Sony VAIO PCG-GRX590 User manual

VAIO®Notebook
Quick Start
PCG-GRX500 Series

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Contents
Welcome.......................................................5
Unpacking Your Notebook .........................................7
Registering Your Notebook ........................................9
Setting Up Your Dial-Up Connection.......................10
Setting Up Your VAIO® Notebook...........15
Locating Controls and Ports......................................16
Connecting a Power Source ......................................21
Starting Your Notebook ............................................27
Shutting Down Your Notebook.................................28
Adding Memory.........................................31
Precautions and Procedures.......................................32
Typical expansion memory configuration.................33
Removing a memory module....................................34
Installing a memory module......................................36
Viewing the amount of memory................................37
About the Software on Your Notebook...39
Software Overview....................................................40
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs.......47
Using Your Recovery CDs........................................48

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
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Troubleshooting........................................55
Getting Help...............................................61
Support Options........................................................62
Software Support Information ..................................64
Index...........................................................67

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Welcome
Congratulations on your purchase of the Sony VAIO® 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 Intel®
Pentium® 4 processor-M that supports Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep™
technology*and a V.90 compatible modem.†To combine performance and
portability, Sony has implemented speed-controlling technology designed to
maximize battery life during mobile computer use. Windows® reported
actual CPU speed may not reflect the maximum CPU speed.‡
❑Wireless LAN capability — A Wireless LAN PC Card is supplied with
selected models. For more information on using the wireless capability, see
the online User Guide.
❑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.
✍For a complete description of the specifications of your VAIO® notebook, see the
Specifications flyer supplied with your notebook.
* The processor may be reduced to a lower operating speed under certain conditions.
† Actual upload and download speeds may vary due to line conditions, ISP support, and
government regulations.
‡ Depending on the specific model you purchased, speed-controlling technology may not be
present.

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❑Multimedia features — Enjoy the stereo speakers or use a pair of
headphones (not supplied) to listen to audio CDs and DVDs.
❑Microsoft® Windows® operating system — Your system includes
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
Edition, or Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional.
❑Communications — Access popular online services, send e-mail, browse
the Internet, and use fax features.
❑Optical drive (CD-RW/DVD Combo or DVD-ROM) — Your system
includes either a CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive or a DVD-ROM drive. 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 most DVD-ROM, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CD-
RW, and CD-R discs. This drive is hot-swappable.
✍Your computer’s optical disc drive and other parts may differ depending on the
model you purchased.

Unpacking Your Notebook
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Unpacking Your Notebook
Remove the following hardware items from the box:
Documents
❑VAIO® Notebook User Guide — A searchable online help file that contains
detailed information on how to use your new notebook. (Windows XP) Press
Start on the Windows® taskbar, select VAIO Help and Support, and click
VAIO User Guide to open this file. (Windows 2000) Press Start, select VAIO
Help Center, and VAIO Documentation.
❑VAIO® Notebook Quick Start — Contains information on unpacking and
setting up your notebook, supplementary updates, and software information.
❑Microsoft® Windows® manual — Explains how to use the basic features
of this latest Windows operating system.
Main unit*
* The removable optical disc drive is preinstalled in your notebook.
Power cord
AC adapter
Rechargeable battery pack Weight saver

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
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❑VAIO® Notebook Notes on Use — Explains notes on use and offers
safety tips.
❑VAIO® Notebook Specifications flyer — Details the hardware
specifications for your notebook.
Software CDs
❑Microsoft® Word — Enables you to reinstall Microsoft Word to the
VAIO® notebook you purchased.
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 restore the operating system and
software that shipped with your computer if they become corrupted or are
erased.
Other
❑Packet containing special product offers
❑Warranty Card

Registering Your Notebook
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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.

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Setting Up Your Dial-Up Connection
This section describes the basic steps for setting up your dial-up connection for
the first time. 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
(Windows® XP Home Edition/Windows® XP Professional)
1Click Start from the Windows taskbar and select All Programs.
2Point to Accessories, Communications, and then click New Connection
Wizard. The Location Information window appears.
Location Information window
3Follow the instructions on-screen and then click OK to continue. The Phone
and Modem Options window appears.

Setting Up Your Dial-Up Connection
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Phone and Modem Options window
4Select the location from where you are dialing and then click OK. The New
Connection Wizard appears.

VAIO® Notebook Quick Start
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New Connection Wizard
5Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up your dial-up
connection.

Setting Up Your Dial-Up Connection
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(Windows® 2000 Professional)
1Double-click the Connect to the Internet icon on the Windows desktop. The
Internet Connection Wizard appears.
Internet Connection Wizard
2Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up your dial-up
connection and to choose your ISP.

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Setting Up Your VAIO®
Notebook
This section describes all the controls and ports on your notebook, how to
connect your notebook to a power source, and how to start and shut down
your notebook.
❑Locating Controls and Ports
❑Connecting a Power Source
❑Starting Your Notebook
❑Shutting Down Your Notebook

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Locating Controls and Ports
Front
1Memory Stick® indicator 8Hard disk drive indicator
2Num Lock indicator 9LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
screen
3Caps Lock indicator 10 Keyboard
4Scroll Lock indicator 11 Speakers
5Power indicator 12 Left and right buttons
6Battery 1 indicator 13 Touchpad
7Battery 2 indicator 14 Power button
4

Locating Controls and Ports
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Left
1PC Card slots 6Manual eject button
2Back button for center
Jog Dial™ control 7Memory Stick® slot
3Center Jog Dial™ control 8USB port
4CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive or
DVD-ROM drive in
multipurpose bay*
* This multipurpose bay can house either an optical disc drive or an optional second battery.
9i.LINK® (IEEE 1394) S400
port
5Eject button

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Right
1Drive bay with hard disk drive
2Battery bay
3Headphone jack
4Microphone jack*
* There is a protruding dot above the Microphone jack to further distinguish it from other jacks
and ports. Do not connect a microphone to the Headphone jack.
5USB port

Locating Controls and Ports
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Back
1Air vent 5Printer port
2DC In port 6USB port
3Ethernet port 7AV Out jack
4VGA port 8Phone line jack
Only connect 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX cables to the Ethernet port.
Do not connect any other type of network cable or any telephone line.
Connecting cables other than those listed above may result in an electric
current overload and could cause a malfunction, excessive heat, or fire in
the port. To connect the unit to the network, contact your network
administrator.
✍There is a ventilation slot located on the left side of the back panel. Do not cover the
ventilation slot when your notebook is on.

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Bottom
1Tilt stands
2Multipurpose bay RELEASE lever
3Reset button
4Port replicator connector