NEC Notebook Computer VX User Manual

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NEC Versa®VX Notebook Computer

V ERSA VX

USER’S GUIDE

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Proprietary Notice and Liability Disclaimer

The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related materials, is the valuable property of NEC Computers Inc. (hereinafter “NECC”) and/or its licensors. NECC and/or its licensors, as appropriate, reserve all patent, cop yright and other pro prietar y rights to this document, including all design, manufacturin g, reproduction, use, and sales rights thereto, except to the extent said rights are expressly granted to others.

The NECC product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance with the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However, actual perfor mance of each such product is dependent upon factors such as system configuration, customer data, and operator control. Since implementation by customers of each product may vary, the suitability of specific product configurations and applications must be determined by the customer and is not warranted by NECC.

To allow for design and specification improvements, the information in t his document is subject to change at any time, without notice. Reproduction of this document or portions thereof without prior written approval of NECC is prohibited.

As an ENERGY star partner, NEC Computers Inc. (NECC) has determined that this product meets the

ENERGY star guidelines for energy efficiency.

NEC and Versa are registered trademarks of NEC Corporation and/or one or more of its subsidiaries. ENERGY STAR is a U.S. registered trademark. All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or registered trademarks of

their respective trademark owners.

First Printing — January 2000

NEC Computers Inc.

15 Business Park Way

Sacramento, CA 95828

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Contents

Using This Guide

Text Conventions ..................................................................................................................x

Related Documents................................................................................................................x

1 Introducing the NEC Versa

Before You Begin...............................................................................................................1-2

About Your NEC Versa VX Notebook..............................................................................1-3

Around the Front of the System..........................................................................................1-4

LCD Panel...................................................................................................................1-4

Control Panel...............................................................................................................1-5

Power Button........................................................................................................1-6

Status Icons..........................................................................................................1-7

Keyboard Panel and Base Unit....................................................................................1-8

Around the Back of the System........................................................................................1-12

Around the Left Side of the System.................................................................................1-13

Around the Right Side of the System...............................................................................1-14

Around the Bottom of the System....................................................................................1-15

About the Port Replicator.................................................................................................1-16

2 Getting Started

NEC VersaGlide.................................................................................................................2-2

Making VersaGlide Adjustments................................................................................2-3

VersaGlide Tips ..........................................................................................................2-3

Power Sources....................................................................................................................2-3

Using the AC Adapter .................................................................................................2-4

Powering the System On and Off................................................................................2-5

Using the Battery.........................................................................................................2-5

Replacing the Battery..................................................................................................2-6

Low Battery Power......................................................................................................2-8

Returning the Battery to its Normal State ...................................................................2-8

Handling the Battery ...................................................................................................2-9

Extending Battery Life................................................................................................2-9

Charging the Battery .................................................................................................2-10

Battery Precautions ...................................................................................................2-10

Precautions for Recharging the Battery.....................................................................2-11

Disposing of the Battery............................................................................................2-11

Internal Batteries.......................................................................................................2-11

CMOS Battery....................................................................................................2-11

System Care......................................................................................................................2-12

Precautions................................................................................................................2-12

Storage Requirements................................................................................................2-14

Routine Cleaning.......................................................................................................2-15

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3 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Introducing BIOS Setup .................................................................................................... 3-2

Entering BIOS Setup ......................................................................................................... 3-2

BIOS Setup Main Menu.............................................................................................3-3

Looking at Screens..................................................................................................... 3-4

Using Keys ................................................................................................................. 3-5

Checking/Setting System Parameters................................................................................3-5

Resetting System Parameters...................................................................................... 3-6

Standard CMOS Setup................................................................................................ 3-6

Advanced CMOS Setup.............................................................................................. 3-7

System Security Setup ................................................................................................ 3-8

Password Protection ................................................................................................... 3-9

Establishing Passwords............................................................................................... 3-9

Hard Disk Drive Passwords........................................................................................ 3-9

Establishing Hard Disk Drive Passwords.......................................................... 3-10

Changing Hard Disk Drive Passwords.............................................................. 3-10

Using Hard Disk Drive Password Protection.................................................... 3-10

Moving the Hard Disk Drive ............................................................................. 3-11

Power Management Setup........................................................................................ 3-11

Boot Device Setup.................................................................................................... 3-14

Peripheral Setup........................................................................................................ 3-15

Other BIOS Setup Options....................................................................................... 3-16

Managing System Power................................................................................................. 3-16

Windows 98 Power Management Properties............................................................ 3-16

Windows 98 Power Schemes.................................................................................... 3-17

Windows 98 Alarms................................................................................................. 3-18

Windows 98 Power Meter........................................................................................ 3-18

Windows 98 Advanced............................................................................................. 3-19

Windows 98 Hibernate............................................................................................. 3-19

Windows 98 Power Management States .................................................................. 3-20

Recognizing the Windows 98 Power Management States........................................ 3-20

Windows 95 Power Management States .................................................................. 3-21

Recognizing the Windows 95 Power Management States........................................ 3-21

Updating the BIOS .......................................................................................................... 3-22

Obtaining the BIOS Update...................................................................................... 3-22

Preparing the BIOS Update Diskette........................................................................ 3-23

Performing the BIOS Update.................................................................................... 3-23

Identifying the Switch Settings........................................................................................ 3-24

4 Using the Operating System and Utilities

Windows Introduction.......................................................................................................4-2

Windows 98 Second Edition ...................................................................................... 4-2

Desktop Icons...................................................................................................... 4-2

Taskbar Icons ...................................................................................................... 4-3

Windows 95................................................................................................................ 4-4

Windows NT .............................................................................................................. 4-5

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NEC Customize Utility.......................................................................................................4-5

Using the NEC Customize Utility........................................................................4-6

HDPREPEZ Utility ............................................................................................................4-6

Using HDPREPEZ in Windows 98 or 95....................................................................4-6

Application and Driver CD ................................................................................................4-7

Launching the Application and Driver CD with Windows 98/95...............................4-7

Launching the Application and Driver CD with Windows NT...................................4-7

Application and Driver CD Dialog Box......................................................................4-8

Installing the A&D Software....................................................................................... 4-8

Personal Code Setting Utility.............................................................................................4-8

Installing the Personal Code Setting Utility................................................................4-9

Setting a Personal Code...............................................................................................4-9

DVD Player......................................................................................................................4-10

NEC Info Center...............................................................................................................4 -10

Installing the NEC Info Center..................................................................................4-10

Uninstalling the NEC Info Center.............................................................................4-11

Partition Magic.................................................................................................................4-11

Product Recovery CD.......................................................................................................4-12

Guidelines for Using the Product Recovery CD .......................................................4-12

Product Recovery CD Options.................................................................................. 4-13

Full Disk Drive Restore.............................................................................................4-13

Partition Only Restore...............................................................................................4-15

System Diagnostics...................................................................................................4-16

5 Using the System Drives and Bays

24X CD-ROM Drive..........................................................................................................5-2

CD Loading .................................................................................................................5-3

CD Care.......................................................................................................................5-3

Changing the Auto Play Setting..................................................................................5-3

DVD-ROM Drive...............................................................................................................5-4

Hard Disk Drive .................................................................................................................5-5

Memory Modules...............................................................................................................5-6

6 Communicating with Your NEC Versa

Mini-PCI Modem...............................................................................................................6-2

Connecting the Modem...............................................................................................6-2

Mini-PCI LAN ...................................................................................................................6-3

Mini-PCI Modem/LAN......................................................................................................6-3

Installing the Online Modem/LAN Guides.................................................................6-3

PC Cards.............................................................................................................................6-3

Type II Cards...............................................................................................................6-4

Type II Extended Cards...............................................................................................6-4

Type III Cards.............................................................................................................6-4

Communication Cards.................................................................................................6-4

Storage Cards..............................................................................................................6-5

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Interface Cards............................................................................................................ 6-5

Other Cards................................................................................................................. 6-5

PC Card Slots ............................................................................................................. 6-5

Inserting a PC Card..................................................................................................... 6-6

Removing a Card........................................................................................................ 6-7

Internet Connections.......................................................................................................... 6-7

Internet Connection Wizard in Windows 98.............................................................. 6-7

Internet Connection Wizard in Windows 95.............................................................. 6-8

Accessing the Internet ................................................................................................ 6-8

Sending and Receiving Email..................................................................................... 6-8

Modifying the Internet and Email Shortcut Keys....................................................... 6-9

IR Port ............................................................................................................................... 6-9

Enabling the IR Port................................................................................................. 6-10

Using the IR Port...................................................................................................... 6-10

7 Traveling Tips

Preparing for Travel........................................................................................................... 7-2

Packing for Travel.............................................................................................................7-2

Using Power Connections.................................................................................................. 7-3

Getting Through Customs.................................................................................................. 7-3

Using Your Modem........................................................................................................... 7-4

8 Using External Devices

Monitor.............................................................................................................................. 8-2

Parallel Devices.................................................................................................................8-3

Serial Devices.................................................................................................................... 8-4

Keyboard/Mouse................................................................................................................ 8-5

Television Connection....................................................................................................... 8-6

USB Device....................................................................................................................... 8-7

Audio Options.................................................................................................................... 8-8

Port Replicator................................................................................................................... 8-8

9 Using Multimedia

Audio................................................................................................................................. 9-2

Recording ................................................................................................................... 9-2

Line-In........................................................................................................................ 9-3

CD-ROM Input........................................................................................................... 9-3

Microphone................................................................................................................. 9-3

Playing Back............................................................................................................... 9-4

Using Headphones...................................................................................................... 9-4

Using the Built-In Speakers........................................................................................ 9-4

Using External Stereo Speakers.................................................................................. 9-4

Video ................................................................................................................................. 9-5

Using Digital Video Files........................................................................................... 9-5

Using Animation Files................................................................................................ 9-5

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Multimedia Applications....................................................................................................9-6

10 Solving System Problems

Problem Checklist............................................................................................................10-2

Startup Problems ..............................................................................................................10-3

POST Error Messages...............................................................................................10-4

If You Need Assistance....................................................................................................10-5

11 Getting Service and Support

Service and Support Contact Information........................................................................11-2

NECC Web Site................................................................................................................11-3

NECC FTP Site................................................................................................................11-3

NECC Support Services...................................................................................................11-3

Email/Fax to Support Services.........................................................................................11-4

A Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment

Making Your Computer Work for You.............................................................................A-2

Arrange Your Equipment..................................................................................................A-3

Adjust Your Chair.............................................................................................................A-3

Adjust Your Input Devices ................................................................................................A-4

Adjust Your Screen or Monitor.........................................................................................A-4

Vary Your Workday..........................................................................................................A-5

Pre-existing Conditions and Psychosocial Factors............................................................A-5

B Specifications

System Components..........................................................................................................B-2

Interrupt Controllers..........................................................................................................B-7

Memory Map.....................................................................................................................B-8

C Frequently Asked Questions

External Mouse..................................................................................................................C-2

Display ..............................................................................................................................C-2

PC Cards............................................................................................................................C-3

Diskette Drive....................................................................................................................C-4

Booting..............................................................................................................................C-6

Power Management...........................................................................................................C-6

Miscellaneous....................................................................................................................C-9

Glossary

Index

Contents vii

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Using This Guide

The NEC Versa® VX User’s Guide gives you the information you need to maximize the use of your NEC Versa notebook computer. Read this guide to fa miliarize yourself with the NEC Versa and its features. For specific information see

! Chapter 1, “Introducing the NEC Versa,” to acquaint yourself with system

hardware.

! Chapter 2, “Getting Started,” for instructions on how to connect, power on, and care

for your system.

! Chapter 3, “Using the BIOS Setup Utility,” for details about modifying system

parameters and power management.

! Chapter 4, “Using the Operating System and Utilitie s,” for an understanding of your

Windows operating system. You’ll also learn how to use the system utilities and CDs for loading applications, drivers, and the NEC Info Center.

! Chapter 5, “Using the System Drives and Bays,” to master procedures for upgrading

the internal hard disk drive and installing a memory module.

! Chapter 6, “Communicating with Your NEC Versa,” for essential information about

using PC cards, the mini-PCI modem, mini-PCI LAN, or mini-PCI modem/LAN, and other communication features of the system.

! Chapter 7, “Traveling Tips,” for a variety of checklists to help you to prepare the

notebook computer for travel, getting through customs and using your modem when you are on the road.

! Chapter 8, “Using External Devices,” for procedures for connecting external

devices like an external monitor, headphones, a printer, or speakers.

! Chapter 9, “Using Multimedia,” for steps on integrating video and sound clips into

impressive presentations.

! Chapter 10, “Solving System Problems,” for simple solutions to common problems

that may arise while operating your notebook.

! Chapter 11, “Getting Service and Support,” for information about getting help when

you need it from NEC Computers Inc. (NECC).

! Appendix A, “Setting Up a Healthy Wo rk Environme nt ,” for guidelines that help

promote a healthy work sett ing.

! Appendix B, “Specifications,” to review NEC Versa system specifications.

Using This Guide ix

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! Appendix C, “Frequently Asked Questions,” (FAQs) for a look at questions that

users commonly ask and the answers to those questions.

Text Conventions

To make this guide as easy as possible to use, text is set up as follows.

! Warnings, cautions, and notes have the following meanings:

personal injury or loss of life.

software.

Warnings alert you to situations that could result in serious

Cautions indicate situations that can dam age the hardw are or

Note

! Names of keys are printed as they appear on the ke yboard, for example,

! Text that you must type or keys that you must press are presented in bold type. For

Notes give important information, et c.

