Sony VAIO PCV-L630 User manual

i
VAIO Slimtop™LCD
Computer User Guide
®
PCV-L630

©2000 Sony Electronics Inc. Reproduction
in whole or in part without written
permission is prohibited. All rights
reserved. This manual and the software
described herein, in whole or in part, may
not be reproduced, translated, or reduced
to any machine-readable form without
prior written approval.
Sony, VAIO, the VAIO logo, VAIO Slimtop,
Ergo-Angle, AutoAlert, VAIO Smart,
Handycam, VAIO Digital Studio, Memory
Stick, i.LINK, Media Bar, Mavica, and
PictureGear are trademarks of Sony.
Windows and the Windows logo are
registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. K56flex is a trademark of
Lucent Technologies Inc. and Rockwell
International. All other trademarks are
trademarks of their respective owners.
For questions regarding your product
or for the Sony Service Center nearest
you, call 1-888-476-6972.
The number below is for FCC related
matters only.
Regulatory Information
Owners Record
The model number and serial
number are located on the back of
your Sony computer. Record the
model and serial numbers in the
space provided here. Refer to
these numbers when you call your
Sony Service Center.
Model Number:_____________
Serial Number:______________
Declaration of Conformity
Trade Name: SONY
Model No.: PCV-L630
Responsible Party:
Sony Electronics Inc.
Address:
1 Sony Drive
Park Ridge, NJ 07656
Telephone No: 201-930-6972
This device complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the two following
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.

iii
Contents
Features ................................................................................1
Unpacking Your Computer............................................................3
Computer and Supplied Accessories................................................3
Manuals.................................................................................................4
Recovery CDs .......................................................................................4
Other......................................................................................................4
Software CDs........................................................................................4
Setting Up Your VAIO Slimtop™ LCD Computer.....................5
Locating Controls and Connectors....................................................5
Using the Wheel Mouse......................................................................9
Using a Headphone or Microphone................................................10
Attaching the Stand to the System Unit .....................................12
Registering Your Computer.........................................................13
VAIO Action Setup........................................................................14
Programmable Power Keys..............................................................14
Memory Stick.....................................................................................14
Internal Timer.....................................................................................15
AutoAlert E-mail Notification System............................................15
AutoAlert E-mail Notification System Software Restrictions.....15
Changing the Window Design of Sony Software .....................17
Using the Memory Stick®Media.................................................18
Using PC Cards..............................................................................21
Using the Standby Function.........................................................23
Standby Mode Indicators..................................................................24
Shutting Down Your Computer..................................................24
About the Power Switch...................................................................25

iv
Using the System Recovery CD(s)...............................................26
Using the Application Recovery CD(s).......................................28
About the Software on Your Computer......................................29
About Your Recovery CDs............................................................33
For Answers to Your Software Questions ..................................34
Troubleshooting .............................................................................36
To Reach Sony ....................................................................................39
Specifications...................................................................................40
Index................................................................................... 43

1
Features
❑i.LINK®(IEEE-1394): Two built-in i.LINK ports provide you with
front and rear digital connection capability. The i.LINK name and
logo identify a digital interface (IEEE-1394) for high speed
communication.
❑Exceptional performance: Your computer includes a fast Intel®
processor and a V.90-compatible data/fax modem.*
❑Ergo-AngleMultimedia LCD display: With its exclusive dual-
hinge pedestal, this 15" XGA TFT display provides twice the
flexibility of other LCDs. Select the perfect viewing angle and enjoy
the built-in Harman/Kardon®stereo speakers.
❑AutoAlertE-mail Notification System: Custom software
automatically downloads e-mail on a pre-set schedule via Microsoft®
Outlook®Express. A light on the LCD display instantly lets you
know when new mail is received.
❑VAIO Smart convertible keyboard: The innovative palm rest
converts to a keyboard cover for a sleek look when not in use. Six
Programmable Power Keys let you launch any application with the
push of a button; dual-sided mouse connections for left- or right-
hand use.
❑Sony Memory Stick®media slot: The next generation of digital
media, smaller than a stick of gum. Easily delivers information from
one Memory Stick-equipped electronic device to another, so you can
transfer images, sounds, data and text between cameras, computers,
and more.
✍For a complete description of the specifications of your Sony computer, see Specifications
on page 40.
* Actual upload and download speeds may vary due to line conditions, ISP support, and government
regulations.
Sony VAIO User’s Guide

