NEC Versa 2785MT User Guide

PROPRIETARY NOTICE AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

The information disclosed in this document, including all designs and related
materials, is the valuable property of NEC Computer Systems Division, Packard
Bell NEC (NECCSD, PBNEC) and/or its licensors. NECCSD and/or its licensors,
as appropriate, reserve all patent, copyright and other proprietary rights to this
document, including all design, manufacturing, reproduction, use, and sales rights
thereto, except to the extent said rights are expressly granted to others.

The NECCSD product(s) discussed in this document are warranted in accordance
with the terms of the Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However,
actual performance 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 NECCSD.

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

FaxFlash is a service mark of NEC Computer Systems Division (NECCSD), Packard Bell NEC Inc.
NEC is a registered trademark, Versa is a U.S. registered trademark, MiniDock, VersaBay, VersaGlide,

and PortBar are trademarks, and UltraCare is a U.S. registered service mark of NEC Corporation, used
under license.

All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the property of their respective owners.

First Printing — October 1997

Copyright 1997

NEC Computer Systems Division, Packard Bell NEC, Inc.

1414 Massachusetts Avenue

Boxborough, MA 01719

All Rights Reserved

Using this Guide

The NEC Versa® 2700 Series User’s Guide gives you the
information you need to maximize the use of your NEC
Versa 2700 Series notebook computer. The information in
this guide refers to the Windows 95 operating system, only.
For information about Windows NT
Workgroups, refer to the operating system specific
supplement that shipped with your NEC Versa.

Read this guide to familiarize yourself with the system and
its features. For specific information see



Chapter 1, “Getting Started,” to acquaint yourself with
system hardware.



Chapter 2, “Understanding the Software,” for a
summary of the applications loaded on your system.
Software included lets you experience the full spectrum
of the system, from creating vivid multimedia
presentations to accessing the Internet via Microsoft
Internet Explorer.

®

or Windows for



Chapter 3, “Using Setup and Power Management,” to
customize your notebook’s parameter and power man­agement settings.



Chapter 4, “Using Your NEC Versa,” for an understand­ing of NEC Versa features and functionality. You’ll also
master procedures for connecting external options like
headphone, microphone or speakers.



Chapter 5, “Using Multimedia,” for steps on integrating
video and sound clips into impressive presentations.

Chapter 6, “Traveling with Your NEC Versa,” lists



valuable tips for getting the most out of your system
while on the road.

Using this Guide ix

Chapter 7, “Solving Problems,” provides simple solu-



tions to common problems that may arise while operat­ing your notebook.



Appendix A, “Setting Up a Healthy Work
Environment,” provides guidelines to help promote a
healthy work setting.

Appendix B, “Specifications,” to review NEC Versa



2700 Series system specifications.
Appendix C, “NECCSD Information Services,”



describes the variety of services available for you when
you need help with your system.

TEXT SETUP

To make this guide as easy to use as possible, text is set up
in the following ways.



Warnings, cautions, and notes have the following
format:

x Using this Guide

!

Warnings alert you to situations that could result i n
serious personal injury or loss of life.

Cautions indicate situations that can damage the
system hardware or software.

WARNING

!

CAUTION

NOTE

Notes give particularly important information

about whatever is being described.

Names of keys are printed as they appear on the key-



board, for example,
Text that you must type or keys that you must press are



Ctrl, Alt

presented in bold type. For example, type

.

Enter

, or

Enter

.

and press

dir

RELATED DOCUMENTS

See the following documents for additional information on
your NEC Versa 2700 Series notebook computer:



The NEC Versa 2700 Series Quick Setup sheet helps
you get your system up and running.

The NEC Versa 2700 Series Quick Reference card pro-



vides an easy-to-carry reference to LED meanings, con­trols, function key combinations, and NEC help
numbers.

Modern Age Books’, Using Windows 95 provides online



help for your Windows 95 operating system.



An online version of this user’s guide also comes on
your hard disk drive. That way, you can leave the guide
at home and still have all the information you need at
your fingertips.

Using this Guide xi

(For United States Use Only)

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT

WARNING: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the

party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are de­signed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residen­tial installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular in­stallation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
recept ion , wh ich ca n be det er mi n ed by tur n i n g th e eq ui pm en t off an d on , t h e u ser
is en coura ged to try to corr ect the i nterfer ence by one or more of t he followin g
measures.



Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.



Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.



Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from the one to
which the receiver is connected.

Use a shielded and properly grounded I/O cable to ensure compliance of this unit
to the specified limits of the rules.

FCC Modem Connection Requirements

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established Rules that
permit this device to be directly connected to the telephone network. Standardized
jacks a re us ed for t hese con nect ion s. T hi s equi pmen t sh oul d n ot be used on pa rt y
lines or coin lines.

If the modem is malfunctioning, it may also be harming the telephone network.
Disconnect the modem until the source of the problem is determined and repairs
are made. If this is not done, the telephone company may temporarily disconnect
service.

The telephone company may make changes in its technical operations and proce­dures. If such changes affect the compatibility or use of the modem, the telephone
company is required to give adequate notice of the changes. You will be advised
of your right to file a complaint with the FCC.

If the telephone company requires information on what equipment is connected to
their lines, inform them of:



The telephone number to which this unit is connected



The ringer equivalence number (see the modem label)



The USOC jack required.



The FCC Registration number (see the modem label).

The ringer equivalence (REN) is used to determine how many devices can be
connected to your telephone line. In most areas, the sum of the RENs of all
devices on any one line should not exceed five (5). If too many devices are
attached, they may not ring properly.

Modem Service Requirements

If the modem malfunctions, all repairs should be performed by an NEC
Authorized Service Center. It is the responsibility of users requiring service to
repor t the n eed for servi ce to an N EC Aut hori zed Ser vice Cent er. Service ca n be
obtained at:

NEC Computer Systems Division
Packard Bell NEC, Inc.
1414 Massachusetts Avenue
Boxborough, Massachusetts 01719-9984

Phone: [phone]

(For Canadian Use Only)

This equipment is a Class B digital apparatus which complies with the Radio
Interference Regulations, C.R.C., c.1374.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme àu Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique, C.R.C., ch.1374.

Canadian Department of Communications Modem Connection Requirements

: The Canadian Department of Communications label identifies certified

NOTE

equipment. This certification means that the equipment meets certain
telecommunications network protective, operational and safety requirements. The
Department does not guarantee the equipment will operate to the user’s
satisfaction.

Before installing this equipment, users should ensure that it is permissible to be
connected to the facilities of the local telecommunications company. The equip­ment must also be installed using an accepta ble method of conn ection. In some
cases, the company’s inside wiring associated with a single line individual service
may be extended by means of a certified connector assembly (telephone extension
cord). The customer should be aware that compliance with the above conditions
may not prevent degradation of service in some situations.

Repairs to certified equipment should be made by an authorized Canadian main­tenance facility designated by the supplier. Any repairs or alterations made by the
user to this equipment, or equipment malfunctions, may give the telecommunica­tions company cause to request the user to disconnect the equipment.

Users should ensur e for th eir own protection that th e electrical ground connec­tions of the power utility, telephone lines and internal metallic water pipe system,
if present, are connected together. This precaution may be particularly important
in rural areas.

WARNING:

Users should not attempt to make such connections themselves, but

should contact the appropriate inspection authority or electrician.

