Sony VGP-UDRW1 Operating Instructions

http://www.sony.net/  2008 Sony Corporation / Printed in Japan

3-287-428-12 (1)

USB DVD±RW Drive

VGP-UDRW1

Operating Instructions/Mode d’emploi/사용설명서

Printed on 70% or more recycled paper using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)free vegetable oil based ink.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.

Dangerously high voltages are present inside the unit. Do not open the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.

When connecting to the USB port, please connect

to the USB port with mark.

•

Use this product only with the supplied AC adapter.

• To disconnect this product completely from mains voltage, unplug the AC adapter.

• The socket outlet shall be installed near the equipment and shall be easily accessible.

Owner’s Record

The model number and the serial number are located on the bottom of the drive. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to this number whenever you call your Sony dealer regarding this product.

Model No. VGP-UDRW1 Serial No. ________________________________

For customers in the U.S.A.

FCC Notice

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. – Increase the separation between the equipment and

receiver.

– Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit

different from that to which the receiver is connected.

– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV

technician for help.

The supplied interface cable must be used with the equipment in order to comply with the limits for a digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

NOTE: The manufacturer is not responsible for any radio or TV interference caused by unauthorized modifications to this equipment. Such modifications could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

For questions regarding your product or for the Sony Customer Information Service Center nearest you, call 1-888-476-6972 in the United States or 1-800961-7669 in Canada.

The number below is for FCC related matters only.

Declaration of Conformity

Trade Name: SONY Model No.: VGP-UDRW1 Responsible Party: Sony Electronics Inc. Address: 16530 Via Esprillo, San

Telephone No.: 858-942-2230

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Diego, CA 92127 U.S.A.

For customer in the U.S.A. and Canada

Caution - The use of optical instruments with this product will increase eye hazard. As the laser beam used in this product is harmful to the eyes, do not attempt to disassemble the cabinet. Refer servicing to the qualified personnel only.

For this optical equipment: Caution - Class 3B visible and invisible laser radiation when open. Avoid exposure to the beam.

For customers in Canada

This Class B digital apparatus complies with

Canadian ICES-003.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

For customers in Europe

This product conforms with the following European Directives:

2006/95/EC (Low Voltage Directives) 2004/108/EC (EMC Directives)

This product complies with European standards EN55022 Class B and EN55024 for use in the following areas: residential, commercial and light industrial.

The optical drive included with this product is classified as a CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT and complies with the Laser Product Safety Standard EN 60825-1. Class 3B visible and invisible laser radiation when open; avoid exposure to the laser beam. Repair and maintenance only by authorized Sony technicians. Improper repairs and use can create safety hazards.

CLASS 1

LASER PRODUCT

TO EN 60825-1

Instead it shall be handed over to the applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potential negative consequences for the environment and human health, which could otherwise be caused by inappropriate waste handling of this product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural resources. For more detailed information about recycling of this product, please contact your local Civic Office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

Making copies of and using CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, DVD video discs, or music CDs may violate copyright laws or the terms of the End-user Licenses provided with such discs. Be sure to comply with copyright laws and the terms of the End User Software License when making or using original CDs and DVDs. If you have any questions regarding copyright laws or the terms of the End-user Software License, please consult the appropriate legal

experts.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits set out in the EMC Directive by using connection cables not longer than 3 meters. The supplied interface cable must be used with the equipment in order with the limits for a digital device pursuant to EN55022.

The manufacturer of this product is Sony Corporation, 1-7-1 Konan Minato-ku Tokyo, 1080075 Japan. The Authorized Representative for EMC and product safety is Sony Deutschland GmbH, Hedelfinger Strasse 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany. For any service or guarantee matters please refer to the addresses given in separate service or guarantee documents.

Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic Equipment (Applicable in the European Union and other European countries with separate collection systems)

This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that this product shall not be treated as household waste.

• VAIO is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

• Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

•

Sony personal computers equipped with this drive incorporate 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.

• All other names of systems, products, and services are trademarks of their respective owners.

• In the manual, the ™ or ® marks are not specified.

