Sony Personal Computer PCV RX3 User Manual

N
Sony VAIO Desktop  
User Guide  
P C V- R X 3 s er i e s  
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®
ENERGY STAR  
®
As an ENERGY STAR® Partner, Sony has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency. The  
International Energy Star® Office Equipment Program is an international program that promotes energy saving through the use of  
computers and their office equipment. The program backs the development and dissemination of products with functions that  
effectively reduce energy consumption. It is an open system in which business proprietors can participate voluntarily. The targeted  
products are office equipment such as computers, displays, printers, facsimiles and copiers. Their standards and logos are uniform  
among participating nations.  
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark.  
Environmental information  
Halogenated flame retardant is not used in cabinets.  
Cushions formed by corrugated board are used in packaging.  
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Safety information  
Owner's record  
The model number and serial number are located on the back panel of your Sony VAIO desktop. Record the serial number in the space  
provided here. Refer to the model and serial number when you call VAIO-Link.  
Serial number: ________________________  
Model name: PCV-RX301 / PCV-RX302 / PCV-RX304 / PCV-RX305 / PCV-RX306  
Warnings  
General  
Opening the unit, for whatever reason, could lead to damages that are not covered by the guarantee.  
To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.  
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose your VAIO desktop to rain or moisture.  
If reporting a gas leak, do not use the modem or a telephone in the vicinity of the leak.  
Avoid using the modem during a severe electrical storm.  
The power socket outlet you are using must be installed near the equipment and must be easily  
accessible.  
The magnetic properties of some objects can have serious consequences for your hard disk drive. They  
can erase the data on the hard disk drive and cause the computer to malfunction. Do not place your  
computer near or on any objects, which emit magnetic fields, mainly:  
TV sets  
Speakers  
Magnets  
Magnetic bracelets.  
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Audio/video  
Audio and picture distortion may occur if this equipment is positioned in close proximity to any  
equipment emitting electromagnetic radiation.  
Connectivity  
Never install modem or telephone wiring during a severe lightning storm.  
Never install telephone jacks in wet locations unless the jack is specifically designed for wet locations.  
Be cautious when installing or modifying telephone lines.  
To disconnect your VAIO desktop completely from the mains voltage, unplug the power cable.  
Make sure that the socket outlet is easily accessible.  
Optical disc drive  
The use of optical instruments can cause eye hazard. As the laser beam used in this product is harmful to the  
eyes, do not attempt any disassembling process. For servicing, refer to qualified personnel only.  
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Regulatory information  
Sony hereby declares that this product is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of European  
Directive 1999/5/EC (radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment Directive).  
This product complies with EN 55022 Class B and EN 55024 for use in the following areas: residential, commercial, and light industrial.  
This product has been tested and found compliant with the limits set out in the EMC Directive for using connection cables not longer  
than 3 metres (9.8 feet).  
Before activating the built-in modem, please read the Modem Regulations flyer.  
There is visible and invisible radiation when the optical disc drive is open: avoid direct exposure to the laser beam. The CD-RW/CD-ROM  
and DVD-RW/DVD-ROM disc drives* are classified as CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCTS and comply with the Laser Product Safety Standard EN  
60825-1. Repair and maintenance only by authorized Sony technicians. Improper repairs and use can create safety hazards.  
CLASS 1  
LASER PRODUCT  
TO EN 60825-1  
* The type of disc drive depends on your model  
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Disposing of batteries  
Your Sony VAIO desktop is equipped with an internal back-up memory battery that should not have to be  
replaced during the lifetime of the product. If you want to replace the battery, please contact VAIO-Link:  
Keep away from children.  
Dispose of the battery properly at its end-of-life.  
In some areas the disposal of non-hazardous batteries in household or business waste may be prohibited.  
Please use the public waste collection system.  
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Welcome  
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Welcome  
Congratulations on purchasing a Sony VAIO desktop. Sony has combined leading-edge technology in audio,  
video, computing and communications to provide you with state-of-the-art personal computing.  
Here are the main features you will be able to enjoy:  
Exceptional performance - Your PC includes a fast processor, an internal modem, and a fast Ethernet  
interface.  
Dual drives – Enjoy the freedom of two drives; depending on your model you have both a DVD-RW and  
a CD-ROM* drive, or a CD-RW and DVD-ROM drive built into the system.  
Sony audio and video quality – The high-quality external stereo speakers enable you to take  
advantage of today’s advanced multimedia applications, games, and entertainment software.  
Sony Memory Stick™ media slot – The next generation in digital storage allows you to easily transfer  
images, sounds, data and text between cameras, computers, and more.  
VAIO keyboard - Featuring power-on capabilities and shortcut keys to launch your favourite  
applications within seconds.  
Interconnectivity – Your computer has Ethernet and i.LINK™ functionalities. i.LINK™ is a bi-directional  
digital interface for exchanging data with compatible devices, such as camcorders.  
Windows® XP Home Edition - Your system includes the latest consumer operating system from  
Microsoft.  
Excellent customer support - If you are experiencing any problems with your computer, please check  
the VAIO-Link website for a possible solution:  
Before contacting VAIO-Link either by e-mail or by telephone, please try to solve the problem by reading  
the User Guide or the manuals and help files for the peripherals or software.  
* Models PCV-RX305 and PCV-RX306 only  
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Documentation pack  
Your documentation pack contains printed user guides, as well as online user guides presented on a  
documentation CD-ROM.  
Printed documentation  
The printed part of your documentation pack contains the following:  
A Getting Started brochure, where you will find a brief description of the items in your box, some  
specifications of your VAIO desktop, and how to set up your computer;  
A Customer Guide, where you will find all the basic information to start using your VAIO desktop, as  
well as troubleshooting and VAIO-Link information;  
Your Sony Guarantee conditions;  
A Safety Regulations Guide for your information;  
A Modem Regulations flyer applying to the modem.  
Online documentation  
The online documentation contains the following guides:  
1
The Sony VAIO Desktop User Guide:  
Using your VAIO desktop shows you how to use the standard components of your system. In this  
part of the manual you will also find out what you can do with a Memory Stick™.  
Connecting peripheral devices explains how you can add functionality by connecting various  
peripherals.  
Getting help explains the support options available to you, and offers basic troubleshooting tips.  
Precautions provides facts and advice about using your VAIO desktop.  
Glossary refers to terms used in this manual.  
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2
The Software Guide:  
About the Software is a short description of the features of the software pre-installed on your  
system.  
Using Video software explains how to use Sony video software: DVgate, MovieShaker and Smart  
Capture.  
Managing audio files with SonicStage describes how to convert your existing MP3, WMA and  
WAV format audio files into ATRAC3 format.  
Using DigitalPrint explains how to get the most enjoyment out of your photographs taken with a  
digital camera.  
Customizing your VAIO computer explains how to set up your system's display and so on.  
Installing and updating applications details how to install, run or uninstall a software  
application.  
Managing drivers describes how to install, update or uninstall a driver.  
Using the Product Recovery CD-ROMs explains how to perform a system and application recovery.  
Using partitioned drives tells you what you can do with partitioned drives.  
3
4
Refer to the Specifications online document for details on your computer, drivers and accessories.  
In the VAIO-Link Customer Service Guide you will find all the VAIO-Link information you need,  
including specific contact numbers and addresses for each country.  
5
6
Consult the Online Help files of the software you are using for detailed information on features and  
troubleshooting.  
Refer to the Microsoft Quick Start manual for more information on Windows®.  
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Your Sony VAIO desktop and its accessories  
The following hardware items are in the box*:  
1
main unit  
6
AC adapter and power cable for the  
speakers (country-specific)  
2
3
4
5
VAIO keyboard with palmrest  
power cable (country-specific)  
phone cable* (country-specific)  
phone plug adapter* (country-specific)  
7
8
VAIO wheel mouse  
speakers  
9
documentation pack with CD-ROM  
product recovery CD-ROMs  
10  
* See the Specifications online document.  
*Used to connect the internal modem. Please read the section Using the correct phone plug (page 32) before connecting hte modem.  
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Ergonomic considerations  
Whenever possible, try and take into account the following ergonomic considerations when using your new  
computer, whether at home or in the office:  
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Position of the keyboard and mouse – Place the keyboard directly in front of you (1). Keep your  
forearms horizontal, with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position (2) while using the keyboard or  
mouse – not at an angle. Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides. Use the palm rest only briefly,  
to relax your wrists when you are not typing. Place the mouse at the same level as the keyboard and use  
your whole arm to move it.  
Position and viewing angle of the monitor – Set the display at a comfortable viewing distance (3).  
Make sure the display screen is at eye level or slightly lower. Use the display’s tilting feature, if available,  
to find the best position. You can reduce eye-strain and muscle-fatigue by adjusting the tilt of the display  
to the proper position. Remember to adjust the brightness setting of the display.  
Furniture and posture – Sit in a chair with good back support (4). Adjust the level of the chair so your  
feet are flat on the floor. A footrest may make you more comfortable. Sit in a relaxed, upright posture  
and avoid slouching forward or leaning too far backwards.  
Lighting – Choose a location where windows and lights do not create glare or reflection on the display.  
Use indirect lighting to avoid bright spots reflecting on the display. You can also purchase accessories for  
your display that help reduce glare. Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work effectiveness.  
Ventilation – Make sure you leave at least 25 cm of space behind and on the left of the main unit (5).  
And finally – Remember to have breaks during sessions with your computer. Excessive use of the  
computer may strain muscles or tendons.  
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Using your VAIO desktop  
This section describes how to start using your computer and how to use your computer’s internal and  
external devices.  
Locating controls and connectors (page 14)  
Starting your computer (page 18)  
Shutting down your computer (page 19)  
Using the keyboard (page 20)  
Using the shortcut keys (page 25)  
Using the mouse (page 26)  
Using the CD and DVD drives (page 27)  
Using the floppy disk drive (page 30)  
Using the modem (page 31)  
Expansion capabilities (page 33)  
Using Memory Stick™ (page 34)  
Using PC Cards (PCV-RX306 only) (page 43)  
Using power saving modes (page 45)  
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Locating controls and connectors  
Front panel (PCV-RX301 / PCV-RX302 / PCV-RX304 / PCV-RX305)  
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
DVD-RW/DVD-RW drive*  
(page 27)  
(page 27)  
(page 30)  
(page 30)  
(page 27)  
(page 18)  
(page 18)  
CD-ROM/CD-RW drive*  
floppy disk drive  
floppy disk drive indicator  
disc drive indicator  
hard disk drive indicator  
power button and indicator  
DVD-RW/DVD-RW drive eject (page 27)  
button  
9
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
CD-ROM/CD-RW eject button (page 27)  
DRIVE  
Memory Stick™ slot  
Memory Stick™ indicator  
floppy disk eject button  
2 USB ports  
(page 34)  
(page 34)  
(page 30)  
(page 51)  
(page 53)  
4-pin i.LINK™ port  
* Depending on your model. See Specifications for  
details.  
