PCG-R505JL
Table of contents
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Welcome.......................................................7
Using Your VAIO Notebook........................9
Using the Keyboard...................................................10
Functions of the keyboard keys .........................................11
Indicators ...........................................................................12
Indicator lights...................................................................13
Combinations and functions with the Windows key .........13
Combinations and functions with the Fn key ....................15
Using the Touchpad ..................................................17
VAIO Action Setup...................................................19
Using the Center Jog Dial Control............................20
Using the center Jog Dial control ......................................20
Launcher mode ..................................................................21
Guide Mode .......................................................................22
Using the center Jog Dial control with Sony software ......22
Using the center Jog Dial control with other software ......23
Using a PC Card........................................................24
To insert a PC Card............................................................24
To remove a PC Card.........................................................25
Using Memory Stick Media......................................28
Types of Memory Stick media...........................................28
Write-protecting a Memory Stick media ...........................30
Formatting a Memory Stick media....................................30
Notes on Memory Stick media ..........................................31
Using Power Saving Modes......................................33
Normal mode .....................................................................33
Standby mode ....................................................................33
Hibernate mode..................................................................33
Notes on power saving modes ...........................................34
Connecting a Phone Line ..........................................35
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Connecting to a LAN................................................36
To set up your Ethernet connection .................................. 36
Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............37
Connecting the Docking Station...............................38
Connecting the notebook to the docking station...............40
Disconnecting the notebook from the docking station...... 42
Using the Fl oppy Disk Drive....................................46
Using an Optical Disc Drive.....................................48
Notes on CD and DVD discs ............................................ 52
Connecting a Parallel Port Printer ............................53
To a parallel port printer ................................................... 53
Connecting a USB Printer.........................................54
Connecting an External Display ...............................55
To connect a monitor ........................................................ 55
To connect a projector....................................................... 57
Connecting a USB Device ........................................60
To connect a USB device.................................................. 60
Connecting an i.LINK Device ..................................62
Connecting VAIO Computers ..................................64
If your notebook is connected to the docking station ....... 65
Connecting External Speakers..................................67
Connecting an External Microphone........................68
Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities...................69
Personal Digital Assistant................................................. 69
Wireless LAN Access Point.............................................. 69
Wireless LAN PC Card..................................................... 70
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Customizing Your VAIO Notebook ..........71
Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen ...........72
Sony Notebook Setup tabs.................................................73
Controlling Power Management ...............................74
Viewing the Power Management status icons ...................74
Activating the Power Management toolbar .......................74
Power Management profiles ..............................................75
Power Management commands.........................................78
Conserving battery power..................................................78
Displaying Battery Information ................................79
To activate the battery information toolbar .......................79
Battery icon descriptions ...................................................79
Displaying detailed battery information ............................80
Selecting the Display Mode ......................................82
To select the display mode.................................................82
To change the window design of Sony software ...............84
Adding Memory .........................................85
Precautions and Procedures.......................................85
Typical expansion memory configuration .........................86
Removing a Memory Module ...................................87
Installing a Memory Module.....................................88
Viewing the Amount of Memory ..............................92
About the Software on Your Notebook ...93
Overview of the Software on Your Notebook ..........93
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs.......99
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Using Your Recovery CDs .....................................100
To use the Application Recovery CD(s)......................... 100
To use the Driver Recovery CD(s) ................................. 101
To use the System Recovery CD(s)................................ 104
Recovering Microsoft Word ........................................... 105
Troubleshooting......................................107
Troubleshooting Your Notebook............................108
My notebook does not start............................................. 108
My notebook starts but a BIOS error appears................. 108
My notebook starts, but the message “Operating system not
found” appears and Windows does not start................... 109
My notebook stops responding or does not turn off. ...... 110
My notebook is unstable................................................. 111
The sound of my notebook’s fan is too loud................... 111
Why does the System Properties dialog box display a slower
CPU speed than advertised?............................................ 111
Troubleshooting the Docking Station.....................112
I cannot operate the optical drive in the docking station,
when the docking station is connected to the notebook.. 112
I cannot operate the optical drive in the docking station,
when the docking station is connected to the notebook and
thenotebookis connected toanothercomputervia an i.LINK
connection....................................................................... 112
An error message appears while disconnecting the docking
station, even after following the correct procedure for dis-
connecting the docking station........................................ 112
I cannot remove the disc. ................................................ 113
The disc tray does not eject even after I press the Eject but-
ton.................................................................................... 113
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Troubleshooting the LCD Screen............................114
My LCD screen is blank..................................................114
My LCD screen continues to show the previous screen..114
The image on my connected external display is not centered
or sized properly. .............................................................114
I want to change the video resolution of my display.......114
Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad.............115
My mouse does not work.................................................115
My touchpad does not work properly..............................115
The pointer does not move (while using the Touchpad or
Mouse). ............................................................................116
Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards, and Peripheral De-
vices.........................................................................117
My floppy disk drive cannot write to a floppy disk.........117
My optical drive is not playing my CD or DVD properly.....
