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Sony
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PCG-FX340K
User Guide
166 pgs1.88 Mb0
Table of contents
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Sony PCG-FX310K, PCG-FX340K, PCG-FX370K, PCG-FX390K User Guide

Contents

Welcome.......................................................9
Using Your VAIO Notebook......................11
Using the Keyboard...................................................12
Functions of the keyboard keys .........................................13
Combinations and functions with the Windows key .........14
Indicators ...........................................................................15
Combinations and functions with the Fn key ....................16
Using the Touchpad ..................................................18
Using the Floppy Disk Drive ....................................20
To insert a floppy disk .......................................................20
To remove a floppy disk....................................................20
To remove the floppy disk drive........................................21
To reinsert the floppy disk drive........................................22
Using the Optical Drive.............................................23
To insert a disc...................................................................23
To remove a disc................................................................24
To play a DVD...................................................................25
Notes on CD and DVD media ...........................................26
To write data to CD-RW/CD-R media (For models with a
CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive)............................................27
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Using PC Cards .........................................................28
To insert a PC card.............................................................28
To remove a PC Card.........................................................29
Notes on PC Cards.............................................................30
Using a Second Battery Pack ....................................31
To insert a second battery pack..........................................31
To charge the second battery pack.....................................32
To remove the second battery pack ...................................33
Using the Weight Saver.............................................34
To attach the weight saver .................................................34
To remove the weight saver...............................................34
Using Smart Connect ................................................36
Connecting with i.LINK ....................................................36
Using Power Saving Modes......................................37
Normal mode .....................................................................37
Standby mode ....................................................................37
Hibernate mode..................................................................37
Notes on power saving modes ...........................................38
Connecting a Phone Line ..........................................39
Connecting to a LAN ................................................40
To set up your ethernet connection....................................40
Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............43
Connecting a Port Replicator ....................................44
To attach your notebook to the port replicator ..................44
To remove your notebook from the port replicator ...........46
Connecting an External Mouse or Keyboard ............48
To connect an external mouse or keyboard .......................48
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Connecting a Parallel Port Printer.............................49
To connect a printer ...........................................................49
Connecting a Univ ersal Serial Bus (USB) Printer ....50
To connect a USB printer ..................................................50
Connecting an External Display................................51
To connect a computer display ..........................................51
To connect a multimedia computer display.......................51
To connect a projector .......................................................52
To select a display..............................................................52
Connecting a TV Display..........................................54
To connect a TV ................................................................54
Notes on TV display ..........................................................54
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device....56
To connect a USB device...................................................56
Connecting an i.LINK Device...................................57
To connect a digital video camera recorder.......................57
Notes on i.LINK devices ...................................................58
Connecting External Speakers ..................................59
Before connecting your external speakers .........................59
To connect external speakers.............................................59
Connecting an External Microphone..... ....................60
To connect an external microphone...................................60
Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities ...................61
Personal Digital Assistant..................................................61
Wireless LAN Access Point ..............................................61
Wireless LAN PC Card......................................................62
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Customizing Your VAIO Notebook ..........63
Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen ...........64
To display the Sony Notebook Setup screen .....................64
Sony Notebook Setup Tabs................................................65
Controlling Power Management ...............................66
To view the Power Management status icons....................66
Power Management profiles ..............................................67
Power management commands .........................................69
Conserving battery power..................................................70
Displaying Battery Information ................................71
To activate the Battery Information toolbar ......................71
Battery icon descriptions ...................................................71
To display detailed battery information.............................72
To customize the Battery Information toolbar and alarm sys-
tem .....................................................................................73
Selecting the Display Mode ......................................74
To select the display mode.................................................74
To change the Window Design of Sony software .............75
Adding Memory to Your VAIO Notebook 77
Precautions and Procedures.......................................78
Typical expansion memory configuration .........................79
Removing a Memory Module ...................................80
Installing a Memory Module.....................................82
Viewing the Amount of Memory ..............................83
About the Software on Your Notebook ...85
Software Overview....................................................86
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DVgate ......................................................................92
To defragment a partition ..................................................92
DVgate plug-in for Adobe Premiere..................................92
MovieShaker .............................................................94
To import images and sound clips.....................................94
To create a movie using Shaker.........................................94
To edit clips and scenes .....................................................95
To add effects to a scene or a clip......................................96
To save a movie.................................................................96
OpenMG Jukebox .....................................................97
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) services .................97
To start OpenMG Jukebox 2.0...........................................98
To record a CD ..................................................................99
To transfer songs (check-in/check-out) ...........................100
Additional OpenMG Jukebox features ............................102
Notes on using Portable Players ......................................103
PictureGear..............................................................104
To manage your pictures..................................................104
To create a photo album...................................................104
To use Panorama Maker ..................................................105
To make still images and panoramic from MPEG ..........105
Smart Capture..........................................................106
To use Still mode.............................................................107
To use Net Movie mode...................................................111
To use ImageStation ........................................................114
VisualFlow ..............................................................117
To use VisualFlow...........................................................117
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs.....118
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Using Your Recovery CDs......................................119
To use the Application Recovery CD(s)..........................119
To use the Driver Recovery CD(s) ..................................120
To use the System Recovery CD(s).................................120
Troubleshooting......................................123
Troubleshooting Your Notebook ............................124
Troubleshooting the LCD Screen............................128
Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad.............130
Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral De-
vices.........................................................................132
Troubleshooting Software.......................................134
Troubleshooting the Modem ...................................135
Troubleshooting Audio ...........................................136
Troubleshooting the Printer.....................................137
Getting Help.............................................139
Support Options.......................................................140
VAIO Support Agent ..............................................142
To use the Quick Fix Wizard...........................................142
To use Common Solutions...............................................144
Automatic updates ...........................................................146
Update notification ..........................................................148
VAIO Support Agent Properties......................................148
To use Support Central ....................................................149
Software Support Inform ation.................................154
Sony Service Center................................................157
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Index.........................................................159
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Welcome

