Sony VAIO PCG-SRX51P Software Manual
Sony VAIO PCG-SRX51P Software Manual

Sony VAIO PCG-SRX51P Software Manual

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About the software on
your Sony notebook
P C G - S R X 5 1 P

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Summary of Contents for Sony VAIO PCG-SRX51P

  • Page 1 About the software on your Sony notebook P C G - S R X 5 1 P...
  • Page 2: Read This First

    Please read this EULA carefully before installing or using the software distributed together with this EULA (the SONY SOFTWARE). By installing or using the SONY SOFTWARE, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA. You may use the SONY SOFTWARE only in connection with the use of the SONY HARDWARE.
  • Page 3 Except for the transfer of the SONY SOFTWARE together with the SONY HARDWARE and prior agreement of the recipient to be bound by the terms and conditions of this EULA, you may not sell or rent the SONY SOFTWARE and its copy to any third party.
  • Page 4: Energy Star

    Trademarks Sony, BlueSpace, DigitalPrint, DVgate, i.LINK, Jog Dial Navigator, MovieShaker, Smart Capture, SonicStage, Sony Notebook Setup, UI Design Selector, VAIO Edit Components, Memory Stick, the Memory Stick logo, VAIO and the VAIO logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation. The Windows and Windows XP Professional logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
  • Page 5 Read this first WinDVD is a trademark of InterVideo, Inc. ® All other names of systems, products and services are trademarks of their respective owners. In the manual, the ™ or marks are not specified. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
  • Page 6 Registering your VAIO Registering your VAIO It only takes a few moments to register your Sony VAIO computer. By registering your computer, you can take advantage of Sony’s commitment to quality customer support and receive the following benefits: ❑ Club VAIO – Online support, tutorials, tips and tricks, news, news forums, competitions, free downloads and software updates.
  • Page 7: About The Software On Your Computer

    About the software on your computer Your Sony computer is ready to help you work, play, learn, and communicate as soon as you turn it on. This section gives you an overview of what you can do with the software on your computer.
  • Page 8 Sony Electronics In this application, you can select the Sony applications, or others, that you want the Jog Dial™ to pilot; you can also configure the Jog Dial™ to start any application, establish a dial-up connection, or read an e-mail, simply by turning and pressing the Jog Dial™.
  • Page 9: Power Panel

    SonicStage Sony Electronics SonicStage is software using the OpenMG technology, a copyright protection technology developed by Sony Corporation and designed to allow recording and playback of digital music data on a personal computer. Once the data is encrypted and recorded onto the hard disk, SonicStage technology allows it to be played back on the PC but prevents unauthorized distribution.
  • Page 10: Sony Notebook Setup

    Sony Style Imaging (shortcut on the desktop) Sony Electronics Sony Style Imaging is an easy way to share your digital pictures and videos with family and friends. Use Sony Style Imaging with the Smart Capture Premium and MovieShaker software to make the most of your images and movies.
  • Page 11 You can only use the Recovery CD-ROMs on the Sony computer you purchased, and not on any other Sony PC or other manufacturer's PC.
  • Page 12: Operating System And Other Pre-Installed Software

    About the software on your computer Operating system and other pre-installed software ® Windows XP Professional Microsoft Corporation ® ® Built on the proven Windows 2000 operating system, Windows XP Professional delivers a reliable foundation you can count on to keep your computer up and running when you need it most. Not only is the operating system more reliable, it also offers features that make it much faster and easier to recover from system problems.
  • Page 13: Adobe Acrobat Reader

    About the software on your computer ® Adobe Acrobat Adobe Systems Incorporated ® Acrobat Reader software allows you to view, navigate, and print electronic documents in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), an open file format that is intended to preserve the conformity of documents created on all major computer platforms.
  • Page 14 About the software on your computer RealPlayer RealNetworks RealPlayer is the RealNetworks video and audio player, which lets you access 2,500 radio stations featuring music, news and sports. For further information, see the website at: http://www.real.com Symantec Norton AntiVirus (as setup on the hard drive) Symantec With Norton AntiVirus, you can scan files, folders, or entire drives for viruses, and quarantine infected files for submission to the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC).
  • Page 15 About the software on your computer WinDVD InterVideo, Inc. InterVideo Inc.'s WinDVD is a simple-to-use DVD player. WinDVD combines all the features you would expect to find on a standard consumer DVD player, in addition to some very advanced functionalities, full precision video decoding, a choice of user interfaces, and video display options.
  • Page 16 Using Video software Using Video software The following video software applications are installed on your VAIO: ❑ DVgate (page 16) ❑ MovieShaker (page 31) ❑ Smart Capture (page 37)
  • Page 17: Using Dvgate