• In this manual, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition and Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional are referred to as Windows XP.

• In this manual, Windows Vista® Home Basic, Windows Vista® Home Premium, Windows Vista® Business and Windows Vista® Ultimate are referred to as Windows Vista.

• IBM and PC/AT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

Table of Contents

Overview ................................................ 5

Compatible personal computers ...... 6

Compatible discs ............................. 7

Supplied Accessories ............................ 10

Locating the Controls and Connectors . 11

Connecting the Drive ............................ 12

Disconnecting the drive from the

personal computer ....................... 14

Basic Operation .................................... 15

Power management information ... 15

Inserting a disc .............................. 15

Removing a disc ............................ 17

Precautions When Writing Data ........... 19

Recording Data on a DVD or CD......... 20

Notes about Playing a DVD Video ...... 20

Notes about DVD Video Discs............. 21

Performing a System Recovery on a

Personal Computer ............................ 22

Precautions ........................................... 23

Maintenance ......................................... 24

Getting Help ......................................... 25

Specifications ....................................... 26

Troubleshooting .................................... 28

Overview

This product is a DVD±RW drive with the USB interface. The drive has the following features:

• You can write data to a variety of discs such as DVD+R DL (Double Layer), DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer), DVD-R, DVDRW, DVD-RAM, CD-R, and CD-RW. For information on the data transfer rate during data write, see “Specifications” (page 26).

• Reads DVD+R DL (Double Layer), DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer), DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, CD-R, CDRW, and CD-ROM discs. DVD-ROM discs are read at a speed of 8× max. (10800 KB/s), and CD-ROM discs at a speed of 24× max. (3600 KB/s).

• You can enjoy playing digital audio CDs and DVD videos on your personal computer using the drive, if the personal computer supports this function.

• Can be used to easily reinstall the operating system on the personal computer using a recovery disc, if the personal computer supports this function (see page 22).

Note

This drive is region encoded and is only for use in the country or region of purchase.

Compatible personal computers

This drive can be used with the following personal computers. Except for models with a built-in optical drive (as of December 2007):

• Sony VAIO personal computer preinstalled with Windows XP or Windows Vista VGN-UX**, VGN-G**, VGN-TZ** (“**” is the model number.)

• IBM PC/AT compatible personal computers preinstalled with Windows XP or Windows Vista

See the website referred to in “Getting Help” (page 25) regarding specific models.

Notes

• This drive does not support Microsoft® Windows® Millennium Edition, Microsoft

Windows® 2000 Professional, Microsoft® Windows® 98 Second Edition, or earlier versions of the Windows® operating system.

• This drive can be used for performing a system recovery on a personal computer using

a recovery disc. See “Performing a System Recovery on a Personal Computer” on page 22 for devices with which recovery is possible.

• Use with the above configuration is not necessarily guaranteed.

• Use with a home-built computer, “White box” computer, computer with an upgraded

operating system, or a computer installed with a dual operating system is not guaranteed.

Compatible discs

• DVD+R DL (Double Layer)

Discs for storing computer programs and data, and video data. While they use the same format as DVD+R discs, they differ in that there are 2 recording layers on one single side of a DVD+R DL disc. DVD+R DL discs can store up to 8.5 GB of data, or roughly 13 times that of CD-R discs.

• DVD+R

Write-once discs for storing computer programs and data, video data, and audio data. Note that DVD+R and DVD-R are different types of discs. DVD+R discs can store up to 4.7 GB of data, roughly 7 times that of a CD-R. Though data cannot be erased from these discs, computer programs or data may be added to them depending on the writing method used.

• DVD+RW

Discs for storing computer programs and data, video data, and audio data. These discs can be erased and rewritten many times. Note that DVD+RW and DVD-RW are different types of discs. DVD+RW discs can store up to

4.7 GB of data, roughly 7 times that of a CD-RW.

• DVD-R DL (Dual Layer)

Discs for storing computer programs and data, and video data. While they use the same format as DVD-R discs, they differ in that there are 2 recording layers on one single side of a DVD-R DL disc. DVD-R DL discs can store up to 8.5 GB of data, or roughly 13 times that of CD-R discs.

