Sony VGN-S240P, VGN-S260, VGN-S260P, VGN-S270, VGN-S270B User Guide

...

Welcome

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® computer, and welcome to the online VAIO® Computer User Guide. This user guide provides detailed information on all aspects of using your new VAIO computer, from keyboard functions to preinstalled software programs. In the left navigation window, click the topics you want to learn more about, and that information will be displayed in this main window.

View the Electronic Flyer, which provides updates and supplemental information about your computer.

Go to the Sony Computing Support Web site to view the VAIO® Computer Specifications, which list your computer's hardware specifications and preinstalled software information.

For Sony software information, click Start and select Welcome to VAIO life.

Page 1

Ergonomics and Caring for Your Computer

This section provides information on how to safely use your Sony computer.

Page 2

Applying Ergonomics

Your computer is a portable device and can be used in a variety of environments. Whenever possible, you should apply the following ergonomic considerations:

Position of your computer — Place the computer directly in front of you as you work. Keep your forearms



horizontal, with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position while using the keyboard, touch pad, or external mouse. Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides. Take 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 and armrests. 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 backward.

Viewing angle of the computer's display — Tilt the display to find the best viewing angle. Also try adjusting the



brightness setting of the display. Following these suggestions can reduce eye strain and muscle fatigue.

Lighting — Choose a location where windows and lights do not create glare or reflection on the display. Use indirect



lighting to avoid bright spots on the display. You can purchase accessories for your display that help reduce glare. Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work effectiveness.

Placement of 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.

Page 3

Storing Your Computer

Do not use or store your computer in a location subject to:



Heat sources, such as radiators or air ducts



Direct sunlight



Excessive dust



Moisture or rain



Mechanical vibration or shock



Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded



Ambient temperature higher than 95ºF (35ºC) or less than 40ºF (5ºC)



High humidity



Do not place electronic equipment near your computer. When running, the computer's electromagnetic field may



cause other electronic equipment in close proximity to malfunction.

Provide adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat buildup. Do not place your computer on porous surfaces



such as rugs or blankets, or near materials such as curtains or draperies that may block ventilation. Leave a space of at least 8 inches (20 cm) behind the back of the computer.

If the computer is brought directly from a cold location to a warm one, moisture may condense inside your computer.



In this case, allow at least one hour before turning on your computer. If any problems occur, unplug your computer, and contact your Sony Service Center.

The computer uses high-frequency radio signals and may interfere with radio or TV reception. Should this occur,



move the computer a suitable distance away from the radio or TV.

Do not drop the computer or place heavy objects on top of the computer.



Page 4

Using Cables and Connections

Use only specified peripheral equipment and interface cables.



Do not use cut or damaged connection cables.



If the telephone company makes a service call to your home or office and determines that your computer is



responsible for a problem, the telephone company may bill you for the service call. Also, if you do not disconnect your computer when it is adversely affecting a telephone line, the telephone company has the right to disconnect your service until you correct the problem.

Page 5

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Computer

Clean the computer with a soft, dry cloth or a soft cloth lightly moistened with a mild detergent solution. Do not use



any type of abrasive pad, scouring powder, or solvent such as alcohol or benzine, as these may damage the finish of your computer. You can use canned compressed air specifically for computers to remove dust.

If a solid object falls onto the computer or a liquid leaks into the computer, immediately turn off and unplug the



computer. It is best to have the computer checked by qualified personnel before you use it again.

Avoid rubbing the LCD screen as this can damage the screen. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe the LCD screen or



canned compressed air.

Always disconnect the power cord before cleaning the computer.



Your computer is equipped with a cooling fan and heat sink that help your computer maintain a safe operating



temperature. These areas must be kept clean and free from debris, such as dust, dirt, pet hair, or other particles that can restrict the flow of air. If dust is allowed to accumulate in the cooling fan and heat sink area, your computer may overheat and stop operating properly.

Avoid using your computer in locations that are subject to excessive dust or dirt, such as the floor or on the



ground.

