Sony VGN - A User Manual

User Guide

Personal Computer

VGN-A series/VGN-FS series

Contents

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

Notice...........................................................................................................................................................................6

NERGY STAR ...............................................................................................................................................................7

Documentation .............................................................................................................................................................8

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

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

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

About the Indicator Lights ..........................................................................................................................................27

Connecting a Power Source ......................................................................................................................................29

Using the Battery Pack ..............................................................................................................................................30

Shutting Down Your Computer Safely .......................................................................................................................37

Using Your VAIO Computer .............................................................................................................................................38

Using the Keyboard ...................................................................................................................................................39

Using the Touch Pad .................................................................................................................................................42

Using Special-function Buttons ..................................................................................................................................43

Using the Optical Disc Drive ......................................................................................................................................45

Using the TV Function ...............................................................................................................................................53

Using PC Cards .........................................................................................................................................................54

Using the Memory Stick Media ..................................................................................................................................58

Using the Internet.......................................................................................................................................................62

Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) .....................................................................................................................................63

Using the Bluetooth Functionality ..............................................................................................................................73

Using Peripheral Devices .................................................................................................................................................78

Connecting a Port Replicator .....................................................................................................................................79

Using the Mouse ........................................................................................................................................................92

Connecting External Speakers ..................................................................................................................................95

Using the Remote Commander ...............................................................................................................................101

Connecting an External Display...............................................................................................................................104

Selecting Display Modes..........................................................................................................................................112

Using the Multiple Monitors Function.......................................................................................................................115

Connecting an External Microphone........................................................................................................................118

Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device....................................................................................................119

Connecting a Printer ................................................................................................................................................122

Connecting an i.LINK Device ...................................................................................................................................124

Connecting to a Network (LAN) ...............................................................................................................................126

Customizing Your VAIO Computer ................................................................................................................................128

Setting the Password ...............................................................................................................................................129

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

Upgrading Your VAIO Computer....................................................................................................................................146

Adding and Removing Memory................................................................................................................................147

Precautions ....................................................................................................................................................................161

On Handling the LCD Screen ..................................................................................................................................162

On Using the Power Source ....................................................................................................................................163

On Handling Your Computer....................................................................................................................................164

On Handling Floppy Disks .......................................................................................................................................166

On Handling Discs ...................................................................................................................................................167

On Using the Battery Pack.......................................................................................................................................168

On Using Headphones.............................................................................................................................................169

On Handling Memory Stick Media............................................................................................................................169

On Handling the Hard Disk ......................................................................................................................................170

Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................................................171

Troubleshooting the optical disc drive......................................................................................................................172

Troubleshooting PC Cards.......................................................................................................................................175

Troubleshooting the modem ....................................................................................................................................175

Troubleshooting the Bluetooth functionality .............................................................................................................177

Troubleshooting Wireless LAN ................................................................................................................................180

Troubleshooting Power Management ......................................................................................................................183

Troubleshooting External Displays ..........................................................................................................................184

Troubleshooting Sound (Speaker) ...........................................................................................................................186

Troubleshooting Sound (Microphone)......................................................................................................................187

Troubleshooting Floppy Disks..................................................................................................................................189

Troubleshooting Printers ..........................................................................................................................................190

Troubleshooting i.LINK Devices...............................................................................................................................192

Support Options .............................................................................................................................................................193

Sony Support Information ........................................................................................................................................193

e-Support .................................................................................................................................................................194

Trademarks..............................................................................................................................................................196

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

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.

Macrovision: This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

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

Specifications Guide for the specific configuration of your VAIO computer.

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 E

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.

NERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark.

NERGY STAR Office Equipment Program is an international program that promotes energy saving through

Before Use

Documentation

Your Documentation contains 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:

1 Click Start and then the My Club VAIO icon . 2 Click Documentation. 3 Select 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. ❑ Specifications Guide — Contains a table of specifications and a list of bundled software. ❑ 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.

Before Use

Non-printed Documentation

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 and 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.

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 Online Help files of 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.

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.

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.

Getting Started

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

❑ Locating Controls and Ports (page 14) ❑ About the Indicator Lights (page 27) ❑ Connecting a Power Source (page 29) ❑ Using the Battery Pack (page 30) ❑ Shutting Down Your Computer Safely (page 37)

Getting Started

Locating Controls and Ports

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

The following illustrations may appear different from your model, depending on the country or area of your residency.

