Sony VAIO PCG-FX250 User manual

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Contents
Using Your VAIO®Notebook......................7
Using the Keyboard.....................................................8
Combinations and Functions with the Windows Key .........9
Indicators ...........................................................................10
Indicator Lights..................................................................10
Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key...................11
Using the Touchpad ..................................................12
Using the Floppy Disk Drive ....................................13
Using the Optical Drive.............................................15
Playing a DVD...................................................................17
Notes on CD and DVD media ...........................................18
Writing data to CD-RW/CD-R media (For models with a
CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive) ............................................19
Using PC Cards .........................................................19
To insert a PC Card............................................................19
To remove a PC Card.........................................................21
Using a Second Battery Pack ....................................22
To insert a second battery pack..........................................23
To charge the second battery pack.....................................23
To remove the second battery pack ...................................24
Using the Weight Saver.............................................25
To attach the weight saver .................................................26
To remove the weight saver...............................................27
Using Smart Connect ................................................27
Windows Me™..................................................................27
Windows 2000 ...................................................................28

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Power Saving Modes ................................................ 28
Normal Mode .................................................................... 29
Standby Mode ................................................................... 29
To activate Standby mode................................................. 29
To return to normal mode ................................................. 29
Hibernate Mode................................................................. 29
To activate Hibernate mode .............................................. 29
To return to normal mode ................................................. 30
Connecting a Phone Line.......................................... 30
Connecting to a Local Area Network (LAN) ........... 31
Setting Up Your Ethernet Connection .............................. 32
Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............33
Connecting the Port Replicator................................. 34
Connecting an External Mouse or Keyboard............ 37
Connecting a Parallel Port Printer ............................ 38
Connecting a USB Printer......................................... 39
Connecting an External Display ............................... 39
Connecting a TV Display ......................................... 42
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device ... 43
Connecting an i.LINK®Device................................ 44
Connecting External Speakers .................................. 46
Connecting an External Microphone ........................ 46
Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities ................... 47
Personal Digital Assistant ................................................. 47
Wireless LAN Access Point.............................................. 48
Wireless LAN PC Card..................................................... 48

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Customizing Your VAIO®Notebook ........49
Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen ...........50
Sony Notebook Setup Tabs................................................51
Controlling Power Management ...............................51
Viewing the Power Management status icons ...................52
Power Management Profiles ..............................................53
Power Management Commands ........................................54
Conserving Battery Power .................................................55
Displaying Battery Information ................................55
Battery Icon Descriptions ..................................................56
Displaying Detailed Battery Information ..........................57
Selecting the Display Mode ......................................57
Changing the Window Design of Sony Software..............59
Adding Memory .........................................61
Before you start .........................................................61
128 MB Memory Models ..................................................62
192 MB Memory Models ..................................................62
About the Software on Your Notebook ...65
Overview ...................................................................65
MovieShaker™ .........................................................70
Importing Images and Sound Clips ...................................71
Create a Movie using Shaker .............................................71
Editing Clips and Scenes ...................................................72
Adding effects to a scene or a clip.....................................72
Saving a Movie ..................................................................72

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PictureGear™ ........................................................... 73
Managing Your Pictures ................................................... 73
Creating a Photo Album.................................................... 74
Using Panorama Maker..................................................... 74
Making Still Images and Panoramic from MPEG ............ 74
OpenMG™ Jukebox ................................................. 75
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) Services................ 75
Starting OpenMG Jukebox 2.0.......................................... 76
Recording a CD................................................................. 77
Transferring Songs (Check-in/Check-out)........................ 78
Check-out .......................................................................... 79
Check-in ............................................................................ 80
Additional OpenMG Jukebox Features............................. 80
Notes on performing the System Restore function of System
Tools on Windows®Millennium Edition ......................... 81
Notes on using Portable Players........................................ 82
Smart Capture ........................................................... 83
Using Still mode................................................................ 84
Using Net Movie mode..................................................... 88
Using ImageStationSM......................................................................91
VisualFlow™ ............................................................ 93
Using DVgate Software ............................................ 94
DVgate plug-in for Adobe Premiere®........................................94
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs ...... 95
Using Your Recovery CDs ....................................... 96
Using the Application Recovery CD(s) ............................ 96
Using the Driver Recovery CD(s)..................................... 97
Using the System Recovery CD(s) ................................... 97
Getting Help.............................................101
Support Options ...................................................... 101

