Sony PCG-838 User Manual

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

PCG-838

Notice to Users

© 1999 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. This manual and th e software described herein, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, translated, or reduced to any machine-readable fo rm wit h out prior written approval.

SONY ELECTRONICS INC. PROVIDES NO WARRANTY WITH REGARD TO THIS MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE, OR OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND HER E BY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHA NTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH REGARD TO THIS MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE, OR SUCH OTHER INFORMATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL SONY ELECTRONICS INC. BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, WHET HE R B AS E D ON TORT, CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE, OR OTHER INFORMAT ION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THE USE THEREOF.

Sony Electronics Inc. reserves the right to make any modification to this manual or the information contained herein at any time without notice. The software described herein is governed by the terms of a separate user license agreement.

As an ENERGY STAR Partner, Sony Corporation has determined that this product meets the

T AR guidelines for energy

efficiency.

The Internation a l ENERGY STAR Office Equipment Program is an international program that promotes energy saving through the use of computers and other office equipment. The program backs the development and dissemination of products with functions that effecti vely

NERGY

reduce energy consumption. It is an open system in which business proprieto rs c an participate voluntarily. The targeted products are office equipment such as computers, displays, printers, facsimiles and copiers. Their standards and logos are uniform among part ic ip ating nations.

NERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark.

This product contains software owned by Sony and licensed by third parties. Use of such software is subject to the terms and conditions of license agreements enclosed with this product. Some o f the software may not be transported or used outside the United States. Software specifications are subject to change without notice and may not necessarily be identical to curren t r etai l versions.

Updates and additions to software may require an additional charge. Subscriptions to online service p roviders may require a fee and credit card inform at ion. Financial services may require prior ar ran g e m e nt s with participatin g fin ancial institution s.

Sony, i.LINK, VAIO and the VAIO logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation. Windows, Windows NT, and the Windows 98 logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel, MMX, and Pentium are trademarks of Intel Corporation.

All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.

Safety Information

Owner’s Record

The model number and serial number are located on the bottom of your Sony VAIO Notebook Computer. Record the serial number in the space provided here. Refer to the model and serial number when you call your Sony Service Center.

Model Number: PCG-838 Serial Number:______ __________________

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do

❏

not expose your notebook computer to rain or moisture. To avoid electrical shock, do not open

❏

the cabinet. Refer se rvicing to qualified personnel only. Never install mo de m or telephone

❏

wiring during a lightning storm. Never install telephone jacks in wet

❏

locations unless the jack is specifically designed for wet locations. Never touch uninsulated telephone

❏

wire or terminals unless the tel ephone line has been disconnected at the network interface. Use caution when installing or

❏

modifying telephone lines. Avoid using the mo de m during an

❏

electrical storm. Do not use the modem or a telephone

❏

to report a gas leak in the v icinity of the leak. A socket outlet should be as close as

❏

possible to the u n it and easily accessible.

The laser beam used in the DVD-

ROM drive unit is harmful to the eyes. Do not attempt to disassemble the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.

AVERTISSEMENT

Pour prévenir tout risque d’incendie

❏

ou d’électrocution, gar der cet appar ei l à l’abri de la pluie et de l’ humidité. Pour prévenir tout risque

❏

d’électrocution, ne pas ouvir le châssis de cet appareil et ne confier son entretien qu’à une personne qualifiée. L’appareil doit être le plus près

❏

possible d’une p r ise murale pou r en faciliter l’accès.

Regulatory Information

Declaration of Conformity

Trade Na me: SONY Model No: PCG-838 Responsible Party:

Sony Electronics Inc.

Address:

1 Sony Drive

Park Ridge, NJ 07656 Te lep h one No.: 201-930-6970 This device complies with Part 15 of

the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, incl u ding interfe renc e that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the Rules. These limits are designed to pr ovide reason able protection against harmful interference in a resident ial installation . This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and use d in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications .

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving

❏

antenna. Increase the separation between the

❏

equipment and the receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet

❏

on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced

❏

radio/TV technician for help.

You are caution ed that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Only peripherals (computer input/output devices, terminals, p rinters, etc.) that comply with FCC Class B limits may be attached to this computer product. Operation with non-compliant peripherals is likely to result in in terference to rad io and television rece p t ion.

