HP Compaq nx8420, Compaq nc8430, Compaq nw8440 Getting Started Guide

Getting Started

HP Compaq Notebook PC

Document Part Number: 406853-001

April 2006

This guide explains how to set up your hardware and software, and begin using the computer in Microsoft

Enhanced for Accessibility

® Windows®.

Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Bluetooth is a trademark owned by its proprietor and used by Hewlett-Packard Company under license.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

Getting Started HP Compaq Notebook PC First Edition: April 2006 Document Part Number: 406853-001

1 First-time setup

Identify required hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–1

Set up the computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–3

Step 1: Insert the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–4

Step 2: Connect the computer to external power. . . . 1–5

Step 3: Turn on the computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–7

Step 4: Set up the software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–9

Step 5: Create recovery discs (recommended) . . . . 1–10

2 Next steps

Install additional hardware and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1

Identify and install hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1

Locate and install software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2

Protect the computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3

Protect the computer from viruses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3

Protect your system files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3

Protect your privacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4

Protect the computer from power surges . . . . . . . . . . 2–4

Use the computer safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–5

Connect to a computer network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–7

Update your software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–8

Locate the user guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–8

Turn off the computer correctly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–9

Getting Started iii

Contents

3 Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–1

Quick troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–2

The computer is unable to start up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–2

The computer screen is blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–3

Software is functioning abnormally . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–4

The computer is turned on but not responding . . . . . 3–5

The computer is unusually warm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–6

An external device is not working . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–7

The home wireless network connection

is not working

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–8

Help and Support Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–9

Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–10

Prepare to contact Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–10

Contact Customer Care by e-mail or telephone. . . . 3–11

A Notebook tour

Top components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–2

Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–3

Pointing devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–4

Front components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–5

Rear components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–5

Right-side components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–6

Left-side components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–7

Bottom components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–8

B Connect to the Internet from your home

Choose an ISP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–1

Use the New Connection Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–2

Choose the type of Internet connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–3

iv Getting Started

C Backup and recovery

Safeguard your data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–1

Back up the system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–1

Back up specific files or folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–2

Back up the entire system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–3

Back up modifications made to the system . . . . . . . . C–4

Schedule backups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–5

Recover the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–6

Create recovery discs (recommended) . . . . . . . . . . . C–7

Perform a recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–9

D Specifications

Operating environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D–1

Rated input power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D–2

Index

Contents

Getting Started v

First-time setup

Identify required hardware

To set up the computer for the first time, you will need the computer, AC adapter, power cord, and the primary battery.

Components included with the computer may vary by region

✎

and by model.

Getting Started 1–1

First-time setup

Component

1 Power cord 4 Modem cable (optional for setup)

2 HP Smart AC Adapter 5 Country-specific modem adapter

(included by region as required)

3 Primary battery

Use only the included AC adapter or one approved for this

✎

computer.

Unless you use dial-up networking, the modem cable is

✎

optional for setup.

1–2 Getting Started

Set up the computer

To set up the computer, you will

1. Insert the battery into the computer.

2. Connect the computer to external power.

The battery begins to charge.

✎

3. Turn on the computer.

4. Set up the software.

5. Create recovery discs (recommended).

Refer to Appendix C, “Backup and recovery,” for

✎

instructions.

CAUTION: To prevent file corruption and to ensure that the correct drivers

are installed:

■� Do not set up the computer for the first time while the computer is

docked in an optional docking device.

■� During the hardware and software setup procedures: ❏� Do not unplug the computer from external power. ❏� Do not shut down the computer or initiate standby or

hibernation.

First-time setup

Getting Started 1–3

First-time setup

Step 1: Insert the battery

To insert a primary battery:

1. Turn the computer upside down on a flat surface, with the battery bay toward you.

2. Slide the battery 1 into the battery bay until it is seated.

The battery release latch 2 automatically locks the battery into place.

1–4 Getting Started

First-time setup

Step 2: Connect the computer to external power

Power cords and AC outlets vary in appearance by region and

✎

country.

To connect the computer to external AC power:

1. Plug the AC adapter into the power connector 1 on the computer.

2. Plug the power cord into the AC adapter 2.

3. Plug the other end of the power cord into an AC outlet 3.

Getting Started 1–5

First-time setup

When the computer receives AC power, the battery begins to charge and the battery light (on the front of the computer) is turned on. When the battery is fully charged, the battery light is turned off.

Leave the computer connected to external power until the battery is fully charged and the battery light is turned off.

A partially charged new battery can run the computer after

✎

software setup is complete, but battery charge displays will not be accurate until the new battery has been fully charged.

1–6 Getting Started

Step 3: Turn on the computer

To open the computer:

1. Slide the display release latch 1 to the right to release the display.

2. Raise the display 2.

First-time setup

Getting Started 1–7

First-time setup

3. Press the power button 1.

The power light next to the power button and the power light on the front of the computer 2 are turned on, and you are prompted to begin software setup.

