Sony VGN-T240P, VGN-T250, VGN-T250P, VGN-T250P L, VGN-T250P S User Guide

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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Storing Your Computer

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

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Heat sources, such as radiators or air ducts

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Direct sunlight

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Excessive dust

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Moisture or rain

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Mechanical vibration or shock

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Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded

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

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High humidity

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

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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

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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.

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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,

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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.

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Page 4

Using Cables and Connections

Use only specified peripheral equipment and interface cables.

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Do not use cut or damaged connection cables.

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

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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

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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

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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

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canned compressed air.

Always disconnect the power cord before cleaning the computer.

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

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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

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ground.

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

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blankets, curtains, or draperies.

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

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Page 6

Handling the LCD Screen

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

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

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

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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.

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

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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) 8 Sound effect indicator

2 Keyboard 9 Sound / Mute indicator

3 Power button 10 Volume Up / Down buttons

4 Touch pad 11 Sound Effects / Mute button

5 Left and right buttons 12 Microphone jack

6 Wireless LAN indicator and Bluetooth® indicator1 13 Headphone jack

7 Wireless switch1

Wireless LA N and Bluetooth capabilities are available on s elec ted models only.

Front - Top v iew

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1 Battery indicator 7 DVD Start button

2 Hard disk drive indicator 8 Play / Pause button

3 Memory Stick® media indicator 9 Stop button

4 Num lock indicator 10 Back button

5 Caps lock indicator 11 Forward button

6 Scroll lock indicator

Left

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1 Monitor (VGA) port 5 PC Card eject button

2 USB 2.0 ports 6 PC Card slot

3 i.LINK® (IEEE 1394) S400 port 7 Memory Stick® media slot

4 Air vent

Right

1 Optical drive 3 Modem jack

2 Optical drive indicator, Optical drive eject button, and manual eject hole 4 Network (Ethernet) port

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Gently pull the protective tabs away from the computer to find the modem jack and network (Ethernet) port. Do not remove the tabs.

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.

Back

1 DC In 2 Battery connector

Bottom

1 Air vent 3 Battery release button

2 Port replicator connector

Page 11

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 this 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 this key to type letters in uppercase. Letters appear in lowercase if you press Shift 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 this key to change how you scroll the display. Normal scrolling resumes when the Scroll Lock indicator is off. The Scroll Lock key functions differently depending on the program you are using and does not work with all programs. 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 s elected models only.

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

Page 12

Using Special Buttons

Your computer is equipped with several special buttons: DVD play buttons, a Sound Effects / Mute button, and Volume Up / Down buttons. The DVD buttons are located at the top right of the computer and are designed to offer a quick and easy user interface when playing DVDs. The sound efffects and volume buttons are located at the bottom right of the computer and are designed to control a variety of audio functions.

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About the Special Buttons

The following information shows where the special buttons are located and briefly describes their functionality.

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Locating the special buttons

The DVD buttons are located just above the keyboard, toward the right side. The Sound Effects / Mute button and the Volume Up / Down buttons are located on the front of the computer, along the right edge.

Locating the Special Buttons

1 DVD Start button 5 Forward / Next Track button

2 Play / Pause button 6 Sound Effects indicator

3 Stop button 7 Sound Effects / Mute button

4 Back / Previous Track button 8 Volume Up / Down buttons

To use the DVD buttons

Pressing the DVD button will launch the VAIO Zone software program.

You can also launch the DVD button control panel window (also available via VAIO Control Center) by pressing and holding the DVD button for a few seconds. From there, you can edit the following settings:

LCD brightness level

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Cinema mode

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Full-screen mode

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Audio modes

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The remaining buttons (Play / Pause, Stop, Back / Previous Track, Forward / Next Track) can be used as regular media player buttons.

For help, press the Help button on the DVD Button control panel window. The Help for DVD Button help file will launch.

The DVD button functionalities are not supported by all DVD-related software programs, including the SonicStage software program.

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To use the Sound Effects / Mute button

To enable the sound effects, you must first install SonicStage Mastering Sudio Audio Filter. Follow these steps:

Click the Enhance Audio icon on the desktop. The SonicStage Mastering Studio Audio Filter dialog box appears.

Click Next to install the Audio Filter.

Follow any additional on-screen instructions.

Once the Audio Filter has been installed, you can add various audio effects to the audio output of a wide variety of programs.