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Front panel (PCV-RX306 only)  
1
2
DVD-RW drive  
(page 27)  
(page 27)  
(page 30)  
(page 30)  
CD-ROM drive  
3
floppy disk drive  
floppy disk drive indicator  
4
5
DVD-RW/CD-ROM drive indicator (page 27)  
6
hard disk drive indicator  
power switch and indicator  
PC Card slot  
(page 18)  
(page 18)  
(page 43)  
(page 27)  
(page 27)  
(page 34)  
(page 34)  
(page 30)  
(page 51)  
(page 53)  
7
8
9
DVD-RW eject button  
CD-ROM eject button  
Memory Stick™ slot  
Memory Stick™ indicator  
floppy disk eject button  
2 USB ports  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
DRIVE  
4-pin i.LINK™ port  
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Back panel (PCV-RX302 / PCV-RX304 / PCV-RX305 / PCV-RX306)  
1
2
mouse connector  
keyboard connector  
USB connector  
(page 26)  
(page 20)  
(page 51)  
(page 51)  
(page 56)  
(page 52)  
3
4
USB connector  
5
Ethernet connector  
printer connector  
6
7
i.LINK™ 6-pin connector (page 53)  
8
serial connector  
/
9
headphones connector  
line-in connector  
(page 49)  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
/
microphone connector  
AC input connector  
(page 50)  
/
VGA monitor connector (page 49)  
AGP slot  
PCI slot  
(page 33)  
(page 33)  
(page 33)  
(page 33)  
4
3
2
1
PCI slot  
Modem slot  
telephone line connector (page 31)  
The mains power cord and connector are  
hazardous voltage according to EN60950.  
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Back panel (PCV-RX301)  
1
2
mouse connector  
keyboard connector  
USB connectors  
(page 26)  
(page 20)  
(page 51)  
(page 56)  
(page 52)  
3
4
Ethernet connector  
printer connector  
5
6
i.LINK™ 6-pin connector (page 53)  
7
serial connector  
/
8
headphones connector  
line-in connector  
(page 49)  
9
/
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
microphone connector  
AC input connector  
(page 50)  
/
VGA monitor connector (page 49)  
1 PCI slot  
(page 33)  
(page 33)  
(page 33)  
2 PCI slots  
Modem slot  
4
3
2
1
telephone line connector (page 31)  
The mains power cord and connector are  
hazardous voltage according to EN60950.  
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Starting your computer  
Once you have all the components set up as described in the Getting Started guide, you can begin to use  
your computer.  
To start up your computer, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
Press the power button on the system unit until the blue power indicator light turns on (1).  
Press the power button on your monitor to turn the display on (2).  
Press the power button on the speakers to turn the sound on (3).  
Once you have started using your computer, you can use the shortcut keys on the keyboard to start your  
system and launch your favourite application automatically.  
If you press the power button for more than four seconds, the computer will switch itself off and you risk losing unsaved data.  
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Shutting down your computer  
It is important that you shut down your computer properly so you do not lose unsaved data.  
To shut down your computer, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Click the Start button.  
Click Turn Off Computer.  
The Turn off computer screen appears.  
3
Click Turn Off.  
Wait for your computer to turn off automatically.  
The power indicator turns off.  
4
Turn off any peripherals connected to your computer.  
Respond to any prompts warning you to save documents or to consider other users.  
If you are unable to shut down your computer;  
- Close all software in use.  
- Disconnect any USB devices.  
- Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete> at the same time. If you have not changed the default setting, you will enter the Task Manager. Select Turn  
Off from the Shut Down menu to turn the computer off.  
Alternatively, press <Alt>+<F4> and select Turn Off from the screen that appears.  
If this does not work, you can press the power button for more than four seconds. This will shut down the computer. This operation may result in loss  
of data.  
If you want to shut down the computer for a short period only, you can save power by using the Standby mode. Go to Start, Turn Off Computer,  
and select Stand By (see Using power saving modes (page 45) for details).  
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Using your VAIO desktop  
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Using the keyboard  
This section describes the features of the VAIO keyboard.  
INTERNET  
MUSIC  
PICTURE  
VIDEO  
HELP  
Num Lock Caps Lock Scroll Lock  
MAIL  
S1  
S2  
S3  
S4  
S5  
S6  
Prt Sc  
Sys Rq  
Pause  
Break  
Delete  
Insert  
Esc  
F1  
F2  
F3  
F4  
F5  
F6  
F7  
F8  
F9  
F10  
F11  
F12  
_
¬
`
!
1
£
3
$
4
^
6
/
-
%
5
&
7
*
8
(
9
)
+
=
NumLk  
CapsLk  
"
*
¦
2
-
{
[
}
]
Q
W
E
R
F
T
Y
U
I
O
P
7
8
5
9
Home  
PgUp  
+
:
;
@
~
#
4
6
A
S
D
G
H
J
K
L
Caps  
Lock  
Ctrl  
´
|
<
,
>
.
?
/
Z
X
C
V
B
N
M
1
2
3
PgUp  
PgDn  
\
End  
PgDn  
Enter  
.
0
Fn  
Alt  
Alt Gr  
Ctrl  
Home  
End  
Ins  
Del  
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Keys  
Descriptions  
Escape key (1)  
The <Esc> (Escape) key is used to cancel commands.  
Function keys (2)  
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 another.  
Correction keys (3)  
Lock keys (4)  
The <Insert>, <Back Space> and <Delete> keys enable you to make  
corrections when typing.  
Press Caps Lock once to activate the uppercase characters. Use the Num  
Lock key to activate the numerical keypad.  
Print Screen key (5)  
The <Prt Sc> key takes an electronic snapshot of the screen and moves it  
to the Windows® Clipboard. You can then paste the screenshot into a  
document and print it.  
Numeric keypad area (6)  
This contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the numeric  
keypad area totype numbers or to perform mathematical calculations such  
as addition and subtraction. Note that you must press the <Num Lock> key  
to activate the keypad.  
Navigation keys (7)  
These keys enable you to move the cursor on the screen.  
Application key  
(8)  
The Application key displays a shortcut menu; pressing this key is  
equivalent to clicking the right mouse button.  
Operator keys (9)  
Several keys are used in combination with at least one other key: <Ctrl>,  
<Alt> and <Shift>. When held down at the same time as another key, the  
<Ctrl> (Control) and <Alt> (Alternate) keys offer another way to execute  
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 is used to type capital letters  
or special symbols such as @ and $.  
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Windows® key  
(10)  
The key with the Windows® logo displays the Windows® Start menu; it  
is equivalent to clicking the Start button on the taskbar.  
Shortcut keys (S Keys) (11)  
Indicator LEDs (12)  
Standby button (13)  
Fn combination keys (14)  
Fn key (15)  
You can use these buttons, numbered 1 to 6, to launch straight into  
assigned applications.  
A green light indicates whether the Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll  
Lock functions are active.  
Press this button either to start up your computer, or to enter Standby  
mode, or to resume from a power saving mode.  
These keys are used in combination with the <Fn> key to execute the  
commands depicted within the box on the key.  
The <Fn> key is used in combination with 5 other keys to execute certain  
commands.  
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Combinations and functions with the Windows® key  
Combinations  
Function  
+ F1  
Displays Windows® Help and Support  
Center.  
+ Tab  
Switches the selected button on the  
taskbar.  
+ E  
+ F  
Displays My Computer.  
Displays the Search Results window to  
find a file or folder. This is equivalent to  
selecting Search from the Start menu.  
+ Ctrl + F  
+ M  
Displays the Search Results - Computers  
window where you can locate other  
computers.  
Minimizes all displayed windows.  
Returns all minimized windows to their  
previous size.  
Shift +  
+ R  
+ M  
Displays the Run window. This is  
equivalent to selectingRunfrom theStart  
menu.  
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Combinations and functions with the <Fn> key  
Combinations/ Functions  
Feature  
Moves the view to the next page up.  
PgUp  
PgDn  
Home  
End  
Fn +  
Fn +  
Fn +  
Fn +  
Fn +  
Moves the view to the next page down.  
Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line.  
Moves the cursor to the end of the line.  
Changes the way in which you can scroll the  
screen, depending on the application.  
ScrLk  
Indicators  
Light  
On  
Off  
Num Lock  
Turns on when the number keys in the numeric Turns off whenthe alphanumeric character keys  
keypad are active. in the keypad area are active.  
Caps Lock  
Scroll Lock  
Turns on when the letters appear in uppercase Turns off when the letters appear in lowercase  
as you type. The <Shift> key lowers the case of as you type (unless you hold down the <Shift>  
typed letters when Caps Lock is on.  
key).  
Turns on when the screen scrolls differently (not Turns off when the information moves across  
all applications support this function). the display normally.  
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Using the shortcut keys  
Press a shortcut key (S Key) to start your favourite software without having to click the shortcut icon on the  
desktop.  
Use an S Key simply by pressing it.  
If you want to, you can use VAIO Action Setup to change the functions of the S Keys. All six buttons are  
reprogrammable.  
The programmable S Keys come with the following applications as their default settings:  
S1 — Outlook Express  
S2 — Internet Explorer  
S3 — Sonic Stage  
S4 — Digital Print  
S5 — DVgate Motion  
S6 — Help and Support  
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Using the mouse  
The VAIO wheel mouse allows you to control the cursor in a number of ways. You can point to, select, drag,  
and scroll objects on the screen using the buttons and the wheel.  
Function  
Action  
point  
Move the entire mouse across a flat  
surface to place the pointer on an item  
or object.  
click  
Press the left button (1) once.  
Press the left button twice.  
double-click  
right-click  
Press the right button (2) once. In  
many applications, this action displays  
a context-sensitive shortcut menu.  
drag and drop  
scroll  
Hold the left button down while  
sliding the mouse. Then release the  
button to drop the object.  
Turn the central wheel (3) to scroll up  
or down a page. Or press the wheel  
once to lock the scroll action and  
control the movement by moving the  
entire mouse. (The scroll function is  
available only with applications that  
support a scroll feature.)  
You can set the mouse up for left-hand use. See the  
Troubleshooting (page 60) section for details.  
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Using the CD and DVD drives  
Depending on your model, your computer is equipped with either a DVD-RW and a CD-ROM drive, or a  
CD-RW and a DVD-ROM drive*.  
The DVD-RW drive (top) reads data from a DVD and writes to a DVD-R or DVD-RW disc.  
The DVD-ROM drive (top) reads data from a DVD or CD.  
The CD-ROM drive (bottom) reads data from a music CD or other CD-ROM.  
