Sony PCG551L Users Manual

Welcome.......................................................9

Using Your VAIO Computer ...... ...............1 1

Using the Keyboard...................................................12

Functions of the keyboard keys .........................................13

Combinations and functions with the Windows key .........14

Indicators ...........................................................................15

Combina t i o n s a n d fun c t i o n s w i t h the F n key . .............. .....16

Using VAIO Action Setup........................................19

Using the Jog Dial Control........................................20

Launcher mode ..................................................................20

Guide m o d e............................ ............................................21

Using the Jog Dial control with Sony software.................21

Using the Jog Dial control with other software .................22

Interna l timer..... .................... .............. .............. .................23

Using Memory Stick Media......................................24

Types o f Me m o ry St i c k m e d i a..................... ......................24

Notes on using Memory Stick media.................................26

Using PC Cards.........................................................28

To insert PC card...............................................................28

To remove a PC Card while your computer is on..............29

Notes on PC Cards .............................................................29

Using Power Saving Modes......................................31

Norma l mo d e .. .............. .............. .............. .................... .....3 1

Standby mode ....................................................................31

Hibernate mod e.......... ....................................................... .3 1

Notes on power saving modes...........................................32

Connectin g a Telep hon e Cab l e ................ ................33

To connect a telephone cable .... .......... .......... .......... ...........33

Connectin g to a LAN........... .......... ...........................34

To set up a net w o rk........... .............. .............. ..................... 3 5

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Connecting t o a Wirel e ss LAN.......... ................ .......36

Turnin g O n Wire l e ss LAN................................................36

The Wireless LAN Access Point ...................................... 36

Communicating with an Access Point (infrastructure)..... 37

Communicating without an access point (ad-hoc)............ 38

Turning Off Wireless LAN............................................... 40

Notes on u si n g W i re l ess LAN .......................................... 40

Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............41

Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive ..............................42

To connect a floppy disk drive.......................................... 42

To insert a floppy disk into the floppy disk drive............. 43

To remove a floppy disk from the floppy disk drive........ 44

To disconnect a floppy disk drive when the computer is on.
44

To carry an floppy disk drive.......... .................... .............. 45

Notes on handling floppy disks......................................... 45

Connecting a PC Card Bus Drive .............................46

To connec t a n opt i c al drive............. .............. .................... 46

To insert a disc.................................................................. 47

To remove the drive.......................................................... 48

Notes on CD and DVD discs............................................ 49

Connecting an i.L INK Opt i cal Disc Dri ve...............50

To connec t a n i. LINK optical disc dr i v e............. .............. 5 0

To disconnect an i.LINK optical disc drive...................... 52

Notes on using i.LINK optical disc drives........................ 52

Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard ...................53

To connect a USB mouse or keyboard.............................. 53

Connecting a USB Device........................................55

To connec t a USB device.............. .............. .............. ........ 5 5

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Connecting a USB Printer.........................................56

To connec t t o a US B printer ................... .............. ............. 5 6

Connecting an i.LINK Audio-Video Device.............58

To connec t a dig i tal vide o ca mera recorder..................... ..58

Notes on connecting an i.LINK device..............................59

Connecting an External Display................................60

To connec t a co mpu ter disp l ay ............. .............. ...............60

To connec t a pro j e c t o r ........ .................... .............. ............. 6 1

Changing the display when connecting an external computer

display o r p rojector ..... ........ .............. .............. .............. .....62

Connecting wi th an othe r VAI O comput er................63

Connectin g Ext ernal Speakers ....... ......... ..................64

To connect external speakers.............................................64

Connecting a Microphone.........................................65

To connect a microphone........................ .......... ............ ..... 65

To record from a microphone or audio equipment............65

Adjus t in g t h e volume................................................... ......66

Expanding Your Computer Capabilities ...................68

Personal Digital Assistant..................................................68

Wireless LAN Access Point ..............................................68

Wirele ss LAN PC Ca rd.... ..................................................69

Customizing Your VAIO Computer..........71

Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen .... .......72

Sony Notebook Setup tabs.................................................73

Controlling Power Management ...............................74

Viewing th e Power Man a ge m e n t st a t u s i c o n s ................... 7 4

To access PowerPanel Help................ .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .....74

Power Management profiles..............................................75

Power Ma n a g e m en t commands .. .................... .............. .....7 7

Conserving battery power..................................................78

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Displaying Battery Info r m ati o n........... .....................79

To display the Battery Information window..................... 79

To displ ay t he Battery Informa t i o n to o l b a r ................... .... 79

To clos e th e Ba t t e ry In fo rmation t o o l b a r.......................... 79

Batte ry i con d escrip t i o n s...... ............................................. 80

Display i n g d e t ailed battery informatio n . .............. ............ 80

Changing the window design of Sony software................ 81

Selecting the D is p lay Mode............... .......................83

To selec t the d i sp l a y mod e...................... .............. ............ 83

Adding Memory.........................................85

Precaution s and Procedures................................. .....86

Typic al expansi o n memory co n fi g u ration........... .............86

Installing a Memory Module ....................................87

Removing a Memor y Mod ule.......................... .........90

Confirming Added Memory Capacity......................92

About the So ft wa re on Your Comp uter...93

Software Overview...................................................93

DVgate application notes..........................................99

Digital video captures ....................................................... 99

Adjusti n g im ag e resolut i o n ............. .............. .............. ...... 99

Hard disk drive partition........................................ ........ ...99

Software Support Information................................101

Sony Service Center........................................................ 103

Using the Recovery CDs ........................105

Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs....106

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Using Your Recovery CDs......................................107

To use the A p p li cation Recovery CD( s)............. ............. 1 0 7

To use the Driver Recovery CD(s) ..................................108

To use the S y st e m Recovery CD(s)................... ..............109

Troubleshooting......................................113

Troubleshooting Your Computer .. .............. ....... .....114

My computer does not start. ............................................114

My compu t e r sta rts, but a B IOS error a p p ea rs. ............ ...114

My computer starts, but the message “Operating system not

found” appears and Windows does not start....................115

My computer stops responding or does not shut down. ..116

The Power Management setting is not responding..........116

The sound of my computer’s fan is too loud...................117

Why does the System Properties dialog box display a slower

CPU speed than advertised? ............................................117

Troubleshooting the LCD Screen................ ............118

My LCD screen is blank. .................................................118

The image on my connected external display is not centered

or sized pr o p erly. .................. .............. .............. ...............118

I cannot simultaneously display movies, DVD video, or the
Smart Capture (Finder) window on the LCD display and an

external display................................................................118

I want to change the video resolution of my display.......118

Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad.............119

My mouse d o es n o t work.. .............. .............. .............. .....1 1 9

My touchpad does not work properly..............................119

The pointer does not move while I am using the Touchpad or

Mouse...............................................................................119

Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral De-

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vices........................................................................121

My floppy disk drive icon doesn’t appear even though it is

connected. ....................................................................... 121

My optical drive is not playing my disc properly........... 121

My optic a l d i sc d r ive tray does not op e n ......... ............... 122

I cannot use digital video (DV) devices. The message “DV
equipment seems to be disconnected or turned off” appears.
122

My PC Card i s not worki n g ............................................ 123

Troubleshooting i.LINK devices ............................124

I cannot establish a connection between two VAIO comput-

ers when using an i.LINK cable...................................... 124

Troubleshooting Software........................ .. ..... ....... .125

My software program stops responding or crashes......... 125

When I click an application icon, the message “You must in­sert the application CD into your CD-ROM (DVD-ROM)

drive” appears, and the software does not start. .............. 125

I cannot use the DVgate software. .................................. 125

My computer’s start-up time seems longer after I have in-

stall e d AOL. What can I d o ?.... ....................................... 125

What software do I use for CD-R/CD-RW software func-

tions? ............................................................................... 126

Troubleshooting the Modem............. ....... ....... ........1 27

My modem does not work. ............................................. 127

My modem connection is slow....................................... 127

Troubleshooting Wireless LAN fun ctions..............128

I cannot use the Wireless LAN functionality.................. 128

The computer cannot connect to a Wireless LAN Access

Point. ............................................................................... 128

I cannot access the Internet............................................. 128

The dat a tr an s f e r speed is slow.... ................................... 129

The communication speed is interrupted or slowed down

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when MPEG2 data is transferred.....................................129

Data tran sfers are interru p t e d .. .............. .................... .......129

Troubleshooting Audio ........................ ....... ....... .....131

My speakers have no sound.............................................131

There is noise distortion while listening to music with USB

speakers or USB headphones...........................................131

My microphone does not work........................................132

Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media .............. .....133

Image files do not open even though I insert Memory Stick

media i n t o the sl o t...... ......................................................133

Memory Stick media does not work. I cannot access the re-

movable drive. .................................................................133

Getting Help.............................................1 3 5

Support Options.......................................................135

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Welcome

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® computer, and
welcome to the VAIO User Guide.
This User Guide prov ides detailed information on all aspects of using
your new VAIO computer, from keyboard functions to preinstalled
software applications.
In the left navigation window, click the topics you want to learn more
about, and that information will be displayed in this main window.

✍ Click here to find the latest updates and supplemental information about your

computer.

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Using Your VAIO Computer

This section describe s the following aspects of your new computer:

❑ Using the Keyboard
❑ Using VAIO Action Setup
❑ Using the Jog Dial Cont rol
❑ Using Memory Stick Media
❑ Using PC Cards
❑ Using Power Saving Modes
❑ Connecting a Telephone Cable
❑ Connecting to a LA N
❑ Connecting to a Wireless LAN

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Using the Keyboard

Your keyboard is very similar to a typewriter’s, but your computer keyboard has
additional keys that perform specific c omputer-related tasks.

Keyboard

Shift key

Ctrl key

Fn key

Escape key

Esc

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12

!

2134567890

Q

Tab

A

Caps Lock

Z

Shift

Fn Alt Alt

Ctrl Ctrl

Function keys

$% & ( )

Y

T

R

E

W

H

G

F

D

S

B

V

C

X

Alt key

Numeric

U

I

O

P

J

K

L

<

M

N

>

keypad area

Windows
key

®

Applications
key

Print Screen key

NumLk

Prt Sc

Scr Lk

SysRq

+

Backspace

Enter

?

