Sony PCG-GRX500, PCG-GRX520, PCG-GRX520K, PCG-GRX520P, PCG-GRX560 User Guide

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Contents

Welcome.......................................................

9

Using Your VAIO Notebook......................

11

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

12

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

14

Indicators ...........................................................................

15

Indicator lights ...................................................................

16

Combinations and functions with the Fn key ....................

16

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

18

VAIO Action Setup...................................................

20

Using the Center Jog Dial Control ............................

21

Using the center Jog Dial control ......................................

21

Launcher mode ..................................................................

22

Guide mode........................................................................

23

Center Jog Dial back button...............................................

23

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

24

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

24

Using the Optical Disc Drive ....................................

25

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

25

To eject a disc ....................................................................

26

To play a DVD...................................................................

27

To play an audio CD..........................................................

28

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

28

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

29

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

30

To insert a PC Card...........................................................

30

To remove a PC Card........................................................

31

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

32

Types of Memory Stick media..........................................

32

Write-protecting Memory Stick media .............................

34

Formatting Memory Stick media ......................................

34

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

35

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

37

To insert a second battery pack.........................................

37

To charge the second battery pack....................................

38

To remove the second battery pack...................................

39

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

40

To attach the weight saver ................................................

40

To remove the weight saver ..............................................

41

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

42

Normal mode.....................................................................

42

Standby mode....................................................................

42

Hibernate mode.................................................................

42

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

43

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

44

Connecting to a Local Area Network .......................

45

Setting up your Ethernet connection.................................

45

Connecting to a Wireless LAN.................................

46

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

46

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

47

Checking your connection status ......................................

48

Confirming access point information................................

49

Communicating without an Access Point (peer-to-peer)..

49

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

50

Notes on using Wireless LAN ..........................................

50

2

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

53

Connecting an External Floppy Disk Drive ..............

54

To connect an external floppy disk drive...........................

54

To insert a floppy disk into the external floppy disk drive55

To remove a floppy disk from the external floppy disk drive

55

 

To disconnect an external floppy disk drive when the

 

notebook is on....................................................................

56

To carry an external floppy disk drive...............................

56

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

56

Connecting a Port Replicator ....................................

57

To attach the notebook to the port replicator.....................

57

To remove your notebook from the port replicator ...........

59

Connecting a PS/2 External Mouse or Keyboard......

61

To connect an external mouse or keyboard .......................

61

Connecting an Audio Device ....................................

62

To connect a CD player, active speaker, or an amplifier...

62

Connecting an Audio-Video Device .........................

64

To change the display ........................................................

67

Connecting a Parallel Port Printer.............................

68

To connect a printer to the notebook .................................

68

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

69

To connect a USB printer to the notebook ........................

69

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

70

To connect a computer display to the notebook ................

70

To connect a multimedia computer display to the notebook .

71

 

To connect a projector to the notebook .............................

72

To change the display when connecting an external

 

computer display or projector ............................................

73

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Connecting a Universal Serial Bus Device...............

74

To connect a USB device to the notebook........................

74

Connecting an i.LINK Device ..................................

76

To connect a digital video camera recorder ......................

76

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

77

Connecting with another VAIO computer................

78

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

79

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

79

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

80

To connect an external microphone ..................................

80

Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities ...................

81

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

81

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

81

Wireless LAN PC Card.....................................................

82

Customizing Your VAIO Notebook ..........

83

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

84

To display the Sony Notebook Setup screen: ...................

84

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

85

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

86

Viewing the Power Management status icons ..................

86

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

87

Power Management commands ........................................

89

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

89

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

90

Battery icon descriptions...................................................

91

Displaying detailed battery information ...........................

91

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

93

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

95

Using the Multilingual User Interface Language

4

Option........................................................................

96

To Change the Language Option .......................................

96

To Change Numbers, Currency, Time, and Date Formats 97

Adding Memory .........................................

99

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

100

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

101

Models with 256 MB Memory ........................................