The CD-RW drive (bottom) reads data from a CD and writes to a CD-R or CD-RW disc.  
Always use the upper drive for the recovery procedures (see the Software Guide). The Recovery CDs will not  
work in the lower drive.  
To insert a disc, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Turn on the computer.  
Press the appropriate eject button to open the drive.  
The tray slides out.  
3
4
Place a disc in the tray with the label side facing upwards. Make sure the disc is secure in the centre of  
the tray.  
Close the tray by pushing it gently or by pressing the eject button.  
When the computer is in Standby or Hibernate mode, you cannot insert or remove a disc.  
Be sure to seat the disc firmly in the tray. If you do not seat the disc firmly, you could damage your disc drive and you may not be able to open the tray.  
When you have finished using a disc, wait until the LED indicator turns off before pressing the eject button to remove the disc.  
If the disc does not come out when you press the eject button, go to My Computer. Select the drive, click the right button of your mouse and select  
Eject.  
* See the Specifications for details on your model.  
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Writing CD/DVDs  
Depending on the model, your computer is equipped with either a DVD-RW or a CD-RW drive, on which you  
can play audio CDs/DVD videos and CD/DVD-ROMs, as well as create your own CD/DVD-RWs and CD/DVD-Rs.  
To burn DVD/CDs, you can use DVD/CD-RW and DVD/CD-R discs:  
The CD/DVD-RW (ReWritable) disc is a data memory medium that can be used to write, erase and rewrite  
a program or other data.  
The CD/DVD-R (Recordable) disc is a data memory medium that can be used to write a program or other  
data, but then no more than once.  
To achieve optimum performance when writing data on a CD/DVD-RW disc, follow these recommendations:  
To make a CD/DVD-R’s data readable on another CD/DVD-ROM drive, you need to close the session when  
you eject it. To complete this process, follow the instructions included with your software.  
Only use circular discs. Do not use discs with any other shape (star, heart, card, etc.), as this may damage  
the disc drive.  
Do not strike or shake the computer while writing data to a disc.  
For optimal writing speed, deactivate the screensaver before writing data to a disc.  
Memory-resident disc utilities may cause unstable operation or data loss. Deactivate these utilities before  
writing data to a disc.  
When using a software application to burn CD/DVDs, make sure you exit and close all other applications.  
Never touch the surface of the disc. Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a disc may cause writing  
errors.  
Playing DVDs  
Your VAIO desktop includes a DVD drive, on which you can play audio CDs, CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs.  
To achieve optimum performance when playing DVD-ROMs, you should follow these recommendations:  
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You can play DVDs in the DVD-ROM/RW drive, using PowerDVD.  
Close all open applications before playing a DVD-ROM movie.  
Do not switch power saving modes while playing a DVD-ROM.  
Do not use resident disc utilities or resident utilities to speed up the access of discs, because they may  
cause the system to become unstable.  
Make sure that the screensaver is deactivated.  
Region codes indicators are labelled on the DVDs to indicate in which region and on what type of player  
you can play the disc. Unless a 2 or ALL is labelled on your DVD or on the packaging, you cannot play  
the disc on this player.  
Do not try to change the region code settings of the DVD drive. Any difficulties caused by changing the  
region code settings of the DVD drive are out of warranty.  
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Using the floppy disk drive  
Your VAIO desktop is equipped with a floppy disk drive.  
Inserting a floppy disk  
To insert a floppy disk, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Hold the floppy disk with the label side facing up.  
Gently push the disk into the floppy disk drive until it clicks into place.  
Removing a floppy disk  
To remove a floppy disk, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Wait until the LED indicator turns off.  
Press the eject button to remove the floppy disk.  
Do not press the eject button when the LED indicator is turned on. Otherwise, data may be lost.  
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Using the modem  
Your VAIO desktop is equipped with an internal modem. You need to connect a phone line to take  
advantage of online services and the Internet, to register your computer and software online, and to contact  
VAIO-Link.  
To connect a phone line, proceed as follows:  
Plug one end of the phone cable (1) into the phone connector on the back of the computer and plug the  
other end into the wall jack (2).  
A country-specific phone plug is supplied with your VAIO  
desktop, allowing you to plug the phone line into the wall jack. We  
recommend you to use the supplied plug, because the usage of any  
other phone plug can decrease the connection quality. See Using  
the correct phone plug (page 32). Your computer cannot be  
connected to a coin-operated telephone, and may not work with  
multiple phone lines or a private branch exchange (PBX). If you  
connect the modem to a parallel connected phone line, the modem  
or the other connected device may not function properly. Some of  
these connections may result in excess electrical current and could  
cause a malfunction in the internal modem.  
4
Phone cable and connectors are TNV (Telecommunications  
3
Network Voltage), according to EN60950.  
2
Only DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) signalling (tone dialling) is  
1
supported.  
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Using the correct phone plug  
In the box you will find one of the following phone plugs. Make sure you use the correct one for the country  
you are in, as follows:  
UK: Use the plug whose connector can be identified by its cuboid shape and flat pins:  
Netherlands: Take the plug with the protruding pins:  
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Expansion capabilities  
There are four expansion slots at the rear of your VAIO computer:  
PCI Card slot containing the modem card  
Users of PCV-RX306: Your model has a combined board containing a PCMCIA card as well as a modem.  
AGP slot containing the graphics card  
Users of PCV-RX301: This slot is empty.  
Empty slot  
Empty slot  
The empty slots allow you the choice of adding to the expansion capabilities of your computer. See  
Upgrading your VAIO computer (page 75) for more details.  
You are strongly advised not to add hardware yourself. Please contact your local Sony dealer for advice on  
changing the internal hardware components.  
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Using Memory Stick™  
Your VAIO computer is designed to support the Memory Stick™. The Memory Stick™ is a compact, portable,  
and versatile device especially designed for exchanging and sharing digital data with compatible products.  
Because it is removable, it can be used for external data storage.  
Use the flash memory technology to download anything that can be converted into digital data, such as  
pictures, music, words, sounds, movies and photographs.  
Foreseen as the universal data storage device of the future, the Memory Stick™ can already be used with an  
ever-increasing range of compatible products, including:  
Audio systems  
Visual devices  
VAIO products  
CLIE handhelds  
Mobile phones.  
There are currently two different types of Memory Stick™:  
The generic Memory Stick™, coloured blue.  
The MagicGate Memory Stick™, coloured white.  
You can purchase Memory Sticks™ from the Sony Style website (http://www.sonystyle-europe.com), or from your local Sony dealer.  
Why Memory Stick™?  
Sony's vision is to expand the world of communication, promoting the portability of digital data. The  
Memory Stick™ is the resulting medium, through which digital devices can be instantly connected. With it,  
you can download data from any compatible device, then transfer it to another in a single and instant  
transfer.  
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The main advantages of the Memory Stick™ are its:  
Compactness: with dimensions of just 21.5 mm (W) x 2.8 mm (H) x 50 mm (D), compatible products can  
also be small, lightweight and attractive in their design.  
Capacity: Its data capacity far exceeds that of a floppy disk.  
Security: its lock option means you can protect your data from accidental erasure.  
Versatility: memory capacity ranges from 4 MB up to 128 MB (the equivalent capacity of 88 floppy  
disks).  
Reliability: by way of protecting the hardware and its contents, the number of terminals is reduced to  
only 10 pins. This, and the overall robust structure of the stick, gives it a longer lifespan than other  
storage devices.  
Durability: the same Memory Stick™ can be used tens of thousands of times.  
Forward compatibility: the Memory Stick's™ current format is designed to be compatible with future  
products and higher capacity Memory Sticks™.  
The future of Memory Stick™  
Memory Stick's™ potential is virtually unlimited, with the number of compatible products increasing  
rapidly in both personal and professional spheres.  
The introduction of the 256 MB and 512 MB Memory Stick™ is anticipated in 2002, and a 1 gigabyte  
capacity Memory Stick™ is expected in 2003. Additionally, the native transfer speed of the Memory Stick™  
will be increased to accommodate the increasing capacity. By the end of 2002, Memory Stick's™ transfer  
speed will be increased by eight times to a maximum of 20MB/sec.  
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Generic Memory Stick™  
The original Memory Stick™, blue in colour, can be used to record image data taken with digital still  
cameras, etc. or data from the PC. With it, you can record, play back and transfer various kinds of data at  
any given time.  
Because it is easy to remove and transport safely, you can use Memory Stick™ anywhere by inserting it into  
any compatible device to transfer and share the information you have saved.  
For you, this means you can expand the capabilities of your VAIO computer in the following scenarios:  
With your still digital camera, share your holiday pictures instantly by e-mail.  
From your handycam to your VAIO, make the most of your captured moments with the VAIO's movie  
editing tools.  
Carry pictures on you by copying image files from the Internet to your VAIO to your CLIE handheld.  
With your voice recorder, add your voice to e-mails so your tone is never misunderstood.  
The blue Memory Stick™ is currently available with a 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 or a 128 MB memory (the equivalent  
capacity of 88 floppy disks).  
Generic Memory Sticks™ cannot be used with the Memory Stick™ Walkman, or with data that is protected by copyright.  
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MagicGate Memory Stick™  
As the MagicGate Memory Stick™ is not supported on your RX3 model, the following is for your  
information only.  
The MagicGate Memory Stick™, white in colour, records PC and image data just like its blue counterpart;  
the difference is it uses the MagicGate copyright protection technology.  
With this type of Memory Stick™, also called the MG Memory Stick™, you can enjoy the following features:  
32, 64 and 128 MB capacity versions.  
Storage of up to 120 minutes of audio data.  
Download and save:  
digital music  
pictures  
movies, and more.  
Combine data files to add music to your home movies, for example.  
Transfer and share data between several digital products.  
MagicGate Copyright Protection Technology.  
SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) Compliance.  
SonicStage software.  
So that you further distinguish a MagicGate Memory Stick™ from a generic one, look for:  
the logo printed on it  
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a protruding dot located on the back.  
MagicGate is a copyright protection technology that complies with the standards set by SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative, an organization working  
to draw up industry standard specifications in order to protect copyrights of digital music).  
The  
logo indicates the copyright protection system devised by Sony. It is not meant to guarantee compatibility with other media.  
MagicGate  
MagicGate refers to the copyright protection technology used by the MagicGate Memory Stick™ and other  
MagicGate Memory Stick™ compatible devices.  
The Memory Stick™ Walkman and MagicGate Memory Stick™ work together to check the data and ensure  
it complies with copyright protection.  
If no problems are detected, the data is exchanged in encrypted form; if authentication is not passed, data  
cannot be exchanged or played back.  
SonicStage  
SonicStage uses copyright protection technology designed to manage the digital music content downloaded  
to the PC from CDs, the Internet and/or other sources.  