Shift

Navigation keys

Insert
Pause

Correction
keys

Delete
Break

Home

Page
Up

Page
Down

End

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Using the Keyboard

Functions of the keyboard keys

Key Description

Numeric keypad are a Contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the

numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform
mathematical calculatio n s such as addition and
subtraction. Numbers appear on t he front beveled edge of
the numeric keys. You must press the Num Lock key to
activate the numeric keypad. (When you do so, the Num
Lock indicator lights up. )

Navigation keys Several keys are devoted to moving the cursor on the

screen (the four arrow keys which also function as the
Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys).

Correction key s The Insert, Backspace, and Delete keys enable you to

make corrections in your documents.

Function keys The twelve function keys along the top of the keyboard

are used to perform designated tasks. For example, in
many applic at ion s, F1 is th e Hel p k ey. The task asso cia te d
with each functio n key may vary among applications .

Escape key The Esc (Escape) key is used to cancel commands.

Print Screen key The Print Screen key takes an electronic snapshot of the

screen and moves it to the W indows ® Clipboa rd. You can
then paste the screen shot into a document and print it.

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Key Description

Operator keys (Shift,
Ctrl, Alt keys)

Several keys are always use d with at least one other key:
Ctrl, Alt, and Shift. When held down with another key,
the Ctrl (Control) and Alt (Alternate) keys offer another
way to give commands. For example, in many
application s, inst ead of c hoosing the Save command fro m
a menu, you can hold down Ctrl and pres s the S key
(referred to as Ctrl+S). The Shift key operates the same
way as on a typewriter; it is use d to produ ce capita l l etter s
or special symbols, s uch as @ and $.

Windows® key The key with th e Wi ndows® logo displ ays t he W indo ws

Start menu; it’s the equivalent of clicking Start on the
taskbar. See “Combinations and functions with the
Windows key” for more information.

Fn key The Fn key is used in combination with other keys to

issue commands. See “Com binations and functi ons with
the Fn key” for more information.

Applications key The Applications key displays a shortcut menu of

context-sensitive choices. Pressing this key is the
equivalent of cl icking the right mouse button.

Combinations and functions with the Windows key

®

Combination Function

+ F1 Displays VAIO® Help and Support Center.

+ Tab Switches the se lected button on the taskbar.

+ E Displays Windows® Explorer.

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Using the Keyboard

Combination Function

+ F Displays the Sea rch window to find a file or fol der. This

is the equivalent of selecting Search from the Start
menu.

+ Ctrl + F Displays the search results window where you ca n

locate other compu ters. This is the equivalent of
selec ti n g Se a r ch , an d th en Co m pu t er s f ro m th e Sta r t
menu.

+ M Minimizes all displayed windows (with Num Lock off).

Shift + + M Returns al l minimized windows to their previous size.

+ R Displays the Run window. This is the equivalent of

selecting Run from the Start menu.

Fn + + Insert Displays the System Properties window. This is the

equivalent of selecting Contro l Pa nel, and then System
from the Start menu.

Indicators

Indicator Function

Power Lights up when th e power to the computer is tu r ned on, flashes in

Standby mode, and turns off when the computer is in Hibern ate
mode or powered off.

Battery

Hard disk Lights up when data is read from or written to the h ard disk drive.

Lights up when the c omputer is usin g bat tery powe r , fl ashe s when
the battery is running out of power, double-flashes when the
battery is charging.

Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this
indicator light is on.

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Indicator Function

Wireless
LAN

Memory
Stick®

Num Lock Lights up when the number keys are a in the numeric keypad are

Caps Lock Lights up when the le tters appear in uppe rcase as you type. The

Scroll Lock Lights up when the screen scroll s differently. (Exactly h o w i t

Lights up when the Wireless LAN func tion is running.

Lights up when data is read from or written to the Memory Stick
media. (Do not ente r St andby m ode or turn off the computer whe n
this indica tor lig ht i s on.) W hen in dic at or is of f , th e Me mory St ick
media is not being accessed.

active. When indicator is off, the alphanum eric character keys in
the keypad area are active.

Shift key lower s the case of typed letters when Caps Lock is on.
When the indicator is off, the letters appear in lowe r cas e as you
type (unless you hold down the Shift key).

scrolls depends on the specif ic appl icat ion. Thi s funct ion does not
work with all applications.) When indicator is off, information
moves across the displ ay normally.

Combinations and functions with the Fn key

✍ If you switch user identities during a computing session, the Fn+F7 key

functionality (if available on your computer) will be interrupted. To switch to an
external display or monitor, see “Selecting the Display Mo de” for more information.

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Combinations/
Feature Functions

Using the Keyboard

Fn+ (ESC)
Standby

Fn+ (F3)
Speaker switch

Fn+ (F4)
Speaker volume

Fn+ (F5)
Brightness control

Fn+ (F7)
Switch to the
external display

Puts the system into Standby mode, a power
management s tate . To return the system to the ac ti ve
state, press any key on your computer.

Toggles the built-in speaker off and on.

Adjusts the built-in speaker volume.
To increase volume , press Fn+F4, then or .
To decrease volume, press Fn+F4, then or .

Adjusts the brightness of the LCD.
To increase the intensity, press Fn+F5 and or .
To decrease th e intensity, press Fn+F5 and or .

Toggles between the LCD, external display
(connected to the VGA Monitor port), and both
LCD and external display modes.

Only LCD

LCD and external display

Only external display

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Combinations/
Feature Functions

Fn+ (F12)
Hibernate

Fn+B
Bass Boost

Fn+ F Display cont rol. Mi nimiz es and m axim izes th e LCD

Provides for the l owest leve l of po wer consump tion.
When you execute this comma nd, the state of the
system and state of the peripheral devices are
written to the hard disk, and the system power is
turned off. To return the system to the original state,
press the power button briefly to turn on the power.

Toggles the bass-b oos t function off and on. This
feature is available only while using headphones.

screen. If the default display resoluti on is reduced,
this function maximizes the display resolution to fit
the screen size. Ma xi mizing th e d isplay screen
enables you to view the display at a greate r
resolution.

✍ Some functions are not available until Window s® launches.

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Using VAIO Action Setup

Using VAIO Action Setup

VAIO Action Setup manages t he setti ngs for yo ur co mputer’ s Jog Di al™ con trol,

MEMORY STICK

Memory Stick® media, and i.LINK®

TM

*

interface. With VAIO Action

Setup, you can:

❑ Change the Jog Dia l setting
❑ Change the USB de vice connection setting
❑ Change the time setting.

For more information on ch anging the settings us ing VAIO Action Setup, right­click the Jog Dial control icon or in the taskbar, and click Help Topics.

* i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a produ c t contains an IEEE 1394

connection . T he i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software applications, oper­atin g system and compatible i.LINK devic es. All produ cts with an i.LINK connectio n may
not communicat e w ith each other. Refer to the documentation that came with your compati­ble i.LINK device for informat ion on operati ng conditions and proper connection. Befo re
connecting compatible i.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as a CD-RW or hard disk
drive, conf irm their op e ra ting s yst em com p at ibility and required op er atin g con di tio ns.

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Using the Jo g Dial C on tro l

Your computer is equipped with a Jog Dial™ control on the bottom center
portion of the unit. The Jog Dial control enables you to ope n an application,
folder, or document from a predefined list by rotating and pres sing the Jog Dial
control. In addition, when you press the Jog Dial control, you can turn on your
computer automatically and start the selected application or document.

Using the Jog Dial Control

Jog Dial control

The Jog Dial control window always appears in the displ ay. It is either in the
launcher mode or in the guide mode.

For information on how to ch ange the Jog Dial control’s settings, right-clic k the
Jog Di al co nt r ol icon in th e taskbar, an d click He lp Topic s.

Launcher mode

The Jog Dial control window is in launcher mode until a soft ware application is
launched or the Jog Dial control window becomes active. When an arrow is
displayed next to an item in the Jog Dial control window, you can display a
submenu of that ite m by selecting it and press ing the Jog Dial control but ton.

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Using the Jog Dial Control

Using Launcher mode

To use the Jog Dial control , double-click the Jog Dial control window or the Jog
Dial control icon in the taskbar. Alternatively, you can press the Jog Dial control
while pressing the Ctrl key on the keyboar d to swi tch to the launcher mode.

1 Turn the Jog Dial control to selec t the item you want, and press the Jog Dial

control. The window swi tches to the guide mode and shows the Jog Dial
control’s function.

Jog Dial Launcher Dialog Box

2 Turn or press the Jog Dial control to use the desired function.

Guide mode

The Jog Dial control window is in the guide mode when software is in use and
the soft ware window is active. Depending on the software you are using, you can
select items from the displayed list using the Jog Dial control. Some Sony
software applications have two modes in List Vi ew, Simple Menu, and Full
Menu. You can switch the mode by pressing the Shift key while turning the Jog
Dial control.

Using the Jog Dial control with Sony software

If Sony software that supports the Jog Dial™ control is active, you can use the
Jog Dial’s functions that are allocated to that software. For more information on
functions allocated to software, see the software application’s online Help.

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Using the Jog Dial control with other software

If the software you are using does not support the Jog Dial control, you can still
perform the following functions:

Action Description

Maximize Window* Press the J og Dial control button to maximize the size

of the active window. Press it again to return to
normal window size.

Minimize W indow* Press the Jog Dial control button to minimize the size

of the active window. Press it again to return to
normal window size.

Finish W indow* Press the Jog Dial control button to close the active

application.

Scroll* Press the Jog Dial control button to begin scrolling

within the ac tive window.

Jog Dial Launcher Press the Jog Di al c ontro l butt on t o r eturn t he J og Dial

control to Jog Launch er mode.

Menu Bar Press the Jog Dia l contro l but ton, an d then us e the J og

Dial control to scroll through the active window’s
toolbar.

* Some softw are ap plic a tio n s do not sup por t the se fun ctio n s .