The Load Number (LN) assigned to each terminal device denotes the percentage

of the total load to be connected to a telephone loop which is used by the device,
to prevent overloading. The termination on a loop may consist of any combination
of devices subject only to the requirement that the total of the Load Numbers of all

the devices does not exceed 100.

Contents

Using this Guide

Text Setup................................................................x

Related Documents...................................................xi

1 Getting Started

Getting to Know Your NEC Versa............................1-2

Around the Front of the System.................................1-3

LCD Panel...........................................................1-3

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

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

Around the Back of the System .................................1-9

Around the Left Side of the System ...........................1-11

Around the Right Side of the System .........................1-12

Around the Bottom of the System..............................1-14

NEC Versa Power Sources .......................................1-15

Using the AC Adapter..........................................1-15

Using the Battery Pack.........................................1-17

Battery Handling..................................................1-20

Battery Life.........................................................1-21

Extending Battery Life......................................... 1-21

Battery Charging .................................................1-22

Battery Precautions..............................................1-23

Battery Disposal..................................................1-24

Internal Batteries ......................................................1-24

CMOS Battery ....................................................1-24

Bridge Battery .....................................................1-24

System Care .............................................................1-25

Precautions..........................................................1-25

Storage Requirements ..........................................1-28

Routine Cleaning .................................................1-29

Status Icons....................................................1-6

Powering On...................................................1-17

Replacing the Battery Pack .............................1-18

When Battery Power is Low............................1-19

Contents iii

2 Understanding the Software

Windows 95 .............................................................2-2

Guide to Online Help ................................................2-4

Guide to NEC Utilities..............................................2-5

Setup...................................................................2-5

NEC Customize Utility ........................................2-5

HDPREPEZ Utility .............................................2-5

Using HDPREPEZ .........................................2-6

Other Software .........................................................2-6

Intel LANDesk Client Manager............................2-6

LapLink for Windows 95.....................................2-7

How to Use LapLink.......................................2-7

Laplink Online Registration ............................2-9

QuickLink MessageCenter III ..............................2-10

McAfee AntiVirus Software.................................2-10

Mediamatics MPEG Arcade Player...................... 2-11

Mixman...............................................................2-11

You Don’t Know Jack Censored ..........................2-11

Microsoft Works 4.0............................................2-11

Microsoft Money.................................................2-11

Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia......................2-12

Microsoft Best of Entertainment...........................2-12

Microsoft Word...................................................2-12

Microsoft Greetings Workshop ............................2-12

Microsoft Arcade.................................................2-12

Microsoft HPC Explorer......................................2-13

Microsoft Net Meeting.........................................2-13

Microsoft Schedule+............................................2-13

Online Services.........................................................2-13

America Online....................................................2-15

CompuServe........................................................2-16

AT&T WorldNet.................................................2-17

Microsoft Internet Explorer..................................2-17

Official Airline Guide (OAG)...............................2-18

iv Contents

3 Using Setup and Power Management

Setup Utility.............................................................3-1

How to Enter Setup..............................................3-1

How to Use Setup................................................3-2

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

Using Keys.....................................................3-4

Checking/Setting System Parameters...............3-4

Setup Menus........................................................3-7

Standard CMOS Setup ...................................3-7

Advanced CMOS Setup.................................. 3-8

Power Management Setup...............................3-8

Peripherals Setup............................................3-11

Other Setup Options ............................................ 3-12

Using Setup to Set Power Management .....................3-12

Using the Save to File (STF) Feature...............3-13

STF Benefits ..................................................3-14

4 Using Your NEC Versa

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

Keyboard..................................................................4-2

NEC VersaGlide.......................................................4-6

Making VersaGlide Adjustments..........................4-7

VersaGlide Tips...................................................4-7

Integrated Drives ......................................................4-8

16X or 20X CD-ROM Reader .............................4-8

CD Loading.........................................................4-9

CD Care..............................................................4-9

Changing the Auto Play Setting............................ 4-10

56K Internal Modem.................................................4-11

Connecting the Internal Modem............................4-11

QuickLink Message Center III .............................4-12

PC Cards..................................................................4-13

Type II Cards ......................................................4-13

Type II Extended Cards .......................................4-13

Type III Cards.....................................................4-13

Communication Cards.....................................4-14

Storage Cards.................................................4-15

Contents v

Other Cards....................................................4-15

Card Bus/PC Card Slots ......................................4-16

Inserting a PC Card ........................................4-16

Removing a Card............................................ 4-18

IR Port ................................................................4-19

USB Port.............................................................4-21

Enabling and Disabling Devices ................................4-21

Increasing System Storage and Memory ....................4-23

Hard Disk Drive ..................................................4-23

Memory Module Installation ................................4-23

Connecting Options...................................................4-28

External Monitor .................................................4-29

Printer.................................................................4-30

Parallel Devices..............................................4-30

Serial Devices.................................................4-32

External Keyboard/Mouse/Keypad.......................4-33

External Audio Options........................................4-35

NEC PortBar 2700 ..............................................4-36

Using the PortBar 2700...................................4-36

Setting Switches .......................................................4-38

Updating the System BIOS ..................................4-39

Changing Switch Settings................................4-40

Performing the BIOS Update...........................4-44

5 Using Multimedia

Audio .......................................................................5-1

Recording............................................................5-1

Line-In ................................................................5-3

CD-ROM Input...................................................5-4

Microphone .........................................................5-4

Playing Back .......................................................5-5

MIDI Files...........................................................5-6

Video........................................................................5-6

Using Digital Video Files.....................................5-7

vi Contents

Using Headphones ..........................................5-5

Using the Built-In Speakers............................. 5-6

Using External Stereo Speakers.......................5-6

Using Animation Files.......................................... 5-7

Multimedia Applications...........................................5-8

6 Traveling with Your NEC Versa

Power Connections ...................................................6-2

Checklists.................................................................6-2

What to Take.......................................................6-2

Preparing Your NEC Versa for Travel .................6-3

7 Solving Problems

Problem Checklist.....................................................7-1

Start-Up Problems....................................................7-3

POST Error Messages .........................................7-3

If You Need Assistance.............................................7-8

Using the Product Recovery CD................................7-9

Full Restore.........................................................7-9

Selective Installation............................................7-12

A Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment

Making Your Computer Work for You......................A-1

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

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

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

Adjust Your Screen or Monitor.................................A-5

Vary Your Workday .................................................A-6

Pre-Existing Conditions and Psychosocial Factors.....A-7

B Specifications

Memory Map............................................................B-6

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

DMA Settings...........................................................B-8

C NECCSD Information Services

How to Reach Us......................................................C-2

NECCSD Diskette Fulfillment Center .................. C-2

NECCSD Technical Support Center ....................C-2

NECCSD Customer Assistance Center.................C-3

Contents vii

Glossary

Index

NECCSD FaxFlash Service .................................C-3

Using FaxFlash...............................................C-4

Ordering Information......................................C-5

NECCSD Bulletin Board System (BBS)...............C-6

Logging On ....................................................C-6

Logging Off....................................................C-8

NECCSD on CompuServe ...................................C-8

Using CompuServe.........................................C-9

NECCSD on America Online...............................C-10

Using America Online..................................... C-10

NECCSD on the Internet......................................C-11

NECCSD WWW and FTP Sites .....................C-11

NECCSD E-Mail and Fax ................................... C-12

Warranty and Non-Warranty Repair Service.............C-12

viii Contents

1

Getting Started

!

