Dell Alienware M17x User Manual

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ALIENWARE® M17x MOBILE MANUAL

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

e contents herein are subject to change without notice.

Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly prohibited.

Trademarks used in this manual: Alienware, AlienRespawn, AlienFX, and the AlienHead logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Alienware Corporation. Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista, and Windows Vista start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Intel is a registered trademark and Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. AMD is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Blu-ray Disc is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association. Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this manual to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model: P01E P/N: P776N Rev. A00 FEBRUARY 2009

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ........................................................ 5

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK ..............................6

Before Setting Up Your Notebook ..................................6

Setting Up Your Alienware Mobile .................................. 7

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK ....................... 9

Examining Your Notebook ........................................ 10

Front View Features ...............................................11

Back View Features................................................11

Left View Features ............................................... 12

Right View Features .............................................. 12

Top View Features................................................ 13

Bottom View Features............................................ 13

Status LEDs ..................................................... 14

Power Button ....................................................14

Touch Controls................................................... 15

Function Keys ................................................... 15

Battery Pack ......................................................17

Power Management.............................................. 19

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES.....................................20

Connecting External Displays ..................................... 21

Connecting Printers ..............................................23

Connecting USB Devices..........................................23

Connecting FireWire (IEEE 1394) Devices ..........................23

CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK ..................................24

Alienware Command Center ......................................24

Stealth Mode ....................................................25

Using Removable Media and Cards................................25

Using the Optical Drive ...........................................25

Using the Integrated Webcam ....................................25

Using the Wireless Control........................................25

Working With RAID ...............................................26

Conguring the BIOS .............................................27

CHAPTER 5: INSTALLING ADDITIONAL OR REPLACEMENT

COMPONENTS ..................................................32

Before You Begin .................................................33

Upgrading/Replacing Memory ....................................34

Upgrading/Replacing Hard Drives .................................37

CHAPTER 6: TROUBLESHOOTING ......................................40

Basic Hints and Tips..............................................40

Backup and General Maintenance.................................41

Software Diagnostic Tools ........................................42

Answers to Common Problems ...................................44

CHAPTER 7: SYSTEM RECOVERY ........................................51

AlienRespawn v2.0...............................................52

Recovery Options ................................................52

Password Protection .............................................53

AlienRespawn v2.0 Disc ..........................................54

CHAPTER 8: BASIC SPECIFICATIONS....................................55

APPENDIX A: GENERAL AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .........58

APPENDIX B: DETAILED SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND

REGULATORY INFORMATION.....................................60

APPENDIX C: WARRANTY AND SUPPORT INFORMATION ................. 74

APPENDIX D: DELL SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT....................88

APPENDIX E: CONTACTING ALIENWARE .................................90

APPENDIX F: IMPORTANT INFORMATION.................................91

INTRODUCTION

Dear Valued Alienware Customer,

Welcome to the Alienware family. We are thrilled to include you among the growing number of savvy high-performance mobile users.

e Alienware technicians who have crafted your machine have made certain that your high-performance mobile is properly optimized and performs to its fullest potential. We build machines with one single unwavering purpose: Build It As If It Were Your Own. e technicians will not rest until your new machine meets or exceeds our very demanding criteria!

We have tested your machine extensively in order to ensure that you enjoy the highest levels of performance. In addition to a standard burn-in period, your system has been evaluated using real-world tools such as synthetic performance benchmarks.

INTRODUCTION

We invite you to share your experience with your new high-performance mobile with us, so please do not hesitate to either e-mail or call Alienware with any questions or concerns. e entire sta shares your enthusiasm for new technology and we hope that you enjoy using your new mobile as much as Alienware enjoyed building it for you.

Sincerely,

Alienware Sta

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK

Before Setting Up Your Notebook

Congratulations on the purchase of your Alienware® M17x!

Please read all safety and setup instructions before plugging in your new notebook. Begin by carefully opening the box and removing all components that were shipped to you. Before setting up your notebook or components, be sure to inspect all items for any physical damage that may have occurred during shipment. Be sure to report any damaged items to customer service immediately upon receiving your shipment. You must report shipping damage within the rst 5 days of receiving the shipment or your damage report will not be honored.