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO computer, and welcome to the VAIO User Guide. This User Guide provides 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.
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Using Your VAIO Notebook

This section describes the following aspects of your new computer:
❑ Using the Keyboard ❑ Using the Touchpad ❑ Using the Floppy Disk Drive ❑ Using the Optical Drive ❑ Using PC Cards ❑ Using a Second Battery Pack ❑ Using the Weight Saver ❑ Using Smart Connect ❑ Using Power Saving Modes ❑ Connecting a Phone Line ❑ Connecting to a LAN
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C

Using the Keyboard

Your keyboard is very similar to a typewriter’s, but the keyboard has additional keys that perform specific computer-related tasks.
Keyboard
Correction keys
Navigation keys
Shift
key
trl key
Fn key
Escape key Function keys Print Screen key
Applications key
Alt key
Windows key
Numeric keypad area
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Functions of the keyboard keys

Key Description
Using the Keyboard
Numeric k eypad 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 devoted to moving the cursor on the screen.
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.
Print Screen key The Print Screen key takes an electronic snapshot of the
screen and places it in the Windows Clipboard. You can then paste the screen shot into a document and print it.
Operator keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt keys)
Several keys are alwaysused 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 choosing the Save command from 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 $.
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Key Description
Windows key The key with the Windows logo displays the Windows Start
menu; it is the equivalent of clicking the Start button 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 “Combinations and functions 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 clicking the right mouse button.

Combinations and functions with the Windows key

Combination Function
+ F1 Displays Windows Help.
+ Tab Switches the selected button on the taskbar.
+ D Displays the Desktop.
+ E Displays Windows Explorer.
+ F Displays the Windows Find: All Files window tofind 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: Computer window where you
can locate other computers. This is the equivalent of selecting Find and then Computer from the Startmenu.
+ M Minimizes all displayed windows.
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Using the Keyboard
Combination Function
Shift + + M Returns all 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 Properties window. This is the equivalent of
double-clicking the System icon in the Control Panel.

