[. . . ] User Guide is provided in the PDF format, which you can easily browse through and print out.
To view the on-screen guide:
1 Double-click the VAIO User Guide icon on the desktop. 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.
Important
Be sure to create recovery discs immediately after your computer is ready for use because there are no recovery discs provided with the computer. For instructions on how to create the recovery discs, see "Creating your own recovery discs" on page 16.
Contents
Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Printed Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ] 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. You can make a backup copy of your data to a CD, DVD or removal media, such as an external hard disk. For instructions on how to use this wizard, see "To make a backup copy of your file with the Back Up Files wizard" on page 18. Use the Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore feature (available on models with Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business only). You can make a backup copy of everything on your computer including the programs, system settings, and files on the computer. You can restore your computer system to the state when you made the backup copy. For instructions on how to use this feature, see "To make a backup copy of your file with the Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore feature" on page 19. Your computer may become unstable or slow after installing new software or changing the Windows settings. In such cases, you can use a restore point to restore your computer system to a previous state. For instructions on how to create a restore point, see "To create a restore point" on page 21.
If an optical disc drive is not installed on your computer, you need an external hard disk drive or optical disc drive to make a backup copy of your data or need to create a new partition by changing the size of the C drive. For instructions on how to create a hard disk partition, see "Creating a hard disk partition" on page 33.
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Be sure to create recovery discs immediately after your computer is ready for use. 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 settings. If you have created the restore point when the computer is working normally, use the restore point to restore the system files to the previous state.
To create a restore point manually
1 2 3 4 Launch VAIO Recovery Center (see page 14). If you are currently logged onto your computer as a standard user, enter an administrator name and password and click Continue. Click to select the check box next to the drive for which you want to create a restore point under Automatic restore points. Follow the on-screen instructions.
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To use the restore point for restoring system files
If you can start Windows, follow these steps: 1 2 3 1 Follow the steps 1 to 4 in "To create a restore point manually" as described above. Click System Restore on the System Protection tab in the System Properties window. Follow the steps 1 to 3 in "To restore your data from the backup copy made with the Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore feature" on page 20. Follow the on-screen instructions.
If you cannot start Windows, follow these steps:
2 3
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Backing up and restoring your data with the VAIO software
You can also make a backup copy of your data with the Rescue Data software and restore the rescued data with the VAIO Data Restore Tool software.
To back up your data with Rescue Data
The Rescue Data software enables you to rescue (back up) your data on the hard disk even when you cannot start Windows. Normal data rescue Saves all the files which you can rescue on the hard disk to an external hard disk drive. Custom data rescue Saves files which you specified to an external hard disk drive, removal media, or an optical disc (CD, DVD, etc. ).
Notes on using Rescue Data
Handle rescued files with care to protect from unauthorized access. Keep recovery discs in a secure place to protect from unauthorized copying of your data on the hard disk because this software can be launched from the recovery discs. [. . . ] However, it takes more time than recovering it from the recovery partition. You can recover your computer system faster than recovering it using recovery discs, because the recovery partition on the hard disk drive is used.
To recover your computer system using recovery discs
1 Insert a recovery disc to the drive while the computer is on, turn off your computer, and turn on the computer again. Follow the steps after step 1 in "To restore the C drive" on page 31 or "To restore your entire computer system" on page 31, depending on your computer state.
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To recover your computer system from recovery partition
1 2 3 Turn on your computer. Follow the steps after step 1 in "To restore the C drive" on page 31 or "To restore your entire computer system" on page 31, depending on your computer state.
After completing the recovery process, restore your data from the backup copy made with the Rescue Data software. [. . . ]