Alienware Area-51 m5550 User Manual

Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference

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Notice

The information in this user’s manual is subject to change without notice.

THE MANUFACTURER OR RESELLER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS
CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE PERFORMANCE OR USE OF THIS MANUAL.

The information in this user’s manual is protected by copyright laws. No part of
this manual may be photocopied or reproduced in any form without prior written
authorization from the copyright owners.

Copyright January, 2006
All rights reserved.

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. DOS,
Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP/Vista are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of
their respective owners/companies.

The software described in this manual is delivered under a license agreement. The
software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by
U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this copyright protection
technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other
limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse
engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

Symbols and Conventions
Protecting Your Computer - Avoid Abusive Handling and Adverse
Environments
Chapter Summaries

1. GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICS

Performance Features (10)
System at a Glance (12)
Top View (12)
Front and Rear Views (15)
Side Views (17)
Bottom View (20)
AC Adapter (23)
LED Status Indicators (24)
Keyboard Features (25)
Function (Quick) Keys (25)
Windows Keys (26)
Embedded Numeric Keypad (26)
Touch Pad (27)
Graphics Subsystem (28)
Adjusting the Display Brightness (28)
Extending the Life of the TFT Display Panel (28)
Opening and Closing the Display Panel (28)
Audio Subsystem (29)
Adjusting the Volume in Windows (29)
Voice Recording (29)
Modem and Modem Setting (29)

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2. BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY

Entering the BIOS Setup Screen (33)
Leaving the BIOS Setup Screen (33)
BIOS Action Keys (33)
Modifying the BIOS Settings (34)
Main Setup (34)
Boot Setup (34)
Security Setup (36)
Power Setup (37)
Exit Setup (37)

3. BATTERY POWER & POWER MANAGEMENT

The Battery Pack (39)
Lithium-Ion Battery Technology (39)
Battery Low-Power Warning (39)
Installing and Removing the Battery Pack (41)
Charging the Battery and Charging Time (42)
Checking the Battery Level (42)
Prolonging the Battery’s Life and Usage Cycles (43)
Using Windows Power Options (44)
Windows’ Power Schemes (44)
Suspend Modes (46)
Power Button Action (47)
Low Battery Warning (48)
Power Menu Quick Access (49)
Windows’ Power Plans (50)
Suspend Modes (52)
Power Button Action (53)
Low Battery Warning (54)
Power Menu Quick Access (55)

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4. UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTER

Upgrading the Hard Disk Drive (57)
Upgrading the System Memory (60)
Installing a memory module (DIMM) into the system (61)
Adding a Mini-PCI Type Wireless LAN Card (Optional Device) (63)
Installing a Mini PCI Card to the System (64)

5. TROUBLESHOOTING

First Step (67)
Audio Problems (68)
Hard Disk Problems (69)
Optical Drive Problems (71)
Display Problems (72)
Keyboard and Mouse Problems (73)
CMOS Battery Problems (74)
Memory Problems (74)
Modem Problems (75)
Network Adapter / Ethernet Problems (76)
PC Card / PCMCIA Problems (77)
Performance Problems (78)
Firewire (IEEE1394) and USB2.0 Problems (79)

APPENDIX A Product Specification (80)

APPENDIX B Agency Regulatory Notices (85)

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Preface

Using This Manual

This User’s Manual contains general information about the hardware and software
setup, troubleshooting, and technical specifications of the notebook computer.

Symbols and Conventions

The following conventions and symbols are used in this manual:

• When keys are to be pressed at the same time, a plus (+) symbol is used. For
instance, Fn+F7 means holding Fn and F7 keys at the same time.

• When a series of clicking actions is needed in the Windows O/S, [ ] and >
symbols are used. For instance, [Start > Settings > Control Panel >
Display] means clicking the Start icon first, then the Settings, then
the Control Panel, then the Display icon.

• When you need to make a selection with the touch pad (or mouse), you will
be asked to ’select’, ‘click’, ‘double-click’, or ‘right-click’ the item.

