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.
The contents herein are subject to change without notice.
© 2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
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 VistastartbuttonlogoareeithertrademarksorregisteredtrademarksofMicrosoft 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
02/02
CONTENTS |
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CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Alienware Command Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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.24. . . . . . . |
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Stealth Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Using Removable Media and Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Using the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Before Setting Up Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Using the Integrated Webcam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Setting Up Your Alienware Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Using the Wireless Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25. . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 |
Working With RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26. . . . . . . |
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ConfiguringtheBIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Examining Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Front View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER 5: INSTALLING ADDITIONAL OR REPLACEMENT |
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Back View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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COMPONENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 |
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Left View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33. . . . . . . |
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Right View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Upgrading/Replacing Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34. . . . . . . . |
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Top View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Upgrading/Replacing Hard Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37. . . . . . . |
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Bottom View Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Status LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER 6: TROUBLESHOOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Basic Hints and Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Touch Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Backup and General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41. . . . . . . |
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Function Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Software Diagnostic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Answers to Common Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER 7: SYSTEM RECOVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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AlienRespawn v2..0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Connecting External Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Recovery Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Connecting Printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Password Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53. . . . . . . |
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AlienRespawn v2..0 Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Connecting USB Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23. . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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Connecting FireWire (IEEE 1394) Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER 8: BASIC SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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03/ |
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03 |
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
04/04
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Dear Valued Alienware Customer,
WelcometotheAlienwarefamily.Wearethrilledtoincludeyouamongthegrowing number of savvy high-performance mobile users.
The 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. The 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.
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 questionsorconcerns.Theentirestaffsharesyourenthusiasmfornewtechnology and we hope that you enjoy using your new mobile as much as Alienware enjoyed building it for you.
Sincerely,
Alienware Staff
05/05
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK
Before Setting Up Your Notebook
Congratulations on the purchase of your Alienware® M17x!
Pleasereadallsafetyandsetupinstructionsbeforeplugginginyournewnotebook. Beginbycarefullyopeningtheboxandremovingallcomponentsthatwereshipped toyou.Beforesettingupyournotebookorcomponents,besuretoinspectallitems 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.Youmustreportshippingdamagewithinthefirst5daysofreceivingthe shipment or your damage report will not be honored.
Beforesettingupyournotebookorcomponents,pleaserefertotheincludedinvoice 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 first 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)
Youmayalsoneedasmallflatheadand/orPhillipsheadscrewdriverforconnecting peripheral cables to the notebook.
06/06
Product Documentation and Media
The documentation that ships with your Alienware® mobile is designed to provide answerstomanyofthequestionsthatmayariseasyouexploreyournewnotebook’s capabilities.Youmayrefertothedocumentationfortechnicalinformationorgeneral use as needed to answer questions in the future, or aid you in finding answers and solutions. The media included with your notebook is referenced in some sections ofthedocumentationandmaybeneededtocompletecertaintasks.Asalways,our Technical Support staff 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.
•The power and other cable connectors are not jammed between the notebook and a wall – or any other object.
•Nothing obstructs airflow in front of, behind, or below the notebook.
•The notebook has enough room so that optical drives and other external storage drives can be easily accessed.
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK
Setting Up Your Alienware Mobile
STEP 1. Connect the AC Adapter to the Back of Your Notebook
WARNING: The 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 fire or equipment damage.
NOTE:The240WACadaptermustbepluggedintothenotebookformaximum gaming performance.
07/07
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR NOTEBOOK |
STEP 2. Press the Power Button |
STEP 3. Windows Vista® Setup |
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CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing |
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so may render your notebook unusable. |
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If you selected Windows Vista operating system while ordering, your notebook |
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is preconfigured with Windows Vista. To set up Windows Vista for the first time, |
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follow the instructions on the screen. These steps are mandatory and may take up |
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to 15 minutes to complete. The screens will take you through several procedures |
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including accepting license agreements, setting preferences, and (optionally) |
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setting up an Internet connection. |
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Connecting to the Internet |
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If you do not set up your Internet connection during the Vista Setup, |
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Click Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Control Panel > Network and Internet. |
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2. Click Connect to the Internet. |
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3. Follow the instructions on the screen. |
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For more help and information about creating a new Internet connection, click |
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Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Help and Support and perform a search for “Internet |
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connection.” |
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Connecting to a Home Network |
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Click Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Control Panel > Network and Internet. |
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2. Click Connect to a network located in Network and Sharing Center section. |
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Follow the instructions on the screen. |
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.
08/08
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
This chapter provides information about your new notebook to familiarize you with its various features and get you up and running quickly.
