Sony PCG-GR200K User Manual

Contents
Welcome.......................................................7
Using Your VAIO Notebook........................9
Using the Keyboard...................................................10
Combinations and functions with the Windows key .........12
Indicators ...........................................................................13
Indicator lights...................................................................13
Using the Touchpad ..................................................16
VAIO Action Setup...................................................18
Center Jog Dial Control.............................................19
Using the center Jog Dial control ......................................19
Launcher mode ..................................................................20
Guide mode........................................................................21
Center Jog Dial back button...............................................21
Using the center Jog Dial control with Sony software ......22
Using the center Jog Dial control with other software ......22
Using the Removable Hard Disk Drive.....................23
Using the Optical Disc Drive ....................................24
To insert a disc...................................................................24
To eject a disc ....................................................................25
To play a DVD...................................................................26
To play an audio CD..........................................................27
Notes on CD and DVD discs .............................................28
To write data to a CD-RW or CD-R disc...........................28
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Using PC Cards.........................................................30
To insert a PC Card...........................................................30
To remove a PC Card........................................................ 30
Notes on using PC Cards .................................................. 31
Using a Second Battery Pack....... .............................32
To insert a second battery pack......................................... 32
To charge the second battery pack.................................... 33
To remove the second battery pack................................... 34
Using the Weight Saver............................................35
To attach the weight saver ................................................ 35
To remove the weight saver.............................................. 36
Using Memory Stick Media......................................37
Types of Memory Stick media.......................................... 37
Write-protecting Memory Stick media ............................. 39
Formatting Memory Stick media...................................... 39
Notes on Memory Stick media.......................................... 40
Power Saving Modes ................................................42
Normal mode..................................................................... 42
Standby mode.................................................................... 42
Hibernate mode................................................................. 42
Connecting a Phone Line .........................................44
Connecting with another VAIO computer................45
Connecting to a Local Area Network (LAN) ...........46
Setting up your Ethernet connection................................. 46
Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............47
Connecting an External Floppy Disk Drive..............48
To connect an external floppy disk drive.......................... 48
To insert a floppy disk ...................................................... 49
To remove a floppy disk ................................................... 49
Removing an external floppy disk drive when the notebook
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is on....................................................................................49
To carry an external floppy disk drive...............................50
Handling floppy disks........................................................50
Connecting a Port Replicator ....................................51
To attach your notebook to the port replicator ..................51
To remove your notebook from the port replicator ...........53
Connecting a PS/ 2 External Mouse or Keyboard......55
To connect an external mouse or keyboard .......................55
Connecting an Audio Device ....................................56
Connecting a CD player, active speaker, or an amplifier..56
Connecting an Audio-Video (AV) Device................58
Connecting a Parallel Port Printer.............................62
To connect a printer ...........................................................62
Connecting a USB Printer.........................................63
To connect a USB printer ..................................................63
Connecting an External Display................................64
To connect a computer display ..........................................64
To connect a multimedia computer display.......................66
To connect a projector .......................................................66
To select a display..............................................................66
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device....68
To connect a USB device...................................................68
Connecting an i.LINK Device...................................69
To connect a digital video camera recorder.......................70
Connecting External Speakers ..................................72
To connect external speakers.............................................72
Connecting an External Microphone.........................73
To connect an external microphone...................................73
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Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities...................74
Personal Digital Assistant................................................. 74
Wireless LAN Access Point.............................................. 74
Wireless LAN PC Card..................................................... 75
Customizing Your VAIO Notebook..........77
Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen...........78
To display the Sony Notebook Setup screen: ................... 78
Sony Notebook Setup tabs................................................ 79
Controlling Power Management...............................80
Viewing the Power Management status icons .................. 80
Power Management profiles ............................................. 81
Power Management commands ........................................ 84
Conserving battery power................................................. 84
Optimizing clock speed settings ....................................... 84
Displaying Battery Information................................86
Battery icon descriptions................................................... 86
Displaying detailed battery information ........................... 87
Selecting the Display Mode......................................89
Changing the window design of Sony software................ 91
Adding Memory.........................................93
Precautions and Procedures ......................................93
Models with 128 MB memory.......................................... 94
Models with 256 MB memory.......................................... 94
To remove a memory module...................................95
To install a memory module.....................................97
To view the amount of memory................................98
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About the Software on Your Notebook ...99
Overview...................................................................99
MovieShaker ...........................................................104
Importing images and sound clips ...................................104
Creating a movie using Shaker ........................................104
Editing clips and scenes...................................................106
Adding effects to a scene or a clip...................................106
Saving a movie.................................................................107
OpenMG Jukebox ...................................................108
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) services ...............108
To start OpenMG Jukebox 2.0.........................................109
To record a CD ................................................................110
To transfer songs (check-in/check-out) ...........................111
Additional OpenMG Jukebox features ............................113
Notes on using Portable Players ......................................114
PictureGear..............................................................115
Managing your pictures ...................................................115
Creating a photo album....................................................115
Using Panorama Maker ...................................................116
To make still images and panoramic from MPEG ..........116
Smart Capture..........................................................117
Using Still mode ..............................................................118
Using Net Movie mode....................................................122
Using ImageStation..........................................................125
VisualFlow™ ..........................................................129
DVgate ....................................................................130
To defragment a partition ................................................130
DVgate plug-in for Adobe Premiere................................130
Application, System, and Driver Recovery CDs.....132
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Using Your Recovery CDs .....................................133
Using the Application Recovery CD(s) .......................... 133
Using the Driver Recovery CD....................................... 134
Using the System Recovery CD(s) ................................. 134
Troubleshooting......................................137
Troubleshooting Your Notebook............................137
Troubleshooting the LCD Screen ...........................141
Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad ............142
Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral De-
vices ........................................................................144
Troubleshooting Software.......................................146
Troubleshooting the Modem...................................147
Troubleshooting Audio...........................................148
Troubleshooting the Printer ....................................149
Getting Help.............................................151
Support Options ......................................................151
VAIO Support Agent..............................................153
Using the Quick Fix Wizard ........................................... 153
Using Common Solutions............................................... 155
About automatic updates................................................. 157
Update notification.......................................................... 159
VAIO Support Agent properties ..................................... 159
Using Support Central..................................................... 160
Software Support Information ................................165
Index.........................................................169
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Welcome

Congratulationson 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.
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Using Your VAIO Notebook

This section describes how to use your keyboard, touchpad, and optical drive. You will also find information on how to connect your notebook to another computer or network.
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Using the Keyboard

Your notebook keyboard is very similar to that of a typewriter, but the keyboard has additional keys that perform specific computer-related tasks.
Keyboard
Alt key
Function keys
Numeric keypad
Print Screen key
Applications key keys
Navigation
Correction keys
Escape key
hift key
Ctrl key
Fn key
Windows key
Key Description
Numeric keypad 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 d evoted to moving the cursor on the screen.
Correction keys The Insert, Back Space, and Delete keys enable you to make
corrections in your documents.
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Using Your VAIO Notebook
Key Description
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 $.
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 i n 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.
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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 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: Computer 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 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.
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Using Your VAIO Notebook

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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Battery 2 Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the multipurpose
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Memory Stick Indicates that the Memory Stick® slot is in use.
Hard disk This indicator will light when data is being read from or
on the right side of the notebook.
drive bay on the left side of the notebook.
written to the hard disk. Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the notebook when this indicator is on.

