Sony VAIO PCG-FX370K User manual

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Contents
Welcome.......................................................9
Using Your VAIO Notebook......................11
Using the Keyboard...................................................12
Functions of the keyboard keys .........................................13
Combinations and functions with the Windows key .........14
Indicators ...........................................................................15
Indicator lights...................................................................15
Combinations and functions with the Fn key ....................16
Using the Touchpad ..................................................18
Using the Floppy Disk Drive ....................................20
To insert a floppy disk .......................................................20
To remove a floppy disk....................................................20
To remove the floppy disk drive........................................21
To reinsert the floppy disk drive........................................22
Using the Optical Drive.............................................23
To insert a disc...................................................................23
To remove a disc................................................................24
To play a DVD...................................................................25
Notes on CD and DVD media ...........................................26
To write data to CD-RW/CD-R media (For models with a
CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive)............................................27

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Using PC Cards.........................................................28
To insert a PC card.............................................................28
To remove a PC Card.........................................................29
Notes on PC Cards.............................................................30
Using a Second Battery Pack ....................................31
To insert a second battery pack..........................................31
To charge the second battery pack.....................................32
To remove the second battery pack ...................................33
Using the Weight Saver.............................................34
To attach the weight saver .................................................34
To remove the weight saver...............................................34
Using Smart Connect ................................................36
Connecting with i.LINK ....................................................36
Using Power Saving Modes......................................37
Normal mode .....................................................................37
Standby mode ....................................................................37
Hibernate mode..................................................................37
Notes on power saving modes ...........................................38
Connecting a Phone Line ..........................................39
Connecting to a LAN ................................................40
To set up your ethernet connection....................................40
Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............43
Connecting a Port Replicator ....................................44
To attach your notebook to the port replicator ..................44
To remove your notebook from the port replicator ...........46
Connecting an External Mouse or Keyboard............48
To connect an external mouse or keyboard .......................48

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Connecting a Parallel Port Printer.............................49
To connect a printer...........................................................49
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Printer ....50
To connect a USB printer ..................................................50
Connecting an External Display................................51
To connect a computer display..........................................51
To connect a multimedia computer display.......................51
To connect a projector .......................................................52
To select a display..............................................................52
Connecting a TV Display..........................................54
To connect a TV ................................................................54
Notes on TV display ..........................................................54
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device....56
To connect a USB device...................................................56
Connecting an i.LINK Device...................................57
To connect a digital video camera recorder.......................57
Notes on i.LINK devices ...................................................58
Connecting External Speakers ..................................59
Before connecting your external speakers.........................59
To connect external speakers.............................................59
Connecting an External Microphone.........................60
To connect an external microphone...................................60
Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities ...................61
Personal Digital Assistant..................................................61
Wireless LAN Access Point ..............................................61
Wireless LAN PC Card......................................................62

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Customizing Your VAIO Notebook..........63
Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen ...........64
To display the Sony Notebook Setup screen .....................64
Sony Notebook Setup Tabs................................................65
Controlling Power Management ...............................66
To view the Power Management status icons....................66
Power Management profiles ..............................................67
Power management commands .........................................69
Conserving battery power..................................................70
Displaying Battery Information ................................71
To activate the Battery Information toolbar ......................71
Battery icon descriptions ...................................................71
To display detailed battery information.............................72
To customize the Battery Information toolbar and alarm sys-
tem .....................................................................................73
Selecting the Display Mode ......................................74
To select the display mode.................................................74
To change the Window Design of Sony software .............75
Adding Memory to Your VAIO Notebook 77
Precautions and Procedures.......................................78
Typical expansion memory configuration.........................79
Removing a Memory Module ...................................80
Installing a Memory Module.....................................82
Viewing the Amount of Memory..............................83
About the Software on Your Notebook...85
Software Overview....................................................86

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DVgate ......................................................................92
To defragment a partition ..................................................92
DVgate plug-in for Adobe Premiere..................................92
MovieShaker .............................................................94
To import images and sound clips.....................................94
To create a movie using Shaker.........................................94
To edit clips and scenes .....................................................95
To add effects to a scene or a clip......................................96
To save a movie.................................................................96
OpenMG Jukebox .....................................................97
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) services .................97
To start OpenMG Jukebox 2.0...........................................98
To record a CD ..................................................................99
To transfer songs (check-in/check-out) ...........................100
Additional OpenMG Jukebox features ............................102
Notes on using Portable Players ......................................103
PictureGear..............................................................104
To manage your pictures..................................................104
To create a photo album...................................................104
To use Panorama Maker ..................................................105
To make still images and panoramic from MPEG ..........105
Smart Capture..........................................................106
To use Still mode.............................................................107
To use Net Movie mode...................................................111
To use ImageStation ........................................................114
VisualFlow ..............................................................117
To use VisualFlow...........................................................117
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs.....118

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Using Your Recovery CDs......................................119
To use the Application Recovery CD(s)..........................119
To use the Driver Recovery CD(s) ..................................120
To use the System Recovery CD(s).................................120
Troubleshooting......................................123
Troubleshooting Your Notebook ............................124
Troubleshooting the LCD Screen............................128
Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad.............130
Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral De-
vices.........................................................................132
Troubleshooting Software.......................................134
Troubleshooting the Modem...................................135
Troubleshooting Audio ...........................................136
Troubleshooting the Printer.....................................137
Getting Help.............................................139
Support Options.......................................................140
VAIO Support Agent ..............................................142
To use the Quick Fix Wizard...........................................142
To use Common Solutions...............................................144
Automatic updates ...........................................................146
Update notification ..........................................................148
VAIO Support Agent Properties......................................148
To use Support Central ....................................................149
Software Support Information.................................154
Sony Service Center................................................157

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Index.........................................................159

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Welcome
Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO computer, and
welcome to the VAIO User Guide.
This User Guide provides detailed information on all aspects of using
your new VAIO computer, from keyboard functions to preinstalled
software applications.
In the left navigation window, click the topics you want to learn more
about, and that information will be displayed in this main window.

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Using Your VAIO Notebook
This section describes the following aspects of your new computer:
❑Using the Keyboard
❑Using the Touchpad
❑Using the Floppy Disk Drive
❑Using the Optical Drive
❑Using PC Cards
❑Using a Second Battery Pack
❑Using the Weight Saver
❑Using Smart Connect
❑Using Power Saving Modes
❑Connecting a Phone Line
❑Connecting to a LAN

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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
Escape key Function keys Print Screen key
Shift
C
trl key
Fn key
Windows key
Alt key
Applications key
Numeric keypad area
Navigation
keys
Correction
keys
key

Using the Keyboard
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Functions of the keyboard keys
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.
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 $.

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Combinations and functions with the Windows key
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

Using the Keyboard
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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.
Combination Function
1
2

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Combinations and functions with the Fn key
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.
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 .

Using the Keyboard
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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+ 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.
✍Some functions are not available until Windows launches.
Combinations/
Feature Function
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.
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 Touchpad
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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, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > and click
the Mouse icon.
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.)
Action Description

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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.
To remove a floppy disk
1After you finish using the floppy disk, wait until the LED indicator turns off.
2Press the Eject button to remove the floppy disk.
Inserting a floppy disk
Floppy disk drive
Floppy disk