Enter

example, type

dir

and press

Introducing the NEC Versa

Before You Begin

About Your NEC Versa VX Notebook

Around the Front of the System

Around the Back of the System

Around the Left Side of the System

Around the Right Side of the System

Around the Bottom of the System

About the Port Replicator

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Before You Begin

pose a risk of serious injury. To reduce your risk of injury, set up and use your computer in the manner described in Appendix A, Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment.

After completing the steps in the quick setup sheet that comes with your computer, your NEC Versa VX system is ready to go! To get started, do the following:

Read Appendix A, “Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment,” for guidelines that help you use your compute r productively and safely. Informat ion includes how to set up and use your computer to reduce your risk of developing nerve , muscle, or tendon disorders.

Read through this guide to familiarize yourself with the NEC Versa.

Prolonged or improper use of a computer workstation may

1-2 Introducing the NEC Versa

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About Your NEC Versa VX Notebook

The NEC Versa VX notebook computer offers you a portable system filled with exciting resources for home, business or travel. Standard features include a powerful

Intel

Celeron™, Pentium® II or Pentium III microprocessor that works together with

the latest Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) architecture. In addition, your system provides a high-performance hard disk drive, diskette drive,

and PC card support. Most models are equipped with a 24X CD-ROM drive, or a DVD-ROM drive. and a V.90-compliant 56 kilobits per second (Kbps) modem. As a multimedia system, your NEC Versa VX provides the tools needed to create and present impressive ima ges using video clips and sound.

NEC Versa VX notebook computer

To get comfortable with your notebook, read the following sections and take a tour around your sys te m!

Introducing the NEC Versa 1-3

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Around the Front of the System

The NEC Versa is compact with features on every side. First, look at the front of the system. The following sections describe front features, beginning with the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

LCD Panel

The NEC Versa VX comes with a color LCD panel that you can adjust for a comfortable viewing position. The LCD panel can be a 12.1-inch Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) color display, or a 13.3/14.1-inch Extended Graphics Array (XGA).

Power and Battery Charging Status LEDs — (identified by icons) are located just under the front of the LCD panel. The status LEDs are duplicated on the back of the LCD panel to allow viewing when the panel is closed.

Power and Battery Charging LEDs

– Power LED

1-4 Introducing the NEC Versa

– Battery Charging LED

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— Power LED — lets you know that power to the syste m is t urned on. This LED is

— Battery Charging LED — lights to indicate battery charging status.

Control Panel

The NEC Versa VX Control Panel provides the features shown i n the following figure. The Control Panel features are described after the figure.

positioned so that you see the power state whether the LCD panel is opened or closed.

– Lights green when the system is powered on using the AC adapter,

battery, or auto adapter.

– Lights green when on and has nor mal battery power. Lights yellow when

on and low (8% to 4%) battery power. Lights amber when in Windows 95 Suspend mode or Windows 98 Standby mode and very low (3% or less) battery power.

– Lights amber to indicate the battery is charging. – Blinks amber to indicate an error. – Lights off to indicate the battery is fully charged.

Control Panel

– CD Control Buttons or Password Buttons

– Status LEDs

– Email Button

– Internet Button

– Power Button

Introducing the NEC Versa 1-5

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CD Control Buttons — controls the CD-ROM drive (stop , r e verse, play/pause, and fast forward ). Available on some systems.

Personal Code Buttons — sets a personal code for security. Available on some systems.

Status LEDs — keeps you informed of your NEC Versa VX’s current operating status. Descriptions of the status icons appear in the following sec tion.

Email Button — accesses your email software.

Internet Button — accesses the Internet.

Power Button — powers on and off the system.

Note

Power button and hold it in place until the system powers off.

Power Button

The Power button is a “smart” switch, meaning that it recognizes when the system is in Suspend (Windows 95) or Standby (Windows 98) mode, if the BIOS parameter “System Switch” is set to “Sleep.” If in Suspend or Standby mode, you cannot power off until you press the Power button to re sume operation.

Put the unit in Suspend or Standby mode when you need to be awa y from your system for a short period of time and want to return to where you left off. Suspend mode in Windows 95 and Standby mode in Windows 98 shuts down all devices in the system while retaining data and system status.

If you are unable to power off the system, use the power override. Press the

In Windows 95, press the Power button for less than 4 seconds to put your system into Suspend mode.

In Windows 98, go to Start, Shutdown, Standby to put your system into Standby mode.

Use the Power button in the following ways: — Press the Power button to power on.

— Press the Power button to resume from Suspend (Windows 95) or Standby

(Windows 98) mode and proceed with normal operation.

— Hold the Power button in place for 4 or more seconds to initiate power override

(powers off the syste m). Only use this option if you cannot power off your system using Start, Shutdown.

1-6 Introducing the NEC Versa

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Status Icons

The NEC Versa VX system uses status lights marked with icons to communicate system status. See the following figure and list for each icon’s meaning.

Status LED icons

– Hard Drive Access

– Diskette Drive Access

– Caps Lock

Hard Drive Access — lights when the NEC Versa VX accesses the hard disk drive,

– Scroll Lock

– Num Lock

CD-ROM drive, or DVD-ROM drive.

Diskette Drive Access — lights when the NEC Versa VX writes data to or retrieves data from the diskette drive.

Caps Lock — lights when caps lock is in effect.

Scroll Lock — lights when scroll lock is in effect.

Num Lock — lights when Num Lock mode is active.

Introducing the NEC Versa 1-7

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Keyboard Panel and Base Unit

The NEC Versa VX keyboard panel and base unit contain the following features. The keyboard panel and base unit features are described after the figure.

Keyboard panel

– Keyboard

– Speakers

– IR Port

– Microphone

1-8 Introducing the NEC Versa

Base unit

– NEC VersaGlide

– Audio Ports

– Volume Control

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Keyboard — standard QWERTY-key layout. (Models shipped outside of the U.S. are equipped with country-specific keyboard layouts.) The keyboard is equipped with many features. These include:

— Function keys — Windo ws keys — Cursor c ontrol keys — Typewrit er ke ys — Numeric keypad — Control keys.

Key features and operations are described after the figure.

Keyboard

– Function Keys

– Numeric Keypad

– Typewriter Keys

Function Keys — Twelve function keys, F1 through Versa VX keyboard. These keys work together with the

– Control Keys

– Cursor Control Keys

F12

, are available on the NEC

key to activate special

functions. Eight keys (printed in blue) are pre programmed with dual functions. Function keys are application-driven. See the specific application’s user guide for

information about how each function key works within the application you are using.

The following function key combinations are pre-programmed for the NEC Versa VX.

Introducing the NEC Versa 1-9

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Fn-Left Ctrl

— Simulates pressing the right control key to support IBM 327X

connections.

Fn-F3

— Toggles the video mode between LCD only, CRT only, Simultaneous

mode, and TV out.

Fn-F4

— Sets standby power management mode on, in Windows 95.

— In Windows 95, press any key to resume from Standby mode. — No funct ion when Windows 98 configured for Advanced Configuration and

Power Interface (ACPI). In Windows 98, Standby is equivalent to Windows 95 Suspend mode. To resume from Windows 98 Standby mode, press the Power button.

Fn-F6

—

Toggles the system beep off and on.

Fn-F7

— Toggles between various p ower manage ment levels i n Windows 95.

Beeps indicate the level chosen as follows:

1 beep Off 2 beeps Custom 3 beeps Highest Performance 4 beeps Longest Life

No function when Windows 98 configured for Advanced Configuration a nd Power Interface (ACPI).

Fn-F8

— Increases the LCD’s brightness (eight settings). Applies to XGA LCD

panels only.

Fn-F9

— Reduces the LCD’s brightness (eight settings). Applies to XGA LCD

panels only.

Fn-F10 Fn-F12 Fn-Power

— Provides zoom in/out control. — Toggles the scroll lock feature.

— Initiates a save-to-file on demand, only in Windows 95, when the BIOS Suspend option is set to “STF.” Saves your working environment to a reserved area on the hard drive.

Fn-ESC

— Initiates a Save-to-Ram, only in Windo ws 95, when the BIOS System

Switch is set to “Sleep.” Saves your working environment to memory.

1-10 Introducing the NEC Versa

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Windows keys — Use the following two keys to facilitate your work. — Shortcut/Application key – provides quick access to shortcut menus. (This key

acts like a right mouse button.)

— Floating Window key – displays the Star t menu.

Numeric Keypad — Pressing

Num Lock

on the keyboard activates the numeric

keypad numbers and functions printed in blue on top of the keys. The keypad lets you type numbers and mathematical operands (+, –) as you would

on a calculator. The keypad is ideal for entering long lists of numbers. When you press

Num Lock

again, the keys revert to the ir normal functions as

typewriter keys.

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 or the

Control keys —

Ctrl, Alt, Fn

, and

key.

Shift

are controls used in conjunction with other keys to change their functions. To use c ontrol keys, press and hold the control key while pressing another key. For example, “Press

Ctrl

key and type the letter c. Key combinations work specific to the application

Ctrl c

” means to hold down the

you are running.

Cursor Control keys — Cursor control keys let you position the cursor on the screen where you want. On the screen, the cursor is a blinking underline, block, or vertical bar depending on the application. The cursor indicates where t he next text typed is inserted.

NEC VersaGlide — works like a standard computer mouse. Simply move your fingertip over the VersaGlide to control the position of the cursor. Use the selection buttons below the VersaGlide to select menu items. See “Using the NEC VersaGlide” in Chapter 2 for information about customizing VersaGlide settings.

Speakers — provides stereo sound for your multimedia presentations or listening pleasure.

IR Port — allows you to transfer files between you NEC Versa and an IR-equipped desktop or notebook computer.

Microphone — allows you to record monophonic sound directly into your notebook computer. See Chapter 9, “Using Multimedia,” for details about recording.

Audio Ports — Microphone — Allows you to connect an external microphone for monophonic

recording or amplification through the unit. Plugging in an external microphone disables the built-in microphone.

Introducing the NEC Versa 1-11

Page 21

— Line In — Lets you use another audi o system, like a home stereo, as an input

source. Use a cable to connect to the Line-Out port on the other audio system to record or play.

— Headphones — Lets you plug in stereo headphones or powered speakers.

Volume Control — Allows you to control the speaker volume through the thumb wheel.

Around the Back of the System

You’ll find system por ts for connecting your NEC Versa VX to optional de vi ces (like a printer or external monitor) on the back of your NEC Versa VX. The ports are described after the figure.

Back system features

– Port Replicator Notches

– PS/2 Port

– AC Power Port

– Parallel Port

– Expansion Port

Port Replicator Notches — Use these notches to secure the Port Replicator to the back of the system. (There are two Port Replicator notches located at the both ends of the rear side of the system.)

PS/2 Port — Use the standard PS/2 port to connect an external PS/2-style mouse, PS/2-style keyboard, or PS/2 style Numeric Keypad to the system. With an optional Y-adapter cable, you can connect up to two of these devices at the same time.

AC Power Port — Lets you attach the NEC Versa VX to the AC power source using the AC adapter that comes with your system. Keep the system connected to AC power whenever possible to keep the battery pack and internal CMOS battery charged.

1-12 Introducing the NEC Versa

– VGA Port

– Serial Port

– USB Ports

– Modem/LAN Port

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Parallel Port — Use this port to connect a parallel printer or other parallel device. The parallel port default supports the Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) standard. The port also supports bidirectional and output only protocols.

Expansion Port — Use this port to connect the Port Replicator.

VGA Port — Use this 15-pin port to attach an external monitor to your NEC Versa VX.

Serial Port — Use this port to connect a serial printer or other serial device.

USB Ports — Each Universal Serial Bus (USB) po r t allows you to connect up to 127 USB-equipped peripheral devices (for example, printers, monitors, scanners) to your NEC Versa VX.

Modem/LAN Port — NEC includes a 56K fax/data modem or mini-PCI LAN. It keeps you connected to the outside world!

Around the Left Side of the System

The left side of your NEC Versa VX provides the features shown in the following figure. The left side features are described after the figure.

Left side features

– Kensington Lock Latch

– CD-ROM Drive

Kensington Lock Latch — This latch allows you to attach a Kensington security

– Diskette Drive

– Hard Disk Drive

lock or other compatible lock to secure the notebook from theft.

CD-ROM Drive — Allows you to load and start programs from a compact di sc (CD) and play audio CDs.

Diskette Drive — A 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive comes installed in the NEC Versa.

Introducing the NEC Versa 1-13

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Hard Disk Drive — An internal hard disk drive comes installed in the NEC Versa. The disk drive is upgradeable.

Around the Right Side of the System

The right side of the NEC Versa VX offers the features shown in the following figure. The right side features are described after the figure.

Right side features

– Battery Bay

– Fan

Battery Bay — Depending upon the model, the battery bay contains a rechargeable

– PC Card Slots

– TV Out

Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery pack.

Fan — Allows your system to cool properly and maintain a safe operating environment.

Do not block the fan while the NEC Versa VX is in use.

PC Card Slots — Two PC card slots allow you to insert two Type II PC cards or one Type III PC card in the bottom slot. Card BUS cards are supported and Zoom Video is supported in the top slot.

TV Out — Allows you to connect to a television.

1-14 Introducing the NEC Versa

Page 24

Around the Bottom of the System

The bottom of the NEC Versa VX offers the following features. The features are described after the figure.

Bottom of the system

– Battery Bay

– Battery Release Latch

Battery Bay — Equipped with a rechargeable Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) or

– Memory Module Bay Cover

– Tilt Foot

(depending on the model) Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery.