Indicator lights

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 C aps Lock is on.
The screen scrolls differently. (Exactly how it scrolls dependson the specific application. It has no effect in many applications.)
The alphanumeric character keys in the 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.
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Combinations and functions with the Fn key

Combinations/ Feature Function
Fn+ (F3) Mute On/Off
Fn+ (F4) Speaker volume
Fn+ (F5) Brightness control
LCD
Fn+ / (F7) Switch to the external monitor/LCD
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 light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then or . To decrease light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then or .
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
Connect the cable before youturn on the notebook, otherwise Fn + F7 will not work.
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Combinations/ Feature Function
LCD
Fn+ only/
(F8)
Toggles between LCD-only and dual LCD/TV display modes.
Control AV out
Connect the cable before youturn on the notebook, otherwise Fn + F8 will not work.
Only LCD
Using Your VAIO Notebook
LCD and external display
Only external display
Fn+ (F12) Hibernate
Provides for the lowest level of power consumption. When you run 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 + Esc Standby
Puts the system into Standby mode, a power management state. To return the system to the active state, press any key or press the power button on your notebook.
Some f unctions 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
Left and Right buttons
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 cl icking both
buttons simultaneously, adjusting touchpad speed, an d Easy Launcher functions. To access Mouse Properties, open the Start menu, point to Settings, Control Panel, and then click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel.
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VAIO Action Setup

VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your notebook’s center Jog Dial™ control, Memory Stick® media, and i.LINK®
*
interface. For more information on changing the settings using VAIO Action Setup, right-click the Jog Dial Utility icon or in the taskbar and click Help Topics.
* i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used to designate thata 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 with an i.LINK connector may not communicate with each other. Refertothedocumentation 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, confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.
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Center Jog Dial Control

Center Jog Dial Control
Your notebook is equipped with a center Jog Dial control located below the left and right buttons. The centerJog Dial control enablesyou to open an application, folder,or document from a predefined lis t by rotating and pressing the center Jog Dial control. In addition, when you press the center Jog Dial control, you can turn on your notebook automatically and start the selected application or document.
Center Jog Dial Control
Turn
Back button
Press
Center Jog Dial Control
The center Jog Dial control window always appears in the display. It is either in the launcher mode or in the guide mode.

Using the center Jog Dial control

This section explains how to use the center Jog Dial control. For information on how to change the settings of the center Jog Dial control, right-click the Jog Dial Utility icon or in the task tray and click Help Topics.
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Launcher mode

The center Jog Dial control window is in launcher mode until a software application is launched or the Jog Dial control window becomes active. When you select an item in the Jog Dial control window and it is displayed between orange bars, you can press the center Jog Dial control to view a submenu of that item.
Using Launcher mode
To use the center Jog Dial control, click the Jog Dial control window or the Jog Dial Utility icon in the taskbar. Alternatively, you can press the Ctrl key and the center Jog Dial control while the Jog Dial control window is active to switch to launcher mode.
Jog Dial Launcher
To select a desired item, proceed as follows:
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Center Jog Dial Control
1 Rotate the center Jog Dial control to select the item you want, then press the
center Jog Dial control. The Jog Dial Launcher window switches to guide mode and shows the function of the center Jog Dial control.
Jog Dial Guide
2 Rotate or press the center Jog Dial control to use the desired function. 3 To select another item, repeat steps 1 through 3 above.

Guide mode

The Jog Dial control window is in the guide mode when software is in use and the software window is active. Depending on the software you are using, you can select items from the displayed list using the center Jog D ial control. You can switch between guide mode and launcher mode by pressing the Ctrl key and the center Jog Dial control.
Using Guide mode
The Jog Dial control window displays the function of the center Jog Dial control.

Center Jog Dial back button

The center Jog Dial control includes a back button located to the right of the control. Pressing this button brings you back to the previous screen.
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Using the center Jog Dial control with Sony software

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

Using the center Jog Dial control with other software

If the software you are using supports the center Jog Dial control, you can still use the center Jog Dial control to scroll the window or adjust the window size.
Using a Di alog 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 center Jog Dial control. Pressing the center Jog Dial control is the equivalent of pressing Enter or Select.
Jog Dial Guide Dialog Box
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Using the Removable Hard Disk Drive

Using the Removable Hard Disk Drive
Your notebook is equipped with a removable hard diskdrive, located on the right side next to the battery bay.
The hard disk drive is preformatted and ready to let you take full advantage of all Sony VAIO® features. You can upgrade to a higher-capacity hard disk drive as your computing needs warrant.
Sony does not guarantee interoperab ility with removable hard disk drives other than
the one provided with your VAIO
Removing the hard disk drive
1 Shut down your notebook and locate the latch for the hard disk drive. 2 Loosen and remove the screw on the bottom of thenotebook that secures the
hard disk drive. Use an appropriate screwdriver.
3 Slide the hard disk drive out of the drive bay.
Installing the hard disk drive
1 Slide the hard disk drive into the drive bay until it clicks into place. 2 Replace and tighten the screw that secures the hard disk drive.
®
notebook.
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Using the Optical Disc Drive

Your notebook comes with a removable optical disc drive located in the multipurpose bay. Depending on the system you purchased, your optical disc drive is either a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive or a DVD-ROM drive.
The optical disc drive is removable when the power is on, but do not remove the drive when your notebook is in a power saving mode. Any attempt to do so may result in malfunction and/or data loss.

To insert a disc

1 Turn on the notebook.
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.
2 Press the Eject button to open the optical drive.
The tray slides out.
Ejecting the tray
Eject button
Avoid using adhesive labels to identify your discs. Adhesive labels may come off while
the disc is in use in your optical drive, and may cause damage to the unit.
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Using the Optical Disc Drive
3 Placean optical disc on the tray with the label side facing up. For DVDs that
can played on both sides, the side of the disc facing up is the side that plays.
4 Press the disc onto the hub until the disc clicks securely into place.
Inserting an optical disc
Label side facing up
5 Close the tray by pushing it gently.

To eject a disc

When you finish using a disc, wait until the LED indicator turns off, and then press the Eject button to remove the disc.
When the notebook is in a power saving mode, you cannot remove an optical disc. See “Controlling Power Management” for more information about power saving modes.
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If the optical disc does not slide 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.
Make sure to seat t he disc firmly ove r the hub fingers. If you do not seat th e disc firmly, you could damage your optical drive and you may not be able to open the tray.
Manual ejec t hole

To play a DVD

To play a DVD, you may use the optical disc drive and the preinstalled WinDVD® software. For more information on WinDVD, see the Help manual that comes with your software.
Before you use the optical disc drive to play a DVD, quit any open applications.
Systems equipped with a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive can read DVD-R media, but systems equippedwith a DVD-ROM drive cannot read DVD-R media. When you are ready toplay a DVD, readthe suggestions below to m aximize yourvideo viewing experience.
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Using the Optical Disc Drive
When playing a DVD on battery power, set the power managementprofile to
DVD. You can also set the power management profile to Automatic Profile Selection if the display is not clear when using other profiles.
Automatic Profile Selection sets the power management profile to DVD whenever a
DVD is inserted. See “Controlling Power Management” for more information.
If you connect your notebook to a TV display, you may need to adjust the
display resolution. Read the suggestions below to set the display resolution to the proper dimensions. Also see “Selecting the Display Mode” for more information.
If the notebook is set to the default display setting, part of the video screen
will not appear. To view the entire screen, adjust the display resolution to 640 x 480.
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 a DVD.
You cannot use the Fn + F8 function to switch between LCD and TV once a DVD is inserted into the optical drive.
Do not switch between LCD and the e xternal d isplay while the DVD is playin g. This may cause a malfunction, and you may need to restart the DVD sof tware.
Do not switch the power saving modes while you are playing the DVD. Change the settings to d isable the screen saver and the virus checker. Do not use memory-resident utilit y software to speed up disc access. This
may cause the note book to malfunctio n.