101

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

102

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

104

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

105

About the Software on Your Notebook .107

Software Overview..................................................

108

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

115

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

117

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

119

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

120

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

121

To use the Application Recovery CD(s)..........................

121

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

122

To use the System Recovery CD(s).................................

124

Troubleshooting ......................................

129

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

130

My notebook does not start..............................................

130

My notebook starts but a BIOS error appears..................

130

My notebook starts, but the message “Operating system not

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

131

My notebook stops responding or does not shut down...

132

The power management setting is not responding..........

132

The sound of my notebook’s fan is too loud...................

133

Why does the System Properties dialog box display a slower

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

133

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

134

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

134

My LCD screen continues to show the previous screen. 134

The image on my connected external display is not centered

or sized properly..............................................................

134

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

134

I cannot switch the LCD display to TV, and vice versa. 134

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

135

My mouse does not work................................................

135

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

135

The pointer does not move while using the Touchpad or

Mouse..............................................................................

136

Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards, and Peripheral

 

Devices....................................................................

137

I cannot establish a connection between two VAIO®

 

computers when using an i.LINK cable..........................

137

My floppy disk drive (optional) cannot write to a floppy disk.

137

 

My optical disc drive is not playing my CD or DVD

 

properly. ..........................................................................

137

My optical drive tray does not open................................

138

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

138

 

My PC Card is not working. ...........................................

139

6

Troubleshooting Software .......................................

140

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

140

When I click an application icon, the message “You must

insert the application CD into your optical drive” appears

and the software does not start.........................................

140

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

 

functions?.........................................................................

140

Why is my computer operating improperly after

 

downloading the CD-burning feature of RealJukebox®

software?..........................................................................

140

I cannot use the DVgate™ software. ...............................

140

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

141

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

141

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

141

Troubleshooting Audio ...........................................

142

My speakers make no sound............................................

142

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

143

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

144

I cannot print....................................................................

144

Troubleshooting Wireless LAN ..............................

145

The computer cannot connect to a Wireless LAN Access

Point. ................................................................................

145

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

145

The data transfer speed is slow. .......................................

146

The communication speed is interrupted or slowed down

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

146

Data transfers are interrupted...........................................

146

Getting Help .............................................

149

Support Options.......................................................

149

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Index.........................................................

151

8

Welcome

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® computer, and welcome tocomputer the online VAIO® Computer User Guide.

This user guide provides detailed information on all aspects of using your new VAIO computer, from keyboard functions to preinstalled software applications.

In the left navigation window, click the topics you want to learn more about, and that information will be displayed in this main window.

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

Click here to view your computer's hardware specifications and software information.

9

VAIO® Computer User Guide

10

Using Your VAIO Notebook

This section describes the following aspects of your new computer:

Using the Keyboard

Using the Touchpad

Using the Center Jog Dial Control

Using the Optical Disc Drive

Using PC Cards

Using Memory Stick Media

Using a Second Battery Pack

Using the Weight Saver

Using Power Saving Modes

Connecting a Phone Line

Connecting to a Local Area Network

Connecting to a Wireless LAN

11

Sony PCG-GRX500, PCG-GRX520, PCG-GRX520K, PCG-GRX520P, PCG-GRX560 User Guide

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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

Escape key

 

 

 

Function keys

 

 

 

Esc

F1

F2

F3

F4

F5

F6

F7

F8

F9

F10

F11

F12

Print Screen key

Correction keys

NumLk Prt ScInsertDelete

Scr LkSysRq Pause Break

 

!

 

 

$

%

 

&

 

 

(

)

 

+

Home

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

 

8

9

0

 

Backspace

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q

W

E

R

T

 

Y

U

I

O

P

 

 

Page

 

Tab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caps Lock

A

S

D

F

G

H

 

J

K L

 

 

Enter

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shift key

Shift

Z

X

C

V

 

B

N

M

<

>

?

