Sony PCV-RX550 User manual

VAIO Digital Studio™
Computer User Guide
PCV-RX550/PCV-RX560/PCV-RX570

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Welcome
3
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing your Sony VAIO computer! Your new computer
is a superb blend of high technology and easy-to-use functionality. This
User Guide contains information about the applications included with your
system, contact information for software vendors, and the specifications
for your computer.

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Locating Controls and Connectors
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Locating Controls and
Connectors
Front Panel Overview
The front panel of your VAIO Computer allows access to the optical and floppy
disk drives. It also includes Universal Serial Bus (USB) and i.LINK® ports to
connect compatible USB devices, digital equipment, or other peripheral devices.
✍i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an
IEEE1394 connection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software
applications, operating system, and compatible i.LINK devices. All products with an
i.LINK connection may not communicate with each other.
Please refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i.LINK device for
information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before connecting
compatible i.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as an optical or hard disk drive,
confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.

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Front panel
1 Optical drive 1
See specifications sheet for optical drive information.
2 Optical drive 2
See specifications sheet for optical drive information.
3 Floppy disk drive
Reads and writes data from and to a 3.5-inch floppy disk.
4 Floppy disk drive access indicator light
Lights in green while reading and writing data from and to a floppy disk.
DRIVE

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5 Optical drive access indicator light
Lights in amber while reading and writing data from and to the optical drives.
6 Hard disk drive access indicator light
Lights in amber while reading and writing data from and to the hard disk.
7 Power switch and indicator light
Turns on/off the computer.
The indicator light is blue while the power is on and amber when the computer is in
Stand by mode.
8 Optical drive 1 eject button
Ejects a disc from the optical drive 1.
9 Optical drive 2 eject button
Ejects a disc from the optical drive 2.
10 Floppy disk eject button
Ejects a floppy disk.
11 USB ports (2)
Connection for a compatible USB device.
12 i.LINK 4-pin port (IEEE1394)
Connection for a compatible digital device.
✍For your convenience, your computer includes USB and i.LINK ports on both the front
and back panels. The 4-pin i.LINK port is located on the front panel and the 6-pin
i.LINK port is located on the back.

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Back Panel Overview
The back panel of your computer contains the ports for supplied and optional
accessories. The icons on the back panel locate and identify the ports on your
computer.
Back panel
1 PS/2® Mouse port
Connection for a PS/2 mouse.
2 PS/2® Keyboard port
Connection for a VAIO Smart™ Keyboard.
3 Ethernet port
10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet interface.
(The port marked with (Network) is for LAN (Local Area Network) connections only.)
KEYBOARD MOUSE
PRINTER
HEADPHONES
MIC
LINE IN
USB NETWORK
ACT
LINK
i.LINK
S400
3
2
1
LINE
TELEPHONE
4
MONITOR
SERIAL

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4 USB ports (2)
Connection for compatible USB devices.
5 Printer port
Connection for a parallel device, such as a printer or scanner.
6 i.LINK 6-pin port (IEEE1394)
Connection for a compatible digital device.
7Serialport
Connection for a compatible serial device, such as a digital still camera.
8 Headphones jack
Connection for the supplied speakers or optional headphones.
9 Line In jack
Connection for an audio device.
10 Microphone jack
Connection for a microphone (optional).
11 Monitor port
Connection for a standard CRT (cathode ray tube) display.
12 Modem Line jack
Connection for the supplied modem cable to the wall jack.
13 AC Input port
Connection for the supplied power cord.
14 Telephone jack
Connection for a phone cable to the computer.
✍i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an
IEEE1394 connection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software
applications, operating system, and compatible i.LINK devices. All products with an
i.LINK connection may not communicate with each other.
Please refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i.LINK device for
information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before connecting
compatible i.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as an optical or hard disk drive,
confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.

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VAIO Action Setup
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VAIO Action Setup
VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your computer’s Shortcut
keys (S Keys) and i.LINK® interface.
Shortcut Keys
The programmable S Keys are linked with the following applications as their
default settings:
❑S1 — Outlook®Express
❑S2 — Internet Explorer
❑S3 — Sonic Stage
❑S4 — PictureGear™
❑S5 — MovieShaker™
❑S6 — Help/Demo
You can reprogram the S keys to launch other applications.
Changing the settings of the S Keys
1Click Start in the Windows Taskbar and select All Programs.
1Select VAIO Action Setup, then click VAIO Action Setup.
✍i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an
IEEE1394 connection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software
applications, operating system, and compatible i.LINK devices. All products with an
i.LINK connection may not communicate with each other.
Please refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i.LINK device for
information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before connecting
compatible i.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as an optical or hard disk
drive, confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.
✍You can also double-click the VAIO Action Setup icon, located in the Windows
taskbar, to launch VAIO Action Setup.