Software installed on the PC records music content in encrypted form onto the hard disk. As well as allowing  
you to enjoy music on the PC, this technology protects against unauthorized distribution on the Internet.  
Since it is compatible with MagicGate, you can use SonicStage to transfer music that you have downloaded  
onto your PC to your MG Memory Stick™, and playback on other Magic Gate-equipped devices and media.  
Copyright protection  
People who create artistic works such as music are entitled to a "copyright", meaning that they have  
exclusive rights to dictate how their work is used. When they are created, artistic works are automatically  
protected by a copyright without having to submit notification or registration, and may not be used without  
the permission of the person who created the work.  
In the music world, however, illegal acts of distributing music without the permission of the artist,  
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particularly on the Internet, have recently been on the increase. That is why the Recording Industry  
Association of America (RIAA) took the initiative to organize a forum called Secure Music Digital Initiative  
(SDMI) to study technology for protecting copyrights during the electronic distribution of music.  
Sony offers the MagicGate Memory Stick™ and Memory Stick™ Walkman with a copyright protection  
function that complies with SDMI standards, thereby providing an environment where individuals can  
record and enjoy third-party music data without worrying about copyright infringement.  
Literary works that are recorded by individuals are permitted for private usage only.  
Compatible devices  
There are nearly 80 Memory Stick™-enabled products on the market or announced for introduction world-  
wide, ranging from camcorders and portable music players to voice recorders and many other electronic  
devices.  
You can currently use Memory Sticks™ with the following Sony products:  
Visual:  
Cybershot digital camera  
Mavica digital camera  
PC, TRV and VX series digital video cameras  
LC data projector  
Audio:  
MS Walkman  
MS Hi-fi system  
Network Walkmans  
Voice recorders  
Other:  
VAIO notebooks  
VAIO desktops  
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CLIE Handheld Entertainment Organiser  
Sony mobile phones  
Digital printers  
AIBO the Sony Entertainment Robot  
To find out more about the products available in your country, go to:  
Write-protecting a Memory Stick™  
Memory Sticks™ are designed with an erasure prevention switch to protect valuable data from accidental  
erasure or overwriting.  
Move the tab to the right or left* to set or release write-protection. When the erasure prevention switch is  
off, data can be saved on the Memory Stick™. When the erasure prevention switch is on, data can be read  
from but not saved on the Memory Stick™.  
LOCK  
LOCK  
LOCK  
* The 128 MB Memory Stick™ has a vertical lock.  
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Inserting a Memory Stick™  
To insert a Memory Stick™, proceed as follows:  
Once you have stored your data from your digital device, insert the Memory Stick™ into the Memory Stick™  
slot in the front panel.  
The Memory Stick™ is automatically detected by your system and appears in the My Computer window  
with its own drive.  
DRIVE  
Always hold the Memory Stick™ with the arrow pointing in the correct direction when you insert it into the slot. To avoid damaging the computer or  
the Memory Stick™, do not force the Memory Stick™ into the slot if it does not insert smoothly.  
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Removing a Memory Stick™  
To remove a Memory Stick™, proceed as follows:  
Push the Memory Stick™ in to release it, and then pull it out.  
DRIVE  
Always remove the Memory Stick™ gently, or it may pop out unexpectedly.  
You are recommended to remove the Memory Stick™ before shutting down the computer.  
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Using PC Cards (PCV-RX306 only)  
Your PCV-RX306 VAIO desktop has a PC Card slot that supports Type I or Type II PC Cards. PC Cards allow you  
to connect portable external devices.  
Inserting a PC Card  
To insert a PC Card, proceed as follows:  
Insert the PC Card gently into the PC Card slot, as shown.  
The PC Card is automatically detected by your system.  
The Safely Remove Hardware icon appears in the taskbar.  
You do not need to shut down your computer when inserting a PC Card.  
Some PC Cards may require you to disable idle devices when using the PC Card.  
You may not be able to use some PC Cards or some functions of the PC Card with this computer.  
Make sure you 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 and then reinstall it.  
Do not force a PC Card into the slot. It may damage the connector pins. If you have difficulty inserting a PC Card, check that you are inserting the PC  
Card in the correct direction. See the manual supplied with your PC Card for more information on use.  
For some PC Cards, if you alternate between Normal power operation and Standby or Hibernate power management modes while the card is  
inserted, you may find that a device connected to your system is not recognized. Reboot your system to correct the problem.  
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Removing a PC Card  
Follow the steps below to remove the PC Card while your computer is on. If it is not removed properly, your  
system may not work. If you want to remove a PC Card when your computer is off, skip steps 1 to 6.  
To remove a PC Card, proceed as follows:  
1
Double-click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the taskbar.  
The Safely Remove Hardware dialog box appears.  
2
3
4
Select the hardware you want to unplug.  
Click Stop.  
In the Stop a Hardware Device dialog box, select the device and confirm that it can be safely removed  
from the system.  
5
Click OK.  
You get the message that it is safe to remove the device.  
6
7
8
9
Click Close.  
Press the PC Card release button once so it is extended and ready for use.  
Push the PC Card release button to eject the card.  
Gently grasp the card and pull it out.  
10 If the PC Card release button is still out, push it back in so you can close the front panel cover.  
!
As the Safely Remove Hardware window may show devices other than your PC Card, take care when selecting the device. Do not select, for  
example, Lucent Win Modem, otherwise the system will ’remove’ the modem and your Internet connections may be lost.  
Before you remove the PC Card, close any applications that are using the PC Card. Otherwise, data may be lost.  
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Using power saving modes  
The colour of the power indicator light on the main unit tells you which mode the computer is in.  
Colour  
Blue  
Mode  
Computer is in Normal mode  
Computer is in Standby mode  
Computer is turned off or in Hibernate mode  
Umber  
No colour  
Using Standby mode  
If you plan to stop using your computer for a short period of time (not overnight), you can put it into  
Standby mode instead of turning it off completely. Putting the computer into Standby mode saves energy  
and allows a quick return to normal computer use.  
To set the timer for your computer to automatically enter Standby mode after a certain amount of time,  
go to Control Panel and open Power Options.  
To activate Standby mode manually, use one of these two methods:  
Use the Standby button:  
1
Save your work, close all applications and close your Internet connection, if applicable.  
Press the Standby button at the top of the keyboard.  
The computer goes into Standby mode, indicated by the umber light.  
Use the Windows® taskbar:  
2
1
2
Save your work, close all applications and close your Internet connection, if applicable.  
From the Start menu on the Windows® taskbar, select Turn Off Computer.  
Alternatively, press <Alt>+<F4> to get to the same dialog box.  
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3
Select Stand By.  
The computer goes into Standby mode, indicated by the umber light.  
To return to Normal mode, choose from the following:  
Press any key on the keyboard.  
Press the Standby button again.  
Press one of the S Keys on the keyboard.  
Quickly press the power button on your computer.  
You can leave Windows® running when using Standby.  
If you press the power button for more than four seconds, the computer will switch off automatically.  
When the computer is in Standby mode, you cannot insert a disc.  
Standby requires less time than Hibernate.  
Standby uses more power than Hibernate.  
Using Hibernate mode  
If you are interrupted and need to leave your computer suddenly, you can put it into Hibernate mode. This  
power saving mode saves you the time of shutting down in the normal way.  
When you put your computer into Hibernate mode:  
Everything in the memory is saved to the hard disk.  
The monitor and hard disk are turned off.  
The computer is turned off.  
The power indicator light turns off.  
To set the timer for your computer to automatically enter Hibernate mode after a certain amount of time,  
go to Control Panel and open Power Options.  
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To activate Hibernate mode manually, use one of these two methods:  
Use the Windows® taskbar:  
1
2
Save your work.  
From the Start menu on the Windows® taskbar, select Turn Off Computer.  
Alternatively, press <Alt>+<F4>.  
3
4
In the Turn Off Computer screen, hold down the <Shift> key to reveal the Hibernate button.  
Click Hibernate.  
The computer goes into Hibernate mode, the computer turns off.  
Use the power button:  
Quickly press the power button on the front of the main unit.  
The computer goes into Hibernate mode, the computer turns off.  
To return to Normal mode, quickly press the power button on your computer.  
Operation returns to the same state as before.  
You can leave Windows® running when using Hibernate.  
If you press the power button for more than four seconds, the computer will switch off completely.  
When the computer is in Hibernate mode, you cannot insert a disc.  
Hibernate uses less power than Standby.  
Hibernate requires more time than Standby.  
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Connecting peripheral devices  
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You can add functionality to your computer by connecting any of these peripherals.  
Connecting a projector (page 49)  
Connecting an external microphone (page 50)  
Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device (page 51)  
Connecting a printer (page 52)  
Connecting an i.LINK™ device (page 53)  
Connecting to a network (page 56)  
Before you connect a peripheral, turn off both the computer and the peripheral.  
Connect the power cord only after connecting all cables.  
Turn on the computer only after turning on all peripherals.  
Please note that the configuration of the front/back panels shown in the following illustrations may vary  
depending on your model.  
Hot plug and play devices should be plugged when the computer is switched on.  
USB devices are hot plug and play devices. You do not need to shut down your computer prior to connecting these devices unless the manual supplied  
with the device states otherwise.  
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Connecting a projector  
You can connect a projector (such as the Sony LCD projector) directly to your computer.  
To connect a projector to your VAIO desktop, proceed as follows:  
1
Plug one end of the VGA cable into the VGA monitor connector on the back of your computer, and the  
other end into the projector you want to use (1).  
2
3
Plug the audio cable into the headphones connector identified by the  
Connect the power cord of the projector into an AC outlet (3).  
symbol (2).  
4
3
2
1
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Connecting an external microphone  
Your VAIO desktop does not contain an internal microphone. If you need to use a sound input device, for  
example to chat on the Internet, you need to plug in an external microphone.  
To connect an external microphone, proceed as follows:  
Plug the microphone cable (1) into the microphone connector (2) identified by the symbol  
.
4
3
m
2
1
Make sure your microphone is designed for computer use.  
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Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device  
You can connect a USB device, for example, a scanner or a printer, to your VAIO desktop.  
There are two USB ports on the front of your VAIO desktop, and two at the back. To connect a USB device,  
simply plug in the USB cable of the device into one of the ports on your computer.  
For some USB devices you need to install the software before you connect the device. Not following this procedure might cause the device not to work  
properly. For more information, check the manual provided with the USB device.  
You do not need to shut down the computer before connecting or disconnecting a USB peripheral.  
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Connecting a printer  
To connect a printer, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Plug the printer cable into the printer connector on your computer (1).  
Plug the printer power cord into an AC outlet (2).  
4
3
2
1
To connect a USB printer, simply plug the printer's USB cable into one of the USB ports on your VAIO  
desktop. There are two USB ports at the front and two at the back of your computer.  