Note: Text in this format and symbol indicates specific instructions, commentary,
sidelights, or any additional information or notes that you should be aware of.

Warning: Text in this format and symbol indicates that failure to comply with the given
instructions or information could result in damage to your computer or could cause
bodily harm or loss of life.

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Protecting Your Computer - Avoid Abusive Handling and Adverse
Environments

Following the advice below will help ensure that you get the most out of your investment.

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

• Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight or place it near sources of heat.

• Do not subject it to temperatures below 0oC (32oF) or above 35oC (95oF).

• Do not expose the computer to magnetic fields.

• Do not expose the computer to moisture or rain.

• Do not spill water or liquid on the computer.

• Do not subject the computer to adverse shock and vibration.

• Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.

• Do not place objects on top of the computer to avoid damaging the computer.

• Do not place the computer on rocky surfaces.

Here are some ways of taking care of your AC adapter.

• Do not connect the adapter to any devices other than your computer.

• Do not let water get into the adapter.

• Do not block the ventilation airway of the adapter.

• Keep the adapter in a cool and ventilated place.

• Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it.

• Carefully tuck away the power cord and any cables away from
pedestrian traffic.

• When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself. Instead pull
on the plug.

• Keep the adapter away from children.

• 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.

• The total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet
should not exceed the fuse rating.

• Do not connect the other AC adapter to your notebook. This notebook
exclusively uses the AC adapter: Liteon PA-1900-05 (90W), Liteon PA-1900-
06 (90W), Lishin LSE0202D2090 (90W), Lishin LSE0202C2090(90W)

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When cleaning the computer, observe these steps:

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

2. Disconnect the AC adapter.

3. Use a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

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

• Computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged.

• Liquid has been spilled into the computer.

• The computer does not operate normally.

Cleaning the Ventilation Grills:

It is suggested that you clean the ventilation grills regularly to maintain optimal
thermal regulation of the notebook. To do this, you may use a soft brush or a
vacuum cleaner (with appropriate head adapter) to remove the dust buildup on the
ventilation grills.

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Chapter Summaries

The following is a summary of the available chapters and appendices in this manual.

Chapter 1: Getting to Know the Basics

In this chapter, you will learn the basic operations and features of your computer. It
gives you a general understanding of the components of your computer.

Chapter 2: BIOS Setup / Security

In this chapter, you will learn how to change various firmware settings and what the
settings mean. Also, you will learn how to take advantage of the built-in security
feature provided by the BIOS.

Chapter 3: Battery Power & Power Management

In this chapter, you will learn the fundamentals of power management and how to use
them to achieve longer battery life.

Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer

In this chapter, you will learn how to upgrade the system memory and the hard disk
drive, and how to install wireless mini PCI card.

Chapter 5: Trouble-Shooting

In this chapter, you will learn how to solve common hardware and software problems.

Appendix A: Product Specification

In this section, you will find a list of the computer’s system specifications.

Appendix B: Agency Regulatory Notices

In this section, you will find the general electro-magnetic and safety regulatory
information.

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CHAPTER ONE
GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICS

This chapter introduces the features and components of the computer.

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Performance Features

High Performance Processor with Calistoga Chipset

The notebook PC is equipped with a powerful Mobile Intel Core 2 Duo processor.
Together with the latest Calistoga chipset and technologies, the system offers
advanced PC performance.

Advanced Graphic Engine

The PCI-Express high-end graphics engine offers excellent graphics performance
for the most demanding professionals or gamers. The advanced graphics chip also
incorporates a hardware-based motion-compensation engine, which gives you smooth
MPEG video playback. DirectX 9 graphics capability also adds realism to PC games.

LCD Display

The computer is equipped with a non-wide (16:10) 15.4” TFT display panel for the best
cinematic viewing experience.

Serial ATA Hard Disk Drive Support (on certain models)

The serial ATA bus offers higher data throughput than the traditional parallel ATA bus.
This gives you optimal hard drive performance.

ExpressCard Technology

ExpressCard is the next-generation of the PC Card standard. The bus interface is based
on the two standards: PCI Express for high-performance I/O and USB2.0 for a variety
of devices.