Avoid using your computer on or near surfaces that may have dust or shedding fibers, such as rugs,



blankets, curtains, or draperies.

Avoid using your computer in areas where pets are kept, or pet hair accumulates.



Page 6

Handling the LCD Screen

Direct sunlight can damage the LCD. Be careful when using the computer near a window.



Do not scratch the LCD or exert pressure on it. This can cause a malfunction.



Using the computer in low temperature conditions may produce a residual image on the screen. This is not a



malfunction. When the computer returns to normal temperature, the screen returns to normal.

The screen becomes warm during operation. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.



The LCD is manufactured using high-precision technology. You may, however, see tiny black points and/or bright



points (red, blue, or green) that continuously appear on the LCD. This is a normal result of the manufacturing process and does not indicate a malfunction.

Page 7

Locating Controls and Ports

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

Front

1 Computer screen (LCD) 7 Hard disk drive indicator

2 Power button 8 Optical drive indicator

3 Keyboard 9 Memory Stick® media indicator

4 Left and right buttons 10 Wireless LAN indicator1

5 Power indicator 11 Bluetooth® indicator1

6 Battery indicator 12 Wireless switch1

Wireless LAN and Bluetooth capabilities are available on s elected models only.

Front

Page 8

1 S1 and S2 programmable buttons 6 Touch pad

2 Num lock indicator 7 Optical drive

3 Caps lock indicator 8 Optical drive eject button

and manual eject hole

4 Scroll lock indicator 9 Memory Stick® media slot

5 Speakers 10 Air vent

Left

Page 9

1 Network (Ethernet) port 5 Monitor (VGA) port

2 Modem jack 6 PC Card slot

3 Microphone jack 7 PC Card eject button

4 Headphone jack

Gently pull the protective tab away from the computer to find the Ethernet port and modem jack.

Only connect 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX cables to the Network (Ethernet) port. Do not connect any

other type of network cable or any telephone line to this port. Connecting cables other than those listed above may result in an electric current overload and could cause a malfunction, excessive heat, or fire in the port. To connect the unit to a network, see Network Connections or contact your network administrator.

Right

Page 10

1 i.LINK® (IEEE 1394) S400 port 3 Air Vent

2 USB 2.0 ports 4 DC IN port

Gently pull the protective tab away from the computer to find the i.LINK S400 and USB 2.0 ports.

Back

1 Battery connector

Bottom

1 Reset button 3 Port replicator connector

Page 11

2 Memory module cover 4 Air vent

Page 12

About the Indicator Lights

Indicator Function

Power

Turns on when the power to the computer is on, blinks in Standby mode, and turns off when the computer is in Hibernate mode or off. Battery

Turns on when the computer is using battery power, blinks when the battery is running out of power, double-blinks when the battery is charging. Optical Drive

Turns on when data is read from or written to the optical drive. Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on. Memory Stick®

Turns on 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. Hard Disk

Turns on 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 Lock key to activate the numeric keypad. The Num Lock indicator is on only while the numeric keypad is active. Pressing the Num Lock key a second time deactivates the numeric keypad. Caps Lock

Press the Caps Lock key to activate the Caps Lock indicator. Letters appear in uppercase only while the indicator is on. If you press Shift while the indicator is on, letters appear in lowercase. Pressing the Caps Lock key a second time turns off the indicator. Scroll Lock

Press the Scroll Lock key to activate the Scroll Lock indicator. The Scroll Lock feature changes how you scroll the display. It may function differently depending on the program you are using and does not work with all programs. Normal scrolling resumes when the Scroll Lock indicator is off. Bluetooth®1 Turns on when the wireless switch is set to ON and Bluetooth technology is enabled. Wireless LAN1 Turns on when the wireless LAN function is running.

O n selected models only.

See Internet and Network Connections for more information about Bluetooth and wireless technology.

Page 13

Using S1 and S2 Buttons

The S1 and S2 buttons are pre-programmable buttons that enable you to quickly enter a power saving mode, switch between displays, launch an application, alter the sound, or increase the screen's brightness.

