Sony VGN-A700 Before Use

Before Use

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® computer, and welcome to the on-screen User Guide. Sony has combined

leading-edge technology in audio, video, computing, and communications to provide state-of-the-art personal computing.

Documentation

Your Documentation contains printed information and user guides to read on your computer.

Printed Documentation

❑Welcome mat — Contains overview of connections, setting up information, etc.

❑Safety information — Contains safety guidelines and owner information.

Contents

Main Contents Page Page Page Before Use Documentation Printed Documentation Non-printed Documentation Ergonomic Considerations Page Getting Started Page VGN-A700 Series models F ront Page Bac k Right Left Bottom VGN-FS600 Series models F ront Page Page Rig ht Left Page Getting Started About the Indicator Lights Indicator Functions Connecting a Power Source Using the AC Adapter To use the AC adapter Using the Battery Pack Installing the Battery Pack Page Page Charging the Battery Pack To charge the battery pack Page Removing the Battery Pack Page Shutting Down Your Computer Safely To shut down your computer Using Your VAIO Computer Page Using Your VAIO Computer Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key Some functions are not available until Windows is launched. Combinations/Feature Functions Using the Touch Pad Using Your VAIO Computer Using Special-function Buttons Special-function button Functions Page Using the Optical Disc Drive To insert a disc Reading and Writing CDs and DVDs Notes on writing data onto a disc Notes on playing DVDs Page Copying Files to CDs To copy files to a CD-RW or CD-R Playing DVDs To play a DVD Copying Files to DVDs (on Selected Models Only) To copy files to a DVD-R or DVD-RW Using the TV Function (on Selected Models Only) Using PC Cards Inserting a PC Card To insert a PC Card Page Removing a PC Card To remove a PC Card Page Using the Memory Stick Media Write-protecting a Memory Stick Media Inserting a Memory Stick Media To insert a Memory Stick media using the Memory Stick media slot Viewing the Contents To view the contents Formatting a Memory Stick Media To format a Memory Stick media Removing a Memory Stick Media To remove a Memory Stick media using the Memory Stick media slot Using the Internet Setting Up a Dial-up Internet Connection To connect a telephone cable To set up a dial-up connection to the Internet Using Wireless LAN (WLAN) Page To communicate without an Access Point (ad-hoc) Page To disconnect from a computer-to-computer (ad-hoc) network Page To connect to a wireless network To disconnect from a wireless network Wireless LAN Channel Selection (a) With an Access Point ("Infrastructure") (b) Without an Access Point ("ad-hoc") Using Peripheral Devices Page Locating Ports on the Port Replicator A/V port replicator for VGN-A700 Series models Business port replicator for VGN-A700 Series models A/V port replicator for VGN-FS600 Series models Business port replicator for VGN-FS600 Series models Page Page Page Page Page Disconnecting Your Computer from the Port Replicator Page Page Setting Up TV Connections (on Selected Models Only) Connecting to standard cable access (CATV) Connecting to a standard antenna Page Page Connecting with a cable or satellite set-top box (STB) To connect in STB mode (Option 1) To connect in STB mode (Option 2) Using the Mouse (on Selected Models Only) Page Page Adjusting the Mouse Functions To set up your mouse for left-handed users Connecting External Speakers External speakers for VGN-A700 Series models Page Page Page External speakers for VGN-FS600 Series models To connect external speakers Using the Remote Commander Page Page Connecting an External Display Connecting a Computer Display Page Connecting a Multimedia Computer Display To connect a multimedia computer display Connecting a TV To connect a TV to the computer Page To connect a TV to the port replicator Connecting a Projector To connect a projector Selecting Display Modes To select a display Models with the ATI video controller Models with the Intel 915GM video controller Models with the NVIDIA GeForce Go 6200 video controller Using the Multiple Monitors Function To select the Multiple Monitors mode Models with the ATI video controller Models with the NVIDIA video controller Models with the Intel video controller Connecting an External Microphone To connect an external microphone Connecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device Connecting a USB Mouse To connect a USB mouse Connecting a USB Floppy Disk Drive To connect a USB floppy disk drive Disconnecting a USB floppy disk