Battery Release Latch — Slide the latch to the other end and hold it. While holding the latch, slide the battery bay outwards to remove the battery.

Memory Module Bay Cover — Remove the screw to find two SO-DIMM slots. One is inserted with SDRAM memory board configured by the factor y. The other is empty for upgrade use.

Tilt Foot — Adjust to provide flexible keyboard angle.

Introducing the NEC Versa 1-15

Page 25

About the Port Replicator

The NEC Port Replicator is an accessory that duplicates some of the ports found on the back of your NEC Versa VX system. It also has a LAN port for a net work connection and a Kensington lock. The lock secures the NEC Versa VX to the Port Replicator and secures the Port Replicator to the desk. Keep the NEC Port Replicator in your office connected to peripherals while you take your NEC Versa VX on the road.

The ports on the Port Replicator are as follows.

Parallel Port — Connects to a printer. You can change the LPT Mode in the Setup program.

AC Power Port — Connects to an AC adapter.

PS/2 Mouse Port — Connects to a PS/2 mouse.

PS/2 Keyboard Port — Connects to a 6-pin standard PS/2-style keyboard.

USB Port — Connects up to 127 peripheral devices to your notebook computer.

VGA Port — Connects to an external VGA/SVGA monitor.

LAN Port — Connects via an RJ45 connector to the system’s built-in LAN or modem/LAN card.

Serial Port — Connects to a serial device, such as an external modem.

Port Replicator

– Parallel Device Port

– AC Power Port

– External Keyboard Port

1-16 Introducing the NEC Versa

– VGA Port

– Serial Devi ce Port

– Ethernet LAN Port

– USB Port

– Mouse Port

– Docking Lever

Page 26

Getting Started

NEC VersaGlide

Power Sources

System Care

Page 27

NEC VersaGlide

The NEC VersaGlide is an easy way to control the cursor with your finger. Lightly glide your finger across the NEC VersaGlide and the cursor follows. To use the VersaGlide, you can

Single tap to the touchpad, equivalent to a single click of the primary mouse button.

Double tap to the touchpad, equivalent to a double click of the primary mouse button.

Click and hold, then drag your finger across the VersaGlide touchpad, equivalent to a click and drag of the primary mouse button.

Slide your finger along the right side of the touchpad to scroll your document or screen.

VersaGlide features

– Left Button

– Right Button

Try both ways and decide which you prefer. If you find the double tap difficult to use, go to the next section for general directions about adjusting the VersaGlide p roperties.

2-2 Getting Started

– NEC VersaGlide

Page 28

Note

capability may be lost.

If you install another mouse driver over the shipping default, the double-tap

Making VersaGlide Adjustments

The NEC VersaGlide offers a number of options that let yo u c ustomize how it functions. To access these options, locate the Control Panel and double click on the Mouse icon.

The options let you control the size and color of the cursor, cursor speed, the accepted double-click speed, and selection button orientation.

VersaGlide Tips

Follow these basic ergonomic tips while working:

Use a light touch on the VersaGlide surface.

Set up the NEC Versa VX with your keyboard and VersaGlide at a comfortable height. Keep your forearms parallel to the floor. Your wrists should be relaxed and straight.

While using the keyboard and VersaGlide, keep your shoulders and arms as relaxed as possible.

Take regular breaks from the computer to rest your eyes. Perform stretching exercises to relax your fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, and shoulders.

See Appendix A, “Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment,” for more information.

Power Sources

The NEC Versa can be powered using three different sources, making it a truly portable system.

Operate your NEC Versa just about anywhere using one of the following power sources:

the AC adapter connected to an electrical wall outlet (using AC power)

the battery pack

the optional auto adapter (For details about its use, refer to the accessory sheet that ships with the option.)

Read the following sections for specific information about using the NEC power sources.

Getting Started 2-3

Page 29

Using the AC Adapter

Use the AC adapter and power cable that came with your NEC Versa VX to run your computer on alternating current (AC) power, or to recharge the battery pack. Use the AC adapter whenever a wall outlet is nearby.

When connected, the AC adapter charges the battery whether or not the NEC Versa VX is powered on.

adapter has no user-replaceable or serviceable parts inside. Dangerous voltage in the AC adapter can cause serious personal injury or death. The AC adapter is intended for use with a computer. Both must meet EN60950 standards.

Do not attempt to disassemble the AC adapter. The AC

AC adapter

Note

the cord and plug are appropriate for your AC source.

Connect the AC adapter as follows:

system. Although other AC adapters may look similar, using them can damage the system.

Connect the AC adapter cable to the power port on the back of your NEC Versa VX system.

2-4 Getting Started

The AC outlet voltage should be in the range of 100–240 Volts AC. Verify that

Use only the AC adapter that comes with your NEC Versa VX

Page 30

Plug one end of the AC power cable into the AC adapter and the other end into a 120- or 240-volt wall outlet.

Connecting the AC adapter

Do not cover or place objects on the AC adapter. Doing so

can cause the adapter to overheat.

Powering the System On and Off

To power on, locate the Power button on the upper right hand side of the notebook above the keyboard and press it. To power off the system, press the Power button. In Windows, the computer automatically shuts down, when “Shut Down” is selected from the Start menu. That is, you do not need to press the Power button to switch off the computer.

Depending on the operating system, the “smart” switch may be enabled to allow you to power down using the Po wer button instead of the Windows Start menu.

Using the Battery

The NEC Versa VX system comes with a rechargeable Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery. Battery packs are easy to install and re move.

Note

reduce the initial battery charge. We recommend that the first time you use your system, connect it to AC power using the AC adapter. This also recharges your battery.

When battery power drops to the level where the Battery Warning is activated, the power LED lights yellow.

Although the battery is fully charged at the factory, transit and shelf time may

Getting Started 2-5

Page 31

When battery power reaches 8%, the power LED lights amber and the system beeps a warning and the system goes into Suspend or Save to File mode.

the following:

Keep the battery away from extreme heat.

Keep metal objects away from the battery terminals to prevent a short circuit.

Make sure the battery is properly installed in the battery bay.

Read the precautions printed on the battery.

Replacing the Battery

Install the battery in your system as follows:

connecting the AC adapter. Failure to do so can result in data loss.

Save your files, exit Windows, and turn off system power .

Close the LCD panel and turn over the system.

To prevent accidental battery ignition or explosion, adhere to

Be sure to save your data before replacing the battery pack or

2-6 Getting Started

Page 32

Remove the battery as follows:

Locate the battery release latch.

Slide the battery release latch towards the back of the system and hold firmly.

Continue to hold the battery release latch as you slide the batter y out of the system.

Removing the battery

– Battery Release Latch

Getting Started 2-7

Page 33

Insert the new battery as follows:

Locate the alignment groove on the edge of the battery.

Locate the alignment groove inside the battery bay.

Align the grooves on the batter y with the grooves in the bay.

Slide the battery into the bay until securely locked into place.

Installing the battery

Turn over the system.

Low Battery Power

When battery power gets low, connect your system to the AC adapter. If an AC adapter is not available, change the battery using the battery replacement procedure. See the section, “Replacing the Battery.”

Returning the Battery to its Normal State

To return the battery to its normal state, try the following:

remove and then reinstall the battery

reinstall the battery in your NEC Versa and fully recharge the battery (to 100%).

2-8 Getting Started

Page 34

Handling the Battery

Review the following before handling the system battery.

computer for which they are designed. Mixing other NEC Versa VX batteries, other manufacturer’s batteries, or using a combination of very old and new batteries can deteriorate battery and equipment performance.

Turn off power to the system after use.

Clean the battery terminals with a dry cloth if they get dirty.

When not in use, store the battery in a cool dry area.

The following symptoms indicate that battery life is nearing an end. Discard batteries that display these symptoms:

shorter work times

discoloration, warping

hot to the touch

strange odor.

Use the NiMH or Li-Ion batteries only in the NEC Versa VX

Extending Battery Life

The NEC Versa VX NiMH or Li-Ion battery life is effected by the following conditions:

When it is new and full y charged.

When no peripherals are connected to your NEC Versa V X.

When you have no options installed.

Enabling power management features increases battery life. While on the road, it is important to be aware of the simple things you can do to extend

the life of the system’s main battery. Turning down the screen brightness ( extends battery life.

Fn + F9

)

Getting Started 2-9

Page 35

Charging the Battery

Charge time depends on whether or not you are using the system. There are two ways to charge your battery while it is installed in the NEC Versa VX:

When the system is off or in Suspend mode and the AC adapter is connected, charge time is approximately 3 hours.

When the system is powered on and the AC adapter is connected, charge time is approximately 4 hours.

For maximum battery performance, fully discharge the battery before recharging it. To do so, unplug the AC adapter, turn off power management features (through BIOS Setup and Windows power management), and turn on the system. Once the battery is fully discharged, plug in the AC adapter and recharge the battery.

The warning beep that sounds when battery power becomes critically lo w is always a true indicator that battery power is low. Be sure to save your data when you hear t he beep and take proper steps to provide power to your system.

Battery Precautions

To prevent accidental battery ignition, rupture, or explosion, adhere to the following precautions.

replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Keep the battery away from heat sources including direct sunlight, open fires, microwave ovens, and high-voltage containers. Temperatures over 60ºC (140ºF) may cause damage.

Do not drop or impact the battery.

Do not disassemble the battery.

Do not solder the battery.

Do not puncture the battery.

Do not use a battery that appears damaged or deformed, has any rust on its casing, is discolored, overheats, or emits a foul odor.

Keep the battery dry and away from water.

Keep metal objects away from battery terminals. Metal objects in contact with the terminals can cause a short circuit and damage.

If the battery leaks onto skin or clothing, wash the area immediately. Battery fluid can cause a skin rash and damage fabric.

If battery fluid gets in eyes, DO NOT rub; rinse with clear water immediately and see a doctor.

2-10 Getting Started

There is a danger of explosion if the battery is incorrectly

Page 36

Precautions for Recharging the Battery

Adhere to the following precautions when recharging the battery.

Use only the NEC battery charger designed for your NEC Versa battery type. Different NEC Versa models require different batteries and battery chargers.

Charge the battery for the specified charge time only.

During charging, keep the environmental temperature between 41°F and 95°F (5°C to 35°C).

Read the instructions that came with the battery charger before charging the battery.

Disposing of the Battery

Before disposing of the battery, put adhesive tape on the terminals. Depending upon the NEC Versa VX model, the main battery is made of Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion).

Contact your local waste management officials for information regarding environmentally sound collection, recycling, and disposal of batteries.

Internal Batteries

The Nickel Metal-Hydride or Lithium-Ion battery is the main power source in your NEC Versa VX computer. Appendix B lists battery specifications. In addition to the main battery, the CMOS battery provides power to maintain syste m con fi guration settings.

CMOS Battery

This battery provides battery backup and prevents data loss in the system’s complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) RAM. This memory area contains information on the system’s configuration, for example, date, time, drives, and memory.

Getting Started 2-11

Page 37

cord if it becomes damaged. U.S. and Canadian replacement cords must be ULapproved (CSA certified in Canada) type SPT-2, 18 AWG, 2-conductor cord with a permanently attached NEMA type 5-15P plug at one end, and a permanently attached connector body on the other. Cord length may not exceed 15 feet.

Outside the U.S. and Canada the cord must be rated for at least 250VAC at 10 amps, and must indicate international safety agency approval. The plug must be a type appropriate for the country where it is used. Check with your local dealer for HAR type 18 AWG, 2 conductor cord, or better. (Reference the booklet, “Getting Service and Support for Asia, Australia, and Europe” to find out how to contact the local office in your country.)

Obtain replacement cords at an authorized service center. The replacement must be of the same type and voltage rating as the original cord.

Disconnect all supply lines before the hinged front cover is removed. Replace the hinged cover before the unit is restarted.

System Care

The NEC Versa VX is a durable, dependable system built for extensive use and travel. Follow these guidelines to maintain the condition, performance and safety of your computer. Please read these safety instructions carefully and keep this user’s guide for reference.

This equipment uses an ungrounded power cable. Replace the

following conditions:

The power cord is damaged or frayed.

Liquid spills on or into the NEC Versa VX.

System is dropped or casing is damaged.

Precautions

Follow these precautions when using your NEC Versa VX and AC adapter. Always follow all cautions and warnings.

Avoid dropping or bumping the computer or the AC adapter.

Do not stack heavy objects on the computer, the AC adapter, or the battery packs.

Do not place items near the NEC Versa VX that could block air vents and cause overheating.

2-12 Getting Started

Immediately turn off and unplug the NEC Versa VX under the

Page 38

Use the NEC Versa VX on a level surface and avoid moving the NEC Versa VX during system operation, especially while the hard disk, diskette drive, or CD-ROM drive is being accessed.

When using the AC adapter, make sure the power source falls within the system’s compatible range of 100–240 volts AC. Never use the AC adapter if the voltage falls outside of this range. (Watch for this when traveling to other countries.)

Turn computer power off before attaching or removing non-plug and play devices.

Disconnect the notebook from the electrical outlet if it is not going to be used for a long time. This will avoid damage by transient over-voltage.

Do not attempt to disassemble the computer. For safety the computer should be disassembled only by a qualified service person.

Do not push any foreign objects into the NEC Versa VX bays, connectors, a nd slots.

Avoid using the computer or AC adapter for extended periods in direct sunlight.

Do not use the system in humid or dusty environments.

Keep liquids and food away from the system.

Turn computer power off before cleaning it.

