Acer Extensa 500 User Guide

Copyright © 1998 Acer Incorporated

All Rights Reserved — Printed in Taiwan

Extensa 500 Series Notebook Computer User’s Guide
Part No.: 49.45B01.001
Original Issue: June 1998
First Revision: July 1998
Second Revision: August 1998

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this
publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision or
changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this
manual. This company makes no representations or warranties,
either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and
specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or
fitness for a particular purpose.

Record the serial number, purchase date, and model number in the
space provided below. The serial number and model number are
recorded on the label affixed to the underside of the computer. All
correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial
number, model number, and date of purchase.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Extensa Notebook Computer

Model___________Serial No._______________________________
Purchase Date_______________

Extensa is a trademark and a product of Acer Inc., developed with Texas
Instruments Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the
property of their respective companies. Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Table of Contents

Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii

Connecting the Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiv

Getting Help Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvi

Support Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii

Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xviii

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer. . . . . . . 1

Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Securing your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Chapter 2 Operating on Battery Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Battery Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Power Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

External Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

External Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

External Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

External Pointing Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Audio Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Port Replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

PC Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

USB Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Miscellaneous Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Key Component Upgrades. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Chapter 4 Moving with your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Disconnecting from the Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Moving Around. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Taking the Computer Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Traveling with the Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

iii

Table of Contents

Traveling Internationally with the Computer . . . . . . 63

Chapter 5 Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

System Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Sleep Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Notebook Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

BIOS Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Chapter 6 Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Frequently-Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Appendix A Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

iv

FCC Notice

This device has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This device generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this device does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which
can be determined by turning the device off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one
or more of the following measures:

1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

2. Increase the separation between the device and receiver

3. Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different

from that to which the receiver is connected

4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television
technician for help

Notices

Notice: Shield Cables

All connections to other computing devices must be made
using shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC
regulations.

Notice: Peripheral Devices

Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers,
etc.) certified to comply with the Class B limits may be
attached to this equipment. Operation with non-certified
peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV
reception.

v

Notices

Caution

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the
manufacturer could void the user’s authority, which is
granted by the Federal Communications Commission, to
operate this computer.

Use Conditions

This part complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this
device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.

Notice: Canadian Users

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the
Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Remarque à l’intention des utilisateurs canadiens

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respected toutes les
exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du
Canada.

vi

Important Safety Instructions

1. Read these instructions carefully. Save these
instructions for future reference.

2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the
product.

3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning.
Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a
damp cloth for cleaning.

4. Do not use this product near water.

5. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or

table. The product may fall, causing serious damage to
the product.

6. Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or
bottom are provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable
operation of the product and to protect it from
overheating, these openings must not be blocked or
covered. The openings should never be blocked by
placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar
surface. This product should never be placed near or
over a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in
installation unless proper ventilation is provided.

7. This product should be operated from the type of power
indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of
the type of power available, consult your dealer or local
power company.

8. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not
locate this product where persons will walk on the cord.

9. If an extension cord is used with this product, make
sure that the total ampere rating of the equipment
plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the
extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the
total rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet
does not exceed the fuse rating.

Notices

vii

Notices

10.Never push objects of any kind into this product

11.Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as

12.Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer

13.Replace the battery with the same type as the product's

14.Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly.

through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous
voltage points or short out parts that could result in a
fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on
the product.

opening or removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all
servicing to qualified service personnel.

servicing to qualified service personnel under the
following conditions:

a. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed
b. If liquid has been spilled into the product
c. If the product has been exposed to rain or water
d. If the product does not operate normally when the

operating instructions are followed. Adjust only
those controls that are covered by the operating
instructions since improper adjustment of other
controls may result in damage and will often require
extensive work by a qualified technician to restore
the product to normal condition.

e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has

been damaged

f. If the product exhibits a distinct change in

performance, indicating a need for service.

battery we recommend. Use of another battery may
present a risk of fire or explosion. Refer battery
replacement to a qualified serviceman.

Do not disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep
them away from children and dispose of used batteries
promptly.

viii

Notices

15.Use only the proper type of power supply cord set
(provided in your accessories box) for this unit. It
should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA certified,
type SPT-2, rated 7A 125V minimum, VDE approved or
its equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

ix

Notices

Laser Compliance Statement

The CD-ROM drive in this computer is a laser product. The
CD-ROM drive’s classification label (shown below) is located
on the drive.

CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT
CAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN.
AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.

APPAREIL A LASER DE CLASSE 1 PRODUIT
LASERATTENTION: RADIATION DU FAISCEAU LASER
INVISIBLE EN CAS D’OUVERTURE. EVITTER TOUTE
EXPOSITION AUX RAYONS.

LUOKAN 1 LASERLAITE LASER KLASSE 1
VORSICHT: UNSICHTBARE LASERSTRAHLUNG, WENN
ABDECKUNG GEÖFFNET NICHT DEM STRAHLL
AUSSETZEN

PRODUCTO LÁSER DE LA CLASE I
ADVERTENCIA: RADIACIÓN LÁSER INVISIBLE AL SER
ABIERTO. EVITE EXPONERSE A LOS RAYOS.

ADVARSEL: LASERSTRÅLING VEDÅBNING SE IKKE IND I
STRÅLEN.

VARO! LAVATTAESSA OLET ALTTINA LASERSÅTEILYLLE.
VARNING: LASERSTRÅLNING NÅR DENNA DEL ÅR
ÖPPNAD ÅLÅ TUIJOTA SÅTEESEENSTIRRA EJ IN I
STRÅLEN

VARNING: LASERSTRÅLNING NAR DENNA DEL ÅR
ÖPPNADSTIRRA EJ IN I STRÅLEN

ADVARSEL: LASERSTRÅLING NAR DEKSEL ÅPNESSTIRR
IKKE INN I STRÅLEN

x

Lithium Battery Statement

The following statement refers to the internal lithium
battery that powers the computer’s clock.

CAUTION

Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.
Replace only with the same or equivalent type
recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

ADVARSEL!

Lithiumbatteri - Eksplosionsfare ved fejlagtig håndtering.
Udskiftning må kun ske med batteri af samme fabrikat og
type. Léver det brugte batteri tilbage til leverandøren.

ADVARSEL

Eksplosjonsfare ved feilaktig skifte av batteri. Benytt
samme batteritype eller en tilsvarende type anbefalt av
apparatfabrikanten. Brukte batterier kasseres i henhold til
fabrikantens instruksjoner.

VARNING

Explosionsfara vid felaktigt batteribyte. Anvãnd samma
batterityp eller en ekvivalent typ som rekommenderas av
apparattillverkaren. Kassera anvãnt batteri enligt
fabrikantens instruktion.

Notices

VAROITUS

Päristo voi räjähtää, jos se on virheellisesti asennettu.
Vaihda paristo ainoastaan laitevalmistajan suosittelemaan
tyyppiin. Hävitä käytetty paristo valmistajan ohjeiden
mukaisesti.

VORSICHT!

Explosionsgefahr bei unsachgemäßen Austausch der
Batterie Ersatz nur durch denselben oder einem vom
Hersteller empfohlenem ähnlichen Typ. Entsorgung
gebrauchter Batterien nach Angaben des Herstellers.

xi

Notices

Year 2000 Compliance Statement

The Extensa 500 series notebook computer is Year 2000­compliant and carries the “NSTL Hardware Tested Year
2000 Compliant” logo. This model has been tested both by
Acer’s internal test labs and NSTL using NSTL’s
YMARK2000 certification test. These tests certify that this
model will successfully make the year 2000 transition.

For more details, check the Acer Year 2000 Resource Center
at http://www.acer.com/year2000

xii

Preface

This manual describes features of the Extensa 500 Series
notebook computers. The Extensa series computers
incorporate such features as CardBus, 16-bit stereo audio,
internal pointing device, Universal Serial Bus, and all-in­one media storage. The Extensa 500 Series also has unique
compact disc (CD) player control features.