Indicators

Indicator Function
Power Light is green when the power to the notebook is turned on,
flashes amber in Standby mode, and turns off when the notebook is in Hibernate mode or powered off.
Battery 1 Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the battery bay
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on the left side of the notebook.
Battery 2 Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the multipurpose
2
drive bay on the right side of the notebook.
Hard disk Lights when data is being read from or written to the hard
drive. Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the notebook when this indicator light is on.

Indicator lights

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Light On Off
Num Lock
Caps Lock
Scroll Lock
The number keys in the numeric keypad are active.
The letters appear in uppercase as you type. The Shift key lowers the case of typed letters when Caps Lock is on.
The screen scrolls differently. (Exactly how it scrolls dependson the
The alphanumeric character keys in t he keypad area are active.
Letters appear in lower case as you type (unless you hold down the Shift key).
Information moves across the
display normally . specific application. It has no effect in many applications.)

Combinations and functions with the Fn key

Combinations/ Feature Function
Fn+ (ESC) Standby
Fn+ (F3) Mute On/Off
Puts the system into Standby mode, a power management state. Toreturn the system tothe active state, press any key or press the power button on your notebook.
Toggles the built-in speaker off and on.
Fn+ (F4) Speaker volume
Fn+ (F5) Brightness control
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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 .
Combinations/ Feature Function
Using the Keyboard
LCD
Fn+ / (F7)
Toggles through the LCD, external display (connected to the
Monitor jack) and both LCD and external display. Switch to the external monitor/LCD
LCD
Fn+ only/
(F8)
Control TV Out
Only LCD
Toggles between LCD-only and dual LCD/TV display modes.
Only LCD
LCD and external display
Only external display
LCD and external display
Only external display
Connect the cable before youturn on the notebook, otherwise Fn + F8 will not work.
Fn+ (F12) Hibernate
Provides for the lowest level of power consumption. When you execute this command, 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 its original state, use the power button to turn on power.
Fn+ F Display control. Minimizes and maximizes the LCD screen.
If the default display resolution is reduced, this function maximizes the display resolution to fit the screen size. Maximizing t he display screen enables you to view the display at a greater resolution.
✍ Some functions are not available until Windows launches.
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Using the Touchpad

The keyboard containsa cursor-pointing device called a touchpad. Youcan point to, select, drag, and scroll objects on the screen using the built-in touchpad.
Touchpad
Pointer
Touchpad
Right button
Left button
Action Description
Point Slide one finger on the touchpad to place the pointer on an
item or object.
Click Press the left button once.
Double-click Press the left button twice.
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Using the Touchpad
Action Description
Right-click Press the right button once. In many applications, this action
displays a shortcut menu of context-sensitive choices.
Drag Slide one finger while pressing the left button.
Scroll Move your finger along the right edge of the touchpad to
scroll vertically. Move your finger along the bottom to scroll horizontally. (The scroll function is available only with applications that support a touchpad scroll feature.)
See Mouse Properties for information on touchpad features, such as clickingboth buttons simultaneously, adjusting touchpad speed, and Easy Launcher functions. To access Mouse Properties, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > and click the Mouse icon.
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Using the Floppy Disk Drive

Your notebook comes with the floppy disk drive in the multipurpose bay.

To insert a floppy disk

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

To remove a floppy disk

1 After you finish using the floppy disk, wait until the LED indicator turns off. 2 Press the Eject button to remove the floppy disk.
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Using the F loppy Disk Drive
Removing a floppy disk
Eject button LED indicator
✍ Do not push the eject button when the LED in dicator is turn ed on. Othe rwise, data m ay
be lost.