If the AC adapter becomes extremely hot, unplug the adapter and let it cool.

The electrical outlet and any extension cords should be rated to support the total current load of all connected devices.

Be sure to follow these power cord safety tips: — Unplug by the plug only; do not pull on the cable. — Place the power cord so that it can not be tripped on, stepped on, nor have items

placed directly on the power cord.

— Use an electrical outlet that is as close as possible to the computer.

Do not use the IR port directly under fluorescent lighting, or near flashing incandescent light.

If one of the following situations arises, have the notebook checked by service personnel:

— The power cord or plug is damaged. — Liquid has penetrated into the notebook. — The notebook has been exposed to moisture.

Getting Started 2-13

Page 39

— The notebook has not worked well or you can not get it to work according to the

user’s guide.

— The notebook has been dropped and damaged. — If the notebook has an obvious sign of damage.

An approved power cord has to be used for the notebook’s power supply. For a rated current up to 6A and an equipment weight more than 3 kg, a power cord not lighter than H05VV-F, 2G, 0.75mm

The sound pressure level at the operator’s position according to IEC 704-1: 1982 is equal or less than 70dB(A).

Storage Requirements

Store the computer and AC adapter in an environment that meets the following conditions:

example, when you move the system from a cold place to a warm place), vapor condenses inside the system. Turning on the system under this condition can damage the internal system components.

Before turning on the system, wait until the system's internal temperature equalizes with the new environment and any internal moisture can evaporate.

, has to be used.

If the temperature of the NEC Versa suddenly rises or falls (for

Maintain storage temperatures between -4°F and 104°F (-20°C and 40°C).

Keep the storage area free from vibration and ma gnetic fields.

Keep the system and its components away from organic solvents or corrosive gases.

Avoid leaving the system and its components in direct sunlight or near heat sources.

2-14 Getting Started

Page 40

Routine Cleaning

Clean or dust your system as follows:

cleaners that contain caustic materials on the NEC Versa computer. These cleaners are usually high in alkalinity which is measured in pH. Using these

cleaners can cause the plastic surface to crack or discolor.

LCD screen — Carefully wipe the LCD screen with a soft cloth or a screen wipe designed for that purpose. Special screen wipe s are available through your local computer dealer.

System case — NECC recommends that you carefully wipe the case with a slightly damp, almost dry cloth.

Never use harsh solutions, household cleaners, or spray

Getting Started 2-15

Page 41

Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Introducing BIOS Setup

Entering BIOS Setup

Checking/Setting System Parameters

Managing System Power

Updating the BIOS

Identifying the Switch Settings

Page 42

Introducing BIOS Setup

Your NEC Versa VX computer comes with a hardware program called BIOS Setup that allows you to view and set system parameters. BIOS Set up also allows you to set password features that protect your system from unauthorized use.

Use BIOS Setup to:

set the current time and date

customize your operating system to reflect your computer hardware

secure your system with a password

balance your performance needs with power conservation.

Entering BIOS Setup

Access the BIOS utility at power-on. Just press F2 when the following prompt appears.

Press <F2> to enter Setup.

When you press F2 to enter BIOS Setup, the system interrupts the Power-On Self-Test (POST) and displays the current CMOS RAM settings.

If the system detects an error during POST, it prompts you with a double beep and a message: “Pr ess <F1> to resume .” If you press automatically. If you want to fix the error, carefully read the error message that appears above the prompt (taking notes if you want), and press your CMOS ba t tery becomes fully discharged.

, the system enters BIOS Setup

. You will see this message if

3-2 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Page 43

BIOS Setup Main Menu

After you press F2, the system displays the BIOS Setup Main Menu screen, similar to the following.

Use the up and down arrow keys (located on the lower right corner of the keyboard) to toggle through the BIOS Setup menu items.

BIOS Setup Main Menu

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-3

Page 44

Looking at Screens

BIOS setup screens have three areas as shown next.

Parameters — The left side of the screen. This area lists parameters and their current settings.

Advanced CMOS Setup

Available Options and Help — The right side of the screen. This area lists alternate settings and Help text for each parameter.

Key Legend — The bottom right corner of the screen. These lines display the keys that move the cursor and select parameters.

Options that are grayed out are not available for the current selection.

3-4 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Page 45

Using Keys

The following table lists the BIOS Setup keys and their functions.

BIOS Setup Key Functions

Key Function

↑ ↓

PgUp/PgDn Toggles through the current parameter settings. Tab For some parameter settings, moves the cursor between the

ESC Exits the current screen and returns to the Main Menu screen. From

F3/F4 Changes the screen color. F10 Saves and exits the BIOS Setup utility.

Moves the cursor between the displayed parameters.

subfields. Also moves the cursor to the next line or selection. For example, for System Time, Tab moves the cursor from hour to minute to second.

the Main Menu screen, displays the prompt, “Quit without saving.”

Checking/Setting System Parameters

The BIOS Setup utility consists of a number of screens, each representing a specific area of the BIOS. The following tables list the BIOS parameters, their factory default settings, alternate settings, and a description of each setting. See the item-specific help that appears on each Setup screen for more details.

The BIOS Setup Utility is broken down as follows:

Standard CMOS Setup

Advanced CMO S Setup

System Security Setup

Power Management Setup

Boot Device Setup

Peripheral Setup

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-5

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Resetting System Parameters

To reset all parameters to the default settings, select Auto Configuration with Defaults from the BIOS Setup Main Menu, press the arrow keys to select

Standard CMOS Setup

Use the Standard CMOS Setup screen to view the System Time, System Date and to modify drive parameters and related settings.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Date mm/dd/yyyy System Memory (automatically detected) Time hh:/mm:/ss Diskette Drive A 1.44 MB, 3 1/2 Not installed, 1.44 MB 3 1/2 Internal Auto User Defined, CDROM,

Internal Slave Auto User Defined, CD/DVD,

Standard CMOS Setup

Not installed

Yes

and press

Enter

Boot Sector Virus Protection

Date — Sets your NEC Versa’s calendar month, day and year. The calendar clock is year 2000-compliant. These settings remain in memory even after you turn off system power.

To set the date use the

PgDn

System Memory — Displays the amount of system memory currently installed in

key to change the numbers within each field.

your system.

Time — Sets the time, enter the current hour, minute, and second in hr:/min:/sec, 24-hour format.

To set the time use the

PgDn

Diskette Drive — Designates the drive type for your diskette drive.

key to change the numbers within each field.

3-6 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Disabled Enabled

Tab

or arrow keys to move from field to field. Use the

Tab

or arrow keys to move from field to field. Use t he

PgUp

Page 47

Internal Drives — Assigns devices to the internal drives in your system.

Boot Sector Virus Protection — Write protects the boot sector of the hard disk drive to avoid infection by some virus types.

Advanced CMOS Setup

Use the Advanced CMOS Setup to set the followi ng functions.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Video Out Type NTSC PAL

Advanced CMOS Setup

LCD Panel View

On Off

Expansion PS/2 Port Warm Swap Enabled Disabled Internal Mouse Enabled Disabled

Video Out Type — Specifies the signal type used by the video device connected to the TV Out Port.

LCD Panel View Expansion — Specifies whether the panel view is reduced/off or expanded/on.

PS/2 Port Warm Swap — Specifies whether or not you can swap a PS/2 device during system operation.

Internal Mouse — Specifies whether or not you can use both t he internal and the external mouse.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-7

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System Security Setup

Use the System Security Setup to establish system passwords.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

System Security Setup

Assign Supervisor

Press Enter

Password Assign User Password Press Enter Boot Password Required

Resume Password Required

No Yes No Yes

Assign HDD Password Press Enter Internal HDD password Disabled Enabled

Option is not available until supervisor password is set up

Only active when Boot Password is set to Yes.

Assign Supervisor Password — Establishes password protection for entering the

BIOS Setup utility, booting the system, and resuming from suspend.

Assign User Password — Establishes a user password once a supervisor password is set. The user password allows the system to boot and resume from Suspend and Save-to-File.

Boot Password Required — Indicates whether or not a password is required to boot the system.

Resume Password required — Indicates whether or not a password is required to resume the system. Boot Password must be defined to activate this parameter.

Assign HDD Password — Allows you to assign a pass word to allow or restrict access to the hard disk drive contents.

Internal HDD Password — Enables or disables the HDD password.

3-8 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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Password Protection

Your NEC Versa supports a password for system security on several levels. Keep in mind that you must set the supervisor password before the BI OS Setup utility allows you to set a user password.

Once you set a supervisor password, you must enter it before you can enter BIOS Setup, access the system at startup, or resume from Suspend or Save -to-File, depending on your configuration selection.

Establishing Passwords

To establish password protection for entering the BIOS Setup utility or accessi ng the system at startup, you must set the supervisor password before setting a user password.

To enter a password simp ly select Assign Supervisor Password, enter the password, re-enter the password to confirm, a nd press any key to continue. Repeat the procedure to set the user password.

To initiate password protection while you step away from your system, simply press

Ctrl, Alt, Backspace

lock LEDs alternately flash indicating that you must enter a password to resume operation.

In Windows 98, the supervisor and user passwords are only valid when resuming from Save-to-File. To establish password protection for resuming from Standby or Hibernation modes you must do the following:

or Suspend/Save-to-File the system. The Caps lock and Scroll

Set a Windows password in Control Panel, Password Properties, Change Passwords.

Enable the option “Prompt for password when the computer goes off standby,” in Control Panel, Power Ma nagement Properties, Advanced.

Hard Disk Drive Passwords

Your NEC Versa allows you to establish password pro tection for the internal hard disk drive. Hard disk drive (HDD) password protection restricts access to the drive, only if the drive is removed from your NEC Versa and installed in anot her system. You are not prompted to enter your hard disk drive passwords while the drive remains in your current system.

The HDD passwords are written to the system BIOS and to the hard disk drive to ensure that the password protection travels with the drive when moved from syste m to system.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-9

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Establishing Hard Disk Drive Passwords

To establish password protection for your system’s hard disk drive you must establish a master password, establish a user password, and enable the established passwords for the internal HDD. Follow these steps to establish HDD passwords and to enable HDD password protection.

Enter the BIOS setup, highlight and select the System Security Setup.

Highlight Assign HDD Password and press The system prompts you to enter a master password.

Enter a master HDD password and press The system prompts you to enter the password again to verify.

Enter the master password and press The system confirms the creation of the master password and prompts you to enter

a user password.

Enter a user password and press The system prompts you to enter the password again to verify.

Enter the user password and press

Highlight and select Internal HDD Password and use the enable the selection. (This enables password protection for the internal HDD.)

Changing Hard Disk Drive Passwords

To change hard disk drive passwords, enter the System Secur i ty Setup, highlight Internal HDD Password and enter the current password that you wish to change. If you enter the current master password, you are prompted to enter a new master password. If you enter the current user password, you are prompted to enter the new user password. If you do not wish to establish a new master or user password, press entering a new password.

Enter

PgUp/PgDn

Esc

instead of

keys to

Using Hard Disk Drive Password Protection

To facilitate the transfer of one or more HDDs between system, establish a single master password (and document the password in a secure place). Establish different user passwords to limit access to specific systems.

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Moving the Hard Disk Drive

When a password protected HDD is moved from its original system and installed in another system, error messages appear indicating that the drive is locked. Next, the Security Setup screen appears requiring the user to enter the master password to unlock the drive. Highlight the HDD password line and enter the master password, when prompted.

If you wish to move an HDD from one system to another, follow steps 1 through 6 in the section, “Establishing Hard Disk Drive Passwords,” before installing the HDD in a different system. Install the HDD in the desired system then follow step 7 to establish HDD protection.

To take advantage of HDD password protection in another system, the system must be equipped with the same HDD password protection feature. To determine if the system has HDD password, check the System Security Setup in the BIOS setup to see if there are provisions for establishing HDD passwords.

Power Management Setup

Use the Power Management Setup to balance high performance and energy conservation.

Power Management Setup

Parameter Default

Setting

System Switch Power Button Sleep Button Power Management

under AC Power Savings Level Longest Life High Perform/Custom/Off CPU Speed Control 100% 12.5, 25, 50% Hard Disk Timeout

Video Timeout

Peripheral Timeout Audio Device Timeout Standby Timeout Auto Suspend Timeout LCD Suspend Disabled Enabled

Off On

2 minutes 5/30/45 sec; 1/4/6/8/10/15 min.

2 minutes 30/45 sec.; 1/4/6/8/10/15 min.

On Off

On Off 4 minutes Off/1/2/6/8/10/15 min.

10 minutes Off/5/15/20/25/30 min.

Alternate Setting(s)

Off

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-11

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Power Management Setup

Parameter Default

Alternate Setting(s)

Setting

Suspend Option Suspend STF Auto Save-to-File Enabled Disabled

Panel Brightness Auto User Defined Suspend Warning Tone Enabled D isabled

Remote Power On Disabled Enabled Wake Up Alarm Disabled Enabled Resume Alarm Time

Off Set time in 5 min. increments when

Wake Up Alarm is set.

Available when power savings is set to Custom

Resume alarm time is selectable when wake up from suspend alarm is set

System Switch — Sets the Power button as a power switch or a sleep button.

Power Management Under AC — Specifies whether to enable power manageme nt

features when AC power is in use. When AC power i s connected to your NEC Versa system, power management is usua lly disabled . If you enable this parameter, the system automatically activates the power management profile you set, even when AC power is used.

Power Savings Level — Spe cifies one of four levels o f power management. — High Performance — provides good battery life and best performance with only

minimal power conservation Use while on the road or traveling short distances.