This manual should answer most of the questions you have
about the day-to-day operation of your Extensa notebook
computer.

Use the Just for Starters… instructions that came with your
computer to get your computer running for the first time.

You should also take advantage of the online help files that
are available with almost all of the programs shipped with
your computer.

We hope you enjoy your Extensa computer. With proper
care, your computer will provide you with years of
productive service.

xiii

Preface

Connecting the Computer

Connecting the computer is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Insert the battery pack into the battery compartment,
then slide the battery compartment cover in place.

Note: When using a battery pack for the first time, fully
recharge the battery, then disconnect the adapter to use
up the battery before recharging again. Perform this
action twice to condition the battery pack.

2. Connect one end of the AC adapter to the DC-in port on
the computer’s rear panel and the other end to a
properly grounded power outlet.

xiv

Preface

3. Slide the display cover latch to the left to open the
display. Slide the power switch towards the rear of the
computer then release it to turn on the power. The
POST (Power On Self-Test) routine executes and
Windows begins loading.

Note: To turn off the power, slide and hold the power
switch for more than four seconds. If you are using
Windows 98, we recommend that you use the Shutdown
command to turn off the computer. If you turn off the
computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two
seconds before powering up.

xv

Preface

Getting Help Online

This user’s guide provides clear and concise information
about the computer, so read it thoroughly. To provide you
with help when traveling, the computer also has a
comprehensive online help.

Accessing Online Help

Follow these steps to access the online documentation:

1. Press the Windows logo button or click on the Start
button.

2. Select Programs.

3. Click on Extensa Online.

The online help is easy to navigate with hypertext and
hypergraphics. Clear illustrations help describe notebook
operation as well.

Getting Online

If you are connected to the Internet and have World Wide
Web access, visit our home page (http://www.acer.com/)
and get the latest information about our products.

xvi

Support Information

Your computer is backed by an International Traveler’s
Warranty (ITW) that gives you security and peace of mind
when traveling. Our worldwide network of service centers
are there to give you a helping hand.

An ITW passport comes with your computer. This passport
contains all you need to know about the ITW program. A
list of available, authorized service centers are in this handy
booklet. Read this passport thoroughly.

Note: Always have your ITW passport on hand, especially
when you travel to receive the benefits from our support
centers. Place your proof-of-purchase in the flap located
inside the front cover of the ITW passport.

If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer­authorized ITW service site, you can still get in contact with
our offices worldwide.

For technical assistance and support in the United States
and Canada, you can call 1-800-816-2237. You can also
contact a local dealer or distributor in the country you are
traveling in for assistance.

Preface

To view support information, follow these steps:

1. Click on Start, Settings…, Control Panel.

2. Double-click on System.

3. Click on Support Information.

Note: If you are connected to the Internet and have World
Wide Web access, visit our home page (http://
www.acer.com/) and get an updated list of our worldwide
offices, as well as information about our products.

xvii

Preface

Care and Maintenance

Taking Care of Your Computer

Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.

❑ Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not

place near sources of heat, such as a radiator.

❑ Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0ºC

(32ºF) or above 50ºC (122ºF).

❑ Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.
❑ Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.
❑ Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.
❑ Do not subject the computer to heavy shock and

vibration.

❑ Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.
❑ Never place objects on top of the computer to avoid

damaging the computer.

❑ Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.

Taking Care of your AC Adapter

Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:

❑ Do not connect the adapter to any other device.
❑ Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on

top of it. Carefully route the power cord and any cables
away from personal traffic.

❑ When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the

cord itself but pull on the plug.

xviii

❑ The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in

should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you
are using an extension cord. Also, the total current
rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet
should not exceed the fuse rating.

Taking Care of your Battery Pack

Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:

❑ Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements.

Turn the power off before removing or replacing
batteries.

❑ Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from

children.

❑ Dispose of used batteries according to local

regulations. Recycle if at all possible.

Cleaning and Servicing

When cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

1. Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.

2. Disconnect the AC adapter.

3. Use a soft cloth moistened with water. Do not use liquid

or aerosol cleaners.

Preface

Contact your dealer or see your service technician if any of
the following occurs:

❑ The computer has been dropped or the body has been

damaged.

❑ Liquid has been spilled into the product.
❑ The computer does not operate normally.

xix

xx

1

Getting Familiar with y our Computer

This computer combines high-performance, versatility,
power management features and multimedia capabilities
with a unique style and ergonomic design. Work with
unmatched productivity and reliability with your new power
computing partner.

This chapter gives an in-depth "tour" of the computer’s
many features.

Contents

Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Special Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Lock Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Embedded Numeric Keypad. . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Windows 98 Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Hot Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Keyboard Ergonomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Touchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Touchpad Basics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Hard Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Floppy Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

CD-ROM Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Front Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Rear Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Universal Serial Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Right Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Fax/Data Modem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

PC Card Slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Securing your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Security Notch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

1

Features

Features

This computer was designed with the user in mind. Here
are just a few of its many features:

Performance

❑ Intel Pentium® processor with MMX™ technology
❑ 64-bit main memory and external (L2) cache memory
❑ Large LCD display and PCI local bus video with 128-bit

❑ Internal CD-ROM drive
❑ Internal 3.5-inch floppy drive
❑ High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
❑ Nickel metal-hydride battery pack
❑ Power management system with standby and

Multimedia

❑ 16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D sound and

❑ Built-in dual speakers
❑ Compact disc player control feature
❑ Ultra-slim, high-speed CD-ROM drive

graphics acceleration

hibernation power saving modes

wavetable synthesizer

Connectivity

❑ High-speed fax/data modem port (available in select

countries)

❑ USB (Universal Serial Bus) port

2 User’s Guide

Features

Human-centric Design and Ergonomics

❑ Lightweight and slim
❑ Sleek, smooth and stylish design
❑ Full-sized keyboard
❑ Wide and curved palm rest
❑ Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing device
❑ Compact disc player control

Expansion

❑ CardBus PC card (formerly PCMCIA) slots (two type II/I

or one type III) with ZV (Zoomed Video) port support

❑ Mini docking station option for one-step connect/

disconnect from peripherals

❑ Upgradeable memory and hard disk

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 3

Display

Display

The large graphics display offers excellent viewing, display
quality and desktop performance graphics. The computer
supports two different display configurations — High
Performance Addressing (HPA) or Thin-Film Transistor
(TFT).

Video Performance

PCI local bus video with 128-bit graphics acceleration and
2MB Extended Data Out (EDO) video RAM boost video
performance.

Simultaneous Display

The computer’s large display and multimedia capabilities
are great for giving presentations. If you prefer, you can
also connect an external monitor when giving
presentations. This computer supports simultaneous LCD
and CRT display. Simultaneous display allows you to
control the presentation from your computer and at the
same time face your audience. You can also connect other
output display devices such as LCD projection panels for
large-audience presentations.

Power Management

The power management system incorporates an "automatic
LCD dim" feature that automatically dims the LCD when
the computer is powered by a battery pack to conserve
battery power. See “Power Management” on page 36 for
more information on power management features.

4 User’s Guide

Display

Opening and Closing the Display

To open the display, slide the display cover latch to the left
and lift up the cover. Then tilt it to a comfortable viewing
position. The computer employs a microswitch that turns
off the display (and enters standby mode) to conserve power
when you close the display cover, and turns it back on
when you open the display cover.

Note: If an external monitor is connected, the computer
turns off the display (but does not enter standby mode)
when you close the display cover.

To close the display cover, fold it down gently until the
display cover latch clicks into place.

Caution: To avoid damaging the display, do not
slam it when you close it. Also, do not place any
object on top of the computer when the display is
closed.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 5

Indicators

Indicators

The computer has six easy-to-read status indicators (LEDs)
under the display screen.

The Power and Standby indicators are visible even when
you close the display cover so you can see the status of the
computer while the cover is closed.

# Icon Function Description

1 Power Lights when the computer is on.

Blinks when a battery-low
condition occurs.