Expandability

The system offers an upgradeable hard disk drive and 2 DDR SDRAM sockets for
expansion, allowing the user to easily increase the storage and system capacities as
the need arises.

Built-in Multiple Card Reader

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The built-in 4-in-1 card reader lets you access many of the portable media formats (SD
Card, MMC Card, MS Card, and MS Pro Card).

Ethernet Port

The system provides a built-in 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet network adapter for high
bandwidth network connection.

Firewire (IEEE1394 / 1394a) and USB2.0 Ports

In addition to a full array of built-in I/O ports, the computer offers IEEE1394 for ultra
high-speed connection to high bandwidth digital video devices and USB2.0 ports to
connect to any USB-based peripheral devices.

Wireless LAN

The internal Wireless LAN module allows your notebook to connect wirelessly to other

802.11-enabled systems, devices, or a network.

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System At A Glance

Top View

1. LCD Latch

The LCD latches lock / unlock the LCD panel.

2. LCD Display

The panel is where the system content is displayed.

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3. Keyboard

The keyboard is used to enter data. It has an embedded numeric keypad and cursor
control keys. (See Keyboard Section for details.)

4. Touch Pad

The touch pad is a built-in pointing device with functions similar to a mouse.

5. Built-in Microphone

The built-in microphone records sound.

6. Touch Pad Disable / Enable Button

The button enables or disables the Touch Pad function.

7. Built-in Stereo Speakers

The built-in speakers output the sound in stereo.

8. LED Status Indicator

The LED Status indicators reveal the status of these functions: Numeric keypad, cap
lock, scroll lock, WLAN module enabling and disabling and also the ODD and HDD
activities. (See the LED Status Indicator Section for details.)
The LED Status indicators also reveal the status of the system power state and battery­charging state. See the LED Status Indicator Section for details.

9. Power / Suspend Button

The power/suspend button turns the notebook on and off and it also acts as a system
suspend key. Press momentarily to turn on the system. Press and hold for at least 4
seconds to turn off the system. How this key behaves can be defined in the [Start >
Settings > Control Panel > Power Options > Advanced] menu. Press the power / suspend
button again to return from the suspend mode. (See Chapter 3 for more details on the
system suspend function.)

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Note: When the system power is initially turned on, the Scroll-lock, Cap-lock, and
Numeric keypad LED indicators will light up momentarily to indicate the start of the
Power-On sequence.

10. Silent Mode Button

Pressing the key enables the system to lower its power usage; therefore the fan speed
is reduced to achieve the lowest operating noise.
You may need to go to BIOS Setup to enable Silent Mode for this button. See Chapter 2
for details.

11. Outlook Express Quick Key

Pressing the button launches Outlook Express in Windows.

12. Internet Explorer Quick Key

Pressing the button launches Internet Explorer in Windows.

13. Windows Media Player Quick Key

Pressing the button launches Media Player in Windows.

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Front and Rear View

Warning: Do not place any heavy objects on the top of the notebook. This may damage
the display

1. Wireless On/Off Switch

Use the switch to disable or enable the Wireless function.

2. Power Jack (DC-in)

The DC-out jack of the AC Adapter connects here and powers the computer.

3. Modem Port

This is where you plug the phone jack (RJ-11) for fax/modem functions.

4. Battery Pack

The battery pack is a built-in power source for the notebook.

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5. Ventilation Grill

The fan grill is where air is exchanged to dissipate the internal heat. Do not block this
airway.

6. Kensington Lock Key Hole

A Kensington-type security lock latches to this keyhole for anti-theft purposes.

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Side Views

Warning: Do not place any heavy objects on the top of your notebook. This may
damage the display

1. Audio Volume Dial

Use the volume dial to control the loudness of the speakers.

2. Stereo Headphone / SPDIF-out Jack

The stereo headphone jack (3.5-mm diameter) is where you connect the headphones
or external speakers. Alternatively, you may connect the SPDIF output to an external
DTS, AC3, or PCM sound processor / decoder in your home stereo system.