Using a dialog box

When a window such as Screen Properties is active, the Dialog box is displayed
in the Jog Dial™ window. You can select an item in the window by rotating the
Jog Dial control. Pressing the Jog Dial control is the equivalent of pressing Enter.

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Using the Jog Dial Control

Jog Dial Guide Dialog Box

Inte rnal t imer

You can use the internal timer to start an application at a specific time. When set,
the tim e can la u nch application s ev en when th e co mputer is tu r n ed off.

1 Rotate or push the Jog Dial™ control, and select VAIO Action Setup in the

Jog Dial Launcher window.

2 Click Timer from the left menu, and then click the clock icon.
3 Select either Recommended Se ttings, Pro gr am Files, All Files, or Drag &

Drop from the left menu, then select the file or application you want to
launch in the right window.

4 Click Next until the One-Time-Only Setting dialog box appears.
5 Select the D ate and Time and click Next twice .
6 Click Finish, and close the VAIO Action Setup window.

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Using Memory Stick Media

This new compact, portable, and versatil e rec ording medium has a data capaci ty
exceeding th at of a fl oppy disk. The media is specia lly designed for exch anging
and sharing digi tal data with compatible products. Because it is removable, you
can use the media for external data storage.

Types of Memory Stick media

Your computer uses two types of Memory St ick® media:

❑ MagicGate™ Memory Stick media (here aft er referred as MG Memory

Stick media), is provi de d with copyri ght protect ion. (T he MG Memory Sti ck
media are color ed white .)

❑ Memory Stick media, does not have the same copyright protection as

MagicGate. (The Memory Stick media are colored purple.)

For music, which requi res copyright protection, you can only use MG Memory
Stick medi a. You can also use compatible MagicGate dev ices to record and play
back music when they are connected to your computer.

You can store mixed data on the Memory Stick medi a. For exam ple, you can
copy an image onto MG Memory Stick media that alrea dy contains music.

What is MagicGate?

MagicGate t echnology is copyright protection that consists of authentication and
encryption technology. Authentication technology ensures that protected content
is only transferred between complian t devices and media. Prot ected content is
recor d ed and transferred in an encrypt ed format to preven t u n author ized
duplication or playback.

✍ Ensure that the MG Memory Stick media has the M G mark .

To insert a Memory Stick media

1 Hold the Memory Stick media with the label facing up and the arrow facing

toward the Memory Stick® media slot.

2 Carefully insert the Memory Stick media into the slot until it clicks into

place.

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Inserting the media in the wrong direction may damage the connector pins.
To avoid damagi ng the computer or the Memory Stick Media, do not force

the Memory Stick media into the slot.

Inserting Memory Stick

Using Memory Stick Media

Insert in the direction
of the arrow with
the label facing up

Memory Stick media

To view the contents of Memory Stick media

1 Click Start on the Windows® taskbar, and the n My Com puter.
2 Click the Sony Memory Stick

icon. The Sony Memory Stick window

appears, dis playing the contents of your MemoryStick media.

To remove a Memory Stick media

1 Wait a minimum of 10 seconds after the media finishes reading or writing

data before removing it. If the media is removed premature ly, an error
message appear s, prompting you to continue or exit. Reinsert the media into
the slot a nd press Enter to continue. This enables the media to finish reading
or writing data.

2 Make sure the Memory Stick indicato r is of f. When the indicator is off, th e

Memory Stick media is not being accessed.

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Memory Stick media indicator

Memory Stick media slot

Memory Stick

indicator

3 Push th e m ed i a in to w a rd th e computer.
4 When the media ejects, pull it out. The Memory Stick media may eject

completely from the s lot.

Notes on using Memory Stick media

❑ When the media’s write-protect tab is set to LOCK, you cannot record or

erase dat a.

❑ Before using Memory Stick media, you shoul d back up important data.
❑ You can enjoy video clips tha t you have recorded with compatible Memory

Stick dig ital camcorders.

❑ The media slot accommodates one media at a time.
❑ To copy images from a digital video camera via Memory Stick® media, see

“Connecting an i.LINK Audio-Video Device” for more information.

❑ Only MG™ Memory Stick me dia can be used with copyright protected data

like mu si c.

❑ Do not remove the media or turn off the power while the access light is on.

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Using Memory Stick Media

❑ Do not use the media in locations that are subj ect to static elec tricity or

electri cal noise .

❑ Do not touch the media connec tor with your finger or metallic objects.
❑ Do not attach labels other than the supplied label to a media.
❑ Do not bend, drop, or shock the media.
❑ Do not disassemble or modify the media.
❑ Do not allow the media to get wet .
❑ Do not use or store the media in a location that is subject to:

❑ Extreme ly hi g h temperatu r es, such as in a ca r par k ed in th e su n .
❑ Direct sunlight.
❑ High humidity or place s with corrosive substances.

❑ To prolong the life of the media, use the supplied storage case. See the

instructions supplied with your media for more information on its use.

27

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Using PC Cards

Your computer includes a PC Card slot, which enables you to connect portable
external devices, such as an optical disc drive.

✍ The PC Card slot accommoda te s a Type I or T ype II PC Card . Thi s slo t is co mpat ib le

with Card Bus. Type III PC Cards are not supported.

To insert PC card

✍ You do not need to shut down the computer before inse rting or removi ng a PC Card.

1 Insert the PC Card into the PC Card sl ot with the front labe l facing up.

Inserting PC Card

Insert in the
direction of
the arrow.

2 Gently push the PC Card into the slot until it is firmly seated in the port and

the release button pops out.

Do not force a PC Card into the slot. It may damage the connector pins.
When a PC Card is inserted, do not place your computer in a bag or case.

Pressure or shock to a PC Card may damage your comput er.
Touching the head of the PC Card will not cause damage to the connector

pins, but damage can occur if the head of the PC Card i s sticking out of the
computer while the unit is being transported.

28

Using PC Cards

To remove a PC Card while your computer is on

Failure to follow this procedure may result in a malfunction.
1 Before disconnecting this drive, close all active applications to help prevent

data loss.

2 Doub l e - c li ck the Safe ly Re m o v e Hardware icon in th e taskbar. The

Safely Remove Hardware window appears.

3 In the Hardware devices box , select the appropriate PC Card name if it is not

already selecte d, and click Stop. The Stop a Hardware device window
appears.

4 Make sure the appropriate PC Card name is selected, and click OK. A

message appears stating it is safe to remove the hardware.

5 Press the Releas e button. The PC Card pops out.
6 Gently grasp the PC Card and pull it out.

Release Button

Release
Button

Notes on PC Cards

❑ For some PC Cards, if you alternate between normal power operation a nd

the Standby or Hibernate power management modes while the card is
inserted, you may find that a device connected to your system is not
recog n ized. Restart you r system to correct the proble m.

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❑ Some PC Cards may require that you disable idle devices when using the PC

Card. You can use Sony Notebook Setup to disable devi ces. See “Displ aying
the Sony Notebook Setup Screen” for more information.

❑ Be sure to use the most recent software driver provided by the PC Card

manufacturer.

❑ If an exclamation mark (!) appears on the Device Manager tab in th e System

Properties dia log box, remove the software driver , and reinstall it.

❑ You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some fun ctions of the PC Ca rd

with this computer. If you have difficulty inserti ng a card, check that you are
orienting the c ard co rrectly. See the manual supplied with your PC Card for
more information on its use.

30

Using Power Saving Modes

Using Power Saving Modes

When you use a battery as the power source for your computer, you can use the
power management settings to conserv e bat tery life. In addition to the normal
operating mode, which enables you to turn off spe cific devices, your compute r
has two di sti nct p ower sav ing mo des: S ta ndb y and Hi be rnate . When usin g ba tte ry
power, the computer automatically enters Hibernate mode when the remain ing
battery charge drops be low 5 percent, regardless of the power management
setting you select.

✍ If the battery level falls below 10 percent, you should either attach the A C adapter to

recharge the batte ry or turn off your computer and insert a fu lly charged battery.

Normal mode

Normal mode is the normal state of your computer when it is in use. The power
indicator displ ays gree n when your compute r is in this mode. To save power, you
can turn off a s p ec if i c de v ic e su ch as th e LC D or th e h ar d dis k .

Standby mode

In Standb y Mode the computer sa ves the current st ate of the system in RAM and
switches off power to the CPU. The amber power indicator flashes in this mode.

To activate Standby mode

1 Press the key combination Fn+Esc. You can also use the PowerPanel™

utility to enter Standby mode.

2 Press any key to return to normal mode.

Hibernate mode

In the Hibernate mode, the state of the system is s aved on the hard disk drive and
power is turned of f. The power indicator is off in this mode.

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To activa te H ibernate mode

1 Press the key combination Fn+F12, or press the power button and release it

immediately. The “ Save t o Disk Manager” screen appears, and th e computer
enters Hibernate mode.

✍ Do not move the computer until its power indicator turns off.

2 Press the power button to return to normal mode.

Notes on power saving modes

❑ Standby uses more powe r than Hibernate.
❑ Standby requires less time than Hibernate to return to normal mode.

32

Connecting a Telephone Cable

Connecting a Telephone Cable

You need to connect a telephone cable (not supplied) to register your VAIO®
computer, use online services and the Internet, and use Sony Com puting Support.

To connect a telephone cable

1 Open the port panel on the right side of the computer, and locate the modem

jack.

Plugging in Te lephone Jack

T elephone cable (not supplied)

Modem jack

Port panel cover

2 Plug one end of the tel ephone cable into t he Mo dem ja ck. Make sure i t cli cks

into pl ace.

3 Plug the other end into the wall jack.

✍ Your com puter does not w ork with party lines, cannot be connected to a coin-

operated telephone, and may not work with multiple phone lines or a private br anch
exchange (PBX). Some of these connections may result in excess el ectrical current
and could ca use a malfunction in the internal modem.

If you connect a phone line coming throug h a splitter, the modem or connected
device may not work proper ly.

33

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Connecting to a LAN

You can connect your computer to 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX-type Local
Area Networks (LANs) by using the comput er’s Ethernet port. For the detailed
settings and devices needed to connect to the network, ask your network
administrator.

