Sony VAIO VGN-FW145E, VAIO VGN-FW145E/W, VAIO VGN-FW130E, VAIO VGN-FW160E/H, VAIO VGN-FW130N/W User Manual

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User Guide

Personal Computer

VGN-FW100 Series

Contents

Before Use .........................................................................................................................................................................6

Documentation .............................................................................................................................................................7

Ergonomic Considerations.........................................................................................................................................11

Getting Started .................................................................................................................................................................13

Locating Controls and Ports.......................................................................................................................................14

About the Indicator Lights ..........................................................................................................................................20

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

Using the Battery Pack ..............................................................................................................................................22

Shutting Down Your Computer Safely .......................................................................................................................29

Using Your VAIO Computer .............................................................................................................................................30

Using the Keyboard ...................................................................................................................................................31

Using the Touch Pad .................................................................................................................................................32

Using Special-function Buttons ..................................................................................................................................33

Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera...................................................................................................................34

Using the Optical Disc Drive ......................................................................................................................................37

Using the ExpressCard Module .................................................................................................................................47

Using the Memory Stick Media ..................................................................................................................................50

Using Other Memory Cards .......................................................................................................................................56

Using the Internet.......................................................................................................................................................59

Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) .....................................................................................................................................60

Using the Bluetooth Functionality ..............................................................................................................................67

Using Peripheral Devices .................................................................................................................................................73

Connecting External Speakers ..................................................................................................................................74

Connecting an External Display.................................................................................................................................75

Selecting Display Modes............................................................................................................................................82

Using the Multiple Monitors Function .........................................................................................................................84

Connecting an External Microphone..........................................................................................................................87

Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device......................................................................................................88

Connecting a Printer ..................................................................................................................................................91

Connecting an i.LINK Device .....................................................................................................................................92

Connecting to a Network (LAN) .................................................................................................................................94

Customizing Your VAIO Computer ..................................................................................................................................95

Setting the Password .................................................................................................................................................96

Setting Up Your Computer with VAIO Control Center..............................................................................................101

Using the Power Saving Modes...............................................................................................................................102

Managing Power with VAIO Power Management ....................................................................................................107

Upgrading Your VAIO Computer....................................................................................................................................109

Adding and Removing Memory................................................................................................................................110

Precautions ....................................................................................................................................................................116

On Handling the LCD Screen ..................................................................................................................................117

On Using the Power Source ....................................................................................................................................118

On Handling Your Computer....................................................................................................................................119

On Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera...........................................................................................................121

On Handling Floppy Disks .......................................................................................................................................122

On Handling Discs ...................................................................................................................................................123

On Using the Battery Pack.......................................................................................................................................124

On Using Headphones.............................................................................................................................................126

On Handling Memory Stick Media............................................................................................................................127

On Handling the Hard Disk ......................................................................................................................................128

On Updating Your Computer ...................................................................................................................................129

Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................................................130

Computer .................................................................................................................................................................132

System Security .......................................................................................................................................................138

Battery......................................................................................................................................................................139

Built-in MOTION EYE Camera.................................................................................................................................141

Internet.....................................................................................................................................................................144

Networking ...............................................................................................................................................................146

Bluetooth Technology ..............................................................................................................................................150

Optical Discs ............................................................................................................................................................154

Display .....................................................................................................................................................................159

Printing.....................................................................................................................................................................164

Microphone ..............................................................................................................................................................165

Mouse ......................................................................................................................................................................166

Speakers..................................................................................................................................................................167

Touch Pad................................................................................................................................................................169

Keyboard..................................................................................................................................................................170

Floppy Disks ............................................................................................................................................................171

Audio/Video..............................................................................................................................................................172

Memory Stick Media ................................................................................................................................................175

Peripherals ...............................................................................................................................................................176

Support Options .............................................................................................................................................................177

Sony Support Information ........................................................................................................................................178

Program Support Information...................................................................................................................................181

Trademarks ....................................................................................................................................................................193

Before Use

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® computer, and welcome to the on-screen User Guide. Sony has combined leading-edge technology in audio, video, computing, and communications to provide state-of-the-art personal computing experience.

External views illustrated in this manual may look slightly different from those of your computer.

Before Use

Documentation

Your documentation includes printed information and user guides to read on your VAIO computer.

Printed Documentation

❑ Welcome mat — Contains an overview of components connection, set-up information, etc. ❑ Safety Information — Contains safety guidelines and owner information.

