Sony VGC-RA820G User Guide
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing a 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
programs included with your computer.
View the Electronic Flyer, which provides updates and supplemental information about your computer.
Go to the Sony online support Web site, to view the VAIO® Computer Specifications, which lists your computer's
hardware specifications and preinstalled software information.
For information about the Sony software preinstalled on your computer, click Start in the Windows® taskbar, and
then click Welcome to VAIO life.
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Getting Started
Congratulations on your purchase of the Sony VAIO® computer! Your new, high-performance, multimedia computer combines
state-of-the-art computer functionality with the latest audio, video and information technology features.
Unpacking Your Computer
Planning an Ergonomic Work Space
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Unpacking Your Computer
Your computer may not be supplied with all of the accessories shown, depending on the computer configuration purchased.
For details on the accessories supplied with your computer, see the online Specifications sheet.
Your VAIO® computer is not supplied with System or Application Recovery CDs. Use the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility to
recover your computer's operating system and preinstalled software.
Computer and supplied accessories
*T his ac c es sory is only available with c ertain c omputer models .
Manuals
VAIO® Computer Quick Start — Provides basic information on setting up and registering your computer. The Quick
Start also provides resources for technical support, safety guidelines and owner information.
About RAID Systems — Contains an overview of RAID-0 and RAID-1 levels, along with basic information about RAID
configuration. This guide is available only with configure-to-order (CTO) computers that are shipped as RAID-0 or
RAID-ready.
Online Documentation
VAIO® Computer User Guide — Contains features and specifications of your computer. It also includes information
on the Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition operating system, the software programs included with your
computer, and solving common problems.
To access the online User Guide:
1.
Click Start in the Windows taskbar, then click Help and Support.
2.
From the VAIO Help and Support Center menu, click VAIO User Guide.
Specifications — The online specifications sheet describes the hardware and software configuration of your VAIO
computer.
To view the online specifications sheet:
1.
Connect to the Internet.
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2.
Go to the Sony online support Web site at http://www.sony.com/pcsupport.
3.
Click the Documentation button and follow the on-screen instructions to locate your model's
specifications sheet.
VAIO Software — Provides specific information on certain preinstalled software on your computer.
To access this online software information:
1.
Click Start in the Windows® taskbar.
2.
Click Welcome to VAIO life.
Hard Disk Drive Recovery
Your computer is equipped with the VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program that recovers your computer's operating system
and preinstalled software.
For online information about hard disk drive recovery:
1.
Click Start in the Windows® taskbar, then click Help and Support.
2.
From the VAIO Help And Support Center, click VAIO Recovery Options.
You can create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit using CD-R, single layer DVD+R, or single layer DVD-R media on VAIO
computers equipped with the appropriate optical drive (a CD-RW, DVD-RW, or DVD±RW drive).
DVD+RW, DVD-RW, double layer DVD+R, and double layer DVD-R media (when it becomes available) cannot be used to
create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit.
Other
A software library, containing the Microsoft® software and Sony® end-user license agreements.
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Planning an Ergonomic Work Space
Before you set up your new computer, find the best location for your new computer and plan your work space. There are
several ergonomic factors to consider when you arrange your work space:
Stable work surface — Use a stable work surface large enough to support the computer and other peripheral
equipment.
Ventilation — Leave at least eight inches of space on the left and back sides of your computer to enable proper
ventilation.
Placement of the keyboard, mouse, and other input devices — Place your keyboard, mouse, and other input
devices so that your arms and hands are in a relaxed, comfortable position. The keyboard should be directly in front
of you. Adjust the level of the keyboard so that your lower arms are parallel to the floor. Keep your wrists in a
relaxed position when you are using the keyboard — not angled up or down. Use the palmrest briefly, for resting.
While typing, never use the palmrest or rest your hands on the table. Position the mouse at the same level as the
keyboard. Hold the mouse with a relaxed hand, and use your whole arm to move it. Take breaks during sessions
with your computer. Excessive use of the mouse or a joystick may strain muscles or tendons.
Furniture and posture — Sit in a chair with good back support and armrests. Adjust the level of the chair so your
feet are flat on the floor. A footrest may make you more comfortable. Sit with relaxed, upright posture — avoid
slouching forward or leaning far backward.
Viewing angle of the display — Position the display 18 to 26 inches directly in front of you, with the top of the
screen at or a little below eye level. Use the display's tilting feature to find the best position. You can reduce eye
strain and muscle fatigue by placing the display in the proper position.
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.
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Locating Controls And Ports
This section is intended to familiarize you with the controls, ports and jacks on your computer and supplied accessories.
Your computer may not be equipped with all of these hardware features or accessories. The location of the controls, ports,
and jacks may vary from the illustrations shown in this section. To view the specific connection capabilities for your
computer, see the online Specifications sheet.