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR
NOTEBOOK
09/09
Examining Your Notebook
Before you start using your notebook, you need to get acquainted with your notebook’s main features and interfaces:
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
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left digital array microphone |
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touch capacitive strip |
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webcam activity indicator |
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right side of the notebook |
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webcam |
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front of the notebook |
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right digital array microphone |
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palm rest |
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edge-to-edge LCD with |
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left side of the notebook |
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integrated webcam and digital |
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array microphone |
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back of the notebook |
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keyboard |
010/010
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
Front View Features |
Back View Features |
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left speaker |
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1 AC adapter connector |
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consumer IR underneath |
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011/011
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
Left View Features |
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Right View Features |
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kensington lock |
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RJ45 LAN connector |
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VGA connector |
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USB connectors (2) |
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HDMI-Out connector |
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USB/eSATA combo connector with |
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USB PowerShare feature |
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DisplayPort connector |
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IEEE 1394A connector |
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ExpressCard slot |
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front speakers (left and right) |
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Audio Out connector/headphone |
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jack (Green) |
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optical drive |
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center speaker and subwoofer |
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Audio Out connector/headphone |
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jack (Orange) |
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media card slot |
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rear surround (left and right) |
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Audio Out connector (Black) |
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USB connectors (2) |
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Audio In connector/microphone |
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jack |
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK |
Top View Features |
Bottom View Features |
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power button |
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keyboard |
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compartment door |
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battery meter |
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touch controls (9) |
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status LEDs (3) |
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battery latch |
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battery pack |
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touch pad buttons on rocker (2) |
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hinge cover |
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touch pad |
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013/013
Status LEDs
ThethreestatusLEDsarelocatedatthetop-leftsideofthekeyboard.Fortheexact location, please refer to the “Top View Features” diagram on page 13.
Scroll Lock LED
The LED lights up when the scroll lock option is switched on.
Caps Lock LED
TheLEDlightsupwhenthekeyboardisinCapsLockmode.Inthis mode, all characters you type are in uppercase.
Number Lock LED
TheLEDlightsupwhenthekeyboardisinNumLockmode.Inthis mode, the embedded numeric keypads can be used.
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
Power Button
Thisbuttonisprogrammablebytheuser.Fordetailsonhowtoprogramthisbutton, please refer to Power Options in the Control Panel of Microsoft Windows operating system.
The 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.
The color of the AlienHead rim indicates the power status. The color indicating the power status can be changed through the AlienFX® software.
On AC adapter:
Blue or custom AC-color |
The battery is fully charged. |
Blue or custom AC-color fading |
The notebook is powered off or on |
into Amber or custom battery- |
and the battery is being charged. |
color |
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Blue or custom AC-color fading into Black
On battery:
Amber or custom battery-color
Amber or custom battery-color fading into Black
The notebook is in sleep mode.
The battery is fully charged. The notebook is in sleep mode.
Blinking Amber or custom |
The battery charge is low. |
battery-color |
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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.
014/014
Touch Controls
The 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. The control will illuminate temporarily to confirm your selection.
Eject |
Increase volume |
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
Function Keys
NOTE: Dependingontheconfigurationofthenotebookyouhavepurchased, some of the function keys may have no function.
The <Fn> key is located near the bottom-left corner of the keyboard. This key is usedtogetherwithotherkeystoactivatecertainpre-definedfunctions.Toactivate these functions, press and hold down the <Fn> key along with the key described below:
Rewind/Play previous |
Wireless Control - Switch |
track |
wireless communications |
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on/off |
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Wireless Control” on page 25) |
Play/Pause |
Alienware Command Center |
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(for details, refer to “Alienware |
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Command Center” on page 24) |
Fast Forward/Play next |
Stealth Mode - Switch |
track |
computer to low power state |
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(for details, refer to “Stealth |
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Mode” on page 25) |
Decrease volume |
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FI – Suspend Mode
Press <Fn><F1> to enter suspend mode. In suspend mode, the LCD display and selected devices will be switched off 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/off
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.
015/015
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/binarygraphicscanbeusedtoreduceyournotebook’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 configuration and the operating system. When in integrated/ binary graphics mode, your discrete graphics card(s), and their coolingfansareturnedofftosavepower.Theuseofexternaldisplay devicesisnotsupportedintheintegrated/binarygraphicsmode.
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
F9 – Webcam on/off
Press <Fn><F9> to switch off or switch on the webcam module.
F10 – Microsoft Mobility Center on/off
Press <Fn><F10> to launch or close the Microsoft Mobility Center application.
F11 – AlienFX® on/off
Press <Fn><F11> to disable or enable the AlienFX illumination.
F12 –Touch Pad on/off
Press <Fn><F12> to switch off or to switch on the touch pad function and the illumination around the touch pad. When the touch pad function is switched off, the touch pad can still work temporarily for three to five seconds while the system reboots into the Windows® operating system, or resumes from standby or hibernation.
016/016
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 configuration, 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.
ThebatterymeterLEDsonthebatterypackindicatesthechargelevelofthebattery. 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.