2 Standby Lights when the computer enters

Standby mode.

3Media

Activity

4Battery

Charge

Lights when the floppy drive, hard
disk or CD-ROM drive) is active.

Lights when the battery is being
charged.

6 User’s Guide

# Icon Function Description

Indicators

5 Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is

6 Num Lock Lights when Numeric Lock is

activated

activated

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 7

Keyboard

Keyboard

The keyboard has full-sized keys and an embedded keypad,
separate cursor keys, two Windows 98 keys and twelve
function keys.

Special Keys

Lock Keys

The keyboard has three lock keys which you can toggle on
and off.

Lock Key Description

Caps Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters

Num Lock
(Fn-F11)

Scroll Lock
(Fn-F12)

typed are in uppercase.

When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in
numeric mode. The keys function as a calculator
(complete with the arithmetic operators +, -, *,
and /). Use this mode when you need to do a lot
of numeric data entry. A better solution would be
to connect an external keypad.

When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one line
up or down when you press ↑ or ↓ respectively.
Scroll Lock does not work with some applications.

8 User’s Guide

Embedded Numeric Keypad

The embedded numeric keypad functions like a desktop
numeric keypad. It is indicated by small characters located
on the upper right corner of the keycaps. To simplify the
keyboard legend, cursor-control key symbols are not
printed on the keys.

Desired Access Num Lock On Num Lock Off

Keyboard

Number keys on
embedded keypad

Cursor-control keys
on embedded
keypad

Main keyboard keys Hold Fn while typing

Type numbers in a
normal manner.

Hold Shift while using
cursor-control keys.

letters on embedded
keypad.

Hold Fn while
using cursor­control keys.

Type the letters
in a normal
manner.

Note: If an external keyboard or keypad is connected to
the computer, the numlock feature automatically shifts
from the internal keyboard to the external keyboard or
keypad.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 9

Keyboard

Windows 98 Keys

The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows 98­specific functions.

Key Description

Windows logo key Start button. Combinations with this key

Application key Opens the application’s context menu

performs special functions. Below are a
few examples:

+ Tab (Activate next Taskbar button)



+ E (Explore My Computer)



+ F (Find Document)



+ M (Minimize All)



Shift +  + M (Undo Minimize All)

+ R (Display Run dialog box)



(same as right-click).

10 User’s Guide

Hot Keys

Keyboard

The computer employs hot keys or key combinations to
access most of the computer’s controls like screen contrast
and brightness, volume output and the BIOS setup utility.

Hot Key Icon Function Description

Fn-F1 Hot key help Displays a list of the hotkeys

Fn-F2 Setup Accesses the notebook

Fn-F3 Standby Puts the computer in

and their functions.

configuration utility. See
“Notebook Manager” on
page 74.

Standby mode. Press any
key to return.

See “Standby Mode” on
page 37 to learn more
about Standby mode.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 11

Keyboard

Hot Key Icon Function Description

Fn-F4 Hibernation Puts the computer in

Fn-F5 Display

toggle

Fn-F6 Screen blank Turns the display screen

Fn-F7 Touchpad

on/off

Hibernation mode (if Sleep
Manager, the hibernation
utility, is installed, valid and
enabled). Press the power
switch to resume.

Otherwise, the computer
issues a warning beep
and continues operation.
See “Hibernation Mode”
on page 38 for more about
Hibernation mode.

Switches display output
between the display
screen, external monitor (if
connected) and both the
display screen and
external monitor.

backlight off to save
power. Press any key to
return.

Turns the internal
touchpad on and off.

When you connect an
external PS/2 mouse, the
computer automatically
disables the touchpad.

Fn-F8 Speaker on/

off

Fn-↑ Contrast up Increases the screen

Turns the speakers on and
off; mutes the sound.

contrast (available only for
models with HPA displays).

12 User’s Guide

Hot Key Icon Function Description

Keyboard

Fn-↓ Contrast

Fn-→ Brightness up Increases the screen

Fn-

←

Activating Hot Keys

When activating hot keys, press and hold the first key Fn
before pressing the other key in the hot key combination.

Keyboard Ergonomics

Located below the keyboard, the wide and curved palm rest
is ergonomically designed to provide you with a very
comfortable place to rest your hands while you type.

down

Brightness
down

Decreases the screen
contrast (available only for
models with HPA displays).

brightness.

Decreases the screen
brightness.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 13

Touchpad

Touchpad

The built-in touchpad is a PS/2-compatible pointing device
that senses movement on its surface. This means the
cursor responds as you move your finger on the surface of
the touchpad. The central location on the palm rest
provides optimum comfort and support.

Note: When you connect an external PS/2 mouse, the
computer automatically disables the internal touchpad.

Touchpad Basics

The following items teach you how to use the touchpad:

❑ Move your finger across the touchpad to move the

cursor.

❑ Press the left and right buttons located on the edge of

the touchpad to do selection and execution functions.
These two buttons are similar to the left and right
buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touchpad produces
similar results.

14 User’s Guide

Touchpad

Function Left Button

Executes Click

twice
quickly

Selects Click once Tap once

Drags Click and

hold, then
use finger
to drag
the cursor
on the
touchpad

Accesses
context
menu

Right
Button

Click
once

Tap

Tap twice (at the same
speed as double­clicking the mouse
button)

Tap twice (at the same
speed as double­clicking the mouse
button) and hold finger
to the touchpad on the
second tap to drag the
cursor

Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the
touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and clean. The
touchpad is sensitive to finger movements. Hence, the
lighter the touch, the better the response. Tapping too
hard will not increase the touchpad’s responsiveness.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 15

Storage

Storage

This computer supplies you with all-in-one media storage:

❑ High-capacity Enhanced-IDE hard disk
❑ Standard ultra-slim internal 3.5-inch floppy drive
❑ High-speed ultra-slim CD-ROM drive

Hard Disk

The hard disk can be upgraded when you need more
storage space. Consult your dealer for details.

Floppy Drive

The ultra-slim internal floppy drive reads and writes on
standard 3.5-inch diskettes.

Ejecting a Floppy Disk

Press the floppy disk eject button to eject a floppy disk from
the floppy drive.

16 User’s Guide

CD-ROM Drive

A high-speed CD-ROM drive gives you portable multimedia
access.

Ejecting the CD-ROM Tray

To eject the CD-ROM drive tray when the computer is
turned on, press the CD-ROM eject button.

Note: When power is off, you can eject the CD-ROM drive
tray using the emergency eject hole (see page 98). You can
also eject the CD-ROM drive tray when using the compact
disc player control feature (see page 24).

Storage

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 17

Ports

Ports

Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to your
computer as you would with a desktop PC.

Note: See Chapter 3 on how to connect external devices to
the computer.

Front Ports

The front panel contains ports for external audio
connections.

# Icon Port Connect s to ...

1 Speaker-out

jack

2 Audio line-

in jack

3 Microphone

-in jack

Speakers or headphones

Audio line-in device with a

3.5mm minijack (e.g., audio
CD player, stereo walkman)

3.5mm minijack condenser
microphone

18 User’s Guide

Rear Ports

# Icon Port Connects to...

Ports

1 DC-in jack AC adapter and power

2 PS/2 port PS/2-compatible device

3 Serial port Serial device (e.g., serial

4 Parallel port Parallel device (e.g., parallel

5 Port replicator

connector

6 External

monitor port

7 USB port USB device (e.g., USB mouse)

outlet

(e.g., PS/2 keyboard/mouse/
keypad)

mouse)

printer)

Port replicator

Display monitor (up to
1024x768 resolution, 64K­colors)

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 19

Ports

Universal Serial Bus

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) port is a high-speed serial
bus which allows you to connect and daisy-chain USB
peripherals without taking up precious system resources.