To play an audio CD

To play an audio CD, make sure the audio function is turned on. To do this, complete the following procedure.
The optical disc drive must be installed in the mul tipurpose bay before you begin.
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1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar, select Settings, and then click System.
The System Properties window appears.
2 Select the Hardware tab and then click Device Manager in the Device
Manager box. A window appears, listing your notebook hardware devices.
3 Double-click DVD/CD-ROM drives. From the drop-down list, double-click
the drive name. A properties window appears.
4 Select the “Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device” check box if
it is not already selected and then click OK.

Notes on CD and DVD discs

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.

To write data to a CD-RW or CD-R disc

*
You can use Easy CD Creator® software to write data to a CD-R or CD-RW disc. Easy CD Creator works only iftheCD-R or CD-RWdiscis formatted; otherwise, your notebook will not recognize it. To create a CD-R disc that is readable in a
* For notebook models equipped with a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive.
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Using the Optical Disc Drive
CD-ROM drive, make sure you finish the writing process before ejecting it. For more information, see the instructions included with the Easy CD Creator software.
For optimal writing speed, deactivate t he screen saver and exit anti-virus software
before writing data to a disc. For best results, use CD-Rs that are compatible with 8x speed, as Easy CD Creator® is
preset to that speed. Your notebook does not support 1x writing speed. If you use CD­RW or CD-R writing software othe r th an Easy CD Creator, use PowerPanel to select the DVD Profile. Mem ory-resident disc utilities may cause unstable operatio n or data loss. Deactivate these ut ilities before writing d a ta to a disc.
When using Easy CD Creat or Standard, be sure to exit all other applications. If your notebook comput er has preinstalled Microsoft® Office applications, such as
Excel, Word, and Outlook, turn off the FindFast application. Do not put your notebook into power saving mode while using Easy CD Creator.
Do not strike or shake the notebook whi le writing data to a disc. Always use the AC adapter as the power source for your notebook if you are
writing data to a CD-RW or CD-R disc. 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 a PC Network Interface Card (NIC) 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 Insert the PC Card into the PC Card slot. Make sure the front label of the PC
Card is facing up.
Inserting a PC Card
Insert with the
arrow facing toward
the slot
PC Card
2 Push the the PC Card slot gently into the connector .The PC Card is
automatically detected by your system. The Unplug or Eject Hardware icon appears in the taskbar.
Do not force a PC Card into the s lot as this may damage the connector pins. Do not carry your notebook while touching the head of a PC Card (such as a
wireless LAN card ), as pressure or shock may damage the connec tor pins.

To remove a PC Card

The following procedure describes how to remove the PC Card while the notebook is on. If you want toremovethe PC Card while the notebook is off, skip to step number 6 (below).
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Using PC Cards
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 then click Close. 6 Push the Release but ton. The Release button pops out. 7 Push the Release button a second time. The PC Card pops out. Gently grasp
the card and pull it out of the slot.

Notes on using 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 f ind that a device connected to your system is not recognized. Restart your system to correct the problem.
Some PC Cards may require that you disableidle devices when using the PC
Card. You can use Sony 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.
YoumaynotbeabletousesomePCCardsorsomefunctionsofthePCCard
with this notebook. If you have difficultyinserting a card, check that you are orienting the card correctly. See the manual that camewith your PC Card for more information on its use.
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Using a Second Battery Pack

You can purchase a second rechargeable battery pack. With two battery packs, you can extend the time that you use your notebook with battery power. When using two batterypacks, the battery pack you insert first charges first. The battery pack you insert second begins charging when the first battery pack is 85 percent full. You can monitor which battery pack is charging by observing the battery indicators.

To insert a second battery pack

1 If another device is in the multipurpose bay, remove that device. 2 Insert the battery pack into the multipurpose bay.
If the battery is being used, the battery 2 indicator turns on.
Second battery in multipurpose bay
Multipurpose bay
Battery pack
VAIO logo facing up
3 Attach the weight saver to the notebook to stabilize the battery pack. See
“Using the Weight Saver” for more information.
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Using a Second Battery Pack

To charge the second battery pack

Using weight saver for second battery cover
Battery pack
Weight saver
Keep the battery pack in the notebook while it is connected to AC power. The battery indicator flashes while the battery is charging. See also “To charge the battery pack” in the printed Quick Start for more information.
Charging the second battery
Battery indicators
To determine the amount of time the batte ry lasts, see “Displaying Batt e ry
Information” for details.
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To remove the second battery pack

If you attach two battery packs, you can remove either of them without shutting down the notebook. When removing one battery pack, make sure that the other battery pack’s indicator is on. If the indicator of the battery pack you are removing is on, right-click the battery icon on the taskbar and click the “Switch discharge battery” option.
1 To remove the battery pack, first slide the multipurpose bay Release lever in
the direction of the arrow to unlock the weight saver.
Multipurpose bay Release lever
Release lever
2 Remove the weight saver, and then pull out the battery pack. 3 Reinsert the weight saver. See “Using the Weight Saver” for more
information.
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Using the Weight Saver

Using the Weight Saver
The weight saver protects the multipurpose bay when it is empty, and secures the secondary battery when it is installed in the multipurpose bay.

To attach the weight saver

1 If another device, such as a battery pack, is in the multipurpose bay, remove
that device. See “To remove the second battery pack” for more information.
2 Slide the weight saver in the direction of the arrow until it cli cks into place.
Inserting the weight saver
Weight sav er (supplied)
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To remove the weight saver

1 To remove the weight saver,first slide the multipurpose bay Release lever in
the direction of the arrow.
Multipurpose bay Release lever
Release le ver
2 Remove the weight saver.
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Using Memory S tick Media

Using Memory Stick Media
This compact, portable, and versatile recording medium has a data capacity exceeding that of a floppy disk. The medium is specially designed for exchanging and sharing digital data with compatible products. Because it is removable, the media can be used for external data storage.

