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Sony VAIO PCG-FXA32 Quick Start Manual

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PCG-FXA36/PCG-FXA33/PCG-FXA32

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Summary of Contents for Sony VAIO PCG-FXA32

  • Page 1 ® VAIO Notebook Quick Start PCG-FXA36/PCG-FXA33/PCG-FXA32...
  • Page 2 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Welcome...5 Unpacking Your Notebook ...7 Registering Your Notebook ...9 Setting up your dial-up connection ...10 Setting Up Your VAIO Notebook...13 Locating Controls and Connectors ...14 Connecting a Power Source ...19 Starting Your Notebook ...25 Shutting Down Your Notebook...26 Power Saving Modes...27 About the Software on Your Notebook ...29 Software Overview...30 Application, Driver, and System Recovery CDs...35...
  • Page 4 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Troubleshooting...49 Troubleshooting Your Notebook ... 50 Troubleshooting the LCD Screen ... 54 Troubleshooting the Mouse and Touchpad ... 55 Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral Devices ... 57 Troubleshooting Software... 59 Troubleshooting the Modem... 60 Troubleshooting Audio ... 61 Troubleshooting the Printer ...

  • Page 5: Welcome

    Microsoft® Windows® operating system — Your system includes the latest Microsoft® Windows® operating system. * To combine performance and portability, Sony had implemented speed-controlling technol- ogy designed to maximize battery life during mobile computer use. Windows® reported actual CPU speed may not reflect the maximum CPU speed.
  • Page 6 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start ❑ Communications — Access popular online services, send e-mail, browse the Internet, and use fax features. ❑ Optical disc drive (CD-RW/DVD or DVD-ROM) — The CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive utilizes a new optical storage technology that combines the features of both a CD-RW drive and DVD-ROM drive, providing increased storage capacity and a rich multimedia computing experience.

  • Page 7: Unpacking Your Notebook

    Unpacking Your Notebook Remove the following hardware items from the box: Main unit Video cable * Removable floppy disk drive is in the multipurpose bay. Documents ❑ VAIO® Notebook Quick Start — Contains information on unpacking and setting up your notebook, the features of your notebook, the applications included with your system, and how to solve common problems.

  • Page 8: Software Cds

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Software CDs ❑ Microsoft® Word — Enables you to reinstall Microsoft Word to the VAIO computer you purchased, if the application becomes corrupted or is erased. Recovery CDs ❑ Application Recovery CD(s) — Enables you to reinstall individual applications if they become corrupted or are erased.

  • Page 9: Registering Your Notebook

    Registering Your Notebook Take advantage of Sony’s commitment to quality customer support and receive these benefits by registering your notebook: ❑ Sony Customer Support — Talk to a Support Representative to troubleshoot problems you may be having with your notebook.

  • Page 10: Setting Up Your Dial-Up Connection

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Setting up your dial-up connection This section describes the basic steps for setting up your dial-up connection. The Connection Wizard guides you through the process of connecting to the Internet and then choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or setting up an existing account.
  • Page 11 Phone and Modem Options screen Select the location from where you are dialing and then click OK. The New Connection Wizard appears. Setting up your dial-up connection...
  • Page 12 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start New Connection Wizard Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up your dial-up connection.

  • Page 13: Setting Up Your Vaio Notebook

    Setting Up Your VAIO Notebook This section describes the following: ❑ Locating Controls and Connectors ❑ Connecting a Power Source ❑ Starting Your Notebook ❑ Shutting Down Your Notebook ❑ Power Saving Modes...

  • Page 14: Locating Controls And Connectors

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Locating Controls and Connectors Front LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen Speakers Keyboard Touchpad Left and right buttons Power indicator Battery 1 and 2 indicators Hard disk drive indicator Num Lock indicator Caps Lock indicator Scroll Lock indicator...
  • Page 15 Microphone jack Headphone jack * i.LINK is a Sony trademark used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software applications, oper- ating system, and compatible i.LINK devices. All products with an i.LINK connection may not communicate with each other.
  • Page 16 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Right Power button Optical drive (CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive or DVD-ROM drive Multipurpose bay * The type of optical drive differs depending on the model you purchased.

  • Page 17: Modem Jack

    Back Modem jack USB port Serial port Printer port Only connect 10Base-T and 100Base-TX cables to the Ethernet port. Do not connect any other type of network cable or any telephone line. Connecting cables other than those listed above may result in an electric current overload and could cause a malfunction, excessive heat, or fire in the port.
  • Page 18 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Bottom Multipurpose bay release lever Port replicator cover Tilt stands...