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
2
❑Compact components: Enjoy the small footprint and versatile setup
options available by positioning the components in an arrangement
of your choice.
❑Sony audio and video quality: High-fidelity 3D audio system and
high-powered 3D graphics (AGP) enable you to take advantage of
today’s advanced multimedia applications, games, and
entertainment software.
❑Preinstalled software titles: All the software on your computer is
preinstalled, configured, and ready for you to use right out of the box.
❑Microsoft®Windows®98 Second Edition operating system: Your
system includes the latest operating system from Microsoft.
❑Communications: Access popular online services, browse the
Internet, send faxes, and more.

Unpacking Your Computer 3
Unpacking Your Computer
Computer and Supplied Accessories
Mouse
Stand Spacers
Phone cable
Power cable
Keyboard cable
Keyboard
System unit
(for vertical installation;
screw is included)
LCD
Ferrite core

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
4
Manuals
❑Read Me First contains last-minute supplementary information and
software support numbers.
❑The VAIO Slimtop™ LCD Computer User Guide (this manual) contains
features and specifications of your computer. It also includes
information on the applications included with your system and how
to contact software vendors, get started with your computer, and
solve common problems.
❑The VA I O ®Consumer Information Guide contains safety and regulatory
information, ergonomic considerations, information on help
resources, and your computer’s limited warranty statement.
❑The Microsoft®Windows®98 Second Edition Getting Started manual
explains how to use the basic features of the Windows®operating
system.
Recovery CDs
❑System Recovery CD(s) – Enables you to reinstall software that
shipped with your computer if it is corrupted or accidentally erased.
For more information, see “Using the System Recovery CD(s)” on
page 26.
❑Application Recovery CD(s) – Allows you to reinstall individual
applications or device drivers if they are corrupted or accidentally
erased. For more information, see “Using the Application Recovery
CD(s)” on page 28.
Other
❑Setting up your VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer (poster)
❑Packet containing special product offers
Software CDs
❑Microsoft®Word 2000

Setting Up Your VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer 5
Setting Up Your VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer
Locating Controls and Connectors
Front Panel
1Power switch and indicator light
Turns on/off the computer and the display.
The indicator light is green while the power is on and amber when
the computer is in standby mode.
2 Floppy disk drive
Reads/writes data from/to a 3.5-inch floppy disk.
3Floppy disk eject button
Ejects the floppy disk.
4DVD-ROM drive
Reads data from a DVD-ROM/CD-ROM.
5DVD-ROM/CD-ROM eject button
Ejects a DVD-ROM/CD-ROM.
6Manual eject hole
If the DVD-ROM/CD-ROM does not come out when you press the
DVD-ROM/CD-ROM eject button, insert a thin, pointed object into
this hole to eject the disc manually.
FD DISC HD

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
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* See Using a Headphone or Microphone on page 10 for important information about connecting a
microphone and headphone.
7FD (Floppy disk drive) access indicator light
Lights in green while reading/writing data from/to a floppy disk.
8Disc (DVD-ROM drive) access indicator light
Lights in amber while reading data from a DVD-ROM/CD-ROM.
9HD (drive) access indicator light
Lights in green while reading/writing data from/to the hard disk.
0MIC (Microphone) connector*
Connects a microphone (not supplied).
qa PHONES (Headphones) connector*
Connects headphones (not supplied).
qs VOLUME control
Adjusts the volume of the headphones connected to the PHONES
connector. Users should note that this does not control the volume of the
integrated LCD speakers.
qd PC CARD slot
A PC Card (also called a PCMCIA card) can be installed in this slot. PC
cards enable you to add functionality to your system.
qf MEMORY STICK media slot
Insert a Sony Memory Stick®card into this slot. See page 18 for details
on using Memory Stick media.
qg i.LINK (4-pin)
Connects a digital device such as a Sony Digital Handycam®Camcorder.
qh USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector
Connects a USB device.
FD DISC HD