Types of Memory Stick media

The following two types of Memor y Stick media can be used with your notebook:
MagicGate Memory Stick media (hereafter called MG Memory Stick
media), which is provided with copyright protection
Memory Stick Memory Stick media, which does not have the same
copyright protection as MagicGate Memory Stick media
Some music files with s ecure copyright protection may be stored on MG Memory Stick media but not on regular Memory Stick media.Youcan also use MagicGate media-compatible devices to record and playback music when they are connected to your notebook.
You can store mixed data on the Memory Stick media. For example, you can copy an ordinary file on a MG Memory Stick media that already contains music.
What is MagicGate Memory Stick media?
MagicGate Memory Stick media provides copyright protection that consists of authentication and encryption technology. Authentication technology ensures that protected content is only transferred between compliant devices and media. Protected content is recorded and transferred in an encrypted format to prevent unauthorized duplication or playback.
MG Memo ry Stick media has th e MG mark .
To insert Memory Stick media
1 Insert the Memory Stick media with the arrow facing up and toward the
Memory Stick media slot.
Inserting the media in the wrong direction may damage the connector pins.
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2 Carefully slide the Memory Stick media into the slot until it clicks in place.
Inserting Memory Stick media
Memory Stick media
Insert Memory Stick media with the arrow facing toward the Memory Stick media slot.
At the default setting, the Visual Flow application starts automatically when you insert
a Memory Stick media. You can change this setting in VAIO Action Setup.
To view the contents of Memory Stick media
Click the Removable Disk (S:) icon under My Computer to see the contents of the Memory Stick media.
To remove Memory Stick media
1 Check that the access light is off. 2 Push the Memory Stick media in toward the notebook. 3 When the Memory Stick media ejects, pull it out.
Be careful when removing the Memory Stick media, as it may eject completely from
the slot.
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Using Memory S tick Media
LOCK
LOCK LOCK

Write-protecting Memory Stic k med ia

Memory Stick media is designed with a write-protect tab to protect valuable data from accidental erasure or overwriting. Move the tab to the right or left to set or release write-protection.
Write-protect off Data can be saved on the Memory Stick media. Write-protect on Data can be read from but not saved on the Memory Stick
media.
Using the Write-protect tab
Write-protect off
(Back of Memory Sti ck Media)
Write-protect on

Formatting Memory Stick media

Memory Stick media is formattedfor immediate use when you purchase it. If you need to reformat Memory Stick m edia, use the Memory Stick Formatter that is provided with the media. Follow the procedures included here. For more details about using Memory Stick Formatter, refer to Formatter Help.
Reformatting erases all current data that is stored on Memory Stick media. Before you reformat, confirm that the media does not contain files you want to keep.
1 Insert the Memory Stick media into the notebook. See “To insert Memory
Stick media” for more information on inserting Memory Stick media.
2 Click the Start button, point to Programs, click Memory Stick Utility, and
then click Memory Stick Formatter.
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3 Click Start Formatter. Memory Stick Formatter begins.
Do not try to format the Memory Stick using the Windows formatting function.

Notes on Memory Stick media

When the write-protect tab of the Memory Stick media is set to LOCK, data
cannot be recorded or erased.
Before using Memory Stick media, back up important data. Wait a minimum of 10 seconds after the Memory Stick media finishes
reading or writing data before removing the media.
If the media is removed prematurely, a blue screen with an error message
appears, prompting you to continue or exit. Reinsert the media into the slot and press Enter to continue. This enables the media to finishreading or writing data.
You can view video clips that you have recorded with Memory Stick media-
compatible video camera recorders.
The media slot can accommodate one Memory Stick media at a time. You may copy images from a digital video camera using Memory Stick
media.
Only MagicGate Memory Stick media can be used with copyright protected
data such as music.
Copyright protected music cannot be checked-out to any Memory Stick
media other than MG Memory Stick media.
Recorded music is limited to private use only. Using recorded music for any
other purpose requires permission of the copyright holders.
Sony is not responsible for music files that cannot be recorded from a CD or
downloaded from other sources.
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Using Memory S tick Media
Formatting Memory Stick media erases all data (including music data)
previously saved to it. Before you format Memory Stick media, confirm that the media does not contain files you want to keep.
Do not use the media in locations that are subject to static electricity or electrical noise.
Do not touch the media connector with your finger or metallic objects. Do not attach labels other than the supplied label to a media. Do not bend, drop, or apply strong shock to the media. Do not disassemble or modify the me dia. Do not allow the media to get wet. Do not use or store the media in a locat ion that is subj ect to:
Extremely high temp eratures, such as in a car parked in the sun Direct sunlight High humidity or places with corrosive substances
To prolong the l ife of the media, us e the supplied sto rage case. See the instructions that come with your media for more information on its use.
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Power Saving Modes

When you use a battery as the source of power for your notebook, you can take advantage of power management settings to conserve battery life. In addition to the normal operating mode, which allows you to turn off specific devices, your notebook has two distinct power saving modes: Standby and Hibernate. When using battery power, be aware that the notebook automatically enters Hibernate mode when the remaining battery charge drops below5 percent, regardless of the power management setting you select.
If the battery level falls below 10 percent, you should either attach the AC adapter to
recharge the battery or shut down your notebook and insert a fu lly charged battery.

Normal mode

Normal mode is the normal stat e of your notebook when it is in use. The power indicator displays green when your notebook is in this mode. To save power, you can turn off a specific device such as the LCD or the hard disk drive.

Standby mode

In Standby Mode the notebook saves the current state of the system in RAM and switches off power to the CPU. The amber power indicator flashes in this mode.
To activate Standby mode
To activate Standby mode, press the power button and release it immediately. You can also use the PowerPanel utility to enter Standby mode.
To return to normal mode
Press any key to return to normal mode.

Hibernate mode

In the Hibernate mode, the state of the systemis saved onthe hard disk drive and power is turned off. The power indicator is offin this mode.
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Power Saving Modes
To activate Hibernate mode
To activate Hibernate mode, press the key combination Fn+F12.
The “Save to Disk Manager” screen appears, and then the notebook enters Hibernate
mode. Do not move the notebook until its pow e r indicator turns of f.
To return to normal mode
To return to normal mode, turn on the notebook by pressing the power button. The notebook returns to its previous state.
When ret urning from Hibernate mo de, the system status stored on t he hard disk is
erased and the notebo ok starts normall y if you press the power button and hold for more than four seconds.
Time required to return to normal mode
Standby requires less time than Hibernate to return to normal mode.
Power consumption
Standby uses more power than Hibernate.
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Connecting a Phone Line

You need to connect a phone line to take advantage of online services and the Internet.
In orde r to register your Sony VAIO notebook, register your software online, and use
Sony Customer Support, you must connect to a phone line.
1 Plug one end of the phone cable into the modem port on the notebook.
Connecting phone cable
Modem ja ck
Wall jack
Phone cable (optional)
2 Plug the other end of the phone cable into the wall jack.
Your notebook does not work with party lines, cannot be connected to a coin-operated
telephone, and may not work with multiple phone lines or a private branch exchange (PBX). Some of these connections may result in excess electrical current and could cause a malfunction in the internal modem.
If you connect a phone line coming through a splitter, the modem or connected device may not work proper l y.
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Connecting with another VAIO computer

Connecting with another VAIO computer
The p reinstalled Smart Connect software enables you to use an optional i.LINK®
*
cable to connect your VAIO notebook to another computer that also has Smart Connect. Youcan then use one computerto edit, copy or delete files on the other computer. You can also print from a printer attached to either computer.
See Smart Connect online help for more information.
Connecting with an i.LINK cable
i.LINK cable (optional)
When you connect two VAIO computers, you must assign each computer a unique
name. The computers can be ident ified by this unique name when the two computers are networked together.
If you have previously purchased a VAIO computer or no tebook that does not have Smart Connect 3.0 software preinstalled, consult the Sony Web site for support options (http:/ /www.sony.com/pcsupport).
* 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 with an i.LINK connector may not communicatew ith each other. Refer to thedocumentation thatcamewithyour compatible i.LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before con­nectingcompatiblei.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as a CD-RW or hard disk drive, confirm theiro perating system compatibility and requiredoperating conditions.
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Connecting to a Local Area Network (LAN)

You can connect your notebook to 10Base-T and 100Base-TX-type networks. For the detailed settings and devices needed to connect to the network, ask your network administrator.
Connecting to LAN
Ethernet port
Warning: Only conn ect 10Base-T and 100Base-TX cables to the Ethernet port. Do not connect any other type of network cable or p hone cable. Connecting cables other than those listed above may result in an electric current overloa d and could cause a malfunction, excessive heat, or fire in the port. To connect the unit to the network, contact your network administrator.