About the Front Panel
About the Back Panel
About the Sub-woofer
About the Keyboard
About the Remote Control
About the i.LINK Port
Page 6
About the Front Panel
The front panel of your VAIO® Computer enables access to drives, memory card readers, ports and jacks that enable you to
connect compatible peripheral devices.
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Front panel
Your computer may not be equipped with all of these hardware features or accessories. The location of the controls, ports,
and jacks may vary from the illustrations shown in this section.
Front panel
1 Optical drive 1
See the online Specifications sheet for optical drive information.
2 Optical drive 2
See the online Specifications sheet for optical drive information.
3 Floppy disk drive
Reads and writes data from and to a 3.5-inch floppy disk.
4 xD-Picture Card memory card reader
Reads and writes data from and to xD-Picture Card media.
5 CompactFlash® and Microdrive memory card reader
Reads and writes data from and to CompactFlash and Microdrive media.
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6 Optical drive access indicator
Light is amber while reading and writing data from and to the optical drives.
7 Hard disk drive access indicator
Light is amber while reading and writing data from and to the hard disk.
8 Headphones/Line In jack |
Connection for the supplied speakers, optional headphones, or audio device.
Microphone jack
Connection for a microphone (optional).
S-video In jack
Connection for an S-video cable (optional).
Composite video In jack
Connection for a video cable (optional).
Composite audio L In jack
Connection for an audio cable (optional).
Composite audio R In jack
Connection for an audio cable (optional).
9 Optical drive 1 eject button
Ejects a disc from Optical drive 1.
10 Optical drive 2 eject button
Ejects a disc from Optical drive 2.
11 Floppy disk eject button
Ejects a floppy disk from the floppy disk drive.
12 Memory Stick® memory card reader
Reads and writes data from and to Memory Stick®, Memory Stick Pro , and Memory Stick Duo media.
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13 Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMediaCard (MMC) slot
Reads and writes data from and to a Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC).
14 Media access indicator1
Light is amber when reading or writing data
15 Power button and power indicator
Press the button to turn the computer on and off. The power indicator light is green when the computer is on and is amber
when the computer is in Stand by mode. The power indicator is off when the computer is turned off.
16 Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0) ports (3)
Connections for compatible high/full/low-speed USB devices.
17 i.LINK (4-pin) S400 port (IEEE 1394)
Connection for a compatible digital device.
1
T he media ac c es s indic ator lights when reading or writing data with the Sec ure Digital (SD), M emory Stic k®, xD-Picture C ard , or C ompac tFlas h
/M icrodrive s lots .
®
i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection. The i.LINK
connection may vary, depending on the software programs, operating system, and compatible i.LINK devices. All products
with an i.LINK connection may not communicate with each other.
Refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i.LINK device for information on operating conditions and
proper connection. Before connecting compatible i.LINK devices to your computer, such as an optical or hard disk drive,
confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.
To open and close the optical disc drive doors
Your computer is equipped with one or more optical disc drives that have a drive eject button located on the drive door.
After pressing the eject button, wait for the drive to stop reading the CD. It may take a few moments for the drive
tray to eject.
Gently push the drive tray in, when closing the optical drive door. Do not force the door or handle roughly.
After closing the drive door, wait a few moments for the drive to begin reading the CD.
To open the upper and lower front panel covers
The front of your computer is equipped with panels that cover drives, media card slots, jacks and ports. Do not force the
panel covers or handle roughly.
Opening the front panel covers
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About the Back Panel
The back panel of your computer contains the ports for supplied and optional accessories. The icons on the back panel
locate and identify the ports on your computer.
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Back panel
The location of certain ports and jacks may vary from the illustration, based on the computer model purchased.
Back panel
1 Mouse port
Connection for a PS/2® mouse.
2 Keyboard port
Connection for a PS/2 keyboard.
3 Printer port
Connection for a parallel device, such as a printer or scanner.
4 i.LINK 6-pin S400 port (IEEE 1394)
Connection and power for a compatible digital device, such as a Sony Digital Handycam® camcorder.
5 Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0) ports (4)
Connections for compatible high/full/low-speed USB devices.
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6 Microphone jack
Connection for a microphone (optional).
Front/Headphones jack
Connection for the supplied speakers (2-channel), front speakers (5.1 speaker system1), or optional headphones.
Line In jack
Connection for an audio device.
Woofer/Center jack2
Connection for a Sub-woofer3, control module, or center speaker (5.1 speaker system1)
Rear jack
Connection for rear speakers (5.1 speaker system1)
7 Monitor port4
Connection for standard (VGA) monitor.
TV Out (S-video/video) jack
Connection for an S-video cable.
DVI-D monitor port
Connection for a DVI monitor.
8 Modem line jack5
Connection for an RJ-11 telephone cable (optional).