Do not turn on the computer or the printer until all the connections are made.  
These procedures do not apply to all printers. If you do not have a printer compatible to these procedures, please refer to the manufacturer’s  
instructions on connecting and installing it.  
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Connecting an i.LINK™ device  
Your VAIO computer includes a 4-pin i.LINK™ port on the front of the system and a 6-pin i.LINK™ port on  
the back of the system. Use these connectors to connect an i.LINK™ device such as a digital video camera  
recorder or to link up two VAIO computers so you can copy, delete or edit files.  
The 6-pin i.LINK™ connector on the back of your system can:  
Supply power from the computer to the connected device if the device has a 6-pin connector, and  
Supply 10V to 12V.  
The 4-pin i.LINK™ port cannot supply power to a connected device.  
The i.LINK™ connectors supports transfer rates up to 400 Mbps; however, the actual transfer rate depends  
on the transfer rate of the external device.  
The i.LINK™ features available may vary depending on the software applications you use. Refer to the  
documentation that came with your software for more information.  
The i.LINK™ cables that are compatible with your VAIO desktop include cables with the following part  
numbers: VMC-IL4415, VMC-IL4435, VMC-IL4615, VMC-IL4635, VMC-IL6615, and VMC-IL6635. Sony computer  
supplies, accessories and peripherals can be purchased from your local retailer or from the Sony website:  
An i.LINK™ connection with other compatible devices is not fully guaranteed.  
You are strongly advised to use only Sony i.LINK™ cables, as using other brands may cause problems with the i.LINK™ devices.  
The i.LINK™ connection varies depending on the software applications, operating system and i.LINK™ compatible devices you use. Refer to the  
documentation that came with your software for more information.  
Check the working conditions and OS compatibility of i.LINK™-compatible PC peripherals (HDD, CD-RW drive etc.) before you connect them to your  
VAIO desktop.  
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Connecting peripheral devices  
n N  
54  
Connecting a digital video camera recorder  
To connect a digital video camera recorder, proceed as follows:  
1
Plug one end of the i.LINK™ cable (not supplied) into the i.LINK™ connector of the computer and the  
other end into the DV-Out connector on your digital video camera recorder.  
2
Launch the DVgate application.  
On Sony digital video cameras, connectors labelled DV Out, DV In/Out or i.LINK™ are i.LINK™-compatible.  
The Sony digital video camera recorder is an example; your digital video camera recorder may need to be connected differently.  
If your digital video camera recorder includes a Memory Stick™ slot, you can copy images from it to your computer via a Memory Stick™. To do so,  
simply copy images on the Memory Stick™, and then insert it into the Memory Stick™ slot of your computer.  
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Connecting peripheral devices  
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55  
Connecting two VAIO computers  
You can copy, edit or delete files on another VAIO computer to your desktop with an optional i.LINK™ cable.  
If the second computer has the Windows® XP operating system, you just need the i.LINK™ cable. If the  
second computer has a different operating system (e.g., Windows® 2000), you need a software application  
such as Smart Connect.  
You can also print a document on a printer connected to another VAIO computer.  
To connect your VAIO desktop to another VAIO computer, proceed as follows:  
Insert one end of the i.LINK™ cable into one of the i.LINK™ connectors on the main unit of the VAIO desktop  
and connect the other end to the other VAIO computer.  
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Connecting peripheral devices  
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56  
Connecting to a network  
Your computer comes with a preinstalled Ethernet interface.  
To connect to a network, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Go to Start, right-click on My Computer and select Properties.  
Click the Hardware tab and select Device Manager.  
The Device Manager screen appears with the list of devices.  
3
4
5
6
Under Network Adapters, right click on Realtek RTL 8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC.  
Click Properties.  
Under Device Usage, select Use this device (enable).  
Click OK to close the Properties window.  
The Ethernet connection is now enabled.  
!
Connect only 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX cables to the Ethernet port. Using other cables or a telephone cable may cause a malfunction, excessive heat  
or even fire in the port.  
For more information about connecting your VAIO desktop to the network, please consult the Hardware troubleshooting section of the VAIO-Link  
website:  
How to troubleshoot network problems  
For help on connecting to a network, see your network administrator.  
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Getting help  
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57  
Getting help  
This section describes how to get help and support from Sony, as well as troubleshooting tips for your  
computer.  
Sony provides several support options for your computer.  
Sony's support options  
Sony provides several support options for your computer.  
Printed documentation  
The printed part of your documentation pack contains the following:  
A Getting Started brochure, where you will find a brief description of the items in your box, some  
specifications of your VAIO desktop, and how to set up your computer;  
A Customer Guide, where you will find all the basic information to start using your VAIO desktop, as  
well as troubleshooting and VAIO-Link information;  
Your Sony Guarantee conditions;  
A Safety Regulations Guide for your information;  
A Modem Regulations flyer applying to the modem.  
Online documentation  
The online documentation contains the following guides:  
1
The Sony VAIO Desktop User Guide:  
Using your VAIO desktop shows you how to use the standard components of your system. In this  
part of the manual you will also find out what you can do with a Memory Stick™.  
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Getting help  
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58  
Connecting peripheral devices explains how you can add functionality by connecting various  
peripherals.  
Getting help explains the support options available to you, and offers basic troubleshooting tips.  
Precautions provides facts and advice about using your VAIO desktop.  
Glossary refers to terms used in this manual.  
2
The Software Guide:  
About the Software is a short description of the features of the software pre-installed on your  
system.  
Using Video software explains how to use Sony video software: DVgate, MovieShaker and Smart  
Capture.  
Managing audio files with SonicStage describes how to convert your existing MP3, WMA and  
WAV format audio files into ATRAC3 format.  
Using DigitalPrint explains how to get the most enjoyment out of your photographs taken with a  
digital camera.  
Customizing your VAIO computer explains how to set up your system's display and so on.  
Installing and updating applications details how to install, run or uninstall a software  
application.  
Managing drivers describes how to install, update or uninstall a driver.  
Using the Product Recovery CD-ROMs explains how to perform a system and application recovery.  
Using partitioned drives tells you what you can do with partitioned drives.  
3
4
Refer to the Specifications online document for details on your computer, drivers and accessories.  
In the VAIO-Link Customer Service Guide you will find all the VAIO-Link information you need,  
including specific contact numbers and addresses for each country.  
5
Consult the Online Help files of the software you are using for detailed information on features and  
troubleshooting.  
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Getting help  
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59  
6
Refer to the Microsoft Quick Start manual for more information on Windows®.  
Other sources of information  
The online help files that accompany your pre-installed software contain instructions on using the  
software.  
VAIO-Link website, which you can access if you have any problems with your computer:  
VAIO-Link Response Centre: Before contacting the VAIO-Link Response Centre, try to solve the  
problem by reading the user guides and help files supplied with the peripherals or software.  
You will need to set up and configure your VAIO's internal modem before you can make use of these communication features.  
Troubleshooting  
This section describes how to solve common problems you might encounter when using your VAIO desktop.  
Many problems have simple solutions. Please try these suggestions before contacting VAIO-Link or your local  
Sony dealer. You are recommended to print out this section and keep it for future reference.  
About the computer and software (page 60)  
About the display (page 65)  
About CDs and floppy disks (page 66)  
About sound (page 69)  
About the modem (page 70)  
About peripherals (page 71)  
About digital video captures and DVgate (page 73)  
About i.LINK™ devices (page 73)  
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Getting help  
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60  
About the computer and software  
My computer does not start  
Check that the computer is plugged into a power source and that it is turned on.  
Check that the power indicator on the front panel of the computer indicates that the power is on.  
Confirm that the power cord and all cables are connected firmly.  
If you have plugged the computer into an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), make sure the UPS is  
turned on and works.  
Check that the monitor is properly connected to the main unit. Check that the brightness and contrast  
controls are adjusted correctly.  
Moisture condensation may have occurred. Wait at least an hour before turning the computer on.  
The message 'Press <F1> to continue, <F2> to enter setup' appears at startup  
If the message Press <F1> to continue, <F2> to enter setup appears at the bottom of the display, you  
need to initialize the BIOS.  
To initialize the BIOS, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
Turn off the computer.  
Remove any peripheral devices connected to the computer.  
Turn on the computer and press <F2> when the Sony logo appears.  
The BIOS setup menu screen appears.  
4
5
Use the arrow keys to select the Exit menu.  
Press <F9> or use the arrow keys to select Get Default Values. The message Load default  
configuration now? appears.  
6
Make sure that Yes is selected and then press <Enter>.  
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Getting help  
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7
8
Press <F10> to exit, or use the arrow keys to select Exit (Save Changes).  
The message Save configuration changes and exit now? appears.  
Make sure that Yes is selected and then press <Enter>.  
My computer does not shut down  
It is recommended that you shut down your computer using the Turn Off Computer command on the  
Windows® Start menu. Using other methods, including those listed here, may result in loss of unsaved data.  
If the Turn Off Computer command does not work properly, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Shut down the computer by pressing <Alt>+<F4>. The Turn off computer box appears. Select Turn Off.  
If this does not work, press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete>. The Task Manager dialog box appears. Click Shut  
Down, then Turn Off.  
3
4
If this does not work, press the power button and hold it for at least four seconds.  
This turns off the power.  
Unplug the computer from the mains.  
My system is running slowly  
The system response time varies, depending on the number of applications that are open and running.  
Close any application that you are not currently using.  
Increasing the system memory may also help. The computer has two memory slots. For memory  
upgrades, use only PC-2100 DDR SDRAM DIMM modules. For information on installing memory, please  
see the section Adding a memory module.  
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Getting help  
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My computer locks up  
If you suspect an application is locking your system, you can try to stop it. To do this, press  
<Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete> once. If you have not changed the default settings, you will enter the Task  
Manager. Select the application that is locking your system, and then click End Task.  
If the above method does not work or you do not know which application is locking your system, restart  
the computer. On the Windows® taskbar, click the Start button, click Turn Off Computer, and then  
select Restart.  
Alternatively, press <Alt>+<F4> to get to the Turn off computer screen.  
If the above method does not work, press the power button and hold it for at least four seconds. This  
turns off the power.  
If your computer locks up while playing a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, stop the CD, and shut down the  
computer by pressing <Alt>+<F4>, and then click Turn Off.  
My computer or software program is not responding  
To end the application that has stopped responding, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
4
Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete>.  
If you have not changed the default settings, you will enter the Task Manager.  
On the Applications tab, scroll down until you see the comment Not responding next to an  
application.  
Select this application from the list and click End Task.  
Windows® will try to close the application. If it fails to do so, a second dialog box appears.  
Select End Task again.  
