Sony VAIO VGN-SZ1HP, VAIO VGN-SZ1M-B, VAIO VGN-SZ1XP-C, VAIO VGN-SZ1HP-B, VAIO VGN-SZ1HRP-B User Manual

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User Guide

Personal Computer

V G N - S Z s e r i e s

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Contents
Before Use .........................................................................................................................................................................	6
Notice...........................................................................................................................................................................	6
ENERGY STAR ...............................................................................................................................................................	7
Documentation.............................................................................................................................................................	8
Ergonomic Considerations.........................................................................................................................................	12
Getting Started .................................................................................................................................................................	14
Locating Controls and Ports.......................................................................................................................................	15
About the Indicator Lights ..........................................................................................................................................	21
Connecting a Power Source ......................................................................................................................................	23
Using the Battery Pack ..............................................................................................................................................	24
Shutting Down Your Computer Safely .......................................................................................................................	29
Using Your VAIO Computer .............................................................................................................................................	30
Using the Keyboard ...................................................................................................................................................	31
Using the Touch Pad .................................................................................................................................................	33
Using Special-function Buttons ..................................................................................................................................	34
Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera...................................................................................................................	35
Using the Optical Disc Drive ......................................................................................................................................	36
Using PC Cards .........................................................................................................................................................	45
Using the ExpressCard/34 Media ..............................................................................................................................	48
Using the Memory Stick Media ..................................................................................................................................	51
Using Other Memory Cards .......................................................................................................................................	57

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Using the Internet.......................................................................................................................................................	61
Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) .....................................................................................................................................	62
Using the Bluetooth Functionality ..............................................................................................................................	72
Using Peripheral Devices.................................................................................................................................................	79
Connecting a Docking Station....................................................................................................................................	80
Connecting External Speakers ..................................................................................................................................	89
Connecting an External Display .................................................................................................................................	90
Selecting Display Modes............................................................................................................................................	94
Using the Multiple Monitors Function.........................................................................................................................	95
Connecting an External Microphone..........................................................................................................................	97
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device......................................................................................................	98
Connecting a Printer ................................................................................................................................................	101
Connecting an i.LINK Device ...................................................................................................................................	102
Connecting to a Network (LAN) ...............................................................................................................................	104
Customizing Your VAIO Computer ................................................................................................................................	106
Selecting Performance Modes.................................................................................................................................	107
Setting the Password ...............................................................................................................................................	108
Using Fingerprint Authentication..............................................................................................................................	114
Using Trusted Platform Module (TPM).....................................................................................................................	128
Setting Up Your Computer with VAIO Control Center..............................................................................................	134
Using the Power Saving Modes ...............................................................................................................................	135
Managing Power with VAIO Power Management....................................................................................................	140
Setting Up Your Language with Windows XP Professional .....................................................................................	143
Configuring Your Modem .........................................................................................................................................	146
Protecting the Hard Disk ..........................................................................................................................................	148

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Upgrading Your VAIO Computer....................................................................................................................................	149
Adding and Removing Memory................................................................................................................................	150
Precautions ....................................................................................................................................................................	157
On Handling the LCD Screen ..................................................................................................................................	158
On Using the Power Source ....................................................................................................................................	159
On Handling Your Computer....................................................................................................................................	160
On Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera...........................................................................................................	162
On Handling Floppy Disks .......................................................................................................................................	162
On Handling Discs ...................................................................................................................................................	163
On Using the Battery Pack.......................................................................................................................................	164
On Using Headphones.............................................................................................................................................	165
On Handling Memory Stick Media............................................................................................................................	165
On Handling the Hard Disk ......................................................................................................................................	166
On Handling the Memory Card Adapter...................................................................................................................	167
Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................................................	168
Computer .................................................................................................................................................................	170
System Security .......................................................................................................................................................	178
Battery......................................................................................................................................................................	180
Built-in MOTION EYE Camera.................................................................................................................................	182
Internet.....................................................................................................................................................................	185
Networking ...............................................................................................................................................................	187
Bluetooth Technology ..............................................................................................................................................	190
CDs and DVDs.........................................................................................................................................................	194
Display .....................................................................................................................................................................	199

