Sony PCV-MXS20 User Manual

VAIO® MX Computer User Guide

PCV-MXS20

Contents

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

Locating Controls

And Connectors ..........................................7

Front Panel Overview..................................................7

Back Panel Overview ................................................10

Remote Control Overview ........................................12

Additional System Capabilities.................................16

VAIO Action Setup ....................................21

To Use the Shortcut Keys..........................................21

To Set the Internal Timer ..........................................22

To Change the Sony Software Window Design........23

VAIO AV Applications ...............................25

Overview of Preinstalled Software ...........................26

DigitalPrint Software.................................................29

DVgate Software .......................................................37

MovieShaker Software..............................................39

PictureGear Software ................................................47

Smart Capture............................................................50

VisualFlow Software.................................................59

Additional Software Information ..............................61

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

Configuring Your VAIO Computer...........63

Hard Disk Drive Partition ......................................... 63

i.LINK (IEEE1394) Compatibility ........................... 64

System, Application,

And Driver Recovery CDs ........................67

To Use the System Recovery CD(s) ......................... 68

To Use the Application Recovery CD(s)..................70

To Use the Driver Recovery CD............................... 71

Troubleshooting........................................73

Topics........................................................................ 73

Notes on Use.............................................................85

Support Resources ....................................................91

Index...........................................................93

Welcome

Thank you for purchasing your Sony VAIO® computer! Your new computer is a superb blend of high technology and easy-to-use functionality. The information provided here is designed to help you to become familiar with the hardware and software applications included with your system.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

Locating Controls And Connectors

Front Panel Overview

The front panel of your VAIO® MX computer enables access to the optical drive, MiniDisc drive, Memory Stick®, and PC Card slots. The front panel also provides access to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) and i.LINK® ports to connect your compatible peripheral devices.

Front panel

PHONE MIC

PC CARD

MUTING

i.LINK S400

DISPLAY FUNCTION

VOL

MEMORY STICK

USB

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

1 DVD-RW drive

Reads data from DVD or CD media. Writes data to a DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R, or CD-RW media.

2 MiniDisc drive

Plays and records music to and from a MiniDisc media. Supports Net MD protocol for secure music transfers.

3 LCD display screen

Displays the current operating mode and status of the computer.

4 Play button

Plays the current DVD, CD, or MiniDisc media contents.

5 Stop button

Stops the current playback of DVD, CD, or MiniDisc media.

6 Infrared Receiver

Enables the computer to receive signals from the remote control. (For proper remote control operation, do not block the infrared receiver.)

7 Muting button

Mutes the current sound output.

8 Power button and indicator light

Turns the computer on and off. The indicator light is blue when the computer is on and amber when the computer is in Stand by mode.

9 PC Card slot

A PC card (also called a PCMCIA card) can be installed using this slot, to increase the functions of your system.

10 Headphone jack

Connection for headphones.

11 Microphone jack

Connection for a microphone.

12 i.LINK 4-pin port (IEEE1394)

Connection for a compatible digital device.

13 DVD-RW eject button

Ejects a disc from the DVD-RW drive.

14 MiniDisc media eject button

Ejects a MiniDisc media from the MiniDisc drive.

15 Previous/Rewind button

Skips to the previous track on the current playback of a DVD, CD or MiniDisc media.

16 Next/Fast Forward button

Skips to the next track on the current playback of a DVD, CD or MiniDisc media.

17 Function button

Selects the operation mode of the computer.

18 Display button

Selects the display mode on the LCD display screen.

19 Volume control buttons

Increases or decreases the volume.

Locating Controls And Connectors

20 MagicGate™ Memory Stick® media slot

Reads and writes data to and from a Memory Stick media.

21 MagicGate Memory Stick media access indicator light

The indicator light is amber when the Memory Stick media slot is in use.

22 Universal Serial Bus (USB) port

Connection for a compatible USB device.

✍ For your convenience, your computer includes USB and i.LINK ports and jacks on

both the front and back panels. (The 4-pin i.LINK port is located on the front panel and the 6-pin i.LINK port is located on the back.)

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

Back Panel Overview

The back panel of your computer contains the ports for supplied and optional accessories. The back panel also provides access to Giga Pocket™ Personal Video Recorder ports and jacks. The icons on the back panel locate and identify the ports and jacks on your computer.

Back panel

OPTICAL FM ANTENNA (75 )

IN OUT

KEYBOARD

MOUSE

USB

NETWORK

ACT

LINK

PRINTER

i.LINK S400

SERIAL

R L

LINE

VHF/UHF

SPEAKER

LINE OUT

MONITOR DVI

------ VIDEO OUTPUT ------

S VIDEO/VIDEOS VIDEO/VIDEO AUDIOAUDIO

------ VIDEO 1 INPUT ------

1Mouse port

Connection for a PS/2® mouse.