    Using Video software Using DVgate DVgate is a software application that enables you to capture and then edit images taken with digital video devices (DV devices), such as digital video camera recorders, on your personal computer. It also gives you the ability to output the edited material for recording on a DV device.
  • Page 18 Using Video software Using DVgate Motion With DVgate Motion you can capture video and record edited videos on a DV device. ❑ Capturing video: You can automatically or manually capture any scene or portion of the images recorded on a DV device, such as a digital video camera recorder.
  • Page 19 Using Video software Press Play to start the video. The video begins to play in the Monitor window. Click Mark to mark the beginning of the first segment. The first frame of the segment to be captured, is displayed in the In/ Out list window.
  • Page 20 Using Video software Recording edited videos on a DV device To record edited videos on a DV device, proceed as follows: Adjust the recording correction values. Add files to the Record List. Record remotely or manually the video on the DV device. Adjusting the recording correction values To ensure accuracy in the recording, you can specify recording correction values.
  • Page 21 Using Video software Adding files to the Record List To add files to the Record List, proceed as follows: Launch DVgate Motion. Click Add in the DVgate Motion – AVI file list. The Add dialog box appears. Select a file and click Open. The specified file is added and the serial number, first and last images, time code, file length and file name are displayed.
  • Page 22 Using Video software After adding the files to the Record List, you can still change the order of the files, add or delete files. To change the order of the files in the Record List, proceed as follows: Click the file you want to move while holding down the mouse button. Drag the file to the appropriate position and then release the mouse button.
  • Page 23 Using Video software Recording on the DV device You can automatically or manually export videos from your computer to a DV device. To automatically export videos from your computer to a DV device, proceed as follows: Connect the camera to the computer with the i.LINK™ cable and turn on the camera. Launch DVgate Motion.
  • Page 24 Using Video software ✍ Even if you specify not to add blank frames, several blank frames are always placed at the end of the recorded segment regardless of the settings. This is to prevent image noise from being recorded when recording stops. Do not quit or log off from Windows Disable the screen saver in Windows Do not start other applications or move any active window while recording.
  • Page 25: Capturing Pictures

    Using Video software Capturing pictures There are two capture modes in DVgate Still: the Continuous Capture mode and the Single Frame Capture mode. ❑ Continuous Capture mode: If you capture pictures during Play mode, you can capture 30 frames of still pictures in total with respectively 15 frames in the forward and backward directions.
  • Page 26 Using Video software To capture pictures, proceed as follows: Connect the DV device to your computer. Launch DVgate Still (Start/All Programs/DVgate/DVgate Still). The DVgate Still window appears. Set the DV device to the Play or Pause mode. The video image appears in the Monitor window. Click the Capture button.
  • Page 27 Using Video software Saving the captured pictures You can save the still pictures displayed in the DVgate Still - Still window in either one of the following formats: BMP, JPG, GIF or DVF. To save the captured pictures, proceed as follows: Launch DVgate Still and capture images.
  • Page 28 Using Video software Creating an Assemble List You can create an Assemble List with files you want to splice together. Afterwards you can always edit the Assemble List by changing the order of the files and adding or deleting files. To add files to an Assemble List, proceed as follows: Launch DVgate Assemble.
  • Page 29 Using Video software Editing AVI files You can edit the AVI files in the Assemble List for the exact scenes you want to use. For example, there is no need to recapture files even if you only want to use one particular scene from a longer video sequence originally captured with DVgate Motion.
  • Page 30 Using Video software Combining still images with video images To combine still images with video images, proceed as follows: Launch DVgate Assemble. Select the still image you want to insert from the Assemble List. Choose Edit a clip... from the Edit menu in the main window. The DVgate Assemble - Clip dialog box appears.
  • Page 31 Using Video software Saving the edited video To save an edited video sequence, proceed as follows: Click the Output or the Output All button. The Save As dialog box appears. Information on the output file and the amount of free disk space is shown in the lower part of the Save As dialog box.
  • Page 32: Using Movieshaker

