Sony VAIO MicroTower User Manual

iVAIO MicroTower User Guide®®

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3Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTowerYour VAIO MicroTower comes with the software titles preinstalled on your hard disk drive. Just follow these simple ste

VAIO MicroTower User Guide4❑Furniture and posture—Sit in a chair with good back support and armrests. Adjust the level of the chair so your feet are f

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower5Connecting the Sony Multimedia Computer DisplayThe Sony Multimedia Computer Display (sold separately) is an integrated

VAIO MicroTower User Guide6Connecting a Display, Speakers, and a MicrophoneIf you did not purchase the Sony Multimedia Computer Display, you need spea

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower7Connecting the Optional PalmrestThe keyboard that comes with your computer is equipped with an optional palmrest that

VAIO MicroTower User Guide8Connecting the Keyboard and MouseFollow these steps to connect the keyboard and mouse.1Use the dark grey symbol to locate

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower9Connecting the Phone Line and PhoneYou need to connect a phone line to take advantage of online services, the Internet

VAIO MicroTower User Guide10Connecting the Power CordsFollow these steps to connect the power cords.1Plug the power cord into the connector on the com

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower11Connecting PeripheralsYou can add functionality to your computer by connecting any of the following peripherals.* Som

Notice to Users© 1998 Sony Electronics Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. This manua

VAIO MicroTower User Guide12Connecting a Television (Audio/Video Out) Connecting a television to your computer enables you to send audio and video fro

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower133Plug the green audio plug from the display cable into the connector on the audio splitter cable . Then use the red

VAIO MicroTower User Guide143Plug the speaker cable into the connector on the audio splitter cable . CABCBack of TVCable from DisplayAudio splitter no

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower15Connecting a PrinterYou can connect a printer to your computer to print documents from your computer.1Use the dark gr

VAIO MicroTower User Guide16Connecting a Joystick or MIDI InstrumentYou can connect a joystick or MIDI instrument to your computer. You can also purch

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower17Connecting an i.LINK (IEEE-1394) Equipped DeviceSome models of the VAIO MicroTower include i.LINK (IEEE-1394) connec

VAIO MicroTower User Guide18Connecting an S/PDIF Equipped Digital Audio DeviceSome models of the VAIO MicroTower include an S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digi

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower19Connecting an S-Link (Control A1) Equipped DeviceSome models of the VAIO MicroTower include an S-Link (Control A1) c

VAIO MicroTower User Guide20Connecting a Universal Serial Bus DeviceYou can connect Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices to your computer. There is one

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower21Connecting a Digital Still Camera or Other Serial PeripheralYou can connect other computer peripherals, such as Sony’

Regulatory InformationThis equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC

VAIO MicroTower User Guide22Starting Your ComputerAfter you connect all the cables and accessories to your computer, you are ready to turn on the comp

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower23Registering Windows® 98 The first time you turn on your computer, you need to complete a few steps to register and co

VAIO MicroTower User Guide24Registering Your ComputerTake advantage of Sony’s commitment to quality customer support and receive these benefits by reg

Setting Up Your VAIO MicroTower25Using the Standby ModeWhen you are done using your computer, you can put it in standby mode rather than turn it off c

VAIO MicroTower User Guide26Shutting Down Your ComputerWhen you’re ready to turn off your computer for an extended period of time, use the following p

27Getting Started With VAIO Space VAIO Space is Sony’s original utility that organizes the preinstalled applications on your VAIO MicroTower, making i

VAIO MicroTower User Guide28VAIO Space CentersThere are five centers within VAIO Space, as follows: Center Name and Icon Contains DescriptionSoftware

Getting Started With VAIO Space29Navigating through VAIO SpaceTo go to a center within VAIO Space1Move the mouse pointer over an icon on the VAIO Laun

VAIO MicroTower User Guide30VAIO Space ControlsButton FunctionGoes to the previous screen or page in a sequence. Unavailable until you go to another s