All cables used to co nnect peripher als must be shielded and grounded. Operation with cables, connected to peripherals, that are not shielded and grounded, may result in interference to radio and television reception.

FCC Part 68

This equipment complies with Part 68 of the FCC rules. On the bottom of this equipment is a label that contains, among other information, the FCC equivalence number (REN) for this equipment. If requested, this information must be provided to the telephone company.

This modem uses the USO C RJ-11 telephone jack.

The REN is used to determine the quantity of devices which may be connected to t he telephone line. Excessive RENs on the telephone line may result in the devices not ringing in response to an incoming call. In most, but not all areas, the sum of the RENs should not exceed five (5.0). To be certain of the number of devices that may be connected to the line, as determined by the total RENs, contact the t ele phone compa ny to determine the maximum REN for the calling area.

If the terminal equipment (Notebook Computer PCG-838) causes harm to the telephone network, the telephone company will notify you in advance that temporary discontinuance of service may be required. But if advance notice is not practical, the telephone company will notify the customer as soon as possib le . Al so, you will be advised of your right to file a complaint with the FCC if y o u b elieve it is necessary.

The telephone company may make changes in its facilities, equipment, operations or procedures that could affect the operations of the equipment. If this happens, the telephone company will provide advance notice in order for you to make the necessary modifi cations in order to maintain unin terrupted service .

If trouble is ex perienced with this equipment (Notebook Computer PCG-

838), please contact 1-888-4SONYPC (1-888-476-6972), or w rite to the So n y Customer Information Center, One Sony Drive, Park Ridge, NJ 07656 for repair and/or warranty information. If the trouble is causing harm to the telephone network, the telephone company may request that you remove the equipment from the network until the problem is resolved.

Repair of this equipment should be made only by a Sony Service Center or Sony authorized agent. For the Sony Service Center nearest you, call 1-888-4SO NYPC (1-888-476-6972).

This equipment cannot be used on public coin service provided by the telephone company. Connection to Party Line Service is subject to state and p ossible provincial tariffs. (Contact the st at e or provincial utility service commission, public service commission or corporation commission for information.)

Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (United States)

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 makes it unlawful for any p erson t o use a computer or other electronic device to send any message via a telephone facsimile machine unless such message clearly contains, in a margin at the top or bottom of each transmitted pag e or on the first page of the transmission, the date and time it is sent and an identification of the business, other entity, or individual sending the message, and the telephone number of the sending machine or such business, other entity, or individual.

In order to program this infor ma ti o n in to your facsimile machine, see your fax software documentatio n.

Telephone Consumer Guidelines (Canada)

Plea se refer to your telephone di rectory under ‘Privacy Issues’ and/or ‘Terms of Service’. For more detailed information please contact:

CRTC Terr asses de la Chaudiére, Tour centrale 1 promenade du Portage, 5 étage Hull PQ K1A 0N2.

This Class B digital apparatus com plies with Canadian ICES-003.

Cet àppareil numérique de la classe B e st conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY

You can return your unwanted lithium ion batteries to your nearest Sony Service Center or Factory Service Center.

✍

In some are as the disp osal of lith ium i on batteries in household or business trash may be prohibited.

For the Sony Service Center nearest you call 1-888-476-6972 in th e United States or

1-800-961-7669 in Canada

Do not handle damaged or leaking lithium ion batteries.

Ne pas manipuler les batteries au lithium-ion qui fuient ou sont endommagées.

Danger of explosion if battery is incorrect ly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalen t type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Une batterie non conforme présente un d an ger d'explosion. La remplacer seulement par une batterie identique ou de type équivalent recommandé par le fabricant. Évacue r les batteries usées selon les directives du fabricant.

The battery pack used in this

device may present a fire or chemical burn hazard if mistreated. Do not disassemble, heat above 212°F (100°C) or incinerate. Dispose of used battery promptly. Keep away from children.

La manutention incorrecte du

module de batterie de cet appareil présente un risque d'incendie ou de brûlures chimiques. Ne pas démonter, incinérer ou exposer à une température de plus de 100°C. Évacuer promptement la batte rie usée. Garder hors de portée des enfants.

