Gericom A380 Using Your Notebook
Using Your Notebook
3 Using Your Notebook
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T
his chapter describes how to operate the standard
in features of the notebook that you normally would use in
your day-to-day computer work. If you are new to
computers and to your operating system, you also need to
read the manual for the operating system on how to work
with your computer. It is very important to familiarize
yourself well with the operating system. The succeeding
chapters not only guide you to go beyond the basics, but
also try other exciting features.
built-
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otebook User Guide
3.1 Starting Your Operating System
The operating system is a must ingredient in using your computer. Without an
operating system, it is like playing chess without the chessboard. It is the
platform for all your software application programs to run on. The most
popular operating system today is Microsoft Windows. You should have
installed one operating system by your dealer unless you are an expert
computer user and would need a more powerful operating system. If you have
an operating system already installed in your computer, then you would be up
and running after you power on your computer and boot up the system. Check
your operating system manual on how to run it.
3.2 Knowing the Status of Your Computer
The Status LED Panel, located at the top of the base unit, provides you with
several graphical icons with LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) in representing your
system’s activity and status. You will glance it from time to time as you use your
computer.
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❶
. Drive Access
❸
. Caps Lock
❺
. Num Lock
Status LED Icons
❷
. Diskette Drive Access
❹
. Scroll Lock
Using Your Notebook
• Drive Access
The drive folder icon indicates that the system is accessing the HDD or
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW.
• Diskette Drive Access
The drive folder icon indicates that the system is accessing FDD. When
this LED lights, the notebook writes data to or retrieves data from the
floppy diskette drive.
• Caps Lock
The Caps Lock icon indicates that the Caps Lock key on the keyboard is
activated. When activated, all alphabet keys typed in will be in uppercase or
capital letters.
• Scroll Lock
The Scroll Lock icon indicates that the Scroll Lock key on the keyboard is
activated. The Scroll Lock key has different functions depending on the
software you are using.
• Num Lock
The Num Lock icon indicates that the Num Lock key on the keyboard is
activated. When activated, the embedded numeric keypad LED will be
enabled.
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3.3 Understanding the Keyboard
Functions
Your notebook computer is equipped with an 87/90 keys keyboard that
provides all the functionality of a full-sized 101 or 102-key IBM keyboard.
Aside from the standard typewriter-layout keyboard of your computer, there
are a number of extra features and function controls on the built-in keyboard
including Windows system hot keys.
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otebook User Guide
❶
. Function Keys
❸
. Windows Start Menu Key
❺
. Windows Shortcut Key
❷
. Control Keys
❹
. Control Keys
❻.
Cursor Control Keys
Keyboard
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Key features and operations are described below:
• Function Keys
Function keys are application-driven, like F1 through F12 can be found on
the keyboard. These keys work together with the Fn key to activate special
functions. Some keys (printed in blue on keypad) are preprogrammed with
dual functions.
• Control keys — Ctrl, Alt, Fn, and Shift are controls used in conjunction
with other keys to change their functions. To use control keys, press and
hold the control key while pressing another key. For example, “Press Ctrl-
C” means to hold down the Ctrl key and type the letter C. Key
combinations work especially to the application you are running.
Using Your Notebook
• Windows keys
Use the following two keys to facilitate your work:
➟
Start Menu key
Displays the Start menu.
➟
Shortcut/Application key
Provides quick access to shortcut menus. This key acts like a right
mouse button.
• Cursor Control keys
Cursor control keys let you position the cursor on the screen where you
want. In the screen, the cursor is a blinking underline, block, or vertical bar
depending on the application. The cursor indicates where the next text
typed is inserted.
• Typewriter keys
Typewriter keys (also called alphanumeric keys) are used to enter text and
characters. Keys with blue print on them behave differently when
combined with control keys.
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Esc
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Del
otebook User Guide
B
ASIC KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS
Keypad Function Description
Enter
Prt Sc
SysRq
Pause
Break
Backspace
Shift
<Enter> key. Execute a command. Within many
text editing application programs, the <Enter>
key inserts a hard carriage return, just like what
ordinary typewriter does.
<Esc> key. Press this key to cancel or escape
from a command or function.
<PrtSc> key. Known as the Print Screen key.
Press this key to map the whole screen to share
memory for your specific usage.
<SysRq> key. Used for multitasking operating
system.
<Pause Break> key. Press this key to temporarily
halt execution of a command. Pressing any other
key to resume execution of a command.
<Ins> key. Known as the Insert key. Press this
key to toggle the keyboard data entry from insert
to type over mode.
<Del> key. Known as the Delete key. Press this
key to delete the character to the right of the
cursor, or delete marked texts or items.
<Backspace> key. Press this key to delete the
character to the left of the cursor.
<Shift> key. Press this key in combination with
alphabet letters to produce uppercase letters in
typing. Use this key in combination with those
two-character keys (found on the second row of
the keyboard) to produce the upper marked keys.
Also used in most application program in
combination with other keys to execute a certain
command.
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Using Your Notebook
Caps
Keypad Function Description
Tab
Ctrl
Alt
<Tab> key. Press this key to move the cursor to
the next tab stop on the right. This key works
much the same as in ordinary typewriter.
<Ctrl> key. Known as the Control key. Used in
most application program in combination with
other keys to execute a certain command.
<Alt> key. Known as the Alternate key. Used in
most application program in combination with
other keys to execute a certain command.
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Num
LocK
Lock
C
URSOR CONTROL KEYS
Keypad Function Description
<Num Lock> key. Activates the embedded 15key numeric keypad. The keys are color coded
blue.
<Caps Lock> key. Used in most application
program to always activate uppercase alphabet
characters.
Up arrow key. Moves the cursor up one line at a
time.
Down arrow key. Moves the cursor down one
line at a time.
Left arrow key. Moves the cursor to the left one
space at a time.
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CREEN CONTROL KEYS
Keypad Function Description
Right arrow key. Moves the cursor to the right
one space at a time.
Keypad Function Description
Home
PgUp
PgDn
<Home> key. Moves the cursor to the beginning
of a screen or line.
<PgUp> key. Moves the cursor up one screen at a
time
<PgDn> key. Moves the cursor down one screen
at a time
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<End> key. Moves the cursor to the end of a
screen or line.
Using Your Notebook
W
INDOWS HOT KEYS
Keypad Function Description
<Start> key. Pulls up the Windows Start menu.
<Right Click> key. Performs a mouse right-click
function for Windows system.
S
PECIAL FUNCTION KEYS
The notebook has special system function keys that activate key serving dual
functions. When pressed in conjunction with the <Fn> key, these keys set
specific system parameters and are sometimes referred to as “hot keys”.
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Keypad Function Description
Switches display between LCD, CRT, or
+
F5
+
LCD and CRT simultaneously.
Switch the LCD display mode in expanded
or non-expanded view. These combination
keys only work in a 640x480 and 800x600
resolution mode.
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