Right Ports

# Icon Port Connects to...

1 PC Card slots 16-bit PC Cards and 32-bit

2 Modem jack Phone line (only for models with

CardBus PC Cards (ZV- support)

an internal fax modem)

PC Card Slots

There are two type II/I or one type III CardBus PC Card
slots found on the right panel of the computer. These slots
accept credit-card-sized cards that enhance the usability
and expandability of the computer.

PC Cards (formerly PCMCIA) are add-on cards for portable
computers, giving you expansion possibilities long afforded
by desktop PCs. Popular type II cards include flash
memory, SRAM, fax/data modem, LAN and SCSI cards.
Common type III cards are 1.8-inch ATA drives and cellular
modems. CardBus improves on the 16-bit PC card
technology by expanding the data path to 32 bits.

20 User’s Guide

Ports

ZV (Zoomed Video) port support allows your computer to
support hardware MPEG in the form of a ZV PC card.

Note: Refer to your card’s manual for details on how to
install and use the card and its functions.

Inserting a Card

Insert the card into the desired slot and make the proper
connections (e.g., network cable), if necessary. See your
card manual for details.

For type III cards, insert the card into the lower slot. For ZV
cards, insert the card into the upper slot.

Ejecting a Card

Before ejecting a PC card:

❑ Exit the application using the card.
❑ Left-click on the PC card icon on the taskbar and stop

the card operation.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 21

Ports

Press the slot eject button once to pop it out; then press
again to eject the PC Card.

Fax/Data Modem

The computer has a built-in fax/data modem (available in
select countries).

Caution: This modem port is not compatible with
digital phone lines. Plugging this modem into a
digital phone line will damage the modem.

To use the fax/data modem port, connect a phone cable
from the modem port to a telephone jack.

Start your communications software program. See your
communications manual for instructions.

22 User’s Guide

Audio

Audio

The standard computer configuration includes 16-bit high­fidelity stereo audio with further enhancements that
include 3D sound for true audio immersion. Front dual
speakers direct sound towards you to further enhance
sound output. A sensitive microphone is located above the
display screen.

Besides the built-in speakers, there are audio ports on the
front panel of the computer. See “Audio Devices” on page
48 for more information on connecting external audio
devices.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 23

Audio

Playing Audio CDs

This computer allows you to play audio (music) compact
discs without turning on the computer. Front panel
controls provide smooth and easy operation.

# Function Description

1 Previous Track Jumps to the previous track in the audio

2 Volume Control Adjusts the volume level

3 Next Track Jumps to the next track in the audio CD

4 Status LCD Displays the current track number;

5 Play/Pause Plays/pauses the audio CD

6 Stop/Eject Stops playing the audio CD. When CD

7 Power Turns the audio CD player on and off

CD

displays “--” if no audio CD is in the CD­ROM drive

playback is stopped, press again to eject
the CD-ROM drive tray.

(works only when the computer is off).

24 User’s Guide

Audio

To play audio CDs without turning on the computer, follow
these steps:

1. Slide the power switch and release it to turn on the

audio CD player. The status LCD turns on.

2. Press the CD eject button to eject the CD-ROM drive

tray.

3. Firmly place an audio compact disc on the CD-ROM

drive tray spindle until you hear it click in place.

4. Close the CD-ROM drive tray.

5. Use the front panel buttons to play the CD.

6. Use the volume control knob to adjust the volume level.

Turn the knob to the right to increase the volume; turn
it to the left to decrease the volume.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 25

Securing your Computer

Securing your Computer

Security features include hardware and software locks — a
security notch and a two-level password scheme.

Security Notch

A security notch located on the rear panel of the computer
lets you connect a Kensington-compatible key-based
computer security lock.

Wrap a computer security lock cable around an immovable
object such as a table or locked drawer handle. Insert the
lock into the notch and turn the key to secure the lock.

Passwords

A two-level password scheme protects your computer from
unauthorized access. When set, no one can access the
computer without entering the correct password.

There are two types of passwords you can set:

❑ Setup Password secures your computer against

unauthorized entry to and use of the BIOS Utility.

❑ Power-On Password secures your computer against

unauthorized use.

26 User’s Guide

Securing your Computer

See “BIOS Utility” on page 84 for details.

Important: Do not forget your password! If you
forget your password, you need to contact your
dealer.

Setting a Password

You can set the password using:

❑ Notebook Manager -- go to page 78.
❑ BIOS Utility -- go to page 91.

Chapter 1 Getting Familiar with your Computer 27

28 User’s Guide

Operating on Battery Power

The computer operates on AC or battery power. This
chapter contains the information you need to know to
operate the computer on battery power. It also includes
information on how your computer manages and saves
power.

Contents

Battery Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Battery Pack Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Installing and Removing the Battery Pack . . . . 31

Charging the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Charging Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Checking the Battery Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Using the Windows Battery Meter . . . . . . 33

Optimizing Battery Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Battery-low Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Power Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Power Management Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Display Standby Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Hard Disk Standby Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Peripheral Standby Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Standby Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Hibernation Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Advanced Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

2

29

Battery Pack

Battery Pack

The computer uses a battery pack that gives you long use
between charges.

Battery Pack Characteristics

The battery pack has the following characteristics:

❑ Employs Current Battery Technology Standards

The computer uses a Nickel-Metal Hydride battery pack
which does not have the memory effect problem of Nickel
Cadmium (NiCd) batteries.

❑ Battery-low Warning

When the battery charge level becomes low, the
computer gives off warning beeps and the status
indicator flashes at regular intervals. This tells you that
the battery power is critically low (and you should save
your work). You can correct this situation by recharging
the battery pack.

Whenever possible, use the AC adapter. The battery will
come in handy when you travel or during a power failure. It
is advisable to have an extra fully-charged battery pack
available as backup.

Using a Battery Pack for the First Time

When using a battery pack for the first time, follow these
steps:

1. Disable the Battery Low Suspend parameter in Setup or
uncheck the Enable sleep upon battery low in the Power
Management screen of Notebook Manager. See page 93
and page 78 respectively.

2. Connect the AC adapter to a power source and to the
computer and fully recharge the battery

30 User’s Guide

Battery Pack

3. Disconnect the adapter to use up the battery before
recharging again.

You only need to do this once or twice with a new battery or
with a battery that's been stored without being used for a
long time. If the computer is to be stored for more than two
weeks, we suggest you remove the battery pack. Battery
power from a fully charged battery pack depletes in roughly
a day with the computer in Standby mode, a month in
Hibernation mode or when power is off.

Warning! Do not expose battery packs to
temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) or above 60ºC (140ºF).
This may adversely affect the battery pack.

Installing and Removing the Battery Pack

Important!

that you have an AC adapter connected to the computer;
otherwise turn off the computer.

To install a battery pack, slide it into the battery
compartment, then latch the battery compartment cover.

Reverse the steps to remove the battery pack.

Before removing the battery pack, make sure

Chapter 2 Operating on Battery Power 31

Battery Pack

Charging the Battery

To charge the battery, place the battery pack inside the
battery bay and plug the AC adapter into the computer and
an electrical outlet.

Charging Modes

The adapter has three charging modes:

❑ Rapid mode

The computer uses rapid charging when power is turned
off and a powered AC adapter is connected to it. In rapid
mode, a fully depleted battery gets fully charged in
approximately two hours.

❑ Charge-in-use mode

When the computer is in use with the AC adapter
plugged in, the computer also charges the battery pack if
installed. This mode will take longer to fully charge a
battery than rapid mode. In charge-in-use mode, a fully
depleted battery gets fully charged in approximately
three to four hours.

❑ Trickle mode

When the battery is fully charged, the adapter changes
to trickle mode to maintain the battery charge level.
This prevents the battery from draining while the
computer is in use.

Note: We suggest that you charge the battery pack before
retiring for the day, letting it charge overnight before
traveling. This ensures a fully charged battery for use the
next day.

32 User’s Guide

Checking the Battery Level

The computer features battery-low warning signals that are
both audible and visible. When the battery pack is low, the
computer emits warning beeps and the battery indicator
flashes at regular intervals. Also, you can check the battery
charge level using the Windows battery gauge.