INDUSTRY CANADA NOTICE

NOTICE: The Industry Canada label identifies certified equipment. This certification me ans that the equipment meets certain teleco mmuni cati ons networ k protective, operation al an d s afe t y requirements as prescribed in the appropriate Terminal Equipment Technical Requirements document(s). The Department does not guarantee the equipment will operate to the user’s satisfaction.

Before installing this equipment, users should ensure that it is permissible to be connected to the facilities of the local telecommunications company. The equipment must also be installed using an acceptable method of connection.

The customer should be aw are that compliance with the above conditions ma y not prevent degradation of s e rvice in some situations.

Repairs to certified e qu ipment should be coordinated by a repr esentat ive designated by the supplier. Equipment malfunctions or any repairs or alterations made by the user to this equipment may give the

telecommuni cations company cause to request that the user disconnect the equipment.

Users should ensure for their own protection that the electrical ground connections of the power utility, telephone lines and inte rn al metallic wa t e r p ip e system, if present, a re connected together. This precaution may be particularly important in rural areas.

Caution: Users should not attempt to make such connections the mselves, but should contact the appropriate electric inspection authority, or electrician, as appropriate .

NOTICE: The Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) assigned to each t e rminal device provides an indicati on of t he m a xi mum number o f te rminals a llowed to be connected to a telephone interface. The termination on an int er face may consist of any combination of d e vi ce s sub ject only to the requirement that the sum of the Ringer Equivalence Numbers of all the devices does not exceed 5. The Ringer Equivalence Number for this equipment is 0.3.

AVIS DE L’INDUSTRIE CANADA

AVIS: L’étiquette d’Industrie Cana da identifie le m atériel homologué.

Cette étiquett e certifie que le ma t ériel est conforme aux normes de protection, d’exploitation et de sécu rité des rés eau x de télécommu ni cations, comme le prescrivent les documents concernant les exigences techniques relatives au mat éri el termina l. Le Ministère n’assure toutefois pas que le matériel fonctionnera à la satisfaction de l’utilisateur.

Avan t d’installer ce ma t é rie l, l’utilisateur doit s’assurer qu’il es t permis de le raccorder aux installations de l’entrepr ise locale de télécommunication. Le matériel doit également être installé en suivant une méthode acceptée de raccordement. L’abonné ne doit pas oublier qu ’il est

possible que la conformité aux conditions énoncées ci-dessus n’empêche pas la dégradation du serv ic e dan s c e rt aines situations.

Les réparations de matérie l h o mologué doivent être coordonnées par un représentant désigné par le fournisseur. L’entreprise de télécommunications peut demander à l’utilisateur de débrancher un appareil à la suite de réparations ou de modifications effectuées par l’util isateur ou à cause de mauvais fonctionnement.

Pour sa propre protection, l’utilisateur doit s’assurer que tous les fils de mise à la terre de la source d’éner gie électrique, des l ignes téléphoniques et des canalisati on s d’e au métalliques, s’il y en a, sont racco rdés ensemble. Cette précaution est particulièreme nt importante dans les régions rurales.

Avertissement: L’utilisateur ne doit pas tenter de faire ces raccord ements lui-même; il doit avoir recours à un servic e d’inspection des install at io ns électriques, ou à un électricien, selon le cas.

AVIS: L’indice d’équivalence de la sonnerie (IES) assigné à chaque dis positif terminal indique le nombre maximal de terminaux qui peuvent être raccordés à une interface.

La terminaison d’une interface téléphonique peut consister en une combination de quelques dispositifs, à la seule condition que la somme d’indices d’équivalence de la sonnerie de tous les dispositifs n’excède pas 5.