Recharging the Battery Pack
Your notebook supports both on-line and off-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.
The power button LED is available to reflect 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
Thisbatterypackcaneasilyberemovedandreplaced.Makesurethatthenotebook is properly shut down before changing the battery pack.
CAUTION:Toavoiddamagetothenotebook,useonlythebatterydesigned for this particular Alienware notebook. Do not use batteries designed for other Alienware or Dell computers.
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
Follow the steps below to remove the battery pack.
1.Shut down the notebook.
2.Flip the notebook upside down.
3.Push the battery latch to the unlock position as shown.
4.The battery pack will pop up.
5.Remove the battery pack.
Follow the steps below to replace the battery pack.
1.Align the three battery pack tabs with the battery bay.
2.Slide the battery pack into the battery bay until the battery pack clicks into place.
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battery bay |
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battery pack tabs (3) |
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battery latch |
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battery pack |
017/017
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, usetheharddriveasmuchaspossibleandsettheLCDasbrightaspossible.When the battery is depleted or fully discharged, wait for the notebook to cool down (especially the battery). The temperature should be within 15°-25°C (59°-77°F). Then 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: The battery will generate heat during recharging and discharging. There 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: The 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). The 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. Then 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: The 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:Ifyouhappentoleaveyourbatterypacktogothroughanextendedperiodofselfdischarge, 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) beforeitautomatically(forLi-iononly)resumesitsnormalFastCharge.Pre-Charge may take 30 minutes. Fast Charge usually takes 2-3 hours.
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Power Management
Understanding Power Consumption
In order to fully utilize the power of your battery packs, it would be a good idea for youtospendsometimeacquiringabasicunderstandingofthepowermanagement 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:
1.Click Start (Windows Vista® logo) > Control Panel.
2.Click Classic View from the task panel.
3.Double-click the Power Options icon.
4.Select a power plan from the options show. To customize specific settings, click Change plan settings beneath the selected power plan.
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NOTEBOOK
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 configuration and the operating system.
NOTE: The battery pack should be locked in the battery compartment all the time.
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CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
This section provides information about connecting optional devices to your notebook to enhance your audio, visual, and digital experience.
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
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Connecting External Displays
If you want to enjoy your computing environment on a bigger scale visually, or extendyourdesktoparea,youcanconnectanexternaldisplaysuchasastandalone monitor, an LCD TV, or a projector.
NOTE: The 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 off the integrated graphics (<Fn><F7>). This 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. This adapter can be purchased through Alienware, Dell, or other electronics retailers.
1.Turn off your notebook.
2.Turn off the digital display and unplug it from the power supply.
3.Connect one end of the display cable to the DisplayPort, HDMI, or VGA connector on your Alienware notebook.
4.Connect the other end of the cable to the same connector on your display.
5.If you are using a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter, first connect this adapter to 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.
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
6.If necessary, connect one end of the power cord to the display’s power connector.
7.Connect the other end of the power cord to a grounded three-prong power strip or wall outlet.
8.Turn on your notebook, and then turn on your display.
Extending the Desktop
1.With the external display connected, right-click on the desktop and select
Personalize.
2.Select Connect to a projector or other external display in the upper left portion of the screen.
3.Click Connect Display.
4.Select from the below options that appear on the screen:
•Duplicate my display on all displays (mirrored)
•Show different parts of my desktop on each display (extended)
•Show my desktop on the external display only
5.Click 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.
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Connecting External Speakers
Your Alienware notebook has three integrated audio out connectors and one audio in connector. The 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.
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
Two types of audio connectors:
1 |
2 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
front speakers (left and right) |
3 |
rear surround (left and right) |
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Audio Out connector/headphone |
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Audio Out connector (Black) |
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jack (Green) |
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2 |
center speaker and subwoofer |
4 |
Audio In connector/ |
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Audio Out connector/headphone |
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microphone jack |
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jack (Orange) |
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1stereo jack - Your headpone jack should have this type of connector
2mono jack - Your microphone should have this type of connector
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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. This driver is located on the software CD that is included with the printer.
1.Connect the printer’s USB cable to an available USB connector, located at the sides of the notebook.
2.Connect the printer’s power cord to a grounded, three-prong power-strip, uninterruptible power supply, or wall outlet.
3.Turn on the printer and Windows Vista will automatically detect it and install the appropriate driver.
Connecting a Non Plug and Play Printer
1.Click the Start button (Windows logo).
2.Click Control Panel.
3.Click Hardware and Sound.
4.Click Add a printer and follow the instructions on the screen.
For further information, please refer to your printer’s documentation.
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTING DEVICES
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. This 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.
The USB/eSATA combo connector with USB PowerShare feature can connect to eSATA compatible devices and USB devices. This connector can also be used for charging USB devices when the computer is on/off or in sleep state.