• DVD-R

Write-once discs for storing computer programs and data, video data, and audio data. DVD-R discs can store up to 4.7 GB of data, roughly 7 times that of a CD-R. Though data cannot be erased from these discs, computer programs or data may be added to them depending on the writing method used.

• DVD-RW

Discs for storing computer programs and data, video data, and audio data. These discs can be erased and rewritten many times. DVD-RW discs can store up to 4.7 GB of data, roughly 7 times that of a CD-RW.

• DVD-RAM

Rewritable discs for storing computer programs, data and video data. The contents of these discs can be erased and rewritten many times. DVD-RAM discs can store up to 4.7 GB of data, roughly 7 times that of a CD-RW.

Continued on next page

• DVD-ROM

Read-only discs with a high data capacity.

• CD-R

Write-once discs for storing computer programs and data. After having been written, data cannot be erased from these discs. Data may be added to them, however, depending on the writing method used and the amount of avaibable space on the disc.

• CD-RW

Rewritable discs for storing computer programs and data. The contents of these discs can be erased and rewritten many times.

• CD-ROM

Read-only discs onto which you cannot write your data.

Compatible discs with this drive are listed below.

z: both plays and records

a: plays only (recording unavailable)

Disc type Enable/Disable

DVD-ROM a

DVD-Video a

DVD+R DL (Double Layer) z

DVD-R DL (Dual Layer) z

DVD+R/RW z

DVD-R/RW z

DVD-RAM z

CD-ROM a

Audio CD a

CD Extra a

CD-R/RW z

Video CD a

*3 *4

*5 *6

*1 For writing to DVD+R Double Layer, only DVD+R discs corresponding to DVD+R

Double Layer are compatible.

*2 For writing to DVD-R Dual Layer, only DVD-R discs corresponding to DVD-R Dual

Layer are compatible.

*3 DVD-R discs are compatible for writing to DVD-R General Ver.2.0/2.1 discs.

*4 DVD-RW discs are compatible for writing to DVD-RW Ver.1.1/1.2 discs.

*5 Cartridge type DVD-RAM discs cannot be used. Use only discs without a cartridge, or

the cartridge removable type discs.

*6 DVD-RAM discs are not compatible for writing to DVD-RAM Ver. 1.0 (single-sided,

one layer discs with a capacity of 2.6 GB) This drive is not compatible for writing to DVD-RAM Ver. 2.2/Revision 5.0, recording speed 12x max.

Notes

• You may not be able to record or play on some CDs.

• This drive does not support writing to 8-cm discs.

• Use only circular discs in this drive. Do not use discs with any other shape (star, heart, etc.), as they may damage the drive.

• Other DVD drives may not be able to read the data added using this drive.

• For DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD-R/-RW, we recommend that you use Sonymanufactured discs.

• You cannot backup discs which are not available for copying.

• This drive is designed to playback discs that conform to the Compact Disc Digital Audio standard specifications (CD Standard). Recently, some record companies have started to sell CDs which do not correspond to the CD standard in order to protect music copyrights; we do not guarantee that such discs can be played on this product.

•A DualDisc is a two sided disc with audio (CD) material on one side and video (DVD) material on the other side. The CD audio side of a DualDisc may not be played on this drive if it does not conform to the Compact Disc Digital Audio standard specifications (CD Standard). We make no guarantee such discs can be played on this product.

• To play DVD-RW/-RAM discs corresponding to CPRM, it is necessary that your personal computer is connected to the Internet.

(*Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) is copyright protection technology for one time recordable programs.)

• You cannot record one time recordable programs on DVD-R/RW/-RAM discs corresponding to CPRM.

• Some types of CD players may not play music CDs created on CD-R/-RW discs.

• Some types of DVD players may not play DVD videos created on DVD+R DL (Double Layer)/-R DL, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW/-RAM discs.

