Sony PCG-GR200 User Manual

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

PCG-GR200 Series

Contents

Welcome.......................................................5

Unpacking Your Notebook .........................................7

Registering Your Notebook ........................................9

Setting up your dial-up connection ...........................10

Setting Up Your VAIO® Notebook ...........15

Connecting a Power Source ......................................21

Starting Your Notebook ............................................27

Shutting Down Your Notebook.................................28

Adding Memory .........................................31

Precautions and Procedures.......................................32

Typical expansion memory configuration.................33

Removing a memory module ....................................34

Installing a memory module......................................36

Viewing the amount of memory................................37

About the Software on Your Notebook ...39

Software Overview....................................................40

Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs.......46

Using Your Recovery CDs (Windows® 2000).........47

Using Your Recovery CDs (Windows® XP)............51

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Troubleshooting........................................57

Troubleshooting Your Notebook .............................. 58

Troubleshooting the LCD Screen ............................. 62

Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad .............. 63

Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and

Peripheral Devices .................................................... 65

Troubleshooting Software......................................... 68

Troubleshooting the Modem..................................... 70

Troubleshooting Audio ............................................. 71

Troubleshooting the Printer ...................................... 72

Getting Help...............................................73

Software Support Information .................................. 75

Index...........................................................79

Welcome

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

Features

For a complete description of the specifications of your VAIO® notebook, see the

✍

Specifications flyer supplied with your notebook.

Exceptional performance — Your notebook includes a Mobile Intel®

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Pentium® III processor that supports Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep™ technology performance and portability, Sony has implemented speed-controlling technology designed to maximize battery life during mobile computer use. Windows® reported actual CPU speed may not reflect the maximum CPU speed.

Portability — Rechargeable battery pack provides hours of use without AC

❑

power.

Sony audio and video quality — High-quality MPEG1/MPEG2 video,

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which supports full-screen display and enables you to take advantage of today’s advanced multimedia applications, games, and entertainment software.

Multimedia features — Enjoy the stereo speakers or use a pair of

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headphones (not supplied) to listen to audio CDs and DVDs.

* The processor may be reduced to a lower operating speed under certain conditions. † Actual upload and download speeds may vary due to line conditions, ISP support, and

government regulations.

‡ Depending on the specific model you purchased, speed-controlling technology may not be

present.

and a V.90/K56flex-compatible modem.† To combine

‡

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Microsoft® Windows® operating system — Your system includes

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Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition, or Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional.

Communications — Access popular online services, send e-mail, browse

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the Internet, and use fax features.

Removable Hard Disk Drive — Take advantage of the increased

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computing versatility and expansion capabilities that a removable drive affords.

Optical drive (CD-RW/DVD Combo or DVD-ROM) — Your system

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includes either a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive or a DVD-ROM drive. The CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive utilizes a new optical storage technology that combines the features of both a CD-RW drive and DVD-ROM drive, providing increased storage capacity and a rich multimedia computing experience. Optical drives play most DVD-ROM, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CDRW, and CD-R discs. This drive is hot-swappable.

Your computer’s optical disc drive and other parts may differ depending on the model

✍

you purchased.

* Sony does not guarantee interoperability with removable hard disk drives other than the one

provided.

Unpacking Your Notebook

Remove the following hardware items from the box:

Main unit

Power cord

AC adap ter

Unpacking Your Notebook

Rechargeable battery pack

* The removable hard disk drive and removable optical disc drive are preinstalled in your note-

book.

Weight saver

Documents

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start — Contains information on unpacking and

❑

setting up your notebook, supplementary updates, and software information.

Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional manual, Microsoft® Windows XP

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Home Edition manual, or Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional manual — Explains how to use the basic features of this latest Windows

operating system.

VAIO® Notebook Notes on Use — Explains notes on use and offers safety

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tips.

Specifications Sheet — Details the hardware specifications for your

❑

notebook.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Software CDs

Microsoft® Word — Enables you to reinstall Microsoft Word to the

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VAIO® notebook you purchased.

Recovery CDs

Application Recovery CD(s) — Enables you to reinstall individual

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applications if they become corrupted or are erased.

Driver Recovery CD(s) — Enables you to reinstall individual device

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drivers if they become corrupted or are erased.

