Sony VAIO PCG-FXA32 User manual

VAIO®Notebook
Quick Start
PCG-FXA36/PCG-FXA33/PCG-FXA32

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
2

3
Contents
Welcome.......................................................5
Unpacking Your Notebook .........................................7
Registering Your Notebook ........................................9
Setting up your dial-up connection ...........................10
Setting Up Your VAIO Notebook..............13
Locating Controls and Connectors............................14
Connecting a Power Source ......................................19
Starting Your Notebook ............................................25
Shutting Down Your Notebook.................................26
Power Saving Modes.................................................27
About the Software on Your Notebook ...29
Software Overview....................................................30
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs.......35
Using Your Recovery CDs........................................36
Adding Memory .........................................41
Precautions and Procedures.......................................42
Typical expansion memory configuration.................43
Removing a memory module ....................................44
Installing a memory module......................................46
Viewing the amount of memory................................47

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
4
Troubleshooting........................................49
Troubleshooting Your Notebook .............................. 50
Troubleshooting the LCD Screen ............................. 54
Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad .............. 55
Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and
Peripheral Devices .................................................... 57
Troubleshooting Software......................................... 59
Troubleshooting the Modem..................................... 60
Troubleshooting Audio ............................................. 61
Troubleshooting the Printer ...................................... 62
Getting Help...............................................63
Software Support Information .................................. 65
Index...........................................................67

5
Welcome
Congratulations on your purchase of the Sony VAIO® all-in-one
notebook. Sony has combined leading-edge technology in audio, video,
computing, and communications to provide you with state-of-the-art
personal computing.
Features
❑Exceptional performance*— Your notebook includes a mobile AMD
processor featuring PowerNow!™ technology†and a V.90/K56flex-
compatible modem.‡
❑Portability — Rechargeable battery pack provides hours of use without AC
power.
❑Sony audio and video quality — High-quality MPEG1/MPEG2 video,
which supports full-screen display and enables you to take advantage of
today’s advanced multimedia applications, games, and entertainment
software.
❑Multimedia features — Enjoy the stereo speakers or use headphones (not
supplied) to listen to audio and video CDs.
❑Microsoft® Windows® operating system — Your system includes the
latest Microsoft® Windows® operating system.
✍For a complete description of the specifications of your VAIO®notebook, refer to the
Specifications flyer supplied with your notebook.
* To combine performance and portability, Sony had implemented speed-controlling technol-
ogy designed to maximize battery life during mobile computer use. Windows® reported
actual CPU speed may not reflect the maximum CPU speed.
† Processor speed may be reduced under certain conditions.
‡ Actual upload and download speeds may vary due to line conditions, Internet Service Pro-
vider (ISP) support, and government regulations.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
6
❑Communications — Access popular online services, send e-mail, browse
the Internet, and use fax features.
❑Optical disc drive (CD-RW/DVD or DVD-ROM) — The CD-RW/DVD
Combo Drive utilizes a new optical storage technology that combines the
features of both a CD-RW drive and DVD-ROM drive, providing increased
storage capacity and a rich multimedia computing experience. Optical drives
play DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, CD-RW, and CD-R discs. (The CD-RW/DVD
Combo Drive is available on selected models only.)
✍Your notebook’s optical disc drive and other parts may differ depending on the model
you purchased.

Unpacking Your Notebook
7
Unpacking Your Notebook
Remove the following hardware items from the box:
* Removable floppy disk drive is in the multipurpose bay.
Documents
❑VAIO® Notebook Quick Start — Contains information on unpacking and
setting up your notebook, the features of your notebook, the applications
included with your system, and how to solve common problems.
❑VAIO® Notebook User Guide — A searchable online help file that contains
detailed information on how to use your new notebook. Go to Start, select
VAIO Help and Support, and click VAIO User Guide to open this file.
❑Microsoft® Windows® manual — Explains how to use the basic features
of the Windows operating system.
❑VAIO® Notebook Notes on Use — Explains notes on use and offers safety
tips.
❑VAIO® Notebook Specifications Flyer — Details the hardware
specifications for your notebook.
Main unit*Power cord
AC adapter
Video cable Rechargeable
battery pack
Weight saver

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
8
Software CDs
❑Microsoft®Word — Enables you to reinstall Microsoft Word to the VAIO
computer you purchased, if the application becomes corrupted or is erased.
Recovery CDs
❑Application Recovery CD(s) — Enables you to reinstall individual
applications if they become corrupted or are erased.
❑Driver Recovery CD(s) — Enables you to reinstall individual device
drivers if they become corrupted or are erased.
❑System Recovery CD(s) — Enables you to format the C:\ partition of the
hard disk drive, then reinstall the operating system and software titles that
shipped with your notebook if they become corrupted or are erased.
Other
❑Packet containing special product offers
❑Limited Warranty card

Registering Your Notebook
9
Registering Your Notebook
Take advantage of Sony’s commitment to quality customer support and receive
these benefits by registering your notebook:
❑Sony Customer Support — Talk to a Support Representative to
troubleshoot problems you may be having with your notebook.
❑Limited Warranty — Protect your investment. See the Warranty Card for
more details.
✍You are prompted to register your computer the first time you turn on the unit. Follow
the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process. If you are not able to
register your computer during the first session, you are provided with additional
registration opportunities later.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
10
Setting up your dial-up connection
This section describes the basic steps for setting up your dial-up connection. The
Connection Wizard guides you through the process of connecting to the Internet
and then choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or setting up an existing
account.
Setting up your dial-up connection
1Click Start, point to All Programs, Accessories, Communications, and then
click New Connection Wizard. The Location Information screen appears.
Location Information screen
2Follow the instructions onscreen and then click OK to continue. The Phone
and Modem Options screen appears.