• DVD players corresponding to CPRM can play DVD-RW/DVD-RAM discs corresponding to CRPM on which the recorded digital broadcast programs are moved. However, players compatible with DVD-RWs playback (VR mode) have some limitations, for example, DVD discs that have moved programs to DVD-RWs corresponding to CRPM cannot be played, etc.

Supplied Accessories

After unpacking the unit, make sure that the accessories listed below are present. If anything is missing, contact the Sony dealer where you purchased this product or a Sony service representative in your area.

• DVD±RW drive (1)

• USB cable (1)

• AC adapter (1)

• AC power cord (1)

• Operating Instructions (this document) (1)

Locating the Controls and Connectors

Front

1 POWER indicator (see page 12)

2 Manual eject hole (see page 18)

3 Eject button (see page 15, 17)

4 BUSY indicator (see page 14, 15)

Rear

5 USB connector (see page 12)

6 DC IN connector (see page 12)

Connecting the Drive

You can connect this drive to a personal computer using the supplied USB cable.

Notes

• Place this drive on a flat surface.

• Do not connect this drive to an external USB hub. (except for the docking station or port replicator specially designed for your personal computer)

• Disconnect the AC power cord from an AC outlet when not using for a long period of time.

DC IN connector

DC 5.2V IN

USB connector

USB cable

C 5

. 2

I N

USB connector

AC adapter AC power cord

To AC outlet

1 Turn on the personal computer.

2 Connect the AC power cord to the supplied AC adapter, plug

the AC power cord into an AC outlet, and then plug the cable of the adapter into the DC IN connector on the drive.

The green POWER indicator of the drive lights up.

3 Connect the supplied USB cable to the USB connector on

the rear of the drive.

USB connector

DC 5.2V IN

USB cable

4 Connect the other end of the supplied USB cable to the USB

connector on the personal computer.

The drive is detected and identified by the personal computer.

USB connector

USB cable

z Hint

When this drive is connected to your personal computer for the first time, it takes a moment for the personal computer to detect the drive.

5 Click “Start”, and then click “My Computer” to verify that

(H: DVD-RW Drive) has been added in the “My Computer” window*.

* This operation is an example of Windows Vista.

Note

Use only the AC adapter VGP-AC5V1 supplied with this product. If you use an AC adapter other than the one specified above, your speaker or computer may be damaged.

Polarity of the plug

Disconnecting the drive from the personal computer

Follow the procedure below to disconnect this drive from your computer. (The following procedures are for Windows Vista.)

Notes

• Before disconnecting the drive, remove the disc inserted in the drive.

• If the message below appears when you attempt to disconnect the drive, close any programs or Windows currently in use with the drive, wait for a while and then repeat the procedure.

“Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device. The device cannot be stopped right now, as it is in use. Close any programs or Windows currently in use with the device, then try again”.

The icon appears on the taskbar when the drive is recognized by the computer. To disconnect the drive from the computer, use the

1 Click the icon on the taskbar.

The “Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device” message appears.

2 Click “Safely remove USB Mass Storage Device”.

The message “The USB Mass Storage Device device can now be safely removed from the system” appears.

icon.

3 Disconnect the USB cable.

Basic Operation

Power management information

When using the power management features of your personal computer, observe the following points:

• Ensure that the power-saving modes will not be activated automatically while the BUSY indicator of the drive is flashing. For details, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.

• Before activating the power-saving modes of the personal computer, verify that the BUSY indicator of the drive goes off, and close any programs or Windows currently in use with the drive.

• While the personal computer is in a power-saving mode, do not connect or disconnect the USB cable, or AC adapter.

Inserting a disc

Turn on the computer, and connect this drive before inserting a disc.

1 Press the eject button.

The tray pops out.

Eject button

Continued on next page

2 Pull the tray out fully until it stops. While supporting the tray

from the other side with your hand, place the disc on the hub in the center of the tray.

Make sure that the disc audibly clicks into place and is firmly seated.

Notes

• Do not touch the lens assembly in the tray or the metal section on the rear.

• If you close the tray while the disc is not properly seated, the disc may be damaged and the tray may jam.