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Printing.....................................................................................................................................................................	201
Microphone ..............................................................................................................................................................	202
Mouse ......................................................................................................................................................................	203
Speakers..................................................................................................................................................................	204
Touch Pad................................................................................................................................................................	205
Keyboard..................................................................................................................................................................	206
Floppy Disks ............................................................................................................................................................	207
PC Cards .................................................................................................................................................................	208
Audio/Video..............................................................................................................................................................	209
Memory Stick Media ................................................................................................................................................	210
Peripherals ...............................................................................................................................................................	211
Docking Station........................................................................................................................................................	212
Support Options .............................................................................................................................................................	213
Sony Support Information ........................................................................................................................................	213
e-Support .................................................................................................................................................................	214
Trademarks ..............................................................................................................................................................	216

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Before Use

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.

Notice

© 2006 Sony Corporation. All rights reserved.

This manual and the software described herein, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, translated, or reduced to any machine-readable form without prior written approval.

Sony Corporation provides no warranty with regard to this manual, the software, or other information contained herein and hereby expressly disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose with regard to this manual, the software or such other information. In no event shall Sony Corporation be liable for any incidental, consequential, or special damages, whether based on tort, contract, or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with this manual, the software, or other information contained herein or the use thereof.

In the manual, the ™ or ® marks are not specified.

Sony Corporation reserves the right to make any modification to this manual or the information contained herein at any time without notice. The software described herein is governed by the terms of a separate user license agreement.

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Before Use

ENERGY STAR

As an ENERGY STAR Partner, Sony has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

The International ENERGY STAR Office Equipment Program is an international program that promotes energy saving through the use of computers and their office equipment. The program backs the development and dissemination of products with functions that effectively reduce energy consumption. It is an open system in which business proprietors can participate voluntarily. The targeted products are office equipment such as computers, displays, printers, facsimiles and copiers. Their standards and logos are uniform among participating nations.

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark.

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Before Use

Documentation

Your documentation includes printed information and user guides to read on your VAIO computer. Guides are provided in PDF format, which you can easily browse through and print out.

The My Club VAIO portal is a perfect starting point to use your computer — a comprehensive collection of everything you need to get the most from your computer.

The user guides are collected under Documentation, which can be shown as follows:

1Click Start and then the My Club VAIO icon .

2Click Documentation.

3Select the guide you want to read.

You can manually browse to the user guides by going to My Computer > VAIO (C:) (your C drive) > Documentation > Documentation and opening the folder for your language.

You may have a separate disc for the documentation of bundled accessories.

Printed Documentation

A Setting Up Poster — Describes the process from unpacking to starting up your VAIO.

Troubleshooting Guide — Contains solutions to common problems.

Recovery Guide — Contains an explanation of how to recover your computer's system if you need to.

Booklets containing the following information: Sony Guarantee conditions, Safety Regulations, Modem Regulations,

Wireless LAN Regulations and Bluetooth Regulations.

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Before Use

Non-printed Documentation

User Guide (this manual) — Contains features of your computer. It also includes information about the software programs included with your computer, as well as information on solving common problems.

Specifications — The online Specifications describe the hardware and software configuration of your VAIO computer. To view the online Specifications:

1 Connect to the Internet.

2 Go to the Sony online support Web site at http://www.vaio-link.com/.

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Before Use

My Club VAIO

In My Club VAIO you can find:

Documentation, which gives you:

Access to the User Guide. This manual explains the features of your computer in detail, how to use these features confidently and safely, connect peripheral devices and more.

Access to Help & Training. This is the portal of VAIO Help and Support Center.

Important information about your computer, in the form of notices and announcements.

In My Club VAIO you can also find:

Accessories

Want to expand the capabilities of your computer? Click on this icon and have a look at your compatible accessories.