3. Microphone Jack

The microphone jack (3.5-mm diameter) is where you connect a microphone.

4. Optical Drive and Disk Eject Button and Manual Eject Key Hole

If your computer comes with the Combo drive, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, or DVD-Dual drive,
you may save data onto a CD-R / CD-RW or DVD-RW disc. Press the eject button to eject
the disk tray. The manual eject keyhole allows you to manually eject a jammed disk.

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5. USB2.0 Port (x2)

The Universal Serial Bus (USB2.0-compliant) port allows you to connect a wide variety
of devices to your computer at a rate of up to 480 Mbps. This port conforms to the
latest USB2.0 plug-and-play standards.

6. DVI-I Port

The DVI-I video output port is for connecting the external LCD monitor or projector.

7. TV (S-Video) Port

The S-Video port permits you to redirect the screen output to a television set or any
analog video playback device. This TV Port is copyright protected; when a DVD movie is
played, the output is scrambled to prevent analog recording.

8. Ethernet / LAN Port

The port connects to a network hub via the RJ-45 cable and also conforms to
10/100/1000Base-TX transmission protocol.

9. 4-in-1 Card Reader

The 4-in-1 Card Reader supports SD Card, MS Card, MMC Card, and MS-Pro Card.

10. Firewire / IEEE1394 / 1394a Port

This is a high-speed serial data port. You may connect any Firewire-ready device to this
port.

11. USB2.0 Port (x1)

The Universal Serial Bus (USB2.0-compliant) port allows you to connect a wide variety
of devices to your computer at a rate of up to 480 Mbps. This port conforms to the
latest USB2.0 plug-and-play standards.

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12. ExpressCard Slot

The slot is where ExpressCard (Type 54) is inserted. ExpressCard Type 54 allows
insertion of 54mm and 34mm cards. ExpressCard integrates both the PCI-Express bus
technology and USB2.0 standards.

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Bottom View

1. Battery Pack and Battery Latch

The battery pack is a built-in power source for the notebook. Slide the battery latch to
release the battery pack.

2. Hard Disk Drive Cover

The system’s hard disk drive is located under the cover. The HDD can be upgraded to a
larger capacity. (See Chapter 4 for instructions on an HDD upgrade.)

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3. System Device Cover

The system’s processor with cooler assembly, wireless LAN module, and DDR memory
module are located under the case cover. You may install the WLAN module and the
system memory can be upgraded to a larger capacity. (See Chapter 4 for instructions
on a memory upgrade.)

4. Ventilation Grill

The fan grill is where air is exchanged to dissipate the internal heat. Do not block this
airway.

Warning: Do not block the fan grill outlet. Place the machine on a hard surface only.
The bottom of the case may get very hot.

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AC Adapter

1. DC-out Connector

The DC-out connector docks to the power jack (DC-in) on the computer.

2. Adapter

The adapter converts alternating current into constant DC voltage for the computer.

3. AC Plug

The AC plug plugs into the AC wall outlet.

Warning: Make sure you are using a standard 3-prong AC wall socket with a ground
pin. If not, you may feel a slight tingling sensation on any of the computer’s metal
parts such as the I/O ports. This is caused by leakage current when the AC adapter is
not properly grounded (via the ground pin). However, the amount of leakage current is
within the safety regulation and is not harmful to the human body.

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LED Status Indicator

The LED Status Indicator displays the operating status of your notebook. When a
certain function is enabled, an LED will light up. The following section describes its
indication.

System & Power Status Indicators

LED Graphic

Symbol

Indication

Blue light indicates the notebook is ON.

Blue light indicates the WLAN module is active.

Blinking blue light indicates the notebook is in Suspend Mode.

Blue light indicates the Silent Mode is enabled.

Blinking orange light indicates the battery is being charged.
Blinking red light indicates the battery power is low when the
system is turned ON.
Persistent green light indicates the battery is Full.
LED-off (Dark) indicates the system is without a battery.

Blue light indicates the hard drive and/or optical drive is being
accessed.

Blue light indicates the numeric keypad is activated.

