Gateway SOLO 2500 Manual

Contents
About This Guide ..................................................................................	iii
Checking Out Your Documentation.....................................................	iii
Conventions Used in This Guide...........................................................	iv
Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Notebook Computer ..............	5
Checking Out Your Solo 2500................................................................	6
Keyboard and LCD panel ................................................................	6
System Status Indicators (LCDs) ....................................................	8
Back ports panel .............................................................................	10
Right side ports and bays ...............................................................	11
Left side ports and battery bay.......................................................	12
Bottom release latches and memory bay.......................................	13
Chapter 2: Getting Started ....................................................	15
Getting Your System Running..............................................................	16
Installing the battery pack ..............................................................	16
Connecting the AC power..............................................................	18
Starting up your notebook..............................................................	19
Chapter 3: Using Your Notebook ..........................................	23
Using Your Solo 2500...........................................................................	24
Using the keyboard.........................................................................	24
Using key combinations.................................................................	25
Using the LCD................................................................................	29
Using the pointing device...............................................................	31
Using the audio...............................................................................	39
Using diskette media (3.5" or LS120 diskettes)............................	41
Using disc media (CD-ROM)........................................................	42
Removing and replacing the hard disk drive ................................	44
Using PC Cards ..............................................................................	46
Using the IR port ............................................................................	48
Using the USB ports.......................................................................	51
Using McAfee VirusScan..............................................................	52

i

Chapter 4: Managing Power Usage ......................................	55
Maximizing Power Management.........................................................	56
Charging the battery pack..............................................................	56
Using the battery............................................................................	58
Monitoring the battery status.........................................................	59
Setting the power button................................................................	60
Using the suspend and standby modes..........................................	61
Maximizing the battery life ...........................................................	63
Appendix A: Accessories .......................................................	65
Solo Notebook Accessories .................................................................	66
Appendix B: Using the BIOS Setup Program .......................	69
About the BIOS Setup Utility...............................................................	70
Using the BIOS Setup Utility........................................................	70
Appendix C: Contacting Gateway .........................................	73
Contacting Gateway..............................................................................	74
Calling Gateway ............................................................................	74
Calling Gateway when outside the
U.S. and Canada.............................................................................	75
Index .......................................................................................	77

ii Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

About This Guide

This document provides an overview of your Solo 2500 and information about using it.

Chapter 1: “Checking Out Your Notebook Computer” helps you get familiar with the ports and components on your notebook.

Chapter 2: “Getting Started” provides information about setting up your notebook.

Chapter 3: “Using Your Notebook” covers using the system ports and connecting peripherals to your computer. It also discusses some common uses for your computer.

Chapter 4: “Managing Power Usage” provides information about maximizing battery power and using Standby, Suspend, and other system modes.

Checking Out Your

Documentation

In addition to this User Guide, we’ve also provided other documentation to help you maximize using your system. Please refer to the following printed and online documentation for additional resources:

♦Printed manuals

•The “Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your Solo 2500 Notebook” contains information about managing system resources, preserving your system performance, reinstalling your operating system and drivers, and general troubleshooting tips.

•Windows 95, 98, or NT manual (dependent upon the operating system you ordered) provides information about using the operating system, learning about advanced features, networking, getting help, and more.

♦Online documentation - Lets you access the electronic manuals from your hard drive when you are traveling or when the manuals are not accessible. To access the online documentation click Start, Online Documentation and select the manual you want to review.

iii

♦Gateway Website (http://www.gateway.com) - If you have a modem, an analog phone line, and a subscription to an Internet service provider you can tap into some of the latest help and other information on our website. We provide tech support help, technical documents, tech tips, FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), glossary, software library with BIOS updates, and other resources that can help you make the most of using your notebook.

Conventions Used in This Guide

This book uses the following conventions to help identify information:

Convention example	Description
ENTER	Key names, which correspond to
	keys on the keyboard, are printed in
	small capitals.
CTRL+ALT+DEL	Letters in small caps. A plus sign
	between keys indicates that the keys
	must be pressed simultaneously.
c:\setup	Commands to be typed are repre-
	sented in all lower case characters
	on an individual line.
Click OK	Options to click or select are printed
	in bold (actions to be taken by user).
“User’s Guide”	Names of publications and cross-ref-
	erenced headings are printed in quo-
	tations.

Note:

This is an example of an important note that may appear in the manual.