Prolonged or improper use of a computer work­station may pose a ri sk of serious inj ury. To reduce
your risk of injury, set up and use your comput er in
the manner descri bed in Appendix A, S etting Up a
Healthy Work Environment.

After completing the steps in the quick setup sheet that
comes with your computer, your NEC Versa 2700 Series
system is ready to go! To get started:



Read Appendix A, Setting Up a Healthy Work Envi-

ronment, for guidelines that help you use your computer

productively and safely. Information includes how to set

up and use your computer to reduce your risk of devel-

oping nerve, muscle, or tendon disorders.

WARNING

Read through this guide to familiarize yourself with the



NEC Versa.

Getting Started 1-1

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEC VERSA

The NEC Versa 2700 Series notebook computer offers you
a portable system filled with exciting resources for home,
business or travel. Standard features include a powerful

®

Pentium microprocessor that works together with the

Intel
latest Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
architecture. Depending on the model, your NEC Versa is
equipped with one of the following processors, 133MMX,
150MMX, 166MMX, 200MMX, or 233MMX.

With the NEC Versa MMX models, your system integrates
Intel’s Multimedia Extensions (MMX) technology. MMX
speeds audio, video, and 3D graphics processing, providing
more distinct sound and visuals for your presentations.

In addition, your all-in-one system provides a high­performance hard disk drive, diskette drive, 16X or 20X
CD-ROM reader, PC card slots, and a 56 kilobits per sec­ond (Kbps) modem (modem only available on some mod­els). As a multimedia system, your NEC Versa provides the
tools needed to create and present impressive images using
video clips and sound.

1-2 Getting Started

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

NEC Versa 2700 Series notebook computer

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 2700 Series comes with a color LCD that
you can adjust for a comfortable viewing position. The
LCD is a 12.1-inch Dual Scan Super-Twisted Nematic
(DSTN) or Thin Film Transistor (TFT), Super Video
Graphics Array (SVGA) color display. The features of the
LCD panel are described after the figure.

Power and Suspend
Status LEDs



Brightness and Contrast Controls — use the slide

Brightness
Control

switches to adjust screen brightness and contrast.

Getting Started 1-3

Contrast
Control

LCD panel

NOTE

NEC Versa models equipped with the 12.1­inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD panel have a
brightness control switch only. Increasi ng the bright ­ness increases the screen contrast.



Power and Suspend 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
LED

Battery
Charging
LED

Suspend
Mode
LED

Power and Suspend LEDs

 Power LED — lets you know that power to the sys-

tem is turned on. This LED is positioned so that you
see the power state whether the LCD panel is opened
or closed.

– Lights green when the system is powered on us-

ing the AC Adapter or Xtender Airplane & Auto
Adapter.

– Lights amber when the system is powered on us-

ing the battery.

– Slowly blinks amber when the system is powered

on using a battery at 5-8% capacity.

– Quickly flashes amber when the system is pow-

ered on using a battery at 4% or less capacity.

1-4 Getting Started

Control Panel

 Battery Charging LED — lights to indicate battery

charging status.
– Lights green to indicate battery is fully charged.

– Lights amber to indicate battery is charging.

 Suspend Mode LED — blinks green when the

system is in Suspend mode.

The NEC Versa 2700 Series control panel provides the
features shown in the following figure. The control panel
features are described after the figure.

Control Panel



Status LEDs — keep you informed of your NEC
Versa’s current operating status. Descriptions of the
status icons appear in the following section.

Built-in Stereo Speakers — provide stereo sound for



your multimedia presentations or listening pleasure.

Getting Started 1-5

Power Button — slide the Power button to the right to



power on and power off the system.

The Power button is a “smart” switch, meaning that it rec­ognizes when the system is in Suspend mode. If in Suspend
mode, you cannot power off until you press the suspend
button again to bring it out of Suspend mode.

NOTE

If you are unable to power off the system, use
the power override. Slide the Power button to the
right and hol d it in pl ace for f our seconds. The sys­tem powers off.



Suspend/Resume (S/R) Button — press the Suspend
button to put the unit in Suspend mode when you need to
be away from your system for a short period of time and
want to return where you left off. Suspend mode saves
power and extends battery life when running on battery
power. Press the S/R button again to bring the NEC
Versa out of Suspend mode.

Status Icons

1-6 Getting Started

The NEC Versa 2700 Series uses status lights marked with
icons to communicate system status. See the following fig­ure and list for each icon’s meaning.

Hard Drive
Access

Num
Lock

Access

Caps
Lock

Scroll LockDiskette Drive

Status LED icons

Hard Drive Access — lights when the NEC Versa writes



data to or retrieves data from the hard disk drive.



Diskette Drive Access — lights when the NEC Versa
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.

Getting Started 1-7

Keyboard Panel and Base Unit

The NEC Versa 2700 Series keyboard panel and base unit
contain the following features. The keyboard panel and base
unit features are described after the figure.

Keyboard Panel and Base Unit

1-8 Getting Started



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
“NEC VersaGlide” in Chapter 4 for information about
customizing VersaGlide settings.



CD-ROM Reader — allows you to load and start pro­grams from a compact disc (CD) and play audio CDs.
See Chapter 4, “Using Your NEC Versa Computer,” for
details about using the CD-ROM reader.



Microphone — allows you to record monophonic sound
directly into your notebook computer. See Chapter 5,
“Using Multimedia,” for details about recording.

Keyboard — standard QWERTY-key layout. See



“Using the Keyboard” in Chapter 4 for details about
control keys, function keys, and keyboard features.
(Models shipped outside of the U.S. are equipped with
country-specific keyboard layouts.)

AROUND THE BACK OF THE SYSTEM

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

Back system features

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-cable adapter, you can connect any combination of
two of these devices at the same time.



Parallel Port — Use this port to connect a parallel
printer or other parallel device. The parallel port sup­ports Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) and Enhanced
Parallel Port (EPP) standards. Both standards provide
you with a greater processing speed than the conven­tional parallel port. The port also supports bi-directional
and uni-directional protocols.

Getting Started 1-9

NOTE

The default setting for the parallel port on
your NEC Versa is set to Enhanced Capabilities
Port (ECP). Some older parallel devices may not
function with the ECP default sett ing. You may need
to adjust the setting to accommodate your paral lel
devi ce. Follow the instruc tions in Chapter 3, “Usi ng
Setup and Power Management,” to adjust the
setting.

Fan — Allows your system to cool properly and main-



tain a safe operating environment.

!

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

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



CAUTION

other serial device.





1-10 Getting Started

Monitor (Video) Port — Use this 15-pin port to attach
an external monitor to your NEC Versa. You can run the
LCD display and the external monitor simultaneously or
run either alone.

Expansion Port — Use this port to connect the NEC
PortBar 2700.

AROUND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SYSTEM

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

Left side features



PortBar Notch — Use this notch to secure the PortBar
to the back of the system. (Another PortBar notch is lo­cated at the back of the right side of the system.)



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.

Getting Started 1-11

USB Port — The Universal Serial Bus (USB) port al-



lows you to connect up to 127 USB-equipped peripheral
devices (for example, printers, monitors, scanners) to
your NEC Versa.

