Sony VAIO VAIO Notebook Computer User manual

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Welcome.......................................................7
Using Your VAIO Notebook........................9
Using the Keyboard.....................................................9
The notebook keyboard keys.............................................11
Indicators ...........................................................................13
Indicator lights...................................................................13
The Windows key in combination with other keys ...........14
The Fn key in combination with other keys ......................15
Using the Touchpad ..................................................17
Using PC Cards.........................................................19
Connecting VAIO Computers...................................22
If your notebook is connected to the optional docking station
23
VAIO Action Setup...................................................25
Using the Center Jog Dial Control............................26
Using the center Jog Dial control ......................................26
Launcher mode ..................................................................27
Guide Mode .......................................................................28
Using the center Jog Dial control with Sony software ......28
Using the center Jog Dial control with other software ......29
Using Memory Stick Media......................................30
Types of Memory Stick media...........................................30
Write-protecting a Memory Stick media ...........................32
Formatting a Memory Stick media....................................32
Notes on Memory Stick media ..........................................33
Cautions on Memory Stick media .....................................33
Using Power Saving Modes......................................35
Normal mode .....................................................................35
Standby mode ....................................................................35
Hibernate mode..................................................................35

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Using a Phone Line...................................................37
Using the LAN..........................................................38
Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............39
Connecting the Optional Docking Station................39
Connecting the notebook to the docking station............... 41
Disconnecting the notebook from the docking station...... 42
Connecting the Floppy Disk Drive...........................47
Connecting an Optical Drive ....................................49
Playing a DVD.................................................................. 50
Handling and cleaning CD and DVD media..................... 51
Writing data to CD-R/RW media...................................... 51
Connecting a Printer .................................................53
To connect a printer .......................................................... 53
Connecting an i.LINK Device ..................................55
Connecting an External Display ...............................58
To connect a monitor ........................................................ 58
To connect a projector....................................................... 59
Connecting a USB Device........................................62
To connect a USB device.................................................. 62
Connecting External Speakers..................................64
Connecting an External Microphone........................65
Customizing Your VAIO Notebook..........67
Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen...........67
Sony Notebook Setup tabs................................................ 69

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Controlling Power Management ...............................70
Viewing the Power Management status icons...................70
Activating the Power Management toolbar .......................70
Power Management profiles ..............................................71
Power Management commands.........................................73
Conserving battery power..................................................74
Displaying Battery Information ................................75
To activate the battery information toolbar .......................75
Battery icon descriptions ...................................................75
Displaying detailed battery information ............................76
Selecting the Display Mode ......................................78
Changing the window design of Sony software ................80
Adding Memory .........................................81
Precautions and Procedures.......................................81
Installing a Memory Module.....................................83
Removing a Memory Module ...................................87
About the Software on Your Notebook...89
Overview...................................................................89
DVgate ......................................................................95
To defragment a partition ..................................................95
DVgate plug-in for Adobe Premiere..................................95
MovieShaker .............................................................97
Importing images and sound clips .....................................97
Create a movie using Shaker .............................................97
Editing clips and scenes.....................................................98
Saving a movie...................................................................99

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OpenMG Jukebox...................................................100
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) services .............. 100
To start OpenMG Jukebox 2.0........................................ 101
To record a CD................................................................ 102
To transfer songs (check-in/check-out)........................... 103
Additional OpenMG Jukebox features ........................... 105
Notes on using Portable Players...................................... 106
PictureGear .............................................................107
Managing your pictures .................................................. 107
Creating a photo album................................................... 107
Using Panorama Maker................................................... 107
Making still images and panoramic from MPEG ........... 108
Smart Capture .........................................................109
Using Still mode.............................................................. 110
Using Net Movie mode................................................... 114
Using ImageStation......................................................... 117
VisualFlow..............................................................120
To use VisualFlow.......................................................... 120
Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs....121
Using Your Recovery CDs .....................................122
Using the Application Recovery CD(s).......................... 122
Using the Driver Recovery CD(s)................................... 123
Using the System Recovery CD(s) ................................. 123
Recovering Microsoft Word ........................................... 125
Software Support Information ................................126
Troubleshooting......................................129
Troubleshooting Your Notebook............................129
Troubleshooting the Docking Station.....................133
Troubleshooting the LCD Screen ...........................135

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Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad.............136
Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards, and Peripheral De-
vices.........................................................................137
Troubleshooting the Software.................................139
Troubleshooting the Modem...................................140
Troubleshooting Audio ...........................................141
Troubleshooting the Printer.....................................142
Getting Help.............................................143
Support Options.......................................................143
VAIO Support Agent ..............................................145
To use the Quick Fix Wizard...........................................145
To use Common Solutions...............................................147
To use Support Central ....................................................149
About automatic updates .................................................153
Index.........................................................157

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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 the 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 PC Cards
❑Connecting VAIO Computers
❑VAIO Action Setup
❑Using the Center Jog Dial Control
❑Using Memory Stick Media
❑Using Power Saving Modes
❑Using a Phone Line
❑Using the LAN
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.