9 AC Input port
Connection for the supplied power cord.
10 S/PDIF Optical Out port
Connection for a digital audio or optical device.
11 Ethernet port
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Connection for a 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T Ethernet.
(The port marked with (Network) is for LAN connections only.)
12 Speaker DC Out jack
Connection for the speaker power cable (supplied 2-channel speakers).
13 Composite audio R In jack
Connection for an audio cable (optional).
Composite audio L In jack
Connection for an audio cable (optional).
Composite video In jack
Connection for a video cable (optional).
S-video In jack
Connection for an S-video cable (optional)
14 VHF/UHF port
Connection for a TV coaxial cable (supplied).
1
C ertain V A I O® c omputers that are c onfigured to order (C T O ), may s upply 5 .1 s peakers as part of the ac c essory pac kage. See your c omputer's
specific ations s heet for details on s upplied ac c es sories.
2
Speaker system c onnec tions vary by model and manufac turer. See the information s upplied with your s peaker s ystem for setup details.
3
A s ub-woofer is available with c ertain V A IO c omputer models . See your c omputer's s pec ific ation s heet for details about s upplied ac c ess ories .
4
C ertain V A I O® c omputers that are c onfigured to order (C T O ), may have a DV I -D monitor port ins talled in this loc ation. See your c omputer's s pecific ations
sheet for hardware c onfiguration details
5
A n optional "1-to-2" jack adapter device (s plitter) is required to connect both a telephone and modem line to your computer.
Page 15
About the Sub-woofer
Certain VAIO® computers are supplied with a sub-woofer unit to enhance your computer's sound capability. See your
computer's online specifications sheet for information about supplied accessories. Go to the Sony online support Web site
at http://www.sony.com/pcsupport.
Page 16
Sub-woofer unit
The sub-woofer is compatible with the speakers supplied with your VAIO computer. See the section, Connecting the
Speakers, for connecting instructions.
Sub-woofer unit
1 Port
The port extends the low frequency response to extend the volume output of the sub-woofer unit.
2 Power knob/volume control
Rotate the knob clockwise to turn on the sub-woofer unit. Control the volume by rotating the knob until the desired volume
is reached. Rotate the knob counter-clockwise to turn off the sub-woofer unit.
3 Power indicator
Light is green while the power is on.
4 Speaker jack
Connection for the speaker cable.
5 Sub-woofer unit cable
Connects the sub-woofer unit to the computer's Headphones jack.
6 AC power cord
Connects the sub-woofer unit to a grounded AC wall outlet or power strip.
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About the Keyboard
This section describes the special and standard functions available for your keyboard.
Page 18
VAIO keyboard with Media Center features
The VAIO® keyboard supplied with your computer has a standard key arrangement with additional keys and controls that
support Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition features.
VAIO keyboard
BUTTON DESCRIPTION
EJECT 1 Opens and closes the optical drive 1 tray.
EJECT 2 Opens and closes the optical drive 2 tray.
MY TV Opens the My TV window of Windows® Media Center.
GUIDE Opens the TV program guide of Media Center.
MY MUSIC Opens the My Music window of Media Center.
MY PICTURES Opens the My Pictures window of Media Center.
MY VIDEOS Opens the My Videos window of Media Center.
INTERNET Starts the assigned Internet browser.
MAIL Starts the e-mail software program.
HELP Starts the Media Center Help, if Media Center software is running. (If Media Center software is not running,
the Help and Support Center is started.)
REC Records TV programs.
PREV Press once to return to the beginning of the DVD chapter, video track, or audio track.
Press twice to return to the previous DVD chapter, video track, or audio track.
STOP Stops media recording or playback.
PLAY/PAUSE Pauses the movie, video, slide show, or audio track. Press again to resume playback.
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NEXT Advances to the next DVD chapter, video track, or audio track.
VOLUME knob Increases (+) and decreases (-) the volume as you turn the knob.
MUTE Turns the sound off. Press again to restore sound.
STANDBY Places the computer in Stand by mode to reduce power consumption. Press any key briefly to resume normal
operation.
KEY DESCRIPTION
Function The 12 function keys along the top of the keyboard are used to perform certain tasks. The task associated
with each function key may vary between software programs.
Numeric keypad Use the numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform basic math calculations. Press the Num
Lock key to activate the numeric keypad. (The Num Lock indicator lights.) Press the Num Lock key again to deactivate the
numeric keypad.
Directional Arrows The up, down, left, and right arrow keys move the pointer on the screen.
Applications
The Applications key displays a shortcut menu in certain software programs. Pressing this key is equivalent to
clicking the right mouse button.
Windows
The key with the Microsoft® Windows® logo, displays the Start menu. Pressing this key is equivalent to clicking Start
on the taskbar.