Using the Windows Battery Meter

The Windows battery meter indicates the present battery
level. Simply rest your cursor on the battery gauge (or AC
plug) icon on the taskbar to see the present charge level of
your battery.

Optimizing Battery Life

This section helps you get the most out of battery operation.
Optimizing battery life prolongs the charge/recharge cycle
and improves recharge efficiency. Follow these suggestions
to optimize and maximize battery power:

❑ Purchase an extra battery pack.
❑ Use Sleep Manager to reserve hard disk space for the

Hibernation function. See “Sleep Manager” on page 67.

❑ Use the AC adapter whenever possible so that the

battery is reserved for on-the-go computing.

❑ Keep the battery pack in the computer powered by the

AC adapter. The constant trickle charge maintains the
battery level to eliminate the battery self-discharge
effect. The charge-in-use function also charges the
battery pack.

❑ Disable the parallel and serial ports if no devices are

connected to these ports. You can do this through the
Setup Utility. See “Startup Configuration” on page 87.

❑ Eject the PC card from the card slot when not in use,

since the PC card draws extra power.

Battery Pack

Chapter 2 Operating on Battery Power 33

Battery Pack

❑ Store the battery pack in a cool, dry place. The

recommended storage temperature for battery packs
ranges from 10 to 30 degrees C. The higher the storage
temperature, the faster the battery pack self-discharges.

❑ The batteries can be recharged about 300 times when

used as directed. Excessive recharging decreases
battery life.

❑ Take care of your battery pack and AC adapter. See

“Care and Maintenance” on page xviii of the preface.

Battery-low Warning

You never have to worry about battery power as long as you
are using the AC adapter. However, when you operate the
computer on battery power, pay extra attention to the
warning beeps and the power indicator on the display
panel.

The following signals indicate a battery-low condition:

❑ The buzzer generates four short beeps every minute, if

you enabled the Battery-low Warning Beep parameter in
Setup.

❑ The power indicator flashes at regular intervals until

battery power is depleted.

When you receive a battery-low warning, you have around
two minutes to save your work. If you do not connect the
AC adapter within this period, the computer automatically
enters Hibernation mode if the Battery Low Suspend
parameter in Setup is enabled and the following conditions
exist:

❑ The Hibernation file created by Sleep Manager is present

and valid. See “Sleep Manager” on page 67.

❑ There is enough battery power left to save system

information onto the hard disk.

34 User’s Guide

Battery Pack

Otherwise, the computer enters Standby mode.

W arning: Connect the AC adapter to the computer as
soon as possible. Data is lost when computer power
is cut off during Standby mode.

The following table shows the recommended course of
action to take when you encounter a battery-low condition.

Situation Recommended Action

AC adapter
and power
outlet available

An extra fully­charged
battery pack
available

AC adapter or
power outlet
not available

1. Connect the AC adapter to the computer.

2. Save all necessary files.

3. Resume work.
Power off the computer if you wish to

recharge the battery rapidly.

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Exit the application.

3. Power off the computer.

4. Replace the battery pack.

5. Power on the computer and resume work.
or

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Enter Hibernation mode (press Fn-F4).

3. Install the extra battery pack.

4. Resume from Hibernation mode.

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Exit the application.

3. Power off the computer.
or

1. Save all necessary files.

2. Enter Hibernation mode (press Fn-F4).

Chapter 2 Operating on Battery Power 35

Power Management

Power Management

This computer has a built-in power management unit that
monitors system activity. System activity refers to any
activity involving one or more of the following devices:
keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, peripherals
connected to the serial and parallel ports, and video
memory. If no activity is detected for a period of time (called
an inactivity time-out), the computer stops some or all of
these devices in order to conserve energy.

Power management methods used by most computers are
timer-based. You set inactivity time-out values for the
display, hard disk, and other devices. The computer then
"sleeps" when these time-outs elapse. The problem with
this is that no two users are alike. Each of us has his or her
own habits when using the computer, which makes timer­based power management ineffective.

This computer manages its power according to the way you
use your computer. This means the computer delivers
maximum power when you need it, and saves power when
you don’t need the maximum — all without your
intervention. There are no timers to set, because the power
management system figures out everything for you.

Note: We recommend you enable power management to
prolong your battery life.

Power Management Modes

Display Standby Mode

Screen activity is determined by the keyboard, the built-in
touchpad, and an external PS/2 pointing device. If these
devices are idle for the period determined by the computer’s
power management system, the display shuts off until you
press a key or move the touchpad or external mouse.

36 User’s Guide

"Automatic Dim" Feature

The computer has a unique "automatic dim" power-saving
feature. When the computer is using AC power and you
disconnect the AC adapter from the computer, it
automatically dims the LCD backlight to save power. If you
reconnect AC power to the computer, it automatically
adjusts the LCD backlight to a brighter level.

Hard Disk Standby Mode

The hard disk enters standby mode when there are no disk
read/write operations within the period of time determined
by the power management system. In this state, the power
supplied to the hard disk is reduced to a minimum. The
hard disk returns to normal once the computer accesses it.

Peripheral Standby Modes

The peripheral connections in your computer also power
down to save power if there is no activity within the period
of time specified by the computer’s power management
system for these devices. These include audio, serial ports,
floppy drive and parallel port.

Power Management

Standby Mode

The computer consumes very low power in Standby mode.
Data remain intact in the system memory until the battery
is drained.

There is one necessary condition for the computer to enter
Standby mode:

❑ Heuristic Power Management Mode must be set to

[ENABLED].

There are four ways to enter Standby mode:

❑ Pressing the Standby hot key Fn-F3
❑ If the waiting time determined by the computer’s power

Chapter 2 Operating on Battery Power 37

Power Management

management system elapses without any system activity

❑ Closing the display cover
❑ When the computer is about to enter Hibernation mode

(e.g., during a battery low condition), but the
Hibernation file is invalid or not present

Note: If the computer does not enter Standby mode after
pressing the Standby hot key, it means the operating
system will not allow the computer to enter the power­saving mode.

The following signals indicate that the computer is in
Standby mode:

❑ The Standby indicator lights

W arning: Unstored data is lost when you turn off the
computer power in Standby mode or when the
battery is drained.

To leave Standby mode and return to normal mode:

❑ Press any key
❑ Move the active pointing device (internal or external, PS/

2 or serial)

❑ Have the Resume Timer set and let it be matched
❑ Open the display cover
❑ Experience an incoming PC card modem event

Hibernation Mode

In Hibernation mode, all power shuts off (the computer does
not consume any power). The computer saves all system
information onto the hard disk before it enters Hibernation
mode. Once you turn on the power, the computer restores
this information and resumes where you left off upon
leaving Hibernation mode.

38 User’s Guide

Power Management

There are two necessary conditions for the computer to
enter Hibernation mode:

❑ The Hibernation file created by Sleep Manager must be

present and valid. See “Sleep Manager” on page 67.

❑ Heuristic Power Management Mode must be set to

[ENABLED].

In this situation, there are four ways to enter Hibernation
mode:

❑ Pressing the Hibernation hot key Fn-F4
❑ If the waiting time determined by the computer’s power

management system elapses without any system activity

❑ If a battery low condition occurs and the Battery Low

Suspend parameter in Setup is set to [ENABLED].

❑ Invoked by the operating system power saving modes

Note: If the computer beeps but does not enter
Hibernation mode after pressing the Hibernation hot key,
it means the operating system will not allow the computer
to enter the power-saving mode.

To exit Hibernation mode, press the power switch. The
computer also resumes from Hibernation mode if the
resume timer is set and matched.

Warning: Do not change any devices (such as add
memory) when the computer is in Hibernation mode.