Modem Port (modem only available on some models) —



NEC includes a 56K internal voice/fax/data modem. It
keeps you connected to the outside world!



IR Port — Use this port to transfer files between your
NEC Versa and an IR-equipped desktop or notebook
computer. You can also print to an IR-equipped printer
without using cables. Use the IRMON utility in Win­dows 95 with your IR-equipped printer.



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.

 Line In — Lets you use another audio 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.

AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SYSTEM

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

1-12 Getting Started

Right side features



Diskette Drive — A 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive
comes installed in the NEC Versa 2700 Series system.
The drive accepts 1.44-MB high-density diskettes as
well as 720-KB double-sided double-density diskettes.



Battery Bay — Depending upon the model, the battery
bay contains a rechargeable Nickel-Metal-Hydride
(NiMH) or Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery pack.



Kensington Lock — Lets you provide added security by
installing an optional Kensington Lock.



AC Power Port — Lets you attach the NEC Versa 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.

Getting Started 1-13

PortBar Notch — Use this latch to secure the PortBar to



the back of the system. (Another PortBar notch is
located at the back of the left side of the system.)

AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE SYSTEM

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





1-14 Getting Started

Bottom of the system

Battery Bay — equipped with a rechargeable Nickel­Metal-Hydride (NiMH) or (depending on the model)
Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery.

Woofer — enhances the speakers bass response.

NEC VERSA POWER SOURCES

The NEC Versa can be powered using different sources,
making it a truly portable system. Operate your NEC Versa
system 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 PowerXtender Airplane and Auto Adapter. (See the
Versa Tools Catalog for details.)

Read the following sections for specific steps on powering
on the system.

Using the AC Adapter

Use the AC adapter and power cable that came with your
NEC Versa 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.

!

Do not att empt to disassemble t he AC adapter. The
AC adapter has no user-replaceable or serviceabl e
parts inside. Dangerous voltage in the AC adapter
can cause serious personal injury or deat h. The AC
adapter is intended for use with a computer. Both
must meet EN60950 standards.

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

WARNING

Getting Started 1-15

NOTE

Check that the AC outlet v oltage falls in the
range of 100–240 Vol ts AC. Veri f y t hat t he cord and
plug are appropriate for your AC source.

Connect the AC adapter as follows:

!

Use only the A C adapter that comes wit h your NEC
Versa 2700 Series system. Although other AC
adapters may l ook simil ar, using t hem c an damage
the system.

1.

Connect the AC adapter cable to the power port on the

CAUTION

right side of your NEC Versa 2700 Series system.

2.

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

1-16 Getting Started

Connecting the AC adapter

Do not cover or place objects on the AC adapter.
Doing so can cause the adapter to overheat.

Powering On

To power on, locate the Power button on the control panel
above the keyboard and slide it to the right. To power off
the system, slide the Power button to the right a second
time.

Using the Battery Pack

The NEC Versa 2700 Series system comes with a recharge­able Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
battery pack. You can run your system on battery power for
2 to 4 hours with power management features enabled.
Battery packs are easy to install and remove.

!

WARNING

NOTE

Although the battery is fully charged at the
factor y, transit and shelf ti me may reduce the ini tial
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.

Your NEC Versa 2700 Series system provides status LEDs
to help you keep track of the battery’s power level.

When battery power is very low, the power LED blinks and
the system beeps a warning.

Getting Started 1-17

Replacing the Battery Pack

Install the battery pack in your system as follows:

Be sure to sav e your data bef ore replaci ng the bat­tery pack or connecting the AC adapter. Fai lure to
do so can result in data loss.

1.

If your system is on, save your data, and press the Sus­pend button or turn off the system power.

2.

Close the LCD and turn the system over.

3.

Release the battery bay cover latch, slide the battery bay
cover away from the system, and lift it off.

4.

Use your fingers to pry the battery up and lift it out of
the bay.

5.

Align the terminals on the new battery with the terminal
connector in the bay. Lower the battery into the bay.

!

CAUTION

6.

7.

8.

1-18 Getting Started

Press down on the battery to secure the terminal
connection.

Replace the battery bay cover as follows:

Align the tabs on the bay cover with the grooves on



the system chassis.



Lower the cover onto the bay and slide into place.

Turn the system over and press the Suspend/Resume
button to resume, or power on the system.

When Battery Power is Low

When battery power gets low, proceed as follows:

If your system is on, save your data, and press the Sus-

1.

pend button or turn off the system power.
Connect your system to the AC adapter and AC power

2.

or install a charged battery pack.
Press the Resume button or power on your system.

3.

To prev ent accidental battery igni tion or ex plosion,
adhere to the following:



Keep the battery away from extreme heat.



Keep metal object s away from the batt ery termi ­nals to prevent causing a short circuit.



Make sure the battery is properl y install ed in the
battery bay.



Read the precautions printed on the battery.

!

WARNING

Getting Started 1-19

Battery Handling

Review the following before handling the system’s battery.

Use the NiMH or Li-Ion batteries only in the NEC
Versa computer for which they ar e designed. M ix i ng
other NEC Versa batteries, other manufacturer’s
batteries, or using a combination of very old and
new batteries can deteriorat e batt ery and equi pm ent
performance.

Turn off power to the system after use. Keeping system



power on can degrade battery performance and shorten
battery life.



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

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



!

CAUTION

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









1-20 Getting Started

shorter work times
discoloration, warping
hot to the touch
strange odor.

Battery Life

The NEC Versa NiMH or Li-Ion battery has an approxi­mate life of 2 hours under the following conditions:

When it is new and fully charged.





When no peripherals are connected to your NEC Versa.
When you have no options installed.



Enabling power management features increases battery life.

Extending 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 and contrast
extends battery life. Press
power management modes and extend battery life. “Using
Power Management” in Chapter 3 gives details about power
management features and the modes available.

to toggle through different

Fn-F7

Getting Started 1-21

Battery Charging

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:

When the system is off or in Suspend mode and the AC



adapter is connected, charge time is approximately 2
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
Setup and Windows), and turn on the system. Once the
battery is fully discharged, plug in the AC adapter and re­charge the battery.

If you do not discharge the battery completely, it not only
fails to accept a full recharge, but also sends incorrect in­formation to the Battery Gauge utility. The utility may indi­cate that you have plenty of battery power when you
actually have very little. This can result in data loss when
the battery suddenly dies.

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

1-22 Getting Started

Battery Precautions

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

There is a danger of explosion if the battery is incor­rectly replaced. Replace only with the same or
equiv alent t ype recom mended by the manuf act urer.
Discard used batteries according to the manufac­turer’s instructions.



Keep the battery away from heat sources incl ud­ing direct sunlight , open f i res, m icrowav e ov ens,
and high-v oltage contai ners. Temperat ures over
60ºC (140ºF) may cause damage.



Do not drop or impact the battery.



Do not disassemble the battery.



Do not solder the battery.

!

WARNING



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 object s away from batt ery t ermi nals.
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 im mediately. Battery flui d can cause a
skin rash and damage fabric.



If bat tery fluid get s in eyes, DO NOT r ub; rinse
with clear water immediately and see a doctor.

Getting Started 1-23

Battery Disposal

Before disposing of the battery, put adhesive tape on the
terminals. Depending upon the NEC Versa 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 computer.
Appendix B lists battery specifications. In addition to the
main battery, the CMOS battery provides power to
maintain system configuration settings and the bridge
battery provides power for up to 5 minutes while the main
battery is being replaced.