Before setting up your notebook or components, please refer to the included invoice to verify that all items ordered are present. Report any missing components to customer service within 5 days of receiving the shipment. Anything reported missing after the rst 5 days of receiving a shipment will not be honored. Some of the most common items to check for include:

Notebook and AC adapter with power cord• Microsoft CD-Key located at the bottom of the notebook• Monitor with power cord and video cable (if ordered)• Keyboard (if ordered)• Mouse (if ordered)• Multimedia speakers and sub-woofer (if ordered)• Joystick controllers (if ordered)•

You may also need a small athead and/or Phillips head screwdriver for connecting peripheral cables to the notebook.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK

Product Documentation and Media

e documentation that ships with your Alienware® mobile is designed to provide answers to many of the questions that may arise as you explore your new notebook’s capabilities. You may refer to the documentation for technical information or general use as needed to answer questions in the future, or aid you in nding answers and solutions. e media included with your notebook is referenced in some sections of the documentation and may be needed to complete certain tasks. As always, our Technical Support sta is available to assist you.

Location and Positioning of Your Notebook

WARNING: Do not place the notebook near or over a radiator or heating vent. If all or parts of your notebook are placed in a cabinet, ensure that adequate ventilation is provided. Do not place the notebook in a humid location or in any area where the notebook may be exposed to rain or water. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind on or into the notebook.

When positioning your notebook, be sure that:

It is placed on a surface that is both level and stable. • e power and other cable connectors are not jammed between the notebook •

and a wall – or any other object. Nothing obstructs airow in front of, behind, or below the notebook.•

e notebook has enough room so that optical drives and other external • storage drives can be easily accessed.

Setting Up Your Alienware Mobile

Connect the AC Adapter to the Back of Your Notebook STEP 1.

WARNING: e AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide.

However, power connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or improperly connecting the cable to a power strip

or electrical outlet may cause re or equipment damage.

NOTE: e 240 W AC adapter must be plugged in to the notebook for maximum gaming performance.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK

Press the Power ButtonSTEP 2.

Windows VistaSTEP 3.

Setup

CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing

so may render your notebook unusable.

If you selected Windows Vista operating system while ordering, your notebook is precongured with Windows Vista. To set up Windows Vista for the rst time, follow the instructions on the screen. ese steps are mandatory and may take up to 15 minutes to complete. e screens will take you through several procedures including accepting license agreements, setting preferences, and (optionally) setting up an Internet connection.

Connecting to the Internet

If you do not set up your Internet connection during the Vista Setup,

Click 1. Start (Windows Vista

logo) > Control Panel > Network and Internet.

Click 2. Connect to the Internet. Follow the instructions on the screen. 3.

For more help and information about creating a new Internet connection, click Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Help and Support and perform a search for “Internet connection.”

Connecting to a Home Network

Click 1. Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Control Panel > Network and Internet. Click 2. Connect to a network located in Network and Sharing Center section. Follow the instructions on the screen.3.

For more help and information about networking, click Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Help and Support > Table of Contents and click Networking from the list of help topics.

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

is chapter provides information about your new notebook to familiarize you with its various features and get you up and running quickly.

NOTEBOOK

Examining Your Notebook

Before you start using your notebook, you need to get acquainted with your notebook’s main features and interfaces:

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

1 left digital array microphone 7 touch capacitive strip 2 webcam activity indicator 8 right side of the notebook 3 webcam 9 front of the notebook 4 right digital array microphone 10 palm rest 5 edge-to-edge LCD with

11 left side of the notebook integrated webcam and digital array microphone

6 back of the notebook 12 keyboard

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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Front View Features

1 left speaker 3 right speaker

2 consumer IR underneath

2 3

Back View Features

1 AC adapter connector

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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Left View Features

1 kensington lock 5 RJ45 LAN connector 2 VGA connector 6 USB connectors (2) 3 HDMI-Out connector 7 USB/eSATA combo connector with

4 DisplayPort connector 8 IEEE 1394A connector

USB PowerShare feature

5 6

Right View Features

1 2 3 4 5 86 7

1 ExpressCard slot 5 front speakers (left and right)

Audio Out connector/headphone

jack (Green)

2 optical drive 6 center speaker and subwoofer

Audio Out connector/headphone

jack (Orange)

3 media card slot 7 rear surround (left and right)

Audio Out connector (Black)

4 USB connectors (2) 8 Audio In connector/microphone

jack

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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Top View Features

7 6

1 power button 5 keyboard 2 touch controls (9) 6 status LEDs (3) 3 touch pad buttons on rocker (2) 7 hinge cover 4 touch pad

Bottom View Features

1 2

2 3

1 compartment door 3 battery meter

2 battery latch 4 battery pack

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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Status LEDs

e three status LEDs are located at the top-left side of the keyboard. For the exact location, please refer to the “Top View Features” diagram on page 13.