Welcome

Ergonomic Considerations.............................................................2

Using Your Notebook Computer

Locating the Controls and Connectors.........................................5

Connecting a Power Source ...........................................................8

Starting Your Computer ...............................................................12

Shutting Down Your Computer..................................................13

Registering Windows

Registering Your Computer.........................................................15

Using the Keyboard.......................................................................16

Using the Touchpad......................................................................22

Using the Floppy Disk Drive .......................................................23

Using the DVD-ROM Drive.........................................................26

Using the Headphone with Remote Control.............................30

Using PC Cards..............................................................................33

Using Infrared Communication Devices....................................36

Using Power Saving Modes.........................................................38

Using a Second Battery Pack........................................................40

Using the Weight Saver ................................................................ 42

98.............................................................14

Connecting Peripheral Devices

Connecting a Phone Line..............................................................44

Connecting the Docking Station..................................................45

Connecting a Printer...................................................................... 53

Connecting an External Display..................................................54

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Connecting an External Mouse or Keyboard.............................57

Connecting External Speakers......................................................58

Connecting an External Microphone...........................................59

Connecting a Digital Still Camera or Other Serial Device .......60

Connecting a Digital Video Camera Recorder...........................61

Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device......................62

Customizing Your Notebook Computer

Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen.............................63

Controlling Power Management..................................................66

Displaying Battery Information...................................................70

Selecting the Display Mode..........................................................73

Using the Dual Display Function.................................................77

Getting Help

Troubleshooting .............................................................................81

Using the System and Application Recovery CDs....................88

Notes on Use

Adding Memory.............................................................................96

Limited Warranty Statement............................................99

Index.................................................................................105

Welcome

Congratulations on your purchase of the Sony VAIO Notebook Computer. Sony has combined leading-edge technology in audio , video, computing, and communications to provide you w ith state-of-the-art personal computing.

About the User Guide

The User Guide offers a quick introduction and reference to your Sony Notebook computer.

❑ Using Your VAIO® Notebook Computer shows you how to use the

standard components of your system.

❑ Connecting Peripheral Devices explains how you can add

functionality by connecting various peripherals.

❑ Getting Help explains the support options available to you and

offers basic troubleshooting tips.

❑ Notes on Use provides facts and advice about using your notebook

computer.

❑ Limited Warranty Statement provides your product warranty

statement and explains how to extend your warranty for an additional nine mo nt hs .

The online User Guide is included with your computer as an electronic document. It includes additional information on using the Sony software products that are installed on your computer and how to customize your Sony notebook com p uter.

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Ergonomic Considerations

You will be using your notebook computer as a portable device in a variety of environments. Whenever possible, you should attempt to apply the following ergonomic considerations to both stationary and portable environments.

Computer positioned directly in front of you

Arms at desk level

Wrists relaxed and flat

❑ Position of your computer – Place the computer directly in front of

you as you work. Keep your forearms horizontal, with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position while using the keyboard, touchpad, or external mouse. Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides. Take breaks during sessions with your computer. Excessive use of the computer may strain muscles or tendons.

❑ Furniture and posture – Sit in a chair with good back support and

armrests. Adjust the level of the chair so your feet are flat on the floor. A footrest may make you more comfortable. Sit in a relaxed, upright posture and avoid slouching forward or leaning far backward.

❑ V iew ing angl e of the computer’ s displa y – Use the display’s tilting

feature to find the best position. Y ou can r educe eye strain and muscle fatigue by adjusting the tilt of the display to the proper position. Adjust the brightness setting of the display also.

Welcome

❑ Lighting – Choose a location where windows and lights do not create

glare and reflection on the display. Use indirect lighting to avoid bright spots on the display. You can also purchase accessories for your display that help reduce glare. Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work effectiveness.

❑ Tilt stand – You use the tilt stand to place the computer at an angle

that allows comfortable typing.

❑ Placement of an external display – When using an external display,

set the display at a comfortable viewing distance. Make sure the display screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you are sitting in front of the monitor.

Using Your Notebook Computer

This section describes how to start using your comput er and how to use your computer’s internal and external devices, such as the touchpad, floppy disk drive, and DVD-ROM drive.

Locating the Controls and Connectors

Front

LCD screen (pages 20, 91) Power indicator (pages 12, 19)

Speakers (page58) Battery 1 and 2 indicators (pages 19, 70)

Keyboard (page 16) Hard disk drive indicator (page 19)

Microphone (page 59) Num Lock indicator (page 19)

Touchpad (page22) Caps Lock indicator (page 19)

Left/right buttons (page 22) Scroll Lock indicator (page 19)

7 8 9

10 11 12

Num Lock

Caps

Lock

Scroll

Lock

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Left

Power switch (page12)

1 4

Hard disk drive

2 5

Battery bay (pages 9, 48)

3 6

Headphone connector (pages 30, 58) Microphone connector (page 59)

Line In connector

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There is a ventilation slot located directly above the headphone connector. Do not cover the ventilation slot when your computer is on.