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VAIO Support Agent ..............................................102
Using the Quick Fix Wizard ............................................103
Using Common Solutions................................................104
Automatic Updates ..........................................................106
Update Notification..........................................................107
VAIO Support Agent Properties......................................108
Using Support Central .....................................................109
Software Support Information.................................112
Sony Service Center.........................................................115
Troubleshooting ......................................117
Troubleshooting your notebook.......................................117
Troubleshooting the LCD screen.....................................121
Troubleshooting the mouse and touchpad .......................122
Troubleshooting drives, PC Cards and peripheral devices ....
123
Troubleshooting software ................................................125
Troubleshooting the modem ............................................126
Troubleshooting audio .....................................................126
Troubleshooting the printer .............................................127

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Using Your VAIO®Notebook
This section describes how to use your keyboard, touchpad, floppy disk drive,
and optical drive. You will also find information on how to connect your
notebook to another computer or network.

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Using the Keyboard
Your keyboard is very similar to a typewriter’s, but the keyboard has additional
keys that perform specific computer-related tasks.
Keyboard
Key Description
Numeric keypad
area
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. Note that you must
press the Num Lock key to activate the numeric keypad. (When
you do so, the Num Lock light will be on.)
Navigation keys Several keys are devoted to moving the cursor on the screen.
Correction keys The Insert, Back Space, and Delete keys enable you to make
corrections in your documents.
Function keys The twelve function keys along the top of the keyboard are used
to perform designated tasks. For example, in many applications,
F1 is the Help key. The task associated with each function key
may vary from one application to the next.
Escape key The Esc (Escape) key is used to cancel commands.
Escape key Function keys Print Screen key
Shift key
Ctrl key
Fn key
Windows key
Alt key
Applications key
Numeric keypad area
Navigation
keys
Correction
keys

Using the Keyboard
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Combinations and Functions with the Windows Key
Print Screen key The Print Screen key takes an electronic snapshot of the screen
and places it in the Windows Clipboard. You can then paste the
screen shot into a document and print it.
Operator keys
(Shift, Ctrl,
Alt keys)
Several keys are always used with at least one other key: Ctrl,
Alt, and Shift. When held down with another key, the Ctrl
(Control) and Alt (Alternate) keys offer another way to give
commands. For example, in many applications, instead of
choosing the Save command from a menu, you can hold down
Ctrl and press S (referred to as Ctrl+S). The Shift key operates
the same way as on a typewriter; it is used to produce capital
letters or special symbols, such as @ and $.
Windows key The key with the Windows logo displays the Windows Start
menu; it is the equivalent of clicking the Start button on the
taskbar. See “Combinations and Functions with the Windows
Key” for more information.
Fn key The Fn key is used in combination with other keys to issue
commands. See “Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key”
for more information.
Applications key The Applications key displays a shortcut menu of context-
sensitive choices. Pressing this key is the equivalent of clicking
the right mouse button.
Combination Function
+ F1 Displays Windows Help.
+ Tab Switches the selected button on the taskbar.
+ D Displays the Desktop.
+ E Displays Windows Explorer.
+ F Displays the Windows Find: All Files window to find a file or
folder. This is the equivalent of selecting Find and then Files or
Folders from the Start menu.
+ Ctrl + F Displays the Windows Find: Computer window where you can
locate other computers. This is the equivalent of selecting Find
and then Computer from the Start menu.
+ M Minimizes all displayed windows.
Key Description

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Indicators
Indicator Lights
Shift + + M Returns all minimized windows to their previous size.
+ R Displays the Run window. This is the equivalent of selecting Run
from the Start menu.
Fn + + Insert Displays the Properties window. This is the equivalent of double-
clicking the System icon in the Control Panel.
Indicator Function
Power Light is green when the power to the notebook is turned on,
flashes amber in Standby mode, and turns off when the notebook
is in Hibernate mode or powered off.
Battery 1 Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the battery bay on
the left side of the notebook.
Battery 2 Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the multipurpose
drive bay on the right side of the notebook.
Hard disk Lights when data is being read from or written to the hard drive.
Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the notebook when this
indicator light is on.
Light On Off
Num
Lock
The number keys in the numeric
keypad are active.
The alphanumeric character keys
in the keypad area are active.
Caps
Lock
The letters appear in uppercase as you
type. The Shift key lowers the case of
typed letters when Caps Lock is on.
Letters appear in lower case as
you type (unless you hold down
the Shift key).
Scroll
Lock
The screen scrolls differently. (Exactly
how it scrolls depends on the specific
application. It has no effect in many
applications.)
Information moves across the
display normally.
Combination Function
1
2