Shift

End

Ctrl

Fn

Alt

Ctrl key

Fn key

Alt key

 

Windows key

Alt

Ctrl

Applications

Navigation

key

keys

Numeric keypad

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.) Press the Num Lock key again to deactivate it.

 

 

Navigation keys

The Left/Right/Up/Down arrow keys are devoted to move the

 

cursor on the screen, and also function as the Home, End,

 

Page Up, and Page Down keys, respectively.

 

 

Correction keys

The Insert, Back Space, and Delete keys enable you to make

 

corrections in your documents.

 

 

12

 

 

 

Using the Keyboard

 

 

 

 

Key

Description

 

 

 

 

Function keys

The 12 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

Several keys are always used with at least one other key: Ctrl,

(Shift, Ctrl, Alt

Alt, and Shift. When held down with another key, the Ctrl

keys)

(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 in combination with other keys to issue

 

 

 

commands. See “Combinations and functions with the Fn

 

 

 

key” for more information.

 

 

 

 

Applications key

The Applications key displays a shortcut menu of context-

 

 

 

sensitive choices. Pressing this key is the equivalent of

 

 

 

clicking the right mouse button.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Combinations and functions with the Windows key

Combination

Function

 

 

 

 

+ F1

Displays VAIO® Help and Support Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ Tab

Switches the selected button on the taskbar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ D

Displays the desktop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ E

Displays Windows Explorer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ F

Displays the Search window to find a file or folder. This is

 

 

 

 

the equivalent of selecting Search from the Start menu.

+ Ctrl + F Displays the Search Results: Computers window where you can locate other computers. This is the equivalent of selecting Search and then Computers 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

selecting Control Panel and then System from the Start menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

Using the Keyboard

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

1

 

 

 

 

on the right side of the notebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battery 2

Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the multipurpose

 

 

 

2

drive bay on the left side of the notebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory Stick

Indicates that the Memory Stick® slot is in use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard disk

This indicator will light when data is being read from or

 

 

 

 

 

written to the hard disk. Do not enter Standby mode or turn

 

 

 

 

 

off the notebook when this indicator is on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Indicator lights

Light

On

Off

 

 

Num Lock The number keys in the numeric

The alphanumeric character keys

 

keypad are active.

in the keypad area are active.

 

 

Caps Lock The letters appear in uppercase as

Letters appear in lower case as

 

you type. The Shift key lowers the

you type (unless you hold down

 

case of typed letters when Caps

the Shift key).

 

Lock is on.

 

 

 

Scroll LockThe screen scrolls differently.

Information moves across the

 

(Exactly how it scrolls depends on

display normally.

 

the specific application. It has no

 

 

effect in many applications.)

 

 

 

 

Combinations and functions with the Fn key

If you switch user identities during a computing session, the Fn+F7 and Fn+F8 key functionality (if available on your computer) will be interrupted. To switch to an external display or monitor, see “Selecting the Display Mode” for more information.

Combinations/

 

 

 

Feature

 

Function

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fn+

(F3)

Toggles the built-in speaker off and on.

 

 

Mute On/Off

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fn+

(F4)

Adjusts the built-in speaker volume.

 

 

Speaker volume

To increase volume, press Fn+F4, then

or .

 

 

 

To decrease volume, press Fn+F4, then

or .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fn+

(F5)

Adjusts the brightness of the LCD.

 

 

Brightness control

To increase light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then

or .

 

 

To decrease light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then

or .

 

 

 

 

 

16

Using the Keyboard

Combinations/

Feature Function

Fn+ / (F7)

Switch to the external monitor/LCD

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 you turn on the notebook, otherwise Fn + F7 will not work.

Fn+

only/

Toggles between LCD-only and dual LCD/TV display

 

(F8)

modes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Control AV out

Only LCD

 

 

LCD and external display

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only external display

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connect the cable before you turn on the notebook, otherwise Fn + F8 will not work. You cannot use the Fn + F8 function to switch between LCD and TV once a DVD is inserted into the optical drive.

