Sony VAIO PCG-GR370 User manual

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Contents
Welcome.......................................................9
Using Your VAIO Notebook......................11
Using the Keyboard...................................................12
Combinations and functions with the Windows key .........14
Indicators ...........................................................................15
Indicator lights ...................................................................16
Combinations and functions with the Fn key ....................17
Using the Touchpad ..................................................19
VAIO Action Setup...................................................21
Center Jog Dial Control.............................................22
Using the center Jog Dial control ......................................22
Launcher mode ..................................................................23
Guide mode........................................................................24
Center Jog Dial back button...............................................24
Using the center Jog Dial control with Sony software ......25
Using the center Jog Dial control with other software ......25
Using the Removable Hard Disk Drive.....................26
Notes on Removable Hard Disk Drive ..............................26

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Using the Optical Disc Drive.................................... 27
To insert a disc .................................................................. 27
To eject a disc ................................................................... 28
To play a DVD.................................................................. 29
To play an audio CD ......................................................... 30
Notes on CD and DVD discs ............................................ 31
To write data to a CD-RW or CD-R disc.......................... 31
Using PC Cards......................................................... 33
To insert a PC Card........................................................... 33
To remove a PC Card........................................................ 34
Using a Second Battery Pack.................................... 35
To insert a second battery pack......................................... 35
To charge the second battery pack.................................... 36
To remove the second battery pack................................... 37
Using the Weight Saver ............................................ 38
To attach the weight saver ................................................ 38
To remove the weight saver.............................................. 39
Using Memory Stick Media .................................... 40
Types of Memory Stick media.......................................... 40
Write-protecting Memory Stick media ............................. 42
Formatting Memory Stick media ...................................... 42
When using Memory Stick media..................................... 43
Power Saving Modes ................................................ 45
Normal mode..................................................................... 45
Standby mode.................................................................... 45
Hibernate mode ................................................................. 45
Connecting a Phone Line ......................................... 47
Connecting with another VAIO computer................ 48
Connecting to a Local Area Network (LAN) ........... 49
Setting up your Ethernet connection................................. 49

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Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............51
Connecting an External Floppy Disk Drive ..............52
To connect an external floppy disk drive...........................52
To insert a floppy disk .......................................................53
To remove a floppy disk ....................................................53
Removing an external floppy disk drive when the notebook
is on....................................................................................53
To carry an external floppy disk drive...............................54
Handling floppy disks........................................................54
Connecting a Port Replicator ....................................55
To attach your notebook to the port replicator ..................55
To remove your notebook from the port replicator ...........57
Connecting a PS/2 External Mouse or Keyboard......59
To connect an external mouse or keyboard .......................59
Connecting an Audio Device ....................................60
Connecting a CD player, active speaker, or an amplifier ..60
Connecting an Audio-Video Device .........................62
Connecting a Parallel Port Printer.............................65
To connect a printer ...........................................................65
Connecting a USB Printer .........................................66
To connect a USB printer ..................................................66
Connecting an External Display................................67
To connect a computer display ..........................................67
To connect a multimedia computer display .......................69
To connect a projector .......................................................69
To select a display..............................................................69
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus Device ...............71
To connect a USB device...................................................71
Connecting an i.LINK Device...................................72
To connect a digital video camera recorder.......................73

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Connecting External Speakers .................................. 75
Before you connect external speakers............................... 75
To connect external speakers ............................................ 75
Connecting an External Microphone ........................ 76
To connect an external microphone .................................. 76
Expanding Your Notebook Capabilities ...................77
Personal Digital Assistant ................................................. 77
Wireless LAN Access Point.............................................. 77
Wireless LAN PC Card..................................................... 78
Customizing Your VAIO Notebook ..........79
Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen ........... 80
To display the Sony Notebook Setup screen: ................... 80
Sony Notebook Setup tabs ................................................ 81
Controlling Power Management ............................... 82
Viewing the Power Management status icons .................. 82
Power Management profiles ............................................. 83
Power Management commands ........................................ 86
Conserving battery power ................................................. 86
Optimizing clock speed settings ....................................... 86
Displaying Battery Information ................................ 88
Battery icon descriptions................................................... 88
Displaying detailed battery information ........................... 90
Selecting the Display Mode......................................91
Changing the window design of Sony software................ 93
Adding Memory .........................................95
Precautions and Procedures ......................................96
Typical expansion memory configuration ................ 97
Models with 256 MB memory .......................................... 97

