Sony VGN-BX540, VGN-BX540B, VGN-BX540B/H, VGN-BX540BW, VGN-BX540W User Guide

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User Guide

Personal Computer

V G N - B X 5 0 0 S e r i e s

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Contents
Before Use .........................................................................................................................................................................	6
Documentation.............................................................................................................................................................	6
Ergonomic Considerations...........................................................................................................................................	8
Getting Started .................................................................................................................................................................	10
Locating Controls and Ports.......................................................................................................................................	11
About the Indicator Lights ..........................................................................................................................................	18
Connecting a Power Source ......................................................................................................................................	19
Using the Battery Pack ..............................................................................................................................................	21
Shutting Down Your Computer Safely .......................................................................................................................	27
Using Your VAIO Computer .............................................................................................................................................	28
Using the Keyboard ...................................................................................................................................................	29
Using the Pointing Device..........................................................................................................................................	33
Using Special-function Buttons ..................................................................................................................................	36
Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera...................................................................................................................	37
Using the Multi Function Bay .....................................................................................................................................	38
Using PC Cards .........................................................................................................................................................	43
Using the Memory Stick Media ..................................................................................................................................	47
Using Other Memory Cards .......................................................................................................................................	50
Using the Internet.......................................................................................................................................................	52
Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) .....................................................................................................................................	54
Using the Bluetooth Functionality ..............................................................................................................................	64

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Using Peripheral Devices.................................................................................................................................................	71
Using the Optical Disc Drive ......................................................................................................................................	72
Connecting a Multi Function Bay Docking Station .....................................................................................................	81
Connecting External Speakers ..................................................................................................................................	94
Connecting an External Display .................................................................................................................................	95
Selecting Display Modes..........................................................................................................................................	100
Using the Multiple Monitors Function.......................................................................................................................	103
Connecting an External Microphone........................................................................................................................	106
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device....................................................................................................	107
Connecting a Printer ................................................................................................................................................	110
Connecting an i.LINK Device ...................................................................................................................................	112
Connecting to a Network (LAN) ...............................................................................................................................	114
Customizing Your VAIO Computer ................................................................................................................................	116
Setting the Password ...............................................................................................................................................	117
Setting Up Your Computer with VAIO Central .........................................................................................................	124
Using the Power Saving Modes ...............................................................................................................................	125
Managing Power with VAIO Power Management....................................................................................................	130
Upgrading Your VAIO Computer....................................................................................................................................	132
Adding and Removing Memory................................................................................................................................	133

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Precautions ....................................................................................................................................................................	139
On Handling the LCD Screen ..................................................................................................................................	140
On Using the Power Source ....................................................................................................................................	141
On Handling Your Computer....................................................................................................................................	142
On Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera...........................................................................................................	144
On Handling Floppy Disks .......................................................................................................................................	144
On Handling Discs ...................................................................................................................................................	145
On Using the Battery Pack.......................................................................................................................................	146
On Using Headphones.............................................................................................................................................	147
On Handling Memory Stick Media............................................................................................................................	147
On Handling the Hard Disk ......................................................................................................................................	148
Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................................................	149
Computer .................................................................................................................................................................	151
System Security .......................................................................................................................................................	161
Battery......................................................................................................................................................................	164
Built-in MOTION EYE Camera.................................................................................................................................	166
Internet.....................................................................................................................................................................	169
Networking ...............................................................................................................................................................	171
Bluetooth Technology ..............................................................................................................................................	174
CDs and DVDs.........................................................................................................................................................	178
Display .....................................................................................................................................................................	182
Printing.....................................................................................................................................................................	185
Microphone ..............................................................................................................................................................	186
Speakers..................................................................................................................................................................	187

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Pointing Device ........................................................................................................................................................	188
Keyboard..................................................................................................................................................................	190
Floppy Disks ............................................................................................................................................................	191
PC Cards .................................................................................................................................................................	192
Audio/Video..............................................................................................................................................................	193
Memory Stick Media ................................................................................................................................................	194
Peripherals ...............................................................................................................................................................	195
Multi Function Bay Docking Station .........................................................................................................................	196
Support Options .............................................................................................................................................................	199
Sony Support Information ........................................................................................................................................	199
Program Support Information...................................................................................................................................	202

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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.

Documentation

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

Printed Documentation

Welcome mat — Contains an overview of connections, setting up information, etc.

Safety information — Contains safety guidelines and owner information.

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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.sony.com/pcsupport for customers in USA,

at http://www.sony.ca/support for customers in Canada, or at http://www.sony.com/lapcsupport for customers in Latin American countries or areas.

VAIO Recovery Options Guide (Selected models only) — Provides information about restoring individual software programs, software drivers, and drive partition(s) or your entire hard disk drive to the original factory installed settings.