Using the Keyboard
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Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key
Combinations/
Feature Function
Fn+ (ESC)
Standby
Puts the system into Standby mode, a power management state.
To return the system to the active state, press any key or press the
power button on your notebook.
Fn+ (F3)
Mute On/Off
Toggles the built-in speaker off and on.
Fn+ (F4)
Speaker volume
Adjusts the built-in speaker volume.
To increase volume, press Fn+F4, then or .
To decrease volume, press Fn+F4, then or .
Fn+ (F5)
Brightness control
Adjusts the brightness of the LCD.
To increase light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then or .
To decrease light intensity, press Fn+F5 and then or .
Fn+ /
(F7)
Switch to the
external monitor/
LCD
Toggles through the LCD, external display (connected to the
Monitor jack) and both LCD and external display.
Fn+ only/
(F8)
Control TV out
Toggles between LCD-only and dual LCD/TV display modes.
Connect the cable before you turn on the notebook, otherwise
Fn + F8 will not work.
Fn+ (F12)
Hibernate
Provides for the lowest level of power consumption. When you
execute this command, the state of the system and state of the
peripheral devices are written to the hard disk and the system
power is turned off. To return the system to its original state, use
the power button to turn on power.
Fn+D
Video standby
Turns off the LCD to save power. To turn the LCD back on, press
any key (Windows Me™ only).
Fn+ F Display control. Minimizes and maximizes the LCD screen. If
the default display resolution is reduced, this function maximizes
the display resolution to fit the screen size. Maximizing the
display screen enables you to view the display at a greater
resolution.
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
➜
LCD
Only LCD LCD and external display
Only external display
LCD
Only LCD LCD and external display
Only external display

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Using the Touchpad
The keyboard contains a cursor-pointing device called a touchpad. You can point
to, select, drag, and scroll objects on the screen using the built-in touchpad.
✍Some functions are not available until Windows launches.
Touchpad
Action Description
Point Slide one finger on the touchpad to place the pointer on an item
or object.
Click Press the left button once.
Double-click Press the left button twice.
Right button
Left button
Touchpad
Pointer

Using the Floppy Disk Drive
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Using the Floppy Disk Drive
Your notebook comes with the floppy disk drive in the multipurpose bay.
To insert a floppy disk
1Hold the floppy disk with the label side facing up.
2Gently push the floppy disk into the drive until it clicks into place.
Right-click Press the right button once. In many applications, this action
displays a shortcut menu of context-sensitive choices.
Drag Slide one finger while pressing the left button.
Scroll Move your finger along the right edge of the touchpad to scroll
vertically. Move your finger along the bottom to scroll
horizontally. (The scroll function is available only with
applications that support a touchpad scroll feature.)
✍See Mouse Properties for information on touchpad features, such as clicking both
buttons simultaneously, adjusting touchpad speed, and Easy Launcher functions. To
access Mouse Properties, click the Start button, point to Settings, point to Control
Panel, and then click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel.
Action Description
Floppy disk drive
Floppy disk

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To remove a floppy disk
❑When you finish using the floppy disk, wait until the LED indicator turns
off, then press the Eject button to remove the floppy disk.
To remove the floppy disk drive
1Turn off the notebook.
2There is a RELEASE lever on the bottom of the notebook. Slide this lever in
the direction of the arrow.
3Slide the floppy disk drive out of the multipurpose bay.
4Insert the weight saver. See “Using the Weight Saver” for more information.
✍Do not push the eject button when the LED indicator is turned on. Otherwise,
data may be lost.
Multipurpose bay release lever
Eject button
LED indicator
Multipurpose bay RELEASE lever

Using the Optical Drive
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To reinsert the floppy disk drive
1Turn off the notebook.
2If another device is in the multipurpose bay, remove the device. See “To
remove the second battery pack” for more information.
3Insert the floppy disk drive into the multipurpose bay with the VAIO label
facing up. Continue pushing the drive into the bay until the RELEASE lever
locks into place.
Using the Optical Drive
Your notebook comes with an optical drive, either a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
or DVD-ROM drive, depending on the model you purchased.
To insert a disc
1Turn on the notebook.
Inserting the floppy disk drive
✍When the notebook is in Standby or Hibernate mode, you cannot insert a disc.
See “Controlling Power Management” for more information on Standby and
Hibernate modes.
Multipurpose bay
Floppy disk drive

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2Press the Eject button to open the optical drive.
The tray slides out.
3Place an optical disc on the tray with the label side facing up. For DVDs that
can be played on both sides, the side of the disc facing up is the side that
plays.
4Push the disc onto the hub until the disc clicks securely into place.
Ejecting the tray
Do not use adhesive labels to identify your discs. Adhesive labels may come
off while the disc is in use in the optical drive(s), and may cause damage to
the drive.
Inserting an optical disc
Eject button
Label side facing up