    Using Video software Using MovieShaker MovieShaker can be used to create fun and innovative movies without any knowledge of film editing. In a few steps, motion pictures can be combined with special effects, still images (pictures), and music files and then saved in a format most computers can play.
  • Page 33 Using Video software Menu bar Monitor panel Tool panel Clip tray Product tray Shows MovieShaker menus. Contains the Shake, Capture, and Edit tray. Select a tray by clicking the Shake, Capture, or Edit tab. The Shake tray is for creating a scene of approximately 30 seconds long including background music, using clips on the Clip tray at random.
  • Page 34: Importing Images And Sound Clips

    Using Video software Importing images and sound clips Before you can create a movie, you need to import the images and sound clips you want to use in your movie. To import images and sound clips, proceed as follows: Click the File import button The Import dialog box appears.
  • Page 35 Using Video software ✍ Scenes created with Shaker begin with a black frame. After processing, they are placed in the first available slot on the Product tray. Limit the number of scenes in the Product tray to 5 or less. MovieShaker may stop responding if there are too many scenes in the Product tray.
  • Page 36: Editing Clips And Scenes

    Using Video software Editing clips and scenes You can edit your movie by adding effects and text, adjusting the color and contrast, and modifying the length of the clip. Shake tab Capture tab Edit tab Speed control slider Volume control slider Effect palette Fade-in, fade-out Trash...
  • Page 37: Saving A Movie

    Using Video software To edit clips and scenes, proceed as follows: Double-click the clip in the Clip tray to move it to the Monitor Panel. Select the Effect tab from the Tool Panel. Drag and drop the effect you want to add from the Effect tray to the Edit tray monitor. ✍...
  • Page 38: Using Smart Capture

    Using Video software Using Smart Capture You can use Smart Capture to shoot still images and record video clips from a digital camera connected to your computer. Capturing still images You can capture still images from i.LINK™ compatible devices. To capture still images, proceed as follows: Connect an i.LINK™...
  • Page 39: Displaying Captured Images In Still Viewer

    Using Video software Displaying captured images in Still Viewer To display captured images in Still Viewer, proceed as follows: From the Start menu, select All Programs / Smart Capture and click Still Viewer. You can display, save or delete your images or send them by e-mail. To end Still Viewer, click the ✍...
  • Page 40: Shooting Video Clips

    Using Video software Shooting video clips With a video camera connected to your computer you can use Smart Capture to capture video clips, as well as play them or send them via e-mail. To capture video clips, proceed as follows: Launch Smart Capture.
  • Page 41 Using Video software Sending video clips via e-mail If you shoot a video clip in a low resolution format, its size will be small allowing you to send the video clip by e-mail. To send video clips via e-mail, proceed as follows: Launch Smart Capture.
  • Page 42 Managing audio files with SonicStage Managing audio files with SonicStage SonicStage lets you play and record audio CDs and import digital audio files while maintaining the copyright information of the contents. When you record an audio CD with SonicStage, it is encoded in ATRAC3 format onto you computer’s hard drive.
  • Page 43 Managing audio files with SonicStage Feature tabs Player control buttons Playlist drop-down list File tree view Internet address drop- down list File list view Tutorial tab ✍ ® The CDDB (Compact Disc Database) Music Recognition Service registration wizard enables you to register with CDDB. You need Internet access on your computer to register and use this service.
  • Page 44: Recording A Cd

    Managing audio files with SonicStage Recording a CD You can record songs from audio CDs and import them to playlists in SonicStage. To record a CD, proceed as follows: Insert an audio CD into your system’s optical disc drive. Click the CD tab. Use the drop-down lists to select the file format.
  • Page 45 Managing audio files with SonicStage Checking out songs Checking out songs means transferring audio files from a computer to an external device (for example, a portable player). To check out songs, proceed as follows: Connect the external device or insert the media (for example, a MagicGate Memory Stick™) into your computer.
  • Page 46 Managing audio files with SonicStage To check in songs, proceed as follows: Connect the external device or insert the MagicGate Memory Stick™ into your computer. Click the Transfer tab to display the Transfer window. Your computer automatically recognizes the connected external device or media and lists the content information in a new panel on the right side of the Transfer window.
  • Page 47: Additional Features