Scroll Lock LED

e LED lights up when the scroll lock option is switched on.

Caps Lock LED

e LED lights up when the keyboard is in Caps Lock mode. In this mode, all characters you type are in uppercase.

Number Lock LED

e LED lights up when the keyboard is in Num Lock mode. In this mode, the embedded numeric keypads can be used.

Power Button

is button is programmable by the user. For details on how to program this button, please refer to Power Options in the Control Panel of Microsoft Windows operating system.

e Power Button is located in the center of the hinge cover. For the exact location, please refer to the “Top View Features” diagram on page 13.

e color of the AlienHead rim indicates the power status. e color indicating the power status can be changed through the AlienFX® software.

On AC adapter:

Blue or custom AC-color e battery is fully charged.

Blue or custom AC-color fading into Amber or custom batterycolor

Blue or custom AC-color fading into Black

On battery:

Amber or custom battery-color e battery is fully charged.

Amber or custom battery-color fading into Black

Blinking Amber or custom battery-color

e notebook is powered o or on and the battery is being charged.

e notebook is in sleep mode.

e battery charge is low.

NOTE: Custom AC-color or Custom battery-colors are assigned by the user when on AC-Mode or Battery-Mode.

For more details on Standby and Hibernate, please refer to Power Options in the Control Panel of your Microsoft Windows operating system.

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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Touch Controls

e touch controls are located near the top of the keyboard. For the exact location, refer to the “Top View Features” diagram on page 13. To activate, gently touch the desired control. e control will illuminate temporarily to conrm your selection.

Eject Increase volume

Rewind/Play previous

track

Play/Pause Alienware Command Center

Fast Forward/Play next

track

Decrease volume

Wireless Control - Switch wireless communications

on/o

(for details, refer to “Using the Wireless Control” on page 25)

(for details, refer to “Alienware Command Center” on page 24)

Stealth Mode - Switch computer to low power state

(for details, refer to “Stealth Mode” on page 25)

Function Keys

NOTE: Depending on the conguration of the notebook you have purchased, some of the function keys may have no function.

e <Fn> key is located near the bottom-left corner of the keyboard. is key is used together with other keys to activate certain pre-dened functions. To activate these functions, press and hold down the <Fn> key along with the key described below:

FI – Suspend Mode

Press <Fn><F1> to enter suspend mode. In suspend mode, the LCD display and selected devices will be switched o for less energy consumption.

F2 – Check Battery Status and Battery Charge Disable/

Enable

Press <Fn><F2> to toggle between the Battery Status Meter, Battery Charge Disable feature, and Battery Charge Enable feature.

F3 – Mute on/o

Press <Fn><F3> to enable or disable the mute function for the audio.

F4 – Increase Display Brightness

Press <Fn><F4> to increase the brightness of the LCD display.

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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

F5 – Decrease Display Brightness

Press <Fn><F5> to decrease the brightness of the LCD display.

F6 – Extend Desktop

Press <Fn><F6> to switch between the various external display options available either simultaneously or separately.

F7 – Toggle between Integrated/Discrete Graphics

Press <Fn><F7> to switch between integrated graphics and discrete graphics.

Integrated/binary graphics can be used to reduce your notebook’s power consumption and extend your battery life, when the high graphics performance of your discrete GPU(s) is not required.

Discrete graphics can be used when maximum performance is required.

Switching between integrated/binary graphics and discrete graphics may require a reboot depending on your system conguration and the operating system. When in integrated/ binary graphics mode, your discrete graphics card(s), and their cooling fans are turned o to save power. e use of external display devices is not supported in the integrated/binary graphics mode.

F9 – Webcam on/o

Press <Fn><F9> to switch o or switch on the webcam module.

F10 – Microsoft Mobility Center on/o

Press <Fn><F10> to launch or close the Microsoft Mobility Center application.

F11 – AlienFX® on/o

Press <Fn><F11> to disable or enable the AlienFX illumination.

F12 –Touch Pad on/o

Press <Fn><F12> to switch o or to switch on the touch pad function and the illumination around the touch pad. When the touch pad function is switched o, the touch pad can still work temporarily for three to ve seconds while the system reboots into the Windows® operating system, or resumes from standby or hibernation.