System Recovery CD(s) — Enables you to format the C:\ partition of the

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hard disk drive, then reinstall the operating system and software titles that shipped with your notebook if they become corrupted or are erased.

Other

Packet containing special product offers

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Warrant y C a rd

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Registering Your Notebook

Take advantage of Sony’s commitment to quality customer support and receive these benefits by registering your notebook:

Sony Customer Support — Talk to a Support Representative to

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troubleshoot problems you may be having with your notebook.

Limited Warranty — Protect your investment. See the Warranty Card for

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more details.

You are prompted to register your computer the first time you turn on the unit. Follow

✍

the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process. If you are not able to register your computer during the first session, you are provided with additional registration opportunities later.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Setting up your dial-up connection

This section describes the basic steps for setting up your dial-up connection for the first time. The Connection Wizard guides you through the process of connecting to the Internet and then choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or setting up an existing account.

Setting up your dial-up connection

(Windows® XP Home Edition/Windows® XP Professional)

1 Click Start from the Windows taskbar and select All Programs.

2 Point to Accessories, Communications, and then click New Connection

Wizard. The Location Information window appears.

Location Information window

3 Follow the instructions on-screen and then click OK to continue. The Phone

and Modem Options window appears.

Setting up your dial-up connection

Phone and Modem Options window

4 Select the location from where you are dialing and then click OK. The New

Connection Wizard appears.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

New Connection Wizard

5 Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up your dial-up

connection.

Setting up your dial-up connection

(Windows® 2000 Professional)

1 Double-click the Connect to the Internet icon on the Windows desktop.

The Internet Connection Wizard appears.

Internet Connection Wizard

2 Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up your dial-up

connection and to choose your ISP.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Setting Up Your VAIO® Notebook

This section describes all the controls and ports on your notebook, how to connect your notebook to a power source, and how to start and shut down your notebook.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Locating Controls and Ports

Front

Memory Stick® indicator 8 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

screen

2 Num Lock indicator 9 Keyboard

3 Caps Lock indicator 10 Speakers

4 Scroll Lock indicator 11 Left and right buttons

5 Power indicator 12 Touchpad

6 Battery 1 and 2 indicators 13 Battery bay

7 Hard disk drive indicator 14 Power button

Left

Setting Up Your VAIO® Notebook

S400

Back button for center Jog

4 Memory Stick® slot

Dial™ control

2 Center Jog Dial™ control 5 PC Card slots

3 CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive or

DVD-ROM drive in multipurpose bay

* This multipurpose bay can house either an optical disc drive or an optional second battery.

6 i.LINK® (IEEE1394) S400

port

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Right

1 Air vent

2 Drive bay with removable hard disk drive

3 Battery bay

Setting Up Your VAIO® Notebook

Back

1 Air vent 6 Ethernet port

2 DC In port 7 USB ports

3 Printer port 8 Modem jack

4 VGA port 9 Microphone jack

5 AV Out jack 10 Headphone jack

* There is a protruding dot above the Microphone jack to further distinguish it from other jacks

and ports. Do not connect a microphone to the Headphone jack.

Only connect 10Base-T and 100Base-TX cables to the Ethernet port. Do not connect any other type of network cable or any telephone line. Connecting cables other than those listed above may result 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.

There is a ventilation slot located on the left side of the back panel. Do not cover the

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ventilation slot when your notebook is on.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

Bottom

1 Tilt stands

2 Multipurpose bay RELEASE lever

3 Port replicator connector

Connecting a Power Source

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

Using the AC adapter

1 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter into the DC In port on the

notebook.

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

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

Connecting the AC adapter

Notebook

DC In

AC adapter (supplied)

Power cord

(supplied)

Notes on the AC adapter

Your notebook operates on 100V-240V AC 50/60 Hz.

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Do not share the AC outlet with other power-consuming equipment, such as

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a copy machine or shredder.

You can purchase a power strip with a surge protector. This device prevents

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damage to your notebook caused by sudden power surges such as those that may occur during an electrical storm.

Do not place heavy objects on the power cord.

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To disconnect the cord, pull it out by the plug. Never pull the cord itself.