Disc

Hub

3 Close the disc tray by gently pushing it in.

While data is being read, the BUSY indicator flashes.

BUSY indicator

Removing a disc

1 Verify that the BUSY indicator is not flashing, and press the

eject button.

The tray pops out.

BUSY indicator

2 Pull the tray out fully until it stops. While supporting the tray

with your hand, remove the disc.

To release the disc, push on the hub in the center.

Notes

• Do not touch the lens assembly in the tray or the metal section on the rear.

• While a software is currently in use with the drive, you may not be able to remove discs simply by pressing the eject button. For details, refer to Help or the manuals provided with the software.

Eject button

Hub

Disc

Continued on next page

If the disk does not eject

If you may not be able to remove discs simply by pressing the eject button, verify the BUSY indicator is not flashing, then insert a pin or thick paperclip, etc., into the manual eject hole. The tray pops out, allowing you to remove the disc

Manual eject hole

Precautions When Writing Data

Please observe the following precautions when writing data to discs. We do not guarantee performance in cases of failure to follow these precautions.

• Be sure to power the personal computer from its AC adapter. Do not run the personal computer on battery power. If the personal computer is powered by battery and you run out of battery power while writing data, the written data may be lost or damaged.

• Avoid straining CPU power or the hard disc capacity of the personal computer. Before writing data, disable software applications such as screen savers, etc.

• Avoid using any resident disc management utilities or utilities to speed up disc access as these can impair operation stability and cause data loss.

• Do not switch users while writing data. This may result in data loss.

• While writing data and while inserting or removing discs, protect the drive and the personal computer from shocks and vibrations.

• While writing data do not connect or disconnect the USB cable to the personal computer or other USB device and do not turn on or off this drive or the USB device.

• While writing data do not access the Internet, other personal computers, or a network, and do not send or receive E-mail.

• When inserting discs, do not touch the recording surface. Dirt on the recording surface can impair data writing.

• Make sure that your personal computer’s power management function is not enabled during data writing. Otherwise, the data may be lost. For details of your personal computer’s power management settings, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.

• Installing or updating the driver software for the drive while writing data can result in operating problems.

Recording Data on a DVD or CD

You can write text or video data stored on the hard disk to DVD+R DL (Double Layer), DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer), DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R, and CD-RW. For details on operation, refer to “Help and Support” of Windows.

Note

If you record using Windows feature with Windows XP, recording is possible only on CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-RAM. You cannot record on other discs.

Notes about Playing a DVD Video

You can enjoy watching DVD videos on your personal computer, using this drive. For details on operation, refer to “Help” of Windows Media Player.

Notes

•

Before playing a DVD video, see “Region code of playable DVD videos” on

page 21

•

Compatibility with the wide range of DVDs in circulation cannot be guaranteed. Depending on the disc, there may be functional limitations, sound interruptions, or dropped frames. Some discs may not play at all.

•During playback of DVD video discs, do not attempt to modify display settings such as the screen resolution or color quality. Doing so could destabilize the operation of the personal computer or make it impossible to modify settings. Always close Windows Media Player before modifying display settings.

•Do not press the drive’s eject button during playback of DVD video discs.

•Make sure that your personal computer’s power management function is not enabled during data writing. Be sure to quit Windows Media Player if the power management function is activated. For details on the power management function, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.

•During playback of some DVD video discs with high quality sound (20-bit or 24bit sampling), noise during playback or other problems may occur. When playing such discs via the personal computer connected to an audio system, turn down the volume, and test for normal playback first to prevent the possibility of damage to the speakers.

•Do not use a screen saver while playing a DVD video with Windows Media Player.

•

Other personal computers (made by companies other than SONY) may not be able to play back DVD video discs. To play back DVD video discs, DVD

playback software is required.

Notes about DVD Video Discs

Region code of playable DVD videos

Region code indications such as 1 are labeled on some DVD videos to indicate which type of drive or player can play the discs. If this regional code indication contains a number other than the one for your region or you cannot play the disc in this drive. If you try to do so, a message appears indicating that playback is prohibited due to area limitations. Depending on the DVD video, there may be no region code indication printed on the label even though playing the DVD video is prohibited due to the area limits.