016

Battery Pack

Your notebook is equipped with a high-energy rechargeable lithium ion (Li-ion) battery pack. Battery life will vary depending on the notebook conguration, notebook model, applications installed, power management settings of the notebook, and notebook features used by the customer. As with all batteries, the maximum capacity of this battery will decrease with time and usage.

e battery meter LEDs on the battery pack indicates the charge level of the battery. When you press the battery meter once, the charge level LEDs illuminate. Each of 5 LED represents approximately 20% of the total battery charge. For example, if 4 LEDs light up, there is 80% of battery charge remaining and if no LEDs light up, there is no charge remaining in the battery.

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Follow the steps below to remove the battery pack.

Shut down the notebook.1. Flip the notebook upside down.2. Push the battery latch to the unlock position as shown.3. e battery pack will pop up.4. Remove the battery pack.5.

Follow the steps below to replace the battery pack.

Align the three battery pack tabs with the battery bay.1. Slide the battery pack into the battery bay until the battery pack clicks 2.

into place.

Recharging the Battery Pack

Your notebook supports both on-line and o-line recharge. Follow the procedure below to recharge battery:

Make sure the battery pack is installed in the notebook.• Connect the AC adapter to the notebook and to an electrical outlet.•

e power button LED is available to reect the power and battery status. For details on the power button LED, refer to “Power Button” on page 14. When the notebook is OFF, a depleted Li-ion battery will take three hours to recharge.

Removing and Replacing the Battery Pack

is battery pack can easily be removed and replaced. Make sure that the notebook is properly shut down before changing the battery pack.

CAUTION: To avoid damage to the notebook, use only the battery designed for this particular Alienware notebook. Do not use batteries designed for

other Alienware or Dell computers.

1 battery bay 3 battery pack tabs (3)

2 battery latch 4 battery pack

017

Battery Maintenance

To maintain the battery pack’s maximum capacity, you should occasionally let the notebook deplete its battery power completely before recharging.

To carry out a complete depletion of the battery, disconnect the AC adapter and let your notebook consume the remaining battery power. To speed up the depletion, use the hard drive as much as possible and set the LCD as bright as possible. When the battery is depleted or fully discharged, wait for the notebook to cool down (especially the battery). e temperature should be within 15°-25°C (59°-77°F). en connect the AC adapter to recharge the battery.

Questions and Answers

Q: I can feel a mild heat next to the battery pack. Is this normal?

A: e battery will generate heat during recharging and discharging. ere is a protection circuit inside the notebook to prevent overheating. You do not need to worry.

Q: My battery operation time is not as long as it should be. Why?

A: e battery is heat sensitive and can only be charged to its maximum if the battery and its environmental temperature remain within 15°-25°C (59°-77°F). e more the temperature deviates from this range during recharging, the less chance there is for the battery to be fully charged. In order to recharge the pack to its full capacity, users are requested to cool down the unit by unplugging the AC adapter. Wait until it is cooled down. en plug in the AC adapter to start recharging again.

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Q: I did not use my spare battery for a few days. Even though it was fully

recharged, there wasn’t as much power left as a newly charged one. Why?

A: e batteries will self-discharge (1% per day for Li-ion) when they are not being recharged. To make sure a battery pack is fully charged, recharge before use. Always keep the battery inside the notebook and have the AC adapter connected whenever possible.

Q: I did not use my spare battery for months. I am having a problem recharging it.

A: If you happen to leave your battery pack to go through an extended period of selfdischarge, say more than three months, the battery voltage level will become too low and needs to be Pre-Charged (to bring the battery voltage level high enough) before it automatically (for Li-ion only) resumes its normal Fast Charge. Pre-Charge may take 30 minutes. Fast Charge usually takes 2-3 hours.

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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK

Power Management

Understanding Power Consumption

In order to fully utilize the power of your battery packs, it would be a good idea for you to spend some time acquiring a basic understanding of the power management concept from your operating system.

In Windows® operating systems, you can go through Power Options of the Control Panel according to the version of the Windows® operating system the notebook uses. Power options in Windows Vista® include three preferred power plans to choose from:

Balanced• Power Saver• High Performance•

Customizing Your Notebook’s Power Settings:

Click 1. Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Control Panel. Click 2. Classic View from the task panel. Double-click the 3. Power Options icon. Select a power plan from the options show. To customize specic settings, 4.

click Change plan settings beneath the selected power plan.

