[. . . ] There are two ways to recover your computer: recovering from the Recovery Media and from 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 Windows does not start and you have deleted the recovery area, you will need Recovery Media to perform a recovery. Create Recovery Media immediately after the computer is ready for use. To recover from the recovery area On models with the ASSIST button To recover from Recovery Media 1 If your computer is not equipped with a builtin optical disc drive, connect an external optical disc drive (not supplied) to the computer and to an AC power source. [. . . ] If you are using the external optical disc drive, press the F11 key several times before the VAIO logo disappears. Press the or key to select Start VAIO Care Rescue and press the Enter key. To perform the custom recovery, select Tools instead of Start recovery wizard and click Start advanced recovery wizard. 1 2 Connect your computer to the Internet, download and install the latest updates using the VAIO Update. If your computer is not equipped with a builtin optical disc drive, connect an external optical disc drive (not supplied) to the computer and to an AC power source. If the User Account Control window appears, click Yes. 1 2 When do I have to perform a recovery? If your computer has been unstable If your computer has been infected with a Press the ASSIST button while your computer is off to launch the VAIO Care Rescue. To perform the custom recovery, select Tools instead of Start recovery wizard and click Start advanced recovery wizard. 2 computer virus If your computer is experiencing problems which cannot be solved through troubleshooting If you have formatted the C drive by mistake About a backup What is a backup process? A backup process is to make a backup copy of your data stored on the built-in storage device and save it to another location. 3 3 3 1 Follow the on-screen instructions. Which software should I use to recover my computer? Please create your Recovery Media immediately after setup. Use the following software. VAIO Care Creating Recovery Media Checking your computer hardware VAIO Care Rescue Backing up (Rescuing) your data Recovering your computer Erasing all the data on your built-in storage device See the help file included with the VAIO Care and the VAIO Care Rescue for more information on how to use the software. On models without the ASSIST button Turn on your computer and press the F10 key several times before the VAIO logo disappears. To perform the custom recovery, select Tools instead of Start recovery wizard and click Start advanced recovery wizard. 4 5 Why do I have to back up my data? Due to unexpected events or computer viruses, you might lose various data stored on your builtin storage device, such as documents or pictures. Remove any extra memory modules you may have installed since purchase, and then restart your computer. If your computer is plugged into a power strip or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), make sure the power strip or UPS is plugged into a power source and turned on. Reinstall the battery pack, plug the power cord or the AC adapter, and then turn on your computer. Check that you are using the supplied Sony power cord or AC adapter. The green power indicator light turns on but my screen remains blank Press the Alt+F4 keys several times to close the application window. Press the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys and click the arrow next to the Shut down button and Restart. Press and hold the power button or slide and hold the power switch for more than four seconds to shut down your computer. Unplug the power cord or the AC adapter, and leave the computer for about five minutes. Then plug the power cord or the AC adapter, and turn on the computer again. [. . . ] Turning off your computer with the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys or the power switch may cause loss of unsaved data. If you are using an external display, make sure it is plugged into a power source and turned on. A message appears notifying of either incompatibility or the improper installation of the battery pack and my computer then enters Hibernate mode See the answers for "The charge indicator light is blinking fast and my computer does not start. " Windows does not accept my password and returns a message, Enter Onetime Password If you enter a wrong power-on password three times consecutively, the Enter Onetime Password message appears and Windows will not start. Press and hold the power button or slide and hold the power switch for more than four seconds to check that the power indicator light turns off. [. . . ]