117
My optical drive tray does not open. ...............................117
I cannot use Digital Video (DV) devices. The message “DV
equipment seems to be disconnected or turned off” appears.
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My PC Card does not work..............................................118
Troubleshooting the Software.................................119
My software program stops responding or crashes. ........119
When I click an application icon, themessage “You must insert the application CD into your optical drive” appears and
the software does not start. ..............................................119
The application cannot find a file while a PC Card is insert-
ed......................................................................................119
My computer’s start-up time seems longer after I have in-
stalled AOL. What can I do? ...........................................119
Troubleshooting i.LINK Devices ....................................120
I cannot establish a connection between two VAIO comput-
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ers when using an i.LINK cable...................................... 120
Troubleshooting the Modem........................................... 120
My modem does not work. ............................................. 120
My modem connection is slow. ...................................... 121
Troubleshooting Audio................................................... 121
My speakers have no sound. ........................................... 121
My microphone does not work. ...................................... 122
Troubleshooting the Printer ............................................ 122
I cannot print................................................................... 122
Troubleshooting i.LINK devices ............................124
I cannot establish a connection between two VAIO comput-
ers when using an i.LINK cable...................................... 124
Getting Help.............................................125
Support Options ......................................................125
Software Support Information ................................127
Index.........................................................131
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Welcome
Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® notebook, and
welcome to the VAIO User Guide. This user guide provides detailed
information on all aspects of using your new VAIO computer, from
keyboard functions to preinstalled software applications. I n the left
navigation window, click the topics you want t o learn more about, and
that information will be displayed in the main window.
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Using Your VAIO Notebook
This section describes the following aspects of your new computer:
❑ Using the Keyboard
❑ Using the Touchpad
❑ VAIO Action Setup
❑ Using the Center Jog Dial Control
❑ Using a PC Card
❑ Using Memory Stick Media
❑ Using Power Saving Modes
❑ Connecting a Phone Line
❑ Connecting to a LAN
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Using the Keyboard
Your keyboard is very similar to that of a typewriter, but the keyboardhas
additional keys that perform specific computer-related tasks.
Keyboard
Shift
Key
Fn Key
Ctrl Key
Alt Key
Windows
Function Keys
®
Key
Print Screen Key
Numeric Keypad Area
Applications Key
Correction Keys
Backspa
Key
Navigation Keys
Fn
Key
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Functions of the keyboard keys
Key Description
Using Your VAIO Notebook
Numeric k eypad
area
Contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the
numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform
mathematical calculations such as addition and subtraction.
Note that you must press the Num Lock key to activate the
numeric keypad. (When you do so, the Num Lock indicator
will be on.) Pres s the Num Lock key again to deactivate it.
Navigation keys The Left/Right/Up/Down arrows 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, Backspace, and Delete k eys enable you to make
corrections in your documents.
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 i t.
Operator keys Several keys are always used with at least o ne 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, i nstead
of choosing the Save command from a menu, you can hold
down Ctrl and press S (referred to as Ctrl+S). The Shift key
operates the same way as on a typewriter; it is used to
produce capital letters or special symbols such as @ and $.
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Key Description
Windows key The key with the Windows® logo displays the Windows
Start menu; it is the equivalent of clicking the Start button on
the task bar. 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.
Indicators
Indicator Function
Power Light is greenwhen the notebook is powered on, flashes amber
when the notebook is in Standby mode, and turns off when the
notebook is in Hibernate mode or is powered off.