Reducing Power Consumption

Although your notebook (together with the operating system) is capable of power conservation, there are measures you can take to reduce the power consumption:

Use the AC power whenever possible.• Lower the intensity of the LCD backlight. A very bright screen translates to •

higher power usage. Use <Fn><F7> to switch from discrete graphics mode to integrated graphics •

mode. You may have to reboot your computer to switch modes. For more details see “Hybrid Graphics and Integrated Graphics Behaviors” on page 30.

Switch to the Stealth mode to switch from discrete to integrated/binary • graphics mode and to activate additional system power savings to extend battery life and to reduce power consumption. Switching into and out of Stealth mode may require a reboot depending on your system conguration and the operating system.

NOTE: e battery pack should be locked in the battery compartment all the time.

019

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

is section provides information about connecting optional devices to your notebook to enhance your audio, visual, and digital experience.

020

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

Connecting External Displays

If you want to enjoy your computing environment on a bigger scale visually, or extend your desktop area, you can connect an external display such as a standalone monitor, an LCD TV, or a projector.

NOTE: e external display connections in your Alienware notebook are connected to your discrete graphics card(s). When you want to use an external display device, turn o the integrated graphics (<Fn><F7>). is will active the discrete graphics in your computer, and enable the external display interfaces.

Connecting a Display

For the best picture quality, use the DisplayPort or HDMI connector on your digital display. If your display does not have a DisplayPort or HDMI connector, you can connect to the display using either a VGA cable from the notebook’s 15-pin VGA connector or a DVI cable via a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter. is adapter can be purchased through Alienware, Dell, or other electronics retailers.

Turn o your notebook.1. Turn o the digital display and unplug it from the power supply.2. Connect one end of the display cable to the DisplayPort, HDMI, or VGA 3.

connector on your Alienware notebook. Connect the other end of the cable to the same connector on your display.4.

If you are using a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter, rst connect this adapter to 5. the DisplayPort connector on your Alienware notebook and then connect a DVI cable to the DVI connector on the adapter and tighten the thumb screws. Connect the other end of the DVI cable to the DVI connector on your display.

If necessary, connect one end of the power cord to the display’s power 6. connector.

Connect the other end of the power cord to a grounded three-prong power 7. strip or wall outlet.

Turn on your notebook, and then turn on your display.8.

Extending the Desktop

With the external display connected, right-click on the desktop and select 1. Personalize.

Select 2. Connect to a projector or other external display in the upper left portion of the screen.

Click 3. Connect Display. Select from the below options that appear on the screen:4.

Duplicate my display on all displays (mirrored)• Show dierent parts of my desktop on each display (extended)• Show my desktop on the external display only•

Click 5. Apply to apply your changes and then click OK to exit the Display Settings control panel.

NOTE: When using NVIDIA Graphics with SLI enabled, only a single display may be active at a time.

021

Connecting External Speakers

Your Alienware notebook has three integrated audio out connectors and one audio in connector. e audio out connectors deliver quality sound and support

5.1 surround audio. You can connect the audio input connector from a home stereo or speaker system for a heightened gaming and media experience.

Two types of audio connectors:

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

1 front speakers (left and right)

Audio Out connector/headphone

jack (Green)

2 center speaker and subwoofer

Audio Out connector/headphone

jack (Orange)

3 4

3 rear surround (left and right)

Audio Out connector (Black)

4 Audio In connector/

microphone jack

1 stereo jack - Your headpone

jack should have this type of

connector

2 mono jack - Your microphone

should have this type of connector

022

CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES

Connecting Printers

Connecting a Plug and Play Printer

If your printer supports plug and play, Windows Vista will detect it and attempt to install the printer automatically. In some cases, Windows may require a driver for the printer. is driver is located on the software CD that is included with the printer.

Connect the printer’s USB cable to an available USB connector, located at the 1. sides of the notebook.

Connect the printer’s power cord to a grounded, three-prong power-strip, 2. uninterruptible power supply, or wall outlet.

Turn on the printer and Windows Vista will automatically detect it and install 3. the appropriate driver.

Connecting a Non Plug and Play Printer

Click the 1. Start button (Windows logo). Click 2. Control Panel. Click 3. Hardware and Sound. Click 4. Add a printer and follow the instructions on the screen.