— Longest Life — provides best battery life, the maximum amount of power

savings, and good performance. Use while traveling long distances.

— Off — disables power management and all device timeouts. Works well in an

office environment while powering your NEC Versa with AC power.

— Custom — lets you define power management levels and specific device

timeouts according to your own needs and present environment. Custom lets you set the following timeouts.

3-12 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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Custom Timeout Options

Option Definition

CPU Speed Control Sets CPU performance at one of four levels. Hard Disk Timeout Sets the time delay before your hard disk powers

down. Video Timeout Sets whether to timeout the video or not. Peripheral Timeout Sets whether to timeout the peripheral or not. Audio Device

Timeout

Sets the time delay before your audio device powers

off. Standby Timeout Selects the system standby timeout period. Auto Suspend

Timeout

Defines how much time elapses from the time the

system enters Standby mode to the time the system

automatically enters Suspend Mode.

LCD Suspend — Allows you to suspend the system when the LCD panel is closed.

Suspend Option — Specifies either Suspend or Save to File (STF) as the default power management mode. For details about using this parameter, see the section, “Managing System Power,” later in this chapter.

Automatic STF — Enables the system, after 30 minutes in Susp end mode, to save the current working environment to a special file on the hard disk and to power down the system.

If Auto Save to File is set to Off and the save-to-file area is presen t on your hard drive, pressing the

Fn-Power/Sleep

key combination puts the system into Save to File mode. For details about using this parameter, see the section, “Managing System Power,” later in this chapter. For details about creating the save-to-file area, see the section, “HDPREPEZ Utility,” in Chapter 4.

Panel Brightness — Selects t he LCD screen brightness.

Suspend War ni ng Tone — Spec i fi es whether the system warning tone sounds when Suspend mode starts. It is best to keep this option enabled.

Wake Up from Suspend Alarm/Resume Alarm Time — Allows the alarm to wake up the system from Suspend. Designates the ti me parameter in five minutes increments.

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Boot Device Setup

Boot Device Setup allows you to define the following functions.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Quick Boot Enabled Disabled Silent Boot Enabled Disabled, Black Boot Display Device Simul. Mode CRT only, LCD only BootUp NumLock Auto On, Off

Boot Device

2nd Boot Device 3rd Boot Device 4th Boot Device Try Other Boot Devices Yes No

Bootable device when set to IDE hard drive. Only one IDE device is bootable

Quick Boot — Specifies whether or not the system performs all tests during system boot.

Silent Boot — Specifies whether or not to display the NEC logo during the system boot.

Boot Device Setup

CD/DVD

Disabled,1 CD/DVD,SCSI,Network

Floppy Disabled,1st Fnd IDE,CDROM 1st Fnd IDE Disabled,Floppy,CD/DVD Disabled Floppy,CD/DVD,1st Fnd IDE

Fnd IDE,Floppy

Boot Display Device — Specifies the display device(s) for system boot messages.

BootUp NumLock — Specifies whether NumLock is On or Off at system startup.

Boot Devices — Specifies the sequence of boot devices and whether or not the system attempts to boot from a device other than those specified.

Other Boot Devices — Allows you to specify IDE devices as bootable devices.

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Peripheral Setup

The Peripheral Setup menu displays the connection locations between the system and the Input/Output (I/O) ports and lets you specif y different port assignments as needed.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

USB Controller Disabled Enabled

AC’97 Audio Enabled Disabled Internal Hard Drive Enabled Disabled Serial Port Auto Disabled/(PnP OS Setup

Peripheral Setup

COM1,IRQ4/COM2,IRQ3 COM3,IRQ4/COM4,IRQ3

)

Parallel Port Auto Disabled/LPT1/LPT2

(PnP OS Setup

) Parallel Mode Bi-Directional Uni-Directional/ECP/EPP IR Serial Port Dis a bled Auto/(PnP OS Setup

COM2,IRQ3/COM3,IRQ4/ COM4,IRQ3

Appears only when configured by the Windows 98 or Windows 95 device manager.

Peripheral Setup allows you to define the following functions.

USB Controller — Enables or disables the USB controller.

AC’97 Audio — Enables or disables the internal sound.

Internal Hard Drive — Enables or disables the internal hard drive.

Serial Port — Disables the port or changes its address assignment.

Parallel Port/Parallel Mode — Disables or reassigns the parallel port and select a parallel port mode.

IR Serial Port — Enables, disables, or reassigns the IR serial port.

)

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Other BIOS Setup Options

BIOS Setup offers other options, including the following:

Change Lan guage Setting — Controls the BIOS setup la nguage display. English and Japanese are the available options.

Refresh Battery — Launches the Refresh Battery utilit y. Once la unc hed, the utility fully discharges your battery to eliminate any residual memory effect. Once refreshed, your battery is conditioned to recharge to its full capacity. To recharge the battery, connect your NEC Versa to AC power. This process may take up to four hours to complete.

Auto Configuration with Defaults — Load s default settings.

Save Settings and Exit — Accepts changes made to current settings, saves to CMOS, and exits BIOS Setup.

Exit Without Saving — Reverts to previously selected settings and exits Setup.

Managing System Power

In the Windo ws 9 8 environment, your NEC Versa manages it s power resources using the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) while the system is powered on using AC or battery (DC) power. ACPI enables the operating system to manage the power given to each attached device and to turn off a device when not in use.

In the Windows 95 environment, your NEC Versa uses the Advanced Power Management (APM) utility to manage and conserve power while the system is powered on using AC or battery power.

Take advantage of the opportunity to manage power on your system to:

Minimize battery drain.

Preserve the life of your NEC Versa.

Save time. When you return from that urgent call or meeti ng, you don’t have to reboot, just press the Power button to resume system operation.

Windows 98 Power Management Properties

In Windows 9 8, most ACPI power management setting s are controlled through Windows Power Management Proper ties, not through the BIOS Setup utility, unless otherwise noted. To access Windows Power Management Properties, go to Start, Settings, Cont rol Panel, a nd double clic k Power Management.

3-16 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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The Power Management Properties features are broken down as follows:

Power Schemes

Alarms

Power Meter

Advanced

Hibernate

Windows 98 Power Schemes

Use the Power Schemes options to define the appropriate Power scheme for your system, and to set timeouts for standby, LCD panel, and hard disk. Define parameters for your system when r unning under AC (plugged in) or DC (running on batteries) power.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Power Schemes Portable/Laptop Home/Office Desk,

Power Schemes

Always On

System Standby (Plugged In)

System Standby (Running on batteries)

Turn off monitor (Plugged In)

Turn off monitor (Running on batteries)

Turn off hard disks (Plugged In)

Turn off hard disks (Running on batteries)

After 20 Minutes 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25,

30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours; Never

After 5 Minutes

1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours; Never

After 15 Minutes 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25,

30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours; Never

After 2 Minutes 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25,

30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours; Never

After 30 Minutes 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45

minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours; Never

After 3 Minutes

3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours; Never

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Power Schemes — Defines t he most appropriate power scheme for yo ur computer.

System standby — Selects the system standby timeout period for your system when running under AC or DC power.

Turn off monitor — Selects the time delay before your LCD p a nel turns off.

Turn off hard disks — Selects the time delay before your hard disk(s) power down.

Windows 98 Alarms

Use the Alarms screen to define the point at which the battery alarm activates. Define the alarm to either sound, display a warning message, or invoke Standby, Hibernate or Shutdown.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Low battery alarm 10% 0-100% Alarm Action Notification Display message Sound alarm Alarm Action Power level none Standby, Hibernate,

Critical battery alarm 3% 0-100%

Alarms

Shutdown

Alarm Action Notification Display message Sound alarm Alarm Action Power level Standby Hibernate, Shutdown,

Low battery alarm — Allows you to define a low battery alarm percentage, notification, and system action.

Critical battery alarm — Allows you to define a critical battery alarm percentage, notification, and system action.

Windows 98 Power Meter

The Power Meter screen displays the remaining battery power and charging status for the primary and secondary batteries. Choose to display either a percentage progress bar or a battery icon with percentage indicator for your battery status information.

3-18 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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Windows 98 Advanced

The Advanced window allows you to select behaviors for the taskbar ico n, standby password, LCD panel, when closed, and the Power button.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Advanced

Always show icon on

checked unchecked

taskbar Prompt for password

unchecked checked when computer goes off standby

Hibernate, Shutdown,

When I close the lid on my computer

When I press the Power

Standby

Shutdown

None

Standby, Hibernate

button on my computer

When None selected, LCD panel turns off when closed.

Always show icon on the taskbar — determines whether or not the Power Meter icon displays on the taskbar.

Prompt for password when computer goes off standby — Determines whether or not the system prompts for your Windows password when resuming from Standby.

When I close the lid of my computer — Defines the system act ion when the LCD panel is closed.

When I press the Power button on my computer — Defines the system action when the Power button is used.

Windows 98 Hibernate

Use the Hibernate window to enable hibernate support. When your system hibernates it performs a save-to-disk or save-to-file (STF). Your current working environment is saved to the hard disk. Use the Power button to resume from hibernation and your system returns to its previous state.

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Windows 98 Power Management States

ACPI uses different le vels or states of power management. The power management states occur automatically, based on the system’s default settings, or manually, when invoked. Settings are configurable to occur while on battery power or AC power.

The Windows 98 ACPI power management states include:

LCD timeout — manages power at the lowest level by shutting down the LCD.

Standby — also known as Save-to-RAM (STR), Standby manages power by saving your curren t working environment to memory and shutting down most system devices. Conserves more power than an LCD timeout.

Hibernate — also known as save-to-disk, or save-to-file (STF) manages power by saving the current working environment to an area on your hard disk, then powering off your system. Conserves the most bat tery power.

Recognizing the Windows 98 Power Management States

It is important to recognize your system’s behavior when in each of these power management states. The following table describes the system behavior for each power management state.

Windows 98 Power Management Behavior

LCD Timeout Standby (STR) Hibernate (STF)

Default

2 Minutes, DC power

5 Minutes, DC power

30 minutes after Standby.

Setting

Manually Invoke

System behavior

15 Minutes, AC power Close LCD panel. Go to Start, Shutdown,

LCD panel is blank. Status LED lights

green.

20 minutes, AC power

Standby.

LCD panel is blank. Status LED blinks green.

Close LCD panel. Press Power button.

LCD panel is blank. Status LED turns off. Progress bar indicates that

current working environment saved to hard disk.

Resume

Press any key. Press Power button. Press Power button.

Progress bar appears during process.

Only when BIOS “Suspend Option” set to STF and BIOS “Auto Save to File” set to enabled.

Also when 3% battery power remaining, if BIOS set as in number 1.

Only when set in Advanced Windows Power Management Properties.

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Windows 95 Power Management States

APM uses different levels or states of power management. These power management states occur automatically, based on your system’s default settings, or manually, whe n invoked. Settings are configured to occur while on battery power or on AC power.

The Windows 95 APM power management states include:

Standby — manages power at the lowest level by shutting down the LCD, hard disk drive, and CPU.

Suspend — also known as Save-to-RAM (STR), Suspend mode manages power by saving your current working environment to memor y and shutting d own most system devices. Conserves more power than Standby mode.

Save-to-file (STF) — also known as save-to-disk, STF mode manages power by saving the current working environment to an area on your hard disk, then powering off your system. Conserves the most bat tery power.

Recognizing the Windows 95 Power Management States

It is important to recognize your system’s behavior when in each of these power management states. The following table describes the system behavior for each power management state.

Windows 95 Power Management Behavior

Standby Suspend (STR) Save-to-File (STF)

Default

4 Minutes 10 minutes after Standby 30 minutes after Suspend

Setting Manually

invoke

Fn-F4

Press Power button for less than 4 seconds

Click Start, Suspend

System behavior

LCD panel is blank. Status LED lights

green.

LCD panel is blank. Status LED blinks green. Progress bar indicates that

current working environment saved to memory.

Resume

Press any key Press Power button.

Progress bar appears during process.

Must configure Suspend Option in BIOS as STF.

Must configure System Switch in BIOS as Sleep button.

Standby when there is only 3% power remaining in the system.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-21

1,3

Fn-Power

1,2

LCD panel is blank. Status LED turns off. Progress bar indicates that

current working environment saved to hard disk.

Press Power button. Progress bar appears during

process.

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Updating the BIOS

The BIOS is code transmitted onto your system’s microprocessor, or central processing unit (CPU). As indicated in this chapter, you use the BIOS Setup utility to configure your system’s software and hardware features. Use the BIOS Update Diskette, for your specific model, only, to update your NEC Versa system BIOS.

Note

or fixes to the current system BIOS. Your authorized NECC dealer or NECC Support Services representative can help you determine this.

You only need to update the BIOS if NECC makes significant improvements

To update the system BIOS you must:

Obtain the BIOS Update

Prepare the BIOS Update Diskette

Perform the BIOS Update

Obtaining the BIOS Update

If you are informed that the default BIOS needs an update contact the NECC Support Services at (800) 632-4525, Fax (801) 981-3133, or access the web site, www.neccomputers.com to obtain a copy of the BIOS update.

Note

please contact a local NECC or dealer in your country.

If you purchased and are using this computer outside the U.S. or Canada,

3-22 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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Preparing the BIOS Update Diskette

Before usi ng the BIOS update diskette you must ma ke the diskette BIOS flash ready. Refer to the readme.txt file on the diskette before using the diskette.

Follow these instructions to prepare the BIOS Update Diskette.