Sidebars give critical information such as warnings and important notes.

iv Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Checking Out

Your Notebook

Computer

Checking Out Your Solo 2500................................

6

Checking Out Your Solo 2500

Take a tour of your notebook to familiarize yourself with its options.

Keyboard and LCD panel

A

B

C

K

H

J I H G F E D

G

6 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Component	Icon	Description
A. Color Liquid Crys-		Provides sharp, crisp resolution with backlit
tal Display (LCD)		anti-glare screen.
shown w/ 13.3” LCD
B. System status		Indicates the system status modes.
indicators
(LCM - Liquid
Crystal Module)
C. Keyboard		Provides full functionality of a desktop com-
		puter keyboard. Many of these keys have
		been assigned alternate functions, including
		shortcut keys for Windows 95, Status Display
		menus, and numeric keypad.
D. CD-ROM drive		The CD-ROM reads data CDs or audio CDs.
E. CD-ROM		Provides manual eject capability to remove a
emergency eject		CD if power is unavailable. Insert a straight-
hole		ened paper clip to eject the CD tray.
F. CD-ROM		Ejects the CD-ROM tray from the drive. This
eject button		button is functional only when power is on.
G. Enhanced EZ		Controls the cursor movement on the screen.
Pad™ TouchPad
or EZ Point™
H. Speakers		Provides high quality sound reproduction for
		software and audio CDs.
I. Power LED		Indicates system power status:
		• Steady green = power is On
		• Blinking green = system is in suspend mode
		or standby mode. The LED will flash every
		four seconds.
		• LED off = power is Off
J. Microphone		Provides built-in omni-directional audio
		recording capability.
K. Power button		Press to turn power ON or OFF. Can also be
		configured to Suspend/Resume mode.

Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Notebook Computer 7

System Status Indicators (LCDs)

Indicator	Icon Description
A. Battery gauge			Appears when a battery is installed. Shows
			battery activity and status.
			• Battery contains 5 ticks (marks) to indicate
			charge level where 1 tick = lowest charge
			and 5 ticks = highest charge.
			• Battery low - Icon appears with no ticks and
			blinks.
			• Battery malfunction - Icon appears with all
			ticks blinking.
B. Charge			Displays when battery is charging on AC
			power. Turns off when battery is fully
			charged.
C. AC adapter			Displays when system is powered by the AC
(power)			adapter.
D. Hard drive			Displays when the computer accesses the
			hard drive.
E. Floppy disk drive			Displays when the computer accesses the
			floppy disk drive or LS120 drive.
F. CD-ROM			Displays when the computer accesses the
			CD-ROM drive.

8 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Indicator	Icon Description
G. Scroll lock	Visible when Scroll Lock is enabled.
H. Pad lock	Visible when Pad Lock is enabled.
I. Caps lock	Visible when Caps Lock is enabled.
J. System docked	Visible when the system is docked.

Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Notebook Computer 9

Back ports panel

A

B C D E F

Port	Icon Description
A. Fast IR (Infra-			Sends infrared signals between the notebook
red) port			and a remote device that uses infrared (for
			example, another computer, printer, or other
			peripheral). Place infrared devices up to 3
			feet (1 meter) apart.
B. Parallel port			Connect parallel device such as a printer to
(LPT1)			this port.
C. Docking port			Connect an optional docking station to this
			port.
D. VGA port			Connect the VGA monitor cable to this port.
E. Serial port			Connect an optional serial device to this port.
F. Fan intake			Pulls air into chassis to keep system compo-
			nents cool.

10 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Right side ports and bays

A B C D E F

Component	Icon Description
A. FDD (Floppy								Either a FDD or an LS120 drive is installed
Diskette Drive)/								here. (FDD shown)
LS120 drive
B. FDD/LS120								Ejects the FDD or LS120 diskette from the
eject button								drive. The LS120 button is functional only
								when power is on.
(Not shown)								Provides manual eject capability to remove a
LS120 emergency								diskette if power is unavailable. See “Using
eject hole								emergency eject for diskette and disc media”
								on Page 43.
C. PC Card eject								Push once to release the eject button and
buttons								push a second time to eject the PC Card.
D. PC Card slots								Accepts two Type I or Type II PC Cards or
								one Type III PC Card. (Install Type III PC
								Card in the bottom slot.)
E. PS/2 port								Connect the keyboard, mouse, numeric key-
								pad, or other external device to this port.
F. Power connector								Connect the AC power adapter to this port.

Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Notebook Computer 11

Left side ports and battery bay

A B C D E F G H I

Component	Icon		Description
A. Kensington lock			Attach Kensington lock into this slot.
slot
B. Air outlet port			Outlet for air intake to cool components.
C. Composite video			Connect a TV, VCR, or video camera to this
out (TV out)			port.
D. USB (Universal			Plug optional USB serial devices into these
Serial Bus) ports			ports.
E. Battery bay			Insert battery into the battery bay to power
			your system with a battery.
F. Mic in			Connect an external microphone to this port
			to record audio. (1/8-inch/3.5-mm jack.)
G. Audio Line In			Connect an external audio input source
			(computer, stereo, VCR, etc.) to this port to
			record or play audio through the notebook
			speakers. (1/8-inch/3.5-mm jack.)
H. Speaker out/			Connect external speakers or headphones to
Headphone jack			this port. Supports small unamplified speak-
			ers. (1/8-inch/3.5-mm jack.)
I. Volume wheel			Adjust built-in speaker volume, external speaker,
			and headphone volume. Other port volume lev-
			els are controlled by multimedia software.

12 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Bottom release latches and memory bay

A

B

C

D

Component	Icon Description
A. Memory bay	Open the memory bay cover to install/
	remove SO-DIMM memory modules.
B. Battery release	Slide the latch to release the battery pack
latch	from the battery pack bay.
C. Battery pack bay	Slide battery pack into bay for battery power
	and battery charging.
D. System identifi-	Provides product model number, serial num-
cation label	ber, display type, and processor speed.

Chapter 1: Checking Out Your Notebook Computer 13

14 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Getting
Started
Getting Your System Running..............................	16
Installing the battery pack ..............................	16
Connecting the AC power..............................	18
Starting up your notebook..............................	19

Note:

Battery life varies depending on configuration, power management settings, and features used.

Getting Your System Running

To get the computer started you’ll need to install the battery pack, connect to AC power, open the LCD panel, and start up the system.

Installing the battery pack

Your notebook is powered by one of the longest-lasting batteries available, shipped to you partially charged. When you first get started, you may want to use the AC adapter to fully charge the battery and provide a constant supply of power while you are checking out some of the notebook features.

If your battery is not installed, you need to install the battery pack and charge it. You can charge the battery:

♦When you are using your notebook with the AC adapter

♦When the system is attached to AC power and in standby or suspend mode

♦When the system is attached to AC power and the system is turned off The notebook can run on a fully charged battery for about 3 to 4 hours. Use

the battery gauge icon in the taskbar or battery gauge in the system status indicator to track the available battery power. See “Monitoring the battery status” on Page 59 to learn more about tracking battery status.

Battery life is affected by how much you use the system components such as the hard drive, CD-ROM drive, LCD display, and other components. Other factors such as the power management settings affect battery life. See Chapter 4, “Managing Power Usage” for more information about power management and monitoring the battery status.

16 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

To install the battery pack

1. Slide the battery pack into the battery pack bay.

2. Push the battery until it snaps into place.

Chapter 2: Getting Started 17

Caution!

Replace the power cord if it becomes damaged. The replacement cord must be of the same type and voltage rating as the original cord.

Warning!

Do not attempt to disassemble the AC adapter. The AC adapter has no user-replaceable or user-serviceable parts inside. The AC adapter has dangerous voltages that can cause serious personal injury or death. Contact Gateway about returning defective AC adapters.

Connecting the AC power

Your AC adapter comes in two parts:

♦Power cord

♦AC power adapter

To connect the AC adapter

1. Connect the power cord to the AC power adapter.

18 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

2.Plug the AC power adapter into the notebook power connector on the right side of the notebook near the back.

3. Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.

Starting up your notebook

Once the battery is installed and the AC power adapter is plugged in you will see the battery icon , the AC power icon , and the charge icon .

To startup the computer

1.Slide the LCD panel latch to the right to release and open the LCD panel.

2.Tilt the LCD panel to adjust for the proper viewing angle.

3.Press the power button to turn your computer on.

Note:

The power button is preset to On/Off mode. You can set it to function either in On/Off or Standby/Resume mode using the BIOS setup program. See “Setting the power button” on Page 60 for more information about changing power button modes.

Chapter 2: Getting Started 19

Note:

This system ships with the “Auto dim with battery” feature enabled. Auto dim cuts LCD power 50% when your notebook is operating on battery power. See “Using the BIOS Setup Utility” on Page 70 for more information about changing the Power menu options.