VAIO Computer User Guide
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2Click the SKey you want to change.
3From the Select Application dialog box, click the option for the desired type
of function. The corresponding applications appear in the list box on the
right.
4The Confirmation Application Name window appears. Click Next.
5You may now type a new name and description, if desired. Click Finish.
To Change the Sony Software Window Design
You can select from different window designs for your Sony software and create
your own personal computing environment.
Changing the window design
1Click Start in the Windows taskbar and select the Control Panel.
2Click Other Control Panel Options.
3Click UI Design Selector.
4Click << or >> and select the desired design.
5Click Apply.
6The “UI Design Selector”window design changes. The window design for
your Sony software will match the “UI Design Selector”window.
7To try another selection, click << or >>, then click Apply.
8When you have made your selection, click OK. The UI Design Selector
closes and the Sony software window design displays.
✍You can drag an application to place it into the list box.
✍You may only use this feature with compatible UI Design Selector software.

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Configuring Your VAIO
Computer
Hard Disk Drive Partition
To maintain optimum system performance, you should defragment your
computer’s D partition regularly.
In order to improve the performance of Sony audio/video software applications,
the hard disk drive on your computer has been formatted with two partitions, C
and D. Some Sony software applications save files to the D partition. This
prevents large video captures from consuming the available space on your C
partition.
Defragmenting your hard disk drive
If you encounter frame dropping while recording digital video onto your hard
disk drive, defragmentation may be necessary.
1Deactivate your screen saver and close other open applications, if applicable.
2Click Start in the Windows Taskbar and select All Programs.
3Point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then select Disk
Defragmenter.
The Disk Defragment dialog box appears.
4Select Action from the menu bar and click Analyze.
i.LINK (IEEE1394) Compatibility
Your VAIO computer may include either 4-pin or 6-pin, or both types, of i.LINK
ports.
✍It may take more than a couple of hours to complete defragmentation, depending on
the data capacity and utilization of your computer’s hard disk drive(s).

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A 6-pin i.LINK port can:
❑supply power from the computer to the connected device if the device is
equipped with a 6-pin connector, and
❑supply 10V to 12V.
A 4-pin i.LINK port cannot supply power to a connected device.
The following Sony i.LINK 400 Mbps cables are available and recommended for
use with your computer: VMC-IL4415, VMC-IL4435, VMC-IL4615,
VMC-IL4635, VMC-IL6615, and VMC-IL6635. Sony computer supplies,
accessories, and peripherals can be purchased from your local retailer or by
accessing the Sony VAIO Direct Web site (http://vaio.sonystyle.com), or by
calling 1-888-315-7669 (toll free).
Connecting an i.LINK (IEEE1394) device
1Use the symbol to locate the i.LINK port on your compatible i.LINK
device and on your computer. Plug the i.LINK cable connector into this port.
2Plug the other end of the cable into the corresponding 4- or 6-pin i.LINK
port on your computer.
✍i.LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an
IEEE1394 connection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software
applications, operating system and compatible i.LINK devices. All products with an
i.LINK connection may not communicate with each other.
Please refer to the documentation that came with your compatible i.LINK device for
information on operating conditions and proper connection. Before connecting
compatible i.LINK PC peripherals to your system, such as an optical or hard disk drive,
confirm their operating system compatibility and required operating conditions.
The total power supplied by the 6-pin i.LINK port cannot exceed 6 watts.
✍See the instructions that came with your i.LINK device for more information on
installation and use.

Configuring Your VAIO Computer
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To Enable Ethernet Connectivity
Your computer comes with a preinstalled Ethernet interface. To enable faster
start-up time, your computer may ship with this function disabled. You can
enable Ethernet connectivity by following the instructions below.
Enabling the Ethernet connection
1Click Start in the Windows taskbar, then select Control Panel.
2From the Pick a Category list, select Performance and Maintenance.
The Performance and Maintenance dialog box appears.
3From the Pick a Control Panel icon, select System.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
4Select the Hardware tab, then click the Device Manager button to view the
installed system hardware.
The Device Manager dialog box appears.
5Click the unfold button in the Network Adapters category to reveal all
installed network devices. Select “Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC.”
6From menu bar, select Action and then click Properties.
7Select “Use this device (enable).”
8Click OK.
9Close the Device Manager dialog box.
10 Close System Properties dialog box.
11 Close Performance and Maintenance dialog box.
Caution: Your computer has a protective sticker covering the Ethernet
port located on the rear panel. Connect only 10Base-T and 100Base-TX cables
to the Ethernet port. Using other cables or a telephone cable may result in an
electric current overload and can cause a malfunction, excessive heat or fire
in the port. For help on connecting to a network, see your network
administrator.

