Sony VPCF11 Troubleshooting

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Troubleshooting >

Troubleshooting

This section describes how to solve common problems you might encounter when using your VAIO computer. Many problems

have simple solutions. Try these suggestions before visiting the Sony online support web site

at the following URLs:

❑For customers in USA

http://esupport.sony.com/EN/VAIO/

❑For customers in Canada

http://sony.ca/support/

❑For customers in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries or areas

http://esupport.sony.com/ES/VAIO/LA

❑For customers in Brazil

http://esupport.sony.com/BR/

Some features and options in this section may not be available on your computer.

❑Computer Operations (page 122)

❑System Update / Security (page 128)

❑Recovery (page 130)

❑Battery Pack (page 133)

❑Built-in Camera (page 135)

❑Networking (LAN/Wireless LAN) (page 137)

❑Bluetooth Technology (page 140)

❑"TransferJet" Function (page 144)

Contents

Main Contents Page Before Use How to find specifications Finding More about Your VAIO Computer 1. Printed Documentation 2. On-screen Documentation Page 3. Support Web Sites 4. Customer Information Center 5. In Store Service & Support (available in USA only) Ergonomic Considerations Page Getting Started Locating Controls and Ports Take a moment to identify the controls and ports shown on the following pages. Front Page Right Left Back/Bottom About the Indicator Lights About the Indicator Lights Your computer is equipped with the following indicator lights: Indicator Functions Connecting a Power Source Using the AC Adapter To use the AC adapter Page Using the Battery Pack Installing/Removing the Battery Pack To install the battery pack Page To remove the battery pack Charging the Battery Pack To charge the battery pack Page Checking the Battery Charge Capacity To check the battery charge capacity Extending the Battery Life Shutting Down Your Computer Safely To shut down your computer Using the Power Saving Modes Using Sleep Mode Using Hibernate Mode To activate Hibernate mode To return to Normal mode Updating Your Computer Using Your VAIO Computer Using the Keyboard Using the Keyboard Your keyboard has additional keys that perform model-specific tasks. Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key Page Changing the Backlit Keyboard Settings To change the backlit keyboard settings Using the Touch Pad Using the Touch Pad You can point to, select, drag, and scroll objects on the screen using the touch pad. Using Special-function Buttons Using Special-function Buttons Your computer is equipped with special buttons to help you use specific functions of the computer. Special-function button Functions Using the Built-in Camera To use the preinstalled image capture software Using the Optical Disc Drive To insert a disc Page Using the Optical Disc Drive Supported Disc Media Using the Optical Disc Drive Notes on Using the Optical Disc Drive Notes on writing data to a disc Notes on playing discs Page Playing Discs To play a disc Copying Files to Discs To copy files to a disc Using "Memory Stick" Before You Use "Memory Stick" Inserting and Removing "Memory Stick" To insert "Memory Stick" To remove "Memory Stick" Formatting "Memory Stick" To format "Memory Stick" Page Notes on Using "Memory Stick" Using Other Modules / Memory Cards Using the ExpressCard Module To insert an ExpressCard module To remove an ExpressCard module Using the SD Memory Card Before you use the SD memory card To insert an SD memory card To remove an SD memory card Notes on Using Memory Cards General notes on using the memory card Notes on using the SD memory card Using the Internet Using the Network (LAN) Using the Wireless LAN Notes on Using the Wireless LAN Function General notes on using the wireless LAN function Note on the data encryption Using the Wireless LAN Function Using the Bluetooth Function To use the Bluetooth function Bluetooth Security Communicating with Another Bluetooth Device To communicate with another Bluetooth device Notes on Using the Bluetooth Function Page Using the "TransferJet" Function To start data transfer Page To end the connection between the computer and the "TransferJet" compatible device Notes on using the "TransferJet" function Using Peripheral Devices Connecting External Speakers or Headphones To connect external speakers Page Connecting a Computer Display or a Projector To connect a computer display or a projector Page Connecting a TV with an HDMI Input Port To connect a TV to your computer To connect a high-quality digital sound output device between your computer and a TV Selecting Display Modes To select a display mode with the Fn+F7 keys To select a display mode from the display settings Using the Multiple Monitors Function To use the Multiple Monitors function Connecting an External Microphone To connect an external microphone Connecting a USB Device To connect