Sony PCG-SRX87 User Manual

Welcome Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO® computer, and welcome to the VAIO User Guide. This User Guide provides detailed informatio

Using the Jog Dial Control Your computer is equipped with a Jog Dial control on the bottom center portion of the unit. The Jog Dial control enablesy

Using the Multilingual User Interface Language Option (Windows® XP Pro only) After you have initially setup your new VAIO computer, you have the abili

To Change the Language Option 1.Click Start in the Windows taskbar, then click Control Panel. 2.Click "Date, Time, Language and Regional Options&

To Change Numbers, Currency, Time, and Date Formats You can change the system's number, currency, time and date formats to coordinate with your c

Adding Memory In the future you may want to install memory modules to expand the functionality of your computer. See the Specificationsflyer supplied

Precautions and Procedures The procedures described below assume familiarity with the general terminology associated with personal computers andwith t

Typical expansion memory configuration Total System Memory (MB) On board (MB) Slot (MB) 128 128 0 256 128 128 Page 105

Installing a Memory Module To add a memory module, proceed as follows: 1.Turn off the computer and all peripheral devices. 2.Disconnect the power cord

13.Snap the connectors into place when the board is correctly seated. 14.Close the computer cover and replace the three (3) fastening screws on the bo

Removing a Memory Module 1.Turn off the computer and all peripheral devices. 2.Disconnect the power cord and all cables from the computer, and remove

12.Close the computer cover and replace the three (3) fastening screws on the bottom of the computer. Page 109

Launcher mode The Jog Dial control window is in launcher mode until a software application is launched or the Jog Dial control windowbecomes active. W

Confirming Added Memory Capacity 1.Turn on the computer. 2.Click Start on the Windows® taskbar, point to All Programs, and then click Sony Notebook Se

About the Software on Your Computer Your VAIO® computer is ready to help you work, play, learn, and communicate as soon as you turn it on. This sectio

Software Overview Your computer may not be supplied with all of the software listed below, depending on the configuration you purchased.Preinstalled s

Sony's original MovieShaker software creates personal movies that have transitions, background music and text. Justimport your video clips and &q

WinDVD® InterVideo Inc. WinDVD is a simple-to-use DVD player including all the features you would expect to find in a standard consumer DVDplayer, whi

Software Support Information Adobe Acrobat® Reader , Photoshop® Elements (Adobe Systems, Inc.) Web site http://www.adobe.com/ phone 206-675-6126 (f

phone 800-644-3193 hours 7 days a week, 24 hours a day RealPlayer (Real Networks, Inc.) Web site(s) http://service.real.com/rjoptions.html http://se

Sony Service Center For the Sony Service Center nearest you, call 1-888-4-SONY-PC (1-888-476-6972) or find Sony Computing Service on theWeb at: http:/

Using the Recovery CDs This section provides you with details on your Sony Application Recovery and System Recovery CDs. Application and System Recov

Application and System Recovery CDs Your computer comes with the following Application Recovery and System Recovery CDs. You will need an optical disc

Guide mode The Jog Dial control window is in the guide mode when software is in use and the software window is active. Depending onthe software you ar

Using Your Recovery CDs The following sections describe how to use the Application Recovery and System Recovery utilities. Page 120

To use the Application Recovery CD(s) The Application Recovery CD utility enables you to reinstall individual software applications, device drivers, a

To use the System Recovery CD(s) The System Recovery CD(s) enables you to format your hard disk drive and restores all original software applications.

Your system may include one or more System Recovery CDs. If you have more than one System Recovery CDs,insert the first CD to run the System Reco

Troubleshooting This section describes how to solve common problems you may encounter when using your computer. Many problems havesimple solutions, so

Troubleshooting Your Computer My computer does not start. Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is turned on. Make sure the powe

Troubleshooting Your Computer My computer does not start. Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is turned on. Make sure the powe

My computer starts but a BIOS error appears. When the internal backup battery is low on power, your system may not start properly, and the message &qu

My computer starts, but the message "Operating system not found" appears, and Windows does not start. If you have connected a docking stati

My computer stops responding or does not shut down. It is best to turn off your computer using the Turn Off Computer command on the Windows Start menu

To use the Jog Dial control with Sony software If Sony software that supports the Jog Dial control is active, you can use the Jog Dial's functi

The power management does not respond. Your computer's operating system may become unstable if a lower power state, such as Hibernate, is initiat