Note on playback operations of DVD videos

Some playback operations of DVD videos may be intentionally limited by software producers. Since this drive plays DVD videos according to the disc contents provided by the software producers, some playback features may not be available. Also refer to the instructions supplied with the DVD videos.

Symbols on DVD video discs

The following symbols are labeled on some DVD video discs or their packages. Each symbol provides information about the contents or features recorded on the disc. Depending on the DVD video, there may be no symbols or indications printed on the label discribing the disc’s contents or features. For more information about these marks, see the instructions on the DVD video discs.

ALL

Mark Meaning

The number of audio tracks

The number of subtitle tracks

The number of angles

The available aspect ratios

Region code

16:9

Performing a System Recovery on a Personal Computer

With the recovery disc, you can reset your personal computer using the drive, if the personal computer supports this function.

About personal computers that you can reset to default

Personal computers that can be reset using this drive are Sony personal computers with the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system preinstalled; VGN-UX**, VGN-G**, VGN-TZ** (“**” is the model number.) (As of December, 2007)

For more details about resetting your personal computer, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.

Notes

• Power the personal computer from its AC adapter when performing a system recovery.

Do not run the personal computer on battery power.

• Disconnect all other peripherals from the personal computer before performing a

recovery.

Precautions

Usage and storage locations

Do not use or store this drive in locations subject to high humidity, high temperatures, strong vibrations, or direct sunlight.

Operation

•

To avoid malfunction, do not move the drive during operation.

• Operate the drive on a level surface.

• Do not place any objects on top of the drive.

• Protect the drive from sudden temperature changes. Do not use the drive immediately after moving it from a cold to a warm location or after the ambient temperature has risen drastically. Otherwise, condensation inside the drive can occur. If the temperature changes drastically during operation, stop using the drive while keeping power to the drive turned on, and let it stand for about an hour. Then turn the power off.

• Do not connect/disconnect the USB cable with a wet hand.

• Use the USB cable supplied with this drive.

Lens

Do not touch the lens in this drive. Furthermore, to avoid dust sticking to the lens, do not open the tray other than to remove or insert a disc.

Notes on discs

Note the following in order to protect data stored on discs.

• Do not stick any labels on the disc nor scratch it as you would otherwise damage the disc.

• When using a disc with improperly attached label, the label edges may peel or the label may come off entirely inside the disc drive, leading to malfunction and damage of the drive. Before inserting a disc, make sure that the label is properly attached. In no event will Sony Corporation be liable for any damage or media loss caused by improper labels. Carefully follow the instructions of any label printing software and label products. Use of such products occurs entirely at the risk of the user.

• If the edge of the label on the disc is off the disc surface or the label is not sticky enough to stay on the disc surface, the label may stick to the interior of the disc drive and cause a malfunction of your drive. Make sure that the label is properly fixed on the disc surface before using the disc. Sony assumes no liability for any malfunction of your drive or damage to the media caused by improper labeling. Please thoroughly read instruction notes of your label software and label sheets.

• Do not touch the data side of the disc (opposite the label), and hold the disc as shown below.

Continued on next page

Maintenance

Cleaning the cabinet

• Do not store discs in locations subject to high humidity, high temperatures, direct sunlight, or high levels of dust.

• Take care not to spill any liquid on your discs.

• Return discs to their cases when not in use in order to prevent data damage.

• Use an oil-based felt pen when writing on a disc.

• Do not use a disc with tape, seals, or paste on it, as the disc may damage the drive.

Wipe the outside of the drive with a soft, dry cloth. To remove stubborn stains, moisten the cloth with a mild, neutral detergent. Do not use solvents, cleaning alcohol, benzine, or other substances that may damage the finish.

Cleaning the lens

If you accidentally touch the lens with dirty fingers or if dust on the lens prevents the drive from operating properly, clean the lens.