Chapter 2 Operating on Battery Power 39

Power Management

Advanced Power Management

This computer supports the Windows APM standard
designed to further reduce power consumption. APM is a
power-management approach defined jointly by Microsoft
and Intel. An increasing number of software packages
support APM to take advantage of its power-saving features
and allows greater system availability without degrading
performance.

For more information about APM under Windows, refer to
your Windows user’s manual.

40 User’s Guide

3

Peripherals and Options

Your computer offers excellent expansion capabilities with
its built-in ports and connectors. This chapter describes
how to connect peripherals and hardware options that help
you use your computer with ease. When connecting
peripherals, read the manual included with the peripheral
for operating instructions. You can purchase most of these
and other options directly from Acer.

This chapter also includes sections on how to upgrade key
components. Key component upgradeability helps keep
your computer in step with the latest technology.

Contents

External Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

External Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

External Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

External Pointing Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

External PS/2 Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

External Serial Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Audio Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Port Replicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

PC Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

USB Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Miscellaneous Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Additional Power Packs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

AC Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Cables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

PS/2 Y-Bridge Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

File Transfer Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Key Component Upgrades. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Memory Upgrade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Memory Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Installing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Hard Disk Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

41

External Monitor

External Monitor

To show graphical effects on a larger display, connect an
external monitor to the CRT port. Read the monitor
manual for additional instructions.

Note: If an external monitor is not connected, closing the
display cover puts the computer into standby mode.

42 User’s Guide

External Keyboard

This computer has a keyboard with full-sized keys and an
embedded keypad. If you feel more comfortable using a
desktop keyboard, you can install a PS/2-compatible
external keyboard.

To connect an external keyboard, plug the external
keyboard into the PS/2 connector.

External Keyboard

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options 43

External Keypad

External Keypad

You can also use a 17-key numeric keypad for number­sensitive data entry applications. To connect the keypad,
plug the keypad connector into the PS/2 port.

44 User’s Guide

External Pointing Device

External Pointing Device

This computer accepts either a PS/2-compatible or serial
mouse or similar pointing device.

Note: When using an external mouse, you may choose to
disable the internal touchpad by pressing Fn-F7.

External PS/2 Mouse

The built-in touchpad works alternately with an external
PS/2 mouse which is hot-pluggable. To use a PS/2­compatible mouse, simply plug it into the PS/2 port.

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options 45

External Pointing Device

External Serial Mouse

If you use a serial mouse, plug it into the serial port.

To enable the serial mouse, use the Add New Hardware tool
in the Windows 95 or Windows 98 Control Panel.

46 User’s Guide

Printer

Printer

This computer supports both serial and parallel printers.
For a serial printer, plug the printer cable into the serial
port. For a parallel printer, plug the printer cable into the
parallel port. See your printer manual for operating
instructions.

Note: If the printer does not function, enter Setup and
verify that the parallel port is enabled. See “Startup
Configuration” on page 87 for assistance.

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options 47

Audio Devices

Audio Devices

Audio devices are easy to connect with the audio ports
accessible from the front of the computer. You can plug in
an external microphone to the microphone-in jack, or audio
line-in device to the audio line-in jack. Amplified speakers
or headphones connect to the speaker/headphone-out jack.

48 User’s Guide

Port Replicator

For one-step connection and disconnection from your
peripherals, use the optional full-featured port replicator.
This port replicator includes all the ports on your computer
and adds a few more.

With the port replicator , you can easily use external devices
such as an external monitor, a printer , a keyboard, a mouse
with your computer without connecting and disconnecting
these devices to your computer. You only need to connect
these devices to the port replicator, then “dock” your
computer to the port replicator to make use of these
devices.

Refer to the easy-to-use quick reference and installation
guide that comes with the port replicator option.

Port Replicator

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options 49

PC Cards

PC Cards

The computer has two CardBus PC card slots that
accommodate two type I/II or one type III PC card(s). Please
consult your dealer for PC card options available that you
can purchase for your computer.

50 User’s Guide

USB Devices

The computer has a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port that
allows you to connect peripherals without occupying too
many resources. Common USB devices include the mouse
and keyboard.

Most USB devices also include a built-in USB port
connector which allows you to daisy-chain other USB
devices.

USB Devices

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options 51

Miscellaneous Options

Miscellaneous Options

Additional Power Packs

You can order spare batteries and an AC adapter.

Battery Pack

It is good practice to have a spare battery around, especially
when you travel. The NiMH battery, coupled with heuristic
power management features, supplies you with more power
on-the-go.

AC Adapter

The compact AC adapter charges your battery pack and
supplies power to your computer. You can order a spare AC
adapter so you do not need to carry it from the office to your
home or destination.

Cables

PS/2 Y-Bridge Cable

The PS/2 Y-bridge cable allows you to connect two PS/2
devices, mouse and keyboard, to your computer
simultaneously.

Note: The keyboard must be connected to the connector
marked keyboard and the mouse must be connected to the
connector marked mouse.

52 User’s Guide

Connect the single connector end of the Y-bridge cable to
the computer’s PS/2 port and the double connector ends to
the two PS/2 devices.

File Transfer Cable

Besides using the infrared port, you can also transfer files
between computers using a file transfer cable. Connect the
file transfer cable between the parallel ports of the two
computers and use your file transfer utility to perform the
transfer.

Miscellaneous Options

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options 53

Key Component Upgrades

Key Component Upgrades

Your computer delivers superior power and performance.
However, some users and the applications they use may
demand more. This computer allows you to upgrade key
components when you need increased performance.

Note: Contact your authorized dealer if you decide to
perform a key component upgrade.

Memory Upgrade

Memory is upgradeable from 16 to 128 MB, employing 16-/
32-/64-MB 64-bit soDIMMs (Small Outline Dual Inline
Memory Modules).

Memory Configurations

The following table lists the possible memory
configurations:

Important! DIMMs in both slots should be of the same
type. Do not mix different DIMM types, EDO and SDRAM,
together.

Slot 1 Slot 2 Total Memory

0 MB 16 MB 16 MB

0 MB 32 MB 32 MB

0 MB 64 MB 64 MB

16 MB 0 MB 16 MB

16 MB 16 MB 32 MB

16 MB 32 MB 48 MB

54 User’s Guide

Slot 1 Slot 2 Total Memory

16 MB 64 MB 80 MB

32 MB 0 MB 32 MB

32 MB 16 MB 48 MB

32 MB 32 MB 64 MB

32 MB 64 MB 96 MB

64 MB 0 MB 64 MB

64 MB 16 MB 80 MB

64 MB 32 MB 96 MB

64 MB 64 MB 128 MB

Installing Memory

Follow these steps to install memory:

1. Turn off the computer, unplug the AC adapter (if

connected) and remove the battery pack. Then turn the
computer over to access its base.

2. Remove the screws from the memory door; then lift up

and remove the memory door.

3. Insert the memory module diagonally into the slot, then

gently press down until it clicks into place.

Key Component Upgrades

Chapter 3 Peripherals and Options 55

Key Component Upgrades

4. Replace the memory door and secure it with the screw.

The computer automatically detects and reconfigures the
total memory size.

Hard Disk Upgrade

You can upgrade your hard disk with a higher capacity
drive when you need more storage space. The computer
uses a 12.7mm or 9.5mm 2.5-inch Enhanced-IDE hard
disk. Please consult your dealer if you need to upgrade
your hard disk.

56 User’s Guide

Moving with your Computer

This chapter gives you tips and hints on things to consider
when moving around or traveling with your computer.

Contents

Disconnecting from the Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Moving Around. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Preparing the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

What To Bring to Short Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . 59

What To Bring to Long Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Taking the Computer Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Preparing the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

What To Bring with You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Special Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Setting Up a Home Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Traveling with the Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Preparing the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

What To Bring with You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Special Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Traveling Internationally with the Computer . . . . . . 63

Preparing the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

What To Bring with You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Special Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

4

57

Disconnecting from the Desktop

Disconnecting from the Desktop

Follow these steps to disconnect your computer from
external accessories:

1. Save your work in progress.

2. Shut down the operating system.

3. Turn off the computer.

4. Disconnect the cord from the AC adapter.

5. Disconnect the keyboard, pointing device, printer,

external monitor, and other external devices.
If your external devices are connected to the optional

port replicator, disconnect the notebook from the port
replicator. You do not need to disconnect the external
devices from the port replicator.