    Managing audio files with SonicStage Additional features ❑ SonicStage Tutorial – The features of SonicStage are described in the Tutorial. The user-friendly interface guides you directly through the SonicStage features. ❑ SonicStage Backup Tool – You can back up and restore all the music, graphics and information data managed by SonicStage.
  • Page 48 Using DigitalPrint Using DigitalPrint DigitalPrint is designed to help you get the most enjoyment out of your photographs taken with a digital camera. With DigitalPrint, you can easily load photos onto your computer, create photo albums, decorate your photos, print them and even make labels for your favourite storage media. DigitalPrint includes the following five tools.
  • Page 49 Using DigitalPrint To launch DigitalPrint, proceed as follows: In the Start menu, select All Programs, DigitalPrint, and then DigitalPrint. DigitalPrint Launcher appears. Click Import to launch PhotoCapture or click Photo to launch PhotoCollection or click Edit to launch PhotoDecor or click Album to launch PhotoAlbum or click Label to launch LabelMaker.
  • Page 50: Importing Photos

    Using DigitalPrint Importing photos Use PhotoCapture to load images that are stored on a digital camera or a Memory Stick™ onto your computer. PhotoCapture can automatically recognize the digital camera or Memory Stick™ that is connected to the computer. Once photos are loaded into your computer, they can be used to create original works (photo albums and labels) with PhotoAlbum and LabelMaker.
  • Page 51 Using DigitalPrint Depending on the device connected to your computer, you can click a Photo folder icon or a camera icon. In either case, click the icon to load all the photos of the devices. Enter a name for your photo folder in the Enter Photo Name dialog box and click OK. The images are loaded into your computer and appear in the Imported Photos window.
  • Page 52: Printing Photos

    Using DigitalPrint Printing photos With PhotoCollection, printing photos at home is just as easy as asking your local photo shop to develop your photos or make reprints. Photos stored in a folder can be printed as a group. Since you can also specify the number of prints to be made of each photo, you only need to run one printing job (instead of printing each photo separately, one at a time), even if you want to give copies to a lot of people.
  • Page 53 Using DigitalPrint Click Register Folder to register a photo folder (load the photos into the computer) and follow the onscreen instructions or select a folder in which photos are stored and click the OK button. To print photos from the folder, simply click the PhotoPrint button. You can specify the number of prints and select the paper.
  • Page 54 Using DigitalPrint Decorating photos PhotoDecor allows you to decorate digital photos by adding lines, graphics, text, and stamps to digital photos. You can use stamps and a variety of pen patterns to decorate digital photos and create colourful and original works of art through simple operations.
  • Page 55 Using DigitalPrint Select a photo folder that contains the images you wish to decorate and select one photo. Use the Pen, Auto Shape, Text, Clip Art or Stamp Tool Palette to edit your image. Print or save your edited picture by clicking the Print or Save icon. ✍...
  • Page 56: Creating A Photo Album

    Using DigitalPrint Creating a photo album With PhotoAlbum, you can create and print albums of photos taken with a digital camera or photos you have loaded on your computer. PhotoAlbum is very simple to use. It includes many useful design templates. Use these templates to easily create an attractive album even if you have little design experience.
  • Page 57 Using DigitalPrint Click the Create New Album button and register a photo folder or select an existing one. You can select all or only some of the photos in the album. To select your images, click the List button in the photo folder and select the images in the Photo List dialog box.
  • Page 58: Creating Labels

    Using DigitalPrint Creating labels LabelMaker is an easy-to-use label-making software. Use the design templates to make beautifully designed labels. To create labels, proceed as follows: Open LabelMaker from the DigitalPrint Launcher by clicking the Label icon. It is also possible to launch LabelMaker directly from the Start menu by selecting All Programs, DigitalPrint, Tool, LabelMaker.
  • Page 59 Save or print your label by clicking the Save or Print button. ✍ For more information on the use of LabelMaker, refer to the online help. LabelMaker can be launched and used in conjunction with other Sony applications such as SonicStage.
  • Page 60 Using BlueSpace Using BlueSpace Your notebook is equipped with the Bluetooth™ wireless technology. This new technology allows wireless communication over short distances and completely eliminates the need of using cables. All Bluetooth™ communications are made in conjunction with the BlueSpace software. Launching BlueSpace With the BlueSpace software, you can connect your notebook to a Bluetooth™...
  • Page 61 Using BlueSpace ✍ When activating Bluetooth™ functionality for the first time, it will initialize itself. During this initialization, it is possible that the Found New Hardware Wizard appears. ✍ The Bluetooth™ virtual COM may be detected when the Bluetooth™ function is turned on/off. This is the case when the Found New Hardware Wizard window appears with the message This wizard allows you to install the software linked to the detected hardware/ Bluetooth Virtual COM…...
  • Page 62 Using BlueSpace Changing the Bluetooth™ function settings At any time, you can change the device name of the local device, set how the Device Discovery is performed, and how to respond when a remote device is discovered or a connection request received from another Bluetooth device.
  • Page 63: Communicating With Another Bluetooth™ Device