The sound of my computer's fan is too loud. Use the PowerPanel utility to change the Thermal Control Strategy setting to Quiet. This setting sl

Why does the System Properties dialog box display a slower CPU speed than advertised? This is normal. Because your computer's CPU uses a type of

Troubleshooting the LCD Screen My LCD screen is blank. Verify the computer is plugged into a power source and is turned on. Verify the power indicat

Troubleshooting the LCD Screen My LCD screen is blank. Verify the computer is plugged into a power source and is turned on. Verify the power indicat

My LCD screen continues to show the previous screen. Press the Windows key and D twice to refresh the screen. Page 135

The image on my connected external display is not centered or sized properly. Use the controls on your external display to adjust the image. See the m

I want to change the video resolution of my display. 1.Click Start on the taskbar, and then Control Panel. 2.Click Appearance and Themes, and then cli

Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad My mouse does not work. Make sure the mouse is securely plugged into the USB port. See Connecting a USB Mouse

Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad My mouse does not work. Make sure the mouse is securely plugged into the USB port. See Connecting a USB Mouse

To use the Jog Dial control with other software If the software you are using does not support the Jog Dial control, you can still perform the followi

My touchpad does not work properly. You may have disabled the touchpad without connecting a mouse to the computer. To enable the touchpad: 1.Press th

The pointer does not move when I use the Touchpad or Mouse. You should restart your computer. Follow these steps: 1.Press the Windows key. 2.Press U

Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards, and Peripheral Devices My floppy disk drive icon doesn't appear even though it is connected. Make sure the flo

Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards, and Peripheral Devices My floppy disk drive icon doesn't appear even though it is connected. Make sure the flo

My floppy disk drive cannot write to a floppy disk. If the floppy disk is write-protected, disable the write-protect feature or use a floppy disk tha

My optical drive is not playing my CD or DVD properly. Make sure the disc label is facing up. If the disc requires software, make sure the software

Why does it take longer for the optical disc drive to read some types of CDs? The reading speed for a CD-RW is slower than the reading speed for a CD-

My optical drive tray does not open. Make sure the computer is turned on. Press the Eject button on the optical drive. If the Eject button does not

I cannot use Digital Video (DV) devices. The message "DV equipment seems to be disconnected or turnedoff" appears. Make sure the DV device

My PC Card does not work. Make sure the PC Card is installed properly. Make sure the PC Card is compatible with the Microsoft® Windows® operating sy

Internal timer You can use the internal timer to start an application at a specific time. The timer, when set, can launch applications evenwhen the co

Troubleshooting the Software My software program stops responding or crashes. Contact the software publisher or designated provider for technical supp

Troubleshooting the Software My software program stops responding or crashes. Contact the software publisher or designated provider for technical supp

When I click an application icon, the message "You must insert the Application CD into your optical drive"appears, and the software does not

The application cannot find a file while a PC Card is inserted. When inserted into a computer that is connected to the docking station, some PC Cards

What software do I use for CD-R/CD-RW software functions? Use the preinstalled SonicStage software's Record function to create CDs on your VAIO®

I cannot use the DVgate software. If your computer is using the Ultimate Battery Life profile for its power saving mode, you cannot use DVgate or Sm

Troubleshooting i.LINK Devices I cannot establish a connection between two VAIO computers when using an i.LINK cable. 1.Disconnect the i.LINK®1 cable

Troubleshooting i.LINK Devices I cannot establish a connection between two VAIO computers when using an i.LINK cable. 1.Disconnect the i.LINK®1 cable

Troubleshooting the Modem My modem does not work. Make sure the telephone cable is plugged into the cable jack. See Connecting a Phone Line for more

Troubleshooting the Modem My modem does not work. Make sure the telephone cable is plugged into the cable jack. See Connecting a Phone Line for more

Using Memory Stick Media This new compact, portable, and versatile recording medium has a data capacity exceeding that of a floppy disk. The mediais s

My modem connection is slow. Your computer is equipped with a V.90 compatible modem. Many factors may influence modem connection speed, includingtelep

Troubleshooting Audio My speakers have no sound. If the built-in speakers are turned off, press Fn+F3 or use the center Jog Dial Control to turn on

Troubleshooting Audio My speakers have no sound. If the built-in speakers are turned off, press Fn+F3 or use the center Jog Dial Control to turn on