  • Page 19: Connecting A Power Source

    Connecting a Power Source You can use either AC power or a rechargeable battery pack as a power source. Using the AC Adapter Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter into the DC In port on the notebook. Plug one end of the power cord into the AC adapter. Plug the other end of the power cord into an AC outlet.
  • Page 20 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start ❑ When the AC adapter is not used, unplug it from the AC outlet. ❑ Use only the AC adapter supplied. Do not use any other AC adapter. Using Battery Power You can use one or two battery packs as a source of power. The second battery pack inserts into the multipurpose bay on the right side of the notebook.
  • Page 21 Insert the battery pack into the battery bay. Inserting battery pack Battery pack (supplied) Push the battery bay cover up until it clicks. ✍ If the port replicator is attached to your notebook, do not attempt to insert or remove the battery pack.
  • Page 22 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start There are two battery indicators on the notebook Battery indicators Battery Indicator Description Indicates the status of the battery pack in the battery bay on the left side of the notebook. Indicates the status of the battery pack in the multipurpose bay on the right side of the notebook.
  • Page 23 To remove the battery pack Open the battery bay cover. Pull out the battery pack. Removing the battery pack Push the battery bay cover up until it clicks. You will lose data if you remove the battery pack while the notebook is on and not connected to the AC adapter, or if you remove the battery while the notebook is in a power saving mode.
  • Page 24 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start ❑ The battery pack supplied with your notebook is a lithium-ion battery and can be recharged at any time. Charging a partially discharged battery does not affect battery life. ❑ The battery indicator is on while you use the battery pack as a power source. When battery life is nearly depleted, the battery indicator starts flashing.

  • Page 25: Starting Your Notebook

    Starting Your Notebook Slide the LCD lock lever in the direction of the arrow and lift the cover. Opening the notebook LCD lock lever Press the power button on top of the notebook until the green power indicator turns on. Power button Power indicator ✍...

  • Page 26: Shutting Down Your Notebook

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Shutting Down Your Notebook To avoid potential loss of data, follow these steps to shut down your notebook. Click Start on the Windows® taskbar. Click Turn Off Computer at the bottom of the Start menu to display the “Turn off computer”...

  • Page 27: Power Saving Modes

    Power Saving Modes When you use a battery as the source of power for your notebook, you can take advantage of power management settings to conserve battery life. In addition to the normal operating mode, which allows you to turn off specific devices, your notebook has two distinct power saving modes: Standby and Hibernate.

  • Page 28: To Activate Hibernate Mode

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start To activate Hibernate mode To activate Hibernate mode, press the power button and release it immediately. ✍ Do not move the notebook until its power indicator turns off. To return to normal mode To return to normal mode, turn on the notebook by pressing the power button. The notebook returns to its previous state.

  • Page 29: About The Software On Your Notebook

    This section provides the following information: ❑ An overview of the various software that come with your notebook and the activities you can perform with your software ❑ Details on your Sony application, driver, and system recovery CDs...

  • Page 30: Software Overview

    Internet browser and Windows. DigitalPrint Sony Electronics Inc. This image management software makes it fun and easy to edit, import, and organize your digital pictures in a photo album for rich digital printing to any standard color laser or inkjet printer.
  • Page 31 Your personal movies are easy to create and fun to share with family and friends. * i.LINK is a Sony trademark used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 con- nection. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software applications, operating system, and compatible i.LINK devices.
  • Page 32 Sony Electronics Inc. This image management software displays images from your hard drive, a Sony digital still camera, or a Sony Mavica® camera. The images appear in a convenient light-table format, so that you can easily view the contents of an entire folder.
  • Page 33 A smart solution to computer, digital audio/video and network convergence. Sony on Yahoo! Yahoo! Inc. Personalize your own web portal with Sony on Yahoo! Get a free webmail account, customized news and local weather reports, comics, and more. Sony Style Connect...
  • Page 34 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start WinDVD® InterVideo Inc. WinDVD is a simple-to-use DVD player including all the features you would expect to find in a standard consumer DVD player, while also offering advanced display and navigation features such as zoom, pan, bookmark, and time search.

  • Page 35: Application, Driver, And System Recovery Cds

    Your notebook comes with the following application, driver, and system recovery CDs. To use your recovery CDs, see “Using Your Recovery CDs” for more information. Application Recovery CD(s) Sony Electronics Inc. This CD enables you to reinstall individual applications if they become corrupted or are erased. Driver Recovery CD(s) Sony Electronics Inc.