Software

Feeling creative? Click this icon for an overview of your software and check out our upgrade options.

Wallpapers

Click this icon and check out our most popular Sony and Club VAIO wallpapers.

Links

Click this icon and check out our most popular Sony and Club VAIO web sites.

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Before Use

Help and Support Center

Help and Support Center is a comprehensive resource for practical advice, tutorials, and demonstrations to help you learn to use Microsoft Windows XP and your computer.

Use the Search feature, Index, or table of contents to view all Windows Help resources, including those that are on the Internet.

To access Help and Support Center, click Start and then Help and Support. Or go to the Help and Support Center by

pressing the Microsoft Windows key and the F1 key.

Further Sources

Consult the help files on the software you are using for detailed information on features and troubleshooting.

Go to www.club-vaio.com to find online tutorials about your favorite VAIO software.

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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 to 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 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.

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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 setting of the display as well.

Lighting – Choose a location where windows and lights do not create glare and reflection on the display. Use indirect lighting to avoid bright spots on the display. You can also purchase accessories for your display that help reduce glare. Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work effectiveness.

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.

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Getting Started

Getting Started

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

Locating Controls and Ports (page 15)

About the Indicator Lights (page 21)

Connecting a Power Source (page 23)

Using the Battery Pack (page 24)

Shutting Down Your Computer Safely (page 29)

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Getting Started

Locating Controls and Ports

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

!

Please note that the illustrations in this manual may not necessarily apply to your model.

Front

A Built-in MOTION EYE camera* (page 35)

B Built-in MOTION EYE camera indicator* (page 21)

C Built-in microphone (monaural)*

D LCD screen (page 158)

E Built-in speakers

F Keyboard (page 31)

G Touch pad (page 33)

H Fingerprint sensor* (page 114)

* On selected models only.

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Getting Started

A Power indicator (page 21)

B Battery indicator (page 21)

C Hard disk drive indicator (page 21)

D WLAN (Wireless LAN) indicator (page 21)

E Bluetooth indicator* (page 21)

F S1/S2 buttons (page 34)

G STAMINA mode indicator (page 21)

H Performance selector switch (page 107)

I SPEED mode indicator (page 21)

J WIRELESS switch (page 62)

K Num lock indicator (page 21)

L Caps lock indicator (page 21)

M Scroll lock indicator (page 21)

N Power button

*On selected models only.

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Getting Started

Back

A DC IN port (page 23)

B Battery connector (page 24)

C Air vents

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Getting Started

Right

A Optical disc drive (page 36)

B Optical disc drive indicator (page 21)

C Manual eject hole (page 194)

D Drive eject button (page 36)

E ExpressCard™/34 slot*1 (page 48)

F Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) ports*2 (page 98)

G Network (Ethernet) port (page 104)

H Modem port (page 61)

*1 Referred to as the ExpressCard/34 slot hereinafter.

*2 Supports high-/full-/low- speeds.

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Getting Started

Left

A Microphone jack (page 97)

B Headphones jack (page 89)

C Air vents

D i.LINK® (IEEE1394) S400 port (page 102)

E Monitor (VGA) port (page 91)

F PC Card slot (page 45)

G PC Card eject button (page 47)

H Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo media indicator (page 21)

I Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo media slot* (page 51)

* Your computer supports Memory Stick Duo media and Memory Stick PRO Duo high speed and high capacity capabilities.

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Getting Started

Bottom

A Docking station connector (page 81)

B Air vents

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Getting Started

About the Indicator Lights

Your computer is equipped with the following indicator lights.