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Keyboard
Function Keys Print Screen Key
Shift
Fn Key
Windows Key
Alt Key Applications Key
Numeric Keypad Area
Correction Keys
Fn
Key
Backspace
Key
Ctrl Key
Key
Navigation Keys

Using Your VAIO Notebook
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The notebook keyboard keys
Key Description
Numeric keypad
area The numeric keypad area contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use this area to type numbers or to
perform mathematical calculations such as addition and
subtraction. Note the following:
❑To activate the numeric keypad, press the Num Lock
key, which causes the Num Lock light to come on and
remain on until the numeric keypad is deactivated.
❑To deactivate the Num Lock key, press the Num Lock
key again, which causes the Num Lock light to go off.
Navigation keys The Left/Right/Up/Down arrows are devoted to move the
cursor on the screen and also function as the Home, End,
Page Up, and Page Down keys, respectively.
Correction keys The Insert, Backspace, and Delete keys enable you to make
corrections in your documents.
Function keys The 12 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.

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Operator 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
task bar. See “Indicators” for more information.
Fn key The Fn keys at the left and right sides work the same and are
used in combination with other keys to issue commands. See
“The Fn key in combination with other keys” 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

Using Your VAIO Notebook
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Indicators
Indicator lights
Indicator Function
Power Light is green when the notebook is powered on, flashes amber
when the notebook is in Standby mode, and turns off when the
notebook is in Hibernate mode or is powered off.
Battery Indicates the status of the battery, which is attached at the rear
of the notebook.
Memory Stick Indicates the Memory Stick slot is in use.
Docking Station Indicates the Docking Station is in use.
Light On Off
Hard disk 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.
The hard drive is not being
accessed.

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The Windows key in combination with other keys
Num Lock The number keys in the
numeric keypad are active. The character keys in the keypad area are active.
Caps Lock 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.
Combination Function
+ F1 Displays Windows Help.
+ Tab Switches the selected button on the taskbar.
+ 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 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
then Computer from the Start menu.
+ M Minimizes all displayed windows.
Light On Off

Using Your VAIO Notebook
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The Fn key in combination with other keys
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 clicking the System icon in the Control Panel.
Combination/
Feature Functions
Fn+ (F3)
Speaker switch 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 brightness of the LCD.
To increase light intensity, press Fn+F5, then or .
To decrease light intensity, press Fn+F5, then or .
Combination Function

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Fn+ /
(F7)
Switch to the
external display
Toggles through the LCD and external display.
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 the
original state, use the power switch to turn on power.
Fn +F
Display control Minimizes or maximizes the display window. Maximizing the display window allows you to view the display at a
greater resolution.
✍You can also carry out these functions using the center Jog Dial™ control. Some
functions are not available until Windows launches.
Combination/
Feature Functions
Only LCD LCD and external display
Only external display

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
Actions Descriptions
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 edge to scroll
horizontally. (The scroll function is available only with
applications that support a touchpad scroll feature.)
Right Button
Left Button
Touchpad
Pointer

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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, press the Start button, select Settings, and then select
Control Panel. Double-click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel.

Using PC Cards
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Using PC Cards
Your notebook includes a PC Card slot. PC Cards allow you to connect portable
external devices.
To insert a PC Card
1Insert the PC Card into the PC Card slot with front label facing up.
2Gently push the card into the slot until the card is fixed into the connector
and the release button pops out.
✍Note the following:
❑The PC Card slot can accommodate one Type I or Type II PC Card and is
compatible with a CardBus.
❑Some PC Cards may require that you disable idle devices when using the PC
Card. You can use Sony Notebook Setup to disable devices. See “Displaying the
Sony Notebook Setup Screen” for more information.
❑Be sure to use the most recent software driver provided by the PC Card
manufacturer.
❑If an “!” mark appears on the Device Manager tab in the System Properties dialog
box, remove the software driver then reinstall it.
✍You do not need to shut down the notebook before inserting or removing a PC Card.
Inserting PC Card
PC Card
Insert with the arrow
facing forward.

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To remove a PC Card
1Close any application that uses the PC Card, otherwise data may be lost.
2Click the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon in the taskbar and select the card.
3Click Stop, in the Stop a Hardware device dialog box, confirm the device to
stop and click OK.
4Click Close to close the Unplug or Eject Hardware window.
5Pull the PC Card release button up and press it in toward the notebook.
✍Note the following:
❑Do not force a card into the slot. It may damage the connector pins.
❑If you have difficulty inserting a card, check that you are inserting the card with
the correct orientation.
❑Do not carry your notebook while the head of the PC Card (such as a wireless
LAN card) is out of the slot. Pressure or shock may damage the connector pins.
❑See the manual that came with your PC Card for more information on its use.
✍If your notebook is turned on, perform the following procedure to remove the PC Card
from the notebook. Otherwise, your system might crash and you might lose data that
you did not previously save.
If your notebook is turned off, do not perform this procedure.
Removing PC Card