6. Disconnect the Kensington lock if you are using one to
secure the computer.

58 User’s Guide

Moving Around

when you are just moving within short distances, for
example, from your office desk to a meeting room

Preparing the Computer

Before moving the computer, close and latch the display
cover to place it in standby mode. You can now safely take
the computer anywhere you go within the building.

To bring the computer out of standby mode, open the
display.

What To Bring to Short Meetings

A fully charged battery runs the computer for 2-3 hours
under most circumstances. If your meeting is shorter than
that, you probably do not need to bring anything with you
other than the computer.

What To Bring to Long Meetings

If your meeting will last longer than 3 hours or if your
battery is not fully charged, you may want to bring the AC
adapter with you to plug in your computer in the meeting
room.

Moving Around

If the meeting room does not have an electrical outlet,
reduce the drain on the battery by putting the computer in
standby mode. Press Fn-F3 or close the display cover
whenever you are not actively using the computer. Then
tap any key or open the display to resume.

Chapter 4 Moving with your Computer 59

Taking the Computer Home

Taking the Computer Home

when you are moving from your office to your home or vice
versa

Preparing the Computer

After disconnecting the computer from your desktop, follow
these steps to prepare the computer for the trip home:

1. Remove all media from the drives. Failure to remove the
media can damage the drive head.

2. Pack the computer in a protective case that can prevent
the computer from sliding around and cushion it if it
should fall.

Caution: Avoid packing items next to the top cover of
the computer. Pressure against the top cover can
damage the screen

What To Bring with You

Unless you already have some items at home, bring the
following items with you:

❑ AC adapter and power cord
❑ The printed user’s manual

Special Considerations

Follow these guidelines to protect your computer while
traveling to and from work:

❑ Minimize the effect of temperature changes by keeping

the computer with you.

60 User’s Guide

Taking the Computer Home

❑ If you need to stop for an extended period of time and

cannot bring the computer with you, leave the computer
in the trunk of the car to avoid exposing the computer to
excessive heat.

❑ Changes in temperature and humidity can cause

condensation. Allow the computer to return to room
temperature, and inspect the screen for condensation
before turning on the computer. If the temperature
change is greater than 18°F (10°C), allow the computer
to come to room temperature slowly. If possible, leave
the computer for 30 minutes in an environment with a
temperature between outside and room temperature.

Setting Up a Home Office

If you frequently work on your computer at home, it may be
worthwhile purchasing a second AC adapter for use at
home. With a second AC adapter, you can avoid
transporting the extra weight to and from home.

If you use your computer at home for significant periods of
time, you might also want to add an external keyboard,
monitor, or mouse.

Chapter 4 Moving with your Computer 61

Traveling with the Computer

Traveling with the Computer

when you are moving within a larger distance, for instance,
from your office building to a client’s office building or
traveling locally

Preparing the Computer

Prepare the computer as if you were taking it home. Be
sure the battery in the computer is charged. Airport
security may require you to turn on your computer when
bringing it into the gate area.

What To Bring with You

Bring the following items with you:

❑ AC adapter
❑ Spare, fully-charged battery packs
❑ Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another

printer

Special Considerations

In addition to the guidelines for taking the computer home,
follow these guidelines to protect your computer while
traveling:

❑ Always take the computer as carry-on luggage.
❑ If possible, have the computer inspected by hand. The

computer can safely pass through security X-ray
machines, but never expose the computer to a metal
detector.

❑ Avoid exposing floppy disks to hand-held metal

detectors.

62 User’s Guide

Traveling Internationally with the Computer

Traveling Internationally with the Computer

when you are moving from country to country

Preparing the Computer

Prepare the computer as you would normally prepare it for
traveling.

What To Bring with You

Bring the following items with you.

❑ AC adapter
❑ Power cords that are appropriate to the country to which

you are traveling

❑ Spare, fully-charged battery packs
❑ Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another

printer

❑ Proof of purchase, in case you need to show it to

customs officials

❑ International Traveler’s Warranty passport

Special Considerations

Follow the same special considerations as when traveling
with the computer. In addition, these tips are useful when
traveling internationally.

❑ When traveling in another country, check that the local

AC voltage and the AC adapter power cord specifications
are compatible. If not, purchase a power cord that is
compatible with the local AC voltage (e.g., power rating).
Do not use converter kits sold for appliances to power
the computer.

Chapter 4 Moving with your Computer 63

Traveling Internationally with the Computer

❑ If you are using the modem, check if the modem and

connector is compatible with the telecom system of the
country you are traveling in.

64 User’s Guide

Software

This chapter discusses the important system utilities
bundled with your computer.

Contents

System Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Sleep Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Accessing the Sleep Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Sleep Manager Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Create . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Remove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Minimize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Notebook Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Information Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

POST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Boot Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Setting the Power-On Password. . . . . . . . 79

Setting the Setup Password . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Power Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Display Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

BIOS Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Navigating the BIOS Utility . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Basic System Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Startup Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Onboard Devices Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . 89

System Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Setting a Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Changing a Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Removing a Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Power Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Load Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

5

65

System Software

System Software

The computer comes preloaded with the following software:

❑ Windows 98 operating system
❑ DMI (Desktop Management Interface)-compliant

hardware BIOS utility

❑ LDCM (LANDesk Client Manager) support
❑ System utilities, drivers and application software

Note: To access Windows 98 software applications, click
on the Start button and select the application folder. Then
click on the application icon to run the selected application.
To learn about the software and utility, make use of the
online help provided by the software.

66 User’s Guide

Sleep Manager

Most notebook computers feature built-in power-saving
functions. This computer has two power management
modes, standby and hibernation.

While standby puts your computer into a light sleep state,
hibernation shuts off all power after saving the current
state of your computer. The next time you slide the power
switch, the computer resumes from where you left off.

Sleep Manager allows your computer to perform this
function.

Note: See “Power Management” on page 36 to understand
how your computer saves and manages power.

Sleep Manager is a utility that works with your computer’s
BIOS and Windows APM (Advanced Power Management) to
manage the hibernation operation. This includes:

❑ creating the hibernation file which contains the current

state of the computer

❑ checking if the hibernation file is valid
❑ saving and loading the contents of the hibernation file

when entering to and resuming from hibernation

Sleep Manager

The hibernation file resides in a contiguous area on your
hard disk.

Sleep Manager can automatically create, recover, and
reallocate space for the hibernation file. If the system
memory size was changed or the hibernation file on the
hard disk was corrupted, Sleep Manager reallocates the
hard disk space for you automatically.

Chapter 5 Software 67

Sleep Manager

Accessing the Sleep Manager

There are two ways to bring up the Sleep Manager.

❑ On the Taskbar

The computer automatically loads Sleep Manager every
time you start Windows 98. Sleep Manager resides in
the background and the Sleep Manager status icon
appears on the taskbar.

Double-click on the Sleep Manager status icon ( ) if
enabled to bring up the main Sleep Manager program.

The Sleep Manager icon may or may not appear on the
taskbar. A checkbox in the Sleep Manager main screen
determines whether to enable or disable the icon on the
taskbar.

This icon shows the current status of the hibernation
feature. The icon changes to tell you if the feature is
valid or not. Resting your cursor on the icon also shows
the status.

❑ Start menu

1. Click on the Start button.

2. Select Programs.

3. Select Sleep Manager.

4. Select the Sleep Manager program.

The Sleep Manager displays below:

68 User’s Guide

Sleep Manager

Item Description

Buttons Click to access the Sleep Manager functions

Current Setting Displays the drive and size of the current

reserved space created by Sleep Manager.