There is noise distortion while listening to music with USB speakers or USB headphones. Use the preinstalled PowerPanel software to set the CPU cont

My microphone does not work. If you are using an external microphone, make sure the microphone is plugged into the Microphone jack. See "Connecti

Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media I cannot open image files. If the Sony MemoryStick dialog box does not appear when you first insert a Memory Stick

Troubleshooting Memory Stick Media I cannot open image files. If the Sony MemoryStick dialog box does not appear when you first insert a Memory Stick

Memory Stick media does not work. I cannot access the removable drive. To locate the Memory Stick media icon in your My Computer folder 1.Click the Vi

Troubleshooting Wireless LAN functions The computer cannot connect to a Wireless LAN Access Point. Connection availability is affected by distance and

Troubleshooting Wireless LAN functions The computer cannot connect to a Wireless LAN Access Point. Connection availability is affected by distance and

Types of Memory Stick media Two types of Memory Stick® media are available. The first type, MagicGate Memory Stick media (hereafter referred asMG M

I cannot access the Internet. Make sure the Wireless LAN switch on the computer is in the ON position or the Wireless LAN PC Card is properlyinserted

The data transfer speed is slow. The Wireless LAN data transfer speed is affected by distance and obstructions between devices and access points.Othe

The communication speed is interrupted or slowed down when MPEG2 data is transferred. The typical effective data transfer speed via an access point is

Data transfers are interrupted. Data transfer interruptions may occur with large files or use of microwaves and cordless telephones when connected to

Troubleshooting the Printer I cannot print. Make sure the printer is on, and the printer cable is securely connected to both the printer and your com

Troubleshooting the Printer I cannot print. Make sure the printer is on, and the printer cable is securely connected to both the printer and your com

Getting Help Sony provides you with several support resources to answer questions about your VAIO® computer or the preinstalledsoftware. Refer to thes

Support Options If you have questions about your computer or the preinstalled software, refer to the following sources for answers in thesequence list

To view the contents of Memory Stick media To see the contents, do the following: 1.Click Start on the Windows® taskbar, and select My Computer. 2.Und

VisualFlow VisualFlow software is a state-of-the-art Sony multimedia browser designed specifically for Memory Stick media. To use VisualFlow 1.From th

Using Your VAIO Computer This section describes the following aspects of your new computer: Using the Keyboard Using VAIO Action Setup Using the Jo

Notes on using Memory Stick media When the media's write-protect tab is set to LOCK, data cannot be recorded or erased. Before using Memory Sti

Using PC Cards Your computer includes a PC Card slot. PC Cards enable you to connect portable external devices, such as an optical discdrive. The

To insert PC card You do not need to shut down the computer before inserting or removing a PC Card. 1.Insert the PC Card into the PC Card slot wi

To remove a PC Card Follow the procedure below when you remove the PC Card while your computer is on. Failure to follow this procedure mayresult in a

Notes on PC Cards For some PC Cards, if you alternate between normal power operation and the Standby or Hibernate powermanagement modes while the car

Using Power Saving Modes When you use a battery as the source of power for your computer, you can take advantage of power management settingsto conser

Normal mode Normal mode is the normal state of your computer when it is in use. The power indicator displays green when yourcomputer is in this mode.

Standby mode In Standby Mode the computer saves the current state of the system in RAM and switches off power to the CPU. The amberpower indicator fla

Hibernate mode In the Hibernate mode, the state of the system is saved on the hard disk drive and power is turned off. The power indicatoris off in th

Notes on power saving modes Standby uses more power than Hibernate. Standby requires less time than Hibernate to return to normal mode. Page 29

Using the Keyboard Your keyboard is very similar to a typewriter's, but your computer keyboard has additional keys that perform specificcomputer-

Connecting a Phone Line You need to connect a phone cable (not supplied) to take advantage of online services and the Internet. In order to regist

How to connect a phone cable 1.Open the phone line jack cover, located on the left side of the computer near the front. Use care when opening the

Connecting to a LAN You can connect your computer to 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX-type Local Area Networks (LANs) by using the computer'sEthernet port

To connect to a network 1.Click Start, select My Computer, and click My Network Places under the Other Places header. 2.Click "Add a network plac

Connecting to a Wireless LAN Your computer is equipped with a built-in mini PCI card that allows for wireless connections. With Sony's Wireless L