Setting Up Your VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer 7
Rear Panel
1 AC INPUT connector
Connects the supplied power cord.
2 LINE jack
Connects a phone cable to the wall jack.
3EMPTY PCI SLOT (FILLED WITH ETHERNET CARD ON CUSTOM MODELS)
For a PCI Add-On Card (not supplied).
4TELEPHONE jack
Connects the phone to the computer.
5 PRINTER connector
Connects a parallel device, such as a printer or scanner.
6SERIAL connector
Connects a serial device, such as a digital still camera.
7 MONITOR connector
Connects a standard CRT display.
8USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector
Connects a USB device.
9LINE IN connector
Connects an audio device.
PRINTER SERIAL MONITOR USB LINE
I.LINK S400
KEYBOARD
OUTIN
LINE PHONE
I.LINK S400
LCD
PRINTER SERIAL MONITOR USB LINE LCD KEYBOARD
OUTIN

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
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LCD
0 LINE OUT connector
Connects an audio device or an active speaker.
qa i.LINK (6-pin)
Connects a digital device such as a Sony Digital Handycam®
Camcorder.
qs LCD MONITOR connector
Connects the LCD that comes with the VAIO Slimtop LCD computer.
Note: Do not connect any display to this connector other than the LCD
that is supplied with this system.
qd KEYBOARD connector
Connects a keyboard.
1Power indicator light
Light is green while the power is on. When the computer enters the
standby mode, this indicator light turns amber.
2 Information LED
Light turns red to alert the user to activities, such as the arrival of
e-mail. See “AutoAlert E-mail Notification System” on page 15.
3 Brightness control
Adjusts the brightness of the screen.
4 Volume control
Adjusts the volume of the integrated speakers on the LCD display.

Setting Up Your VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer 9
Using the Wheel Mouse
For information about the Wheel Mouse that connects to either side of
your keyboard, see MouseWare Help. To access MouseWare Help, from
the Start menu, point to Programs, MouseWare, and then click
MouseWare Help.
To set up the mouse for left-handed use:
1Click the My Computer icon on your desktop.
2Click Control Panel, and then click Mouse. The Mouse Properties
dialog box appears.
3In the Quick Setup tab, click Device Setup.
4In the Device Setup Wizard dialog box, click Next.
5Select the radio button next to “Left side of the keyboard.”
6Click Next three times, and then click Finish.
7Click Apply.

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
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Using a Headphone or Microphone
When you connect a microphone or headphone to your computer,
attaching a ferrite core will reduce electrical interference. Attach the
(supplied) ferrite core at the end of the headphone or microphone cable
closest to the computer. Wrap the cable through the center of the ferrite
core. The following illustration shows how to attach the ferrite core when
you are using both a headphone and a microphone.
✍The LCD and keyboard cables already include a ferrite core. Do not remove the ferrite core
from these cables.
Plugs connected to
Microphone and
Ferrite core
the computer
headphone cables

Setting Up Your VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer 11
To adjust the height and viewing angle of the display
Holding both sides of the display, push the display panel out and up, and
then adjust the viewing angle.
Set the display height so that it does not touch the keyboard, and adjust
the viewing angle approximately 27 degrees from eye level to the center
of the screen.
✍The LCD display is designed to maintain the best ergonomic viewing angle.

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
12
Attaching the Stand to the System Unit
The main system unit can be oriented horizontally or vertically. If you
place the system in a vertical position, you must attach the supplied stand
to ensure stability.
1Place the system unit on its right side, with the front of the system
facing forward.
2Insert the grooved side of the stand into the ventilation holes of the
system so that the two screw holes are aligned and the stand’s fins are
at the rear of the unit.
3Secure the stand to the unit with the supplied screw.
✍The stand keeps the system cool by allowing air to flow under it. If you choose to place the
system unit in a vertical position, it is important to use the stand and to place the system unit
on its left side, as in the illustration above; otherwise, the system may overheat.

Registering Your Computer 13
Registering Your Computer
Take advantage of Sony’s commitment to quality customer support and
receive these benefits by registering your computer:
❑Sony Customer Support—Talk to a Support Representative to
troubleshoot problems you may be having with your computer.
❑Limited warranty—Protect your investment. See “Limited Warranty
Statement” in the VA I O ®Consumer Information Guide for details.
❑Express Service—Provides a fast and direct return of your VAIO
Slimtop™ LCD Computer to Sony for service of your computer.
If you did not already register when you first turned on your computer,
follow these steps to use the computer online registration service.
1Click the registration icon on the VAIO desktop.
2Enter the information requested on the first online registration form.
Press the Tab key to move from box to box.
3Click the Next button to advance to the next form.
4Complete the remaining forms by clicking the Next button each time
you complete a form.
The computer automatically transfers your registration information
using your built-in modem and a toll-free telephone number or a
local number.
You may sign up for Internet access with a Sony preferred Internet
Service Provider.
✍You must register your computer to extend the warranty from the initial 90-day warranty
period to one year from the original date of purchase.