2 Keyboard port

Connection for a PS/2 Keyboard.

3 Universal Serial Bus (USB) port

Connection for a compatible USB device.

4 Ethernet port

10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet interface. (The port marked with (Network) is for LAN connections only.)

5 Printer port

Connection for a parallel device, such as a printer or scanner.

6 i.LINK 6-pin port (IEEE1394)

Connection for a compatible digital device.

7 Serial port

Connection for a compatible serial device.

8Monitor port

Connection for a standard display.

9 DVI (LCD) Monitor port

Connection for an LCD display.

10 Audio Out jack

Connection for an audio cable (supplied).

Video/S-video Out port

Connection for a video cable adapter (supplied) or an S-video cable (optional).

11 Audio In jack

Connection for an audio cable (supplied).

Video/S-video In port

Connection for a video cable adapter (supplied) or an S-video cable (optional).

12 FM antenna port

Connection for an FM antenna.

13 S/P DIF (IN/OUT) optical ports

Connection for a digital audio or optical device.

14 AC Input port

Connection for the supplied power cord.

15 VHF/UHF port

Connection for a TV coaxial cable (supplied).

16 Line IN jacks (R/L)

Connection for an audio device.

17 Line OUT jacks (R/L)

Connection for an audio device.

18 Stereo speaker terminals (R/L)

Connection for the supplied stereo speakers to the computer.

19 Telephone cable jack

Connection for a phone cable to the computer.

20 Modem line jack

Connection for a modem (supplied) cable to the wall jack.

Back Panel Overview

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

Remote Control Overview

The functions of the VAIO® MX Computer can be controlled using the remote control (supplied). The remote control can control the functions for the computer, FM Tuner, MiniDisc player, Memory Stick® media slot, Giga Pocket functions, and DVD/CD-ROM player.

Remote Control

OPEN/CLOSE

DVD

TV VIDEO

123

456

789

JUMP

MS VIDEO DVD

CANCEL

PREV/

REW

CD MD

PAUSE

ENTER

FMTV

NEXT/ FF

DISPLAY

SLEEP

SIZE PLAY

ANGLE

INPUT

REC

VIDEO

MODE

SUBTITLE

STOP

MUTING

DVD

CHANNELVOLUME

MONITOR

DISPLAY

REC MODE

REC

STOP

AUDIO

SELECT

TITLE

RETURN

1 Power button

Press to turn the computer on or off.

2 DVD button

Press to control a DVD player.

3 TV/VIDEO button

Press to start or stop Giga Video Recorder. Giga Video Recorder is a feature of the Giga Pocket Personal Video Recorder system.

4 Channel number buttons

Press to select specific channels. Press the ENTER button to activate channel selection.

Jump button

Press to return to the previous channel. Press again to return to the current channel.

Enter button

Press to activate channel selection. See channel number buttons.

5TV button

Press to control the onscreen TV image.

FM button

Press to control the FM tuner on the computer.

M button

Press to control the (M drive) on the computer.

CD button

Press to control the CD-ROM drive on the computer.

MD button

Press to control the MiniDisc drive on the computer.

MS button

Press to control the Memory Stick media slot on the computer.

Video button

Press to control video playback.

DVD button

Press to control DVD playback.

6 Cancel button

Press to close a message dialog box.

Pause button

Press to pause playback.

Menu button

Press to display the menu options.

Prev/Rew button

Press to rewind to the previous selection.

Remote Control Overview

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

Continued

Direction (center) button

Press in the arrow directions to locate desired content, such as a song or Video Capsule. Press down to select desired content.

Next/FF button

Press to fast forward to the next selection.

Stop button

Press to stop playback.

Volume buttons

Press to raise or lower the volume.

Muting button

Press to turn off the sound. Press again to restore the sound.

Channel buttons

Press to browse available channels.

7 Display button

Press to display information.

TV input button

Press to select the input source including a television tuner or external input.

MX Display button

Press to select the mode for the LCD display screen on the computer.

Monitor button

Press to set the display to Stand by mode. Press again to enable the monitor to resume. This feature is not available while Giga Pocket features are in use.

Sleep button

Press to program the computer to automatically enter Stand by mode.

Video Rec button

Press to start recording with Giga Video Recorder.

Video Rec Stop button

Press to stop recording on-screen images to Giga Video Recorder.

Video Rec Mode button

Press to select a recording mode for Giga Video Recorder.

8 Size button

If using SonicStage™ Premium software, press to switch to Simple mode view. Press again to return to the original view. If using Giga Pocket™ software, press to switch between window and full screen mode.

Play Mode button

Press to select Play mode.

Remote Control Overview

Continued

Audio Select button

Press to select audio mode.

EQ button

Press to adjust your equalizer.

Angle button

See the Media Bar™ DVD Player software online Help file for more information.