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Removing a memory module ....................................98
Installing a memory module....................................100
Viewing the amount of memory..............................101
About the Software on Your Notebook .103
Software Overview..................................................104
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs.....109
Using Your Recovery CDs......................................110
To use the Application Recovery CD(s)..........................110
To use the Driver Recovery CD(s) ..................................111
To use the System Recovery CD(s).................................111
VAIO AV Applications .............................115
Overview of Preinstalled Software .........................115
DigitalPrint Software...............................................119
Using PhotoCapture .........................................................119
Using PhotoCollection.....................................................122
Using PhotoDecor............................................................124
Using PhotoAlbum ..........................................................125
Using LabelMaker ...........................................................127
DVgate Software .....................................................129
Connecting a digital video camcorder 129
MovieShaker Software............................................131
Creating movies with MovieShaker software..................132
Using ImageStation online service with MovieShaker soft-
ware..................................................................................136
PictureGear Software ..............................................139
Managing your pictures ...................................................139
Creating a photo album....................................................140

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Smart Capture .........................................................143
Using Still Mode ............................................................. 144
Using Net Movie Mode................................................... 147
Using ImageStation with Smart Capture software.......... 150
SonicStage Software ............................................... 153
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) Services.............. 153
Starting SonicStage ......................................................... 153
Recording from a CD...................................................... 155
Transferring songs (Check-In/Check-Out) ..................... 156
Additional features.......................................................... 158
SonicStage Premium Software ...............................161
Overview of SonicStage Premium Software .................. 161
To Use SonicStage Premium Software........................... 164
To Use Playback and Recording Features ...................... 169
To Use the Visualizer, Equalizer, and Sound Effects ..... 175
To Use the FM Tuner...................................................... 177
To Use the Timer Functions............................................ 179
Additional Information ................................................... 181
VisualFlow Software .............................................. 183
Using VisualFlow software............................................. 183
Additional Software Information............185
VAIO Edit Components Software .................................. 185
Troubleshooting......................................187
Troubleshooting Your Notebook ............................ 188
Troubleshooting the LCD Screen ........................... 192
Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad ............ 193
Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral De-
vices ........................................................................ 195

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Troubleshooting Software .......................................198
Troubleshooting the Modem ...................................199
Troubleshooting Audio ...........................................200
Troubleshooting the Printer.....................................202
Getting Help .............................................203
Support Options.......................................................203
Software Support Information.................................205
Sony Service Center.........................................................206
Index.........................................................207

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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 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
❑UsingaSecondBatteryPack
❑Using the Weight Saver
❑UsingMemoryStickMedia
❑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.
PgUp
PgDn
Escape key Function keys Print Screen key
S
hift key
Ctrl key
Fn key
Windows key
Alt key
Applications
Numeric keypad
Navigation
Correction
keys
key keys

Using the Keyboard
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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,andShift.Whenhelddownwithanotherkey,theCtrl
(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.
Key Description

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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.

Using the Keyboard
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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.
1
2

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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.

Using the Keyboard
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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.
LCD
Only LCD LCD and external display
Only external display
LCD
Only LCD LCD and external display
Only external display

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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.
✍Some functions are not available until Windows® launches.
Combinations/
Feature Function

Using the Touchpad
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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.
Left and Right buttons
Touchpad
Pointer

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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, open the Start menu, point to Settings, Control Panel, and
then click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel.
Action Description