The 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: The USB PowerShare will be automatically shut off 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. This 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
The 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. The control will illuminate temporarily to confirm your selection. For the exact location of the control, refer to the “Top View Features” diagram on page 13.
CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK
CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK
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Stealth Mode
Stealth Mode helps you switch your notebook to a low power state to facilitate the useofa 65Wauto/airadapter.Thisstateiswellsuitedforcasualusesuchase-mail, music/video/DVDplayback.Stealthmodewillswitchthenotebookfromdiscreteto 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 configuration and the operating system.
YoucanaccessStealthModebygentlytouchingthetouchcontrollocatednearthe top of the keyboard. The 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.
|
CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK |
DVD±R/W Dual |
A DVD±R/W drive can read CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-R/W, |
Layer Writer |
DVD, DVD+R/W and DVD-R/W media. |
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ItcanalsorecordtoCD-R,CD-RW,DVD+R/WandDVD- |
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R/W and DVD+R Dual Layer (DL) media. |
Blu-ray Disc |
A Blu-ray drive can read CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-R/W, DVD, |
Reader/Writer |
DVD+R/W, DVD-R/W, DVD+R Dual Layer (DL), BD-ROM, |
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BD-R, and BD-RE media. |
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It can also record to CD-R, CD-R/W, DVD+R/W, DVD- |
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R/W, DVD+R Dual Layer (DL), BD-R, and BD-RE media. |
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. The 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. The 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.
Using the Optical Drive
Your notebook has a slot load optical drive. Depending on the configuration ordered, your notebook is configured with one or more of the following drive types. These logos are used to indicate each drive’s respective capabilities and media compatibility.
Using the Integrated Webcam
Turning the Webcam On and Off
Press the key combination <Fn><F9> to switch on or switch off 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
Thewirelesscontrolallowsyoutoquicklyturnallofyourwirelessradios(Bluetooth® and WLAN) off, such as when you are asked to disable all wireless radios on an airplane flight. Gently touching this control one time turns all of your radios off. Gentlytouchingitagainreturnsyourwirelessradiostotheirrespectivestatesthey were in before you touched the control the first time.
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Working With RAID
A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is a disk storage configuration that increases performance or data redundancy. There 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. The number of hard drives required varies depending on the RAID configuration.
RAID Level 0
CAUTION:RAIDlevel0providesnoredundancy.Therefore,afailureofone 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. This 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: InaRAID0configuration,thesizeoftheconfigurationisequaltothe size of the smallest drive multiplied by the number of drives in the configuration.
RAID Level 1
RAID level 1 uses data mirroring to enhance data integrity. When data is written to theprimarydrive,thedataisalsoduplicated,ormirrored,onthesecondarydrivein the configuration. RAID 1 sacrifices 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 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration.
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Configuring the BIOS
System Setup
The System Setup options allow you to:
•Change the system configuration 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.
CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK
Entering System Setup
1.Turn on (or restart) your notebook.
2.While the notebook is booting, press <F2> immediately to access the BIOS 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 towaituntilyouseetheMicrosoft® Windows® desktop,thenshutdownyour notebook and try again.
NOTE: Keyboardfailuremayresultwhenakeyonthekeyboardishelddown 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
The BIOS Setup Utility window displays current or changeable configuration information for your notebook. Information is divided into five 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 field.
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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 configuration of the SATA compatible optical |
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drive. |
Fixed HDD1 |
Displays the configuration of the primary hard drive. |
Fixed HDD2 |
Displays the configuration 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. |
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CHAPTER 4: USING YOUR NOTEBOOK |
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Advanced Menu |
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Summary Screen |
Allows you to enable or disable the diagnostic |
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screen during boot. |
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QuickBoot Mode |
Allows you to enable or disable the quick boot |
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mode by which the system can skip certain tests |
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while booting. This option will decrease the time |
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needed to boot the system. |
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Intel® Virtualization |
Allows you to enable or disable the virtualization |
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Technology |
technology. This option specifies whether a |
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Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) can utilize the |
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additional hardware capabilities provided by Intel |
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Virtualization Technology. |
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Integrated NIC |
Allows you to enable or disable the on-board LAN |
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controller. |
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• Disabled: Internal LAN is off and is not visible |
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to the operating system. |
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• Enabled: Internal LAN is enabled. |
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Internal Bluetooth |
Allows you to enable or disable the internal |
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Bluetooth device. |
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• Disabled: The internal Bluetooth device is off |
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and is not visible to the operating system. |
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• Enabled: The internal Bluetooth device is |
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enabled. |
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SATA Operation |
Allowsyoutoconfiguretheoperatingmodeofthe |
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integrated SATA hard drive controller. |
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• ATA: SATA is configured for ATA mode. |
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• AHCI: SATA is configured for AHCI mode. |
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• RAID: SATA is configured for RAID mode. |
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