Page 14

About the S1 and S2 buttons

The following information shows where the S1 and S2 buttons are located, and briefly describes their functionality.

Page 15

Locating the S1 and S2 buttons

The S1 and S2 buttons are located just above the keyboard.

Locating the S1 and S2 buttons

Using the S1 and S2 buttons

To assign a function to the button

Click Start, and point to All Programs and then Sony Notebook Setup.

From the Sony Notebook Setup submenu, click Sony Notebook Setup.

Click to select the S Button tab.

Sony Notebook Setup

Click to select a key assignment from the S1 or S2 drop-down menu.

Click Apply.

Depending on the key assignment, you may be able to customize the S1 and S2 buttons further by clicking Advanced, if it becomes available, in the Current Settings box.

Page 16

Using the Touch Pad

Describing the Touch Pad

A pointing device called a touch pad is located in front of the keyboard. You can point to, select, drag, and scroll objects on the screen using the built-in touch pad.

Page 17

Using the Touch Pad

Describing the Touch Pad

A pointing device called a touch pad is located in front of the keyboard. You can point to, select, drag, and scroll objects on the screen using the built-in touch pad.

Page 18

Locating and using the touch pad

Locating the Touch Pad

Touch Pad Action Description

Sliding one finger Equivalent to using a mouse to place the pointer on an item.

Tapping once Equivalent to pressing the left button once.

Tapping twice Equivalent to pressing the left button twice.

Sliding one finger while pressing the left button Equivalent to using the mouse to drag an item.

Moving your finger along the right edge of the touch pad Equivalent to scrolling vertically. (The scroll function is available only with programs that support a touch pad scroll feature.)

Moving your finger along the bottom to scroll horizontally Equivalent to scrolling horizontally. (The scroll function is available only with programs that support a touch pad scroll feature.)

Page 19

Customizing the touch pad

Sony Notebook Setup lets you customize, enable, or disable the touch pad. Open the Mouse Properties dialog box to set your touch pad and mouse preferences, such as changing pointers, enabling or disabling the tapping feature, clicking both buttons simultaneously, and adjusting the touch pad speed.

To customize the touch pad and mouse

Right-click the Touchpad icon on the Taskbar Notification area, and click Mouse Properties from the shortcut



menu. The Mouse Properties dialog box appears.

To enable the touch pad

Press the Windows key . The Start menu appears.

Press P until All Programs is selected, and press Enter.

Press S until Sony Notebook Setup is selected, and press Enter. A submenu appears with Sony Notebook Setup preselected.

Press Enter. The Sony Notebook Setup dialog box appears.

Press the Right Arrow key to select the Device tab.

Press the Tab key to select the Default button, and press Enter. A pop-up window appears.

Press the Left Arrow key to select OK, and press Enter. The Enable Touchpad option is automatically selected.

Press the Tab key to select the Apply button, and press Enter.

Click OK.

To disable the touch pad

Click Start on the Windows® taskbar, and point to All Programs.

Point to Sony Notebook Setup, and click Sony Notebook Setup in the submenu. The Sony Notebook Setup dialog box appears.

Click the Device tab.

In the left panel, click to cancel the Pointing Device check box.

Click Apply. A Sony Notebook Setup message appears.

Click Yes.

Page 20

Powering Your Computer

Your VAIO® computer comes with a battery and an AC adapter. This chapter explains how to install and use these supplied accessories to power your computer. It also describes ways you can efficiently utilize the battery as a power source.

Page 21

Using AC Power

The supplied battery is not charged when you receive your computer. To charge the battery and begin using the computer immediately, insert the battery into the computer and use the supplied AC adapter as a power source. The computer automatically charges the installed battery while it uses AC power.

Page 22

Connecting the AC adapter

To connect the AC adapter

Plug the AC adapter cable into the DC IN port.

Connecting the AC Adapter to the Computer

Plug the power cord into the AC adapter and an AC outlet.

Use only the supplied AC adapter with your computer.