For further information, please refer to your printer’s documentation.

Connecting USB Devices

Plug the USB device into an available USB connector on your notebook. Windows Vista will detect the device and attempt to install the appropriate driver automatically. In some cases, Windows may require a driver. is driver is located on the software CD that is included with the device.

If your keyboard or mouse uses a USB connection, insert its USB connector into an available USB connector on the notebook. For further information, please refer to your device’s documentation.

e USB/eSATA combo connector with USB PowerShare feature can connect to eSATA compatible devices and USB devices. is connector can also be used for charging USB devices when the computer is on/o or in sleep state.

e USB PowerShare feature is enabled in the BIOS setup by default. When the notebook is on battery mode, you can disable the feature through the Advanced

Menu in BIOS (for details, refer to “Entering System Setup” on page 27).

NOTE: e USB PowerShare will be automatically shut o when only 10% of

total battery life remains.

Connecting FireWire (IEEE 1394) Devices

Plug the FireWire device into the FireWire connector on your notebook. Windows Vista will detect the device and attempt to install the appropriate driver automatically. In some cases, Windows may require a driver. is driver is located on the software CD that is included with the device.

For further information, please refer to your device’s documentation.

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CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK

Alienware Command Center

e Alienware® Command Center gives you access to Alienware’s exclusive software and is a continuously upgradable control panel. As Alienware releases new programs, they download directly into the Command Center allowing you to build a library of system management, optimization, and customization tools. You can access Alienware Command Center by gently touching the touch control located near the top of the keyboard. e control will illuminate temporarily to conrm your selection. For the exact location of the control, refer to the “Top View Features” diagram on page 13.

024

CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK

Stealth Mode

Stealth Mode helps you switch your notebook to a low power state to facilitate the use of a 65 W auto/air adapter. is state is well suited for casual use such as e-mail, music/video/DVD playback. Stealth mode will switch the notebook from discrete to integrated graphics mode, and also incorporate additional system power savings to extend battery life and reduce power consumption. Switching into and out of Stealth mode may require a reboot depending on your system conguration and the operating system.

You can access Stealth Mode by gently touching the touch control located near the top of the keyboard. e control will illuminate to full brightness until the function is deactivated. For the exact location of the control, refer to the “Top View Features” diagram on page 13.

Using Removable Media and Cards

Please observe the safety measures below:

When the ExpressCard is not inserted into the ExpressCard slot, make sure this slot is covered by the spring-loaded slot door attached to your notebook. e ExpressCard slot door protects the unused slot from dust and other particles.

When no card (SD/MMC/MS Cards) is inserted into the media slot, make sure that the blank card that shipped with your notebook is inserted in this slot. e blank card protects the unused slot from dust and other particles. When inserting the blank card, make sure that the arrow on the card is on the top. Inserting the blank card upside down may cause damage to your notebook.

DVD±R/W Dual Layer Writer

Blu-ray Disc Reader/Writer

A DVD±R/W drive can read CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-R/W, DVD, DVD+R/W and DVD-R/W media.

It can also record to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R/W and DVDR/W and DVD+R Dual Layer (DL) media.

A Blu-ray drive can read CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-R/W, DVD, DVD+R/W, DVD-R/W, DVD+R Dual Layer (DL), BD-ROM, BD-R, and BD-RE media.

It can also record to CD-R, CD-R/W, DVD+R/W, DVDR/W, DVD+R Dual Layer (DL), BD-R, and BD-RE media.

Using the Integrated Webcam

Turning the Webcam On and O

Press the key combination <Fn><F9> to switch on or switch o the webcam module. After switching on the webcam, you need to activate its function through the Microsoft Windows operating system. In addition, you can also use Windows Movie Maker to create, edit, and share videos.

Using the Wireless Control

Using the Optical Drive

Your notebook has a slot load optical drive. Depending on the conguration ordered, your notebook is congured with one or more of the following drive types. ese logos are used to indicate each drive’s respective capabilities and media compatibility.

e wireless control allows you to quickly turn all of your wireless radios (Bluetooth® and WLAN) o, such as when you are asked to disable all wireless radios on an airplane ight. Gently touching this control one time turns all of your radios o. Gently touching it again returns your wireless radios to their respective states they were in before you touched the control the rst time.

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Working With RAID

A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is a disk storage conguration that increases performance or data redundancy. ere are two basic RAID levels discussed in this section.