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. The CMOS battery lasts approximately two
years. An authorized NEC service technician can replace
the CMOS battery for you.

Bridge Battery

An internal bridge battery in your system saves your system
status in Suspend mode for up to five minutes. This gives
you time to install a fully charged battery or plug in AC
power when your battery charge becomes low.

Only an authorized dealer can change a bridge battery.

1-24 Getting Started

SYSTEM CARE

The NEC Versa is a durable, dependable system built for
extensive use and travel. Follow these guidelines to main­tain the condition and performance of your computer.

Precautions

Follow these precautions when using your NEC Versa and
AC adapter.

!

Im medi ately turn of f and unpl ug the NEC Versa un­der the following conditions:



The power cord is damaged or frayed.



Liquid spills on or into the NEC Versa.



Someone drops the system or damages the
casing.

CAUTION



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.



Avoid moving the NEC Versa during system operation,
especially while the hard disk, diskette drive, or CD­ROM reader 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.

Getting Started 1-25

Do not push any foreign objects into the NEC Versa



bays, connectors, and 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.
Avoid exposing the NEC Versa or AC adapter to ex-



treme changes in temperature or humidity. If it is un­avoidable, allow your NEC Versa to adjust to room
temperature before use.

When cleaning the system, use a soft, clean, dry cloth.



Avoid wiping the display surface with abrasive material,
including rough fabric. Do not use a cleaning solution,
this may damage the notebook’s plastic.



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



1-26 Getting Started

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

!

This equipment uses an ungrounded power cable.
Replace the cord i f it bec omes damaged. U.S. and
Canadian replacem ent cords must be UL-approved
(CSA certif ied i n Canada) type SPT-2, 18 AW G, 2­conductor cord wit h a permanentl y attached NE MA
type 5-15P plug at one end, and a permanent ly 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 i n­dicate 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, Austral ia, and Europe” to f i nd out how
to contact the local office in your country.)

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

CAUTION

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

Getting Started 1-27

Storage Requirements

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

Maintain storage temperatures between –4°F and 140°F



(–20°C and 60°C).

If the tem perature of t he NEC Versa suddenly rises
or falls (for example, when you move the system
from a warm place to a cold place), vapor con­denses inside the system. Turning on the system
under this condition can damage the i nternal system
components.

Before turning on t he system, wait until the system’s
internal temperature equalizes with the new envi­ronment and any internal moisture can evaporate.

!

CAUTION







1-28 Getting Started

Keep the storage area free from vibration and magnetic
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.

Routine Cleaning

Clean or dust your system as follows.

Never

spray cleaners that contai n caustic m aterials on the
NEC Versa.

These cleaner s 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 wipes are available through your local
computer dealer.



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

!

use harsh solutions, household cleaners, or

CAUTION

Getting Started 1-29

Understanding

2

the Software

This chapter introduces you to the software that comes with
the NEC Versa 2700 Series system, including:

the Windows 95 operating system





Online Help
NEC Utilities



 Setup
 NEC Customize Utility
 HDPREPEZ Utility



Other Software
 Intel’s LANDesk Client Manager

LapLink for Windows 95



QuickLink MessageCenter III



®

 McAfee VirusScan™
 McAfee WebScan™
 Mediamatics MPEG Arcade™ Player
 Mixman*
 You Don’t Know Jack Censored*
 Microsoft
 Microsoft Money 97*

* Software only available in North America.

®

Works*

Understanding the Software 2-1

 Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia*
 Microsoft Best of Entertainment*
 Microsoft Word*
 Microsoft Greetings Workshop*
 Microsoft Arcade*
 Microsoft HPC Explorer*
 Microsoft Net Meeting*
 Microsoft Schedule+*



Online Services

 America Online
 CompuServe
 AT & T WorldNet
 Microsoft Internet Explorer

®

 Official Airline Guide (OAG

)

WINDOWS 95

Windows 95 gives you the newest features offered by
Microsoft, including a Desktop with room to maneuver, a
Taskbar for quick navigation between open windows, plug
and play features, online networking functions, and more.

The following icons are loaded on your desktop:



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 — once you delete a file, it’s placed here,
providing a safety area for files deleted by mistake.

* Software only available in North America.

2-2 Understanding the Software

The Internet — lets you automatically set up a new con-



nection to the Internet, or manually configure an existing
account for your NEC Versa.



NEC Setup — Double click the NEC Setup shortcut and
select Customize to give your desktop a distinct NEC
look and feel.

For example, NEC customizations include loading
McAfee VirusScan 95 and the Vshield icon on your
toolbar, removing the default Microsoft Windows 95
desktop wallpaper, and installing NEC’s unique desktop
wallpaper.



The Microsoft Network — shows you the computers
connected to your workgroup and those on the entire
network (if your system is connected to a network).



My Briefcase — allows easy file transfer between the
NEC Versa and other systems.

Online Services — a folder containing your system’s



online service setup programs including America Online,
AT&T WorldNet Setup, and CompuServe 3.0 Setup.



Start — displays a pop-up menu with which to start
programs and applications, opens documents, accesses
system settings, looks at online help, and shuts down
your system.



NEC Versa 2700 Help Center — gives you easy access
to NEC Versa system online help and customer service
information.



IR Alert — provides you with important information
about the IR port on your NEC Versa 2700 Series
system.

Understanding the Software 2-3

GUIDE TO ONLINE HELP

The NEC Versa has online information for you. You can
access online documents from the NEC Versa 2700 Help
Center icon on the desktop. The NEC Versa 2700 Help
Center contains information about your NEC Versa, as
follows.

NEC Versa 2700 Series Online User’s Guide



The NEC Versa 2700 Series Online User’s Guide pro-
vides general information on system usage as well as
more extensive topics including using power manage­ment, PC card technology and system memory map.



NEC Customer Support Guide

The NEC Customer Support Guide discusses the
various levels of support NEC offers you, our customer.
We provide information to help you become self­sufficient with your NEC Versa, but if you need help,
we’re there for you. (If you purchased your system
outside of the United States or Canada, please contact
your local dealer for customer support information.)



NEC UltraCare Guide

The NEC UltraCare Guide describes NEC’s extended
warranty program to help you protect your investment in
an NEC Versa Series system. (If you purchased your
system outside of the United States or Canada, please
contact your local dealer for extended warranty infor­mation.)



NEC Versa 2700 Modem Guide

The NEC Versa 2700 Modem Guide provides a com­mand reference, technical specifications, and procedures
for using your internal modem.

2-4 Understanding the Software

In addition to the NEC Versa Help Center, your system
ships with Using Windows 95, an online “book” that lets
you explore Windows 95 and learn about navigating
through the new interface. Using Windows 95 is found un­der the Modern Age Books program group.

GUIDE TO NEC UTILITIES

NEC provides several programs and routines designed to
make your NEC Versa run more efficiently. These pro­grams are known as utilities.

Setup

The Setup utility automatically configures your NEC Versa
each time you start it up. This utility is not accessible from
Windows. Access Setup at power-on. Just press
the following prompt appears.

Press <F2> to enter SETUP

See Chapter 3, “Using Setup,” for a discussion of the Setup
utility. In addition, online help assists you in changing set­tings.