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Unplug your notebook from the wall outlet if you will not be using the

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notebook for a long time.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

The LED indicator on the AC adapter may be turned on until the AC adapter

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is unplugged from your notebook.

When the AC adapter is not used, unplug it from the AC outlet.

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Use only the AC adapter supplied. Do not use any other AC adapter.

❑

Using battery power

You can use one or two battery packs as a source of power. The second battery pack inserts into the multipurpose bay on the left side of the notebook. (See “Using a Second Battery Pack” in the online User Guide for more information.) Additional battery packs are available as a separate option.

The battery pack that comes with your notebook 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

1 Push the battery bay cover down to open it.

The battery bay cover swings out but does not detach.

✍

Battery bay

Connecting a Power Source

2 Insert the battery pack into the battery bay on the right side of the notebook.

Inserting battery pack

Battery pack

(supplied)

VAIO logo facing up

3 Lift the battery bay cover up until it clicks.

If the port replicator is attached to your notebook, do not attempt to insert or remove

✍

the battery pack. Lifting and turning the notebook with a port replicator attached could cause a temporary loss of power.

To charge the battery pack

1 Connect the AC adapter to the notebook.

2 Insert the battery pack.

The notebook automatically charges the battery. The battery indicator flashes in a double-blink pattern as the battery charges.

3 When the battery is 85 percent full, the battery indicator turns off. This

process takes 3 hours when your notebook is using AC power.

To charge the battery completely, continue charging for an additional hour. See

✍

“Displaying Battery Information” in the online User Guide for more information.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

There are two battery indicators on the notebook

Battery indicators

Battery Indicator Description

Indicates the status of the battery pack in the battery bay on the right side of the notebook.

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

Battery Indicator Light Status Description

On The notebook is using battery power.

Single blink The battery is running out of power.

Double blink The battery is charging.

Off The notebook is using AC power.

Connecting a Power Source

To remove the battery pack

1 Push the battery bay cover down to open it.

2 Pull out the battery pack.

Removing the battery pack

3 Push in and lift up the battery bay cover until it clicks.

You will lose data if you remove the battery pack while the notebook is on and not connected to the AC adapter, or if you remove the battery while the notebook is in a power saving mode.

Notes on the battery

To determine the remaining battery charge, see “Displaying Battery

❑

Information” in the online User Guide for more information.

When the battery power is running low, both the battery and power

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indicators blink.

When the notebook is directly connected to AC power and has a battery pack

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in the battery bay, it uses power from the AC outlet.

See “Using a Second Battery Pack” in the online User Guide for

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information on installing and charging a battery pack in the multipurpose bay.

Keep the battery pack in the notebook while it is directly connected to AC

❑

power. The battery pack continues to charge while you are using the notebook.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start

If the battery level falls below 10 percent, you should either attach the AC

❑

adapter to recharge the battery, or shut down your notebook and insert a fully charged battery.

You can extend battery life by changing the power management modes in the

❑

PowerPanel™ utility. See “Power Saving Modes” in the online User Guide for more information.

The battery pack supplied with your notebook is a lithium-ion battery and

❑

can be recharged at any time. Charging a partially discharged battery does not affect battery life.

For some software applications and some peripheral devices, your notebook

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may not enter Hibernate 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 Standby or Hibernate.

Never leave the battery pack in temperatures above 140° F (60° C), such as

❑

under direct sunlight or in a car parked in the sun.

Battery life is shorter in a cold environment. This is due to decreased battery

❑

efficiency at low temperatures.

Charge the batteries at temperatures between 50° F and 80° F (10° C to

❑

30° C). Lower temperatures require a longer charging time.

While the battery is in use or being discharged, the battery pack heats up.

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This is normal and is not cause for concern.

Keep the battery pack away from all sources of heat.

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Keep the battery pack dry.

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Do not open or try to disassemble the battery pack.

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Do not expose the battery pack to any mechanical shock.

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If you are not using the notebook for an extended period of time, remove the

❑

battery pack from the notebook to prevent damage to the battery.

If, after fully charging the battery pack, the battery power is still low, the

❑

battery pack may be reaching the end of its life and should be replaced.

If you have not used the battery pack for a considerable amount of time,

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recharge the battery.

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