Lens

Cleaning the disc

• Fingerprints and other contamination on the disc surface can lead to reading errors. Always keep the disc clean.

• To clean a disc, lightly wipe it from the center outwards.

• To remove stubborn stains, lightly moisten the cloth before wiping the disc, and use a dry cloth afterwards.

• Do not use benzine, record cleaning liquid, antistatic fluids, or other substances that may damage the surface of the disc.

• Never use cleaners on an unused disc. Use specific CD cleaners to take off dust.

• You may not be able to write data to a disc if there are scratches or dust on the unrecorded area. Be careful not to damage the discs.

Getting Help

This section provides information on how to get help and support from Sony, and on troubleshooting tips for your DVD±RW drive.

About Sony’s support options

Sony provides several support options for your USB DVD±RW drive. When you have questions about your USB DVD±RW drive or the software, refer to the following:

❑ This guide explains how to use your

USB DVD±RW drive.

For customers in the United States and Canada

❑ The Sony Customer Information

Service Center offers information

about your VAIO computer and other Sony products that work with your computer. To contact Sony Customer Information Service Center, call 1-888-4SONYPC (1-888-476-6972).

❑ Sony Computing Support provides

instant access to information on commonly encountered problems. Type a description of the problem and the Knowledge Database searches for corresponding solutions online. You can visit Sony Online Support at: http://www.sony.com/pcsupport.

For customers in Europe

❑ VAIO-Link. For addresses and phone

numbers, refer to http://www.vaio-link.com

Specifications

Compatible discs

For customers in other countries and regions

❑ VAIO Website provides Frequently

Asked Questions and solutions. vaio-online.sony.com/

DVD+R DL (Double Layer) DVD+R

DVD+RW

DVD-R DL (Dual Layer) DVD-R

DVD-RW

DVD-ROM DVD-RAM

DVD-Video

CD-R CD-RW

CD-ROM

CD-DA (audio CD) CD Extra (CD+)

CD TEXT

Photo CD Disc diameter: 12 cm

8 cm (reading only)

Drive performance

Data transfer rate

Data read

DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD-R/DVD-ROM/ DVD-RW: max. 8x speed DVD+R DL (Double Layer)/

DVD-R DL (Dual Layer): max. 6x speed DVD-RAM: max. 5x speed CD-R/CD-RW/CD-ROM: max. 24x speed

Data write

DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD-R*1: max. 8x speed DVD-RW*2: max. 6x speed DVD+R DL (Double Layer)*3, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer)*4: max. 4x speed DVD-RAM*5: max. 5x speed CD-R: max. 24x speed

CD-RW: max. 24x speed (DVD: 1x speed = 1350 KB/s, CD: 1x speed = 150 KB/s) Multi-session supported, 12/8 cm tray type

*1 Supports writing data to DVD-R discs

compliant with DVD-R for General version 2.0/2.1.

*2 Supports writing data to DVD-RW discs

compliant with DVD-RW version 1.1/

1.2.

*3 Writing data to DVD+R DL (Double

Layer) discs is available only on discs supporting DVD+R DL (Double Layer) recording.

*4 Writing data to DVD-R DL (Dual Layer)

discs is available only on discs supporting DVD-R DL (Dual Layer) recording.

*5 Cartridge type DVD-RAM cannot be

used. Use only discs without a cartridge, or the cartridge removable type discs. DVD-RAM discs are not compatible for writing to DVD-RAM Ver. 1.0 (singlesided, one layer discs with a capacity of

2.6 GB)

Connectors

USB Mini-B (1) DC IN (1)

Operating environment

AC adapter

Input

AC 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz

DC Output

Output PC 5.2 V, 2.9 A

Other specifications

Power consumption

Read/write: approx. 5 W

Dimensions

Approx. 5.4 × 0.8 × 6.1 inches

(Approx. 135.5 × 19 × 155 mm) (w × h × d)

Mass

Approx. 15.6 oz. (440 g) (main unit only)

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Operating temperature

41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C)

(temperature gradient less than 18°F (10°C)/hour)