F2

when

NEC Customize Utility

The NEC Customize utility installs NEC-designed desktop
features, including custom wallpaper, and the automatic
running of McAfee antivirus software each time you boot.

HDPREPEZ Utility

Using the HDPREPEZ utility automatically configures your
NEC Versa system’s save-to-disk area on the hard disk
when you increase system memory. You only need to access
this utility when you install additional memory that in­creases your total system memory to more than 48 MB.

Understanding the Software 2-5

Using HDPREPEZ

Use these steps to run the HDPREPEZ utility.

Power off and restart your NEC Versa.

1.

At the statement “Starting Windows 95,” press F8.

2.

From the Startup menu, select option 6, “Safe Mode

3.

Command Prompt Only.”
Enter MS-DOS. At the c: prompt, type

4.

to change to the \necutils directory.

Enter

HDPREPEZ

5.

press
Type

matically prepares your NEC Versa for the newly in­stalled memory.

Power off your system and then power on. A file, large

6.

enough to accommodate the new memory capacity, is
created on the hard disk.

OTHER SOFTWARE

Your NEC Versa comes with other applications that let you
take full advantage of your system resources. The rest of
this chapter discusses each application, including what it
can do for you, how to get started, and how to use the pro­gram help.

Intel LANDesk Client Manager

The Intel LANDesk Client Manager provides the capability
for managing a variety of components within a PC system.
These components include network interface cards, memory
modules, printers, and software applications. LANDesk
Client Manager uses the Desktop Management Interface
(DMI) standard established by the Desktop Management
Task Force (DMTF).

and press

. The utility auto-

Enter

cd\necutils

and

2-6 Understanding the Software

Set up the LANDesk Client Manager software on your
NEC Versa 2700 computer using the easy-to-follow setup
program.

To find out more about Intel’s LANDesk Client Manager
capabilities and uses, refer to the online help that is avail­able when you open Client Manager.

LapLink for Windows 95

LapLink offers the following features:

File Transfer — lets you move or copy files between



computers. To speed file transfer, LapLink compares
files being updated and transfers only the changed in­formation.



Remote Control — gives you access and control over a
remote computer. Activity you perform on a system,
such as keystrokes, file access and change, and program
execution, actually occurs on the remote system.



Chat — provides a way for you to exchange informa­tion, instructions, or other messages with a user at a re­mote computer.

LapLink software must be loaded on both the sending
(local) and receiving (remote) system for communication
between them to work properly.

How to Use LapLink

Follow these steps to get started using LapLink. Once you
have LapLink up and running, refer to the LapLink online
help for more information.

Press

1.

LapLink for Windows 95. Highlight LapLink for
Windows 95 and press the VersaGlide selection button
or tap the pad once.

, slide the cursor to Programs, and locate

Start

Understanding the Software 2-7

If you do not have a port enabled, LapLink prompts you
to enable one. (The IR port is disabled for wireless
communications when the system ships.) Before follow­ing the on-screen instructions to configure the IR port in
LapLink, proceed to device manager in Windows 95 to
enable the IR port.

NOTE

When LapLink displays a message indicati ng
that the wirel ess (serial, com2) i s currently unav ail­able, use the Dev ice Manager under the Windows
95 Control Panel to enable the IR port. If LapLink
still fails to recognize the IR port, reboot your sys­tem, go into Setup, and enable the port.

For information about enabling and disabling
devices, see “Enabling and Disabling Devices” in
Chapter 4.

Once your ports are configured, select your communica-

2.

tion method by pressing the appropriate button. The
buttons give you the following connection options.



Connect over cable



Connect over wireless
Connect over modem (if installed)





Connect over network



Connect over dial-up network

Once communication is established between systems, the
LapLink window appears.

Select the procedure you want to use by pressing one of

3.

the last three buttons in the LapLink toolbar at the top of
the screen.

2-8 Understanding the Software

Press the file transfer button to transfer files between



systems.
Press the Remote Control button to exercise control



over a remote system.
Press the Chat button to converse with another user



at the remote system.

When you finish, press the disconnect button to break

4.

the link between the local and remote systems. Press
OK.

The other system is notified of the break in
communication.

Laplink Online Registration

Traveling Software, the maker of LapLink, makes product
registration easy. Follow the steps below to register your
LapLink software.

Press Start, slide the cursor to Programs, and locate

1.

LapLink for Windows 95. Highlight Online Registration
and press the VersaGlide selection button or tap the pad
once. The product registration welcome screen appears.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the regis-

2.

tration form.

NOTE

The LapLink onl ine registrati on form requires
a serial num ber and a lot number. Enter your NEC
Versa serial num ber in both the serial number and
lot number fields. Find your NEC Versa serial
number on the label on the bottom of your system.

To find out more about LapLink capabilities and uses, refer
to the online help that is available when you open LapLink.

Understanding the Software 2-9

QuickLink MessageCenter III

QuickLink MessageCenter III offers the following features:

Integrated voice mail, fax, and data communications



Customizable voice mailboxes



Incoming call routing and transfer



Call monitoring





Fax transmission (send/receive/schedule)
File transfer protocols



See Chapter 4, “Using Your NEC Versa” for more
information about this application.

McAfee AntiVirus Software

The McAfee AntiVirus software is installed to scan your
system for any virus infections. WebScan and VirusScan
are two scanning software tools included on the NEC
Versa 2700 Series system.



WebScan software protects your system against virus
infection from files attached to mail messages or from
files you download from the Internet. WebScan is acti­vated any time you download executable and Microsoft
Word document files and scans mail through the Pega­sus Mail system. Also included is the SPRY Mosaic
browser and the WebScan Web browser, which gives
access to the Internet.



VirusScan detects, identifies and disinfects known com­puter viruses. It checks memory as well as both the sys­tem and data areas of disks for virus infections. In most
cases, it will eliminate and fully repair infected programs
or system areas to their original condition.

2-10 Understanding the Software

Set up the WebScan software on your NEC Versa 2700
system using the easy-to-follow setup program.

Mediamatics MPEG Arcade Player

Provides MPEG Playback software. See Chapter 5, “Using
Multimedia,” for instructions on using this application.

Mixman

The Mixman multimedia application turns your NEC Versa
into a turbo-charged, studio quality, remixing machine.
Mixman provides a graphical representation of the tradi­tional DJ’s setup and built in music tracks that allow you to
simulate the audio track-mixing process.

You Don’t Know Jack Censored

You Don’t Know Jack Censored is a multimedia application
that simulates the fast-paced environment of a TV trivia
game show. The user plays the role of contestant answering
a mix of questions ranging from the classics to pop-culture
awareness.

Microsoft Works 4.0

Microsoft Works 4.0 gives you all that you need to create
forms, format letters, start a data base and pull it all to­gether to create reports. Works includes a word processing
program, data base program, and sets of preformatted
documents for you to use.

Microsoft Money

Microsoft Money gives you a new option for handling your
finances. With this package, you can balance your checking
account, track spending trends, and even make payments
over the network.

Understanding the Software 2-11

Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia

Encarta 97 Encyclopedia uses state-of-the-art interactive
features that provide an exciting multimedia encyclopedia
for the whole family.

NOTE

Find Encarta 97 Encyclopedia under the Mi-

crosoft Bookshelf program group.