    Using BlueSpace Communicating with another Bluetooth™ device To communicate with another Bluetooth™ device, proceed as follows: Launch BlueSpace. Click the Device Discovery button The search for remote Bluetooth™ devices begins. Select the remote device in the Remote Device Information Area by clicking the up or down arrows to make your selection.
  • Page 64 Chatting with other computers While file transfer is enabled on the computer and the connected device is in the chat mode, you can chat with other Sony computers that support the Bluetooth™ function. To chat with other computers, proceed as follows: Turn on the Bluetooth™...
  • Page 65: Stopping The Bluetooth™ Connection

    Using BlueSpace Stopping the Bluetooth™ connection To stop the Bluetooth™ connection, proceed as follows: Click the service button of the service from which you wish to disconnect. Click Yes in the Confirm Service Disconnection dialog box. Turn off the Bluetooth™ switch located at the front of your notebook. Click Yes to turn off Bluetooth™...
  • Page 66: Customizing Your Computer

    The following sections briefly describe how to change the main settings of your computer. Among other things, you will learn how to prepare your modem for use, how to use and customize the look of your Sony software and utilities, etc.
  • Page 67: Setting Up Your Language

    Customizing your computer Setting up your language It is important that you select the correct keyboard settings during the Windows Setup. To select the correct keyboard settings during Windows Setup, proceed as follows: At first boot, click 2x Next in the Windows XP Setup Wizard window. The Select Your System Settings dialog box appears.
  • Page 68 Customizing your computer Click Apply to apply the changes. You are prompted to log off and log on again. Only then, the changes to the new language will take effect. Click Start, and select Log Off. Click Log Off in the Log Off Windows window. If necessary, enter your password to log on again.
  • Page 69: Setting Up Your Computer With Sony Notebook Setup

    Customizing your computer Setting up your computer with Sony Notebook Setup The Sony Notebook Setup utility allows you to consult system information, specify preferences for system behavior, and set up password protection for your VAIO computer. To use Sony Notebook Setup, proceed as follows: Click the Start button on the Windows In All Programs, select Sony Notebook Setup and then click Sony Notebook Setup.
  • Page 70 Customizing your computer About This Computer Initial Setting Touchpad Power On Password Bass Boost Select the tab for the item you want to change. Once finished, click OK. The item has been changed. ✍ For more information about each option, click Help on the Notebook Setup screen to display the help file. Description Displays system information, including memory capacity, serial number, and BIOS...
  • Page 71: Managing Power With Powerpanel

    Customizing your computer Managing power with PowerPanel The PowerPanel utility controls the power management of your computer and provides key information about battery life. The automatic power management selects the most advantageous profiles, or lets you customize the profiles you choose, according to your own needs, with the goal of extended battery life. PowerPanel has the following features: ❑...
  • Page 72 Customizing your computer Activating power management profiles PowerPanel provides several predefined power management profiles. Each profile consists of a group of power management settings that are designed to meet specific power management goals, ranging from maximum power management to no power management. Main preset profiles Icon Description...
  • Page 73 Customizing your computer Other preset profiles Icon Description Word Processing – Optimizes power management with longer timeouts on the hard disk and display screen. You can also establish settings for LCD (Video) Standby, Hard Disk Standby, and Standby to optimize power management for your system.
  • Page 74: Displaying Detailed Battery Information

    Customizing your computer Selecting automatic profiles A power profile is a set of timer values for a variety of system devices. PowerPanel automatically selects the profile associated with the application you are using and changes profiles as you switch between applications.
  • Page 75 Customizing your computer Displaying CPU information You can also view the level of performance of your computer with the CPU Controls. To do so, you just have to move your cursor over the CPU icon in your taskbar. Icon Performance: Battery Life: Editing a power profile To edit the power management settings of a power profile, proceed as follows:...
  • Page 76: Selecting Display Modes