1–8 Getting Started

Step 4: Set up the software

After the computer is turned on, it will go through a brief software setup. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the software. Note the following:

■� After you respond to the setup prompt, you must complete

the entire setup process without interruption. Setup time varies.

■� During software setup, the computer may pause periodically

for several minutes. These normal pauses are indicated by an hourglass icon.

CAUTION: If you are prompted to select an operating system language

before the “Welcome to Windows” page is displayed, choose carefully. On some models, the languages that you do not choose are deleted from the system and cannot be restored during software setup.

To register the operating system and the computer, you must

✎

be connected to the Internet. For more information about connecting to the Internet, refer to “ If you do not register during software setup, you can do so at any time after software setup is complete.

Appendix B” in this guide.

First-time setup

Getting Started 1–9

First-time setup

Step 5: Create recovery discs (recommended)

After setting up the computer for the first time, you can create a set of recovery discs of your full factory image using HP Backup and Recovery Manager. The recovery discs are used to start up (boot) the computer and restore the operating system and software applications to factory settings in case of system failure or instability.

Refer to Appendix C, “Backup and recovery,” for detailed instructions.

1–10 Getting Started

Next steps

Install additional hardware and software

Identify and install hardware

To see a list of hardware installed on the computer:

1. Select Start > My Computer.

2. In the left pane of the System Tasks window, select View system information.

3. Select Hardware tab > Device Manager.

You can also add hardware or modify your device configurations using Device Manager.

To install additional hardware, such as an optional printer, follow the instructions provided by the hardware manufacturer to install the device and any required drivers.

Getting Started 2–1

Next steps

Locate and install software

Your computer includes software that may be

■� Preinstalled on your hard drive. To see a list of the

ready-to-use software preinstalled on your computer:

1. Click Start > All Programs.

2. Double-click the program you want to open.

■� Provided on a CD or DVD. To install a software program

from a disc:

1. Insert the disc into your optical drive.

2. When the installation wizard opens, follow the on-screen

instructions.

3. Restart the computer if prompted to do so.

■� Preloaded software. This is software provided on the hard

drive, but not ready to use. To locate or install preloaded software or drivers:

1. Select Start > All Programs > Software Setup.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the check box

next to the software program or driver you want to install.

For details about using software included with the computer,

✎

refer to the software manufacturer’s instructions, which may be provided on disc, as online Help files, or on the manufacturer’s Web site.

2–2 Getting Started

Protect the computer

The information in this section is designed to protect the computer from damage caused by a virus, a security breach, a power surge, or unsafe operation.

Protect the computer from viruses

When you use the computer for e-mail, network, or Internet access, you expose it to computer viruses that can disable the operating system, applications, or utilities or cause them to function abnormally.

Antivirus software can detect most viruses, destroy them, and in most cases, repair any damage they have caused. To provide ongoing protection against newly discovered viruses, antivirus software must be kept up to date.

Norton AntiVirus is preinstalled on the computer. For information about using the Norton AntiVirus software, click Start > All Programs > Norton AntiVirus > Help and Support.

For more information about computer viruses, type Search field in the Help and Support Center.

Next steps

viruses in the

Protect your system files

The HP Backup and Recovery Manager provides several ways to back up the system and to recover optimal system functionality. Refer to Appendix C, “ information.

Getting Started 2–3

Backup and recovery,” for additional

Next steps

Protect your privacy

When you use the computer for e-mail, network, or Internet access, it is possible for unauthorized persons to obtain information about you or your computer.

To optimize the privacy protection features included with the computer:

■� Keep the operating system and software updated. Many

software applications contain security enhancements.

■� Use a firewall. A firewall is software that monitors incoming

traffic on the computer. Some firewalls also monitor outgoing traffic.

Protect the computer from power surges

To protect the computer from the power surges that may be caused by an uncertain power supply or an electrical storm:

■� Plug the computer power cord into an optional, high-quality

surge protector. Surge protectors are available from most computer or electronics retailers.

■� During an electrical storm, either run the computer on battery

power or shut down the computer and unplug the power cord.

■� If applicable to your location, provide surge protection on the

modem cable that connects the modem to a telephone line. Telephone line surge protectors are available from most computer or electronic retailers in some regions.

2–4 Getting Started

Use the computer safely

WARNING: To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to

your equipment:

■� Plug the power cord into an AC outlet that is easily accessible

at all times.

■� Disconnect power from the computer by unplugging the power cord

from the AC outlet (not by unplugging the power cord from the computer).

■� If provided with a 3-pin attachment plug on your power cord, plug

the cord into a grounded (earthed) 3-pin outlet. Do not disable the power cord grounding pin, for example, by attaching a 2-pin adapter. The grounding pin is an important safety feature.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious injury, read the Safety and

Comfort Guide. It describes proper workstation setup and proper posture, health, and work habits for computer users. The Safety and Comfort Guide also provides important electrical and mechanical safety information. This guide is available on the Web at

http://www.hp.com/ergo and in the Help and Support Center. To access

the Help and Support Center, select Start > Help and Support > User Guides.

Next steps

Getting Started 2–5

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