Connecting to LAN

Ethernet
port

34

Warning: Only connect 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX cables to the
Ethernet port. Do not connect any other type of network cable or a
telephone ca ble . C onnecti ng cables ot her than t hos e lis te d ab ove m ay re sul t
in an electric current overload and could cause a malfunction, excessive
heat, or fire in the port. To connect the unit to the network, contact your
network administrator.

If you enable Wake on LAN, the power saving mode will be switched t o
Standby m ode.

Connecting to a LAN

To set up a network

1 From the Start menu, click Control Panel. The Control Panel window

appears.

2 Click Network and Internet Connections. The Network and Internet

Connections window appears.

3 Under “Pick a task,” click “Set up or ch ange your home or small office

network,” depending on your configurat ion. The Network Setup Wizard or
the Location Inform ation dialog box appea r s , depending on your choice.

4 Follow the on-screen instruc tions.

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Connecting to a Wireless LAN

Your computer is equipped with a built-in mini PCI card that allows for wireless
connections. With Sony’s Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) functionality, all
compatible digital device s can communicate freely without cable connec tions. A
Wire less LAN is a net work in which a mobil e user can connec t to a LAN through
a wireless (radio) connection. You can opt to purchase a Wireless LAN Access
Point to set up a LAN.

Turning On Wireless LAN

To enable Wireless LAN functionality, first locate the Wireless LAN switch that
is located on the left side of the computer. Move the switch to the ON position.
The Wireles s LAN indicator on the bottom left front portion of the computer
lights up.

Connecting to a wireless LAN

Wireless LAN
switch

Wireless LAN
indicator

The Wirele ss LAN Access Poin t

The Wireless LAN Access Point, also called the access point, is design ed for
building a Wireless LAN environmen t. If you purchase an access point , you can
easily build a wire less LAN environment by plugging the access point into an
AC power outlet, and usi ng the provided software wit h com patible devices.
Because a wireless LAN configuration requires no wiring, you can operate
multiple computers more freely than ever before .

36

Connecting to a Wir eless LAN

You can also connect an access point to a telephone line, Integra ted Services
Digital Networ k (ISDN) route r , c able mode m, or Digita l Subs cribe r Line (xDSL)
modem to share acce ss to the Internet amon g multipl e computers.

Communicating via Wireless LAN Access Point

Access point (not supplied)

✍ For information on available Sony products, go to:

http://www.sonystyle.com/wirelesslan.

Communicating with an Access Point (infrastructure)

An infrastructure network is one that extends an existing wired local network to
wireless devices by providing an access point. The access point brid ges the
wirele s s an d wi r ed LA N , an d act s as a central co nt r o ll er for th e Wire l e s s LA N .
The access point coordinates transmis sion and reception from multiple wireless
devices within a specific range.

To communicate with an access point [[Cannot confirm steps yet]]

1 Locate the Wireless LAN switch that is located on the left side of the

computer. Move the switch to the ON position.

2 From the Start menu, point to Connect To, and click Wireless Net work

Connection. The Wireless network Connection Status window appears.

3 Click Network and Internet Connections, an d then Network Connections.
4 Double-click the W ireless Network Connection icon. The Connect to

Wireless Network dialog box opens.

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Connecting to a wireless LAN

5 Select a network from the Available Networks list box.
6 Click Connect.

Communicating without an access point (ad-hoc)

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

To communicate without an access point [[Cannot confirm steps yet]]

1 Turn on the Wireless LAN switch located on the left side of the computer.

The Wireles s LAN indicator on th e bott om left front port ion of the computer
lights up. See “Turning On Wireless LAN” for more information.

2 Click Start on the taskbar, point to Connect To, and click Wireless Network

Connection.

38

Connecting to a Wir eless LAN

3 Click View Avail able Wireless Networks. The Connect to Wireless Network

dialog box appears.

4 Click the Advanced button. The Wir eless Network Connection Properties

dialog box appears.

Setting Wireless Network Connection Properties

5 Select the Wireless Networks tab.
6 Click the Add... button. The Wireless Network Properti es dialog box

appears.

7 Enter a Network name (SSID). Choose a 6-digit name.
8 Check the box to select Data encryption (WEP enabled).

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9 Check the box to select Network Authentication (Shared mode).
10 Clear the box to deselect the option “The key is provided for me

automatically.” Some information boxes become visible.

11 Fill in the Network key. Choose a 5-digit name.
12 Click OK. Your new Network name appears in the Pref erred networks

window.

13 Click Advanced. The Advanced dialog box appears.
14 Select the option “Compute r-to-computer (ad hoc) networks only.”
15 Click Close.
16 Click OK.

Turning Off Wireless LAN

To turn off Wireless LA N f un c tional it y, locat e the Wirele ss LA N s w it ch th at is
located on the left side of the computer, above the PC Card slot. Move the switch
to the OFF position. The Wirele ss LAN indicator on the bot tom left front portion
of the comp u ter turns off.

Turning off the Wir eless LAN funct ionality while accessi ng remote
documents, files, or resources may result in data loss.

Notes on using Wireless LAN

❑ Sony Wire les s LAN devices support the IEEE802.11b standa rd. Devices

connecting to a Wireless LAN using the IE EE802.11a standard cannot
connect to devices using the IEEE802.11b standard.

❑ Wireles s LAN communication occurs on divided frequency bands known as

channels. Third-pa rty W ire less LAN Access Point cha nnels may be prese t to
different channels from Sony devices.

❑ If using a Wireless LAN Access Point, refer to connectivity information

contained in those instr uctions.

40

Connecting Peripheral Devices

You can add functionality to your notebook by connecting a variety of
peripherals, as discussed in the following sections:

❑ Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive
❑ Connecting a PC Card Bus Drive
❑ Connecting an i.LINK Optical Disc Drive
❑ Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard
❑ Connecting a USB Devi ce
❑ Connecting a USB Pri n ter
❑ Connecting an i.LINK Audio-Video Device
❑ Connecting an Ex ternal Display
❑ Connecting with another VAIO computer
❑ Connecting Ex ternal Speakers
❑ Connecting a Mic rophone
❑ Expanding Your Computer Capabi lities

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Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive

You can connect a floppy disk drive (not supplied) to a USB port on your
computer, port replicator, or docking station.

To connect a floppy disk drive

✍ You do not need to shut down your computer before connecting or disconnecting a

floppy disk drive.
Before disconnecting the floppy disk drive, see “To disconnect a floppy disk drive
when th e com p uter is on” for more information.

1 Before connecting this drive, close any active applications to he lp prevent

data loss.

2 Plug the USB connector into the USB port. The logo on the floppy disk

drive should face upward.

42

Connecting an Floppy Disk Drive

Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive

Floppy disk drive
(not supplied)

USB ports

USB connector

To insert a floppy disk into the floppy disk drive

1 Hold the floppy disk with the label facing up.
2 Gently push the floppy disk into the drive until it clicks into place.

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Inserting a Floppy Disk

Floppy disk

Floppy disk drive

To remove a floppy disk from the floppy disk drive

1 Close all applications that we re opened from the disk an d wait for t h e LED

indicator to turn off.

2 Push the Eject button, and remove the disk.

✍ Do not push the Eject button when the LED indicator is turned on; otherwi se, you

may lose da ta .

Removing a Floppy Disk

Eject button

LED indicator

To disconnect a floppy disk drive when the computer is on

1 Before disconnect ing this d rive , clo se any ac ti ve appl icati ons to help pre ven t

data loss.

2 Dou bl e- click th e Sa f ely Remov e Hardware icon in th e ta s k b ar. The

Safely Remove Hardware window appears.

44

Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive

3 In the Hardware devices box, select Y-E Data USB Floppy, and click Stop.

The Stop a Hardware device window appears.

4 Make sure Y-E Data USB Floppy is selected, and click OK. A message

appears stating it is safe to remove the hardware.

5 Unplug the floppy disk driv e from the co mpu ter, port re plicator , or docking

station.

To carry an floppy disk drive

❑ Fold the fl oppy disk drive cable and conn ector into the s ide compartment on

the floppy disk dri ve.

Carrying an Floppy Disk Drive

Notes on handling floppy disks

❑ Do not open the shutter manually and touch the surface of the floppy disk.
❑ Keep floppy disks away from magn ets.
❑ Keep floppy disks away from direct sunlight and other heat sources.

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Connecting a PC Card Bus Drive

[[Cannot confirm steps yet]]

You can use an optional optical drive with your computer. If you use an optiona l
drive when your computer i s running on battery power, the battery life will be
shorter. The drive draws power from the computer through a PC Card.

If you connect a non-Sony DVD drive to your VAIO® computer, the DVD
playback may not function properly. The DVD software (supplied) must
be installed to play a DVD.

For best performance, use a Sony compatible DVD drive .

To connect an optical drive

Procedures for connecting an optical dri ve may vary , depending on the specific
drive you purchase. See the manual supplied with your optical drive for more
information on it s installation and use.

✍ You can connect an optical drive while th e com puter is on. For specif ic instructions

on using you r supplied Application, D river, and System Rec overy CDs, see “Using
Your Recovery CDs” for more information.

1 Remove the PC Card from the bottom side of the optical drive .

Removing PC Card

2 Insert the PC Ca rd into the PC Card slot with the logo f acing up. See “Us ing

PC Cards” for details.

46

Connecting a PC Card Bus Drive

Inserting PC Card

Make sure logo faces up

✍ A protective cover is attached to the lens of the optical drive at the factory. Before

using the optical dri ve, remove the protectiv e cover.

To insert a disc

1 Press the Eject button. The disc tray slides out.

Optical Drive

Eject button

2 Place the dis c in the tray with the label fac ing up.
3 Push the disc onto the hub un til the disc clic ks into place.

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Inserting Disc

Disc

4 Close the tray b y pus hing i t i n gentl y. The Busy indicato r on t he drive flash es

while your computer is reading data from the disc.

Flashing Busy Indicator

Busy indicator

To remove the d r iv e

Remove the PC Card from the computer. See “To disconnect a floppy disk drive
when the computer is on” for more information.