To remove the floppy disk drive

1 Turn off the notebook. 2 Locate the release lever on the bottom of the notebook. 3 Slide the lever in the direction of the arrow.
Multipurpose bay release lever
Multipurpose bay release lever
4 Slide the floppy disk drive out of the multipurpose bay. 5 Insert the weight saver. See “Using the Weight Saver” for more information.
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To reinsert the floppy disk drive

1 Turn off the notebook. 2 Ifanother device is in the multipurpose bay, remove the device. See “To
remove the second battery pack” for more information.
3 Insert the floppy disk drive into the multipurpose bay with the VAIO label
facing up.
4 Continue pushing the drive into the bay until the release lever locks into
place.
Inserting the floppy disk drive
Multipurpose bay
Floppy disk drive
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Using the Optical Drive

Using the Optical Drive
Your notebook comes with an optical drive, eithera CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive or DVD-R OM drive, depending on the model you purchased.
Do not use adhesive lab els to id en tify you r d is cs. Ad h es ive l ab els m ay c o me off while the disc is in use in the optical drive(s), and may cause damage to the drive.

To insert a disc

When the notebook is in Standby or Hibernate mode, you cannot insert a disc. See “Controlling Power Management” for more information on Standby and Hibernate modes.
1 Turn on the notebook. 2 Press the Eject button to open the optical drive. The tray slides out.
Ejecting the tray
Eject button
3 Placean optical disc on the tray with the label side facing up. For DVDs that
can be played on both sides, the side of the disc facing up is the side that plays.
4 Push the d isc onto the hub until the disc clicks securely into place.
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✍ Be sure to seat the disc firmly over the hub fingers. If you do not seat the disc f irmly,
you could damage your optical drive and you may no t be able to open the tray.
Inserting an optical disc
Label side facing up
5 Close the tray by pushing it gently.

To remove a disc

When the notebook is in power saving modes, you cannot remove a disc. See “Controlling Power Management” for more information about power saving modes.
1 After you finish using a disc, wait until the LED indicator turns off. 2 Press the Eject button to remove the disc. 3 Ifthe disc does not come out when you press the Eject button, turn off the
notebook and insert a thin, pointed object (such as a paper clip) into the manual eject hole.
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Using the Optical Drive
Manually removing a disk

To play a DVD

You can play DVDs using the optical drive and the WinDVD® software. See the help file that comes with the WinDVD software for details.
❑ To ach ieve optimum performance when playing DVDs, it is recommended
that your notebook not be connected to the port replicator while playing DVD movies or using DVD applications. Close any open applications before playing a DVD movie.
❑ When playing DVD movies on battery power, set the power management
profile to DVD. With other profiles, the movies are choppy. As an alternative, you can set the power management profile to Automatic Profile Selection, which will cause the DVD profile to be selected automatically whenever you insert a DVD. See “Controlling Power Management” for information on how to set the power management profile.
Some discs record ed at 20 or 24 bits may produce noise while playing. If you have audio devices connected, this may cause damage to your hearing and the speakers. Reduce the volume before playing such discs.
You cannot switch between LCD and TV if you press Fn+F8 when a DVD is inserted in the optical drive.
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Notes on CD and DVD media

