Sony Personal Computer Troubleshooting

115

Troubleshooting

This section describes how to solve common problems you may encounter

when using your computer. Many problems have simple solutions, so try

these suggestions before you contact Sony Computing Support

(http://www.sony.com/pcsupport).

❑Troubleshooting Your Computer

❑Troubleshooting the LCD Screen

❑Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad

❑Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral Devices

❑Troubleshooting i.LINK devices

❑Troubleshooting Software

❑Troubleshooting the Modem

❑Troubleshooting Wireless LAN functions

❑Troubleshooting Audio

❑Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media

Contents

Main Page Page Connecting Peripheral Devices ...............45 Customizing Your VAIO Computer..........73 Adding Memory......................................... 87 About the Software on Your Computer...97 Troubleshooting ......................................115 Troubleshooting Your Computer ............................116 Troubleshooting the LCD Screen............................120 Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad.. ...........121 Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral Devices 123 Troubleshooting i.LINK devices ............................125 Troubleshooting Software....................................... 126 Troubleshooting the Modem................................... 128 Troubleshooting Wireless LAN functions.............. 129 Troubleshooting Audio... ........................................131 Getting Help... ..........................................135 Page Using Your VAIO Computer This section describes the following aspects of your new computer: VAIO Comp ute r 12 Using the Keyboard Keyboard Functions of the keyboard keys Combinations and functions with the Windows key Indicators Page Combinations and functions with the Fn key Page Using VAIO Action Setup VAIO Action Setup functions Using the Jog Dial Control Launcher mode Guide mode To use the Jog Dial control with Sony software To use the Jog Dial control with other software Internal timer Using Memory Stick Media Types of Memory Stick media Page VisualFlow Notes on using Memory Stick media Page Using PC Cards To insert PC card To remove a PC Card Notes on PC Cards Using Power Saving Modes Normal mode Standby mode Hibernate mode Notes on power saving modes Connecting a Phone Line How to connect a phone cable Page Connecting to a LAN To set up your ethernet connection To connect to a network Connecting to a Wireless LAN Turning On Wireless LAN The Wireless LAN Access Point Communicating with Access Point (infrastructure) Page Communicating without Access Point (ad-hoc) Page Turning Off Wireless LAN Notes on using Wireless LAN Connecting Peripheral Devices Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive To connect the floppy disk drive To insert a floppy disk To remove a floppy disk To remove the floppy disk drive when the computer is on To carry the floppy disk drive Notes on handling floppy disks Connecting a PC Card Bus Drive To connect an optical drive To insert a disc To remove the drive Notes on CD and DVD discs Connecting an i.LINK Optical Disc Drive To connect an i.LINK optical disc drive Page Notes on using i.LINK optical disc drives Connecting a USB Mouse To connect a USB mouse Connecting VAIO Computers Connecting with i.LINK Connecting an i.LINK Device Page Page Connecting an External Display To connect a computer display To connect a projector Page 64 3Plug the audio cable into the Headphone jack. To connect a TV Connecting a USB Printer To connect a printer Connecting an External Microphone To connect an external microphone To record from a microphone or audio equipment To switch the microphone jack functionality To adjust sound volume in the Recording Control window To adjust sound device volume Connecting External Speakers To connect external speakers Notes on using external speakers Expanding Your Computers Capabilities Personal Digital Assistant The Wireless LAN Access Point Page Page Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen Sony Notebook Setup tabs Controlling Power Management To view the Power Management status icons Power Management profiles Page Page Power Management commands Conserving battery power Displaying Battery Information Battery icon descriptions Page Displaying detailed battery information Changing the window design of Sony software Selecting the Display Mode To select the display mode Page Adding Memory Precautions and Procedures Typical expansion memory configuration Removing a Memory Module Page Page Installing a Memory Module Page Page Confirming Added Memory Capacity Page Page Overview Page Page Page Page Page DVgate application notes Digital video captures Adjusting image resolution Hard disk drive partition Page Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs Using Your Recovery CDs To use the Application Recovery CD(s) To use the Driver Recovery CD(s) Page Page Page To use the System Recovery CD(s) Page Recovering Microsoft Word Page Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Your Computer My computer does not start. My computer starts, but a BIOS error appears. Page My computer stops responding or does not shut down. The Power Management setting is not responding. Page Troubleshooting the LCD Screen Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad My mouse does not work. My touchpad does not work properly. The pointer does not move while I am using the Touchpad or Mouse. Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral Devices My floppy disk drive icon doesnt appear even though it is connected. My optical drive is not playing my disc properly. My optical disc drive tray does not open. My PC Card is not working. Troubleshooting i.LINK devices I cannot establish a connection between two VAIO computers when using an i.LINK cable. Troubleshooting Software Page Troubleshooting the Modem My modem does not work. My modem connection is slow. Troubleshooting Wireless LAN functions I cannot use the Wireless LAN functionality. The computer cannot connect to a Wireless LAN Access Point. I cannot access the Internet. The data transfer speed is slow. The communication speed is interrupted or slowed down when MPEG2 data is transferred. Data transfers are interrupted. Troubleshooting Audio My speakers have no sound. There is noise distortion while listening to music with USB speakers or USB headphones. My microphone does not work. Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media Page Page Support Options Page Software Support Information