity information contained in the manual that came with your access point Why does the network connection stop when I change the encryption key Two computers with built in wireless LAN may lose a peer to peer network connection if the encryption key is changed You can either change the encryption key back to the original profile or re enter the key on...

Page 120: ... or damage If the disc is dirty see On Handling Discs page 97 for instructions on how to clean it What should I do if the drive tray does not open Make sure your computer is on Press the drive eject button If the drive eject button does not work click Start and then My Computer Right click the optical disc drive icon and select Eject from the shortcut menu If none of the above options work insert ...

Page 121: ...If you are playing a CD or DVD and cannot hear sound do any of the following Double click the Volume icon on the taskbar and click to cancel the Master Volume Mute All and Wave Mute check boxes Check the volume setting in the audio mixer If you are using external speakers check the volume settings on the speakers and the connections between the speakers and your computer Make sure the CD audio fea...

Page 122: ...ke sure an adhesive label is not affixed to the CD or DVD Adhesive labels can come off while the disc is in the optical disc drive and damage the drive or cause it to malfunction If a region code warning appears the disc may be incompatible with the optical disc drive Check the DVD package to make sure the region code is compatible with the optical disc drive If you notice condensation on your com...

Page 123: ...he keyboard Do not use a CD R RW disc that has a label affixed to it This could cause a write error or other damage What should I do if I cannot write data to DVD media Make sure you are using the correct DVD recordable media Check which DVD recordable format is compatible with your computer s built in DVD recorder Note the possibility that some brands of DVD recordable media do not work ...

Page 124: ...l disc drive icon and select Properties 3 Click the Recording tab 4 Click to cancel the Enable CD recording on this drive check box 5 Click OK Canceling the Enable CD recording on this drive check box disables writing data to CD R and CD RW discs To write data to such discs make sure to select this check box You cannot add data to DVD RAM discs with data already written by the Roxio DigitalMedia s...

Page 125: ...ower make sure the battery is installed properly and is charged See Using the Battery Pack page 19 for more information If the display mode is set to external display press the Fn F7 keys See Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key page 26 for more information Why doesn t my computer screen display a video If the external display is selected for the display output with the Fn F7 keys and the ex...

Page 126: ... Click Performance and Maintenance 3 Click Power Options 4 Select the tab for power scheme settings 5 Select the desired power scheme from the drop down list 6 On the VAIO Power Management tab select No change for LCD Brightness 7 Click OK The preference for the LCD brightness adjusted with the Fn F5 F6 keys is saved and the brightness of your computer screen remains unchanged regardless of operat...

Page 127: ...ctioning after your computer resumes from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate then restart the computer If the bidirectional communication functions are provided with your printer disabling the functions on your computer may enable printing Follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware 3 Click Printers and Faxes 4 Right click the printer icon and ...

Page 128: ...bleshooting Microphone What should I do if my microphone does not work If you are using an external microphone make sure the microphone is turned on and is properly plugged into the Microphone jack on your computer ...

Page 129: ...inter do any of the following Press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously In the Windows Task Manager window select Restart from the Shut Down menu to restart your computer Press and hold the power button When your computer turns off wait 10 to 15 seconds then press the power button again to restart the computer Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices ...

Page 130: ...ower make sure the battery is installed properly and is charged If your speakers require external power make sure the speakers are connected to a power source See the manual that came with your speakers for more information What should I do if I cannot hear sound from my speakers If your computer is using battery power make sure the battery is properly installed and is charged If you are using a p...

Page 131: ...ouse is not installed You may have disabled the touch pad without connecting a mouse to your computer See Using the Touch Pad page 28 How do I change the left and right button assignments If your computer is interpreting a single click as a double click you may want to change the button assignments Follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware 3 Click ...

Page 132: ...change the keyboard configuration follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Date Time Language and Regional Options and click Regional and Language Options 3 Change the settings as desired What should I do if I cannot enter certain characters with the keyboard If you cannot enter U I O P J K L M and so on the Num Lk key may be activated Check that the Num lock indicator is of...

Page 133: ...he LED indicator on the floppy disk drive to turn off 3 Push the eject button to remove the disk and disconnect the USB floppy disk drive from your computer 4 Reconnect the floppy disk drive by inserting the USB connector with the USB icon facing upward into the USB port 5 Restart the computer by clicking Start Turn Off Computer and then Restart What should I do if I cannot write data to a floppy ...

Page 134: ...ot using a Sony PC Card Why doesn t my computer recognize attached devices For some PC Cards if you alternate between normal power operation and the Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted into the PC Card slot your computer may not recognize the PC Card or the connected device Restart the computer Why can t I insert my PC Card Make sure you are inserting the card correctly See Inser...

Page 135: ...demark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other See the manual that came with your compatible i LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection ...