  • Page 36: Using Your Recovery Cds

    ✍ You must be in Windows to run the Application Recovery CD. If you have any questions on using the Application Recovery CD, contact Sony Customer Support. Turn on your notebook. If your notebook is already on, close all applications.
  • Page 37 To use the Driver Recovery CD(s) The Driver Recovery CD utility enables you to reinstall individual drivers if they become corrupted or are erased. You can reinstall an individual driver to correct a problem that you are experiencing with your notebook, hardware, or software application.
  • Page 38 If you have any questions on using the System Recovery CD, contact Sony Customer Support. Insert the Sony System Recovery CD in the optical drive. Shut down your notebook as described in the “Shutting Down Your Notebook” section of your printed Quick Start.
  • Page 39 Press the power button and hold it for more than four seconds to turn off the notebook. Turn on the notebook. When the Sony logo is displayed, press the F2 key. The BIOS setup menu screen appears. Press the arrow keys to select the Exit menu.
  • Page 40 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start...

  • Page 41: Adding Memory

    Adding Memory In the future you may want to install memory modules to expand the functionality of your notebook. The amount of memory on your notebook will vary depending on the model you purchased. See the Specifications flyer that came with your notebook for the amount of memory pre- installed.

  • Page 42: Precautions And Procedures

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Precautions and Procedures The procedures described below assume that you are familiar with the general terminology associated with personal notebooks and with common safety practices required for using and modifying electronic equipment. Personal injury or equipment damage may result from failure to take these precautions. Make sure you observe the proper safety precautions when you install memory modules in your notebook.

  • Page 43: Typical Expansion Memory Configuration

    Typical expansion memory configuration Models with 128 MB memory Total System Memory (MB) Models with 256 MB memory Total System Memory (MB) * The 512 MB memory configuration may require the removal and replacement of original fac- tory-installed memory modules. †...

  • Page 44: Removing A Memory Module

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Removing a memory module Shut down your notebook and disconnect all peripheral devices, such as your printer. Unplug your notebook and remove the battery pack(s). After your notebook has cooled, loosen and remove the screw that secures the cover of the memory bay on the bottom of your notebook.
  • Page 45 Remove the memory module. Removing memory module 1 Pull the tabs in the direction of the arrow The memory module is released . Tighten the screw on the memory bay cover. ✍ Your notebook comes with a memory module installed in the memory slot. To upgrade your memory, removal of these modules may be necessary before installing your upgrade memory module.

  • Page 46: Installing A Memory Module

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Installing a memory module Follow steps 1 to 4 of “Removing a memory module” for removing the preinstalled memory. Remove the new memory module from its packaging. Install the memory module by sliding it into the memory module slot. Press the module into place until it clicks.

  • Page 47: Viewing The Amount Of Memory

    Viewing the amount of memory Restart the notebook. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. The System Properties window appears. Click the General tab. The amount of memory (MB of RAM) is shown. ✍ If the additional memory is not shown, repeat the steps described in the “Installing a memory module”...

  • Page 48: Vaio® Notebook Quick Start

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start...

  • Page 49: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting This section describes how to solve common problems you may encounter when using your notebook. Many problems have simple solutions, so try these suggestions before you contact Sony PC Support (http://www.sony.com/pcsupport). ❑ Troubleshooting Your Notebook ❑ Troubleshooting the LCD Screen ❑...

  • Page 50: Troubleshooting Your Notebook

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Troubleshooting Your Notebook My notebook does not start. ❑ Check that the notebook is plugged into a power source and that it is turned on. Check that the power indicator on the front panel of the notebook indicates that the power is on.
  • Page 51 Turn off the notebook. Remove any peripheral devices connected to the notebook. Turn the notebook on again. Press the F2 key when the Sony logo appears. The BIOS setup menu screen appears. Press the arrow keys to select the Exit menu.
  • Page 52 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start If your notebook continues to display the message “Operating system not found,” and Windows does not start, use your supplied System Recovery CD to restore the software titles shipped with your notebook. See “To use the System Recovery CD(s)”...
  • Page 53 Restart the notebook by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete simultaneously and then selecting Restart from the drop-down list. ✍ If this procedure does not work, press and hold the power button for four seconds or longer to shut down the notebook. Why does the System Properties dialog box display a slower CPU speed than advertised? ❑...

  • Page 54: Troubleshooting The Lcd Screen

    VAIO® Notebook Quick Start Troubleshooting the LCD Screen My LCD screen is blank. ❑ Check that the notebook is plugged into a power source and that it is turned on. ❑ Check that the power indicator on the notebook is on. ❑...