Scan your hard drive for any computer viruses.

Enable the diskette for write access.

Insert the diskette into the diskette drive.

Type a:install at the DOS prompt and follow the on-screen instructions. Install.bat copies the DOS system files from your hard drive onto the BIOS Update

Diskette to make it BIOS flash ready. The system prompts you when the process is complete.

Scan the BIOS Update Diskette for computer viruses. The diskette is ready for use.

Performing the BIOS Update

Follow these steps to perform the BIOS update.

Make sure that the computer is operating under AC power and that the power is off. Insert the BIOS Update diskette into the diskette drive.

Power on the computer with the diskette in the drive. The computer boots and automatically loads the utility. A message similar to the following appears:

The NEC BIOS Update Utility should not be used to modify the BIOS in a Versa system which is docked. If your Versa is docked, please exit the BIOS Update Utility, power down, and undock your Versa before running the utility. Plug in your AC cable before restarting the flash utility.

Press

Enter

to continue.

The utility checks the currently installed BIOS version and the diskette’s BIOS version. The Main menu ap pears.

Use the arrow keys to highlight the “Display BIOS Version” option on the Main Menu. Use this option to check the currently installed BIOS version and the version of the new repla cement BIOS.

Press any key to return to the Main menu.

Highlight the “Install New BIOS” option and press

Enter

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-23

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Press Y and then press

Enter

. After a brief pause, a message appears telling you to

remove the diskette from the drive.

Remove the diskette and press any key to continue. The utility updates the BIOS. Power off your computer . The next time you power on your computer, you will

have the latest NEC Versa VX computer BIOS revision level.

Enter Setup to restore the default parameter setti ngs.

Be sure to modify any custom settings that you may have configured.

Identifying the Switch Settings

A six-position dip switch is located on the bottom of the system. The switch is accessible by removing the access panel beneath the CD-ROM drive. The following list identifies each switch setting and its function.

Switch 1, Password override — The default setting is “OFF.” I f you forget your password and cannot access the data on your NEC Versa, change the setting to “ON” and your current password is erased.

Switch 2 — Keyboard select; Default is “ON” for U.S. 85 key keyboard .

Switch 3 — Reserved for factory use; Default is “ON.”

Switch 4 — Keyboard select; Default is “ON” for U.S. 85 key keyboard .

Switch 5 — Password enable; Default is “OFF” (Personal Code Setting utility).

Switch 6 — Logo select; Default is “OFF” for U.S.

Default switch settings

3-24 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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Using the Operating System and Utilities

Windows Introduction

NEC Customize Utility

HDPREPEZ Utility

Application and Driver CD

Personal Code Setting Utility

DVD Player

NEC Info Center

Partition Magic

Product Recovery CD

Page 66

Windows Introduction

Your NEC Versa comes pre-installed with either the Windows 98 Second Editio n (SE), Windows 95, Windows NT, or Windows 2000 (when available) operating system. These Microsoft navigating through your file structure, and using your notebook computer. Each operating system offers its own look and employs its own tools through an easy-to-use graphical interface.

Windows 98 Second Edition

Windows 98 gives you the new est featur es offered b y Microsoft, inc luding a De sktop with room to maneuver, a taskbar for quick access to a variety of system functions, state-of-the-art plug and play support, powerful system utilities, enhanced entertainment features, and a fully integrated Internet experience.

Desktop Icons

With Windows 98, the following icons are installed on your desktop:

My Computer — Provides access to drives, printers, the control panel, network features, and scheduled tasks.

Recycle Bin — Gives you a trash container in which to put and discard unwanted files or allows you to restore those same files back to their original location.

Setup MSN Internet Access — Provides a setup program that allows you to sign-up for the Microsoft Network. If you already have an account, use this interface to sign-on to the Microsoft Network.

operating systems provide a means of running applications,

Network Neighborhood — Appears when your computer is connected to a network. Use the network neighborhood to browse through the computers in your workgroup and the computers in the entire network.

My Briefcase — Provides a mechanism for file synchronization between the NEC Versa and another system.

My Documents — Provides you with a convenient place to store documents, graphics, and other files for quick access.

Connect to the Internet — Runs the Internet Connectio n wizard that helps you to set up your computer to access the Internet.

Note

and a working phone line to your system or install a LAN card for network access.

Before connecting to the Internet, you must either connect an optional modem

Online Services — Includes setup icons fo r a variety of o nline services.

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Your NEC Versa comes with all the software you need to get started on the most popular services available today. For a fee, online services give you access to the Internet, email, the world wide web, travel information, news reports, and more.

Note

optional modem to your system and to a working phone line. The phone line must be analog. If you are unsure what type of line you have, call your local phone company.

If you are using this product outside of the United States or Canada, some online services may require a long-distance or international call.

Taskbar Icons

With Windows 98, a number of icons appear on the taskbar. Use the cursor to hover over the icon and display its function, right click the icon to display its menu options, or double click the icon to launch it.

The following icons normally appear on the left side of the Windows 98 taskbar.

Before choosing and registering for an online service, you must connect an

NEC Customize — Gives you the option to launch the Application and Driver CD. Outlook Express — Provides your default email program with secure and

personalized features for email and newsgroup communication. Also access Outlook Express under Start, Programs, Outlook Express.

Internet Explorer — Provides your default internet program. Also access Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer — Allows you to browse the internet or view local HTML files. Also access Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer.

Outlook Express — Provides your default email program with secure and personalized features for email and newsgroup communication. Also access Outlook Express under Start, Programs, Outlook Express.

Show Desktop — Minimizes all active screens to display your desktop.

The following icons normally appear on the right side of the Windows 98 taskbar.

Task Scheduler — Enables you to schedule tasks, such as Disk Defragme nter, to run regularly. Also access Task Scheduler under Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks.

Power Management Properties — Displays your current power source and total remaining battery power. Access Power Management Properties under Start, Settings, Cont rol Panel, Power Management.

Infrared Monitor — Allows you to enable, disable, and control the infrared communication on your notebook computer.

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For more information about the desktop and taskbar icons, refer to the Windows 98 online help.

Windows 95

Windows 95 gives you features offere d by Microso ft , including a D esktop wit h room to maneuver, a taskbar for quick naviga tion between open windows, plug and play features, online net working functions, and more.

When you install Windows 95, the following icons are lo aded on your desktop:

NEC VersaGlide — Allows you to adjust your VersaGlide (mouse) p r operties. Also access NEC VersaGlide under Start, Settings, Control Panel, Mouse.

Volume Control — Adjusts the volume and speaker balance when you play audio files. Also access Volume Control under Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Volume Control.

Time Clock — Allows you to adjust the time and date, rearrange active wi ndows on your desktop, create a new toolbar or customize your existing toolbar.

My Computer — Provides access to drives, printers, the control panel, and network features.

Inbox — Lets you access the Microsoft fax and mail software as well as Microsoft network services.

Recycle Bin — Gives you a trash container in which to put unwanted fi l es.

Network Neighborhood — Appears when your computer is connected to a network. Use the network neighborhood to browse through the computers in your computers in your workgroup and the computers in t he e ntire network.

My Briefcase — Allows easy transfer of files between the NEC Versa and another system.

Online Services — Includes setup icons fo r a variety of o nline services.

The Microsoft Network — Allows you to use the Microsoft Network to access the outside world.

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Note

optional modem to your system and to a working phone line. The phone line must be analog. If you are unsure what type of line you have, call your local phone company.

If you are using this product outside of the United States, some online services may require a long-distance or international call.

See the Windows 95 online help for detailed instructions on using Windows 95.

Windows NT

Windows NT allows you to run applications created specially for Windows NT and Windows 95. You can also run applications created for other versions of Windows, MS-DOS

Windows NT gives you a vari ety of feat ures offered by Microsoft, including a desktop to maneuver, a taskbar for quick na vigation between open win dows, and more. The following icons appear on the desktop.

Before choosing and registering for an online service, you must connect an

NEC Customize — Gives you the option to launch the Application and Driver CD.

My Computer — Provides access to drives, printers, the Control Panel, and network features.

Inbox — Lets you access the Microsoft mail software and services. Internet Explorer — Allows you to browse the internet or view local HTML files.

Also access Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer. NEC Customize — Gives you the option to launch the Application and Driver CD. My Briefcase — Allows easy transfer of files between the NEC Versa and another

system. Recycle Bin — Gives you a container in which to put unwa nted files.

NEC Customize Utility

In Windows 98 s yste ms, Windows 95 syste ms, and Windows NT systems, the NEC Customize utility gives you the option t o launch:

NEC custom wallpaper (Windows 95 or Windows 98, only )— Installs wallpaper displaying t he NEC logo.

Application and Driver CD — Installs software applications, dr ivers, etc.

NEC-supplied mouse driver — Takes advantage of the VersaGlide features.

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The NEC Customize utility screen consists of the following.

A window at the top half of the screen lists the available options.

The window below the options list displays a description of eac h option when the option is highlighted.

The Launch button initiates a selected option when clicked.

The More Info button provides an overview of the NEC Customize utility.

The Exit button closes the NEC Customize utility.

Using the NEC Customize Utility

Follow these steps to use the NEC Custo mize utility.

Double click the NEC Customize icon.

From the display window, select the desired op tion.

Click Launch to initiate the selected option.

Follow the on-screen instructions to process the selected option. For some of the selected options you are prompted to reboot your system.

If necessary, click Exit to close the NEC Customize dialog box.

HDPREPEZ Utility

Using the HDPREPEZ utility automatically configures your NEC Versa’s system’s save-to-file (STF) area on the hard disk drive.

Note

the NECUTILS/HDPREP directory.

Using HDPREPEZ in Windows 98 or 95

In Windows 98 or 95, run the HDPREPEZ utility if you increase the memory capacity in your NEC Versa beyond the factory installed base memory.

Follow these steps to run the HDPREPEZ utility.

4-6 Using the Operating System and Utilities

For more details about the HDPREPEZ utility, see the HDPREPEZ.TXT file in

Power off and restart your NEC Versa. At the statement “Starting Windows 98 (or 95),” press F8.

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From the Startup menu, select the “Safe Mode Command Prompt Only” option.

Enter MS-DOS. At the c: prompt, type

cd \necutils\hdprep

and press

change to the \necutils\hdprep directory.

Type

HDPREPEZ

and press

Enter

. The utility automatically prepares your NEC

Versa for the newly installed memory.

Power off your system and then power on. A file, large enough to accommodate your system’s memory is created on the hard disk drive.

Application and Driver CD

A variety of third-party software applications, drivers, utilities, inter net br owsers, and the NEC Info Center are provided on the Application and Driver (A&D) CD that ships with your NEC Versa VX system. Some of the drivers are already installed as part of your operating system environment. The additional soft ware on the Application and Driver CD lets you take fu ll advantage of your system resources.

Use the Application and Driver CD to install the software of your choice. Some software applications install their own desktop icon allowing quick access to the application. You can also access an application through the Start, Programs menu.

Launching the Application and Driver CD with Windows 98/95

Follow this procedure to launch the Application and Driver CD using NEC Customize with Windows 98 and Windows 95.

Enter

Insert the Application and Driver CD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

Double click the NEC Customize icon, if necessary.

Highlight Application and Driver CD.

Click launch. The Application and Driver CD dialog box appears.

Launching the Application and Driver CD with Windows NT

Follow this procedure to launch the Application and Driver CD using NEC Customize with Wi n dows NT.

Insert the Application and Driver CD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

Double click the NEC Customize icon.

Select Application and Driver CD.

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Click Install to launch the CD. The Application and Driver CD dialog box appears.

Application and Driver CD Dialog Box

The Application and Driver CD dialog box consists of the following components.

Selection Tabs — Located just below the title bar, each tab represents a software category. The selection tabs include applications, drivers, utilities, internet browsers, and the NEC Info Center.

Description — Located in the bottom portion of the dialog box, the text describes the selected or highlighted software category or application, driver, etc.

Install — Clicking the Install button installs the selected software.

Exit — Clicking the Exit button closes the Application and Driver CD dialog box.

Installing the A&D Software

Once the Application and Driver CD dialog box appears, follow these steps to install the desired software.

Click the selection tab of your choice.

Click the desired application, driver, or utility.

Click the Install button to install your selec tion. Follow the on-screen instructions to install your selection.

Click Exit to close the Application and Driver CD dialog box.

Remove the CD from the CD-ROM drive when the installat ion is complete.

Personal Code Setting Utility

Use the Personal Code Setting utility along with the personal code buttons on the NEC Versa VX (available on some systems) to set a personal code and secure the system. Once the personal code is set, the system will not boot until you enter the personal code. Use the following procedures to install the utilit y and set up your personal code.

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Installing the Personal Code Setting Utility

Use the following steps to install the Personal Cod e Setting utility.

Double click the Personal Code Setting utility icon on the desktop. The Personal Code Setting Utility Setup screen appears.

Click Next to start setup. The Target Folder dialog box appears.

Click Next to select the default target folder. A prompt to create the default target folder appears. Click Yes.

Click Finish to exit Setup.

Setting a Personal Code

Use the following procedure to set a personal code.

From the Windows Start menu, select Programs, Personal Code, and then Personal Code Setting Utility.

The Personal Code Setting utility screen appears. This screen allows you to set your personal code. The personal code can be up to 5 digits.

Click on one number from each row for each digit of your personal code. Press

Enter

when done.

A dialog box appears asking if you want to enter the personal code. Click Yes.

A dialog box appears stati n g the new personal code has been entered. Click OK.