If you are unable to unlock the application, repeat the above procedure, but select Shut Down > Turn Off when the Windows Task Manager  
appears.  
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Getting help  
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63  
If this still fails, proceed as follows:  
1
2
If possible, save any unsaved work.  
Press <Alt>+<F4>.  
The Turn off computer box appears.  
3
Select Restart.  
Make sure the software you are using is compatible with your equipment and operating system. If these  
options fail, try re-installing the software.  
If none of the above solves the problem, you can turn off the computer by pressing the power button for longer than 4 seconds. All unsaved data will  
be lost.  
If the same application locks up regularly, contact the software publisher or the advertised technical support.  
Windows® locks up during shutdown  
There are many reasons why the Windows® operating system may not shut down properly, including  
incompatible or conflicting drivers, damaged files, or non-responsive hardware.  
To search Windows® Help for troubleshooting information, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
From the Start menu, select Help and support.  
Click Fixing a problem.  
Use the browse and search functions to find a solution.  
My mouse does not work  
Check that the mouse is plugged into the mouse connector on the back of the unit.  
There may be dust or dirt inside the mouse mechanism.  
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Getting help  
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64  
To clean the mouse, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
4
5
Turn off the computer and turn the mouse upside down.  
Remove the mouse ball cover by turning the ring clockwise as indicated by the arrows.  
Turn the mouse upright and drop the mouse ball into your hand.  
Using a piece of sticky tape, remove any dirt or dust on the mouse ball and inside the ball socket.  
Put the mouse ball back into the socket and replace the cover.  
Secure the cover by turning the ring anti-clockwise.  
This cleaning procedure does not apply to optical mouse devices.  
My mouse needs to be set up for left-hand use  
To set your mouse up for left-handed users, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Go to Start, select Control Panel, then click the Printers and Other Hardware option.  
Click the mouse icon.  
The Mouse Properties dialog box appears.  
3
4
In the Buttons tab, select the option button next to Switch primary and secondary buttons.  
Click OK.  
The new mouse settings are now in place.  
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Getting help  
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65  
About the display  
My monitor does not display anything  
Check that the computer is plugged into a power source and that it is turned on.  
Check that the power indicator on the main unit is on.  
Adjust the brightness of the monitor.  
The computer display may be in Standby mode. Press any key to activate the display.  
The window I have just closed is still on the screen  
Press the Windows® key and <D> key twice to refresh the screen.  
I cannot find the Windows® taskbar  
Check that the taskbar is not hidden or minimized.  
Move the cursor to each edge of the screen to retrieve the taskbar.  
To change the default view of the taskbar and the Start menu, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Click Start, and select Control Panel.  
Click Appearance and Themes, then Taskbar and Start Menu.  
The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box appears, where you can make the required  
settings.  
I want to change the resolution of my display  
To change the resolution of your display, proceed as follows:  
1
From the Start menu, select the Control Panel.  
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Getting help  
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66  
2
Click Appearance and Themes, then the Display icon.  
The Display Properties dialog box appears.  
3
4
5
Select the Settings tab.  
Move the Screen Resolution slider to change the resolution.  
Click OK.  
About CDs and floppy disks  
My CD/DVD tray does not open  
To open the disc drive, proceed as follows:  
With the eject button:  
1
2
Make sure the power is turned on.  
Press the eject button on the appropriate disc drive.  
Using My Computer:  
1
2
3
Click Start, and then My Computer.  
Right-click the disc drive icon.  
Select the Eject option.  
The disc drive opens and you can retrieve the disc.  
If the disc tray still does not eject, the CD/DVD-writing application software may be stopping it. Make sure  
the application is closed before you proceed.  
I cannot play a CD  
After inserting the CD, wait for a few seconds for the system to detect it before you try to access it.  
Make sure the label of the disc is facing outwards.  
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Getting help  
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If the disc requires software, make sure the software is installed according to the instructions of the  
program.  
Check the volume of your speakers.  
Clean the disc with an appropriate cleaner.  
Moisture condensation may have occurred. Leave the computer for at least 1 hour before turning it on.  
I cannot play a DVD-ROM  
If a region code warning appears when you are using the DVD player, it could be that the DVD-ROM you  
are trying to play is incompatible with the DVD drive on your VAIO desktop. The region code is listed on  
the packaging of the disc.  
If you hear sound but cannot see a picture, your computer's video resolution may be set too high. For  
best results, change the resolution in the Control Panel - Display to a lower resolution.  
If you see the video but cannot hear sound, check all of the following:  
Make sure the mute setting is off in your DVD player software.  
Check the master volume setting in the Volume Control. If you have connected external speakers,  
check the volume settings for your computer speakers and check the connections between your  
speakers and the computer.  
In the Device Manager, check that the correct drivers are installed properly. To display the Device  
Manager, Go to the Control Panel. Click Performance and Maintenance, and then the System  
icon. In the System Properties dialog box, click on the Hardware tab.  
A dirty or damaged disc may cause the computer to 'hang' while it tries to read the disc. If necessary,  
reboot the computer, remove the disc and then check that it is not dirty or damaged.  
On your computer, the default DVD region code is 2, which is the region code for European DVDs. Do not change this setting using the Region Code  
Change function in Windows®, or any other software application. System malfunctions originating from the user changing the DVD region code are  
beyond the scope of your warranty and will result in service charges for repair.  
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Getting help  
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68  
My floppy disk drive cannot write to a disk  
The floppy disk may be write-protected. Disable the write-protect feature or use a disk that is not write-  
protected.  
Check that the disk is properly inserted into the floppy disk drive.  
When I double-click an application icon, a message such as 'You must insert the application CD into your  
drive' appears and the software does not start  
Some titles require specific files that are located on the application CD-ROM.  
Insert the disc and try starting the program again.  
Make sure you place the disc in the tray with the label side facing outwards.  
Why does my CD/DVD-RW not record at the highest speed?  
For the CD-RW drive, you must use 24x CD-R or 10x CD-RW media to achieve optimum performance.  
For the DVD-RW drive (PCV-RX305 and PCV-RX306 only), you must use 8x CD-R and 4x CD-RW or 2x DVD-R  
or 2x DVD-RW media to achieve maximum performance.  
If you want to use other media and are having difficulty formatting the disc with the above speeds, change  
the writing speed to a lower setting.  
To change the writing speed from the default to a lower speed, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Go to My Computer from the Start menu.  
Right-click the disc drive icon.  
Select Properties.  
Select the Recordings tab.  
Under Desktop CD/DVD recording, change the current writing speed to 4x or 2x (for the DVD-RW).  
Click OK.  
The speed is changed and recording should run smoothly.  
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Getting help  
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69  
The reading speed of CD-RWs is slow  
Generally, the reading speed of a CD-RW is slower than that of a CD-ROM or CD-R. The reading speed can  
also vary depending on the type of format.  
About sound  
My speakers are not producing any sound  
If you are using an application that has its own volume control, check that the volume is turned up.  
Check the volume controls in Windows® and in Windows® Media Player.  
Check that the speakers are connected correctly and the AC adapter is plugged into the mains.  
My microphone is too sensitive to background noise  
If you find there is too much background noise when you record sound, you can adjust the microphone gain.  
To adjust the microphone settings, proceed as follows:  
1
2
In the Control Panel, choose Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices.  
Click Sounds and Audio Devices.  
The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties box appears.  
3
4
Click the Voice tab.  
Under Voice recording, click Volume.  
The Recording Control dialog box appears.  
5
6
In the Options menu, select Properties.  
The Properties dialog box appears.  
Change the setting in the Adjust volume for dialog box from Playback to Recording, and then click  
OK.  
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Getting help  
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70  
7
8
Reduce the microphone level by moving the slider control.  
In the Options menu, select Advanced Controls, and then click the Advanced button under  
Microphone - Balance.  
The Advanced Controls for Microphone dialog box appears.  
9
Deselect the Microphone Boost check box, and then click Close.  
10 Close the Recording Control dialog box.  
The unwanted noise should now be cleared.  
About the modem  
My internal modem does not work  
Check that the phone line is plugged into your computer.  
Check that the phone line is working. You can check the line by plugging in an ordinary phone and  
listening for a dial tone.  
Check that the phone number the program is dialing, is correct.  
In the Phone and Modem Options dialog box (Control Panel / Printers and other Hardware /  
Phone and Modem Options), check that your modem is listed on the Modems tab, and that the  
location information is correct on the Dialing Rules tab.  
Whenever you use your modem while travelling, make sure that the country of the active location  
defined in the Phone and Modem Options dialog box matches the country you are dialing from.  
My modem cannot establish a connection  
The modem dialing mode may be incompatible with your telephone line.  
The modem may not work properly if you are behind a Private Automatic Branch exchange (PABX).  
Make sure that the modem is the only device connected to your telephone line.  
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Getting help  
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71  
My modem connection is slow  
Many factors influence modem connection speed, including telephone line noise or compatibility with  
telephone equipment (such as fax machines or other modems). If you think your modem is not connecting  
properly to other PC-based modems, fax machines, or your Internet Service Provider, check the following:  
Have your phone company check that your phone line is free from any line noise.  
If your problem is fax-related, check that there are no problems with the fax machine you are calling and  
that it is compatible with fax modems.  
If you are having a problem connecting with your Internet Service Provider, check that the ISP is not  
experiencing technical problems.  
If you have a second phone line available, try connecting the modem to that line.  
About peripherals  
I cannot use DV devices. The message 'DV equipment seems to be disconnected or turned off' appears.  
Check that the DV device is turned on and that the cables are properly connected.  
If you are using multiple i.LINK™ devices, the combination of the connected devices may cause unstable  
operation. If this is the case, turn off all connected devices and disconnect unused devices. Check the  
connection and then turn on the power again.  
You are strongly advised to use only Sony i.LINK™ cables, as using other brands may cause problems with  
the i.LINK™ devices.  
How do I install a printer?  
Always check the printer manufacturer’s website for the latest drivers for Windows® XP Home Edition  
before proceeding. Some printers do not function properly without updated drivers.  
If the printer has a USB connection, the printer should be automatically installed.  
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Getting help  
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72  
To install a local printer, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
4
From the Control Panel, select Printers and Other Hardware, then Printers and Faxes.  
Under Printer Tasks, click Add a printer.  
Let the Add Printer Wizard guide you through the installation process.  
Click Finish.  
The printer is now installed.  
This procedure applies for most, but not for all printers.  
I cannot print  
Check that all the cables of the printer are properly connected.  
Check that your printer is correctly configured and that you have up-to-date drivers. If necessary, contact  
your dealer.  
To reset the printer connection, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Click on Start and then Printers and Faxes.  
Right-click in the left part of the window and select Refresh.  
Click on the icon of the printer installed on your computer.  
In the Printer Tasks menu, which has now expanded, click on Set printer properties.  