Getting Started With VAIO Space31Using the Software Center To launch the Software Center1Move the mouse pointer over the Software Center icon on the V

This equipment cannot be used on telephone-company-provided coin service. Connection to Party Line Service is subject to state tariffs.Repair of the m

VAIO MicroTower User Guide32Using the Audio-Video Center The Audio-Video Center includes the following programs:For details on using the application,

Getting Started With VAIO Space33Using the Online Center To launch the Online Center1Move the mouse pointer over the Online Center icon on the VAIO La

VAIO MicroTower User Guide34Using the Tool Center Using Tool Center Tools1Move the mouse pointer over the Tool Center icon on the VAIO Launcher. 2Clic

Getting Started With VAIO Space35Using the Help Center To launch the Help Center: 1Move the mouse pointer over the Help Center icon on the VAIO Launch

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37Getting HelpSony provides several support options for your Sony computer. When you have questions about your computer and the preinstalled software,

VAIO MicroTower User Guide387Sony Fax-on-Demand This service provides you with answers to commonly asked questions. You can use this automated service

Getting Help39Calling SOSThe SOS application enables you to exchange information with a Sony Customer Support Representative (CSR). Here’s how it work

VAIO MicroTower User Guide40customer support representative until you give the CSR access to your computer.4Click the Call SOS button. The confirmatio

Getting Help41TroubleshootingThis section describes how to solve common problems you may encounter when using your computer. Many problems have simple

vContentsWelcome...1About the User Guide...

VAIO MicroTower User Guide42My DVD-ROM drive tray wont open❑Make sure the computer is turned on.❑Press the Eject button on the drive.❑Double-click th

Getting Help43When I double-click an application icon, a message such as You must insert the application CD into your CD-ROM drive appears and the s

VAIO MicroTower User Guide44My modem connection is slowThe computer’s modem uses K56flex™ technology/V.90. Many factors influence modem connection spe

Getting Help45My microphone is too sensitive to background noiseIf you find there is too much background noise when you record sound, you should adjus

VAIO MicroTower User Guide46My keyboard doesnt workCheck that the keyboard is plugged into the USB connector. See “Connecting the Keyboard and Mouse”

Getting Help47Using the System Recovery CD(s) You can reinstall software titles that shipped with your computer if they are corrupted or accidentally

VAIO MicroTower User Guide48To use the System Recovery CD(s)1Insert the Sony System Recovery CD in the DVD-ROM drive.2Shut down your computer as descr

Getting Help49Using the Application Recovery CD(s)The Application Recovery CD(s) allows you to reinstall individual applications and device drivers if

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51Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTowerIn the future you may want to install additional boards to expand the functionality of your computer.

VAIO MicroTower User GuideviGetting Started With VAIO Space... 27Starting VAIO S

VAIO MicroTower User Guide52Inserting an Add-in BoardYou can add up to two additional PCI boards to the system.To insert an add-in board1Shut down you

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower536Install the add-in board by plugging it into the expansion slot on the system board. Attach any inter

VAIO MicroTower User Guide54Adding MemoryIn order to increase your computer's memory, you may need to remove one of the factory-installed DIMMs a

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower558Align the DIMM over the socket.9Firmly insert the bottom edge of the DIMM into the socket.10Press eve

VAIO MicroTower User Guide56Replacing the Lithium BatteryAfter several years, when the lithium battery starts to weaken, the system settings stored in

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower576Replace the bottom and left-side panels, as described on pages 68 and 70, respectively.7To run the Se

VAIO MicroTower User Guide58Installing an Internal Hard Disk DriveYour VAIO MicroTower comes with an available bay to hold an additional hard disk dri

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower597Slide the drive holder forward and then out. 8Place the drive holder upside down on top of the power

VAIO MicroTower User Guide609Slide the new drive into the drive holder and align the holes on each side of the drive bay. 10Secure the drive to the dr

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower6113Place the drive holder against the inside of the front chassis and slide it back. Be sure to align t

ContentsviiComputer Basics ...71Using the Keyboard...