48

Connecting a PC Card Bus Drive

Notes on CD and DVD discs

Handling CD or DVD discs

❑ Do not touch the surface of the disc.
❑ Do not drop or bend the disc.
❑ Avoid using adhe sive labels to identify your discs. Adhesive labels may

come off while the disc is in use in your optical drive a nd damage to the unit.

Cleaning CD or DVD discs

❑ Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a dis c may cause data reading er rors.

Proper care of the disc is essential to maintain its reliability. Do not use
solvents such as b en zine, t h in n er , commercially ava ilable cleaners or anti­static sp r ay, as they m a y d a mage the disc.

❑ For normal clean ing, hol d t he dis c by it s edge and use a soft c loth t o wipe the

surfa ce from the center o u tward.

❑ 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
remaining moisture with a dry soft cloth.

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Connecting an i.LINK Optical Disc Drive

You can connect an i.LINK®* optical disc drive to you r computer, port
replicator, or docking station. This computer is preinstalled with software that
enables you to create CDs and play DVD movies. The i.LINK optical disc drive
draws power from the computer th rough a peri pheral cable. This peripher al cable
connects to both the i.LINK port and DC OUT jack on the computer.

†

✍ If you use an optional drive when your computer is running on battery power, the

battery life will be shorter .

To connect an i.LINK optical disc drive

1 Before connecting this drive, close any active applications to he lp prevent

data loss.

2 Turn on power to the comput er.
3 Insert the L-shaped conne ctor of the peripheral cable (supplied with the

i.LINK drive) in t o th e match in g ja ck on th e i.LINK dr ive. Se cu r e th e
connector by turning the LOCK device clockwise.

* i.LINK is a trademark of Sony us ed only to designat e that a product contains an IEEE1394

connection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software applications, oper­ating system and compatible i.L I N K devices. All products with an i.LINK connection may
not communicate w ith each other. Refer to the documentation that came with your compati­ble i.LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before
connecting compatible i .LINK PC pe ripherals to your sys tem, such as a CD-R W or har d disk
drive, confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.

† If you connect and use an option al drive when your computer is run ning on battery pow er,

the battery life w ill be reduced.

50

Connecting i.LINK optical disc drive

L-shaped cable
connector

i.LINK cable

DC OUT jack

i.LINK port

Connecting an i.LINK Optical Disc Drive

4 Insert the straight-shaped, two-prong connector of the peripheral cable into

both the computer’s i.LINK port and DC OUT jack.

5 The i.LINK drive’s power indicator lights up, and the computer

automatically dete cts and identi f ies the connected drive.

6 Click Start on the Windows® operat ing system taskbar, and select My

Computer to verify that an icon for the i.LINK optica l disc drive was added
in the wi ndow.

✍ The Sony i.LINK optical disc drive is compatible only with certain Sony VAIO®

PCG series computers pre installed w ith Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition or
Professional.

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To disconnect an i.LINK optical disc drive

1 Before disconnect ing this d rive , clo se any ac ti ve appl icati ons to help pre ven t

data loss.

2 Dou bl e- click th e Sa f ely Remov e Hardware icon in th e ta s k b ar. The

Safely Remove Hardware window appears.

3 In the Hardware devices box, select the appropriate i.LINK drive if it is not

already selected, and click Stop. The Stop a Hardware device window
appears.

4 Make sure th e ap propriate i.LIN K d rive is s elected , an d click OK . A

message appears stating it is safe to remove the hardware .

5 Unplug the i.LINK optical disc drive from the computer, port replicator, or

docking station.

Notes on using i.LINK optical disc drives

❑ You can use the supplied Application Recovery, Driver Recovery, and

System Recovery CDs with an i.LINK optical disc drive. See “Application,
Driver, and System Recovery CDs” for more information.

❑ Do not use a n optional i.LINK optical disc drive and an optio nal optical dis c

drive with PC Card at the same time. Connecting both drives may cause a
system malfunction.

52

Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard

Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard

You can connect a universal serial bus (USB) mouse or keyboard to your
computer, port replicator, or docking station. Make sure th e USB devic e is
compatible wit h the Windows® operating system.

To connect a USB mouse or keyboard

1 Turn off your computer before you connect or disconnect the mouse or

keyboard.

2 Locate the USB port on your computer, port replicator, or docking

station.

3 Plug the mouse or keyboard cable into this port.

✍ You can use a Sony USB mouse (n ot supplied) with this computer . The USB mouse

softwar e driver is pr einstalle d; however, the fir st time you connect a mouse, on­screen in stallati o n in st ru ctions may ap p ea r. Pres s E n te r to co m p le te the on -s cr ee n
instructions.

Connecting a USB Mouse or Keyboard

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✍ See the manual that came with your mouse or keyboard for more information on its

installation an d use.

54

Connecting a USB Device

Connecting a USB Device

You can connect a universal serial bus (USB) device, such as speakers or
microphones, to your com puter, port replicator , or do cking s tati on. Make sure the
USB device is compa tible with the Windows® operati ng system.

To connect a USB device

1 Locate the USB port.
2 Plug the USB cab le (not suppli ed) int o this port, and plug the oppo site end of

the cable into the USB device, if it is not alre ady connected.

Connecting a USB Device to a USB Port

To U S B ports

✍ See the manual that cam e with your USB device for more information on its

insta lla ti on an d use.

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Connecting a USB Printer

You can connect a universal serial bus (USB) printer to your compu ter, port
replicator, or docking station. Make sure the USB device is compatible with the
Windows® operating system.

To connect to a USB printer

1 Locate the USB port.
2 Plug the USB printer cable (not supplied) into the USB port, and plug the

opposite end of th e ca ble into the USB port on your printer.

3 Make sure your computer’s printer settings are properly set.

the Sony Note book Setup Screen” for more in formation.

See “Displaying

✍ To use a prin te r, you nee d to in st all the driv e r so ft w ar e th a t ca m e w it h yo u r pr in te r.

Connecting a USB Printer Cable

Power cord

Printer

USB ports

56

USP printer cable (not supplied)

Connecting a USB Printer

✍ See the manual t hat came with your pri n ter for more inform ation on its installation

and use.

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Connecting an i.LINK Audio-Video Device

You can connect an i.LINK®* enable d d ig i tal video camera re co r d er to th e
i.LINK® S400 (IEEE 1394) port on your computer, port replicator, or docking
station.

To connect a digital video camera recorder

1 Plug the i.LINK® cable (not supplied) into the i.LINK port on the

computer, port replicator, or docking station.

2 Plug the opposite end of the i.LINK cable into the DV IN/OUT port on the

digital video camera recorder.

Connecting Digital V ideo Camera Recorder to i.LINK Port

To i.LINK port

Digital video
camera recorder

i.LINK cable

(not supplied)

* i.LINK is a trademark of Sony us ed to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 con-

nector. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software application, operating
system, and compatible i.LINK devices. All products with an i.LINK connection may not
communicate with each other. Refer to the documentation that came with your compatible
i.LINK d evice for more inf or m ation on operating conditions and prop er connection. Before
connecting compatible i.LINK PC peripheral s to your system, such as a CD-RW or hard disk
drive, confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.

*

To D V In /Out

port

58

Connecting an i.LINK Audio -Video Device

* In this illustration, a Sony digital video camera recorder is connected to the computer.

Instructions for connecti ng a different type of digit al video camera r ecorder may diff er.

Notes on connecting an i.LINK device

❑ Only the Sony digital video camera port labeled DV IN/OUT or i.LINK are

i.LINK-compatible.

❑ Do not connect more than one digital video camera at a time . T he software

supplied with your computer will not recognize multiple cameras.

❑ The i.LINK port does not supply power to external devices. If the external

device requires power from the i.LINK port, you cannot use the device with
the co mputer.

❑ The computer supports transfer rates up to 400 Mbps; however, the actual

transfer rate is the lowest transfer rate of the external device.

❑ The i.LINK features available may vary depending on the software

applications y ou use . See the docum entat ion th at accomp anied your soft ware
for more information.

❑ See the manual that came with your digital video camera recorder for more

information on its installation and use.

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Connecting an External Display

You can connect any of the following external displays to your computer, port
replicator, or docking station:

❑ Computer display (monitor)
❑ Projector

To connect a computer display

1 Turn off the computer before you connect the computer display.
2 Locate the VGA (Monitor) port.
3 Plug the display cable (no t supplied) into the VGA (Monitor) port.
4 Verify that the power cord is plugged into the computer display and an AC

outlet.

5 Turn on all external devices before turning on the computer.

Connecting an External Computer Display

To
VGA port

Computer display

Power cord

Display cable (not supplied)

✍ You cannot use the monit o r port on your computer when the docking station is

connected to the computer; however, you can use the monitor por t on the docking
station.

60

Connecting an External Di splay

To connect a projector

1 Turn off the computer before you connect the projector.
2 Locate the VGA (Monitor) port and the Headphone jack.
3 Plug the display cable (not supplied) into the VGA port, and plug the

opposite end into the appropriate port on the projector.

4 Plug the audio cable (not supplied) into the Headphone jack, and plug the

opposite end into the appropriate port on the projector.

5 Verify that the power cord is plugged into the projector and an AC outlet.
6 Turn on all external devices before you turn on the computer.

Connecting a Projector

To Headphone jack

To VGA port

Audio cable
(not supplied)

Display cable
(not supplied)

Projector

Power cord

✍ See the manual that came with your projector for more information on its installation

and use.

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Changing the display when connecting an external computer
display or projector

When you connect an external display to the VGA (Monitor) port, you c an
toggle the output between the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), the ext ernal
monitor, or both devices.

To chang e
Press the

Fn+F7 key combination to select a display. See “Select ing the Display

Mode” for more information.

To Press Result

Switch to an
external display

Fn+F7 Toggles between the LCD, the external display

connected to the Moni tor port, or both the LCD
and external display.

Only LCD

LCD and external display

Only external display

✍ Connect the extern al dis pl ay to t he no te book or port repl ic ator b ef ore you tur n on t he

unit, otherwise the Fn+F7 key combination will not work.