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
14
VAIO Action Setup
VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your computer's
Programmable Power Keys (PPK), Memory Stick®media, i.LINK
interface, and internal timer. An overview of each of these functions is
provided below. For more information on changing the settings using
VAIO Action Setup, see the online VAIO Action Setup help files. To access
the help files, from the Start menu, point to Programs/VAIO Action
Setup/VAIO Action Setup Help.
Programmable Power Keys
Your Sony computer comes with technology that allows you to get to
your favorite applications easily. Each Programmable Power Key (PPK)
on your VAIO Smart convertible keyboard comes programmed to launch
a preset application with a single press of the key. If you wish, you can
use the VAIO Action Setup software to change the Programmable Power
Keys’ preset functions.
The Programmable Power Keys are located at the top of your keyboard,
and are numbered P1 through P6. The keys work even when the
computer is turned off. Pressing one of these keys turns on the computer
and launches the preset application.
The six Programmable Power Keys come to you preprogrammed to
perform the functions listed in the table below.
Memory Stick
You can use VAIO Action Setup to preset your computer to automatically
launch an application when you insert a Memory Stick. For more
information on Memory Stick media, see “Using Memory Stick®Media”
on page 18.
Key Function
P1 (INTERNET) Starts Microsoft®Internet Explorer for Windows®98.
P2 (MAIL) Starts Microsoft®Outlook®Express
P3 (WORK) Starts Microsoft®Word
P4 (FINANCE) Starts Intuit®Quicken®Basic 2000.
P5 (SETUP) Starts PPK Setup.
P6 (HELP) Opens a menu of help options.

VAIO Action Setup 15
Internal Timer
The VAIO Action Setup software allows you to set your computer’s
internal timer to launch certain applications automatically. The timer can
start applications even when the power is off.
AutoAlert E-mail Notification System
VAIO Action Setup also enables you to set up your computer to notify
you with an Information LED when new mail arrives in your e-mail
mailbox. The Information LED turns red to indicate that new e-mail has
arrived. For this AutoAlert E-mail Notification System to work, you must
use Microsoft®Outlook®Express as your default e-mail software, and
you must have an Internet Service Provider with dial-up capabilities
set up.
As an alternative, you can program your AutoAlert E-mail Notification
System to set the Information LED to turn on when it has successfully
completed the task of dialing up and connecting to receive mail. In this
case, the Information LED turns on to indicate that your e-mail account
has been accessed successfully, regardless of whether or not you have
mail; this works with Microsoft Outlook Express.
See “LCD” on page 8 for an illustration showing the Information LED’s
location.
AutoAlert E-mail Notification System Software Restrictions
If you use software that uses a phone line
❑The computer may not be able to disconnect the phone line due to
communication and server conditions.
❑Be sure to monitor the status of the software when running the
AutoAlert E-mail Notification System, and manually disconnect the
phone line if you notice a malfunction. Furthermore, when using the
timer to start the software, it is advised that you set the computer to
shut down or enter system standby mode after a certain length of
time. This allows the computer to disconnect the phone line if the
computer fails to disconnect the line normally.
✍Some software applications take longer than others to launch. It is advisable to confirm in
advance the amount of time your selected application takes to start.
✍The e-mail software you choose to use with PPK must be set as your default e-mail software.

VAIO Slimtop LCD Computer User Guide
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If you are using the timer to download e-mail automatically
It is advisable to set up your e-mail software to redial automatically if it
does not connect the first time. It is also advisable to set the e-mail
software to disconnect the phone line automatically when all mail has
been downloaded.
If you are using Microsoft®Outlook®Express
When using the AutoAlert E-mail Notification System with Microsoft
Outlook Express, it is advisable to select the Dial automatically setting in
your Microsoft Outlook Express software. If you have not chosen this
setting and wish to do so, start Outlook Express, click Tools, and then
select Options. Select the check box “Automatically dial when checking
for new messages.” Click OK.