Non-printed Documentation

❑ User Guide (this manual) — Explains features of your computer. It also includes information about the software programs

included with your computer, as well as information on solving common problems.

✍

To go to Web sites described in this manual by clicking their respective URLs beginning with http://, your computer must be connected to the Internet.

❑ Specifications — The online specifications describe the hardware and software configurations of your VAIO computer.

To view the online specifications:

1 Connect to the Internet. 2 Go to the Sony online support Web site at the following URLs:

http://esupport.sony.com/EN/VAIO/ http://www.sony.ca/support/ http://esupport.sony.com/ES/VAIO/ http://esupport.sony.com/ES/VAIO/BR/

for customers in Canada

for customers in USA

for customers in Spanish speaking Latin American countries or areas

for customers in Brazil

Before Use

❑ VAIO Recovery Center User Guide — Provides information about restoring individual software programs, hardware

drivers, and drive partition(s) or your entire hard disk drive to the original factory installed settings. To access this on-screen guide:

1 Click Start and Help and Support. 2 Click Manuals & Specifications. 3 Click VAI O Recovery Center User Guide.

Before Use

Help and Support

Help and Support is easy to access and provides a single location for information and technical assistance for your VAIO computer. Choose from the following categories to find the answers you need.

To access Help and Support, click Start and Help and Support.

❑ Manuals & Specifications

Here you will find the on-screen User Guide, warranty information, other VAIO documents, and system and software information for your computer.

❑ VAIO Support

Access interactive help in the form of VAIO tutorials, an escalation page containing support and contact information, and various links to VAIO online support Web sites.

❑ Backup & Recovery

Find information on how to back up and restore your operating system, system software, and your personal data.

❑ Wireless & Networking

Learn about wireless connections including Bluetooth Wireless technology and Wireless LAN. Run utilities that include VAIO Media Setup and Windows Network and Sharing Center, and access to wireless tutorials.

❑ Security

Keep your data safe and your computer running efficiently with updates and maintenance programs from Microsoft and Sony.

❑ VAIO Sites

Contains links to other Internet sites you might find interesting and useful.

❑ VAIO Tutorials

Sony provides guided help tutorials that help you accomplish a task. It can either perform the task for you or show you how to do it step by step.

❑ VAIO Registration

Please take a moment to register your VAIO computer to enjoy the following benefits:

❑ Your computer will be registered with Sony Product Support. ❑ You will receive an e-coupon good for purchase of eligible accessories at SonyStyle.com.

❑ Extended Service Plan

Sony VAIO products come with a 1 year Limited Warranty. Protect your investment further by purchasing an optional Extended Service Plan.

Before Use

Ergonomic Considerations

You will be using your computer as a portable device in a variety of environments. Whenever possible, you should attempt to take account of the following ergonomic considerations for both stationary and portable environments:

❑ Position of your computer – Place the computer directly in front of you (1). Keep your forearms horizontal (2), with your

wrists in a neutral, comfortable position (3) while using the keyboard, touch pad, or external mouse. Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides. Have breaks during sessions with your computer. Excessive use of the computer may strain eyes, muscles, or tendons.

❑ Furniture and posture – Sit in a chair with good back support. Adjust the level of the chair so your feet are flat on the

floor. A footrest may make you more comfortable. Sit in a relaxed, upright posture and avoid slouching forward or leaning far backwards.

Before Use

❑ Viewing angle of the computer's display – Use the display's tilting feature to find the best position. You can reduce eye

strain and muscle fatigue by adjusting the tilt of the display to the proper position. Adjust the brightness level of the display as well.

❑ Lighting – Choose a location where windows and lights do not cause glare and reflection on the display. Use indirect

lighting to avoid bright spots on the display. Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work efficiency.

❑ Positioning an external display – When using an external display, set the display at a comfortable viewing distance.

Make sure the display screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you are sitting in front of the monitor.

Getting Started

This section describes how to get started using your VAIO computer.

Before starting your computer for the first time, do not connect any other hardware that did not originally come with your computer. Be sure to start up your computer with only the supplied accessories connected and set up your system. Upon completion, connect one device (for example, a printer, an external hard disk drive, a scanner, and so on) at a time, following the manufacturers' instructions.

❑ Locating Controls and Ports (page 14)

❑ About the Indicator Lights (page 20)

❑ Connecting a Power Source (page 21)

❑ Using the Battery Pack (page 22)

❑ Shutting Down Your Computer Safely (page 29)

Locating Controls and Ports

Take a moment to identify the controls and ports shown on the following pages.