  • Page 55: Troubleshooting The Mouse And Touchpad

    See “Connecting a PS/2 External Mouse or Keyboard” for more information. ❑ If you are using an optional Sony USB mouse PCGA-UMS1 series, check that the mouse is plugged into the USB port. ❑ If you are still experiencing problems, use your supplied Driver Recovery CD to reinstall the mouse drivers.
  • Page 56 VAIO® Notebook Quick Start ❑ If you are still experiencing problems, check that another mouse was not installed. ❑ You may need to use your supplied Driver Recovery CD to reinstall the touchpad or mouse drivers. See “To use the Driver Recovery CD(s)” for more information.

  • Page 57: Troubleshooting Drives, Pc Cards And Peripheral Devices

    Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral Devices Troubleshooting Drives, PC Cards and Peripheral Devices My floppy disk drive cannot write to a floppy disk. ❑ Check that the floppy disk drive is properly inserted into the multipurpose bay. See “To reinsert the floppy disk drive” for more details. ❑...
  • Page 58 (Standby or Hibernate). If that happens, restart the computers to establish a connection. * i.LINK is a Sony trademark used to designate that a product contains an IEEE 1394 connec- tion. The i.LINK connection may vary, depending on the software applications, operating system, and compatible i.LINK devices.

  • Page 59: Troubleshooting Software

    What software do I use for CD-R/CD-RW software functions? ❑ Sony recommends using the preinstalled SonicStage software’s Record function to create any CDs on your VAIO® computer, if the specific model you purchased is preconfigured with all necessary components for CD-R and CD-RW capability.

  • Page 60: Troubleshooting The Modem

    Check that the phone number the program is dialing is correct. ❑ Check that the software you are using is compatible with the notebook’s modem. (All preinstalled Sony programs are compatible.) ❑ If you are still experiencing problems, use your supplied Driver Recovery CD to reinstall the modem drivers.

  • Page 61: Troubleshooting Audio

    Troubleshooting Audio My speakers make no sound. ❑ If the built-in speakers are turned off, press the key combination Fn+F3 to turn on the speakers. If the speaker volume is turned to the minimum, press Fn+F4. ❑ If your notebook is powered by batteries, check that the battery packs are inserted properly and that they are charged.

  • Page 62: Troubleshooting The Printer

    ❑ Verify that the parallel port is set to the proper mode. Restart your computer, and then press the F2 key when the Sony logo screen appears. The BIOS setup menu appears. Press the Esc key. Select LOAD BIOS DEFAULTS, and then press Enter.

  • Page 63: Getting Help

    Getting Help Sony provides you with several support resources to answer questions about your VAIO® notebook or the preinstalled software. Refer to these resources in the order they are listed. Support Options If you have questions about your notebook or the preinstalled software, refer to the following sources for answers in the sequence listed below.
  • Page 64 To contact the Sony fax-on-demand service, call: 1-888-4-SONY-PC (1-888-476-6972). Sony Customer Support Software support is available free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase. To speak with a Sony Customer Support Representative without using your notebook, call : 1-888-4-SONY-PC (1-888-476-6972).

  • Page 65: Software Support Information

    Sony Applications (Sony Electronics Inc.) Web site http://www.sony.com/pcsupport/ phone 888-4-SONY-PC (888-476-6972) hours 7 days a week, 24 hours a day * Support from 1-888-4-SONY-PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase. Software Support Information...

  • Page 66: Sony Service Center

    Web site http://www.sony.com/pcsupport/ phone 888-4-SONY-PC (888-476-6972) hours 7 days a week, 24 hours a day * Support from 1-888-4-SONY-PC is free of charge for 90 days after the original date of purchase. WinDVD® (InterVideo, Inc.) Web site http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/Support.jsp phone 510-651-0888 e-mail support@intervideo.com...

  • Page 67: Index

    Index AC adapter AC power adding memory adjusting brightness Application Recovery CD audio troubleshooting battery packs charging indicator lights inserting inserting into battery bay loading rechargeable removing brightness adjusting cables power cord charge status indicator light charging battery packs choosing power source computer features...
  • Page 68 PC support software support information troubleshooting Software list Sony Fax-on-Demand service Sony Service Center speakers troubleshooting Standby mode starting computer startup problems support software support, technical 19, 20...
  • Page 69 technical support touchpad troubleshooting 49, 50 troubleshooting audio drives, PC Cards, and peripheral devices modem mouse and touchpad printer software startup Turn Off Computer dialog box shutting down turning on computer unpacking unpacking the computer ventilation slot viewing the amount of memory VisualFlow application Windows Start button...
  • Page 72 © 2001 Sony Electronics Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Sony, VAIO, the VAIO logo, VAIO Smart, DVgate, Handycam, Media Bar, MovieShaker, PictureGear, and i.LINK are trademarks of Sony. All other trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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