Setting up your Ethernet connection

To connect to the network:
1 Right-click My Network Places and select Properties. 2 ClickAdvanced and select Network Identification to set the computername,
domain, workgroup, and DNS suffix. You can also use the Network Identification Wizard.
To set the connections, bindings, and provider order:
1 Right-click My Network Places and select Properties 2 Click Advanced and select Advanced Settings. This will give you access to
Adapters and Protocol Bindings and Provider Order.
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Connecting Peripheral Devices

You can add functionality to your notebook by connecting a variety of peripherals.
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Connecting an External Floppy Disk Drive

You can connect a SonyUSB floppy disk drive (notsupplied)to the USB port on your notebook.

To connect an external floppy disk drive

You do not need to shut down your notebook before connecting or disconnecting a
floppy disk drive.
Plug the USB cable from the optional floppy disk drive into the USB port on the back panel of the notebook. The VAIO logo on the disk drive should be facing upward.
Connecting an External Floppy Disk Drive
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Floppy disk drive (optional)
Attached USB cable
USB port
Connecting an External Floppy Disk Drive

To insert a floppy disk

1 Hold the floppy disk with the label side facing upward. 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

When you finish using the floppy disk, wait until the LED indicator turns off
and then press the Eject button to remove the floppy disk.
Removing a Floppy Disk
Eject button
LED indicator
Removing an external floppy disk drive when the notebook is on
If your notebook is turned off, you do not have to follow these instructions.
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1 Double-click in the task tray. 2 The“Unplug or Eject Hardware” dialog displays. 3 Select the USB Floppy Disk Drive by clicking it. 4 Click Stop. 5 Confirm the USB Floppy Disk Drive is selected in the “Stop a hardware
device” dialog box.
6 Themessage “Floppy Disk Drive can now be safely removed from the
system” appears. Click OK.
7 Unplug the floppy disk drive from the notebook.

To carry an external floppy disk drive

Fold the floppy disk cable into the side compartment on the floppy disk drive.
Carrying an External Floppy Disk Drive

Handling floppy disks

Do not open the shutter manually and touch the surface of the floppy disk. Keep floppy disks away from m agnets. Keep floppy disks away from direct sunlight and other heat sources.
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Connecting a Port Replicator

Connecting a Port Replicator
Your notebook supports the use of a port replicator (not supplied). Attaching a port replicator enables you to connect additional peripherals to your notebook.
Port replicator
1 DC In port 6 Network port
(Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base­TX)
2 USB ports 7 VGA port 3 / Mouse/Keyboard (PS/2) port 8 S-Video out jack 4 Serial port 9 Video out jack 5 Printer port 10 Line-In jack
The port replicator can be powered only with an AC adapter. Do not remove the AC
adapter from the port replicator or the AC outlet when using the port replicator; this may cause data damage or hardware malfunctions.

To attach your notebook to the port replicator

To supply power to your notebook while it is connected to the port replicator, connect the AC adapter directly to the port replicator.
When attaching your notebook to the port replicator, do not attempt to insert or
remove the battery pack. Lifting and turning the notebook with an attached port replicator could cause a temporary loss of power.
When connecting the video cables to S Video and Video Out simultaneously, only the S Video port can be used.
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l
1 Turn off the notebook and disconnect all peripheral devices. 2 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter into the DC IN port on the port
replicator. Plug the power cord into the AC adapter and an AC outlet.
Connecting AC adapter to port replicator
AC adapter
Power cord
The power indicator on top of the port replicator turns green.
Use the AC adapter that comes with your notebook or the optional Sony adap ter.
Power indic ator
ease lever
Re
Port replicator connector
Power
3 Close the tilt stands before attaching the notebook to the port replicator.
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Connecting a Port Replicator
k
4 Align the bottom connector of the notebook with the connectors on the port
replicator and push down until it clicks into place.
Attaching notebook to port replicator
Noteboo
Port replicator
5 Turn on the notebook.

To remove your notebook from the port replicator

1 Use the Unplug/Hardware box to stop all connected peripherals, then
disconnect the peripherals from the port replicator.
2 Pull the l evers on each side of the port replicator to release the notebook
from the port r eplicator.
Releasing notebook from port replicator
Levers
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3 Lift the notebook away from the port replicator.
Removing notebook from port replicator
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Connecting a PS/2 External Mouse or Keyboard

Connecting a PS/2 External Mouse or Keyboard
You can connect an external mouse or k eyboard to the optional port replicator using a similar type PS/2® plug or adapter.
Before you connect or disconnect th e mouse or keyboard, turn off the notebook.
You can only connect one external device at a time. Therefore, it is imp ossible to connect both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard simultaneously.

To connect an external mouse or keyboard

Locate the mouse and keyboard port on the port replicator identified by the
/ symbols.
Plug the mouse or the keyboard cable into this port with the arrow facing
upward.
Connecting external mouse or keyboard
See the manual that came with your mouse or keyboard for more information on its
installation and use.
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Connecting an Audio Device

You can connect an audio device to the optional port replicator or the notebook. See the manual and online help that came with your audio device for detailed instructions.
To connect an audio device, use mini-plug cables shorter than 2 meters and with no
resistance .

Connecting a CD player, active speaker, or an amplifier

Use the optional port replicator to connect a CD, MiniDisc, or audio cassette player to the LINE IN jack and experience higher quality audio. You may also take advantage of audio output sources and connect an active speaker or an amplifier to the Headphone jack on the notebook.
Connecting an Audio Device to the Port Replicator
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To LINE IN jack
To Headphone jack
Audio cable (optional)
Audio cable (optional)
Active speaker, amplifier, etc.
CD, MiniDisc, or audio cassette
player
Connecting an Audio Device
Withouttheoptional port replicator, simply connect an audio outputdevice to the Headphone jack on the notebook.
Connecting an Audio Device to the Notebook
T o Headphone jack
Audio cable (optional)
Active speaker, amplifier, etc.
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Connecting an Audio-Video (AV) Device

You can connect an audio-video(AV) device, such as a TV ora video deck, to the optional port replicator or the notebook.
Prior to attaching a video device, unplug the connecting cable from the Monitor jack.
To connect an AV device to the optional port replicator, use the S-video jack and the Headphone jack, which require a S-video cable and an audio cable. To connect an AV device to the notebook, use the AV out jack, which requires an
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Connecting an Audio-Video (AV) Device
audio-video cable. Remember to switch the TV input channel to external input and set up the TV configuration system. S ee “Selecting the Display Mode” for more information.
Connecting a TV to the Port Replicator S-video Jack
TV
To S-v ideo
To S-video jack
To Headphone jack
Audio cable (optional)
S-video cable (optional)
1 Audio (R)
2 Audio (L)
12
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If you connect an AV device to the S-video jack, you must use the Audio (L) and the Audio (R). Also, the S-video jack and the AV out jack are not designed to be used simultaneously. If you connect cables to both jacks, only the S-video jack will function.
Connecting a TV to the Notebook
Power co rd (supplied with TV)
TV
To AV out jack
Audio-video cable (optional)
See the manual that came with your peripheral device for more information on its
installation and us e.
If you insert a DVD in youroptical drive to watcha video on your TV, the Fn+F8 key combination might not activate the function to toggle between your LCD and TV. Do the following steps:
1 Connect the TV to the notebook. 2 Restart the notebook and wait until it finishes.
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Connecting an Audio-Video (AV) Device
3 Toggle between your LCD and your TV with the Fn+F8 key combination.
Your image is now displayed on both LCD and TV. Re-insert your DVD to launch your DVD software.
A part of the image cannot be displayed on your TV display if the resolution of your
ntoebook is more than 1024 x 768 dots.
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Connecting a Parallel Port Printer

You can connect a Windows 2000 operating system-compatible printer to your notebook to print documents.

