background image
15" TFT-XGA
DVD-ROM
Windows 2000 Professional
Confidential
PCG-F480K/F490K
US Model
Canadian Model
SERVICE MANUAL
NOTEBOOK COMPUTER
9-872-065-11
-- 10 --
Sony Corporation
Information Technology Company
9-872-065-11
PCG-F480K/F490K (UC)
PCG-F480K/F490K
(UC)
9-872-065-11
2000E1605-1
®
English
2000E1605-1
Printed in U.S.A.
© 2000 Sony Corporation
Published by VAIO Customer Link (Japan)
This manual and the constituent data may not be
replicated, copied nor reprinted in whole or in part
without prior written authorization of Sony Corporation.
Basic performances of PCG-F480K and those of PCG-F490K are the same as those of PCG-F480/F490.
Therefore, this manual describes the differences from PCG-F480/F490; includes OPERATION information
(Read Me First and VAIO User Guide) and CHAPTER 5 -- EXPLODED VIEW AND PARTS LIST.
Refer to the following manual that has already been issued for repair and inspection.
MAJOR DIFFERENCES
Items
Specifications
CPU
Main
Memory
(Max.)
LCD
HDD
CD/DVD
OS
Mobile Pentium
R III 600MHz
(PCG-F480)
Mobile Pentium
R III 650MHz
(PCG-F490)
64MB (256MB)
(PCG-F480)
128MB (256MB)
(PCG-F490)
15" TFT-XGA
12GB (PCG-F480)
18GB (PCG-F490)
DVD-ROM
Windows 98 Second Edition
PCG-F480/F490
PCG-F480K
Mobile Pentium
R III 600MHz
64MB (256MB)
12GB
PCG-F490K
Mobile Pentium
R III 650MHz
128MB (256MB)
18GB
PCG-F420/F480/F490 SERVICE MANUAL (9-872-058-11)


background image
1-1
PCG-F480K/F490K
Confidential
SECTION 1
OPERATION
Section 1-1: Read Me First
Read Me First
PCG-F480K/PCG-F490K
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How do I recover applications or drivers that came with my computer if
the files are corrupted or deleted?
A:
The Application Recovery CDs allow you to reinstall individual applications
and device drivers if they are corrupted or accidentally erased. Reinstalling an
individual device driver or software title may correct a problem you are
experiencing with your computer, and you may not need to recover the entire
contents of your hard drive. If you do need to reinstall all the software titles that
shipped with your computer, use the System Recovery CD(s).
You must be in Windows to run the Application Recovery CD(s). The application
will not run from DOS. If you have any questions on using the Application
Recovery CD(s), contact Sony Customer Support.
To use the Application Recovery CD(s)
1 Turn on your computer. If your computer is already on, close all applications.
2 When the Windows desktop appears, insert the Sony Application Recovery
into the DVD-ROM drive. The Application Recovery utility loads
automatically.
3 When the Application Recovery menu appears, follow the on-screen
instructions to complete the recovery process.
Your system may include one or two Application Recovery CDs. If you have two Application
Recovery CDs, insert the first CD to run the Application Recovery program. You may be
prompted to insert the second CD, depending on the application you wish to restore.


background image
Read Me First
2
Q: Why isn't the DVD-ROM drive reading a DVD or CD?
A:
After inserting a DVD or CD, you must wait a few seconds for the disc to be
detected before trying to access it. If your drive reads some DVDs or CDs but not
others, check the shiny side of the disc for dirt or scratches. You may also need to
clean the DVD-ROM drive lens with a CD-ROM cleaner.
Q: How do I change the video resolution of my display?
A:
From the Start menu, select Settings and click Control Panel. Click the Display
icon and select Settings. Move the Screen area slider to change the resolution.
Q: Why does Windows lock up during shut down?
A:
Windows may not shut down properly for many reasons, including
incompatible or conflicting drivers, damaged files, or non-responsive hardware.
For troubleshooting information, you can search Windows 2000 Help. From the
Start menu, select Help, click the Contents tab, click Troubleshooting, and then
click Windows 2000 Troubleshooters. Click the subject for which you want
information, and then answer the questions that are appropriate for your
problem.
Q: Why is my system running slowly?
A:
The speed varies depending on the number of applications that are open and
running. Close any applications that you are not currently using.
Q: Why is there no sound in any application?
A:
There are independent controls for your system volume.
u
When the internal speaker is set to Mute, press the F3 key while holding
down the Fn key.
u
When the internal speaker is set to Minimum, press the F4 key while holding
down the Fn key, then press the Up arrow key or the Right arrow key to
increase the volume
.