Using Your Notebook Computer

62738

Right

Phone line jack (page 44) Drive bay (pages 23, 26)

1 3

PC card slots (page 33)

Back

cover

4 5

DC In (page 8)

Serial connector (page60)

Infrared port (page 36)

USB connector (page62)

/ Mouse/Keyboard connector (page57)

Docking station port (page 45)

cover

Monitor connector (page 54)

/ FDD/Printer connector (page 53)

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Connecting a Power Source

You can use either AC power or a rechargeable battery pack as a power source.

Using the AC Adapter

Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter into the DC In connector on

the computer. Plug one end of the power cord into the AC adapter.

Plug the other end of the power cord into an AC outlet.

Notebook computer

DC in

AC adapter (supplied)

Power cord (supplied)

Using Your Notebook Computer

Using Battery Power

You can use one or two battery packs as a source of power. The second battery pack inserts into the drive bay on the righ t sid e of the computer. (See “Using Power Saving Modes” on page 38.) Additional battery packs are available as a separate option.

The battery pack that comes with your computer is not fully charged at the time of purchase. Follow the steps below to insert and charge the battery pack.

To insert the battery pack

Open the cover of the battery bay.

Insert the battery pack into the battery bay on the left side of the

computer.

Battery pack (supplied)

Label side facing down

Close the cover of the battery bay.

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

To charge the battery pack

Connect the AC adapter to the computer.

Insert the battery pack.

The computer automatically charges the battery (the battery indicator light flashes in a double blink pattern as the battery charges). When the battery is 85 percent full, the battery indicator light turns off. This process takes approximately two hours. To charge the battery completely, continue charging for an additional hour.

A fully charged battery pack supplies power for approximately two to four hours. The time varies based on your system configuration. See “Displaying Detailed Battery Information” on page 71 for information on checking the battery life.

There are two battery indicator lights on the computer:

Battery indicators

Secondary battery pack

(not supplied)

Battery pack (supplied)

Battery Indicator Meaning

Battery Indicator Light Status Meaning

On The computer is using battery power. Single blink The battery is running out of power. Double blink The battery is charging. Off The computer is using AC power.

Indicates the status of the battery pack in the battery bay on the left side of the computer.

Indicates the status of the ba ttery pack in the drive bay on the right side of the computer.

Using Your Notebook Computer

✍

When the battery is running out of power, both the battery and power indicators blink. See “Using a Second Battery P a ck” on page40 for information on installi ng and cha rging a

battery pack in the drive bay. Keep the battery pack in the computer while it is directly connected to AC power. The

battery pack continues to charge while you are using the computer. If the battery level falls to below 10%, you should either attach the AC adapter to recharge

the battery or shut down your computer and insert a fully charged battery. You can extend battery life by changing the power management modes in the PowerPanel

utility. See “Using Power Saving Modes” on page 38. The battery p ack sup pli ed with your c omp uter is a lithi um io n ba tter y and ca n b e recha rg ed

at any time. Charging a partially discharged battery does not affect battery life. The battery indicator light is on while you use the battery pack as a power source. When

battery life is nearly depleted, the battery indicator starts flashing. For some software applications and some peripheral devices, your computer may not enter

System Hibernation mode when the battery life is low. To avoid loss of data when using battery power, you should save your data frequently and manually activate a power management mode, such as System Suspend or System Hibernation.

To remove the battery p ack

Open the cover of the battery bay.

Pull out the battery pack.

Close the cover of the battery bay.

Y ou may lose data if you remove the battery pack while the computer is on and

not connected to the AC adapter or if you remove the battery while the computer is in System Suspend mode.

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Starting Y our Computer

Slide the LCD lock lever in the direction of the arrow, and lift the

cover.

LCD lock lever

Slide the power switch on the left side toward the front of the

computer until the green power indicator light turns on.

Power switch

✍

If you hold the power switch in the on position for more than four seconds, the computer turns off.