    Customizing your computer Creating a power profile To create a power profile, proceed as follows: Right-click the CPU icon in the taskbar and select Edit/Create Profiles from the menu. The Profile Editor window appears. Select New from the File menu. Double-click the power management setting you want to select to display the Power Management Setting menu on the right of the window.
  • Page 77 Customizing your computer Click Apply. ✍ You may not be able to display the computer LCD screen and an external display or a projector at the same time, depending on the types of computer displays and projectors you are using. Turn on the computer after you turn off the peripheral devices.
  • Page 78: Configuring Your Modem

    Customizing your computer Configuring your modem Before you can start using your internal modem, or each time you use your modem while travelling, make sure that the country of the active location defined in the Phone and Modem Options dialog box matches the country you are dialing from.
  • Page 79: Updating The Modem Driver

    Customizing your computer Updating the modem driver If you need to update the modem driver for any reason, proceed as follows: Click the Start button and open Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears. Click the Printers and Other Hardware icon. The Printers and Other Hardware window appears.
  • Page 80: Changing Your Windows Design With The Ui Design Selector Program

    The UI Design Selector window design changes, to give you a preview of the design you chose for the Sony software. To try another design, click << or >>. Click OK once you are satisfied with your choice. The UI Design Selector dialog box disappears and changes the window design of Sony software as you selected.
  • Page 81: Setting A Sony Wallpaper

    Customizing your computer Setting a Sony wallpaper Your Sony VAIO computer offers you, among many other features, a choice of wallpapers. You can change the wallpaper, the background of your desktop, as many times as you like. There are several VAIO-specific wallpapers to choose from.
  • Page 82: Selecting A Screen Saver

    Customizing your computer Selecting a screen saver A screen saver is an animated image that is activated on a computer display when no user activity has been sensed for a certain time. The original purpose of a screen saver was to prevent burn-in (the burning of an image into the phosphor inside the cathode ray tube after hours of the same image being rescanned).
  • Page 83: Installing And Updating Applications

    Installing and updating applications Installing and updating applications This section explains how to install, run or uninstall a software. Furthermore, you will learn how to download the latest updates from our website. ❑ Installing software ❑ Changing or removing software ❑...
  • Page 84: Installing Software

    Installing and updating applications Installing software Before installing the applications: ❑ Install and connect a hardware device, if necessary (see the Managing drivers ❑ Quit all Windows To install an application, proceed as follows: Click Start and then Control Panel. Open Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.
  • Page 85: Changing Or Removing Software

    Installing and updating applications Click Finish. Installation is complete and your computer restarts. ✍ When using Add or Remove Programs, you can only install programs that were written for Windows Changing or removing software You can at all times remove or change a software application. To change or remove a software, proceed as follows: Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
  • Page 86: Uninstalling Software

    Installing and updating applications Uninstalling software Before proceeding, close the application you want to uninstall. To uninstall software, proceed as follows: From the Start menu, click Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. The Add/Remove Programs dialog box appears. Select the software you wish to uninstall from the list of currently installed programs, then click Change/ Remove.
  • Page 87 Installing and updating applications Caution ® Windows File protection Installing a program might overwrite shared system files such as dynamic-link libraries (DLL files)* and executable files (EXE files). When system files are overwritten, system performance becomes unpredictable, programs behave erratically, and the operating system can fail. Never delete files with the following extensions: SYS, DLL, OCX, TTF, or FON.
  • Page 88: Downloading Software

    Installing and updating applications Downloading software Please note it is possible to download the latest upgrades of software for your computer on our website. Just click the following link to access it: To download the latest upgrades, proceed as follows: Go to www.vaio-link.com Fill in the two codes and click Enter Site.
  • Page 89: Managing Drivers

    Managing drivers Managing drivers A driver is a software enabling you to use hardware devices. For example, in order for you to be able to use a printer, you must first install its driver. Many drivers, such as the mouse driver, come with the operating system.
  • Page 90: Installing A Driver

    Managing drivers Installing a driver To install a driver, proceed as follows: Insert the application CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (or the disk or the CD-ROM accompanying the device you want to configure). Connect the device that needs a driver, to your computer. The Found New Hardware Wizard screen appears.
  • Page 91: Checking The Driver's Installation

    Managing drivers Checking the driver's installation When the computer restarts, verify that the device is working properly. To verify the driver’s installation, proceed as follows: From the Start menu, click Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears. Double-click the System icon. The System dialog box appears.
  • Page 92: Updating A Driver