By briefly pressing the Sound Effects / Mute button, you can toggle between Mute and sound on.

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By pressing and holding the Sound Effects / Mute button, the Sound Effect menu will appear. From the Sound Effect

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menu, use the arrow keys to select the desired sound effect.

Sound Effect Menu

To open the SonicStage Mastering Studio Audio Filter, do the following:

Click Start, select All Programs, then select SonicStage Mastering Studio.

Click Audio Filter. The SonicStage Mastering Studio Audio Filter dialog box appears.

From the drop-down menu, select a desired sound effect or change any particular settings. For additional information about SonicStage Mastering Studio Audio Filter, click the Help button.

Click Close.

To use the Volume buttons

The Volume Up / Down buttons regulate the volume level up or down accordingly.

Volume Up: When pressing the Volume Up button, the volume level will increase, and an on-screen dialog box will

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display the volume level.

Volume Down: When pressing the Volume Down button, the volume level will decrease, and an on-screen dialog

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box will display the volume level.

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.

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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.

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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.)

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Customizing the touch pad

Customizing your touch pad and mouse preferences may entail changing the pointers, enabling or disabling the tapping feature, and adjusting the touch pad speed. The touch pad and mouse preferences are adjustable from the Mouse Properties dialog box. You also have the option to disable the touch pad when you want to use an external mouse. If it is disabled, the touch pad may easily be enabled again using a series of keyboard steps.

To customize the touch pad or mouse

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

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menu. The Mouse Properties dialog box appears.

Click Start on the Windows® taskbar, point to All Programs, and click VAIO Control Center. Select the List tab, and

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double-click Mouse. The Mouse Properties dialog box appears.

To disable the touch pad

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

Click VAIO Control Center. The VAIO Control Center dialog box appears.

Select the List tab, and double-click Built-in Pointing Device. The Built-in Pointing Device dialog box appears.

Click to deselect the Enable checkbox, and click OK. A caution message may appear if an external mouse is not connected to the computer.

To enable the touch pad

Press the Windows key . The Start menu appears.

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

Press V until VAIO Control Center is selected, and press Enter. The VAIO Control Center dialog box appears.

Use the Tab and arrow keys to select the List tab.

Use the arrow keys to select Built-in Pointing Device, and press Enter.

Use the Tab key to select the Enable option, then press the +/= key, and press Enter.

Page 20

Using Memory Stick Media

Your VAIO® computer is equipped with a Memory Stick® media slot that supports certain types of Memory Stick® media.

Your computer is not compatible with MagicGate copyright technology features.

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About Memory Stick media

Memory Stick® media are a compact, portable, and versatile data storage media designed for exchanging and sharing digital data with compatible devices. You can store different data formats on a single Memory Stick media. The following types of Memory Stick media are available, but compatibility with your computer can vary.

MagicGate Memory Stick media — Provides copyright protection with authentication and encryption, using Sony

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MagicGate technology. Authentication ensures that protected content is only transferred between compliant devices and media. Protected content can be recorded and transferred in an encrypted format to prevent unauthorized duplication or playback.

Memory Stick PRO media — Provides MagicGate copyright protection and high-speed transfer features when used

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with compatible Memory Stick PRO devices. VAIO® computers support Memory Stick PRO media for data storage purposes only. Currently, MagicGate technology features, such as authentication and encryption, are not available.

Memory Stick Duo media — Provides the same features and benefits of MagicGate Memory Stick media, in a form

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that is 1/3 smaller in size.

Memory Stick media — Provides data storage only. The Memory Stick media does not provide MagicGate technology

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or high-speed data transfer.

Currently, Sony® SonicStage® and OpenMG software are not compatible with Memory Stick PRO media. Sony suggests using only MagicGate Memory Stick media to store and transfer any data created with SonicStage or OpenMG software.

Visit the Sony Computing Support Web site at http://www.sony.com/pcsupport regularly for the latest information on Memory Stick PRO media.

Memory Stick media may not support playback of some video files directly from the media. Copy the video file to your hard disk drive and then play back the file.

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Inserting Memory Stick media

Before using Memory Stick® media, back up important data. The media slot accommodates only one Memory Stick media at a time.

To insert Memory Stick media

Insert the Memory Stick media with the arrow facing up and toward the Memory Stick media slot.