Microsoft Best of Entertainment

Best of Entertainment is a collection of the most popular
Microsoft games for Windows. Games include such famil­iar names as TETRIS™, Taipei, and TriPeaks.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a powerful word processor that provides
users with innovative tools to create professional looking
documents quickly and easily. Word 97 takes advantage of
emerging technology to implement sophisticated features
that include 3-D graphics integration, improved spell
checking, and an interactive help system.

Microsoft Greetings Workshop

Greetings Workshop allows you to create colorful and excit­ing cards, banners, invitations, and more. Greetings Work­shop contains more than 4,000 graphics, 200 images, and
100 fonts, borders, and backgrounds.

Microsoft Arcade

Microsoft Arcade provides you with five classic arcade
games for your home or business computer.

2-12 Understanding the Software

Microsoft HPC Explorer

Microsoft Handheld Personal Computer (HPC) Explorer
provides a Windows Explorer-like view of your HPC. HPC
Explorer allows you to transfer files between your HPC and
notebook computer, synchronize calendar, contact, and task
information from your Schedule+ data files, and backup
and restore files to ensure data security.

Microsoft Net Meeting

Microsoft NetMeeting provides real-time communication
over the Internet or your local Intranet. NetMeeting is a
conferencing tool that allows you to share files, participate
in chat groups, collaborate with others in shared programs,
and more!

Microsoft Schedule+

Microsoft Schedule + is a flexible, customizable productiv­ity tool for individuals and networked groups. Schedule +
allows you to schedule and view appointments as well as
manage calendars, tasks, and contacts.

ONLINE SERVICES

Your NEC Versa comes with the most popular online
services available including America Online, CompuServe,
and AT&T WorldNet Signup. These can be found in the
Online Services program group on the desktop. To use the
services, you need to install the software. Simply highlight
and click on the installation icon and follow the on-screen
instructions.

For a fee, online services give you access to the Internet,
email, the World Wide Web, travel information, news re­ports, and more, depending on the service selected. Some
online services give you a free trial period.

Understanding the Software 2-13

Here are the things you must do in order to use an online
service:

make sure that your modem is connected to a working



phone line. The line must be an analog line. If you are
unsure what type of line you have, call your local tele­phone company or contact your telecommunications
administrator.



set up the selected online service on your NEC Versa
using an easy-to-follow setup program.

select the newly created online service icon, register with



the service, and begin your online adventure.

Just follow these steps to set up and use your selected online
service:

Connect your modem port to a phone line.

1.

Press Start, move to the Programs group, slide to Online

2.

Install, and slide to the online service group that you
want to install. Tap the VersaGlide pad once or click
once.

The setup screen for the selected online service displays.

3.

Follow the on-screen instructions to install the service on
your NEC Versa.

A program group is created for your selected online
service.

To use the selected online service, follow the on-screen

4.

instructions to log onto the service.

2-14 Understanding the Software

America Online

If you subscribe to America Online, use the service to ob­tain information about NEC and its products. Use America
Online to email technical questions to NEC’s Technical
Support staff, post technical questions and messages on the
Message Board, and access the NEC Software Library to
download files.

Use the following steps to access America Online and
NEC’s online information services.

1.

2.

NOTE

If you are using your NEC Versa computer
outside North Am erica, there m ay not be any local
access points for this onli ne service. It may requi re
a long distance or international call.

Log onto America Online.
At the opening screen, click on Go To in the Main

Menu.
At the Go To menu, click Keyword.

3.

At the prompt, type

4.

NEC

, then either press

Enter

click on Go.
At the NEC menu, double-click on one of the following

5.

topics, then follow the prompts:



About NEC



Terms and Conditions



News
Product Information





Questions and Answers

Understanding the Software 2-15

or

CompuServe

NEC Web Site



Message Board





Software Library.

Exit anytime by double-clicking on the rectangle in the

6.

upper left corner of the screen.

An installation program for CompuServe is part of your
Windows 95 software.

If you subscribe to CompuServe, you can use the service to
obtain information about NEC and its products. Use
CompuServe to email technical questions to NEC’s
Technical Support staff, post technical questions and
messages on the Bulletin Board, and access NEC’s Bulletin
Board.

NOTE

You cannot download information from the
NEC Bullet i n Board via Com puSer v e. You m ust cal l
the NEC Bulletin Board directly to download infor­mation.

If you are using your NEC Versa outside North
Ameri ca, there may not be any local access points
for onli ne serv i ces. I t m ay r equir e a long di stance or
international call.

Use the following steps to access CompuServe and NEC’s
online information services.

Log onto CompuServe.

1.

At the opening screen, click on Service, type in

2.
NECTECH

2-16 Understanding the Software

GO

at the prompt, and click OK.

At the NEC menu, double-click on one of the following

3.

topics, then follow the prompts:

NEC Bulletin Board





Information About This Service
Access NEC BBS



Access CompuServe Information Services



Exit.



Exit anytime by double-clicking on the rectangle in the

4.

upper left corner of the screen.

AT&T WorldNet

One of the world’s largest telephone service providers now
offers internet access. Click on AT&T WorldNet Signup in
the Online Services group to install this software, learn
more about it, and sign up with this service.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

The first time you use Microsoft Internet Explorer you must
register your copy of the program and allow the system to
detect your internal modem. (Modem only available on
some models.)

Understanding the Software 2-17

NOTE

If you are using an optional, external or PC
card modem, connect your modem before setting
up Microsof t I nternet Ex pl orer. If it i s not connect ed,
the process stops.

If you connect the m odem and the system f ails to
detect it, open the Windows Control Panel, select
the modem icon, and specif y your m odem type and
port.

Official Airline Guide (OAG)

OAG shows the convenience of “information to go.” You
can purchase the full package or subscribe to future
releases through the software publisher. Technical support
for OAG is provided by the software publisher.

The Official Airline Guide is an online service that gives
you access to flight details for all commercial airlines
worldwide. NEC provides a sample of the monthly data that
OAG provides. OAG offers NEC Versa owners a special
rate when they subscribe to OAG for monthly updates.

OAG is an invaluable service for anyone who travels on a
regular basis. All you have to do is enter your departure
city, destination city, and date. If you have a preferred air­line, you can also enter its name. The service then lists all
the flights available from the departure city, the times, and
the flight numbers. If you purchased the complete OAG
package, you can also check on seat availability and prices.

Access OAG as follows.

1.



Make sure the internal modem is connected to a
working phone line.

2-18 Understanding the Software

Press Start, move the cursor to the Programs group



and open the OAG FlightDisk group. In the group,
highlight “OAG FlightDisk Worldwide Edition” and
release the mouse button.

The first time you open OAG, an agreement screen ap-

2.

pears. Follow the on-screen instructions.
In the Trip Plan screen, fill in the fields with the trip in-

3.

formation requested. Press

after making selections

Enter

from the available drop-down lists.
If you are a subscriber, press the appropriate button to

4.

retrieve seat availability and price information.

Follow the on-screen instructions to register for a free trial

5.

of the OAG travel service.

Understanding the Software 2-19

Using Setup and

3

SETUP UTILITY

Power Management

Your NEC Versa 2700 Series system comes with a hard­ware configuration program called Setup that allows you to
view and set system parameters. Setup also allows you to
set password features that protect your system from unau­thorized use.

Use Setup to









set the current time and date (you can also set the date
and time through Windows)

customize your operating system to reflect your
computer hardware

secure your system with a password
balance your performance needs with power

conservation.