To connect a printer

Locate the Printer port identified by the symbol. Plug the printer cable
(supplied with the printer) into this port on the notebook.
Printer connector
Power co rd
To Printer
Printer
Printer cable (supplied with the printer)
See the manual that came with your printer for more information on its installation and
use. If your printe r stops functioning after resuming from a power saving mode, see
“Troubleshooting the Printer” for more information. Before using the printer, you may need to change the Printer setting in the Sony
Notebook Setup software. S ee “Displaying the Sony Noteb ook Setup Sc reen” for more information.
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Connecting a USB Printer

Connecting a USB Printer
You can connect a Windows 2000 operating system-compatible USB printer to any of your notebook’s three USB ports to print documents.
To use a printer, first install the driver software that came with your printer.

To connect a USB printer

Plug the optional USB printer cable into one of the t hree USB ports on your notebook and the USB port on your printer.
Connecting a USB Printer
Power cord
USB connector
Printer
USB printer cable (not supplied)
To USB port
See the manual that came with your prin ter for more information on its instal lation
and use.
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Connecting an External Display

You can connect an external display to your notebook. For example, you can use the notebook with any of the following:
Computer display (monitor) Multimedia computer display Projector
Connect the external display before you turn on the notebook.

To connect a computer display

Locate the Monitor jack identified by the symbol on the back of the
notebook. Plug the display cable (not supplied) into this port.
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Connecting an External Display
If necessary, plug one end of the display power cord into the display, and the
other end into an AC outlet.
Connecting an external computer display
Computer display
Power cord
To
Monitor port
Display cable (optiona l)
See the manual that came with your computer display for more informat ion on its
installation and use.
Connecting a multimedia display
Multimedia display
Power cord
Audio In
R
L
Video In
To AV Out jack
Display cable (optional)
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To connect a multimedia computer display

You can connect your notebook to a multimedia computer display that includes built-in speakers and a microphone.
See the manual that came with your multimedia computer display for more
information on its installation and use.

To connect a projector

You can use a projector, such as the Sony LCD Projector, as an external display.
Connecting a projector
Projector
Power cord
To
Monitor port
Display cable (optional)
To Headphone jack
Audio cable
(optional)
See the manual that came with your projector for more information on its installation
and use.

To select a display

When you connect an external display to the Monitor port, you can toggle the output between the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), the external monitor, or both devices.
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Connecting an External Display
Use the
Fn+F7 keys to select a display. See also “Selecting the DisplayMode” for
more information.
To Press Result
Switch to an external display
Fn+F7 Toggles between the LCD, the external display
connected to the Monitor port, or both the LCD and external display.
Only LCD
LCD and external display
Only external display
Connect the cable befor e you turn on the notebook, otherwise Fn + F7 will not work.
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Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device

You can connect a Universal Serial Bus USB device such as an external mouse, keyboard, speaker, and microphone to your notebook.

To connect a USB device

The following steps describe the pr ocedure for connecting a USB mouse to your
notebook. Refer to the manual that ca me wit h your USB device for specific installation
instructions.
Locate the USB device identified by the symbol. Plug one end of the USB
cable into this port and the other end into the USB device.
Connecting USB device to USB port
USB device
USB connecting cable
(optional)
To USB
You can use an optional Sony USB mouse PCGA-UMS1 series (not supplied) with this notebook. Since the USB mouse software driver is preinstalled in the notebook, you simply plug the USB mouse into the USB port to use it. One USB port supports one USB device.
See the manual that came with your USB device f or more information on its
installation and use.
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Connecting an i.LINK Device

Connecting an i.LINK* Device
You can connect an i.LINK® enabled digital video camera recorder to the i.LINK® S400 (IEEE1394) port.
* i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used 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 communicatew ith each other. Refer to thedocumentation thatcamewithyour compatible i.LINK device for more 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, confirm theiro perating system compatibility and requiredoperating conditions.
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To connect a digital video camera recorder

Plug one end of the i.LINK cable (not supplied) into the i.LINK port on the
left side of the notebook and the other end into the DV In/Out port on the digital video camera recorder.
Connecting digital video camera recorder to i.LINK port
Digital video camera recorder
To i.LINK port
To DV In/Ou t
i.LINK cable (optional)
The above figure displays a connection to a Sony digital video camera recorder; your
digital video camera recorder may need to be connected differently. Only Sony digital video camera ports labeled “DV In/Out” or “i.LINK” are i.LINK-
compatible. See the manual that came with your digital video camera recorder for more
information on its installation and use. Do not connect more than one digital video camera at a time. The software supplied
with your notebook will not recognize multiple cameras. The i.LINK port on the notebook 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 notebook.
The notebook supports t r ansfer rates up to 400 Mbps; howev e r, the actual transfer rate is the lowest transfer rate of th e external device.
The i.LINK features available may vary depending on the softw are applications you use. See the documentation that accompanied your software for more information.
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Connecting an i.LINK Device
i.LINK cables compatible with your VAIO notebook include cables with the following part numbers: VMC-IL4415 (a 1.5-meter cable with a 4-pin connector at each end) and VMC-IL4615 (a 1.5 meter-cable with a 4-pin connector at one end and a 6-pin connector at the other). You can purchase these cables from your local retailer, through the Sony VAIO® Direct Web site (http://www.sonydirect.com), or by calling 1-888-315-7669 (toll free).
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Connecting External Speakers

You can enhance the sound quality of your notebook by connecting external speakers.
Make sure your speakers are designed for notebook use.
Turn down the volume of the speakers before you turn them on. Do not place floppy disks on t he speakers; the speakers’ magnetic field may damage
the data on the floppy disks.

To connect external speakers

Locate the Headphone jack identified by the symbol on the back panel of
the notebook. Plug the speaker cable into this jack.
Connecting speakers to the headphone jack
Speakers
To Headphone jack
Speaker cable (supplied with speakers)
See the manual that came with your speakers for more information on their
installation and us e.
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Connecting an External Microphone

Connecting an External Microphone
You can enhance the quality of sound input by using an external microphone.
Make sure your microphone is designed for notebook use. The microphone should be
compliant with th e plug-in power micro phone.

To connect an external microphone

Locate the Microphone jack identified by the symbol on the back panel
of the notebook. A protruding dot above the Microphone jack further distinguishesthis jack from other jacks andports.Plug the microphone cable into the Microphone jack.
Connecting microphone to microphone jack
Microphone (optional)
To Microphone jack
See the manual that came with your microphone for more information on its
installation and use.
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Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities

The following peripheral devices can be connected to your notebook, to expand the capabilities of your computer and enhance its versatility to meet your various business or personal needs:
A Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) A Wireless LAN Access Point A Wireless LAN PC Card

Personal Digital Assistant

A h andheld 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 schedule details in the calendar and view them by the day, week,
or month, and even set an alarm to remind you of important events.
Keep your contact names, addresses, phone numbers, andother details in the
address book, and find them when you need them.
Add tasks to the To Do List, prioritize them, and assign them due dates. Synchronize your data with the software on your notebook, to back up your
data.
Track expenses when you are out of the office, then transfer the data to your
notebook.
Exchange data with your notebook.

