Sony VAIO PCG-GR300K User manual

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.
Note:
Click here to find the latest updates and supplemental information about your computer.
Page 1

Using Your VAIO Notebook
This section describes how to use your keyboard, touchpad, and optical drive. You will also find information on how to
connect your notebook to another computer or network.
Using the Keyboard
Using the Touchpad
VAIO Action Setup
Center Jog Dial Control
Using the Removable Hard Disk Drive
Using the Optical Disc Drive
Using PC Cards
Using a Second Battery Pack
Using the Weight Saver
Using Memory Stick Media
Power Saving Modes
Connecting a Phone Line
Connecting with another VAIO computer
Connecting to a Local Area Network (LAN)
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Using the Keyboard
Your notebook keyboard is very similar to that of a typewriter, but the keyboard has additional keys that perform specific
computer-related tasks.
Keyboard
Key Description
Numeric keypad 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 $.
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 Page 3

The Applications key displays a shortcut menu of context-sensitive choices. Pressing this key is the
equivalent of clicking the right mouse button.
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Combinations and functions with the Windows key
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.
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.
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Indicators
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 right side of the notebook.
Battery 2
Indicates the status of the battery inserted in the multipurpose drive bay on the left side of the notebook.
Memory Stick
Indicates that the Memory Stick®slot is in use.
Hard disk
This indicator will light when data is being read from or written to the hard disk. Do not enter Standby mode
or turn off the notebook when this indicator is on.
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Indicator lights
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.
Page 7

Combinations and functions with the Fn key
Combinations/
Feature Function
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 connector)
and both LCD and external display.
Connect the cable before you turn on the notebook, otherwise Fn + F7 will not work.
Fn+ only/
(F8)
Control AV out Toggles between LCD-only, external-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 run 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 + 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 + E Ejects CD.
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.
Note:
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Some functions are not available until Windows®launches.
Page 9

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-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.)
Note:
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, open the Start menu, point to Settings, Control
Panel, and then click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel.
Page 10

VAIO Action Setup
VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your notebook's center Jog Dial control, Memory Stick®media, and i.LINK®1
interface. An overview of some of the functions controlled by VAIO Action Setup is provided in this section. For more
information on changing the settings using VAIO Action Setup, right-click the Jog Dial Utility icon or in the taskbar and
click Help Topics.
1i.LINK is a trademark of Sony us ed to des ignate that a product c ontains an I EE E 1 3 9 4 c onnection. T he i.LINK c onnection may vary, depending on the
software applications, operating system, and c ompatible i.LINK devices. A ll products with an i.LI N K c onnector may not communicate with eac h other. Refer
to the documentation that came with your compatible i.LINK devic e for information on operating c onditions and proper c onnection. Before connecting
compatible i.LINK P C peripherals to your system, s uc h as a C D-RW or hard disk drive, confirm their operating system c ompatibility and required operating
conditions.
Page 11

Center Jog Dial Control
Your notebook is equipped with a center Jog Dial control located below the left and right buttons. The center Jog Dial
control enables you to open an application, folder, or document from a predefined list by rotating and pressing the center
Jog Dial control. In addition, when you press the center Jog Dial control, you can turn on your notebook automatically and
start the selected application or document.
Center Jog Dial Control
The center Jog Dial control window always appears in the display. It is either in the launcher mode or in the guide mode.
Page 12

Using the center Jog Dial control
This section explains how to use the center Jog Dial control. For information on how to change the settings of the center
Jog Dial control, right-click the Jog Dial Utility icon or in the task tray and click Help Topics.
Page 13

Launcher mode
The center Jog Dial control window is in launcher mode until a software application is launched or the Jog Dial control
window becomes active. When you select an item in the Jog Dial control window and it is displayed between orange bars,
you can press the center Jog Dial control to view a submenu of that item.
Using Launcher mode
To use the center Jog Dial control, click the Jog Dial control window or the Jog Dial Utility icon in the taskbar. Alternatively,
you can press the Ctrl key and the center Jog Dial control while the Jog Dial control window is active to switch to launcher
mode.
Jog Dial Launcher
To select a desired item, proceed as follows:
1. Rotate the center Jog Dial control to select the item you want, then press the center Jog Dial control. The Jog Dial
Launcher window switches to guide mode and shows the function of the center Jog Dial control.
Jog Dial Guide
2. Rotate or press the center Jog Dial control to use the desired function.
3. To select another item, repeat steps 1 through 3 above.
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Guide mode
The Jog Dial control window is in the guide mode when software is in use and the software window is active. Depending on
the software you are using, you can select items from the displayed list using the center Jog Dial control. You can switch
between guide mode and launcher mode by pressing the Ctrl key and the center Jog Dial control.
Using Guide mode
The Jog Dial control window displays the function of the center Jog Dial control.
Page 15

Center Jog Dial back button
The center Jog Dial control includes a back button located to the right of the control. Pressing this button brings you back to
the previous screen.
Page 16

Using the center Jog Dial control with Sony software
If Sony software that supports the center Jog Dial control is active, you can use the functions of the center Jog Dial control
that are allocated to that software. For more information on functions allocated to software, see the software application's
Help.
Page 17

Using the center Jog Dial control with other software
If the software you are using supports the center Jog Dial control, you can still use the center Jog Dial control to scroll the
window or adjust the window size.
Using a Dialog box
When a window such as Screen Properties is active, the Dialog box is displayed in the Jog Dial window. You can select an
item in the window by rotating the center Jog Dial control. Pressing the center Jog Dial control is the equivalent of pressing
Enter or Select.
Jog Dial Guide Dialog Box
Page 18

Using the Removable Hard Disk Drive
Your notebook is equipped with a removable, preformatted hard disk drive, located on the right side next to the battery
bay.
Note:
Sony does not guarantee interoperability with removable hard disk drives other than the one provided with your VAIO®
notebook.
Page 19

Notes on Removable Hard Disk Drive
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage the hard disk drive and related components. Sony cannot guarantee the hard
disk drive against any damage caused by its removal from the drive bay, or from any mishandling of the unit resulting in
physical damage. If removing the hard disk drive, take care not to expose it to ESD or static electricity.
The hard drive is sensitive to shock and mishandling; therefore, it is important to handle the hard disk drive by its edges,
avoid applying pressure or squeezing the top of the hard drive case, and avoid dropping it.
Before you remove the hard disk drive, close open programs, and shut down the notebook; disconnect the computer and
peripheral devices from electrical outlets; and remove the battery.
Removing the hard disk drive
1. Shut down your notebook and locate the latch for the hard disk drive.
2. Loosen and remove the screw on the bottom of the notebook that secures the hard disk drive. Use an
appropriate screwdriver.
3. Slide the hard disk drive out of the drive bay.
Installing the hard disk drive
1. Slide the hard disk drive into the drive bay until it clicks into place.
2. Replace and tighten the screw that secures the hard disk drive.
Page 20