Page 136: ...ng the Memory Stick Formatter software preinstalled on your computer For instructions about formatting a Memory Stick media see the help file on the Memory Stick Formatter software Why can t I save music files onto my Memory Stick media Copyright protected music cannot be checked out to any Memory Stick media other than MagicGate Memory Stick media Using recorded music requires permission of the c...

Page 137: ...ry using a different USB port on your computer The driver could be installed to the specific port you used the first time you connected the device See the manual that came with your USB device for more information You may need to install software before you connect the device Try connecting a simple low powered device such as a mouse to test that the port is working at all USB hubs may prevent a d...

Page 138: ...em Online Support Your computer comes preinstalled with a Microsoft Windows operating system For operating system support you can visit Microsoft customer support at http support microsoft com directory 4 Sony Computing Support This service provides instant access to information on commonly encountered problems Type a description of the problem and the Knowledge Database searches for the correspon...

Page 139: ... 1 Your VAIO computer model You can find it at the lower right corner of the display on the laptops and in the same place on the front panel of the CPU on the desktops 2 Your computer s serial number You can find it on the back or bottom of the laptop or on the back of the desktop the serial number is the last 7 digits of the number below the barcode 3 The operating system on your computer 4 The h...

Page 140: ...ng numbers In Argentina 011 6770 SONY 7669 In Mexico In Mexico City 5002 9819 In the Mexican Republic 01 800 759 7669 In Colombia 01 800 550 7000 In Peru 0 801 1 7000 or 511 6100 In Chile Sony answers 800 261 800 From cellular phones 02 754 6333 In Venezuela 0 800 1 SONY 00 0 800 1 7669 00 In Panama 800 2050 ...

Page 141: ...USA Web Site http esupport sony com EN VAIO Telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 For users in Canada Web Site http www sony ca support Telephone 888 4 SONY PC 888 476 6972 For users in Latin American countries or areas Web Site http esupport sony com ES For contacts about third party software products see the following Adobe Photoshop Elements Premiere Reader Adobe Systems Inc For users in USA and...

Page 142: ...ite http www aol com AOL Music Now America Online Inc For users in USA and Canada Web Site http www premiumservices aol com AOL Explorer America Online Inc For users in USA and Canada Web Site http www aol com AOL Toolbar America Online Inc For users in USA and Canada Web Site http help aol com help ...

Page 143: ...from a DV device or by importing video from stored files and you can also edit the video Create DVD photo albums and slide shows with picture files or by importing pictures from a digital still camera What s more you can give a professional look to your DVDs by adding chapter menus backgrounds and menu screens You are only a few clicks away from your own DVDs For contacts about the software see Pr...

Page 144: ...movies back to your digital video camera or in a variety of popular file formats For contacts about the software see Program Support Information page 141 Intel PROSet Intel Corporation For users in USA and Canada Web Site http www intel com network connectivity products wireless proset proset_software htm Microsoft Office Basic Edition Office Professional Edition Office Small Business Edition Micr...

Page 145: ... of the software activation requires Internet access This software has an expiration date of 60 days from date of first use at which time the software will operate under reduced functionality mode limiting end user options and operations Microsoft Corp For users in USA and Canada Web Site http support microsoft com Microsoft Internet Explorer Movie Maker Media Player Works Microsoft Corp For users...

Page 146: ...icken ROXIO DigitalMedia Sonic Solutions For users in USA and Canada Web Site http support sonic com SonicStage software Sony Electronics Inc The SonicStage jukebox software program gives you all the tools you need to manage music on your computer SonicStage software supports high quality digital audio storage a sleek player skin design and audio CD burning capability For contacts about the softwa...

Page 147: ...ut the software see Program Support Information page 141 System Mechanic 6 iolo technologies LLC For users in USA and Canada Web Site http www iolo com contactus cfm Trend Micro Anti Spyware Trend Micro Inc For users in USA and Canada Web Site http kb trendmicro com search default asp VAIO Action Setup Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your computer s shortcut keys Fo...

Page 148: ...ling you to share music video and still image files between your VAIO computers You can set up one or more VAIO computers as media servers which store your multimedia files and make them available to other compatible VAIO computers on your wired or wireless network For contacts about the software see Program Support Information page 141 VAIO Security Center Sony Electronics Inc Sony cares about yo...

Page 149: ...for your specific VAIO computer model For contacts about the software see Program Support Information page 141 VAIO Zone software Sony Electronics Inc VAIO Zone software provides an effortless way to browse and enjoy pictures music and video files on your computer all through an elegant next generation interface You can even enjoy media content stored on other VAIO computers on your network On VAI...

Page 150: ...less Setup Utility Sony Electronics Inc The Wireless Setup Utility walks you through setting up your wireless network connection and offers useful diagnostic tests to help keep your wireless network running smoothly For contacts about the software see Program Support Information page 141 Xdrive America Online Inc For users in USA and Canada Web Site http www xdrive com support ...

Page 151: ... 2006 Sony Corporation n ...

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