	Indicator	Functions
	Power 1	Illuminates when the power of the computer is on, blinks in Standby mode, and turns off when the computer is
		in Hibernate mode or off.
	Battery e	Illuminates when the computer is using battery power, blinks when the battery is running out of power, and
		double-blinks when the battery is charging.
	Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo	Illuminates when data is read from or written to the Memory Stick media in the Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo
		slot. (Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on.) When the indicator is off,
		the Memory Stick media is not being used.
	Optical disc drive	Illuminates when data is read from or written to the optical disc. When the indicator is off, the optical disc is not
		being used.
	STAMINA mode	Illuminates when the computer is in STAMINA mode to conserve battery power.
	SPEED mode	Illuminates when the computer is in SPEED mode to provide faster performance.
	Hard disk	Illuminates when data is read from or written to the hard disk. Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the
		computer when this indicator is on.
	Num lock	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.
	Caps lock	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.
	Scroll lock	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.

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Getting Started

Indicator	Functions
Bluetooth *	Illuminates when the WIRELESS switch is set to ON and Bluetooth technology is enabled.
WIRELESS LAN	Illuminates when the wireless LAN function is running.

*On selected models only.

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Getting Started

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 the computer only with the supplied AC adapter.

To use the AC adapter

1Plug one end of the power cord (1) into the AC adapter (3).

2Plug the other end of the power cord into an AC outlet (2).

3Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter (3) into the DC In port (4) on the computer or on the optional docking station.

!

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

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

Make sure that the AC outlet is easily accessible.

If you do not use the computer for a long period of time, put the computer into Hibernate mode. See Using Hibernate Mode (page 138). This power saving mode saves the time of shutting down or resuming.

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Getting Started

Using the Battery Pack

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

Installing the Battery Pack

To install the battery pack

1Turn off the computer and close the LCD screen lid.

2Slide the lock switch (1) to the UNLOCK position.

3 Slide the battery into the battery compartment until it clicks into place.

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Getting Started

4 Slide the lock switch (1) to the LOCK position to secure the battery on the computer.

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

!

Certain rechargeable batteries do not meet Sony quality and safety standards. For safety reasons this notebook only functions with genuine Sony batteries designed for this model. When inserting another kind of battery, the battery will not be charged and the notebook will not function.

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Getting Started

Charging the Battery Pack

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

To charge the battery pack

1Install the battery pack.

2Connect the AC adapter to the computer.

The computer automatically charges the battery (the battery indicator light flashes in a double blink pattern as the battery charges). When the battery is about 85% charged, the battery indicator turns off.

Battery indicator light status	Meaning
On	The computer is using battery power.
Blinks	The battery is running out of power.
Double blinks	The battery is charging.
Off	The computer is using AC power.

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Getting Started

When the battery is running out of power, both the battery and power indicator lights blink.

Keep the battery pack in the 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 attach the AC adapter to recharge the battery or shut down the computer and install a fully charged battery.

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

The battery indicator light is on while you use the battery pack as a power source. When the battery life is nearly depleted, both the battery and power indicator lights start flashing.

For some software applications and some peripheral devices, the 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 Standby or Hibernate. If the battery wears out when the computer enters Standby mode, you will lose any unsaved data. Going back to the previous work state is impossible. To avoid loss of data, you should save your data frequently.

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

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Getting Started

Removing the Battery Pack

!

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

To remove the battery pack

1Turn off the computer and close the LCD screen lid.

2Slide the lock switch (1) to the UNLOCK position.

3 Slide and hold the release latch (2) and slide the battery away from the computer.

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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

1Turn off any peripherals connected to the computer.

2Click Start and then Turn Off Computer. The Turn off computer window appears.

3Click Turn Off.

4Respond 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.

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Using Your VAIO Computer

Using Your VAIO Computer

Once you have read and followed the information in the online Specifications, you can start using your computer safely and confidently.

Read on to get the most out of using your computer.

Using the Keyboard (page 31)

Using the Touch Pad (page 33)

Using Special-function Buttons (page 34)

Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera (page 35)

Using the Optical Disc Drive (page 36)

Using PC Cards (page 45)

Using the ExpressCard/34 Media (page 48)

Using the Memory Stick Media (page 51)

Using Other Memory Cards (page 57)

Using the Internet (page 61)

Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) (page 62)

Using the Bluetooth Functionality (page 72)