Using the Optical Drive
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5Close the tray by pushing it gently.
Playing a DVD
To achieve optimum performance when playing DVDs, it is recommended that
your notebook not be connected to the port replicator while playing DVD movies
or using DVD applications. Close any open applications before playing a DVD
movie.
✍Be sure to seat the disc firmly over the hub fingers. If you do not seat the disc firmly,
you could damage your optical drive and you may not be able to open the tray.
When you finish using a disc, wait until the LED indicator turns off, then press the
Eject button to remove the disc.
When the notebook is in power saving modes, you cannot remove a disc. See
“Controlling Power Management” for more information about power saving modes.
If the disc does not come out when you press the Eject button, turn off the notebook
and insert a thin, pointed object (such as a paper clip) into the manual eject hole.
Manual eject hole
✍When playing DVD movies on battery power, set the power management profile to
DVD. With other profiles, the movies are choppy. As an alternative, you can set the
power management profile to Automatic Profile Selection, which will cause the DVD
profile to be selected automatically whenever you insert a DVD. See “Controlling
Power Management” for information on how to set the power management profile.

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❑You can play DVDs using the optical drive and the WinDVD®software. See
the help file that comes with the WinDVD software for details.
If you connect a TV, see “Selecting the Display Mode” for instructions.
Notes on CD and DVD media
❑Do not drop or bend the disc.
❑Do not touch the surface of the disc. Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a
disc may cause reading errors. Proper care of the disc is essential to maintain
its reliability. Do not use solvents such as benzine, thinner, commercially
available cleaners or anti-static spray, as they may cause damage to the disc.
❑For normal cleaning, hold the disc by its edge and use a soft cloth to wipe the
surface from the center out.
Some discs recorded at 20 or 24 bits may produce noise while playing. If you
have audio devices connected, this may cause damage to your hearing and
the speakers. Reduce the volume before playing such discs.
You cannot switch between LCD and TV if you press Fn+F8 when a DVD is
inserted in the optical drive.
✍When a TV is connected to a notebook that is set to factory settings, a part of the video
screen will not appear. To view the entire screen, adjust the display resolution to 640 x
480 and see “Selecting the Display Mode” for more information.
If you set the display resolution higher than the default setting (1280 x 1024, 24 bits),
the DVD video may not play properly.
(For models with SXGA+ panels) To view the DVD video clearly, set the display
resolution to 1024 x 768 dots (16 bits).
Do not switch the power saving modes while you are playing the DVD disc.
Do not switch between LCD and the external display while you are playing the
DVD video.
Change the setting to disable the screen saver and the virus checker (if it is
active).
Do not use memory-resident utility software to speed up disc access. This
may cause the notebook to malfunction.

Using PC Cards
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❑If the disc is badly soiled, moisten a soft cloth with water, wring it out well,
and use it to wipe the surface of the disc from the center out. Wipe off any
remaining moisture with a dry soft cloth.
Writing data to CD-RW/CD-R media (For models with a CD-RW/
DVD Combo Drive)
You can use Easy CD Creator™ software to write data to a CD-R or CD-RW. To
use Easy CD Creator, see the online help manual that comes with the software.
Using PC Cards
Your notebook includes two PC Card slots. PC Cards enable you to connect
portable external devices such as another hard disk drive, or to connect a
network.
To insert a PC Card
✍For optimal writing speed, deactivate the screen saver and exit anti-virus software
before writing data to a disc.
For best results, use CD-Rs that are compatible with 4x speed.
Do not put your notebook into power saving mode while using Easy CD Creator.
Do not touch the surface of the disc. Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a
disc may cause writing errors.
Do not strike or shake the notebook while writing data to a disc.
Memory-resident disc utilities, such as the screen saver and virus checker, may
cause unstable operation or data loss. Deactivate these utilities before writing
data to a disc.
Always use the AC adapter as the power source for your notebook when you are
writing data to a CD-R or CD-RW. Using battery power may result in data
transfer failure.
✍The PC Card slots can accommodate two Type I/II PC Cards, or one Type III PC Card.
These slots are compatible with CardBus. Use the lower slot for Type III PC Cards. You
do not need to shut down your notebook before inserting or removing a PC Card.

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1Push the Release button. The Release button pops out.
2Press the Release button a second time. The PC Card slot protector pops out.
When you use a Type III PC Card, you need to remove both the top and
bottom PC Card slot protectors.
3Insert the PC Card into the PC Card slot. Make sure the front label of the PC
Card is facing up.
PC Card release button
PC Card slot protector
Release button
Release button