    Managing drivers ❑ Right-click Uninstall. ❑ When the Confirm Device Removal dialog box appears, click OK. ❑ Click Yes and restart the computer. ❑ When the computer restarts, repeat from step 2 in Installing a driver ❑ If your device is not displayed in the Properties dialog box, the device is not working properly. Repeat steps 1 through 4 in the previous sections to verify the driver’s installation.
  • Page 93: Uninstalling A Driver

    Managing drivers Double-click the option corresponding to the device you installed, then double-click your device. The Properties dialog box appears. Click the Driver tab. Click Update driver. The driver is updated. ✍ To update your device driver, you must be logged on to your computer with an administrator account. Uninstalling a driver Leave the device connected to your computer while uninstalling the driver.
  • Page 94: Restoring A Driver

    Managing drivers Double-click the option corresponding to the device you installed, then double-click your device. The Properties dialog box appears. Click the Driver tab. Click Uninstall. The driver is uninstalled. ✍ To uninstall your device driver, you must be logged on to your computer with an owner account. Restoring a driver System Restore is a feature of Microsoft problem occurs, without losing your personal data files.
  • Page 95 Managing drivers Click Start on the taskbar. Click My computer from the menu. Click View system information on the left of the window. Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager. Double-click the option corresponding to the device you installed, then double-click your device. The Properties dialog box appears.
  • Page 96: Downloading Drivers

    Managing drivers Downloading drivers Please note it is possible to download the latest versions of drivers for your computer on our website. Just click the following link to access it: To download the latest drivers, proceed as follows: Go to www.vaio-link.com When you access the VAIO-Link for the first time, the Web Disclaimer appears.
  • Page 97: Using The Product Recovery Cd-Roms

    ❑ If you want to modify the size of the hard drive partitions. You can only use these product recovery CD-ROMs on the Sony computer they came with and not on any other Sony PC or other manufacturer's PC. ❑...
  • Page 98: Reinstalling A Device Driver From The Application Cd

    Using the product recovery CD-ROMs Performing an application recovery The final CD in the set of product recovery CD-ROMs contains most of the applications that were preinstalled on your computer. Reinstalling a program from this application CD can fix the problems encountered if it does not run correctly anymore, or if Windows To perform an application recovery, proceed as follows: Turn on your computer (using AC power only) and wait until Windows...
  • Page 99: Performing A System Recovery

    Using the product recovery CD-ROMs To reinstall/update a device driver, proceed as follows: Turn on your computer (using AC power only) and wait until Windows Insert the final product recovery CD-ROM into the disc drive. Open the drive through My Computer and open the Drivers folder. Check that the driver you require appears in the folder.
  • Page 100: Notes On Performing A System Recovery

    Using the product recovery CD-ROMs Notes on performing a system recovery ❑ The recovery process can last up to sixty minutes, and in this time you will be prompted to change CDs. ❑ You can recover only the software bundled to your computer. It does not work for the software you have installed subsequently or the data you have created.
  • Page 101 Using the product recovery CD-ROMs If you need to perform a system recovery, but do not want to lose all the data stored on your hard disk, copy all the files you want to keep on the D: drive. During the system recovery process, choose to keep the current partition information. Doing so will keep your D: drive unchanged after the recovery process.
  • Page 102: Recovering The System Without Changing Partition Sizes

    Using the product recovery CD-ROMs Recovering the system without changing partition sizes To completely restore the original software, drivers and settings on your computer without changing the partition sizes, choose the first option and apply a Default System Drive Recovery. Performing this recovery means that you will lose all the data stored on your C: drive, but data on your D: drive will remain.
  • Page 103: Manually Changing Partition Sizes

    Using the product recovery CD-ROMs To perform a recovery with options, proceed as follows: Select the button next to Option Recovery. Click Next. You now have three options: ❑ Default System Drive Recovery, (see Recovering the system without changing partition sizes (page 101)).
  • Page 104: Resetting The Default Partition Sizes

    Your system's settings are changed and your computer reboots automatically. Resetting the default partition sizes If you changed the partition sizes since you bought your Sony computer, choosing Recovery To Originally Shipped State allows you to reset the hard drive to its original size. Meanwhile, the current partitions are deleted, the hard disk is reformatted, and all the original software is restored as with a standard system recovery.
  • Page 105: Aborting The System Recovery Process

    Using the product recovery CD-ROMs Aborting the system recovery process Before the actual recovery process begins, the VAIO System Recovery Utility makes it easy to cancel any settings you may have made. Most screens remind you about the loss of data that will incur and you can either to go back to the previous screen (press Back), or abort the recovery setup altogether.

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