On Board
Information

Recommended
Size

Displays the different areas of system memory
and their respective sizes. These system
resources need to be stored before the
computer can enter hibernation mode, so
that the computer can resume successfully.

These resources are the contents of:·
Onboard memory (DRAM or dynamic
memory), Video RAM (VRAM or video
memory), SMRAM (static memory), and
Others.

The total size of these resources shows as the
recommended size in the dialog box.

Displays the minimum size of the contiguous
space you need for the hibernation feature.
The actual size may be a little bit more due to
file system alignment.

Chapter 5 Software 69

Sleep Manager

Item Description

Enable
Indicator on the
T askbar

When this checkbox is checked, the Sleep

Manager status appears on the

taskbar.Double-click on the Sleep Manager

status icon on the taskbar to bring up the

main program, or simply rest your cursor on

the icon to display the current status.

Sleep Manager Functions

Create

Sleep Manager automatically finds a contiguous area on
your hard disk and creates the hibernation file in this
space. You can also perform this function by clicking on
the Create button. When you click on the Create button, a
dialog box pops up:

Select OK to automatically create the hibernation file.
Sleep Manager displays the recommend size based on
onboard system information. You can also choose
Advance>>> to manually set the space settings and size.
The advanced screen shows below.

70 User’s Guide

Sleep Manager

Sleep Manager automatically checks the system
configuration and displays the recommended size. The
drive where the space will be created is defined by the
system and will be the first available logical drive which has
the requested contiguous free disk space on it. The
recommended size is the minimum size needed to save the
current system status.

If the program cannot find the required space on the hard
disk during the space creation process, it shows a message
box to inform the user.

Not Enough Space for Allocation

This is an error message that may appear when Sleep
Manager is creating the hibernation file. There are several
different reasons that may cause this error.

One reason is that the size of the free disk space on your
hard disk is less than the required size. For example, if the
onboard memory is 32MB and the video memory is 2MB,
the total free disk space required will be around 34MB. If
the total free disk space is less than this, the user has to
free up space on his hard disk.

Chapter 5 Software 71

Sleep Manager

Another possible reason is that the hard disk has enough
free space, but this free space exists as small fragments.
The free disk space that Sleep Manager requires needs to be
contiguous. To solve this problem, use tools such as Disk
Defragmenter (Windows) to compact these free disk
spaces. Then run Sleep Manager again to create the file.

One other factor that causes the error is when disk
compression utilities are used. Sleep Manager can work
with most compression software. However, Sleep Manager
can only create the space on a host drive. A host drive
stores original file information and cannot be compressed.
The free space on the host drive is usually very small, so the
compression software needs to be run again to enlarge the
size of the host (uncompressed) drive for Sleep Manager.

Remove

If you want to use or take back the reserved space, click on
the Remove button. This will disable the hibernation
feature. Instead, the computer will only be able to enter
standby mode.

Minimize

Minimize Sleep Manager by selecting the Minimize
button. If the Enable indicator on taskbar box is checked,
Sleep Manager will switch to the background by locating
itself on the taskbar. You can pop-up Sleep Manager again
by double-clicking on this icon.

Exit

Exit Sleep Manager by selecting the Exit button. Sleep
Manager will quit and disable the capability of auto­adjusting the reserved space size. Exiting Sleep Manager is
NOT recommended.

72 User’s Guide

Sleep Manager

Note: Do not deactivate (remove or exit) or uninstall Sleep
Manager. Do not remove or delete the hibernation file.
Hibernation will not work without Sleep Manager and the
hibernation file.

Chapter 5 Software 73

Notebook Manager

Notebook Manager

The computer has a built-in system setup program called
Notebook Manager. The Windows 98-based Notebook
Manager allows you to set passwords, the startup sequence
of the drives and power management settings. It also shows
current hardware configurations.

Note: Certain hot key functions are disabled when you
access the notebook manager, because these functions are
also found in the notebook manager.

To start the Notebook Manager, press Fn-F2 or follow these
steps:

1. Click on Start, Programs, then Notebook Manager.

2. Select the Notebook Manager application to run the

program.

Note: Changes made to most settings in the Notebook
Manager take effect the next time the computer restarts. If
you make changes in the Power Management and Display
Device screens, these changes take effect immediately.

Notebook Manager consists of six sections:

❑ Information Viewer
❑ POST
❑ Boot Sequence
❑ Password
❑ Power Management
❑ Display Device

To select a section, click on the tab of the section you want
to view.

74 User’s Guide

Information Viewer

Information Viewer summarizes and lists information about
the specifications and settings of the different components
of your computer.

Note: Items in this table may differ slightly from the ones
onscreen.

Notebook Manager

Item Description

CPU Brand, type and clock speed of the CPU

Total Memory Total amount of main memory (in megabytes)

Video RAM Total amount of video memory (in megabytes)

Hard Disk Size of hard disk (in megabytes)

CD-ROM Detects presence of the CD-ROM drive

Serial Port 1 Resource settings of serial port 1

(Central Processing Unit)

Chapter 5 Software 75

Notebook Manager

Item Description

Parallel Port Resource settings of the parallel port

POST

Internal
Cache

External
Cache

TouchPad Detects the presence and setting of the

Pointing
Device

Detects presence and total amount of internal
cache memory (in kilobytes)

Detects presence and total amount of external
cache memory (in kilobytes)

internal pointing device

Type(s) of the pointing device(s) detected,
internal and external

POST defines how the computer behaves during the Power
On Self-Test routines.

This screen includes the following settings:

❑ Enable memory test during POST. Select to enable

memory test at system startup.

76 User’s Guide

❑ Enabled Silent Boot. Select to hide POST startup

messages, instead displaying the Extensa computer
logo.

Boot Sequence

Boot Sequence defines the boot sequence to follow when
your computer boots up.

Notebook Manager

This screen includes the following settings:

❑ Set CD-ROM as a bootable device. Enable to tell the

computer to search for a bootable CD-ROM in the CD­ROM drive and boot from there before following the boot
sequence setting.

❑ Sequence. Specifies the boot sequence or order to

follow. Options include:

❑ Drive A then C. The computer searches for a

bootable diskette in the floppy drive. If no bootable
diskette is found, the computer boots from the hard
disk.

❑ Drive A. The computer searches for a bootable

diskette in the floppy drive and boots from there.

Chapter 5 Software 77

Notebook Manager

❑ Drive C. The computer boots from the hard disk even

if a bootable diskette is in the floppy drive.

❑ Drive C then A. The computer boots from the hard

disk. If it cannot boot from the hard disk, it searches
for a bootable diskette in the floppy drive and boot
from there.

Make your selection and click on Apply to accept.

Password

Password is used to set, modify or delete the password(s) for
your computer.

There are two passwords used in the system:

❑ Power-On Password. The power-on password prevents

unauthorized access to the computer during system
startup and at resume from standby/hibernation modes
or an elapsed system resume timer.

❑ Setup Password. The setup password prevents

unauthorized access to the computer’s BIOS Utility.

78 User’s Guide

Setting the Power-On Password

To set the Power Password, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Change Power-On Password button. The
following dialog box displays:

2. Click on the Enable Power-On Password checkbox.

3. Click in the New Password textbox and type in up to

seven alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) which you
want to be your Power-On Password.

4. Click in the Confirm Password textbox and retype the
password.

5. Click on OK to accept.

Note: To change a password, follow the same steps used
to set a password. To remove a password, follow the
same steps used to set a password but leave both fields
blank.

Notebook Manager

Chapter 5 Software 79

Notebook Manager

Setting the Setup Password

To set the Setup Password, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Change Setup Password button.

2. Click on the Enable Setup Password checkbox.

3. Click in the New Password textbox and type in up to

seven alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) which you
want to be your Setup Password.

4. Click in the Confirm Password textbox and retype the
password.

5. Click on OK to accept.

Note: To change a password, follow the same steps used
to set a password. To remove a password, follow the
same steps used to set a password but leave both fields
blank.

80 User’s Guide