Have a look through the different tabs and check that everything seems normal.  
Restart your computer.  
Check that all the cables of the printer are properly connected.  
Check that your printer is correctly configured and that you have up-to-date drivers. If necessary, contact  
your dealer.  
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Getting help  
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To reset the printer connection, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
4
5
6
Click on Start > Control Panel / Printers and other Hardware and then Printers and Faxes.  
On the View menu, select Refresh.  
Click on the icon of the printer installed on your computer.  
In the Printer Tasks menu, which has now expanded, click on Set printer properties.  
Have a look through the different tabs and check that everything seems normal.  
Restart your computer.  
When I remove a Memory Stick™, an error message appears  
Insert the Memory Stick™ into the slot again and press <Enter>. Wait until the active application finishes,  
then remove the Memory Stick™. If the message confirms the ejection of the Memory Stick™, click OK.  
About digital video captures and DVgate  
When I record images to a digital video device using DVgate, my system displays the message 'Recording to  
DV device failed. Check the power and cable connections to the devices and try again'  
Close all open applications and restart your computer. Frequently recording images to a digital video device  
while using DVgate sometimes causes this error.  
About i.LINK™ devices  
My i.LINK™ device does not appear on the desktop  
To see the i.LINKdevice icon on the desktop, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Turn off and disconnect your i.LINK™ device.  
Reconnect your device.  
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Getting help  
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3
Turn on the power on the device again.  
The icon should now appear on the desktop.  
The connected i.LINK™ device is not recognised  
Disconnect the i.LINK™ device, then connect it again.  
You are strongly advised to use only Sony i.LINK™ cables, as using other brands may cause problems with  
the i.LINK™ devices.  
I cannot establish an i.LINK™ connection between two VAIO computers  
Disconnect then reconnect the i.LINK™ cable.  
If you still have no connection after waiting for a while, restart both computers.  
If either computer has just returned from a power saving mode, the connection may be affected. In this  
case, make sure you perform a full restart before connecting them.  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
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75  
Upgrading your VAIO computer  
The following procedures assume familiarity with the general terminology associated with PCs and with the  
regulatory compliance required for modifying electronic equipment.  
Observe proper safety precautions at all times.  
Your VAIO desktop and memory modules use high precision components and electronic connectors  
technology. To avoid the invalidation of your guarantee by mishandling, it is recommended that:  
You contact your local Sony dealer to install any new internal hardware components.  
You do not install memory modules yourself, if you are not familiar with upgrading memory on a computer.  
Please contact VAIO-Link if you need assistance.  
!
!
Always switch the power off before you open the system. Otherwise, damage may occur to the integrated circuits in your computer.  
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage disk drives, add-on cards, and other components. Follow the procedures here only at an ESD workstation.  
Otherwise, do not work on a carpeted area and do not handle materials that produce or hold static electricity, such as cellophane wrappers. Ground  
yourself by keeping constant contact with an unpanited metal part of the unit while carrying out any of these procedures.  
Opening the side cover  
To remove the side panel from the main unit, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
Shut down your computer and disconnect all peripheral devices.  
Unplug the computer from the mains.  
Wait until the computer cools down.  
The inside of the main unit becomes very hot during operation. Wait for about one hour for the  
computer to cool down before opening the unit.  
4
Before you handle the memory module, touch a metal part of the computer to discharge any electricity  
accumulated on your body.  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
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5
6
7
Position the main unit so the back panel is facing you.  
Locate the tab on the upper right side of the rear panel, and pull it back until the side cover releases.  
Lift the side cover away from the unit and set it aside.  
LIN  
E
Always wait for the internal parts of the system unit to cool down before removing the side panel.  
Inserting a PCI add-on board  
Your computer has open PCI expansion slots. These slots enable you to install add-on boards to expand the  
functionality of your system.  
Add-on board configuration can vary.  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
n N  
77  
To insert an add-on board, proceed as follows:  
1
2
3
4
5
Shut down your computer and turn off all peripheral devices, such as your printer.  
Unplug your computer and any peripheral devices.  
Remove the side cover as described in Opening the side cover (page 75).  
Locate one of the two available expansion slots.  
Remove the screw, and then remove the slot cover, as shown:  
6
Install the add-on board by plugging it into the expansion slot and secure it with the screw from the  
expansion slot, as shown:  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
n N  
78  
7
8
9
Attach any internal cables that the board requires (see the manual that came with the add-on board).  
Replace the side cover as described in Closing the side cover (page 82).  
Reconnect all peripheral devices and the power cord, and then turn on the computer.  
Make sure you observe the proper safety precautions when you add boards to your VAIO computer.  
Adding memory  
In the future, you may want to install memory modules to expand the functionality of your computer. You  
can increase the memory by installing optional memory modules, although we recommend that you do not  
install them yourself unless you are familiar with upgrading memory on a computer.  
Be careful when adding memory. Mistakes on installation or removal of the memory module may cause a  
malfunction.  
For memory upgrades, use only PC-2100 DDR SDRAM DIMM.  
Electrostatic discharge can damage electronic components. Before touching a memory expansion board,  
remember the following:  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
n N  
79  
Handle the memory module gently.  
The procedures described in this document assume familiarity with the general terminology associated  
with personal computers and with the safety practices and regulatory compliance required for using and  
modifying electronic equipment.  
Disconnect the system from its power source and from any telecommunication links, networks, or  
modems before you open the system. Failure to do so may result in personal injury or equipment  
damage.  
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) can damage memory modules and other components. Install the memory  
module only at an ESD workstation. If such a station is not available, do not work in a carpeted area, and  
do not handle materials that produce or hold static electricity (cellophane wrappers, for example).  
Ground yourself by maintaining contact with an unpainted metal portion of the chassis while  
performing the procedure.  
Do not open the memory module package until you are ready to install the module. The package  
protects the module from ESD.  
Use the special bag delivered with the memory module, or wrap the module in aluminium foil to protect  
it from electrostatic discharge.  
Do not place the memory module in places subject to:  
- Heat sources such as radiators or air ducts,  
- Direct sunlight,  
- Excessive dust,  
- Mechanical vibration or shock,  
- Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded,  
- Ambient temperature of more than +35°C or less than +5°C,  
- High humidity.  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
n N  
80  
Installing a new memory module  
If you are not familiar with upgrading memory on a computer, we highly recommend that you contact your  
dealer.  
To add or change a memory module, proceed as follows:  
1
Shut down the computer, unplug it, and remove any peripheral devices. Wait for the computer to cool  
down.  
2
3
Open the unit (see Opening the side cover (page 75)).  
Gently place the unit on its side. If necessary, remove any cables, add-on cards, or other components to  
access the DIMM slots.  
You must remove the power supply before installing the memory modules. Remove the power supply by  
following these steps:  
Remove the screw that secures the power supply to the rear of the chassis.  
Pull the tab that latches the power supply to the chassis.  
Slide the power supply up until the power supply clears the chassis.  
Rotate the power supply to an upside down position and rest it on top of the chassis where the hard  
drive is located.  
4
5
6
Handle the memory only by the edges, and remove it from its anti-static package.  
Locate the notch on the bottom edge of the memory module (1).  
Align the memory module over the slot, making sure the module is facing the correct way (2).  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
n N  
81  
7
Press evenly against the memory module's upper corners. The end latches snap into position  
automatically, as shown (3):  
8
9
Reinstall the power supply and any add-on cards or components you removed.  
Reinstall the power supply by following these steps:  
Rotate the power supply to its original position and slide it into the chassis until the tab snaps into  
position.  
Replace the screw that secures the power supply to the rear of the chassis.  
10 Replace the side cover as described in Closing the side cover.  
There is only one correct way to insert the memory module. Make sure the rivet of the module is lined up with the connector.  
!
Use only PC-2100 DDR SDRAM DIMM modules.  
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Upgrading your VAIO computer  
n N  
82  
Viewing the amount of memory  
To view the amount of memory, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Turn on the computer.  
Click the Start button, point to All Programs, then VAIO System Information, and click VAIO  
System Information again.  
You can view the amount of installed memory here.  
Closing the side cover  
To replace the side cover, proceed as follows:  
1
2
Align the tabs on the side cover to the rim of the unit.  
Press the side cover firmly against the unit until it snaps into place.  
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Precautions  
n N  
83  
Precautions  
This section describes safety guidelines and precautions to help you protect your computer from potential  
damage.  
Please contact VAIO-Link if you need assistance.  
On handling the hard disk  
The hard disk has a high storage density and reads or writes data in a short time. However, it can be easily  
damaged by mechanical vibration, shock or dust.  
Although the hard disk has the internal safety device to prevent losing data due to mechanical vibration,  
shock or dust, you should be careful when handling your computer.  
To avoid damaging your hard disk:  
Do not subject your computer to sudden movements.  
Keep the computer away from magnets.  
Do not place your computer in a location subject to mechanical vibration or in an unstable position.  
Do not move your computer while the power is on.  
Do not turn off the power or restart the computer while reading or writing data to disk.  
Do not use your computer in a place subject to extreme changes in temperature.  
If the hard disk is damaged, the data cannot be restored.  
On using the power source  
Your computer operates on 220-240V AC50/60Hz.  
Do not share the AC outlet with other high power-consuming equipment, such as a photocopier or  
shredder.  
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Precautions  
n N  
84  
You can purchase a power strip with a surge protector. This device prevents damage to your computer  
caused by sudden power surges, in an electrical storm, for example.  
Do not place heavy objects on the power cord.  
To disconnect the cord, pull it out by the plug. Never pull the cord itself.  
Unplug your computer from the wall outlet if you are planning to not use the computer for a long time.  
Make sure that the socket outlet is easily accessible  
On handling your computer  
Clean the unit with a soft cloth, which is either dry or lightly moistened with a mild detergent solution.  
Do not use any type of abrasive pad, scouring powder, or solvent such as alcohol or benzine, as these  
may damage the finish of your computer.  
Should you drop a solid object or any liquid onto the computer, shut down your computer and then  
unplug it. You may want to have the computer checked by qualified personnel before operating it again.  
Do not drop the computer or place heavy objects on top of the computer.  
Do not place your computer in a location subject to:  
Heat sources, such as radiators or air ducts  
Direct sunlight  
Excessive dust  
Moisture or rain  
Mechanical vibration or shock  
Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded  
An ambient temperature of more than 35ºC or less than 10ºC  
High humidity.  
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Precautions  
n N  
85  
Do not place electronic equipment near your computer. The electromagnetic field of your computer may  
cause a malfunction.  
Provide adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat from building up. Do not place your computer  
on porous surfaces such as rugs or blankets, or near material such as curtains or draperies that may block  
its ventilation slots.  
The computer uses high-frequency radio signals and may cause interference to radio or TV reception.  