Battery Indicates the status of the battery, which is attached at the rear
of the notebook.
Memory Stick Indicates the Memory Stick® slot is in use.
Docking Station Indicates the docking station is in use.
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Indicator lights
Light On Off
Using Your VAIO Notebook
Hard disk Data is being read from or
written to the hard drive. Do
not enter Standby mode or
turn off the notebook when
this indicator light is on.
Num Lock The number keys in the
numeric keypad are act ive.
Caps Lock Letters appear in uppercase as
you type.TheShiftkeylowers
the case of typed letters when
Caps Lock is on.
Scroll Lock The screen scrolls differently.
(Exactly how it scrolls
depends on the specific
application. It has no effect in
many applications.)
The hard drive is not being
accessed.
The 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 .
Combinations and functions with the Windows key
Combination Function
+ F1 Displays VAIO Help and Support Center.
+ Tab Switches the selected button on the taskbar.
+ 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.
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Combination Function
+ Ctrl + F Displaysthe Search Results: Computers windowwhere 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 +
Returns all minimized windows to their previous size.
+M
+ R Displays the Run window. This is the equivalent of selecting
Run from the Start menu.
Fn + +
Insert
Displays the System Properties window. This is the equivalent
of selecting Control Panel and then System from the Start
menu.
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Using Your VAIO Notebook
Combinations and functions with the Fn key
✍ If you switch user accounts durin g 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.
Combination/
Feature Functions
Fn+ (F3)
Speaker switch
Fn+ (F4)
Speaker volume
Fn+ (F5)
Brightness
control
Fn+ /
(F7)
Switch to the
external display
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 brightness of the LCD.
To increase light intensity, press Fn+F5, then or .
To decrease light intensity, press Fn+F5, then or .
Toggles through the LCD and external display.
Only LCD
LCD and external display
Only external display
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Combination/
Feature Functions
Fn+ (F12)
Hibernate
Fn + Esc
Standby
Fn +F
Display control
Provides for the lowest level of power consumption. When
you execute this command, the state of the system and state
of the peripheral devices are written to the hard disk and the
system power is turned off. To return the system to the
original state, use the power switch to turn on power.
Puts t he system into Standby mode, a power management
state. To return the system to the active state, press any key.
Minimizes or maximizes the display window. If the default
display resolution is reduced, this function maximizes the
display resolution to fit the screen size. Maximizing the
display window allows you to view the display at a greater
resolution.
✍ You can also carry out these functions using the center Jog Dial™ control. Some
functions are not ava ilable until Windows® launches.
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Using the Touchpad
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
Right Button
Left Button
Actions Descriptions
Point Slide one finger on the touchpad to place the pointeron an item or
object.
Click Press the left button once.
Double-click Press the left button twice.
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 edge to scroll
horizontally. (The scroll function is available only with
applications that support a touchpad scroll feature.)
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See Mouse Properties for information on touchpad features, s uch asclickingboth
buttons simultaneously, adjusting touchpad speed, and Easy Launcher functions.
To access Mouse Properties, click Start, select Control Panel, then select Printers
and other Hardware, and click the Mouse icon.
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VAIO Action Setup
VAIO Action Setup
VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your notebook’s center Jog Dial™
control and Timer. An overview of some of the functions controlled by VAIO
Action Setup is provided below. 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.
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Using the Center Jog Dial Control
Your notebook i s equipped with a center Jog Dial™ control located below the
touchpad and between 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
Turn
Press
Center Jog Dial Control
The 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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Using the Center Jog Dial Control
Launcher mode
The 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 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 task tray. Alternatively, you can press the Ctrl key and the
center Jog Dial control while the Jog Dial window is active to switch to launcher
mode.
Jog Dial Launcher
To select a desired item, proceed as follows:
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1 Rotate the center Jog D ial 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 softwareyou are using, youcan
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.
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 online Help.
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Using the Center Jog Dial Control
Using the center Jog Dial control with other software
If the software you are using does not support 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
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Using a PC Card
Your notebook includes one PC Card slot. A PC Card enables you to connect
portable external devices, such as another hard disk drive, to your notebook. It
also enables you to connect to a network using a PC Network Interface Card
(NIC).