Getting Started

VGN-A series models

Front

Getting Started

A Mute button/indicator (page 43) B Volume buttons (page 43) C Brightness button/indicator (page 43) D Magnify screen button (page 43) E S1 button (page 43) F LCD screen (page 162) G Keyboard (page 39) H Touch pad (page 42) I Power indicator (page 27) J Battery indicator (page 27) K Hard disk drive indicator (page 27) L Optical disc drive indicator (page 27)

M Memory Stick media slot N Memory Stick media indicator (page 27) O WIRELESS switch (page 63) P Bluetooth indicator (page 27) Q WIRELESS LAN indicator (page 27)

* Your computer supports Memory Stick Duo media and Memory Stick Pro

high speed and high capacity capabilities.

(page 58)

Speakers

A B Num lock indicator (page 27) C Caps lock indicator (page 27) D Scroll lock indicator (page 27) E Power button F Auto luminance sensor (page 43)

Getting Started

Back

A DC In port (page 29) B Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) ports

C Network (Ethernet) port (page 126) D AV Out jack (page 108) E Monitor (VGA) port (page 104) F Air vent

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

(page 119)

Getting Started

Right

Drive eject button (page 45)

B Optical disc drive (page 45) C Substitute drive eject button (page 45) D Manual eject hole (page 172) E Modem port (page 62)

Getting Started

✍

You can use either drive eject button to eject the optical disc drive tray. The drive eject button located next to the optical disc drive functions only with the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Left

A Microphone jack (page 118) B Headphones jack (page 95)

C i.LINK

(IEEE1394) S400 port (page 124)

D Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) port E PC Card slot (page 54) F PC Card eject button (page 54)

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

(page 119)

Getting Started

Bottom

A AV station/port replicator connector (page 79) B Air vents C LOCK/UNLOCK switch (page 30) D RELEASE switch (page 30) E Battery bay (page 30)

F CONNECT button

* On selected models with wireless mouse functionality.

(page 92)

Getting Started

VGN-FS series models

Front

Getting Started

A LCD screen (page 162) B Speakers C Keyboard (page 39) D Touch pad (page 42) E Power indicator (page 27) F Battery indicator (page 27) G Hard disk drive/Optical disc drive indicator (page 27) H Memory Stick media indicator (page 27) I WLAN (Wireless LAN) switch (on selected models only) (page

63)

J WIRELESS LAN indicator (on selected models only) (page 27) K Headphones jack (page 95) L Microphone jack (page 118)

Display lock latch

A B S1 button (page 43) C S2 button (page 43) D Num lock indicator (page 27) E Caps lock indicator (page 27) F Scroll lock indicator (page 27) G Power button

Getting Started

Back

A Air vent B Battery connector (page 30)

Getting Started

Right

Getting Started

A PC Card eject button (page 54) B PC Card slot (page 54)

C i.LINK D Memory Stick media slot E Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) ports

(IEEE1394) S400 port (page 124)

(page 58)

(page 119)

F Monitor (VGA) port (page 104) G DC In port (page 29)

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

Supports high-/full-/low- speeds.

Left

A Network (Ethernet) port (page 126) B Modem port (page 62) C Optical disc drive (page 45) D Manual eject hole (page 172) E Drive eject button (page 45)

Getting Started

Bottom

A Port replicator connector (page 79) B Air vents

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

Memory Stick Pro/Duo

Optical disc drive (VGN-A series only)

Mute % (VGN-A series only) Illuminates when the volume is turned off.

Brightness 8 (VGN-A series only) Illuminates when the screen is on maximum brightness intensity.

Hard disk (VGN-A series only)

Hard disk/Optical disc drive (VGN-FS series only)

Num lock

Caps lock

double-blinks when the battery is charging.

Illuminates when data is read from or written to the Memory Stick media. (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.

Illuminates when data is read from or written to the optical disc. When the indicator is off, the optical disc is not being used.

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.

Illuminates when data is read from or written to the hard disk or the optical disc. Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer 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.

Indicator Functions

Scroll lock

Bluetooth (VGN-A series only)

WIRELESS LAN Illuminates when the wireless LAN function is running.

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

Illuminates when the WIRELESS switch is set to ON and Bluetooth technology is enabled.

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

1 Plug one end of the power cord (1) into the AC adapter. 2 Plug the other end of the power cord into an AC outlet (2). 3 Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter (3) into the DC In port (4) on the computer or on the (optional) port replicator.

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 AC adapter for a long period of time, put the computer into Hibernate mode. See Using Hibernate Mode (page 138). This power saving mode saves you the time of shutting down in the normal way.

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

VGN-A series models

1 Turn off the computer and close the LCD screen lid. 2 Slide the LOCK/UNLOCK switch (1) on the bottom of the computer to the UNLOCK position. 3 Slide the RELEASE switch (2) on the bottom of the computer to the RELEASE position.

Getting Started

+ 168 hidden pages