Page 23

Turning on the computer

To turn on the computer

Hold the bottom of the computer firmly with one hand, and lift the LCD screen lid with the other hand.

Opening the Computer

Press the power button until the power indicator turns on.

Turning on the Computer

If you press and hold the power button, the computer turns off.

Adjust the brightness of the LCD screen, if necessary.

Press the Fn and F6 keys to increase brightness.



Press the Fn and F5 keys to decrease brightness.



Page 24

Using the Battery

Your computer, depending on the model you purchased, may come equipped with one battery bay and one multipurpose bay that supports a second battery. If your computer comes with two bays, you can purchase a second rechargeable battery to extend your computing time. For information on how to extend the life of the battery, see Conserving Battery

Power for more information.

When operating your computer on battery power, your computer's CPU speed is reduced.

The battery that comes with your computer is not fully charged at the time of purchase.

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

Page 25

Installing the Battery

The supplied battery is not charged when you unpack it. To charge it for future use, install the battery, and then connect the AC adapter to power your computer. The battery charges from AC power regardless if the computer is on or off. For information on how to extend the life of the battery, see Conserving Battery Power.

When operating your computer on battery power, your computer's CPU speed is reduced.

Only genuine Sony batteries may be used with this computer.

Page 26

Inserting a battery

To insert a battery

Turn the computer over, and slide the UNLOCK/LOCK latch on the bottom of the battery to the UNLOCK position.

Align the grooves on the battery with the tabs on the back of the computer.

Inserting the Battery

Slide the battery into the computer until it clicks into place.

Slide the UNLOCK/LOCK latch into the LOCK position.

Locking the Battery

Connect the AC adapter to the computer. See To connect the AC adapter.

If a port replicator is attached to your computer, do not insert or remove the battery. Lifting and turning the computer with the port replicator attached could cause a temporary loss of power.

Some programs and peripheral devices prevent the system from automatically entering Hibernate mode. If you are using battery power, save your data frequently to avoid data loss and manually activate a power saving mode. See Using power

saving modes for more information.

Page 27

Removing a battery

If you are not using the computer for an extended period of time, remove the battery from the computer to avoid damaging the battery.

To remove a battery

Make sure the computer is turned off.

Turn the computer over, and slide the UNLOCK/LOCK latch on the bottom of the battery to the UNLOCK position.

Slide and hold the RELEASE latch while you pull the battery away from the computer.

Remov ing a Battery

Page 28

Charging a battery

You will need to charge the battery if battery power drops below 10 percent or you have not used the battery for a long time. The lithium-ion battery supplied with your computer may be recharged at any time, whether you wait until the battery is completely or partially discharged. Charging a partially discharged battery does not affect battery life. If you charge the battery and find that battery power is still low, the battery may be reaching the end of its life, and you may need to replace it.

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

To charge a battery

You can charge the battery when the computer is on or off. However, the battery will charge faster when the computer is off. Charging the battery takes several hours.

Charge the battery at temperatures between 50°F and 80°F (10°C to 30°C). Lower temperatures require more time to charge.

Insert the battery into the battery bay.

Connect the AC adapter to the computer. The computer automatically charges the battery as long as the computer is using AC power.

The battery indicator blinks while the battery charges. The battery indicator stops blinking when the battery is fully charged.

When using two batteries, the battery you insert first charges first. The second battery you insert begins charging when the first battery is 85 percent charged.

Battery indicator status Description

On The computer is using battery power.

Single blink The battery is running out of power.

Double blink The battery is charging.

Off The computer is using AC power.

Page 29

Notes on batteries

Never leave the battery in temperatures above 140°F (60°C), such as under direct sunlight or in a car parked in the



sun.

While the battery is in use or being discharged, the battery heats up. This is normal and is not cause for concern.



Keep the battery away from heat sources.



Keep the battery dry.



Do not open or disassemble the battery.



Do not expose the battery to any mechanical shock.



Battery life is shorter in a cold environment because of decreased battery efficiency at low temperatures.



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



Page 30

+ 190 hidden pages