4.Press FN+− or FN+↓ to change display brightness for suitable viewing. Notebooks with a HPA screen, press FN+ → or FN+ ← to control

display contrast.

To complete the first-time operating system setup

1.Windows starts and the Regional Settings dialog box opens.

2.Scroll down the list and select the regional setting.

3.Click Next. The Keyboard Layout dialog box opens.

4.Scroll down the list and select the keyboard layout.

5.Click Next. The User Information dialog box opens.

6.Enter your Name and Company (optional) in the User Information dialog box.

7.Click Next. The License Agreement opens.

8.Scroll through the License Agreement to read it.

9.Click I accept the agreement, then click Next. The Certificate of Authenticity dialog box opens.

10.Enter the Product ID number. This number is located on the Certificate of Authenticity on the cover of the Windows manual.

11.Click Next. The Start Wizard window opens.

12.Click Finish. The Time Properties dialog box opens.

13.Set the Time Zone and Time.

14.Click OK. The Add Printer Wizard dialog box opens.

15.Click Next.

16.Select a printer from the list and click Next.

- OR -

click Cancel to skip the printer setup.

20 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

17.Select the printer port (usually LPT1).

18.Click Next. The Printer Name dialog box opens.

19.Name the printer leaving the default name or rename the printer.

20.Click Next.

21.Click Yes or No to print a test page.

22.Click Finish. The Welcome dialog box opens.

Chapter 2: Getting Started 21

22 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Using Your
Notebook
Using Your Solo 2500................................................	24
Using the keyboard..............................................	24
Using key combinations......................................	25
Using the LCD.....................................................	29
Using the pointing device....................................	31
Using the audio....................................................	39
Using diskette media (3.5" or LS120 diskettes).41
Using disc media (CD-ROM).............................	42
Removing and replacing the hard disk drive......	44
Using PC Cards ...................................................	46
Using the IR port .................................................	48
Using the USB ports............................................	51
Using McAfee VirusScan ...................................	52

Using Your Solo 2500

This chapter covers using the components on your computer. Spend some time getting familiar with the versatility built into your Solo notebook.

Using the keyboard

Your notebook features a full-size keyboard that has the full functionality of a desktop computer keyboard. Many of the keys have been assigned alternate functions, including shortcut keys for Windows 95, function keys for specific system operations, and pad lock keys for the numeric keypad.

A

D

C

B

24 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook

Key	Action
A. Fn (function)	Press FN key plus one of the Fn Combination keys
Combination	(blue) to perform a specific function. For example,
keys	FN+F2 shows the Pop-up status display.
B. Fn (function)	Press FN key plus another Fn Combination key (such
keys	as F2, F3, F4, etc.) to perform a specific function.
C. Windows logo	Press to activate the Windows Start button menu.
key
D. Numeric keypad	Press FN+F9 to activate the numeric keypad.

Using key combinations

For normal key functions:

♦Press the key to get numerals, punctuation marks, and lower case letters.

♦Press the key together with the SHIFT key to get symbols and standard upper case letters.

Special keys

The following keys help you use shortcuts when working with some software:

Key	Description
	Use this key to display the Windows Start menu.

Use this key to provide quick access to shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.

Chapter 3: Using Your Notebook 25

Function keys

Press the FN key together with one of the following keys (with blue letters) to get these “on-the-fly” functions:

Key Description

Combination

+

Displays the power status display for the Pop-up Status Display program in the upper left corner of the Windows 95 desktop. Press the key combination again to make the display disappear. See “Pop-up status display” on Page 60.

Toggles between the LCD display, external monitor, both displays at the same time, or TV display (NTSC or PAL format) as the active display. See “Using the LCD” on Page 29.

Places the system in Standby mode. See “Using the suspend and standby modes” on Page 61 for more information about the Standby mode.

Makes temporary changes to the power management (PM) mode settings by toggling the setting options:

• PM ON - enables power management with AC or battery power

•PM DC - enables power management when the notebook is using battery power only.

•PM OFF - disables power management.

The selected option is not saved when the system is turned off. The power management settings selected in the BIOS setup program are effective when the system is restarted.

Enables the Pad Lock function so you can use the numeric keypad.

The Pad Lock icon stays lit while this function is enabled. Press the key combination again to make the display disappear.

26 Using Your Gateway Solo 2500 Multimedia Notebook