INDICATORS FUNCTION
Num Lock The Num Lock indicator lights when the numeric keypad is activated. When the indicator is off, the directional
arrow and correction keys on the numeric keypad area are active.
Caps Lock The Caps Lock indicator lights to advise you that the keyboard is set to type letters in uppercase. When the
indicator is off, the letters appear in lower case as you type.
Scroll Lock The Scroll Lock indicator lights to advise you that your screen's scrolling pattern has changed. When the
indicator is off, the screen scrolls normally. This function is not available with all software programs.
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About the Remote Control
The Media Center remote control is supplied with VAIO Digital Studio® computers that are equipped with the Microsoft
Windows® XP Media Center Edition operating system.
®
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Remote control
The remote control can start and stop video recording and playback, select channels, and set viewing preferences. This
section describes the basic functions of your remote control.
Remote Control
1 MY MUSIC button
Press to view and listen to your music playlists.
2 MY TV button
Press to view the My TV menu.
3
STOP button
Press to stop media playback or TV recording session.
PAUSE button
Press to pause media playback. Press again to resume playback.
FWD button
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Press to fast-forward media at three speeds.
SKIP button
Press to move media forward, for example, one audio track, one DVD chapter, and 30 seconds of recorded TV or video.
REPLAY button
Press to move media backward, for example, one audio track, one DVD chapter, and seven seconds of TV or video.
REW button
Press to move media backward at two speeds.
RECORD button
Press to begin recording.
PLAY button
Press to begin media playback.
4 BACK button
Press to return to the previous window.
5 VOL button
Press to increase (+) or decrease (-) the volume.
6 RECORDED TV button
Press to view previously recorded TV programs (In My TV window)
7 GUIDE button
Press to view the TV program guide for your area.
8 Channel number buttons (0-9)
Press to select specific channels or enter text.
(Press Enter or OK to activate the channel selection.)
9 CLEAR button
Use to backspace and delete entered text.
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10 STANDBY button
Press to place the computer in Stand by mode to reduce power consumption.
11 MY PICTURES button
Press to view pictures or a slide show.
12 MY VIDEOS button
Press to view videos from your video collection.
13 MORE button
Press to view additional options that are available for Media Center features.
14 Directional arrow buttons
Press the Up, Down, Left, and Right arrow buttons to move the pointer on the screen.
OK button
Press OK to select the desired action or window option. If watching full-screen TV press OK to return to the previous
channel. Press OK again to switch between channels.
15 CH/PG (Channel/Page) button
Press to change or page up/down channels (no number input required).
16 START button
Press to open the Media Center Start menu.
MUTE button
Press to turn off the sound. Press again to restore the sound.
17 DVD MENU button
Press to open the main menu on a DVD.
18 LIVE TV button
Press to view TV programming.
19 ENTER button
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Press to activate feature or action, such as channel selection or return to previous channel. (This button's actions are
similar to using the OK button.)
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Setting up the remote control
1.
Turn the remote control over.
2.
Press in the tab and lift the battery cover up.
3.
Insert two AA batteries (supplied) into the remote control as shown.
4.
Align the battery cover to the remote control.
5.
Press down until the cover clicks into place.
Inserting batteries into the remote control
If your remote control does not operate properly, you may need to replace the batteries. When your remote control is
not being used for extended periods of time, remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage.
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About the i.LINK Port
Your VAIO® computer is equipped with a 4-pin and a 6-pin i.LINK® port. A 4-pin i.LINK port cannot supply power to a
connected i.LINK device. A 6-pin i.LINK port can supply power (10V to 12V) to a connected i.LINK device, if the device is
equipped with a 6-pin connector.
The total power supplied by the 6-pin i.LINK port does not exceed 6 watts.
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Connecting an i.LINK (IEEE 1394) device
1.
Use the symbol to locate the i.LINK port on your compatible i.LINK device and on your computer. Plug the i.LINK
cable connector into this port.
2.
Plug the other end of the cable into the corresponding 4- or 6-pin i.LINK port on your computer.
See the instructions supplied with your i.LINK device for more information on installation and use.
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Setting Up Your Computer
Your computer may not be equipped with all of the hardware features described in the section. The location of the controls,
ports, and jacks may vary from the illustrations shown. See the online Specifications sheet for your computer's specific
hardware configuration.
Connecting a Display (Monitor)
Connecting the Speakers
Connecting 5.1 (6-Channel) Speaker Systems
Configuring Software for Your Speaker System
Connecting the Keyboard and Mouse
Connecting the Telephone and Modem
Connecting the Power Cords
Turning On Your Computer
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Connecting a Display (Monitor)
1.
Plug the display's cable into the appropriate monitor port.
2.
If necessary, plug the display's cable into the rear of the display.
To connect a display
Install your equipment so that you can easily reach the power outlet in the event of an emergency.
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