Sony VPCEA2C5E Troubleshooting Manual

Recovery, Backup and

Troubleshooting Guide

Please create your Recovery Media
immediately after setup.
4-191-962-11 (1) © 2010 Sony Corporation Printed in Japan
Introduction
About recovery
What is a recovery area?
A recovery area on the built-in storage device
What is recovery?
contains data for a system and application
recovery. Normally, you cannot modify or delete
Recovery is the process of restoring your
data on this area. You can, however, modify or
computer to its factory default settings.
delete the data with commercially available
There are two ways to recover your computer:
software designed to modify the information of
recovering from the Recovery Media and from
this area.
the recovery area.
Why do I have to create Recovery
Media?
Recovery Media are used to restore your
computer to its factory default settings. If
When do I have to perform a
Windows does not start and you have deleted
recovery?
the recovery area, you will need Recovery Media
If your computer has been unstable
 to perform a recovery. Create Recovery Media
If your computer has been infected with a immediately after the computer is ready for use.

computer virus
About a backup
 If your computer is experiencing problems
which cannot be solved through
troubleshooting
What is a backup process?
 If you have formatted the C drive by mistake
A backup process is to make a backup copy of
Which software should I use to
your data stored on the built-in storage device
recover my computer?
and save it to another location.
Use the following software. You can launch the
software by simple operations.
VAIO Care
Creating Recovery Media

Checking your computer hardware Why do I have to back up my data?

VAIO Care Rescue
Due to unexpected events or computer viruses,
Backing up (Rescuing) your data

you might lose various data stored on your built-
Recovering your computer
 in storage device, such as documents or pictures.
Erasing all the data on your built-in storage
 To restore the lost data, its backup copy is
device needed.
It is strongly recommended that you back up
See the help file included with the VAIO Care
your data regularly.
and the VAIO Care Rescue for more information
on how to use the software.
Creating Recovery Media
You can confirm the number of necessary discs
It may take some time to display the current
and types of media you can use for Recovery
status of the procedure.
Media creation in the following step 6.
Do not press the drive eject button while
creating a Recovery Media, as doing so may
result in a failure of the process.
You cannot use Blu-ray Disc™ media,
Keep the Recovery Media in a secure place.
DVD-RAM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs as
Recovery Media.
1
Connect your computer to the Internet,
download and install the latest updates using
the VAIO Update.
2
If your computer is not equipped with a built-
in optical disc drive, connect an external
optical disc drive (not supplied) to the
computer and to an AC power source.
3
Click Start , All Programs, VAIO Care, and
VAIO Care.
If the User Account Control window appears,
click Yes.
If you are currently logged onto your
computer as a standard user, you may be
prompted to enter an administrator name
and a password.
4
Click Recovery & restore, Recovery, and
Create Recovery Media.
5
Read the on-screen instructions carefully, and
then click Next.
6
Insert the media you want to use.
7
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Recovering your computer
To restore your computer to its factory default settings, follow one of the recovery methods below.
Recovering your computer will delete all the data on the built-in storage device.
To recover from the To recover from
recovery area Recovery Media
On models with the ASSIST button
 1
If your computer is not equipped with a built-
1
Press the ASSIST button while your in optical disc drive, connect an external
optical disc drive (not supplied) to the
computer is off to launch the
VAIO Care Rescue. computer and to an AC power source.
2 2
Click Start recovery wizard. Insert a Recovery Media to the optical disc
drive while your computer is in Normal mode,
turn off the computer, and then turn it on
To perform the custom recovery, select
once again.
Tools instead of Start recovery wizard
3
and click If you are using the external optical disc drive,
Start advanced recovery wizard.
press the F11 key several times before the
VAIO logo disappears.
3
Follow the on-screen instructions.
The Windows Boot Manager is displayed.
On models without the ASSIST button
 4
Press the  or  key to select
1
Turn on your computer and press the F10 Start VAIO Care Rescue and press the Enter
key.
key several times before the VAIO logo
disappears.
5
Select Start recovery wizard.
If the Edit Boot Options window is
displayed, press the Enter key.
To perform the custom recovery, select Tools
2
Select Start recovery wizard.
instead of Start recovery wizard and click
Start advanced recovery wizard.
6
To perform the custom recovery, select
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Tools instead of Start recovery wizard
and click
Start advanced recovery wizard.
3
Follow the on-screen instructions.
See the back side.