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Connecting wit h another VAI O computer

Connecting with another VAIO computer

Use an i.LI NK®* cable (not supp li ed) to c onnect your VAIO computer t o anothe r
computer that al so has an i. LINK port. You can use one computer to ed it, copy or
delete f iles on the other computer. Yo u can also print from a printer attached to
either computer.

Connecting with an i.LINK Cable

i.LINK cable (not supplied)

✍ When you connect two VAIO computer s, you must assign each computer a unique

name. You can identify the computers by this uni que name when the two computers
are networ ked together.

* i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 con-

nection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software applications, operating
system, and compatible i.LINK devices. All products w ith an i.LINK connector may not
communicate wi th each other. Refer to the documentation that came with your compatible
i.LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before con­necting compatible i.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as a CD-RW or hard disk
drive, conf irm their op e ra ting s yst em com p at ibility and required op er atin g con di tio ns.

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Connecting External Speakers

You can enhance the sound quality of your computer by connecting exte rnal
speakers (not supplied).

Do not place floppy disks on the speakers; the speakers’
magnetic field may damage the data on the floppy disks.

To connect external speakers

1 Verify that your speakers are designed for computer use.
2 Turn down the volume of the speake rs.
3 Locate the Headphone jack, and plug the speake r cable (not supp lie d) in to

this jack .

✍ See the manual that cam e with your speakers for more information on its installatio n

and use.

Connecting Speakers to the Headphone Jack

Speakers

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To
Headphone
jack

Speaker cable
(not supplied)

Connecting a Microph one

Connecting a Microphone

You can enhance the quality of sound input by using a microphone (not
supplied).

To connect a microphone

1 Verify that your microphone is designed for computer use and complia nt

with the plug-in power microphone. Do uble check

2 Locate the Microphone jack. A protruding dot above the Microphone

jack distinguishes this jack from the Headphone jack.

3 Plug the microphone cable (not supplied) into the Microphone jack.

✍ See the manual that came with your microphone for m ore information on its

installation an d use .

Connecting to a Microphone Jack

Microphone
(not supplied)

To
Microphone jack

To record from a microphone or audio equipment

You can record messages, memos, or other recordings in analog by connecting a
microphone or oth er audio equipment to the Microphone jack of your computer,
port replicator, or doc king station and swit ching the jack functionality. The
Microphone jack is for MIC IN (monaural).

1 Doub l e - c li ck the Volume icon on the taskbar. The Volume Control

window appears.

2 From the Options menu, click Properties. The Properties window appears.

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3 In the Adjust volume for box, click t he Recording opti on b utton t o s elec t it,

and then click OK. Th e Recording Control window appears.

4 If it is not already turned on, click the Select check box at the bottom of the

Microphone column. Close the Recording Control window.

5 Click Start on the taskbar, and select All Programs, Accessories,

Entertainment, and then Sound Recorder. The Sound - Sound Recorder

window appears.

✍ You are ready to begin recordin g. For help using Sound Recorde r, click Help in the

Sound Recorde r window.

Adjusting the volume

You can adjust the volume for playing or recording, but you can only adjust the
recording volume in the Recording Control window. If you adjust the volume,
the adjus tment is only e f fective for playing sou nd. I t does not adjust the volume
for recording sound.

To adjust the volume when playing

1 Double-click Volume icon in the taskbar. The Volume Control window

appears.

2 In the Volume Control colum n, mo ve the sli der up for i nc reased v olume and

down for decreased volume.

Sound device Function

Volume Control Adjust the sound level from the speakers or

headphones.

Wave Adjust the wavfile sound or the system sound of

Windows.

SW Synth

CD Audio Adjust the volum e of th e CD in the opti onal opti cal

drive.

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Connecting a Microph one

Sound device Function

Microphone Adjust the internal or external micr ophone volume.

Telephony Adjust the modem or telephone lin e volume.

PC Beep Adjust the beep sound when inserting or removing

the PC Card and other devices.

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Expanding Your Computer Capabilities

You can connect the follo wing peripheral d evices to your computer to expand its
capabilit ies and enhance its versatility to meet your needs:

❑ A Personal Digital Assistant (P DA)
❑ A Wireless LAN Access Point
❑ A Wireless LAN PC Card

Personal Digital Assistant

A handheld PDA is the quintessential personal planner and entertainment center
that fits in your pocket. With a PDA, you can easily perform the following
functions:

❑ Enter your schedul e details in the calendar and view them by the day, week,

or month, and even set an alarm to remind you of impo rtant even ts.

❑ Keep your contact na mes, addre sses, phon e numbe rs, and othe r detai ls in t he

address book and find t hem when you need them.

❑ Add tasks to the To Do List, prioritize them, and assign them due dates.
❑ Synchronize your dat a with the software on your computer to back up your

data.

❑ Track e xpenses when you are out of the office and transfer the data to your

notebook.

❑ Exchange data with your com puter.

Wireless LAN Access Point

The Wireless LAN Access Point is designed for building a wireles s Local Area
Network (LAN) environment. The Acces s Poi nt comes with the Wire less LAN
PC Card and required softwa re. You can easily bui ld a wire less LAN
environment by pluggi ng t he Acce ss Po int int o an AC power out le t, ins tal lin g the
Wireles s LAN PC Card in your computer, an d usi ng the provided software.
Because a wireless LAN configuration requires no wiring, you can operate
multiple computers more freely than ever before .

You can also connect your Access Point to a tel ephone line, Integra ted Services
Digital Network (ISDN) route r, cable modem, or Digital Subscribe r Line (xDSL)
modem to sh are access to the Internet amon g multipl e computers.

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Expanding Your Computer Capabilities

Wireless LAN PC Card

The W ir eless LAN PC Card, which comes with the Wireless LAN Access Point,
can be purchased separa tely and is designed for building a wireless LAN
environment. You can use the Wireless LAN PC Card with or without the ac cess
point. With th e ac ce s s bo i nt , y ou can build a wir e less LAN be t w ee n co mputers
that are equippe d wit h the W i reless LAN PC Card a nd gain a ccess to the In ternet .
Without the Access Point, you ca n achieve direct communic ation (Peer-to-Peer
mode) between computers.

✍ For more infor mation on S o n y Wireless LAN, go to

http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/wirelesslan.shtml

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Customizing Your VAIO
Computer

You can customize the settings of your computer. The following sections
briefly describe how to change your computer’s default settings. You can
also refe r to Sony Notebook Setup Help for more detailed information.

❑ Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen
❑ Controlli ng P ower Management
❑ Displaying Battery Information
❑ Selecting the Display Mode

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Displ aying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen

✍ See the manual supplie d w ith your comp uter display for more inform ation on its

installa tion and use .

To display th e Sony Notebook Setup screen

1 From the Start menu, point to All Programs, and then Sony Notebook Setup .
2 From the Sony Notebook Setup menu, click Sony Notebook Setup.

Sony Notebook Setup Screen

3 Select the tab for the item you want to cha nge. See “Sony Notebook Setup

tabs” for more information.

4 After you finish making your change s, click OK.

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Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen

Sony Notebook Setup tabs

Tab Description

About This Compute r Display system in form ation, including memory

capacity, serial number, and BIOS version.

Initial Setting Change the volume of the sounds that play while the

operating system is loading. Select the order of drives
and devices from which you want to load the operating
system. You can specify the hard drive as well as ot her
drives inserte d into your computer.

Touchpad Change touchpad settings, or enable/disable touchpad

functionality if you are using an external mouse.

Power On Password Set the password to secure your computer.

Bass Boost Set the Bass Boost option.

✍ For more information about each opti on, click Help on the Sony Notebook Setup

screen to display the Help file.

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Controlling Power Management

The PowerPanel™ utility enables you to co ntrol the power management of your
computer and provides key information about system activity and battery life.
The following sections briefly describe how to conserve your computer’s battery
power. You can also refer to PowerPanel Help for more information.

Viewing the Power Management status icons

The Power Management status icons are displayed on the taskbar. Move the
pointer over t he icons to s ee the tool ti p tha t dis plays info rmati on a bout the activ e
profile.

The current profile icon’s appearance changes depending on which powe r
management profile is currently sele cted. To change the power management
profile, right-click the current profile icon, and then select a profile from the pop­up list. See “Power Management profiles” for a desc ription of available
options.To select another power manage me nt command, click tha t icon in the
Power Management toolbar.

✍ When you use the battery pack to power your computer, your system selects the

Maximum Battery Life power management profile by def ault. If you s elect a
different power management profile while us ing battery pow er, that profile is
selected automatically the next time you use the battery pack to power your
computer.

Refer to PowerPane l H elp for informatio n on customizing the Power Management
settings.

You can chang e t he po wer man age ment se tt ing s, s uc h as t he sy st em ti me r an d the
brightness of the screen.

To access PowerPanel H el p

1 Click Start , point to All Programs, and se lect PowerPanel.
2 Click Help. The PowerPanel Help window appears.

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Controlling Power Management

To customiz e Power Management settings

1 Right-click the curre nt Profile icon on the taskbar.
2 Select Edit/Create Profiles from the menu. The Profile Editor window

appears.

3 Click a profile whose setting you want to change from the li st in the left

field.

4 Double-click an item whose se tting you want to change from the list in the

right field.

5 Click the desire d se tting.
6 Click the File menu, and then click Save.
7 Click the File menu, and then click Exit.

Power Management profiles

The PowerPanel ™ utility provides sev era l predefined power managemen t
profiles. Each profile consists of a group of power management settings that are
designed to meet specific power management goals — ranging from maximum
power management to no power management. You can change the settings for
any of the predefined profiles (except for the Disable Power Management
profile), or you ca n crea te your own profile to suit your portable computing
needs.

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Icon Description

Maximum Performance

Provides the best system performance while still conserving power.

Maximum Battery Life

Provides power saving features to give you maximum battery life and
good performance. It slows the computer and puts it into Standby
mode after a specifi ed time period.

Ultimate Battery Life

Extends the Maximum Battery Life by disabling ports such as the
i.LINK port.
This profile dis ables many applicat ions such as Memory Stick,
DVgate, and Smart Capture.

Disable Power Management

Turns of f all power management features such as Standby and
Hibernate modes.
You can not change the settings of th is profile.