RAID level 0 is recommended for higher performance (faster throughput). • RAID level 1 is recommended for users who need a high level of data integrity.•

NOTE: RAID requires multiple hard drives. e number of hard drives required varies depending on the RAID conguration.

RAID Level 0

CAUTION: RAID level 0 provides no redundancy. erefore, a failure of one drive results in the loss of all data. Perform regular backups to protect

your data.

RAID level 0 uses data striping to provide a high data access rate. Data striping writes consecutive segments, or stripes, of data sequentially across the physical drive(s) to create a large virtual drive. is allows one of the drives to read data while the other drive is searching for and reading the next block.

CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK

RAID 0 uses the full storage capacities of both drives. For example, two 2 GB hard drives combine to provide 4 GB of hard drive space on which to store data.

NOTE: In a RAID 0 conguration, the size of the conguration is equal to size of the smallest drive multiplied by the number of drives in the conguration.

the

RAID Level 1

RAID level 1 uses data mirroring to enhance data integrity. When data is written to the primary drive, the data is also duplicated, or mirrored, on the secondary drive in the conguration. RAID 1 sacrices high data-access rates for data redundancy.

If a drive failure occurs, read and write operations are directed to the remaining drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the remaining drive.

NOTE: In a RAID 1 conguration, the size of the conguration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the conguration.

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CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK

Conguring the BIOS

System Setup

e System Setup options allow you to:

Change the system conguration information after you add, change, or • remove any hardware in your notebook.

Set or change a user-selectable option.• Read the current amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed.•

Before you use System Setup, it is recommended that you write down the current System Setup information for future reference.

CAUTION: Do not change the settings in System Setup unless you are an

expert computer user. Certain changes can cause your computer to work

incorrectly.

Entering System Setup

Turn on (or restart) your notebook.1. While the notebook is booting, press <F2> immediately to access the BIOS 2.

Setup Utility. If an error occurs during POST (Power On Self Test), you may also enter the BIOS Setup Utility by pressing <F2> when prompted.

NOTE: If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, then shut down your notebook and try again.

NOTE: Keyboard failure may result when a key on the keyboard is held down for extended periods of time. To avoid possible keyboard failure, press and release <F2> in even intervals until the System Setup screen appears.

System Setup Screens

e BIOS Setup Utility window displays current or changeable conguration information for your notebook. Information is divided into ve menus: Main, Advanced, Security, Boot, and Exit.

Key functions appear at the bottom of the Setup Utility screen and lists keys and their functions within the active eld.

027

CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK

System Setup Options

NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this section may not appear, or may not appear exactly as listed.

Main Menu

System Time Displays the system time.

System Date Displays the system date.

BIOS Version Displays the BIOS revision.

Product Name Displays the model number of the system.

CPU Type Displays the type of processor.

CPU Speed Displays the speed of the processor.

CPU Cache Size Displays the processor cache size.

CPU ID Displays the ID of the processor.

SATA ODD Displays the conguration of the SATA compatible optical

drive.

Fixed HDD1 Displays the conguration of the primary hard drive.

Fixed HDD2 Displays the conguration of the secondary hard drive.

System Memory Displays the memory available in the system.

Extended Memory Displays the total memory size.

AC Adapter Type Displays the type of AC adapter.

Memory Speed Displays the memory speed.

Advanced Menu

Summary Screen Allows you to enable or disable the diagnostic

screen during boot.

QuickBoot Mode Allows you to enable or disable the quick boot

mode by which the system can skip certain tests while booting. is option will decrease the time needed to boot the system.

Virtualization

Intel Technology

Allows you to enable or disable the virtualization technology. is option species whether a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) can utilize the additional hardware capabilities provided by Intel Virtualization Technology.

Integrated NIC Allows you to enable or disable the on-board LAN

controller.

Disabled: Internal LAN is o and is not visible • to the operating system.

Enabled: Internal LAN is enabled. •

Internal Bluetooth Allows you to enable or disable the internal

Bluetooth device.

Disabled: e internal Bluetooth device is o • and is not visible to the operating system.

Enabled: e internal Bluetooth device is • enabled.

SATA Operation Allows you to congure the operating mode of the

integrated SATA hard drive controller.

ATA: SATA is congured for ATA mode.• AHCI: SATA is congured for AHCI mode.• RAID: SATA is congured for RAID mode.•

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