Click Exit to exit the Personal Code Setting utility.

To test your personal code, fully shutdown the system. (Do not select Shutdown and Restart.) Power on the system using the Power button. A green LED next to the personal code buttons lights and the screen remains black. Enter your personal code using the personal code buttons and press the personal code Enter key. The system boots when the correct code is entered.

The utility also lets you erase your current personal code and enter a new personal code. There is an Options button that allows you to set system sounds, siren and beeps, to alert you that a correct or an incorrect personal code has been entered.

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DVD Player

DVD Player allows you to play DVD movies in your DVD-ROM drive. Use the following procedure to install DVD Player.

Note

Disable power management when using DVD Player.

Insert the ATI Soft DVD CD into the CD-ROM drive. If the CD does not load automatically, do the following:

From the Windows taskbar, select Start and Run.

Click Browse to access the files on the CD. Select setup.exe on the CD and click Run.

Click Next at the Welcome screen.

Click Yes to accept the license agreement.

Click Next to accept the default destination directory.

Highlight your geographical region and click Next.

The installation completes. Click Finish to restar t the system.

To run DVD Player, select Start, Programs, Multimedia, and DVD Player.

NEC Info Center

The Application and Driver CD contains the NEC Info Center, a fully navigational online document that provides information for the traveling professional and an online version of this printed user’s guide.

Installing the NEC Info Center

To install the NEC Info Center simply follow the instr uctions, presented earlier in this chapter, for launching the A&D CD and installing the software. For the most current version of the NEC Versa VX User’s Guide, periodically c heck our web site at http://www.nec-computers.com/.

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Uninstalling the NEC Info Center

Use one of the following methods to uninstall the NEC Info Center.

Use this method to uninstall the NEC Info Center using the Windows Add/Remove Programs feature.

Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double click Add/Remove P r ograms.

Use the scroll bar, if necessary, to display the NEC Info Ce nter item.

Highlight N EC Info Center and click the Add/Remo ve button.

Select Automatic as the uninstall method and click Next.

Click Finish to complete the uninstall.

When the uninstall is complete, click OK and close the Control Panel window.

Use this method to uninstall the NEC Info Center usi ng the Wise uninstall feature.

Access the C:\NEC INFO directory on your hard disk drive.

Double click the associated with the NEC Info Center.

Partition Magic

Dividing the hard disk drive into several partitions lets you efficiently organize operating systems, programs, and data. Partition Magic, included on the A&D CD that ships with your system, allows you to optimize hard disk drive space with an easy click of the mouse. Visually create, format, shrink, expand, and move hard disk partitions in minutes.

Your NEC Versa ships with an internal hard disk drive consisting of a single FAT 32 partition, drive C:. Use Partition Magic if you want to create multiple partition s and convert your hard disk drive to FAT 16 partitions.

notes on the Application and Driver CD. The cautionary notes contain important information about designating the partitions on the hard disk drive.

The partitions must be properly designated before using the Product Recovery CD to reinstall your operating system. If the partitions on the hard disk drive are not properly designated, it will appear as though data loss has occurred after using the Product Recovery CD.

unwise.exe

Before using Partition Magic, refer to the associated cautionary

file or icon to remove all files and directories

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Product Recovery CD

The Product Recovery CD includes the following software and diagno stics.

The NEC Pr oduct Recover y utility

The Laptop Assurance Test

If you determine that you need to restore your system to its initial installation state, or you want to run system diagnostics to ensure that components ar e fully operational, follow the instructions given here.

Note

installation state as a last resort. Check the problem checklist in Chapter 10 for information about solving problems before using the CD. The Product Recovery utility provides options that either remove or replace existing files, a process that may result in data loss.

utility and restore the BIOS default settings. Save the default settings before exiting the BIOS Setup utility.

Only use the Product Recovery utility to restore your system to its initial

Before using the Product Recovery CD, enter the BIOS Setup

Guidelines for Using the Product Recovery CD

Follow these guidelines when using the Product Recovery CD.

Use AC po we r .

Remove all optional hardware such as PC cards, USB devices, printers, and monitors.

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Product Recovery CD Options

The Product Recovery CD utility provides you with a number of choices. Move the cursor over each selection on the NEC Product Recovery utility screen to display a description of the selection in the window on the right side of the screen.

Restore System — Select this option to restor e your hard disk drive to its initial installation state. Restore System allows you to r estore your system in one of the followi n g ways.

— Full Disk Drive — Completely rebuilds your hard disk drive, destro ying all

existing data in the process. Once you choose this option, you are prompted to confirm your choice. When your choice is confirmed, the recovery proceeds without requiring any intervention or resp onses on your part. Simply walk away and return in about half an hour.

Note

partition (drive).

Use the Full Disk Drive restore option if your hard disk consists of one

— Partition Only — Lets you preser ve your existing hard disk drive partition

structure and format only the primary partition without affecting the extended partition(s). Partition Only formats drive C: (o f a multiple partitioned drive) and restores drive C: to its initial installation state. Additional partitions, e.g., drives D:, E:, etc., remain intact. For important information about partitioning your hard disk drive, see the section, “Partition Magic,” earlier in this chapter.

Note

more partitions (drives).

Use the Partition Only restore option if your hard disk is partitioned into two or

System Diagnostics — Launches the Laptop Assurance Test that tests the hardware components and boot records on your hard disk drive.

Exit — Exits the NEC Product Recovery utility.

Full Disk Drive Restore

If your preinstalled software becomes unusable and you cannot boot from the hard disk, use the Product Recovery utility to restore your system to its initial shipping configuration. The Full Disk Drive restore option erases the hard disk completely before reinstalling the files.

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The Full Disk Drive restore option deletes all files on the hard

drive and replaces them with the original factory installed files. Only use the Full Disk Drive restore option if the preinstalled software is unusable.

Use the Product Recovery utility to perform a Full Disk Drive restore as follows:

Check the Product Recovery CD title and make sure that it is the correct CD for your NEC Versa computer and operating system.

Put the CD into the CD-ROM drive tray, close the drive door, and power on your system.

Read the License Agreement screen that appears. Use the VersaGlide touchpad to position the cursor on the Accept button. Left click to accept the agreement.

You have the option of accepting or declining the agreeme nt. If you decline the agreement, the recovery utility exits.

In the NEC Product Recovery utility screen, use the VersaGlide touchpad to choose Full Disk Drive to restore your hard disk drive to its original factory installed state.

Choose your restore option carefully to prevent losing data and

applications installed on your system.

Read the Warning screen. A warning displays indicating that your hard disk is about to be erased.

Select Continue to perform a Full Disk Drive restore. If you select Back, the recovery utility returns to the prior screen which has an exit

option. If you select Continue, a scre en with progress bars displays and lets you know the

progress of the recovery.

Do not turn off or disturb the system during the recovery

process.

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When the recovery process is complete, you are prompted to remove the CD from the CD-ROM drive and reboot your system.

Press

Enter

, click Reboot, or press

A series of hardware detection screens display, the system reboots and the Windows Setup screen appears. Follow the on-screen instr uctions to set up Windows.

You are required to reenter your Microsoft license number.

Partition Only Restore

If your preinstalled software on drive C: on your multiple par titioned drive becomes unusable and you cannot boot from the hard disk, use the Product Recovery utility to restore your primary partition to its initial shippin g configuration.

drive consists of multiple partitions and if drive C: contains the operating system and related drivers. Move all other data and applications to other partitions (drives) or the Partition Only restore process will erase them completely.

The Partition Only restore option deletes all files on drive C: and replaces them with the original factory installed files. Only use the Partition Only restore option if the preinstalled software on drive C: is unusable.

For important information about partitioning your hard disk drive, see the section, “Partition Magic,” earlier in this chapter.

Alt-R

to reboot your system.

Use the Partition Only restore option only if your hard disk

Use the Product Recovery utility to perform a Partition Onl y resto re as follows:

Check the Product Recovery CD title and make sure that it is the correct CD for your NEC Versa computer a nd operating system.

Put the CD into the CD-ROM drive tray, close the drive door, and reboot your computer.

Read the License Agreement screen that appears. Use the VersaGlide touchpad to position the cursor on the Accept button. Left click to accept the agreement.

You have the option of accepting or declining the agreeme nt. If you decline the agreement, the recovery utility exits.

In the NEC Product Recovery utility screen, use the VersaGlide touchpad to choose Partition Only to restore drive C: of a multiple partitioned drive to its original factory installed state.

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Choose your restore option carefully to prevent losing data and

applications installed on your system. If the hard disk is configured with multiple or extended partitions you may have to

reinstall some software to restore configuration settings and shared files.

Read the Warning screen. A warning displays indicating that drive C: (the primary dr ive/partition) is about to

be erased and formatted. It may be necessary to reinstall software to the other drives (partitions) to reestablish Start Menu lin ks and other configuration requirements stored on drive C:.

Select Continue to proceed, to perform a Partition Only restore. If you select Back, the recovery utility returns to the prior screen which has an exit

option. If you select Continue, a scre en with progress bars displays and lets you know the

progress of the recovery.

Do not turn off or disturb the system during the recovery

process.

When the recovery process is complete, you are prompted to remove the CD from the CD-ROM drive and reboot your system.

Press

Enter

, click Reboot, or press

Alt-R

A series of hardware detection screens display, the system reboots, and the Windows Setup screen appears. Follow the on-screen instr uctions to set up Windows.

You are required to reenter your Microsoft license number.

System Diagnostics

Use the System Diagnostics option to launch the Laptop Assurance Test (LAT). The LAT tests all system co mponents and boot records to ensure that your system is fully operational.

Use the Product Recovery utility to launch the LAT as follows.

Check the Product Recovery CD title and make sure that it is the correct CD for your NEC Versa computer and operating system.

4-16 Using the Operating System and Utilities

to reboot your system.

Page 81

Put the CD into the CD-ROM drive tray, close the drive door, and reboot your computer.

Read the License Agreement screen that appears. Use the VersaGlide touchpad to position the cursor on the Accept button. Left click to accept the agreement.

You have the option of accepting or declining the agreeme nt. If you decline the agreement, the recovery utility exits.

In the NEC Product Recovery utility screen, use the VersaGlide touchpad to choose System Diagnostics to launch the Laptop Assurance Test (LAT).

A warning displays indicating that you are about to exit the Product Recovery Utility.

Click Continue to launch the Laptop Assurance Te st. The LAT setup takes a few minutes to complete.

Press

Enter

to initiate the LAT.

The LAT runs and tests the components and boot records of your system. When the LAT completes, a test summary displays on the LCD screen.

Press any ke y to continue. The LAT wind ow displays with a variety of menu selections. Use the arrow keys

to highlight your selection and to display the detailed help text. The LAT menu selections include the following.

Main — Choose Automatic Test, Interactive Test, or Exit.

Level 2, 3, and 4 — Choose by individual component test.

System Information — Choose from Auto Detection or Year 2000 Compliance.

About — Displays the LAT version number.

Once the LAT completes its system diagnostics, choose

At the DOS prompt either:

Press

Ctrl, Alt, Del

to reboot your system to the Product Recovery CD utilit y,

Exit

from the Ma in menu.

Remove the Product Recovery CD and press

Ctrl, Alt, Del

to reboot your

system to the Windows operating system.

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Using the System Drives and Bays

24X CD-ROM Drive

DVD-ROM Drive

Hard Disk Drive

Memory Modules

Page 83

24X CD-ROM Drive

Your NEC Versa may ship with a 24X CD-ROM drive that features the latest in CDROM technology. The CD-ROM drive is assigned an available drive letter.

Use the CD-ROM drive to load and start programs from a compact disc (CD). You can also use the CD-ROM drive to play your audio CDs. The 24X CD-ROM drive is fully compatible with Kodak M ultisession Photo CDs™ and standard audio CDs.

The CD-ROM drive operates at different speeds depending on whether the CD you are using contains data or music. This allo ws you to get your data faster a nd to see smoother animation and video.

CD-ROM drive features are shown in the following figure. Descriptions of these features follow.

24X CD-ROM drive

– Status LED

– Release Button

Status LED — lights during data read operations. Do not eject the CD or turn off the NEC Versa when the indicator is lit.

Release Button — ejects the CD tray. Press this button when power is on to insert a CD into or remove a CD from the drive.

Emergency Eject Hole — allows you to manually remove a disc from the CD-ROM drive if the eject function is disabled by software or a power failure occurs.

To remove a disc, insert the end of a paper clip into the eject hole, and push in until you hear a click. Manually open the drawer.

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– Emergency Eject Hole

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CD Loading

To insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive, follow these steps.

Press the Release button. The CD tray emerges a short way out of the drive door. Gently pull the tray out until you can easily position a disc in the tray. Put your CD, printed side up, into the circular impression in the tray. Push the CD tray in until it clicks shut.

Note

Some CDs vibrate when playing. This does not affect the CD-ROM drive.

CD Care

When handling CDs, keep t he following guidelines in mind.

Always pick up the disc by its edges.

Avoid scratching or soiling the side of the disc that has no printing or writing on it. This is the data side of the disc.

Do not write on or apply labels to either side of the disc.

Keep the disc away from direct sunlight or high temperatures.

Clean fingerprints or dust from the disc by wiping it with a soft cloth. Gently brush the cloth from the center of the disc toward the edge.

Avoid using benzene, paint thinner, record cleaner, static repellent, or any other chemical on the disc. Chemicals and cleaners can damage the disc.

Changing the Auto Play Setting

Your system may not be configured to allow a CD to automatically play upon insertio n. Although t his feature makes using your CDs very convenient, it may interfere with the system’s po wer ma na ge me nt fu nction.