drive To disconnect a USB floppy disk drive Connecting a Printer Connecting a Printer Using the USB Port To connect a printer using the USB port Connecting a Printer Using the Printer Port To connect a printer using the printer port Connecting an i.LINK Device Notes on connecting i.LINK devices Connecting a Digital Video Camera Recorder To connect a digital video camera recorder Connecting to a Network (LAN) Page Page Setting the Password Adding the Password To add the password Page Changing/Removing the Password To change or remove the password Page Customizing Your VAIO Computer Setting Up Your Computer with VAIO Control Center To use VAIO Control Center Control item Description Page Using the Power Saving Modes Using Normal Mode Using Standby Mode To activate Standby mode To return to Normal mode To change the Standby mode settings Using Hibernate Mode To activate Hibernate mode To return to Normal mode Page Page Activating VAIO Power Management To activate VAIO Power Management To restore the default settings Activating VAIO Power Management Power Schemes To activate a VAIO Power Management power scheme Page Upgrading Your VAIO Computer Adding and Removing Memory Notes on adding/removing memory modules Page Removing and Installing a Memory Module Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Viewing the Amount of Memory To view the amount of memory Precautions On Handling the LCD Screen On Using the Power Source On Handling Your Computer Page On Handling Floppy Disks On Handling Discs On Using the Battery Pack On Using Headphones On Handling Memory Stick Media On Handling the Hard Disk To avoid damaging your hard disk Troubleshooting Computer What should I do if my computer won't start? What should I do if a BIOS error appears when my computer starts? If the message "Press <F1> to resume, <F2> to setup" appears at the bottom of the screen Page Page What should I do if my computer or software stops responding? Why won't my computer enter Standby or Hibernate mode? To restore the computer to normal operating stability Page Why is the sound of my computer's fan so loud? To lo wer the CPU s peed us ing the po wer schem es Why does the System Properties window display a slower CPU speed than the maximum? Why don't my changes appear on the computer screen (LCD)? Page Page System Security How can I protect my computer against security threats, such as viruses? To use the Automatic Updates feature To visit the Windows Updates web site How do I keep my preinstalled antivirus software updated? To download and install the latest security update Battery Why doesn't my computer enter Hibernate mode? Internet Why doesn't my modem work? Why is my modem connection slow? Networking Why can't my computer connect to a wireless LAN access point? Why can't I access the Internet? Why is the data transfer speed slow? How do I avoid data transfer interruptions? What are channels? When I change the encryption key, the network connection stops. What should I do? CDs and DVDs Why does my computer freeze when I try to read a disc? What should I do if the drive tray won't open? What should I do if the optical disc drive isn't playing my CD or DVD properly? What should I do if I cannot write to CD? What should I do if I cannot write to DVD? (on selected models only) Display Why did the computer screen (LCD) go blank? Why can't I view the entire DVD video display on a TV screen? How do I adjust the image on the TV screen? How do I change the video resolution on the TV screen? How do I switch the computer screen from LCD to TV? What should I do if the screen does not display a video? What should I do if the screen is dark? What should I do if the brightness of the screen changes? To save this preference for the brightness Printing Why can't I print a document? Page Mouse What should I do if the computer doesn't recognize the mouse? What should I do if the pointer doesn't move when I use the mouse? Page Touch Pad What should I do if the touch pad does not work? How do I change the left and right button assignments? Keyboard What should I do if the keyboard configuration is wrong? What should I do if I cannot enter certain characters with the keyboard? Floppy Disks PC Cards Audio/Video Why can't I use the DV camera recorder? Memory Stick Media Why can't I open my image files? Why can't I save music files onto my Memory Stick media? Can I copy images from a digital video camera using Memory Stick media? Peripherals What should I do if I cannot connect a USB device? Support Options Sony Support Information For users in Latin American countries or areas Customer Information Center Page Program Support Information