Turning On Wireless LAN To enable Wireless LAN functionality, first locate the Wireless LAN switch that is located on the left side of the computer,ab

The Wireless LAN Access Point The Wireless LAN Access Point, which is also called the Access Point, is designed for building a Wireless LAN environmen

Communicating with Access Point (infrastructure) An infrastructure network is one that extends an existing wired local network to wireless devices by

Communicating without Access Point (ad-hoc) An ad-hoc network is one in which a local network is created only by the wireless devices themselves, with

16.Click OK. Page 39

Functions of the keyboard keys Key Description Numeric keypad area Contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the numeric keypad area to t

Turning Off Wireless LAN To turn off Wireless LAN functionality, locate the Wireless LAN switch that is located on the left side of the computer, abov

Notes on using Wireless LAN Sony Wireless LAN devices support the IEEE802.11b standard. Devices connecting to a Wireless LAN using theIEEE802.11a sta

Connecting Peripheral Devices You can add functionality to your computer by connecting a variety of peripherals, as discussed in the following section

Connecting a Floppy Disk Drive You can connect an optional floppy disk drive (FDD) to the USB port on your computer. Page 43

To connect the floppy disk drive You do not need to shut down the computer before connecting or disconnecting the floppy disk drive. Before remov

To insert a floppy disk 1.Hold the floppy disk with the label side facing up. 2.Gently push the floppy disk into the drive until it clicks into place.

To remove a floppy disk When you finish using the floppy disk, wait until the LED indicator light turns off, and then press the Eject button toremove

To remove the floppy disk drive when the computer is on 1.Double-click the Remove Hardware icon in the task tray. 2.The "Unplug or Eject Hardwar

To carry the floppy disk drive Fold the floppy disk cable into the compartment on the right side. Page 48

Notes on handling floppy disks Do not open the shutter manually and touch the surface of the disk. Keep disks away from magnets. Keep disks away fr

Combinations and functions with the Windows key Combination Function + F1 Displays VAIO® Help and Support Center. + Tab Switches the selected butto

Connecting an i.LINK Optical Disc Drive You can use an optional i.LINK®1 optical disc drive, such as a Sony DVD-ROM or CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive (PCGA-CRW

To connect an i.LINK optical disc drive Use a VAIO® Computer Peripheral Cable (supplied with the i.LINK drive) to connect the optical disc drive to th

Notes on using i.LINK optical disc drives You can use the supplied Application Recovery and System Recovery CDs with an i.LINK optical disc drive. Se

Connecting a PC Card Bus Drive You can use an optional optical drive, such as a Sony DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive (PCGA-51/A), with your computer. If youus

To connect an optical drive Procedures for connecting an optical drive may vary, depending on the specific drive you purchase. See the manual supplied

To insert a disc 1.Press the Eject button. The disc tray slides out. Optical Drive 2.Place the disc in the tray with the label side facing up. 3.Pus

To remove the drive Remove the PC Card from the computer. See To remove the floppy disk drive when the computer is on for moreinformation. Page 56

Notes on CD and DVD discs Handling CD or DVD discs Do not touch the surface of the disc. Do not drop or bend the disc. Avoid using adhesive labels

Connecting a USB Mouse You can connect an optional USB mouse, such as the Sony PCGA-UMS1 series, to your computer. Page 58

To connect a USB mouse Plug the mouse cable into the USB port. PCGA-UMS1 series drivers have already been installed. Connecting a USB Mouse A s

Indicators Indicator Function Power Light is green when the power to the computer is turned on, flashes amber in Standby mode, and turns offwhen the

Connecting VAIO Computers Connecting with i.LINK You can use an optional i.LINK®1 cable to connect your VAIO® computer to another VAIO computer that h

Connecting VAIO Computers Connecting with i.LINK You can use an optional i.LINK®1 cable to connect your VAIO® computer to another VAIO computer that h

Connecting an i.LINK AV Device Your VAIO® computer includes an i.LINK®1 S400 (IEEE1394) port, which you can use to connect a compatible i.LINKaudiovis

one end and a 6-pin connector at the other), and VMC-IL4435A (a 3.5-meter cable with a 4-pin connector at eachend). You can purchase these cables from

Connecting an External Display You can connect an external display to your VAIO® computer. For example, you can use the computer with any of thefollow