Follow these instructions to enable or disable the Auto play feature.

From the Windows 98 or 95 Start menu, select Settings and Control Panel.

In the Control Panel, highlight and double-click on the System icon.

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Select the Device Manager tab.

Locate and open the CD-ROM folder.

Highlight the appropriate CD-ROM line.

Press the properties button at the bottom of the window and select the Settings tab.

Proceed as follows:

To enable Auto Play, click to add a check mark next to the line “Auto insert notification.”

To disable Auto Play, click to remove the check mark next to the line “Auto insert notification.”

Select OK twice to accept the settings in the Settings tab and exit the Properties window.

To activate the new setting, reboot the system when prompted.

DVD-ROM Drive

The DVD-ROM drive offers many improvements over the standard CD-ROM technology including superior video and audio playback, faster data access, and greater storage capacities. The drive uses the latest DVD technology which reads fro m specially designed DVD discs as well as standard audio and video CDs.

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Hard Disk Drive

The hard disk drive can be upgraded to a larger capacity drive. To upgrade the hard disk drive, follow these steps.

Locate the drive access panel on the left side of the system. Open the panel using the notch.

Opening the panel

– Drive Access Panel

Remove the screw that secures the hard disk in the system.

– Notch

Removing the screw

– Screw

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Slide the hard disk drive out of the system.

Insert the new hard disk drive into the disk drive slot.

Secure the disk drive with the screw removed in step 2.

Memory Modul es

The notebook computer offers two 64-bit memory slots using 144-pin SO-DIMM (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module) at 32 MB, 64 MB, and 128 MB SDRAM. This configuration supports single SO-DIMM module insertion in the memory slot. The memory slots are located on the underside of yo ur computer inside the memory bay.

Removing the disk drive

Follow these steps to upgrade the system memory.

Power off the system and disconnect any peripheral devices.

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Turn the system over and locate the screw on the memory bay.

Memory bay cover and screw

– Memory Bay Cover

Remove the screw and lift off the memory bay cover.

Locate the alignment notch on the module.

Using the System Drives and Bays 5-7

– Screw

Page 89

Locate the memory module slot.

Memory module slot

– Memory Module Slot

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Page 90

Align the notch with the notch in the slot connector and install the module as follows:

Hold the SO-DIMM at a 60-degree angle and align the SO-DIMM connector with the slot in the system. Push the connector into the slot.

Press down on the edge of the SO-DIMM until the locking tabs on the sides snap into place, securing the module.

Installing the memory module

To remove a SO-DIMM, press the locking tabs away from the sides of the module until the module pops up. Then, re move the SO-DIMM.

Removing the memory module

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Reassemble the NEC Versa VX components as follows.

Replace the memory bay cover.

Replace the screw.

Turn the system over.

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Communicating with Your NEC Versa

Mini-PCI Modem

Mini-PCI LAN

Mini-PCI Modem/LAN

PC Cards

Internet Connections

IR Port

Page 93

Mini-PCI Modem

The NEC Versa VX comes equipped with a 56K capable fax/data modem that allows you to communicate with others via fax, email, or connect to an online service or bulletin board. (The mode m is only available on some models.)

Note

the 56K modem transmits at a maximum speed of 52K. The speed of data transmission is dependent on the quality of telephone lines. Digitally

terminated lines improve the speed of data transmission. Contact your service provider for more information.

Due to FCC regulations in effect at the time that this document was printed,

Connecting the Modem

The fax/data modem provides one standard phone connector. NEC provides one analog cable for your convenience.

Use the following steps to connect the analog phone cable to your modem.

Note

international telephone adapter, available at most electronics supply stores.

When using a modem outside the U.S. and Canada, you might need an

Locate the analog phone cable that ships with the NEC Versa VX. Each end of the cable has a RJ-11 connector that plugs into a standard wall outlet.

Connect one end of the cable into a standard telephone wall outlet.

Use only 26AWG phone line when connecting the modem.

Connect the other end of the cable into the computer’s modem port at the rear of the system.

Note

modem in order to enable the IR port for wireless data transfer.

Depending on your operational requirements, you may need to disable the

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Mini-PCI LAN

Your NEC Versa VX system may ship with mini-PCI LAN that allows you to connect your system to a local area network. The mini-PCI LAN is a 10/100Base-TX interface that supports both Wake-on-LAN and Network Boot functions.

To take advantage of the LAN, simply connect an RJ-45 cable to the LAN port on the rear of the system.

Mini-PCI Modem/LAN

Your NEC Versa VX system may ship with an internal combination modem/LAN card that allows you to connect your system to a telephone line or a local area network. The internal modem/LAN card is a 56K V.90-compliant modem and a 10/100 Ethernet LAN connection that supports Wake-on-LAN and network boot functio ns.

To use the modem, simply connect an analog phone cable to the modem port on the rear of the system. To take advantage of the internal LAN, you must attach the optional NEC Port Replicator to the NEC Versa VX system. Simply connect an RJ-45 cable to the LAN port on the rear of the Port Replicator.

Installing the Online Modem/LAN Guides

For additional information about LAN features or your modem’s AT commands and s-registers, use the Application and Driver CD to install the online LAN or modem guides for your syste m. To determine the guide that is appropriate for your system, go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, and select the Device Manager tab. Double click Modem (if your system is equipped with an optional modem or an optional combination modem/LAN) to identify the name of your system’s modem. Double click Network adapters (if your system is equipped with an optional LAN or an optional combination modem/LAN) to identify the name of your system’s LAN. Use the Application and Driver CD to install the online guide of the sa me name to your NEC Versa hard drive.

PC Cards

PC cards are all approximately the same size and vary only in thickness. All have a standard 68-pin connector. Your NEC Versa supports the installation of the PC cards described next.

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Type II Cards

Type II cards have a thickness of 5.0 milli meters (mm). Type II cards are often storage or communications devices such as battery backed Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Flash Memory, LAN, and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI). Typical Type II cards include input/output (I/O) features such as modems and LANs.

Type II Extended Cards

Many PC cards are Type II extended cards. The extended card has an additional physical component that protrudes beyond the traditional card size. The extension can be as large as 40 mm deep by 9.65 mm high. This extension provides room for additional electronics as well as a location for external connectors.

Type III Cards

Type III cards are thicker (10.5 mm) than Type II cards and allow no extensions. Type III card uses include advanced function I/O cards with additional features such as wireless modems, multimode cards (cards with more than one function such as a combined modem and LAN card), and small hard drive storage.

Communication Cards

You can use both fax/mod em and networ k PC cards with your NEC Versa. Here are some suggesti ons to help you get the best syst em performa nce.

Note

local NECC dealer for availability information.

If you are using this unit outside of the United States or Canada, contact a

Network Cards — You can use a network card with your system to gain access to a local area network (LAN).

You can insert a network card in either slot.

Fax/Modem Cards — You can use a PC card modem with your system to communicate with others via fax, email, or connect to an online service or bulletin board.

You can insert a fax/modem card in either slot.

Note

adapter approved for the local telephone system. Check with your local dealer for details about purchasing this equipment.

Outside the U.S. and Canada, you might need a modem and telephone

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Page 96

Always insert the fax/modem card be fore using your fax/modem software applicatio n. If you start the application before inserting the fax/modem card, the application typically does not find the card.

Storage Cards

When you insert a memory or storage card in an NEC notebook computer, it appears as a unique drive as long as the system has an available interrupt for the card.

Interface Cards

You can connect most Standard Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) devices using the optional NEC PC card-SCSI card.

Other Cards

Many other kinds of PC cards are available for notebook computers. They include the following cards:

Global Positioning System (GPS) — enables the tracking of remote units (for example, delivery trucks)

Serial — adds an extra serial communications port

Multimedia — combines animation and sound

Audio — enables the use of sound (for example, in voice mail)

PC Card Slots

Your NEC Versa VX has two Cardbus slots for inserting two PC or Cardbus cards. The slots support two Type II cards or one Type III PC card.

Using the system’s PC card slots, you can add optional PC cards and connect external devices to your NEC Versa VX. These devices include peripheral devices, such as modems, LAN cards, and storage cards.

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Inserting a PC Card

Follow these steps to insert a PC card in your system.

inserting a PC card you may have to disable either the IR port, USB port, or the 56K internal modem. Check the Windows device manager to ensure that one of these devices is disabled before inserting a PC card.

For information about enabling and disabling devices on your NEC Versa VX, see “Enabling and Disabling Devices,” later in this chapter.

Align the card so that the 68-pin connector points towards the slot and the arrow on the PC card faces up.

Slide the card into either slot. A low tone followed by a high tone lets you kno w that the card is fully inserted and recognized. (If you turn off the sound, no sound is emitted.)

indicate that the card is inserted, but the card type is unknown.

Some PC cards require additional system resources. Before

Other two-tone sequences such as high, then low tones

Inserting a PC card

You can use the PC card software preinstalled on your system to check PC card slot availability. For example, look for the PC Card icon in the Windows Control panel. It shows which slot contains a PC card and which is empty.

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Page 98

Removing a Card

Follow these steps to remove a PC card in Windows 98.

Double click My Computer, double click Control Panel, and double click the PC card icon or simply double click the PC card icon from the taskbar.

Select the PC card to remove, and select Stop. The Windows operating system alerts you if any applications are still using the

card. If all applications using the card are closed, services for that card are shut down. You receive a message saying that it is safe to remove the card.

Press the button on the side of the PC card in the slot twice.

Internet Connections

Your NEC Versa VX system is equipped with the Windows operating system to provide a fully-integrated internet experience. Use the Internet Connection Wizard on your desktop to configure your system for email and internet access. Sign up for a new account or configure your system to use an existing account.

Before using the Internet Connection wizard, to transfer an existing account for email and internet access, you need an internet service provider (ISP) account and some or all of the following configuration information:

the dial-up telephone number

TCP/IP settings

port settings

a user name/logon and password

your email address

the name of a POP3, IMAP, or HTTP server (for incoming mail)

the name of an SMTP server (for outgoing mail)

Internet Connection Wizard in Windows 98

Access the Internet Connection Wizard in Windows 98 through its desktop icon. The Windows 98 Internet Connection Wizard offers the following choices:

Sign-up for a new internet account. Take advantage of t he Microsoft Internet Referral Service.

Transfer an existing internet account.

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Manually configure an internet account or connect through a local area network (LAN).

Launch the connection wizard and follow the on -screen pro mpts to configure your system for internet access.

Internet Connection Wizard in Windows 95

To access the Internet Connection Wizard in Windows 95, go to Start, Programs, Accessories, Internet Tools, Get on the Internet. The Windows 95 Internet Connection Wizard offers the following choices:

Take advantage of the Microsoft Internet Referral Service by allowing the wizard to automatically configure your account.

Manually configure an internet account or connect through a local area network.

Use your current account information to establish an internet connection.

Launch the connection wizard and follow the on -screen pro mpts to configure your system for internet access.

Accessing the Internet

Your NEC Versa VX system is equipped with an Internet shortcut key, located just above the keyboard. The first time that you press the Internet shortcut key, the Internet Connection Wizard launches, allowing you to configure your system for internet access. Once your internet connection is configured, pressing the Internet shortcut key launches your associated dial-up network connect i on, allowing you to enter your logon name and password. In addition, Microsoft Internet Explorer launches, providing quick access to your favorite internet sites.

Sending and Receiving Email

Your NEC Versa VX system is equipped with an Email shortcut ke y, located just above the keyboard. The first time that you press the Email shortcut key, the I nternet Connection Wizard launches, allowing you to configure your system for email access. Once your inte rnet connec tion is configured, pressi ng the Email shortcut key launches your associated dial-up network connection, allowing you to enter your logon name and password. In addition, Outlook Express launches, providing quick access to your email functions.

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Modifying the Internet and Email Shortcut Keys

The Internet and Email shortcut keys are configured (default setting) to launch your Internet browser and email applications, respectively. To modify the default application settings, you must edit the NECMFK.INI file on your hard d rive.

Follow these instructions to modify the NECMFK.INI file.

Use Windows Explorer to locate the file, C:\Windows\NECMFK.I NI.

Double click the NECMFK.INI file to open it.

Use the scroll bar to locate the sections at the end of the file designated as Btn6 and Btn7.

To modify the application to launch when pressing the Email shortcut ke y, cha nge the variable Btn6_AP1=msimn.exe to the *.exe of your choice. Be sure to use the full path name, for exa mple, C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape.exe.

In addition, modify the variable Btn6_Name=Mail to an appropriate and corresponding identifier.

To modify the application to launch when pressing the Internet shortcut key, change the variable Btn7_AP1=iexplore.exe to the *.exe of your choice. Be sure to use the full path name, for example, C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape.exe.

In addition, modify the variable Btn7_Name=Internet to an appropriate and corresponding identifier.

IR Port

Click File, Save, then File, Exit to save your changes. You are now ready to use yo ur shortcut ke ys to launch t he applications of your

choice.

The IR port on the front of your system lets your NEC Versa VX communicate with other devices that also use infrared technology. T he IR port is Infrared Data Association (IrDA) compatible. You can easily transfer files between your NEC Versa Note and an IR-equipped desktop, or print to an IR-equipped printer without using cables.

IR transfer speed ranges from 2.4 Kbit/sec to 4.0 Mbit/sec. You can limit the IR transfer speed through the Infrared icon in the Windows control panel. Double click the icon and select the options to access the speed parameter.

Communicating with Your NEC Versa 6-9