Table of Contents
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- 1 Finding Information on Your Computer
- 2 What Should I Do if My Computer Does Not Start
- 3 What Should I Do if the Green Power Indicator Light Turns on but My Screen Remains Blank
- 4 What Should I Do if a Bios Error Appears When I Turn on My Computer
- 5 What Should I Do if the Charge Indicator Light Is Blinking Fast and My Computer Does Not Start
- 6 Recovering Your Vaio System
- Download this manual
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User Manual
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Table of Contents
Troubleshooting
Related Manuals for Sony VGN-AW21M/H
Summary of Contents for Sony VGN-AW21M/H
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Page 2: Finding Information On Your Computer
4 Select the guide you want to read. ❑ Specifications The online specifications describe the hardware and software configurations of your VAIO computer. To view the online specifications: 1 Connect to the Internet. 2 Go to the Sony online support web site at http://www.vaio-link.com. ® computer. -
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Contents Finding information on your computer ...2 Introduction to this guide ...5 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting...8 What should I do if my computer does not start?... 8 What should I do if a BIOS error appears when I turn on my computer? ... 9 What should I do if the green power indicator light turns on but my screen remains blank?... - Page 4 Recovering your VAIO system Before using your computer... 14 What to do first... 15 Creating your own recovery discs... 16 To create recovery discs ... 17 Backing up and restoring your data using Backup and Restore Center ... 18 To back up your data... 18 To create a restore point ...
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Page 5: Introduction To This Guide
For problems that are not described in this section, see the Troubleshooting section on the on-screen User Guide. You can find more troubleshooting topics on the Sony online support web site at http://www.vaio-link.com. Always read these sections before contacting VAIO-Link or your local Sony dealer directly. - Page 7 Troubleshooting...
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Page 8: Troubleshooting
❑ Remove any extra memory modules you may have installed since purchase. ❑ Check that you are using the supplied Sony power cord or AC adapter. For your safety, use only the genuine Sony rechargeable battery pack (if applicable) and power cord or AC adapter, which are supplied by Sony... -
Page 9: What Should I Do If A Bios Error Appears When I Turn On My Computer
What should I do if a BIOS error appears when I turn on my computer? This Q & A entry applies to VGX-TP series models only. If the message “Press <F1> to resume, <F2> to setup” appears at the bottom of the screen, follow these steps: Press the F2 key. -
Page 10: What Should I Do If My Computer Or Software Stops Responding
What should I do if my computer or software stops responding? ❑ If your computer stops responding while a software application is running, press the Alt+F4 keys to close the application window. ❑ If the Alt+F4 keys do not work, click Start, the arrow button, and Shut Down to turn off your computer. -
Page 11: What Should I Do If A Message Window, Notifying Of Incompatibility Or Improper Installation Of The Battery Pack, Appears And My Computer Enters Hibernate Mode
What should I do if a message window, notifying of incompatibility or improper installation of the battery pack, appears and my computer enters Hibernate mode? ❑ This problem could be due to the battery pack not being installed properly. To resolve this problem, turn off your computer and remove the battery pack. -
Page 13: Recovering Your Vaio System
Recovering your VAIO system... -
Page 14: Before Using Your Computer
Before using your computer This section explains how to resolve problems, make a backup copy of your data, and recover your Sony VAIO VAIO software and Windows features in case of computer malfunctions. ❑ VAIO Recovery Center Contains the following VAIO software, tools, and Windows features: ❑... -
Page 15: What To Do First
What to do first In case of virus attacks, computer malfunctions, or accidental erasure, prepare the following in advance: Create recovery discs Be sure to create recovery discs immediately after your computer is ready for use because there are no recovery discs provided with the computer. -
Page 16: Creating Your Own Recovery Discs
Creating your own recovery discs Recovery discs enable you to recover your computer system to its original state. You can create the recovery discs with VAIO Recovery Center. Recover the computer system in the following cases: ❑ Your computer has been infected with a computer virus. ❑... -
Page 17: To Create Recovery Discs
To create recovery discs Make sure you have blank discs ready beforehand. You can confirm the number of necessary discs and types of media you can use for recovery disc creation in the Choose your media window. It is recommended that you download and install the latest updates on your computer using VAIO Update before creating a recovery disc. -
Page 18: Backing Up And Restoring Your Data Using Backup And Restore Center
Backing up and restoring your data using Backup and Restore Center You can make a backup copy of your data, restore the data, and create a restore point using Backup and Restore Center. To back up your data Making a backup copy of your data is extremely important. If you do not make the backup copy, you will lose various data stored on your hard disk, such as documents or pictures, due to unexpected events or computer viruses. - Page 19 Be sure to create recovery discs immediately after your computer is ready for use. In case you cannot make a backup copy of your data due to computer malfunctions, you can use the recovery discs to make the backup copy. For instructions on how to create the recovery discs, see “To create recovery discs”...