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AC Power

The power management state when AC power is in use. Similar to the
Power Management Off setting. Power Management automatically
loads the AC profil e unless you disable th is feature.

Games

Disables the display and the Hard Disk Standby timer.

Presentation

Keeps the dis p lay on at all times while it conserves po wer. This option
is ideal for slide show presentations. You can establis h se ttings for
LCD (Video) Standby, Hard Disk Standby, and Standby to optimize
power management for your system.

Camera

Optimizes performance and power requirements for camera usage.

Icon Description

Word Processing

Optimizes power management with longer time outs on the hard disk
and display screen . You can also establish s ettings for LCD (Video)
Standby, Hard Disk Standby, and Standby to optimize power
management for your syst em.

Spreadsheet

Optimizes performance and power require ments for spreadsheet
applications.

Communications

Extends battery life by initia ting a quick display timeout. The Intern al
modem remains powered. You can also establish settings for LCD
(Video) Standby, Hard Disk Standby, and Stand by to optimize power
management for your syst em.

Automatic Profile Selection

Automatically switches to a profile suitable f or active app lications.

Controlling Power Management

✍ Do not choose the Automatic Profil e Selection when connected to AC power.

Power Management commands

PowerPanel™ also provides power management commands that you can use to
activate s pecifi c power manage ment fu nction s and t o control power for a specifi c
device. You can use these commands to override a profile setting or initiate an
immediate action.

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Icon Description

Standby

Puts the system into Standby mode, a power management state that
saves the state of the system and peripheral device s in memory
(RAM). Power consumptio n r educ es to a minimum, and the system
remains on. To return the system to the active state, pr ess any key or
the power button on your computer.

Hibernate

Provides for the lowe st level of power consumption. The system
writes the state of the system and peripheral devices to the hard disk
drive and turns off the system power. To return th e system to the
original state, use the power button to turn on power. The system
saves the data in the Save to Disk Partition on the hard disk drive.

LCD (Video) Standby

Turns off the video displ ay to save power . If you turn off the Video
Standby ti mer, the dis play remains active except when the syste m
enters Sta ndby mode. The video displ ay s ystem is one of the lar g est
consumers of power in the system.

Conserving battery power

When using the computer with a ba ttery, the LCD display a nd the hard disk drive
can be set to switch off automatica lly to conserve battery power .

See “Power Management profiles” for more information.

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Displaying Batter y Information

Displaying Battery Information

[[Can’t confirm yet]]

You can display information for the battery on your computer. The following
sections brie fly describe how to displa y your com puter’s general battery
information. You can also refer to PowerPanel Help for more detailed
information.

To display the Battery Information window

1 Double-clic k th e cur rent P rofil e ico n on the ta skba r. The Battery In fo rmati on

window appears.

2 For additional inform ation, click the Help butt on. The PowerPanel Help

window appears.

To display the Battery Information toolbar

1 Right-click the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and select Battery Information.
2 The Battery Information toolbar appears on the taskbar.

The toolbar displays battery stat us gauges and the battery status icon.

Battery Information Toolbar

❑ Percentage indicator — Displays the percentage of the remaining capacity.
❑ Time in dicator — Displays estimated time (hours:minutes) remaining

before the battery fully dra ins, also referred to as the time-to-empty.

To close the Battery Information toolbar

1 Right-click the Battery Information toolbar, and point to Toolbars.
2 Click to deselect Battery Information. The toolbar disappears from view.

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Battery icon descriptions

Battery ic on Battery status

Charging

Fully ch arged

Discharging

No battery

Displaying detailed battery information

Double-clic k the battery icon on the task tray to display the Ba ttery Information
window. The screen appea r s displaying the Battery tab, which contains
information such as the estimated time-to-empty and char ging time.

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Battery Information Window

Displaying Batter y Information

Customizin g th e Battery Informat ion toolbar and alarm system

You can customize the Battery Information toolbar to suit your portable
computing needs , including modifications to the alarm settings. Refer to
PowerPanel Help for more information.

Changing the window design of Sony software

To change the window design

1 Click the Sta r t button, then select Control Pa nel.
2 In the left window pane of Control Panel, click “Switch to Classic View.”
3 Double-click UI Design Selector.
4 Click << or >> and select th e desired design.

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5 Click Apply. The “UI Design Selector” window design change s. The

window design for your Sony software will match the “UI Design Selector”
window.

6 To try another selection, click << or >> and then click OK to close the UI

Design Selector.

✍ This feature is available with UI Des ign Selector-compatible softwa re only.

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Selecting the Displ ay M ode

Selecting the Display Mode

[[Can’t confirm steps yet]]

This compu ter uses the Intel® vide o controller, which enables you to select the
desired display when the computer is connected to an external monitor. When
you connect an external display, you can switch the display mode between your
notebook’s LCD display and the external monitor.

To select the dis p la y mode

1 Click Start, and point to Control Panel.
2 Click Display. The Display Properties window ap pears.
3 From the Settings tab, click Advanced, and select the Intel® Graphics

Technology tab to display the Intel® 82815 Graphics Controller Pro perties
dialog box.

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Intel® 82815 Graphics Controller Properties Screen

4 Click the Inte l® Gra phics Technology tab, t hen clic k t he Graph ics Proper ties

button.

5 Click the Device tab.
6 Select the type of display.

✍ You may not be able to disp lay the computer LCD screen and an external display or

projector at the same ti m e, depending on the types of com puter displa ys and
projectors you are using.

Turn on the computer after you turn on the peripheral devices.

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Adding Memory

In the future you may want to install memory modules to expand the
functionality of your computer. See the Specifications flyer supplied with
your computer for the amount of memory preinstalled on your computer.
Expansion memory modules are available as options. For memory
upgrades, use only unbuffered PC100 (CL2) SDRAM µDIMM modules.
(Sony offers the optional 128 MB PCGA-MM128T memory module.)

This section provides you with information on removing and replacing a
memory module:

❑ Precautions and Procedures
❑ Removing a Memory Module
❑ Installi ng a Memory Module
❑ Confirming Added Memory Capacity

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Precautions and Procedures

The procedures describe d below ass ume familia rit y with the genera l term inology
associated with personal computers and with the safety practices and regulatory
compliance req uired for using and modifying ele ctronic equipment.

Sony reco m me nds that memory upgr ades be performed by an authorized
Sony Service Center. To find the nearest center or agent, go to:
http://www.sony.com/pcsupport.

Be caref ul when i nstal li ng a memory m odule in you r comput er, and be sure
to observe the proper safety precautions listed below. Mistakes that occur
when install ing or removing a memory module may cause a ma lfunction.

❑ Disconnect the sys tem from its power source and from any

telecommunications links, networks, or modems before you open the system
or follow any of the procedures desc ribed below. Failure to do so may result
in personal injury or equipment damage.

❑ Electrosta tic d ischa r ge (E SD) c an damag e dis k drives a nd o ther c ompone nts.

Perform the procedure s descr ibed below only at an ESD worksta tion. If such
a station is not av ailable, do not work in a carpeted area, and do not handle
materials that produce or hold static electri city (cellophane wrappers, for
example). Ground yours elf by maintaining contact with an unpainted metal
portion of the chassis while performing the procedure.

❑ Do not open the memory module package until you are ready to install the

module. The package protects the module from ESD.

❑ Use the special protective package to s t ore a memory module and pr event

ESD, or wrap the memory module in aluminum foil.

Typical expansion memory configuration

Total System Memory (MB) On board (MB) Slot (MB)

128 128 0

256 128 128

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Installing a Memo ry Module

Installing a Memory Module

To add a memory module, proceed as follows:

1 Turn off the computer and all peripheral devices.
2 Disconnect the power cord and all c ables from the comput er, and remove the

battery.

3 Wait for the computer to cool down.

✍ The interior of the computer becomes extremely hot during operation. Wait at least

one hour for the computer to cool down before you rem ove the screws.

4 Use an appropriate screwdriver to loosen and remove the thre e screws at the

bottom of the computer.

To avoid damaging the computer, do not remove or loosen any other sc rews.

Removing Bottom Screws

Screws

5 Slide the LCD lock lever and lift the cover.
6 Slide the keyboard towa rd the LCD display, then lift it away slightly.

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Lifting the Keyboard

7 Lift the keyboard from the LCD display side.
8 Gently turn the keyboard over the touchpad. Take care not to detach the

cable when lifting the keyboard.

9 Touch a metal object (such as the connector panel on the back of your

computer) to discharge static electricity.

10 Remove the existing memory module.
11 Remove the new memory module fr om it s packaging.
12 Install the memory module by sliding the module into the open slot.

Do not touch any part of the motherboard or the other com p onents inside
the computer.

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Installing a Memo ry Module

Installing New Memory Module

13 Snap the connectors into plac e when the board is correctly seated.

14 Close the comp u ter cover and replace the three (3) fastening s cr ews on the

bottom of the computer.

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check
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Removing a Memory Module

1 Turn off the computer and all pe ripheral devices.
2 Disconnect the power cord a nd all c abl es from the com puter, and remove the

battery.

3 Wait for the computer to cool down.

✍ The interior of the computer becomes extremely hot during operation. Wait at least

one hour for the compute r to cool down before you remove the screws.

4 Use an appropriate sc rewdriver to loosen and remove the thre e screws at the

bottom of the compute r.

To avoid damaging the com puter, do not remove o r loosen any other screws.

Removing Bottom Screws

Screws

5 Slide the LCD lock lever and lift the cover.
6 Slide the keyboard toward the LCD display, then lift it away slightly.

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Removing a Memory Module

Lifting the Keyboard

???

7 Lift the keyboard from the LCD display side.
8 Gently turn the keyboard over the touchpad. Take care not to detach the

cable when lifting the keyboard.

9 Touch a metal object (such as the connector panel on the back of your

computer) to discharge static electricity.

10 Remove the memory module by pulling out the tabs (se e a rrows No. 1), and

pulling out the module in the direction of arrow No. 2.