VAIO MicroTower User Guide62Your computer automatically recognizes the new drive and configures itself accordingly when you turn it on. Format and par

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower63Removing the Left-Side PanelTo remove the left-side panel1Remove the two screws that secure the panel

VAIO MicroTower User Guide64Removing the Bottom PanelTo remove the bottom panel1Remove the screw that secures the bottom panel to the chassis.2Pull th

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower65Removing the Front PanelTo remove the front panel1Open the CD tray by inserting a thin, pointed object

VAIO MicroTower User Guide66Detaching the Diskette DriveTo detach the diskette drive1Remove the front panel, as described on page 65.2Remove the two s

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower67Replacing the Diskette DriveTo replace the diskette drive1Push the diskette drive straight into the dr

VAIO MicroTower User Guide68Replacing the Bottom PanelTo replace the bottom panel1Align the bottom panel with the screw hole on the bottom of the chas

Upgrading and Maintaining Your VAIO MicroTower69Replacing the Front PanelTo replace the front panel1Push the front panel straight onto the front of th

VAIO MicroTower User Guide70Replacing the Left-Side PanelTo replace the left-side panel1Slide the panel forward until it stops.2Replace the two screws

71Computer BasicsUsing the KeyboardYour keyboard is very similar to a typewriter’s, but the keyboard has additional buttons that perform specific comp

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VAIO MicroTower User Guide72Numeric keypad Contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the numeric keypad to type numbers or to perform mathe

Computer Basics73The keyboard also has three lights: Changing the Function of the Programmable ButtonsYou can change the function of the programmable

VAIO MicroTower User Guide74Using the MouseUsing a mouse may be difficult at first, but after you become comfortable using it, you can save a lot of t

Computer Basics75Setting Up the Mouse for Left-Hand UseYou can control the mouse with your right or left hand. When you use the mouse with your left-h

VAIO MicroTower User Guide76Using the DVD-ROM DriveTo use the drive1Press the Eject button on the front panel of the computer. The tray slides out. 2P

Computer Basics77Using the Diskette DriveMost diskettes contain a write-protect tab. The write-protect tab prevents accidental changes to a diskette.

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79Other InformationNotes on UseOn the Power Source❑Your computer operates on 100–120 V AC 50/60 Hz for North American countries.❑The total power draw

VAIO MicroTower User Guide80❑If you live in an area that experiences frequent power fluctuations, you may want to purchase a UPS (Uninterrupted Power

Other Information81On Handling❑Clean the cabinet with a soft, dry cloth or a soft cloth lightly moistened with a mild detergent solution. Do not use a

1WelcomeCongratulations on your purchase of the Sony VAIO® MicroTower Computer. Sony has combined leading-edge technology in audio, video, computing,

VAIO MicroTower User Guide82❑Your computer, keyboard, and mouse consist of high-precision electronic parts. Do not drop them or bump them against othe

Other Information83❑When removing a slot cover, be careful not to damage components on the system board or add-in cards. You may need to temporarily r

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85Limited Warranty StatementThe limited warranty on your VAIO MicroTower covers parts and labor against defects in material or workmanship for a perio

VAIO MicroTower User Guide86If you do not qualify for on-site warranty service or choose not to take advantage of any applicable on-site warranty serv

87IndexAaccessing online support 24add-in boards 5253adding additional hardware 1121add-in boards 5253precaution 80adding additional softwareproble

VAIO MicroTower User Guide88shutting down 26, 80starting 22problems with 41upgrading 51, 82connectorsadditional components 1121keyboard 8mouse 8Multi

Index89indicator lightskeyboard 73input devices iiisetting up 3INSERT key 72inserting diskettes into drive 77installing additional hardware 1121add-i

VAIO MicroTower User Guide90connecting 9service precautions 82playingCDs 42point (defined) 74power cords 79disconnecting 80power fluctuations or loss

Index91Tool Center,using 34troubleshooting 41turning off your computer 26, 80turning on your computer 22problems with 41TV interference iii, 81UUniver