Wireless LAN Access Point

The Wireless LAN Access Point is designed for building a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) environment. The Access Point comes with the Wireless LAN PC Card and required software. You can easily build a wireless LAN environment by plugging the Access Point into an AC power outlet, installing the Wireless LAN PC Card in your notebook, and using 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 telephone line, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) router,cable modem, or Digital SubscriberLine (xDSL) modem to share access to the Internet among multiple computers.
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Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities

Wireless LAN PC Card

The Wireless LAN PC Card, which comes with the Wireless LAN Access Point, can be purchased separately and is designed for building a wireless LAN environment. The Wireless LAN PC Card can be used with or without the Access Point. With the Access Point, you can build a wireless LAN between computers that are equipped withthe Wireless LAN PC Card and gain access to the Internet. Without the Access Point, you can achieve direct communication (Peer to Peer mode) between computers.
For information on available S ony products, go to http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/.
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Customizing Your VAIO Notebook

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

To display the Son y Notebook Setup screen:

1 Click the Start button on the Windows® taskbar. 2 Select Programs, Sony Notebook Setup, and then click Sony Notebook
Setup.
Sony Notebook Setup Screen
3 Select the tab for the item you want to change. See “Sony Notebook Setup
tabs” for more information.
4 After you finish making your changes, click OK.
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Customizing Your VAIO Notebook

Sony Notebook Setup tabs

Tab Description
About This Computer Display system information, including memory
capacity, serial number, and BIOS version.
Printer Select printer port mode settings.
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 other drives inserted into your computer.
Touchpad When you connect an optional mouse to your
notebook, you can make your touchpad inactive. You can also customize the settings of your mouse using the mouse utility.
Power On Password Set the password to secure your computer.
Enable Ports Enable or disable ports. Disabling ports releases
resources to the system. To change the serial settings, click Advanced on the Basic/Advanced tab.
Basic/Advanced Switch between Advanced mode (additional screens
with advanced settings) and Basic mode of display.
For more information about each option, click Help on th e Sony Notebook Setup
screen to display the Help file.
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Controlling Power Management

The PowerPanel™ utility allows you to control the power management of your notebook 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 detailed information. To activate a profile or command, see “Displaying Battery Information” for more information.

Viewing the Power Management status icons

The Power Management status icons are displayed in the taskbar at the lower­right corner of your screen. Move the pointer over the Batteryicon to see the tool tip that displays information about the active profile. Double-click the icon for additional information. The Battery status icon indicates the battery power level and the Intel SpeedStep™ Technologystatusiconindicates the performance level of the CPU.
To activate the Power Management toolbar
1 Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. 2 Select Toolbars from the pop-up menu, and then click Power Management.
The Power Management toolbar appears on the taskbar.
The current profile icon is highlighted on the Power Management toolbar. It is the first icon farthest to the left, and its appearance changes depending on which power management profile is currently selected. To change the power management profile, click the current profile icon, and then select a profile from the pop-up list. See “Power Management profiles” for a description of available options. To select another power management profile, click that icon in the Power Management toolbar.
When you u se the battery pack to power your notebook, your system selects the
Maximum Battery Life power management profile by default. If you select a different power management profile while using battery power, that profile is selected automatically the next ti me you use the battery pack to power your notebook.
Refer to the PowerPanel Help for informat io n on custom izin g th e Power M ana gem ent toolbars.
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Controlling Power Management
You can change the power management settings,suchas the system timer and the brightness of the screen.
To customize Power Management settings
1 Click the Current Profile icon on the Power Management toolbar. 2 Select Edit/Create Profiles from the menu. 3 Click a profile whose setting you want to change from the list in the left
field.
4 Double-click an item whose setting you want to change from the list in the
right field.
5 Clickthedesiredsetting. 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 several predefined power management profiles. Each profile consists of a g roup 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
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the predefined profiles (except for the Disable Power Management p rofile), or you can create your own profile to suit your portable computing needs. The predefined profiles are:
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 notebook and puts it into Standby mode after a specified time period.
Disable Power Management
Turns off all power management features such as Standby and Hibernate modes. You can not change the settings of t his profile.
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 profile unless you disable this feature.
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Games
Disables the display and the Hard Disk Standby timer.
Presentation
Keeps the display on at all times while it conserves power. This option is ideal for slide show presentations. You can establish settings for LCD (Video) Standby, Hard Disk Standby, and Standby mode to optimize power management for your system.
Camera
Optimizes performance and power requirements for camera usage.
DVD
Optimizes performance and power requirements for DVD usage.
Icon Description
Word Processing
Optimizes power management with longer timeouts on the hard disk and display screen. You can also establish settings for LCD (Video) Standby, Hard Disk Standby, and Standby mode to optimize power management for your system.
Spreadsheet
Optimizes performance and power requirements for spreadsheet applications.
Communications
Extends battery life by initiating a quick display tim eout. The Internal modem remains powered. You can also establish settings for LCD (Video) Standby, Hard Disk Standby, and Standby mode to optimize power management for your system.
Automatic Profile Selection
Automatically switches to a profile suitable for active applications.
Controlling Power Management
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Power Management commands

PowerPanel also provides power management commands that you can use to activate specific power managementfunctions and to control power for a specific device. You can use these commands to override a profile setting or initiate an immediate action.
Icon Description
Standby
Puts the system into Standby mode, a power management state that saves the state of the system and peripheral devices in memory (RAM). Power consumption reduces to a minimum, and the system remains on. To return the system to the active state, press any key or the power button on your computer. Your notebook is preset to enter Standby mode after 25 minutes.
Hibernate
Provides for the lowest level of power consumption. The system writes the state of the system and peripheral devices to the hard disk and turns off the system power. To return the 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 drive.

Conserving battery power

When using your notebook with a battery, the LCD display and the hard drive can be set to switch off automatically to conserve battery power.
See “Power Management profiles” for more information.

Optimizing clock speed settings

To customize your notebook’s CPU performance,you can set the clock speed according to one of three available modes: Maximum performance, Auto performance, and Battery optimized.
Changing the clock speed mode
Right-click the flag icon on the lower-right portion of the taskbar, and
select Properties. The “Intel SpeedStep™ technology” dialog box appears.
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Select one of the following modes:
Icon Mode Description
Maximum performance
The Maximum performance mode sets the CPU’s clock speed to its maximum speed at all times.
Auto p erformance
In Auto performance mode, the CPU clock s peed changes automatically,depending on usage.
Battery optimized
The Battery optimized modereduces the CPU clock speed and battery voltage to conserve power when the notebook is operating on battery power.
Controlling Power Management
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Displaying Battery Information

You can display information for each of the batteries in your notebook. The following sections briefly describe how to display your notebook’s general battery information. Refer to PowerPanel Help for more detailed information.
To activate the Battery Informatio n toolbar
1 Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. 2 Select Toolbars from the pop-up menu, and t hen click Battery Information.
The Battery Information toolbar appears on the taskbar.
To view the total charge remaining in the battery, place the pointer over the battery status icon in the taskbar on the lower-right corner of the screen.
Battery Information Toolbar
Percentage indicator — Displays the p ercentage of the remaining charge. Time indicator — Displays estimated time (hours : minutes) remaining
before the battery fully discharges, also known as the time-to-empty.