Removing a Memory Module

11 Gently replace the keyboard, then press it into your computer.
12 Close the comp u ter cover and replace the three (3) fastening s cr ews on the

bottom of the computer.

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Confirming Added Memory Capacity

1 Turn on the computer.
2 Click Start on the Windows® taskbar, point to All Programs, and then click

Sony Notebook Setup.

3 Click the About This Notebook tab. Verify that the System Memory

displayed in the le ft panel matches the amo unt of memory installed.

Sony Notebook Setup Dialog Box

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About the Soft ware on Your
Computer

Your VAIO® computer is ready to help you work, play, learn, and
communicate as soon as you turn it on. This section gives you the
following:

❑ Software Overview
❑ DVgate application notes
❑ Software Support Information

Software Overview

Your computer may not be supplied with all of the software liste d below,
depending on the configuration you purchased. Preinstalled software may not be
identical to retail versions, or include supporting documen tation.

Your computer may not be supplied with all of the software liste d below,
depending on the configuration you purchased. Preinstalled software may not be
identical to retail versions or include supporting documentation.

Adobe® Acrobat® Reader ®

Adobe Systems Inc.

Acrobat Reader soft ware allows you to view, navigate, and print electronic
documents in Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF), an open file format
that is intended to preserve the fidelity of documents created on all major
computer platforms.

Adobe® Photoshop® Elements (On selected models)

Adobe Systems Inc.

Using state-of-the-art im age editing tools, you can unleash your artistic ability
and create digital imag es for print, e-mail and posti ng to the Web. The versatile
image capturing options allow you to start working with digital and traditional
photos immediately. Explore endless creative possibilities for your personal
images with Adobe Photos hop El ements software.

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America Online®

America Online, Inc.

America Online is a popular Internet online service. Stay in touch with family
and friends wit h ea sy-to-u se e -mail . Mana ge you r pe rsona l fina nces , get the la test
news and sports scores , and chat with thousands of others who share your
interests.

DigitalPrint

Sony Electronics Inc.

This image management software makes it fun and easy to edit, import, and
organize your digital pictures in a photo album for rich digital printing to any
standard color la se r or ink-jet printer. DigitalPrint can also be used to make
custom CD labels for your audio CDs.

DVgate™

Sony Electronics Inc.

Connect a digital video camera recorder to the i.LI NK® port and capture your
own video clips and st ill images. You can edit clips from your video, add new
clips, and comb ine clips into new movie segments. You can also save your
images in a variety of popu lar file formats.

EarthLink Total Access®

EarthLink, Inc.

An Internet Servic e Provider that supplie s acce ss, information, and ass istance to
its customers, introducing them to the Internet. Member benefits include e-m ail,
newsgroups, a P ersonal Start Page, free storag e space for your personal Web site,
a member magazine, and 24-hour technical support.

EverQuest (On selected models)

Sony Online Entert ainment Inc.

This introduc tory edition of EverQuest, a living, constantly evolving fantasy
world, takes users to new heights of online role-playing gaming.

Jog Dial Utility

Sony Electronics Inc.

The Jog Dial Utility enables you to easi ly scroll, launch applications, acce ss
settings, and perform other useful functions by manipulating the center Jog
Dial™ control, which is located near the touchpad.

94

About the Softw are on Your Computer

Microsoft® Office XP Professional (On select ed mode ls)

Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft Office XP software redefine s t he rel ationship between people and
software by providing a smarter, simpler way of working. New Office XP
software feature s include context-sensitive smart tags, enhanced formatting
options, and more, that enable you to continually integrate additional services
into Office and access information anytime.

Microsoft® Office XP Small Business Edition (On selected models)

Microsoft Corp.

With Micr osoft Offic e XP sys tem you’l l find a powerful new technology tha t will
help you get work done more quic kly by providing real- tim e, context-sensi tive
options for important actions, from formatting to error correction. Task panes
consolida te import ant task s int o a si ngle in te grated view, enabling you to co nduc t
searches, launch and format documents, and view the contents of your Clipboard
from one location.

Microsoft® Word (On selected models)

Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft Word makes it easy to create com mon Web, e-mail, and print
documents for us e ar o u nd th e wo r ld . I t em br a ces HTML as a f ir st - cl as s fi le
format and ext ends Word's ease-of-use to the Web and e-mail. Word also extends
that ease-of-use to international users, making it easy to create multil ingual
documents.

MovieShaker™ (On selected models)

Sony Electronics Inc.

Sony’s original MovieS hake r software creates perso nal movies that have
transiti ons, backg round m usic, an d text. Just import you r video cl ips and “shake”
with a click of the mouse. Your personal movies are easy to create and fun to
share with family and friends.

PC-Cillin® 2000

Trend Micro, Inc.

PC-Cillin software provi des portable, easy-to-use, real-time antivirus security at
your computer’s entry point (beaming, synchronization, Internet access) to
defend against potential threa ts hidden inside fil es, e-mail, or on the Web.

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PicoPlayer™

Sony Electronics Inc.

PicoPlayer software is a video player utility that enables you to use Giga
Pocket™ Personal Video Recorder functions on a computer that does not have
Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder installed. You can play Video Capsules
created by Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorde r, and, if a Giga Pocket Server is
available on your home network, watch TV streamed from the Giga Pocket
Server and remotely control the Giga Pocket Server’s TV programming
functions.

Quicken® 2002 New User Edition

Intuit Inc.

Quicken software is the fastest, easies t way to organize your finances. Quicken
software works just like your checkbook, so it' s e asy to learn and use. You can
even pay your bills online. Quicken software manages all of your finances, bank
accounts, credit cards, investments, and loans. (Users of other versions of
Quicken must upgrade for a fee.)

QuickTime®

Apple Computer, Inc.

The versatile QuickTime softwa re plays hundreds of diff erent kinds of files,
including vide o, audi o, and virtua l real ity (VR) m ovies . You can play QuickT ime
files (referred to as “QuickT im e m ovies”) using QuickTime Player or any other
application, such as a Web browser or word processor, that supports QuickTime
software

RealPlayer®

RealNetworks, Inc.

RealPlayer software is a high-quality streaming media player that supports many
digital media formats. The user-friendly interface has enhanced navigation
capabilit ies, allowing you to access and enjoy audio and video programming over
the Internet. RealPla yer software is your gat eway to a superb Interne t multimedia
experience.

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About the Softw are on Your Computer

Smart Capture

Sony Electronics Inc.

Smart Capture is a fun new way to send multimedia message s vi a e-mail. Smart
Capture manages the i.LINK® connection between your notebook and a Sony
Digital Handy ca m® Camcorder that supports the i.LINK int erface. It allows you
to capture comp ressed video or s till images and save t hem t o your hard di sk dri ve
or share via e-mai l. A smart solution for computer, digital audio/video and
network convergence.

SonicStage™

Sony Electronics Inc.

This new juke box application adds a host of new features to its predecessor,
OpenMG™ Jukebox. Continuing to take advantage of Sony’s copyright-
protected ATRAC3™ format for high-quality digital audio storage, SonicStage
software sports a new music visuali zer, a sleek new player skin design, audi o CD
burning capabi lity, and a parametric equalizer for fine-tuning audio playback.

Sony ScreenBlast™ ACID (On selected models)

Sony Pictures Digital Enter tainment

With the powerful Sony ScreenBlast ACID software you can create royalty-free
music by utilizing its loop-based production tool, including unlimited tracks and
enhanced effe cts.

Sony ScreenBlast™ Sound Forge (On selected models)

Sony Pictures Digital Enter tainment

Sony ScreenBlast Sound Forge allows you to record, edit, and process mono or
stereo audio files for your multimedia or Internet projects. Whether you want to
use a number of professional effects, convert video into streaming media, or
synchroniz e audi o to video — this software has everyth ing you need to create
rich, imme r sive multime dia and Internet content.

Sony on Y ahoo!

Yahoo! Inc.

Personalize your own web portal with Sony on Yahoo! Get a free webmail
account, customized news and local weather reports, comics, instant messaging,
and more.

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VAIO Action Setup

Sony Electronics Inc.

VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your computer 's S hortcut keys.

VAIO Support Agent (On selected models)

Sony Electronics Inc.

VAIO Support Agent provides imme diate, interac tive, online support with
information about your preinstalle d so ftware and answers to frequently asked
questions.

WinDVD® 2000

InterVideo, Inc.

WinDVD 20 00 software is a simp le-to-u se DVD p layer tha t of fers a ll t he fea tures
you would expect to find in a standard consumer DVD player, while also
including advanced display and navigation features such as zoom, pan,
bookmark, and time search.

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DVgate application notes

DVgate application notes

Digital video captures

If your system displays the messag e, “Failed to record to DV deck, please check
deck’s power status, cable connection…,” while you are r ecordin g images to a
digital video device using DVgate software, close all open applications, and
restart your compu ter. Frequent recording of im age s to a digital video dev ice
while using DVgate may caus e th is situation to occur.

For more information on DVgate software, see the DVgate onl ine help .

Adjusting image resolution

If the images on the LCD do not display smoothly, the resolution may not be set
correc tl y. To check the reso lu t io n , cl i ck th e Setup butt on in th e DV g at e
Motion-Monit or window. Point to Settings, and then select Low Resolution. The
settings you cha nge in this menu aff ect the images in the monit or window only.
Movie data importe d to your hard drive and images recorded to DV devices will
not be affected.

Hard disk drive partition

In order to improve the performance of your computer’s DVgate™ motion
software, the har d dis k dr ive on your computer has been formatted with two
partitions , C and D. The C partition hold 40 percent and the D partition holds 60
percent of the en tire drive capacity. DVgate sof tware saves files to th e D
partition. This prevents large video capture from consuming the available space
on your C partition. To maintain optimum performance of DVgate, you should
defragment or format the D partition regularly.

To defragment a partition

Before you begin to defragment a partition, make sure you back up all
files that you want to save.

❑ Click the Start button in the Windows® taskbar.
❑ Click Progra ms, Accessories, System Tools, and then click Disk

Defragmenter. The Disk Defragmenter window appears.

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Select the drive you want to defragment from the list, and click the Defragment
button. See Windows® Help for more information on defragme nting.

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