To connect a computer display 1.First make sure the display adapter is connected to the computer. 2.Connect the computer display's VGA adapter to

To connect a projector You can use a projector as an external display, such as the Sony LCD Projector. You can connect a projector using the supplied

Connecting a USB Printer You can connect a Windows® compatible USB printer to your computer to print documents. To use a printer, first install t

To connect a printer Plug the optional USB printer cable into the USB port on your computer and the USB port on your printer. You can alsoconnect the

Connecting an External Microphone You can enhance the quality of sound input by using an external microphone. Make sure your microphone is design

Combinations and functions with the Fn key If you switch user identities during a computing session, the Fn+F7 key functionality (if available on

To connect an external microphone Use the symbol to locate the red-colored Microphone jack. Plug the microphone cable into this jack. Connecting a

To record from a microphone or audio equipment You can record messages, memos, or other recordings in analog by connecting a microphone or other audio

To switch the microphone jack functionality To switch the Microphone jack functionality for use with a microphone or an audio device: 1.Double-click

To adjust sound volume in the Recording Control window When Microphone or Stereo Out are not displayed in the Recording Control window, do the followi

To increase the sound of the microphone 1.Double-click on the task tray located in the lower right corner of the Desktop window. If Microphone is not

To adjust sound device volume You can adjust the sound device volume for playing or recording. To adjust the volume when playing, double-click in the

Connecting External Speakers You can enhance the sound quality of your computer by connecting external speakers. Page 76

To connect external speakers Use the symbol to locate the Headphone jack. Plug the speaker cable into this jack. Connecting external speakers Page

Notes on using external speakers Make sure that the speakers you purchased are designed for computer use. Before you turn on the speakers, turn down

Expanding Your Computer's Capabilities The following peripheral devices can be connected to your computer, to expand the capabilities of your com

Using VAIO Action Setup VAIO Action Setup manages the settings for your computer's Jog Dial control, Memory Stick® media, and i.LINK®interface

Personal Digital Assistant A handheld PDA is the quintessential personal planner and entertainment center that fits in your pocket. With a PDA, youcan

The Wireless LAN Access Point The Wireless LAN Access Point, which is also called the Access Point, is designed for building a wireless LAN (Local Are

Customizing Your VAIO Computer You can customize the settings of your computer. The following sections briefly describe how to change your computer&ap

Displaying the Sony Notebook Setup Screen See the manual supplied with your computer display for more information on its installation and use. To

Sony Notebook Setup tabs Tab Description About This Computer Display system information, including memory capacity, serial number, and BIOS version.

Controlling Power Management The PowerPanel utility enables you to control the power management of your computer, and provides key informationabout

To view the Power Management status icons The Power Management status icons are displayed on the taskbar. Move the pointer over the icons to see the t

To access PowerPanel Help 1.Click Start, point to All Programs, and select PowerPanel. 2.Click Help. The PowerPanel Help window appears. To customize

Power Management profiles The PowerPanel utility provides several predefined power management profiles. Each profile consists of a group of powerman

Power Management commands PowerPanel also provides power management commands that you can use to activate specific power managementfunctions and to

VAIO Action Setup functions Jog Dial — Changing the Jog Dial setting Memory Stick — Changing the Memory Stick media insertion setting i.LINK — Chan

Conserving battery power When using the computer with a battery, the LCD display and the hard disk drive can be set to switch off automatically tocons

Displaying Battery Information You can display information for the battery on your computer. The following sections briefly describe how to display yo

To display the Battery Information window 1.Double-click the current Profile icon on the taskbar. The Battery Information window appears. 2.For additi

To display the Battery Information toolbar 1.Right-click the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and select Battery Information. 2.The Battery Information too

To close the Battery Information toolbar 1.Right-click the Battery Information toolbar, and point to Toolbars. 2.Click to deselect Battery Information

Battery icon descriptions Battery icon Battery status Charging Fully charged Discharging No battery Page 95

Displaying detailed battery information Double-click the battery icon on the task tray to display the Battery Information window. The screen appears d

Changing the window design of Sony software To change the window design 1.Click the Start button, then select Control Panel. 2.In the left window pane

Selecting the Display Mode This notebook uses the Intel® video controller, which enables you to select the desired display when the notebook isconnect

To select the display mode 1.Click Start, then point to Control Panel. 2.Click Display to access the Display Properties window. 3.Click the Settings t