Should this occur, relocate the computer a suitable distance away from the set.  
Use only specified peripheral equipment and interface cables; otherwise, problems may occur.  
Do not use cut or damaged connection cables.  
If the computer is brought directly from a cold location to a warm one, moisture may condense inside  
your computer. In this case, allow at least one hour before turning on your computer. If any problems  
occur, unplug your computer and contact VAIO-Link.  
Make sure you disconnect the power cord before cleaning the computer.  
As you may lose important data once your computer is damaged, you should back up your data regularly.  
Restore the original application programs from the Product Recovery CD-ROM.  
On handling floppy disks  
Do not open the shutter manually or touch the surface of the floppy disk.  
Keep floppy disks away from magnets.  
Keep floppy disks away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat.  
On handling compact discs  
Do not touch the surface of the disc.  
Do not drop or bend the disc.  
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Precautions  
n N  
86  
Fingerprints and dust on the surface of a disc may cause reading errors. Always hold the disc by its edge  
and central hole, as shown.  
Proper care of the disc is essential to its continuous reliability. Do not use solvents such as benzine,  
thinning agents, commercially available cleaners or anti-static spray, as they may cause damage to the  
disc.  
For normal cleaning, hold the disc by its edge and use a soft cloth to wipe the surface from the center  
out.  
If the disc is badly soiled, moisten a soft cloth with water, wring it out well, and use it to wipe the surface  
of the disc from the center out. Wipe off any remaining moisture with a dry soft cloth.  
On handling Memory Sticks™  
Do not touch the Memory Stick™ connector with your finger or metallic objects.  
Use only the label supplied with the Memory Stick™ as a label.  
Do not bend, drop, or apply heavy shock to the Memory Stick™.  
Do not disassemble or modify Memory Sticks™.  
Do not let Memory Sticks™ get wet.  
Do not use or store Memory Sticks™ in a location subject to:  
Extremely high temperatures, such as in a car parked in the sun  
Direct sunlight  
High humidity or  
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Precautions  
n N  
87  
Corrosive substances.  
Use the storage case supplied with the Memory Stick™.  
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Glossary  
n N  
88  
Glossary  
This section refers to terms used in this manual and elsewhere in the VAIO world. These terms and  
definitions have been compiled to provide you with a better understanding of your VAIO computer.  
Term  
Definition  
The <F1> key gives you access to the online help of most software.  
<F1> key  
Ethernet system providing data transfer rates of 10 Mbps (megabits per second) and  
100 Mbps. The 100BASE-TX is a very direct derivative of 10BASE-T. Its 100 Mbps speed is  
achieved by simply sending the signal 10 times faster.  
10BASE-T/100BASE-TX  
Short for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface, a power management specification.  
ACPI enables the operating system to turn peripherals on and off and to control the amount  
of power given to each device attached to the computer. With ACPI, a CD-ROM player can  
be turned off by the operating system if it is not in use.  
ACPI  
A recovery process that enables you to recover any of the applications initially available on  
the computer. Performing an application recovery is useful when an individual application  
does not run properly or to reinstall a driver when a device does not work properly.  
Application recovery  
CD-ROM that enables a VAIO computer user to recover all the applications that were  
available when the computer was purchased. The CD-ROM is supplied with the computer.  
Application recovery CD-ROM  
BIOS  
An acronym for Basic Input/Output System. The BIOS is a program that enables the computer  
to start when you turn it on. It monitors the data stream between the operating system and  
the computer’s hardware devices.  
Abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. A high-capacity optical disc, usually  
650 MB in size, capable of being read from but not written to.  
CD-ROM  
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Glossary  
n N  
89  
Short for Compact Disc-ReWriteable. Compact Disc that can be used to write or rewrite data  
to it. A CD-RW can be written to several times, a CD-R can only be written to once.  
CD-RW  
CPU  
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brains of the computer; it processes the instructions  
of your system’s programs. The CPUis also known as the processor or microprocessor and can  
be found on the motherboard of your computer.  
The Direct Current interface to which you connect your computer’s AC adapter.  
DC In  
A driver is software enabling you to use hardware devices. For example, in order for you to  
be able to use a printer, you must first install its driver. Many drivers, such as the mouse  
driver, come with the operating system.  
Driver  
Short for Digital Versatile Disc. A type of read-only CD with a minimum capacity of 4.7 GB  
(maximum capacity can reach 17 GB). This high storage power makes it the ideal medium for  
storing films.  
DVD-ROM  
Short for DVD-Rewriteable. A DVD format that allows the user to record and erase multiple  
times on a single DVD disc. By comparison, a DVD-R can only be written to once.  
DVD-RW  
Ethernet  
Ethernet is the most widely implemented local area network (LAN) technology. The Ethernet  
system called 10BASE-T provides data transfer rates of 10 Mbps (megabits per second). A  
more recent version of Ethernet, called 100BASE-T, provides data transfer rates of 100 Mbps.  
Gigabit Ethernet supports data rates of 1 gigabit (1,000 megabits) per second.  
EULA (End-User License Agreement) is the name given to a license governing the software  
on your computer. The EULA can be found in the Read this first section at the beginning  
of the software guide or directly on the VAIO desktop.  
EULA  
i.LINK™ is Sony’s version of the IEEE 1394 standard for high-speed digital serial interface.  
The standard is regarded in the audio/video and IT industries as the most suitable interface  
for connecting computers and digital audio/video devices (such as digital cameras etc.).  
i.LINK™  
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Glossary  
n N  
90  
An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company which provides you with a user name,  
password and telephone number in order to connect to the Internet.  
ISP  
Cache memory is RAM-like memory that enables quick access to data that has already been  
read by the computer. L1 and L2 are levels of cache memory in a computer.  
L2 cache memory  
LAN  
A LAN (Local Area Network) is a group of computers connected together within a limited  
geographical area. It enables users to share devices (such as printers) and information using  
one processor or server.  
Short for Light-Emitting Diode. A semiconductor device that lights up when electricity passes  
through it.  
LED  
Short for Messaging Application Program Interface. A Microsoft Windows interface  
enabling you to send e-mail messages. It allows e-mail access and distribution among  
applications. MAPI-compatible applications include a Send Mail or Send in the File menu of  
the application.  
MAPI  
The maximum amount of RAM that your computer can contain. Once this amount is  
reached, you can no longer add additional RAM to your computer.  
maximum RAM  
Motherboard  
MPEG  
The motherboard is the main circuit board inside your computer. It holds the CPU, the BIOS,  
the memory and so on.  
MPEG or Moving Pictures Experts Group is a standard for audio-visual compression of video  
sequences. MPEG achieves high compression rates by storing only the changes from one  
frame to another. The decrease in data is generally imperceptible to the human eye.  
MPEG-1 was developed for digital storage of video and audio data on CD-ROM. MPEG-2  
achieves better image and audio quality and is more targeted to TV broadcasting and DVD.  
The operating system is software that manages all the other programs in a computer. It  
defines how the computer reads and writes information to its disks (and other hardware).  
Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP Professional and Windows XP  
Home Edition are examples of operating systems found on VAIOs.  
Operating system  
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Glossary  
n N  
91  
A partition is a logical division of a computer’s hard disk. A two-partition hard drive would  
typically contain C: and D: drives. Partitioning is particularly useful if you run more than one  
operating system or to clearly separate your data files from your installed software.  
Partition  
PBX  
A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a private telephone network within an enterprise. Under  
this system, the calls between the enterprise members are local and the phone numbers are  
made up of 3 or 4 digits. Companies generally choose this phone system for internal  
communication because it is less expensive than the regular network. The users can still  
share a number of outside lines for making calls external to the PBX.  
A pixel (Picture Element) is a part of your screen. Your screen is made up of thousands of  
pixels, enabling you to see colours and pictures on it. The more pixels, the higher the  
resolution and the better the image quality.  
Pixel  
The processor is the brains of the computer; it processes the instructions of your system’s  
programs. The processor is also known as the CPU or microprocessor and can be found on  
the motherboard (see this word) of your computer.  
Processor  
The product recovery CD-ROMs include the application recovery CD-ROM and the system  
recovery CD-ROM(s)  
Product recovery CD-ROM  
A type of mouse or keyboard port.  
PS/2  
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) refers to the plain old telephone service, the  
national telecommunication networks implementing voice transmission by using analog  
signals.  
PSTN  
Short for Random Access Memory, the memory used to run programs and store data in  
current use. RAM is the fastest kind of memory to read from and write to. Information stored  
in RAM is lost when you turn off the computer. The higher the RAM capacity, the faster your  
current data can be processed.  
RAM  
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Glossary  
n N  
92  
The degree of sharpness and clarity of an image. Resolution is expressed in pixels. Frequent  
computer screen resolutions are 640 x 480 pixels (VGA resolution; appropriate for a 14-inch  
screen), 800 x 600 (appropriate for a 15-inch screen), 1,024 by 768 (appropriate for a 17-inch  
screen), and 1,280 by 1,024. LCD displays usually use a higher resolution than a CRT of the  
same size.  
Resolution  
RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue. A cable that requires separate transmission types for the  
three colours on the display.  
RGB signal cable  
SDRAM  
Synchronous DRAM is a kind of dynamic random access memory running at a much higher  
clock speed than regular memory.  
The amount of RAM that is available on your computer when you purchase it.  
Standard RAM  
System recovery  
A recovery process that enables you to recover the hard disk image initially available on the  
computer. Performing a system recovery is useful in the event of a serious system crash or if  
you want to modify the size of your partitions.  
CD-ROM that is supplied with your computer and that enables a VAIO computer user to  
recover the hard disk image that was available when the computer was purchased.  
System recovery CD-ROM  
UPS  
A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is a device including a battery that protects your  
computer from data loss in the event of a power failure. The battery takes over as soon as a  
power interruption is detected. If you are using the computer when the power failure  
occurs, you have time to save all unsaved data and to shut down your computer.  
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a hardware interface for attaching devices (such as a keyboard,  
mouse, joystick, scanner or printer). You can connect up to 127 devices to a USB port. The  
USB standard is Hot Plug and Play.  
USB  
Short for Video Audio Integrated Operation. Brand name covering Sony's PC products,  
peripherals, accessories and software. VAIO-branded items are all designed to make the best  
use of Sony's Audio-Video (AV) and Information Technology (IT) skills.  
VAIO  
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Glossary  
n N  
93  
WAN (Wide Area Network) is a computer network connected together and covering a  
WAN  
XGA  
relatively large geographical area. This is in contrast to LAN, where the network is usually  
set up within one building or small geographical area. The largest existing WAN is the  
Internet.  
Short for Extended Graphic Array, a graphics standard. An XGA board can provide up to  
1,024 x 768 pixels and supports up to 65 thousand colours.  
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