Do not insert more than one Memory Stick media into the Memory Stick media slot. Inserting the media

improperly may damage the computer.

Carefully slide the Memory Stick media into the slot until it clicks in place.

Inserting Memory Stick Media

The Memory Stick media indicator briefly blinks.

Memory Stick m edia indicator

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Viewing the contents

Depending on the model you purchased, the Sony Memory Stick window may appear when you insert a Memory Stick

media. From this window, you can choose to view, print, copy or organize your images or data stored on the Memory Stick media. If the Sony Memory Stick window does not appear when you insert your Memory Stick media, then follow these steps:

To view the contents

From the Start menu, click My Computer. The My Computer window appears.

Click Sony MemoryStick. The Sony MemoryStick window appears, displaying the contents stored on the Memory Stick media.

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Protecting data on Memory Stick media

Some Memory Stick® media are equipped with a write-protect tab1. The write-protect tab prevents accidental changes to information recorded on your Memory Stick media. When you slide the write-protect tab to the LOCK position, your Memory Stick media is write-protected. You cannot delete, copy, or save information on the media while the write-protect tab in the LOCK position. When you slide the tab to the un-LOCK position, you can write to or modify your Memory Stick media's contents.

Write-protect off Data can be saved on the Memory Stick media.

Write-protect on Data can be read from but not saved on the Memory Stick media.

Using the Write-Protect Tab

Some Memory Stick media do not have a write-protect tab, and the loc ation or pos ition of the write-protec t tab may vary, depending on the type of M emory

Stick media. See the information s heet provided with your M emory Stic k media.

Page 25

Formatting Memory Stick media

Memory Stick® media is formatted for immediate use when you purchase it. If you need to reformat Memory Stick media, use the Memory Stick Formatter that is provided with the media. For more information about using Memory Stick Formatter, refer to Formatter Help.

Formatting Memory Stick media erases all data, including music data, previously saved to it. Before you

reformat Memory Stick media, confirm that the media does not contain files you want to keep. Back up important data before formatting the media.

To format Memory Stick media

Insert the Memory Stick media into the Memory Stick media slot. See To insert Memory Stick media for more information.

From the Start menu, click All Programs, select Memory Stick Utility, and click Memory Stick Formatter. The Memory Stick Formatter window appears.

Click Start Format, and follow the on-screen directions.

After formatting, click Exit.

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Removing Memory Stick media

If the Memory Stick® media is removed prematurely, a blue screen with a message may appear prompting you to continue or exit. Reinsert the media into the slot and press Enter to continue. This enables the media to finish reading or writing data.

To remove Memory Stick media

Wait a minimum of 10 seconds after the Memory Stick media finishes reading or writing data before removing the media.

Make sure the access light is off.

Push the Memory Stick media in toward the computer.

When the Memory Stick media ejects, pull it out.

Be careful when removing the Memory Stick media, as it may not eject completely from the slot.

Page 27

Mice and Keyboards

Using the Keyboard

Although your computer's keyboard is very similar to a typewriter's keyboard, you can use the additional keys on the computer's keyboard to perform specific computer-related tasks.

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Mice and Keyboards

Using the Keyboard

Although your computer's keyboard is very similar to a typewriter's keyboard, you can use the additional keys on the computer's keyboard to perform specific computer-related tasks.

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Key descriptions

Key Description

Numeric keypad

Contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the numeric keypad area to type numbers or to perform mathematical calculations, such as addition and subtraction. Numbers appear on the front beveled edge of the numeric keys. Press the Num Lock key to activate the numeric keypad. (When you do so, the Num Lock indicator light turns on.) Press the Num Lock key again to deactivate the numeric keypad.

Arrow keys

The Left, Right, Up, and Down arrow keys move the pointer on the screen. They also function as the Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys, respectively, when the Fn key is pressed.

Correction keys

The Insert, Back Space, and Delete keys enable you to make corrections to keystrokes.

Function keys

The 12 function keys along the top of the keyboard are used to perform designated tasks. For example, in many programs, F1 is the Help key. The task associated with each function key may vary from one program to the next.

Escape key

The Esc (Escape) key is used to cancel commands.

Print Screen key

The Print Screen key takes an electronic snapshot of the screen and moves it to the Clipboard. You can then paste the screen shot into a document and print it.

Operator keys

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