Battery icon descriptions

Battery icon Battery status
Charging
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Displaying Battery Information
Battery icon Battery status
Fully charged
Discharging
No battery

Displaying detailed battery information

Double-click the battery icon on the taskbar to display the Battery Information window. The Battery tab contains information such as battery charging time and duration of the battery ch arge.
Battery Information Window
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Customizing the Battery Information toolbar and alarm system
You can customize the Battery Information toolbar and modify the alarm settings, to suit your portable computing needs. Refer to PowerPanel Help for more information.
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Selecting the Display Mode

Selectin g the Display Mode
This notebook uses the ATIvideo controller.You can select which display is used when the notebook i s 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.
1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then point to Control Panel. 2 Click the Display icon. The Display Properties window appears. 3 Clickthe Settings tab, and then click the Advanced button. TheATI Mobility
RADEON™-M dialog box appears.
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4 Click the Displays tab and select the display settings by clicking the icon
on the panel of your display choice. For more information, click the Help button.
If you cannot see your movie or DVD on the external display, change the monitor or TV
setting by clickin g on the Secondary icon and changing it to Pr imary .
You may not be able to display the notebook LCD screen and an external display or
projector at the same time, d epending on the types of computer displays and projectors you are u sing.
Turn on the notebook after you connect the external display.
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Selecting the Display Mode
(Multiple Monitors) and Mobility Radeon Pr ope rties screen

Changing the window design of Sony software

To change the window design
1 Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then point to Control Panel. 2 Click UI Design Selector. 3 Click << or >> and select the desired design.
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4 Click Apply. The “UI Design Selector” window design changes. The
window design for your Sony software will match the “UI Design Selector” window.
5 To try another selection, click << or >> then click OK. 6 TheUI Design Selector closes and the Sony software window design
displays.
This fe ature is available with UI Design Selector-compatible software only.
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Adding Memory

In the future you may want to install memory modules to expand the functionality of your notebook. The amount of memory on your notebook will vary depending on the model you purchased. Expansion memory modules are available as options. For memory upgrades, use only PC133 (CL2) SDRAM SO-DIMMs (gold lead contacts).

Precautions and Procedures

Make sure you observe the proper sa fety precautions when you install memory modules in your notebook. See the bulleted list below. Be careful when adding memory. Mistakes made when ins ta llin g o r rem ovi n g a me mory module may caus e a malfunction.
The p rocedures described below assume you are familiar with the general
terminology associated with personal computers and with common safety practices required for using and modifying electronic equipment.
Disconnect your system from its power source and from any
telecommunicationslinks, networks, or modems beforeyou open the system or follow any of the procedures described below. Personal injury or equipment damage may result from failure to take these precautions.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage memory modules and other
components. Perform the procedures described below only at an ESD workstation. If such a station is not available, do not work in a carpeted area, and do not handle materials that produce or hold static electricity (cellophane wrappers, for example). Ground yourself 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.
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Use the special bag for preventing ESD or usealuminum foil when you store
the memory module.
Models with 128 MB memory
Typical expansion memory configuration
Total System Memory (MB)Slot 1 (MB) Slot 2 (MB)
128 128
192 128 64
256 128 128
384 128 256
512 256 256
Models with 256 MB memory
Typical expansion memory configuration
Total System Memory (MB)Slot 1 (MB) Slot 2 (MB)
256 128 128
384 128 256
512 256 256
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To remove a memory module

To remove a memory module
1 Shut down your notebook and disconnect all peripheral devices, such as your
printer.
2 Unplug the notebook and remove the battery pack(s). 3 After the notebook has cooled, loosen and remove the screw that secures the
cover of the memory bay on the bottom of your notebook. Use an appropriate screwdriver.
Removing the memory module cover
Screwdriver
Screw
4 Touch a metal object (such as the connector panel on the back of your
notebook) to discharge any static electricity.
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5 Remove the memory module.
Removing memory module
1
2
1
1 Pull the tabs in the direction of the arrow
The memory module is released .
2 Pull the memory module in
the direction of the arrow.
6 Tighten the screw on the memory bay cover.
Your notebook comes with a memory module installed in the memory slot. To upgrade
your memory, removal of these modules may be necessary before installin g your upgrade memory module.
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To install a memory module

To install a memory module
1 Follow steps 1 to 4 of “To remove a memory module” for removing the
preinstalled memory.
2 Remove the new memory module from its packaging. 3 Install the memory module by sliding it into the memory module slot. Press
the module into place until it clicks.
Installing memory module
1 Slide the memory
2 Press the module into place
until it clicks.module into the slot.
4 Tighten the screw on the cover of the memory bay.
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To view the amount of memory

1 Restart the notebook, and then click the Start button on the Windows®
taskbar.
2 Select Programs, Sony Notebook Setup, and then click Sony Notebook
Setup. The Sony Notebook Setup screen appears.
3 Click the “About This Computer” tab toview the amount of system memory.
If the additional memory is not shown, repeat steps1 through 4 in“To install a memory module” and restart the notebook.
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About the Software on Your Notebook

Your VAIO® notebook is ready to help you work, play, learn, and communicate as soon as you turn it on. This section gives you the following:
An overview of the various software that come with your n otebook and the
activities you can perform with your software
Software support information Details on your Sony application, driver, and system recovery CDs

Overview

Adobe® Acrobat Reader®
Adobe Systems, Inc.
Acrobat Reader software allows you to view, navigate, and print electronic documents in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), an open file format that is intended to preserve the fidelity of documents created on all major computer platforms.
America Online®
America Online, Inc.
America Online is a popular In ternet online service. Stay in touch with family and friends with easy-to-use e-mail, manage your p ersonal finances, get the latest news and sports scores, and chat with thousands of others who share your interests.
CompuServe® 2000
CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc.
CompuServe is the most comprehensive source of organized business and educational information online today. CompuServe allows you to access the vastness of the Internet, without wasting time wading through it. Maximize your time online with CompuServe.
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DVgate™
Sony Electronics Inc.
Connect a digital video camera recorder to the i.LINK
®*
connector and capture your own video clips and still images. You can edit clips from your video, add others, and combine clips into new movie segments. You can also save your images in a variety of popular file formats.
Easy CD Creator® (On selected models)
Roxio, Inc.
Easy CD Creator lets you make your own data, audio and multimedia CDs. You can back up your important files to CD, and read them back on standard CD­ROM drives. Create your own audio CDs right on your desktop, and play them back on your home orcar stereo CD player.You can makeyour own personalized color jewel case inserts with custom text and graphics. You can even make backup copies of your existing C Ds. The Easy CD Creator Wizard makes creating your own custom CDs a simple process.
Microsoft® Word
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Word makes it easy to create shared Web, e-mail, and print documents for use around the world. It embraces HTML as a first-class file format and extends Word’s ease-of-use to the Web and e-mail. Word also extends that ease­of-use to international users, making it simple to create multilingual documents.
MovieShaker™
Sony Electronics Inc.
Sony’s original MovieShaker software creates personal movies that have transitions, background music and text. Just import your video clips and “shake” with a click of the mouse. Your personal movies are easy to create and fun to share with family and friends. (See “MovieShaker” below.)
* i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used to designate thata 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 productswith an i.LINK connection may not communicatew ith each other.Pleaserefer to the documentationthat 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, confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.
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