Fn+ (F12) Provides for the lowest level of power consumption. Hibernate 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

Puts the system into Standby mode, a power management

Standby

state. To return the system to the active state, press any key.

 

 

You can also carry out these functions using the center Jog Dial™ control. Some functions are not available until Windows® launches.

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Using the Touchpad

The keyboard contains a cursor-pointing device called a touchpad. You can 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.

 

 

 

18

 

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.)

The Mouse Properties dialog box lets you customize your mouse and touchpad features, such as touch sensitivity, motion, and buttons.

To open the Mouse Properties dialog box

1Click Start on the Windows® taskbar, and then Control Panel.

2Click Printers and Other Hardware, and then Mouse. The Mouse Properties dialog box opens.

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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. An overview of some of the functions controlled by VAIO Action Setup is provided in this section. 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 that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection. 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. Refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i.LINK device for information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before connecting compatible i.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as a CD-RW or hard disk drive, confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.

20

Using the Center Jog Dial Control

Using the Center Jog Dial Control

Your notebook is equipped with a center Jog Dial control located below the left and right buttons. The center Jog Dial control enables you to open an application, folder, or document from a predefined list 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

Back button

Turn

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 taskbar 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:

22

Using the Center Jog Dial Control

1Rotate the center Jog Dial control to select the item you want, and 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

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

3To 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 Dial 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 Dialog box

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

Jog Dial Guide Dialog Box

24

Using the Optical Disc Drive

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

1Turn 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.

2Press 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.

3Place an 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.

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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.

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 the disc firmly over the hub fingers. If you do not seat the disc firmly, you could damage your optical drive and you may not be able to open the tray.

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Using the Optical Disc Drive

Manual Eject Hole

To play a DVD

To play a DVD, you may use the optical disc drive and the preinstalled WinDVD® application. For more information, see the Help menu in the WinDVD application.

Before you use the optical disc drive to play a DVD, quit any open applications.

Your optical drive can read most DVD-R media. When you are ready to play a DVD, read the suggestions below to maximize your video viewing experience.

When playing a DVD on battery power, set the power management profile 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.

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Some discs recorded 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 external display while the DVD is playing. This may cause a malfunction, and you may need to restart the DVD software.

Do not switch the power saving modes while you are playing the DVD.

Change the settings to disable the screen saver and the virus checker.

Do not use memory-resident utility software to speed up disc access. This may cause the notebook to malfunction.

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 before you begin.

1Open the Start menu, point to Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, and then click System. The System Properties window appears.

2Select the Hardware tab and then click Device Manager in the Device Manager box. A window appears, listing your notebook hardware devices.

3Double-click DVD/CD-ROM drives. From the drop-down list, double-click the drive name. A properties window appears.

4Click the Properties tab.

5Select 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

Do not drop or bend the disc.

Do not touch the surface of the disc. Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a disc may cause reading errors. Proper care of 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.

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Using the Optical Disc Drive

For normal cleaning, hold the disc by its edge and use a soft cloth 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 Sony SonicStage and Microsoft® Windows® XP to write data to a CD-R or CD-RW disc. To create a CD-R disc that is readable in a CD-ROM drive, make sure that you finish the writing process before ejecting the disc. For more information, see the instructions included with Windows® XP.

Do not strike or shake the notebook while 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.

Notes on writing data to a CD-RW or CD-R disc

For optimal writing speed, deactivate the screen saver and exit anti-virus software before writing data to a disc.

For best results, use CD-Rs that are compatible with 8x speed.

Your notebook does not support 1x writing speed.

Memory-resident disc utilities may cause unstable operation or data loss. Deactivate these utilities before writing data to a disc.

If your notebook computer has preinstalled Microsoft® Office applications, such as Excel, Word, and Outlook, turn off the FindFast application.

* For notebook models equipped with a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive.

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Using PC Cards

Do not strike or shake the notebook while 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.

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

1Insert 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

2Push the PC Card gently into the slot. The PC Card is automatically detected

by your system. The Unplug or Eject Hardware icon appears in the taskbar.

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