Blue light indicates the cap-lock is activated.

Blue light indicates the scroll-lock is activated.

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Keyboard Features

Function Keys (Quick Keys)

Graphic
Symbol

Action System Control

Fn + F1 Enters Suspend Mode.

Fn + F3 Audio Mute on or off.

Fn + F4 Changes Display Mode: LCD-only, CRT-only and

LCD&CRT.

Fn + F5 Turns Speaker Volume up.

Fn + F6 Turns Speaker Volume down.

Fn + F7 Increases Display Brightness.

Fn + F8 Decreases Display Brightness.

Fn+Num Lk Enables the embedded keypad to work in numeric

mode. The keys act like numeric keypads in a
calculator. Use this mode when you need to do a lot of
numeric data entry. An alternative would be to connect
an external numeric keypad.

Fn + Scr Lk Press the Scroll Lock key and then press the ↑ or ↓ keys

to move one line up or down.

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Windows Keys

Your keyboard also has two Windows keys:

1. Start Key

This key allows you to pull up the Windows Start Menu at the bottom of the taskbar.

2. Application Menu Key

This key brings up the popup menu for the application, similar to a click of the right
mouse button.

Embedded Numeric Keypad

Press Fn+NumLk to enable the embedded numeric keypad. The numbers are printed in
the upper right corner of a key, in a color different from the alphabet characters. This
keypad is complete with arithmetic operators (+, -, * , /).

Press Fn+NumLk to revert to the normal character keys.

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Touch Pad

The built-in touch pad, which is a PS/2-compatible pointing device, senses movement
on its surface. As you move your fingertip on the surface of the pad, the cursor
responds accordingly.

The following items teach you how to use the touch pad:

1. Move your finger across the touch pad to move the cursor.

2. Press buttons to select or execute functions. These two buttons are similar
to the left and right buttons on a mouse. Tapping on the touch pad twice is
similar to clicking the left button of a mouse.

Tips on Using the Touch Pad:

1. The double-click speed is timed. If you double-click too slowly, your
notebook responds as if you single-clicked twice.

2. Keep your fingers dry and clean when using the touch pad. Also keep the
surface of the touch pad clean and dry to prolong its life.

3. The touch pad is sensitive to finger movements. Hence,the lighter the
touch, the better the response. A heavy touch does not produce a
better response.

Function Left Button Right Button Equivalent Tapping

Action

Execution Click twice quickly Tap twice (at the

same speed as
double-clicking
the mouse button)

Selection Click once Tap once

Drag Click and hold to

drag the cursor

Tap twice quickly
and on the second
tap hold your finger
to the touch pad to
drag the cursor

Access Context
Menu

Click once

Move One Page Up
or Down

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Graphics Subsystem

Your computer uses a high-performance 15.4-inch (non-wide) active matrix TFT panel
with high resolution and multi-million colors for comfortable viewing. The ATI Mobility
M54-P video graphics accelerator, which is Microsoft DirectX 9 compatible, performs
graphics rendering at a lighting-fast speed.

Adjusting the Display Brightness

The notebook uses special key combinations, called hot keys, to control brightness.
Press Fn+F7 to increase the brightness.
Press Fn+F8 to decrease the brightness.

Note: To maximize your battery operating time, set the brightness to the lowest
comfortable setting, so that the internal backlight uses less power.

Extending the Life of the TFT Display Device

Observe the following guidelines to maximize the life of the backlight in the display.

1. Set the brightness to the lowest comfortable setting (Fn+F8).

2. When working at your desk, connect your notebook to an external monitor
and disable the internal display Fn+ F4.

3. Do not disable the suspend time-outs.

4. If you are using AC power and have no external monitor attached, change to
Suspend Mode when not in use.

Opening and Closing the Display Panel

To open the display, push the LCD latch inwardly and lift up the lid. Then tilt it to a
comfortable viewing position.

To close the display cover, fold it down gently until the LCD latches click into place.

Warning: To avoid damaging the display, do not slam it when closing. Do not place any
object on top of the computer when the display is closed

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