Front

A Built-in MOTION EYE camera (page 34) B Built-in MOTION EYE camera indicator (page 20) C Built-in microphone (monaural) D LCD screen (page 117) E Built-in speakers (stereo) F Keyboard (page 31) G Touch pad (page 32) H Charge indicator (page 20) I Hard disk drive/Optical disc drive indicator (page 20) J WIRELESS switch (page 60) K WIRELESS indicator (page 20) L Media Access indicator (page 20) M SD memory card slot (page 56)

N Memory Stick slot O Headphones jack (page 74) P Microphone jack (page 87)

* Your computer supports both standard- and Duo-size Memory Stick media.

(page 50)

Getting Started

A Num lock indicator (page 20) B Caps lock indicator (page 20) C Scroll lock indicator (page 20) D S1 button (page 33) E VOL-/VOL+ buttons (page 33) F Play/Pause button (page 33) G Stop button (page 33) H Previous track button (page 33) I Next track button (page 33) J AV MODE button (page 33)

Getting Started

Back

A Battery connector

Getting Started

Right

Getting Started

A Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) ports B Optical disc drive (page 37) C Optical disc drive indicator (page 20) D Drive eject button (page 37) E Manual eject hole (page 154) F Power button/Power indicator (page 20)

* Support high-/full-/low- speeds.

(page 88)

Left

Getting Started

A DC IN port (page 21) B Security slot C Air vent D Network (Ethernet) port (page 94) E Modem port (page 59)

F Monitor port G HDMI port

H i.LINK 4-pin (S400) port (page 92) I ExpressCard/34 slot (page 47)

* These two ports are mutually exclusive. When one port has an external

display connected, the other is disabled.

(page 76)

Bottom

A Air vents

Getting Started

About the Indicator Lights

Your computer is equipped with the following indicator lights.

Indicator Functions

Power 1 Illuminates in green when the computer is turned on, blinks slowly in orange while the computer is in Sleep

mode, and turns off when the computer is placed into Hibernate mode or turned off.

Charge

Built-in MOTION EYE camera Illuminates while the built-in MOTION EYE camera is in use.

Media Access Illuminates while data is being read from or written to a memory card. (Do not place the computer into Sleep

Optical disc drive Illuminates while data is being read from or written to the optical disc media. When the indicator is off, the optical

Hard disk drive/Optical disc drive

Num lock

Caps lock

Scroll lock

WIRELESS Illuminates when the WIRELESS switch is turned on, provided that one or more wireless options are enabled

Illuminates while the battery pack is charging. See Charging the Battery Pack (page 25) for more information.

mode or turn it off when this indicator is on.) When the indicator is off, the memory card is not in use.

disc media is not in use.

Illuminates while data is being read from or written to the hard disk drive or the optical disc media. Do not place the computer into Sleep mode or turn it off when this indicator is on.

Press the Num Lk key to activate the numeric keypad. Press it a second time to deactivate the numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is not active when the indicator is off.

Press the Caps Lock key to type letters in uppercase. Letters appear in lowercase if you press the Shift key while the indicator is on. Press the key a second time to turn off the indicator. Normal typing resumes when the Caps lock indicator is off.

Press the Scr Lk key to change how you scroll the display. Normal scrolling resumes when the Scroll lock indicator is off. The Scr Lk key functions differently depending on the program you are using and does not work with all programs.

in the VAIO Smart Network window.

Connecting a Power Source

You can use either an AC adapter or a rechargeable battery pack as a power source for your computer.

Using the AC Adapter

✍

Use your computer only with the supplied AC adapter.

To use the AC adapter

1 Plug one end of the power cord (1) into the AC adapter (3). 2 Plug the other end of the power cord into an AC outlet (2). 3 Plug the cable connected to the AC adapter (3) into the DC IN port (4) on the computer.

Getting Started

The shape of the DC In plug varies depending on the AC adapter.

✍

To disconnect your computer completely from AC power, unplug the AC adapter.

Make sure that the AC outlet is easily accessible.

If you do not intend to use your computer for a long period of time, place the computer into Hibernate mode. See Using Hibernate Mode (page 105). This power saving mode saves the time of shutting down and resuming.

Using the Battery Pack

The battery pack supplied with your computer is not fully charged at the time of delivery.