Subtitle button

See the Media Bar DVD Player software online Help file for more information.

Title button

See the Media Bar DVD Player software online Help file for more information.

Return button

See the Media Bar DVD Player software online Help file for more information.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

Additional System Capabilities

To use the Memory Stick media slot

Your VAIO® MX computer is designed to support the Sony MagicGate™ Memory Stick® media. A Memory Stick media is a compact, portable, and versatile data storage media designed for exchanging and sharing digital data with similarly equipped products.

Inserting a Memory Stick media

1 Slide front panel cover in the direction of arrow as shown, to open the lower

front panel.

Opening the lower front panel

2 Insert the Memory Stick media into the Memory Stick media slot.

Inserting the Memory Stick Media

Insert Memory Stick media facing this direction

Additional System Capabilities

LOCK

LOCK LOCK

3 If the media does not insert easily, remove it from the slot and verify that it is

not upside-down or backwards. Carefully reinsert the Memory Stick media, but do not force it into the slot.

Do not remove the Memory Stick media while the media access indicator light is on. The media or its data may become damaged.

Removing a Memory Stick media

A small portion of the Memory Stick media remains extended when it is inserted into the Memory Stick media slot.

1 Press and release the extended portion of the Memory Stick media. The

media extends out further from the slot.

2 Remove the Memory Stick media from the slot carefully.

✍ Sony Memory Stick media do not support AVI file playback. First copy the AVI file

to your hard disk drive and then playback the file.

Protecting data on Memory Stick media from accidental changes

Memory Stick media contain a write-protect tab. The write-protect tab prevents accidental changes to information recorded on your Memory Stick media. When you slide the write-protect tab to the LOCK position, your Memory Stick media is write-protected. You cannot delete, copy, or save information on the media while the write-protect tab in the LOCK position. When you slide the tab to the un-LOCK position, you can write to or modify your Memory Stick media’s contents.

Locking the Memory Stick Media

To u nl ock

To l oc k

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

To use PC card slot

Your computer has a card bus PC card slot that supports Type I or Type II PC (PCMCIA) cards. You do not need to shut down your computer when inserting a PC card. For more information, see the instructions supplied with your PC card.

Inserting a PC card

1 Insert the PC card into the PC card slot until it clicks into position.

Inserting a PC card

Insert PC card in this direction

2 If the PC Card does not insert easily, remove it from the PC card slot and

verify that it is not upside-down or backwards. Carefully reinsert the PC card, but do not force it into the slot.

Removing a PC card

1 Double-click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows® task tray.

2 Click to select the name of the card that you want to eject and click Stop. The

Stop a Hardware Device window appears.

3 Click OK.

Additional System Capabilities

4 When the message “Safe to Remove Hardware” appears, push the PC card

Eject button on the front panel of the system unit. You may need to extend the Eject button out from the computer before you can eject the card.

5 When the PC card ejects from the PC card slot, remove it by holding the

edges and pulling it out carefully.

✍ If you eject the PC card incorrectly, your computer may not work correctly.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

VAIO Action Setup

VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your VAIO® keyboard's Shortcut keys (S keys) and your computer's internal timer.

To Use the Shortcut Keys

The programmable S Keys are set to perform the following functions:

❑ S1 — Outlook® Express

❑ S2 — Internet Explorer

❑ S3 — SonicStage™ Premium

❑ S4 — Giga Pocket™ Personal Video Recorder

Changing the settings of the S keys

You can reprogram the S keys to launch other applications, by following these steps:

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

2 Select VAIO Action Setup, then click VAIO Action Setup.

✍ You can also double-click the VAIO Action Setup icon, located in the Windows

taskbar, to launch VAIO Action Setup.

3 Click the S Key you want to change.

4 From the Select Application dialog box, click the option for the desired type

of function. The corresponding applications appear in the list box on the right.

5 Select an application from the list. Click Next.

✍ You can drag an application to place it into the list box.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

6 The Confirmation Application Name window appears. Click Next.

7 You may now type a new name and description, if desired. Then click

Finish.

To Set the Internal Timer

The VAIO Action Setup utility enables you to set your computer’s internal timer to launch certain applications or documents automatically.

✍ Some software applications take longer than others to launch. It is advisable to

confirm in advance the amount of time your selected application requires to start.

To select the timer’s launch application

1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar, and select All Programs.

2 Select VAIO Action Setup, then click VAIO Action Setup.

✍ You can also double-click the VAIO Action Setup icon, located in the Windows

taskbar, to launch VAIO Action Setup.