- Page 20 To make a backup copy of your file with the Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore feature Launch VAIO Recovery Center (see page 14). Select Windows Backup and Restore and click Start. Click Back up computer. Click Continue in the User Account Control window. If you are currently logged onto your computer as a standard user, enter an administrator name and password and click Continue.
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Page 21: To Create A Restore Point
To create a restore point What is a restore point? A restore point is created automatically, for example when installing a software driver, and used to restore your computer system files to a previous state. Even though the restore point is created automatically, it is recommended to create the restore point manually before installing software or a software driver on your computer because your computer may become unstable or slow after installing new software or changing the Windows... - Page 22 To use the restore point for restoring system files If you can start Windows, follow these steps: Follow the steps 1 to 4 in “To create a restore point manually” on page 21. Click System Restore on the System Protection tab in the System Properties window.
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Page 23: Backing Up And Restoring Your Data With The Vaio Software
❑ Using this software does not guarantee to make backup copies of all data on your hard disk. Sony assumes no liabilities for any loss of your data arising out of the backup process. ❑ Disable the Windows hard disk drive encryption feature before using this software. - Page 24 To start the rescue process Insert a recovery disc to the drive while the computer is on, turn off your computer, and turn on the computer again. The Windows Boot Manager is displayed. If you have not yet created the recovery discs, follow these steps: 1 Turn on your computer.
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Page 25: To Restore Your Data With Vaio Data Restore Tool
To restore your data with VAIO Data Restore Tool The VAIO Data Restore Tool software enables you to restore files which have been rescued with the Rescue Data software. To start the restore process Click Start, All Programs, VAIO Data Restore Tool, and VAIO Data Restore Tool. -
Page 26: Restoring The Preinstalled Software Or Software Drivers
Restoring the preinstalled software or software drivers You can restore the preinstalled software or software drivers to the original factory condition with the Reinstall Programs or Drivers program. To use Reinstall Programs or Drivers When the preinstalled software or software drivers do not work normally, follow these steps to restore the preinstalled software or software drivers to the original factory condition. -
Page 27: Finding Out What To Do In Case Of Computer Malfunctions
Finding out what to do in case of computer malfunctions Finding out what to do in case of computer malfunctions This section describes how to get your computer back to normal before recovering your computer system in case of computer malfunctions. If your computer does not work properly Your computer may become unstable or slow in the following cases: ❑... -
Page 28: If Windows Starts
If Windows starts Create your recovery discs if you have not yet created them (see page 16). Make backup copies of your valuable files (see page 18). Try any of the following: ❑ Restore system files from the latest restore point when your computer was working normally (see page 22). -
Page 29: If Windows Does Not Start
If Windows does not start Try any of the following: ❑ Restore system files from the latest restore point when your computer was working normally (see page 22). ❑ Restore your data from the backup copy made with the Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore feature (available on models with Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business only) (see page 20). -
Page 30: Recovering Your Vaio System
Recovering your VAIO system This section describes how to recover your computer system. Before starting the recovery process What is a system recovery? A system recovery is to restore your computer to its factory state. Perform a system recovery in the following cases: ❑... - Page 31 About the recovery options There are two recovery options you can select. Normally, we recommend that you perform the Restore C: Drive procedure. ❑ Restore C: Drive All the current data on your C drive will be deleted and the C drive will be restored to its original factory state.
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Page 32: Recovering Your Vaio System When You Can Start Windows
Recovering your VAIO system when you can start Windows You can recover your computer system from the hard disk if you can start Windows. There are two options to recover the computer system: to restore the C drive or to restore your entire computer system. If you cannot start Windows, see “Recovering your VAIO system when you cannot start Windows”... -
Page 33: Recovering Your Vaio System When You Cannot Start Windows
Recovering your VAIO system when you cannot start Windows If Windows does not start, you can select from the following two options: ❑ Recover your computer system using recovery discs. You can recover your computer system using recovery discs when you have damaged or erased the recovery partition data. -
Page 34: Changing The Partition Sizes
Changing the partition sizes This section describes how to change the partition sizes. About hard disk partitioning Hard disk partitioning is to divide a hard disk into multiple partitions. It allows you to organize your data or software on each hard disk partition more effectively. -
Page 35: To Create A Partition With The Windows Feature
To create a partition with the Windows feature Click Start, Control Panel, System and Maintenance, and Create and format hard disk partitions under Administrative Tools. Click Continue in the User Account Control window. If you are currently logged onto your computer as a standard user, enter an administrator name and password and click Continue. -
Page 36: Erasing Everything On Your Hard Disk
Erasing everything on your hard disk It is strongly recommended to erase all the data on your hard disk before you dispose of your computer or give it to others. Erasing all of your data on your hard disk with Wipe and Erase Data Use the Wipe and Erase Data software to wipe out your data on your hard disk.