The PC Card slot can accommodate one Type I or II PC Card. This slot is
compatible with CardBus. You do not need to turn off 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
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PC Card
Insert with the
arrow facing toward
the slot
Using a PC Card
2 Push the the PC Card gently into the slot. The PC Card is automatically
detected by yoursystem. The Unplug or Eject Hardware icon appears in
the taskbar.
Do not force a PC Card into the slot. It may damage the connect or pins.
If you have difficulty inserting a card, check that you are inserting the card
with the correct orientation.
Do not carry your notebook while the head of the PC Card is out of the slot.
Pressure or shock may damage the connect or pins.
To remove a PC Card
If your notebook is turned on, follow these instructions to prevent your system
from crashing. If your notebook is turned off, skip to step number 5.
1 Close all applications that use the PC Card, otherwise data may be lost.
2 Double-click in the taskbar. The “Safety remove...PC Card” dialog box
appears.
3 Click the dialog box. The message, “Safe to Remove Hardware” appears.
4 Click to close the message.
5 Pull the PC Card Release button up and press it in toward the notebook. The
Release button pops out.
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6 Push the Release button a second time. The PC Card pops out.
Removing PC Card
7 Gently grasp the PC Card and pull it out of the slot.
Do not choose a U SB disk or a Sony i. LINK opt ical driv e in the S top a Hard ware
device dialog box.
If you removed a So ny i. L INK optical drive by m i st ak e, disconnect the do c ki ng
station and reconnect it. See “Disconnecting the notebook from the docking
station” for more information.
Notes on using PC Cards
❑ For some PC Cards, if you alternate between normal power operation and
the Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted, you may find that
a device connected t o your system is not recognized. Reboot your system to
correct the problem.
❑ Some PC Cards may require that you disable idledevices when using the PC
Card. You can use Sony Notebook Setup to disable devices. See “To display
the Sony Notebook Setup screen:” for more information.
❑ Make sure you use the most recent software driver provided by the PC Card
manufacturer.
❑ If an exclamation mark (!) appears on the Device Manager tab in the System
Properties dialog box, remove the software driver and then reinstall it.
❑ You may not be ableto use some PC Cardsor some functions of thePC Card
with this notebook. If you have difficulty inserting a PC Card, check that you
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Using a PC Card
are orienting the card correctly. See the manual that came with your PC Card
for more information on its use.
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Using Memory Stick Media
Memory Stick® media is a compact, portable, and versatile recording medium
that 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 Memory Stick media can be used with your
notebook:
❑ MagicGate™ Memory Stick
Stick media), which is provided with copyright protection
❑ Memory Stick
†
media, which does not have the same copyright
protection as MagicGate media
Some music files encoded with secure copyright protection may be stored on
MG Memory Stick media but not on regular Memory Stick media. You can 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 image on to MG Memory Stick media that already contains music.
*
media (hereafter called MG Memory
What is MagicGate media?
MagicGate media provides copyright p rotection 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 Memory Stick media has the MG mark .
* MagicGate Memory Stick and are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
† Memory Stick and are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
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Using Memory S tick Media
To insert a Memory Stick media
1 Insert the Memory Stick media with the arrow facing upward and toward the
Memory Stick media slot.
✍ Inserting the media in the wrong direction may damage the connector pins.
2 Carefully slide the Memory Stick media in until it clicks in place.
Inserting Memory Stick Media
Insert Memory Stick media
with arrow facing forward.
Memory Stick media
✍ At the default setting, 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 Memor y Stick medi a
Click the Removable Disk icon under My Computer to see the contents of the
Memory Stick media.
To remove a Memory Stick media
1 Ensure that the access light is off.
2 Push the Memory Stick media in toward the notebook.
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LOCK
LOCK LOCK
3 W hen the Memory Stick media ejects, pull it out.
✍ Be careful when removing the Memory Stick media, as it may eject completely from
the slot.
Write-protecting a Memory Stick media
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 Stick Media)
Write-protect
on
Formatting a Memory Stick media
Memory Stick media is formatted for immediate use when you purchase it.
However, if you need to reformat a Memory Stick media, follow the procedure
below.
Reformatting erases all c urrent dat a that is st ored on a Me mory Stick media .
Before you reformat, confirm that the media does not contain files you want
to keep.
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