3 Select the Timer tab on the left side of the VAIO Action Setup window.

4 From the Time Setting tab, click the (Time Schedule Setting icon) button.

5 Follow the Select Application wizard instructions.

6 Click Finish to activate your settings.

To set up the timer start

1 Double-click . The VAIO Action Setup window appears.

2 Select the Timer tab on the left side of the VAIO Action Setup window.

3 From the Time Setting tab, click Set.

4 Follow the Timer Setup wizard instructions.

5 Click Finish to activate your settings.

To Change the Sony Software Window Design

You can select from different window designs for your Sony software and create your own personal computing environment.

Changing the window design

1 Click Start in the Windows taskbar and select the Control Panel.

2 Click Other Control Panel Options.

3 Click UI Design Selector.

4 Click << or >> and select the desired design.

5 Click Apply.

6 The “UI Design Selector” window design changes. The window design for

your Sony software will match the “UI Design Selector” window.

7 To try another selection, click << or >>, then click Apply.

8 When you have made your selection, click OK. The UI Design Selector

closes and the Sony software window design displays.

✍ You may only use this feature with compatible UI Design Selector software.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

VAIO AV Applications

Your VAIO® computer has a preinstalled collection of audio and video (AV) applications that make it easy to use advanced multimedia technology. This section describes the VAIO AV applications.

✍ Your computer may not be supplied with all of the software applications listed,

depending on the system configuration you purchased.

Your computer’s visual presentation of the VAIO AV applications may not appear exactly as shown in this section, depending on the specific computer model you purchased.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

Overview of Preinstalled Software

DigitalPrint

Sony Electronics Inc.

This image management software makes it fun and easy to edit, import, and organize your digital pictures in a photo album for rich digital printing to any standard color laser or inkjet printer. DigitalPrint can also be used to make custom CD labels for your audio CDs.

DVgate™

Sony Electronics Inc.

Connect a digital video camera recorder to the i.LINK® port and capture your own video clips and still images. You can edit clips from your video, add new clips, and combine clips into new movie segments. You can also save your images in a variety of popular file formats.

Media Bar® DVD Player

Sony Electronics Inc.

Media Bar DVD Player is created especially for high-quality DVD playback. You can enjoy the superior digital video quality and the effects features. You can rewind or fast-forward scenes from the DVD Player monitor as you would with any ordinary DVD player, to easily find the scene you want to view. Typical DVD playback features are available, such as multiple angles, audio language tracks, and subtitles. Media Bar DVD Player seamlessly integrates a premium audio/visual experience with an easy-to-use software interface.

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.

PictureGear™

Sony Electronics Inc.

This image management software displays images from your hard drive, a Sony digital still camera, or a Sony Mavica® convenient light-table format, so that you can easily view the contents of an entire folder.

camera. The images appear in a

Overview of Preinstalled Software

Smart Capture

Sony Electronics Inc.

Smart Capture is a fun new way to send multimedia messages via e-mail. Smart Capture manages the i.LINK® connection between your notebook and a Sony Digital Handycam® Camcorder that supports the i.LINK interface. It allows you to capture compressed video or still images and save them to your hard disk drive or share via e-mail. A smart solution for computer, digital audio/video and network convergence.

SonicStage™ Premium* (On selected models)

Sony Electronics Inc.

SonicStage Premium is a special jukebox application that supports high quality digital audio playback and recording from the NetMD, FM Tuner, and DVD-RW devices in your VAIO MX Desktop PC. Recording from external analog and digital audio devices, such as CD players and MiniDisc players, is also supported. SonicStage Premium includes several standard jukebox features, including a music visualizer, audio CD burning capability, and a parametric equalizer for fine-tuning audio playback.

VisualFlow™

Sony Electronics Inc.

VisualFlow software is a state-of-the-art Sony multimedia browser designed specifically for Memory Stick® media. It displays any still picture, movie or sound file stored in a Memory Stick media in a visually pleasing, artistic manner. VisualFlow software not only plays a selected movie or sound file, but also enables playback of files by other applications like PictureGear™ software or Memory Stick Slideshow.

* You can find details about using SonicStage™ Premium software in the VAIO® MX

Computer Getting Started Guide provided with your system.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

DigitalPrint Software

DigitalPrint is designed to creatively manage your digital pictures. With its easy-to-use features, you can quickly load images from your digital camera or camcorder, print high-quality photos, and make personalized photo albums and labels to share with friends and family.

DigitalPrint main window

Using PhotoCapture

Capture and import your digital pictures from your digital camera or camcorder into your computer. You can select your favorite pictures and place them in handy folders for future use.

1 Click (Import) to open the PhotoCapture window. Your connected

digital camera, camcorder, or Memory Stick® media is indicated in the window.

✍ Properly connect your digital camera, camcorder, or insert your Memory Stick

media in your computer.

VAIO MX Computer User Guide

PhotoCapture window

2 Click the camera icon to open the Enter Photo Folder Name dialog box. You

can enter a name for a new folder or click Select Photo Folder to import your pictures to an existing folder. Click OK.

Enter Photo Folder Name dialog box

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