Installing the Battery Pack

To install the battery pack

1 Turn off the computer and close the LCD screen lid. 2 Slide the battery LOCK switch (1) inward.

Getting Started

3 Slide the battery pack diagonally into the battery compartment until the projections (2) on either side of the battery

compartment fit into the U-shaped cuts (3) on either side of the battery pack.

Getting Started

4 Rotate the battery pack in the direction of the arrow, and push the battery pack down into the compartment until it clicks

into place.

5 Slide the battery LOCK switch outward to secure the battery pack on the computer.

✍

When your computer is directly connected to AC power and has a battery pack installed, it uses power from the AC outlet.

This computer is designed to operate only with genuine Sony batteries.

Getting Started

Charging the Battery Pack

The battery pack supplied with your computer is not fully charged at the time of delivery.

To charge the battery pack

1 Install the battery pack. 2 Connect the AC adapter to the computer.

The charge indicator turns on while the battery pack is charging. When the battery pack charges close to the maximum charge level you selected with the battery care function, the charge indicator turns off. To select your desired maximum charge level, see Using the Battery Care Function (page 27).

Charge indicator light status Meaning

Lit in orange The battery pack is charging.

Unlit The battery pack is in any of the following states:

Blinks along with the green power indicator light

Blinks along with the orange power indicator light

Blinks fast in orange A battery error has occurred due to a failed battery

- Fully charged.

- Completely out of power.

- Removed.

The battery pack is running out of power. (Normal mode)

The battery pack is running out of power. (Sleep mode)

pack or an unlocked battery pack.

Charge the battery pack as described in this manual from your first battery charge.

Getting Started

✍

Keep the battery pack in your computer while it is directly connected to AC power. The battery pack continues to charge while you are using the computer.

If the battery level falls below 10%, you should either connect the AC adapter to recharge the battery pack or shut down your computer and install a fully charged battery pack.

The battery pack supplied with your computer is a lithium ion battery pack and can be recharged any time. Charging a partially discharged battery pack does not affect the battery life.

For some software applications and some peripheral devices, your computer may not enter Hibernate mode even when battery life is low. To avoid loss of data when using battery power, you should save your data frequently and manually activate a power management mode, such as Sleep or Hibernate.

If the battery pack wears out when the computer enters Sleep mode, you will lose all unsaved data. Going back to the previous work state is impossible. To avoid loss of data, you should save your data frequently.

When your computer is directly connected to AC power and has a battery pack installed, it uses power from the AC outlet.

Getting Started

Using the Battery Care Function

You can select your desired maximum charge level to reduce battery degradation and check the battery wear level with the battery care function.

To use the battery care function

1 Click Start, All Programs, and VAIO Control Center. 2 Click Power Management and Battery Care Function. 3 Click to select the Enable Battery Care Function check box in the right pane. 4 Click Advanced. 5 Select the desired maximum charge level. 6 Click OK.

To check the battery wear level

Follow steps 1 and 4 in To use the battery care function above and check detailed information. If the battery wear level is high, replace the battery pack with a new genuine Sony battery pack.

Getting Started

Removing the Battery Pack

You may lose data if you remove the battery pack while your computer is on and not connected to the AC adapter or if you remove the battery pack while the computer is in Sleep mode.

To remove the battery pack

1 Turn off the computer and close the LCD screen lid. 2 Slide the battery LOCK switch (1) inward. 3 Slide and hold the battery RELEASE latch (2) inward, hook your fingertip under the tab (3) on the battery pack, and turn

the battery pack in the direction of the arrow, and then slide it away from the computer.

Getting Started

Shutting Down Your Computer Safely

To avoid losing unsaved data, be sure to shut down your computer properly, as described below.

To shut down your computer

1 Turn off any peripherals connected to the computer.

2 Click Start, the arrow next to the Lock button, and Shut Down. 3 Respond to any prompts warning you to save documents or to consider other users and wait for the computer to turn off

automatically. The power indicator light turns off.

Using Your VAIO Computer

This section describes how to get the most out of using your VAIO computer.

❑ Using the Keyboard (page 31)

❑ Using the Touch Pad (page 32)

❑ Using Special-function Buttons (page 33)

❑ Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera (page 34)

❑ Using the Optical Disc Drive (page 37)

❑ Using the ExpressCard Module (page 47)

❑ Using the Memory Stick Media (page 50)

❑ Using Other Memory Cards (page 56)

❑ Using the Internet (page 59)

❑ Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) (page 60)

❑ Using the Bluetooth Functionality (page 67)

Using Your VAIO Computer

+ 165 hidden pages