background image
Supplementary Information
3
Supplementary Information
Hard Disk Drive Partition
The hard disk drive on your computer has been formatted with two partitions, C
and D. The size of the D partition is approximately 4 GB on PCG-F480K and
approximately 8 GB on the PCG-F490K*.
Power Management Tips
u
If you find that an application exhibits unexpected behavior (such as reduced
video quality) after returning from a reduced power consumption mode, you
should close that application before your computer enters a power-saving
mode.
u
For maximum audio and video performance, use PowerPanel to select either
the AC Power Profile or the Power Management Off profile.
u
If your battery level falls to less than 10%, you should either attach the AC
adapter to recharge the battery or shut down your computer and insert a
fully charged battery.
If Your Computer Does Not Start
u
Check that the computer is plugged into a power source and that it is turned
on. Check that the power indicator on the front panel of the computer
indicates that the power is on.
u
Check that the battery is inserted properly and that it is charged.
u
Make sure there is no diskette in the floppy disk drive.
u
Confirm that the AC adapter and all cables are connected firmly, as described
in "Connecting Peripheral Devices" in the VAIO® Notebook User Guide that
came with your computer.
u
If you plugged the computer into a power strip or UPS, make sure the power
strip or UPS is turned on and working.
u
If you are using an external display, check that it is plugged into a power
source and turned on. Check that the brightness control is adjusted correctly.
See the manual that came with your display for details.
u
Moisture condensation may have occurred. Do not use the computer for at
least one hour and then turn on the computer.
* The size of your D partition may differ if you purchased a specially configured system.


background image
Read Me First
4
u
When the internal backup battery is low on power, it may not be able to start
your system properly and the message "Press <F1> to resume, <F2> to
setup" will appear at the bottom of the display. Should this happen, follow
the procedure below:
1 Press F2. The BIOS Setup menu appears.
2 Set the date (month/day/year). Press Enter to move to the next item. To enter
01/31/2000, for example, type 1, press Enter, type 31, press Enter, Type 2000,
then press Enter.
3 Press Ð to select System Time, then set the time (hour:minute:second). Press
Enter to move to the next item.
4 Press Î to select Exit, then press Ð to select Get Default Values. The message
"Load default configuration now?" appears.
5 Make sure that Yes is selected and press Enter. If No is selected, press Í to
select Yes.
6 Select Exit (Save Changes), then press Enter. The message "Save
configuration changes and exit now?" appears.
7 "Make sure that Yes is selected and press Enter. The computer restarts.
Local Toll Calling
Although Sony makes every effort to use local toll free telephone lines to transfer
data when you register your computer, where local toll calling applies, you may
find a small charge from your phone service provider after registering your
computer.
Switching Between NTSC and PAL Standards
Your computer is designed to allow you to switch between NTSC and PAL
standards. For details on switching from one standard to another, go to Ask Sony
at www.sony.com/pcsupport.
Selecting the Printer Port Mode for Your Printer
The default setting for the printer port mode is correct for most printers. If you
cannot print, try changing the printer port mode. In Sony Notebook Setup, select
the Printer tab. If the printer port mode is set to ECP, change it to bi-directional. If
the printer port mode is set to bi-directional, change it to ECP. For more
information on using Sony Notebook Setup, see "Displaying the Sony Notebook
Setup Screen" in the online manual Customizing Your VAIO® Notebook.