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Welcome
® ®
Congratulations on your purchase of this Sony VAIO computer, and welcome to the online VAIO Computer User Guide.
This user guide provides detailed information on all aspects of using your new VAIO computer, from keyboard functions to
preinstalled software programs.
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Powering Your Computer ® Your VAIO computer comes with a battery and an AC adapter. This chapter explains how to install and use these supplied accessories to power your computer. It also describes ways you can efficiently utilize the battery as a power source. Using AC Power Using the Battery Conserving Battery Power Page 2
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Using AC Power The supplied battery is not charged when you receive your computer. To use your computer immediately, use the supplied AC adapter as the power source. While the computer uses AC power, it automatically charges the battery if it is inserted. See Using the Battery for more information on installing and using your battery. Connecting the AC adapter Turning on the computer Page 3
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Connecting the AC adapter To connect the AC adapter 1. Plug the cable attached to the AC adapter into the DC IN port on your computer. Connecting the AC Adapter to the Computer 2. Plug one end of the power cord into the AC adapter, and plug the other end into an AC outlet. Use only the supplied AC adapter with your computer. Page 4
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Turning on the computer To turn on the computer 1. Slide the release lever to the right, and lift the cover while holding the bottom of the computer firmly. Opening the Computer 2. Press the power button until the power indicator turns on. Turning on the Computer If you hold the power button down, the computer turns off. 3. If necessary, adjust the brightness controls for the computer screen (LCD) as follows: To increase light intensity, press the Fn+F5 keys. Press the Up Arrow
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Using the Battery A battery is an auxiliary power source you can use when your computer is not plugged into an AC outlet. Your computer may come equipped with one or two battery bays, depending on the model you purchased. If your computer comes with two battery bays, you can purchase a second rechargeable battery to extend your computing time. Regardless how many batteries you use, you can always extend the life of the battery by conserving power. See Conserving Battery Power for more informati
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Inserting a battery To insert a battery 1. Push the battery bay cover down to open it. The battery bay cover swings out but does not detach from the computer. Opening the Battery Bay 2. Slide the battery into the battery bay. If the computer is on, it automatically detects the battery. Inserting a Battery 3. Push the battery bay cover up until it clicks into place. Some software programs and peripheral devices prevent the system from activating Hibernate mode when the battery is low o
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Removing a battery If you are not using the computer for an extended period of time, remove the battery from the computer to avoid damaging the battery. You can remove the battery when the computer is on or off. If the computer is on, connect the AC adapter and exit a power saving mode before you remove the battery. To remove a battery 1. Push the battery bay cover down to open it. 2. Pull the battery out of the battery bay. Removing a Battery 3. Push in and lift up the battery bay c
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Displaying battery information You can display the remaining battery charge on the Battery Information toolbar and/or the Battery Information window. To display the Battery Information toolbar ® 1. Right-click the center of the Windows taskbar. 2. Select Toolbars from the shortcut menu, and click Battery Information. The Battery Information toolbar appears on the taskbar. If the Battery Information toolbar is hidden behind the taskbar icons, right-click the taskbar and click to cancel Lo
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the battery. Alarms tab — Displays the alarm settings, which notify you when the battery is fully charged or too low. You can change your computer's alarm settings on this window. Click Help in the lower right corner of the window for more information. The battery icons that appear on the Battery Information toolbar and the Battery Information window indicate the current status of the installed battery. Battery icon Battery status Charging Fully charged Discharging No battery Page
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Charging a battery You will need to charge the battery if battery power drops below 10 percent or you have not used the battery for a long time. The lithium-ion battery supplied with your computer may be recharged at any time, whether you wait until the battery is completely or partially discharged. Charging a partially discharged battery does not affect battery life. If you charge the battery and find that battery power is still low, the battery may be reaching the end of its life, and you may
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Notes on batteries Never leave the battery in temperatures above 140°F (60°C), such as under direct sunlight or in a car parked in the sun. While the battery is in use or being discharged, the battery heats up. This is normal and is not cause for concern. Keep the battery away from all sources of heat. Keep the battery dry. Do not open or disassemble the battery. Do not expose the battery to any mechanical shock. Battery life is shorter in a cold environment because of decre
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Frequently asked questions How do I know when the battery is charged? To determine the remaining battery charge, see Displaying battery information. When is the computer using AC power? When the computer is directly connected to the AC adapter, it uses AC power, even if a battery is installed. When should I recharge the battery? When the battery level falls below 10 percent. When both the battery and power indicators blink. When you have not used the battery for a long time. Page
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Conserving Battery Power You may use the power saving modes and PowerPanel utility to conserve battery power. Conserving battery power may significantly extend your computing time, depending on how you use your computer. Using power saving modes Using PowerPanel utility Frequently asked questions Page 14
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Using power saving modes In addition to the normal operating mode, which allows you to turn off specific devices, your computer has two distinct power saving modes: Standby and Hibernate. Use the Standby and Hibernate power saving modes to override a profile setting or initiate an immediate action. Standby — Saves the state of the system and peripheral devices in memory (RAM). Power consumption is reduced to a minimum. The system remains on, and the computer screen (LCD) is off. Hibernate
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Using PowerPanel utility The PowerPanel utility enables you to select and customize a predefined power management profile to conserve battery life. The following table describes all the predefined power management profiles in PowerPanel. Your computer is set to Automatic Profile Selection by default. You can customize the settings for all the following profiles, except the Disable Power Management profile. Profile Icon Description Maximum Performance Provides the best system performance but
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Do not choose the Automatic Profile Selection when connected to AC power. To select a profile 1. Right-click the CPU icon on the Windows taskbar. 2. Select Profiles, and click the profile on the shortcut menu. The profile settings are implemented instantly. See Using PowerPanel utility for descriptions of available profiles. When you use the battery to power your computer, your system automatically selects the Maximum Battery Life power management profile by default. If you select a diffe
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HDD Standby Timer Controls the time it takes the system to switch the hard disk drive to Standby mode when the system is idle. This setting only turns off power to the hard disk drive. ® i.LINK Port Controls the power supply to the i.LINK port. You can disable power to the i.LINK port to conserve power. ® Memory Stick Port Power-saving Controls the power supply to the Memory Stick slot. You can disable power to the Memory Stick slot to conserve power. 1 Slows the processor speed. Page 18
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Frequently asked questions Can my computer enter Hibernate mode while using battery power? Your computer can enter Hibernate mode while using battery power, but some software programs and peripheral devices prevent the system from entering Hibernate mode at all. If you are using a program that prevents the system from entering Hibernate mode, save your data frequently. See Using power saving modes for information on how you can manually activate Hibernate mode. When should I replace the batte
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Internet and Network Connections Internet Connections Network Connections Connecting Another VAIO Computer Page 20
