Sony VPCS12 Series Before Use

Before Use >

Before Use

Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® comp uter and welcome to the on-screen User Guide. Sony has

combined leading-edge technology in audio, video, co mputing, and communications to provide you with a state-of-the-art

computing experience.

External views illustrated in this manual may look slightly differe nt from those of your computer.

How to find specifications

Some features, options, and supplied items may not be avai lable on your computer.

To find out about the configuration of your computer, vis it the VAIO Link web site at http://support.vaio.sony.eu/.

Contents

Main Contents Page Before Use How to find specifications Finding More about Your VAIO Computer 1. Printed Documentation 2. On-screen Documentation 3. Support Web Sites Ergonomic Considerations Page Getting Started Locating Controls and Ports Take a moment to identify the controls and ports shown on t he 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 Keeping Your Computer in Optimum Condition Updating Your Computer Using the VAIO Care To launch the VAIO Care 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 the Built-in Camera To use the image capture software Using the Optical Disc Drive To insert a disc Page Using the Optical Disc Drive Supported Discs Using the Optical Disc Drive Notes on Using the Optical Disc Drive Notes on writing data to a disc Notes on playing discs Notes on region codes 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" Page Page 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 functio n Note on the data encryption Starting Wireless LAN Communications To start wireless LAN communications Stopping Wireless LAN Communications To stop wireless LAN communications Using the Wireless WAN Inserting a SIM Card To insert a SIM card Page Starting the Wireless WAN Communications To start the wireless WAN communications Using the Bluetooth Function Bluetooth Security Page To communicate with another Bluetooth device Page Notes on Using the Bluetooth Function Page Using Fingerprint Authentication Page Page Page Page Page Erasing the Registered Fingerprints To erase the registered fingerprints Using Peripheral Devices Connecting a Docking Station Using Peripheral Devices > Connecting a Docking Station Locating Ports on the Docking Station Attaching Your Computer to the Docking Station To attach your computer to the docking station Page Page Disconnecting Your Computer from the Docking Station To disconnect your computer from the docking station Page Connecting External Speakers or Headphones To connect external speakers Connecting an External Display 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 Page 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 Setting the Hard Disk Password To add the hard disk password To change the hard disk password To remove the hard disk 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 Protecting the Hard Disk Activating VAIO HDD Protection To activate VAIO HDD Protection 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 Safet y Infor mation Computer Power Source Battery Pack Headphones 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 Using Fingerprint Authentication 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 How can I change the boot device order? 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 media? 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 area? How do I reduce the volume of the recovery area? 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? Page 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? Wireless WAN What should I do if my computer cannot connect to the wireless WAN? 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? What should I do if the Bluetooth icon is not displayed on the taskbar? 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? 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 enter certain characters with the keyboard? Floppy Disks 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 "Memory Stick" Peripherals What should I do if I cannot connect a USB device? Docking Station Trademarks Page Notice