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System, Application and
Driver Recovery CD(s)
System Recovery CD(s)
Sony Electronics Inc.
The System Recovery CD utility enables you to restore the operating system and software
that shipped with your computer if they become corrupted or are erased. It can be used
only to restore the hard disk of the Sony computer you purchased.
Application Recovery CD(s)
Sony Electronics Inc.
The Application Recovery CD program enables you to reinstall individual applications.
Use it to restore corrupted or erased files.
Driver Recovery CD
Sony Electronics Inc.
The Driver Recovery CD program enables you to reinstall individual device drivers. Use it
to restore corrupted or erased files.
To Use the System Recovery CD(s)
You can reinstall the operating system and software applications that shipped
with your computer if they become corrupted or are erased. If you experience a
problem with your computer, reinstalling an individual application or device
driver may correct the problem.You may not need to recover the entire contents
of your hard drive.
When you use the System Recovery CD(s), you are prompted to complete the
Windows registration process.
Full restore with format
The System Recovery utility formats your hard disk drive and then restores all
the original software applications.
✍Use the Application Recovery CD(s) to reinstall individual applications.

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Using the System Recovery CD(s)
1Insert the System Recovery CD in your computer’s optical drive.
The System Recovery utility starts from the optical drive. The first CD must
be in the drive when you turn on your computer.
2Turn off your computer.
3Wait 30 seconds and turn on your computer.
4Type the letter “O”to signify you have read and accepted the Microsoft End-
User License Agreement.
5When the System Recovery menu appears, follow the on-screen instructions
to complete the recovery process.
You will lose any software you have installed and any other files you have
created since you started to use your computer. You must reinstall any
applications that were not included with the computer when you purchased it.
✍If your system is equipped with two optical drives, inset the Driver Recovery CD into
the upper optical drive.
✍Your system may include one or more System Recovery CDs. If you have more than
one System Recovery CD, insert the first CD to run the System Recovery program.
You are prompted to insert the next CD(s) once the information from the first CD has
been installed.
The recovery process takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
After recovering your system using the System Recovery CD(s), you may be prompted
to insert your Application Recovery CD(s) after restarting Windows. Use the
Application Recovery CD(s) to complete full restoration of your system.

System, Application and Driver Recovery CD(s)
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To Use the Application Recovery CD(s)
The Application Recovery CD utility enables you to reinstall individual software
applications if they become corrupted or are erased. Reinstalling an individual
software application may correct a problem that you are experiencing with your
computer or specific application. You may not need to reinstall the entire contents
of your hard drive.
You must be in Windows to run the Application Recovery CD utility. If you have
any questions about using the Application Recovery CD(s), contact Sony
Customer Support at 1-888-4-SONY-PC.
Using the Application Recovery CD(s)
1Turn on your computer. If your computer is already on, save and close all
open applications.
2When the Windows desktop appears, insert the Application Recovery CD
into your computer’s optical drive. The Application Recovery utility loads
automatically.
3When the Application Recovery menu appears, follow the on-screen
instructions to complete the recovery process.
✍If you need to reinstall all of the software that shipped with your computer, use the
System Recovery CD(s).
✍If your system is equipped with two optical drives, insert the Application Recovery CD
into the upper optical drive.
✍Your system may include one or more Application Recovery CDs. If you have more
than one Application Recovery CD, insert the first CD to run the Application Recovery
utility. You may be prompted to insert the next CD(s), depending on the software
application you wish to restore.

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To Use the Driver Recovery CD
The Driver Recovery CD utility enables you to reinstall individual drivers and
repair software applications if they become corrupted or are erased. You can
reinstall an individual driver to correct a problem that you are experiencing with
your computer, peripheral hardware, or software application.
You must be in Windows to run the Driver Recovery CD utility.
Reinstalling several device drivers with the Driver Recovery
CD
1Turn on your computer. If your computer is already on, close all
applications.
2When the Windows desktop appears, insert the Driver Recovery CD into the
optical disc drive.
3Click Start in the Windows taskbar and click Control Panel. The Control
Panel window appears.
4Click Performance and Maintenance and click System. The System
Properties dialog box appears.
5From the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
6Click to select the unknown device or the device that requires the driver
installation. The unknown device(s) is identified by a yellow question mark.
✍If you need to reinstall all of the software applications that shipped with your
computer, use the System Recovery CD(s).
✍If your system is equipped with two optical drives, insert the Driver Recovery CD into
the upper optical drive.