❑ Do not switch the power saving modes while you are playing the DVD disc. ❑ Do not switch between LCD and the external display while you are playing
the DVD video.
❑ Change the setting to disable the screen saver and the virus checker (if it is
active).
❑ Do not use memory-resident utility software to speed up disc access. This
may cause the notebook to malfunction.
❑ Donotdroporbendthedisc. ❑ Do not touch thesurface of the disc. Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a
disc may cause reading errors. Proper careof the disc is essential to maintain its reliability. Do not use solvents such as benzine, thinner, commercially available cleaners or anti-static spray, as they may cause damage to the disc.
❑ For normal cleaning, hold the disc byits edge and use a softcloth to wipe the
surface from the center out.
❑ If the disc is badly soiled, moisten a soft cloth with water, wring it out well,
and use it to wipe the surface of the disc from the center out. Wipe off any remaining moisture with a dry soft cloth.
When using your notebook to play DVDs on your TV
❑ If you connect a TV to your notebook to play DVDs, see “Selecting the
Display Mode” for instructions.
❑ When a TV is connected to a notebook that is set to factory settings, a part of
the video screen will not appear. To view the entire screen, adjustthe display resolution to 640 x 480. See “Selecting the Display Mode” for more information.
❑ If you set the display resolution higher than the default setting (1280 x 1024,
24 bits), the DVD video may not play properly.
❑ (For models with SXGA+ panels) To view the DVD video clearly, set the
display resolution to 1024 x 768 dots (16 bits).
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Using the Optical Drive
To write data to CD-RW/CD-R media (For models with a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive)
You can use Easy CD Creator™ software to write data to a CD-R or CD-RW. To use Easy CD Creator, see the online help manual that comes with the software.
❑ For optimal writing speed, deactivate the screen saver and exit anti-virus
software before writing data to a disc.
❑ For best results, use CD-Rs that are compatible with 4x speed. ❑ Do not put your notebook into power saving mode while using Easy CD
Creator.
Do not touch the surface of the disc. Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a disc may cause writing errors.
Do not strike or shake the notebook whi le writing data to a disc. Memory-resident disc ut ilities , such as the s cre en saver a nd viru s chec ker, may
cause unstable operation or data loss. Deactivate these utilities before writing data to a disc.
Always use the AC adapter as the power source for your notebook when you are writing data to a CD-R or CD-RW. Using battery power may result in data transfer failure.
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Using PC Cards

Your notebook includes two PC Card slots. PC Cards enable you to connect portable external devices such as another hard disk drive, or to connect to a network.
The PC Card slots can accommodate two Type I/II PC Cards, or one Type III PC Card. These slots are compatible with CardBus. Use the lower slot for Type III PC Cards. You do not need to shut down your notebook before inserting or removing a PC Card.

To insert a PC card

1 Push the Release button. The Release button pops out.
PC Card release button
Release button
Release button
2 Press the Release button a second time. The PC Card slot protector pops out.
✍ When you u se a Type III PC Card, you need to remove both the top and bottom PC
Card slot protectors.
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Using PC Cards
PC Card slot protector
3 Insert the PC Card into the PC Card slot. 4 Verify that the front label of the PC Card is facing up. 5 Pushthe PC Card slot gently into theport. Your system automatically detects
the PC Card. The Unplug or Eject Hardware icon appears in the taskbar.
Inserting a PC Card
Insert with the arrow facin g toward the slot
PC Card
Do not force a PC Card into the slot as this may damage the connector pins. Touching the head of the PC Card will not cause damage to the connector
pins, but dama ge can occur if the head of the PC Card is sticking out of the notebook while the unit is being t ran s po rted .

To remove a PC Card

If your notebook is turned off, you do not have to follow these instructions.
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1 Double-click in the taskbar. The “Unplug or Eject Hardware” dialog
box appears.
2 Select the hardware device you wish to remove. 3 Click Stop. In the “Stop a Hardware device” dialog box, confirm that the
device can be safely removed from the system.
4 Click OK. The message, “PC Card can now be safely removed from the
system” appears.
5 Click OK again and click Close. 6 Push the Release button. The Release button pops out. 7 Push the Release button a second time. The PC Card pops out. 8 Gently grasp the card and pull it out of the slot. 9 Insert the PC Card slot protector into the empty slot.

Notes on PC Cards

❑ For some PC Cards, if you alternate between normal power operation and
the Standby or Hibernate power management modes while the card is inserted, you may find that a device connected to your system is not recognized. Reboot your system to correct the problem.
❑ Some PC Cards may require that you disable idledevices when using the PC
Card. You can useSony Notebook Setup to disable devices. See “Displaying 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 the System
Properties dialog box, remove the software driver and then reinstall it.
❑ You may not be ableto use some PC Cardsor some functions of thePC Card
with this notebook. If you have difficulty inserting a card, check that you are orienting the card correctly. See the manual that came with your PC Card for more information on use.
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