Sony VPCSA, VPCSE Using the VAIO Care

Getting Started >

Keeping Your Computer in Optimum Condition

Using the VAIO Care

With the VAIO Care, you can regularly conduct performance checks and tune-ups on your computer to keep it running at an

optimum level. Launch the VAIO Care whenever a problem is found on your com puter. The VAIO Care will provide

appropriate measures to solve the problem.

To launch the VAIO Care

Press the ASSIST button while your computer is on.

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See the help file included with the VAIO Car e for more information.

Pressing the ASSIST button while the computer is off launches the VAIO Care Res cue. The VAIO Care Rescue can be used to recover you r computer

in case of emergency, for example, when the Windows does not start.

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 the following pages. Front Page Page Right Left Bottom (with the bottom cover) Bottom (without the bottom cover) 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 Page To remove the battery pack Page Page Charging the Battery Pack To charge the battery pack About the use of an extended battery pack 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 Antivirus Software for Your Computer Using the VAIO Care To launch the VAIO Care Using Your VAIO Computer Using the Keyboard Combinations and Functions with the Fn Key Using the Keyboard Combination/Feature Function 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 us ing the touch pad. Using Special-function Buttons Using the Quick Web Access Function Activating the Quick Web Access Function To activate the Quick Web Access function Exiting the Quick Web Access Function Notes on Using the Quick Web Access Function Using the Built-in Camera To make a video call using Windows Live Messenger To display images from the built-in camera 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" Inserting and Removing "Memory Stick" To insert "Memory Stick" 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 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 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 Page Page 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 Registering a Fingerprint To register a fingerprint Page Page Logging Onto Windows To log onto Windows Using the TPM Important Notice Notes on encrypting the operating system or program files Notes on encrypting key files or files on the Personal Secure Drive Notes on encrypting backup files or other files Page Configuring the TPM To enable the TPM in the BIOS setup screen To install the Infineon TPM Professional Package To initialize and configure the TPM Using BitLocker Drive Encryption with the TPM Notes on using BitLocker Drive Encryption To unlock the encrypted data with a recovery key stored on a USB flash memory device Page Using Peripheral Devices Using Peripheral Devices > Connecting a Port Replicator Connecting a Port Replicator Locating Ports on the Port Replicator Attaching Your Computer to the Port Replicator To attach your computer to the port replicator Page Page Page Disconnecting Your Computer from the Port Replicator To disconnect your computer from the port replicator 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 Page To play Blu-ray 3D Disc media Page 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 a USB Device To connect a USB device Notes on connecting a USB device Customizing Your VAIO Computer Selecting Performance Modes Page 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 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 Data from Unauthorized Use Disabling Built-in Devices To disable built-in devices Protecting the Hard Disk Upgrading Your VAIO Computer Adding and Removing Memory Notes on adding 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 I nformatio n Computer Power Source Battery Pack Headphones Care and Maintenance Information Handling Your Computer Page Handling the LCD Screen Using the Power Source Page Page Using the Battery Pack Handling "Memory Stick" Handling the Built-in Storage Device To avoid damaging your built-in storage device Using Fingerprint Authentication Using the TPM 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 do I schedule the installation of Windows updates to my computer? Recovery / Recovery Media 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? Page Parti tion How can I create a hard disk partition? Battery Pack Can my computer enter Hibernate mode while running on battery power? Why can't I fully charge my battery pack? Built-in Camera Why does the viewfinder show no images or poor-quality images? Why is the video input from the built-in camera suspended for a few seconds? Why are captured images poor in quality? Page Networking (LAN/Wireless LAN) What should I do if the VAIO Smart Network icon is not displayed on the taskbar? 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? 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? Page 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 What should I do if I cannot write data to CD media? What should I do if I cannot write data to DVD media? Page Display Why did my screen go blank? What should I do if I do not see proper images or videos? Page Why doesn't my screen display a video? How do I change the LCD brightness? What should I do if my screen is dark? Why does the LCD brightness change automatically? What should I do if the external display remains blank? How do I run Windows Aero? 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? Why is sound from the built-in speakers distorted? 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? What should I do if I cannot use the numeric keypad to enter numbers? Floppy Disks What should I do if I cannot write data to a floppy disk? Audio/Video 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? What should I do if I cannot use a peripheral device? Trademarks Page Notice