If necessary, adjust the brightness controls for the LCD displa y. To

decrease the brightness, press Fn+F 5 and then the do wn or left a rrow key. To increase the brightness, press Fn+F5 and then the up or right arrow key.

Power indicator

Using Your Notebook Computer

Shutting Down Your Comp uter

To avoid potential loss of data, follow these steps to shut down your computer.

Click the Start button on the Windows 98 taskbar.

Click Shut Down at the bottom of the Start menu to displa y the Shut

Down Windows dialog box.

Select Shut down.

Click OK.

✍

Respond to any prompts warning you to save documents.

W a it for your computer to turn off automatically . The power indicator

(green) turns off. Turn off any peripherals connected to your computer.

✍

If you are unable to shut down your computer using the steps described above, press the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys at the same time to restart the computer. If you are unable to restart the computer in this way, you can slide the power switch forward and hold for four seconds. This operation may result in data loss.

During a period of inactivity, you can conserve battery life by using System Suspend mode. See “Controlling Power Management” on page66.

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Registering Windows® 98

The first time you turn on your computer, you need to complete a few steps to register and configure the Windo ws 98 software that is already installed on your computer.

You must register Windows 98 before you can use the computer.

✍

To install Windows NT use the Application Recovery CD. See “Using the Application Recovery CD(s)” on page90 for instructions.

The on-screen instructions guide you through the registration and configuration process. The following is an overview of the process.

Gathering information:

❑ Enter your name. ❑ Read and accept the License Agreement. ❑ Enter your Certificate of Authenticity number located on the

cover of the Microsoft Windows 98

Windows 98 setup: Click the Finish button on the Windows 98 Setup

Wizard s cree n.

Workstation 4.0 drivers on your notebook computer, you need to

Getting Sta rted

manual.

Selecting your computer settings: If necessary, change the Time Zone,

Date and Ti me on the Date/Time Properties screen. Registering your computer: For details on registering your computer,

see “Registering Your Computer” on page 15. You can also sign up for your 100 free hours of Internet service at this time.

Learning about Windows 98: If you wish, take the tour of

W i n dows 98.

Using Your Notebook Computer

Registering Your Computer

You can take advantage of Sony’s commitment to quality customer support and receive the following benefits by registering your computer with Sony.

❑ Sony Customer Support – Talk to a Support Representative to

troubleshoot problems you may be having with your computer.

❑ Extended Limited Warranty – Protect your investment. Extend your

Warranty nine months for a total of 12 months from the original date of purchase when you register your computer.

❑ Express service – Provides convenient resolution of problems. ❑ Free Internet access – Use the Internet for up to 100 free hours when

you sign up with GTE (no credit card necessary). Free access expires 100 hours or 60 days after signing up, whichever occurs first.

If you have not already registered, follow these steps to use your notebook computer’s online registration service.

You must connect your phone line before using any online services, including the online

✍

registration service. See “Connecting a Phone Line” on page 44.

Click the Sony VAIO Registration icon on the VAIO desktop.

Enter the information requested on the first online registration form.

Press the Tab key to move from box to box. Click the Next button to advance to the next form.

Complete the remaining forms by clicking the Next button each time

you complete a form.

The computer automatically transfers your registration information using your built-in modem and a toll-free telephone number.

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Using the Keyboard

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

Escape Key Function keys Print Screen key

Correction keys

Shift key

Ctrl key

Fn key

Alt key

Windows 98 key

Applications key

Numeric keypad area

Navigation keys

Keys Descriptions

Numeric keypad area

Contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform mathematical calculations such as addition and subtraction. Note that you must press the Num Lock key to activate the numeric keypad. (When you do so, the Num Lock light will be on.)

Navigation keys Several keys are devot ed 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 keys The Insert, Back Space, 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 applications, F1 is the Help key. The task associated with each function key may vary from one application to the next.

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

Using Your Notebook Computer

Keys Descriptions

Print Screen key T he Print Screen key tak es an electronic sn apshot of the

screen and places it in the Windows Clipboard. You can then paste the screen shot into a docume nt and print i t .