Operating humidity

20% to 80% (no condensation),

provided that humidity is less than 65% at 95°F

(35°C) (hygrometer reading of less than 84°F (29°C))

Storage temperature

–4°F to 140°F (–20°C to 60°C)

(temperature gradient less than 18°F (10°C)/hour)

Storage humidity

10% to 90% (no condensation), provided that humidity is less than 20% at 140°F

(60°C)

(hygrometer reading of less than 95°F (35°C))

Troubleshooting

If a problem occurs during operation of the unit, refer to the information provided in this section and in your Sony personal computer documentation. If the problem persists, consult your nearest Sony dealer. For contact information, see “Getting Help” on page 25. Also refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.

Symptom Cause/Remedy

Tray does not open when the eject button on the unit is pressed.

Tray does not open when the eject button in a software application is clicked.

Tray is not locked.

Tray locks and then opens again.

c Make sure that the AC adapter and USB cable are

connected correctly, and that the personal computer is turned on.

c In some cases, the tray may not open when the eject button

is pressed. For information on how to remove the disc, see “Removing a disc” on page 17 or Help of the software being used with the drive.

c The software may be inhibiting disc access. For

information on how to remove the disc, see “Removing a disc” on page 17, or Help of the software being used with the drive.

c Push tray in fully.

c Make sure that the disc is inserted with the label side

facing up.

c The disc or lens may be dirty. Clean as described on page

25.

c The disc may be damaged. To confirm that the drive is not

malfunctioning, insert another disc.

c There may be condensation in the drive or on the disc.

Remove the disc and allow the unit to stand for approximately one hour.

Symptom Cause/Remedy

Drive is not connected correctly to the personal computer.

No sound from an audio CD or DVD, or low sound level.

Sound skips during audio CD playback.

c The drive may not be connected correctly to the personal

computer via USB cable. See “Connecting the Drive” on page 12.

c To reset the USB interface, shut down your Windows

operating system, turn the personal computer off, disconnect the power cord, and then reconnect and turn the power back on.

c Disconnect the USB cable and the AC power adapter, and

then reconnect them. If there is still no communication with the drive, restart the personal computer.

c Depending on network settings, communication with the

drive may stop after the personal computer returns from sleep mode. If this happens, configure your personal computer so that it does not enter into sleep mode. (For details, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.)

c The volume control of the personal computer may be set to

“Mute”. (For details, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.)

c The volume control of the personal computer may be set

too low. (For details, refer to the instructions or electronic manuals provided with your personal computer.)

c The disc may be scratched or dirty. Clean the disc or use

another disc (see page 25).

c Another application may be running. Shut down the other

application.

c The power management function of the personal computer

may be active. Check the CPU speed setting. (For details, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.)

Continued on next page

Symptom Cause/Remedy

Disc is inserted but sound skips or data cannot be read.

Data transfer rate is low.

Personal computer to which this drive is connected does not go into power saving mode.

A CD-R or CD-RW disc created on another personal computer cannot be read.

A music CD created using CD-RW cannot be played back on a CD player.

c Make sure that the disc is inserted with the label side facing

up.

c The type of disc may not be compatible with this drive.

The disc or lens may be dirty. Clean as described on page 25.

c The disc may be damaged. To confirm that the drive is not

malfunctioning, insert another disc.

c The disc tray may be dirty.

c There may be condensation in the drive or the disc.

Remove the disc and allow the unit to stand for approximately one hour.

c The power management function of the personal computer

may be active. Check the CPU speed setting. (For details, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.)

c When the drive is operating, the personal computer may

not go into power saving mode. To ensure a stable operation of the drive, set up the personal computer so that power saving modes will not be enabled. (For details, refer to the manuals provided with your personal computer.)

c You may not be able to read a CD-R or CD-RW disc that

has not been created on the drive, or you may need to further process the disc on the personal computer that created the disc. For details, refer to the manuals provided with the device used to write data to the CD-R or CD-RW disc.

c Music CDs created using CD-RW can only be played back

on a CD player supporting CD-RW playback.

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