a USB device Notes on connecting a USB device Connecting an i.LINK Device Notes on connecting i.LINK devices Connecting a Digital Video Camcorder To connect a digital video camcorder Customizing Your VAIO Computer Setting the Password Setting the Power-on Password To add the power-on password (machine password) To add the power-on password (user password) To change or remove the power-on password (machine password) To change or remove the power-on password (user password) Setting the Windows Password To add the Windows password To change the Windows password To remove the Windows password Using Intel(R) VT To enable Intel VT Using the VAIO Control Center To use the VAIO Control Center Using the VAIO Power Management Selecting a Power Plan To select a power plan To change the power plan settings Changing the Display Language To install a language pack To change the display language Upgrading Your VAIO Computer Adding and Removing Memory Notes on adding/removing memory modules Page Removing and Installing a Memory Module To change or add a memory module Page Page Viewing the Amount of Memory To view the amount of memory Precautions Safety Information Computer Power Source Battery Pack Page Care and Maintenance Information Handling Your Computer Page Handling the LCD Screen Using the Power Source Handling the Built-in Camera Page Using the Battery Pack Handling "Memory Stick" Handling the Built-in Storage Device To avoid damaging your hard disk drive To avoid damaging your solid state drive Troubleshooting Page Computer Operations What should I do if my computer does not start? What should I do if the green power indicator light turns on but my screen remains blank? What should I do if my computer or software stops responding? Why doesn't my computer enter Sleep or Hibernate mode? To restore your computer to Normal mode What should I do if the charge indicator light is blinking fast and my computer does not start? Page Page System Update / Security How can I find important updates for my computer? How can I protect my computer against security threats, such as viruses? How do I keep my antivirus software updated? Recovery How can I create recovery discs? How can I restore my computer system to its factory default settings? How can I reinstall the original software and drivers? How do I check the volume of the recovery partition? How do I reduce the volume of the recovery partition? Battery Pack Page Built-in Camera Why does the viewfinder show no images or poor-quality images? Why are captured images poor in quality? What should I do if captured images contain dropped frames and audio interruptions? Page Networking (LAN/Wireless LAN) What should I do if my computer cannot connect to a wireless LAN access point? What should I do if I cannot access the Internet? Why is the data transfer speed slow? How do I avoid data transfer interruptions? What are channels? Why does the network connection stop when I change the encryption key? Bluetooth Technology What should I do if other Bluetooth devices cannot find my computer? What should I do if I cannot find the Bluetooth device I want to communicate with? What should I do if other Bluetooth devices cannot connect to my computer? Why is my Bluetooth connection slow? Why can't I use the services supported by the connected Bluetooth device? Page What should I do if I do not hear sound from my headphones or audio/video controller? "TransferJet" Function What should I do if the "TransferJet" function does not work correctly? Why is the data transfer speed slow? Optical Discs Why does my computer freeze when I try to read a disc? What should I do if the drive tray does not open? What should I do if I cannot play a disc properly on my computer? Page Page Page Display Why did my screen go blank? What should I do if I do not see proper images or videos? Why doesn't my screen display a video? What should I do if my screen is dark? Page Printing What should I do if I cannot print a document? Microphone What should I do if my microphone does not work? How can I prevent microphone feedback? Speakers What should I do if I do not hear sound from the built-in speakers? What should I do if my external speakers do not work? Touch Pad What should I do if the touch pad does not work? Keyboard What should I do if the keyboard configuration is wrong? What should I do if I cannot use the numeric keypad to enter numbers? Floppy Disks Why doesn't the Safely Remove Hardware icon appear on the taskbar when the drive is connected? What should I do if I cannot write data to a floppy disk? Audio/Video What should I do if I cannot use my digital video camcorder? How do I turn off the Windows startup sound? How do I change the sound output device? Page How do I output the Dolby Digital or DTS sound through an S/PDIF-compatible device? "Memory Stick" Peripherals What should I do if I cannot connect a USB device? Trademarks Page Notice