Why is the signal sound "pipo" produced at the startup of my computer (PCG-XR**)?

I'm not using a PC card with my PCG-XR**. But, my machine makes a kind of signal sound "pipo" at the startup as if it contains a PC card in it. Why is that so?

PCG-XR series computers produce a signal sound "pipo" when they recognize, on OS, the availability of the drive (floppy disk drive and CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive) connected to the multi-purpose bay.

The sound is produced not only when a drive of the multi-purpose bay is replaced with another using the [PowerPanel] function during the operation of the computer but also when the system starts or returns from the power saving mode.

* It takes about 30 seconds from the start of the recognition process of a drive to the production of the "pipo" sound. During these 30 seconds, I cannot access the drive.

The "pipo" sound does not appear in the following situation.

- When [Enable Sound for device snapping] is disabled on the [PowerPanel] menu
- When utility programs unique to a VAIO computer such as [PowerPanel] are uninstalled on [Add/Remove Programs]
- When stay-resident programs (e.g. [PowerPanel]) unique to a VAIO computer are disabled using [System Configuration Utility] (msconfig.exe)
- When OS supports the removal of hardware (Windows 2000 or newer Windows pre-installed models)

* When it is a floppy disk drive that is connected to the multi-purpose bay, this "pipo" sound is not produced sometimes.

You may refer to the following procedure to replace drives connected to the multi-purpose bay while the computer is in operation.

* Remove disk media (CD-ROM, floppy disk, etc.) prior to replacing a drive on the running computer. If you try to replace the drive in the state that OS recognizes the disk medium, the system may hang sometimes.

- In the case of Windows 98, Windows 98SE and Windows Me pre-installed model
- In the case of Windows 2000 pre-installed model

# In the case of Windows 98, Windows 98SE and Windows Me pre-installed model

--Procedure--
1) Click the [Remove multi-purpose bay device] icon in the [Power Management] tool bar
* Or, Right-click the [PowerPanel] icon in the task bar and click the [Remove multi-purpose bay device] menu.

2) Wait for the message "You may safely remove or replace the device in the multi-purpose bay now. Please press OK after removing or replacing the device." to appear in the [Device Swapping] dialog box (it usually takes about 15 seconds) before carrying out steps (3) and (4), without clicking the [OK] button.

3) With your left hand at the bottom of your computer, lift the side facing toward you slightly and remove the drive while pulling the lock lever of the multi-purpose bay with your right hand.

4) Connect the drive that you want to use to the bay securely until you hear a click sound.

5) Click [OK] in the [Drive Swapping] dialog box and wait until the drive is recognized by the system (it usually takes about 30 seconds).