To access this online VAIO Recovery Options Guide:

1 Click Start, point to All Programs, and click VAIO Support Central.

2 Click VAIO Documentation.

3 Click Recovery Guide.

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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 11)

About the Indicator Lights (page 18)

Connecting a Power Source (page 19)

Using the Battery Pack (page 21)

Shutting Down Your Computer Safely (page 27)

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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 LCD size as well as the country or area of your residency.

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Getting Started

Front

A Built-in MOTION EYE camera*1 (page 37)

B LCD screen (page 140)

C Pointing stick (page 34)

D Keyboard (page 29)

E Power button

F Touch pad (page 33)

G Speaker

H WIRELESS switch (page 54)

I Bluetooth indicator*1 (page 18)

J WLAN (Wireless LAN) indicator (page 18)

K SD card slot (page 50)

L Media Access indicator (page 18)

M Memory Stick media slot*2 (page 47)

N Power indicator (page 18)

O Battery indicator (page 18)

P Hard disk drive indicator (page 18)

*1	On selected models only.
*2	Your computer supports Memory Stick Duo media and Memory Stick Pro
	high speed and high capacity capabilities.

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Getting Started

A CAMERA OFF indicator* (page 18)

B CAMERA OFF button* (page 37)

C Mute indicator (page 18)

D Mute button (page 36)

E S1/S2 buttons (page 36)

F Num lock indicator (page 18)

G Caps lock indicator (page 18)

H Scroll lock indicator (page 18)

IFingerprint sensor

See the printed Security Features Guide for more information.

*On selected models only.

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Getting Started

Back

A Network (Ethernet) port (page 114)

B Modem port (page 52)

C Battery connector (page 21)

D DC In port (page 19)

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Getting Started

Right

A PC Card eject button (page 43)

B PC Card slot (page 43)

C i.LINK® (IEEE1394) S400 port (page 112)

D Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) port* (page 107)

E Monitor (VGA) port (page 96)

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

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Getting Started

Left

A Security slot

B Microphone jack (page 106)

C Headphones jack (page 94)

D Air vent

E Multi function bay (page 38)

F Multi function bay unit eject button (page 38)

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Getting Started

Bottom

A Air vent

B RELEASE latch (page 26)

C LOCK/UNLOCK switch (page 21)

D Multi function bay docking station connector (page 84)

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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.
Media Access		Illuminates when data is read from or written to a memory card. (Do not enter Standby mode or turn
		off the computer when this indicator is on.) When the indicator is off, the memory card is not being used.
Mute %		Illuminates when the volume is turned off.
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 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.
Bluetooth	*	Illuminates when the WIRELESS switch is set to ON and Bluetooth technology is enabled.
CAMERA OFF *		Illuminates when the Built-in MOTION EYE camera is off.
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.

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 multi function bay docking station.

!

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

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Getting Started

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 128). This power saving mode saves you the time of shutting down in the normal way.

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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/UNLOCK switch (1) on the bottom of the computer to the UNLOCK position.

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Getting Started

3Slide the battery diagonally into the battery compartment until the projection (2) at either side of the battery compartment fits into the U-shaped cut (3) on the respective side of the battery.

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

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Getting Started

5 Slide the LOCK/UNLOCK switch 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.

!

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

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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/UNLOCK switch (1) on the bottom of the computer to the UNLOCK position.

3Slide and hold the RELEASE latch (2), hook your fingertip under the tab (3) on the battery, and turn the battery in the direction of the arrow, and then slide it 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

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

Using the Keyboard (page 29)

Using the Pointing Device (page 33)

Using Special-function Buttons (page 36)

Using the Built-in MOTION EYE Camera (page 37)

Using the Multi Function Bay (page 38)

Using PC Cards (page 43)

Using the Memory Stick Media (page 47)

Using Other Memory Cards (page 50)

Using the Internet (page 52)

Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) (page 54)

Using the Bluetooth Functionality (page 64)

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Using Your VAIO Computer

Using the Keyboard

Your keyboard is very similar to a desktop computer keyboard, but has additional keys that perform model-specific tasks.

For more information on the standard keys, see Help and Support Center and click on the Customizing your computer link.

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Using Your VAIO Computer

Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key

Some functions are not available until Windows is launched.

Combinations/Feature		Functions
Fn + F1: wireless switching*		Toggles between Bluetooth and Wireless LAN functionalities.
Fn + 2 (F3/F4): speaker volume		Adjusts the built-in speaker volume.
		To increase volume, press Fn+F4 and then M or ,, or keep pressing Fn+F4.
		To decrease volume, press Fn+F3 and then m or <, or keep pressing Fn+F3.
Fn + 8 (F5/F6): brightness control		Adjusts the brightness of the LCD.
		To increase lightness intensity, press Fn+F6 and then M or ,, or keep pressing Fn+F6.
		To decrease lightness intensity, press Fn+F5 and then m or <, or keep pressing Fn+F5.
Fn +	/T (F7): switch to the external display	Toggles between the LCD, external device (e.g. monitor) and both LCD and external device.