Operator keys Several keys are always used 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 applications, instead of choo sing the Save command f rom a menu, you can hold down Ctrl and press S (referred to as Ctrl+S). The Shift key operates the same way as on a typewriter; it is used to produce capital letters or special symbols such as @ and $.

Wi ndows 98 key The key with the W in dows logo display s the Windows 98

Start menu; it is t he equivalent of clicking the Start button on the task bar. See “Combinations and Functions with the Windows 98 Key” on page 18.

Fn key The Fn key is used in combi nation with other keys to

issue commands. The Fn keys at the left and right sides both work the same . See “Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key” on page 20.

Applications key The Applications key displays a shortcut menu of

context-sensitive choices; pressing this key is the equivalent of clicking the right mouse button.

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Combinations and Functions with the Windows 98 Key

Combinations Functions

+ F1 Displays Windows Help. + Tab Switches the select e d bu tt on o n the task bar. + E Displays Windows Explorer. + F Displays the Windows F ind: A ll Files window to find

a file or folder. This is the equivalent of selecting Find and then Files or Folders from the Start menu.

+ Ctrl + F Displays the Windows Find: Compute r window

where you can locate other computers. This is the equivalent of selecting Find and then Computer from the Start menu.

+ M Minimizes all displayed windows.

Shift + + M Returns all minimized windows to their previous

size.

+ R Displays the Run window. This is the equiva lent of

selecting Run from the Start menu.

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

equivalent of double-clicking the System icon in the Control Panel.

Using Your Notebook Computer

Indicators

Indicators Functions

Power Lights when the pow er to the computer is turned on.

Flashes in System Suspend mode. Turns off when the computer is in System Hibernation mode or powered off.

Battery 1 Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the battery

Battery 2 Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the drive

Hard disk Lights when data is being read from or written to the

Light On Off

Num Lock The number keys in the

Caps Lock The letters appear in

Scroll Lock The screen scrolls differently.

bay on the left side of the computer.

bay on the right side of the computer.

hard drive. Do not enter System Suspend mode or turn off the computer when this indicator light is on.

The alphanumer ic character

numeric keypad are acti ve.

keys in the keypad area are active.

Letters appear in lower case as uppercase as you type. The Shift key lowers the case of

you type (unless you hold

down the Shift key). typed letters when Caps Lock is on.

Information moves across the (Exactly how it scrolls

display normally. depends on the specific application. It has no effect in many applications.)

➜

VAIO Notebook Computer User Guide

Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key

Combinations/ Feature

Fn+ (ESC) System Suspend

Fn+ (F2) Display power source

status Fn+ (F3)

Mute on/off Fn+ (F4)

Speaker volume

Fn+ (F5) Brightness control

Fn+F6

LCD

Fn+ / (F7) Switch to the external monitor/LCD

Fn+F8

Functions

Puts the system into System Suspend mode, a power management state. To return the system to the active state, press any key or press the power switch on your computer. (Not available when connected to the docking station.)

Displays the power status, as in the example below:

Using AC power

Charging the battery

Toggles the built-in s peaker 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 light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then or ➜.

➜

To decrease light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then or .

Not available on this model.

Toggles through the LCD, external display (connected to the Monitor connector) and both LCD and external display.

Only LCD

LCD and external display

Only external display

Not available on this model.

➜

Fn+ (F9)

Disconnects from the docking station when the power is on. (Not availa ble on all models.) Make sure there is a charged battery in the computer before you disconnect the docking station.

+ 91 hidden pages

Sony PCG-838 User Manual

Notice to Users

Safety Information

Owner’s Record

Regulatory Information

FCC Part 68

Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (United States)

Telephone Consumer Guidelines (Canada)

DISPOSAL OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY

INDUSTRY CANADA NOTICE

AVIS DE L’INDUSTRIE CANADA

Contents

Welcome

About the User Guide

Ergonomic Considerations

Using Your Notebook Computer

Locating the Controls and Connectors

Front

Left

Right

Back

Connecting a Power Source

Using the AC Adapter

Using Battery Power

To insert the battery pack

To charge the battery pack

To remove the battery p ack

Starting Y our Computer

Shutting Down Your Comp uter

Registering Windows® 98

Registering Your Computer

Using the Keyboard

Combinations and Functions with the Windows 98 Key

Indicators

Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key