How to Enter Setup

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

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

Press <F2> to enter SETUP

Using Setup and Power Management 3-1

If the system detects an error during POST, it prompts you
with a double beep and a message: "Press <F1> to resume."
If you press

, the system may enter setup to allow you to

F1

correct the error. If you want to fix the error, carefully read
the error message that appears above the prompt (taking
notes if you want). If the system does not enter setup, the
standard bootup procedure resumes.

When you enter setup, the system displays the Setup Main
screen, similar to the following.

AMIBIOS HIFLEX SETUP UTILITY - VERSION 1.05

(C)1996 American Megatrends, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Standard CMOS Setup
Advanced CMOS Setup

Power Management Setup

Peripheral Setup

Change User Password

Change Supervisor Password

Auto Configuration with Defaults

Save Settings and Exit

Exit Without Saving

Standard CMOS setup for changing time, date, hard disk type, etc.

How to Use Setup

The following sections describe how to use Setup, including
these topics:



Looking at screens



Using keys



Checking and setting system parameters.

3-2 Using Setup and Power Management

Looking at Screens

Setup screens have three areas as shown.

AMIBIOS SETUP - ADVANCED CMOS SETUP

(C) 1966 American Megatrends, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Plug and Play Aware O/S
BootUp Sequence
Initial Display Mode
BootUp Num-Lock
LCD Panel View Expansion
Password Check

Auto
A:, C:
Silent
Off
On
Setup

Available Option
C:, A:
A:, C:

ESC: Exit :Sel
PgUp/PgDn:Modify
F3/F4: Color



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



Available Options
The right part of the screen. This area lists alternate set­tings.

Key Legend



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

Using Setup and Power Management 3-3

Using Keys

The following table lists Setup keys and their functions.

Setup Key Functions

KEY

↑ ↓
PgUp/PgDn Modifies 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.
F3/F4 Changes the screen color.
F10 Save changes and exit (works only from the main menu).

WHAT IT DOES

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.

Checking/Setting System Parameters

See the following table for a list of parameters, their factory
default settings, and alternate settings. A description of each
setting follows the table.

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

.

Y

3-4 Using Setup and Power Management

*

*

*

* Ch

Setup Parameters

PARAMETER

Standard CMOS Setup

System Date
System Time
Diskette Drive A

Primary Master
Secondary Master

DEFAULT
SETTING

mm/dd/yyyy
hh:mm:ss

1.44 MB, 3.5"
Auto

Auto

ALTERNATE
SETTING(S)

User Defined

System Memory 16 MB (Auto Detect)

Advanced CMOS Setup

Plug and Play Aware O/S
BootUp sequence
Initial Display Mode
BootUp NumLock
LCD Panel View Expansion
Password Check
Internal Keyboard

Auto
A:, C:
Silent
Auto
On
Setup
US

Yes, No
C:, A:

On, Off
Off
Always
Europe

Power Management Setup

Power Management Under AC
Power Savings Level
Hard Disk Timeout

Off
Longest Life
2 min

On
Off, Custom, High Perform
Off, 5/30/45 sec,
1/4/6/8/10/15 min

Video Timeout

2 min

Off, 30/45 sec,

1/4/6/8/10/15 min
Peripheral Timeout
Audio Device Timeout
Standby Timeout
Auto Suspend Timeout

On
On
4 min
10 min

Off

Off

Off, 1/2/6/8/10/15/ min

Off, 5/15/20/25/30 min
Suspend Option

Auto Save to File
Panel Backlight
Suspend Warning Tone
Modem Ring Resume
Wake Up From Suspend Alarm
Resume Alarm Time

angeable when power savings is set to custom.

Suspend
Enabled
Auto
On
On
Off
Off

STF

Disabled

Full, Standard

Off

Off

On

12:00 a.m. to 11:55 p.m. in

five minute increments

Using Setup and Power Management 3-5

Setup Parameters

PARAMETER

Peripheral Setup

Serial Port

Parallel Port

Parallel Mode
IR Serial Port

Sound
Sound IRQ

SB-Compatible DMA
Full Duplex Mode DMA
PortBar Joystick

DEFAULT
SETTING

Auto

Auto

ECP
Disabled

Auto
N/A

N/A
N/A
Enabled

ALTERNATE
SETTING(S)

Disabled
COM1/IRQ4, COM2/IRQ3,
COM3/IRQ4, COM4/IRQ3,
(PnP OS Setup)
Disabled
LPT1/LPT2,
(PnP OS Setup)

EPP, Uni-Dir, Bi-Dir
Auto

COM3/IRQ9, COM2/IRQ3,
COM4/IRQ3,
(PnP OS Setup)

Disabled, (PnP OS Setup)
220h, 240h, 260h, 280h
IRQ5,7,9,10,11
DMA0,1,3
DMA0,1,3
Disabled

3-6 Using Setup and Power Management

Setup Menus

Read the following descriptions for explanations of items
that appear in the Setup menus, as listed in the preceding
table. See the item-specific help that appears on the Setup
screen for more details.

Standard CMOS Setup

When you select the Standard CMOS Setup screen the
System Time, System Date and drive parameters appear.

Date — This field lets you set your NEC Versa calendar



month, day, and year. The calendar clock is year 2000­compliant. These settings remain in memory even after
you turn off the system.

To set the date use the
field to field. Use the

or arrow keys to move from

Tab

PgUp

or

key to change

PgDn

numbers within each field.



Time — To set the time, enter the current hour, minute,
and second on hr/min/sec, 24 hour format.

To set the time use the
field to field. Use the

or arrow keys to move from

Tab

PgUp

or

key to change

PgDn

numbers within each field.



Diskette Drive, Primary Master, Secondary Master —
These fields allow you to view settings for your diskette
drive, hard disk drive, and CD-ROM drive.

System Memory — This field displays the amount of



system memory and is display-only. The system auto­matically senses the amount of installed memory.

Using Setup and Power Management 3-7

Advanced CMOS Setup

Advanced CMOS settings let you define the following
functions.

Plug and Play Aware OS — Selects whether or not the



system boots to a Plug and Play operating system.
BootUp Sequence — Sets the order that the drives (A:,



C:) initialize, or sets the order to search for the boot
disk.

NOTE

If a bootable CD is installed in your NEC

Versa, the system boots from CD-ROM drive E.



Initial Display Mode — Sets the initial display mode for
system startup. Silent mode suppresses a number of
startup screens.



BootUp NumLock — Specifies whether NumLock is On
or Off at system startup. Auto checks for an external
keyboard at startup.



LCD Panel View expansion — Specifies whether the
panel view is reduced/off or expanded/on. Set to On, an
application screen expands to fill the LCD panel.

Password Check — Specifies if the system prompts you



to enter a password when entering setup, booting the
system, and resuming form suspend.



Internal Keyboard — Indicates keyboard layout for
internal keyboard (U.S. or Europe).

Power Management Setup

The Power Management setup menu lets you balance high
performance and energy conservation using parameters in­cluding the following.

3-8 Using Setup and Power Management

NOTE

Some operating systems, like Windows 95,
have t heir own power managem ent software which
overrides CMOS settings. In this case, use the
Setup utility to set your desired power management
settings.



Power Management Under AC — Specifies whether to
enable power management features when AC power is in
use. When AC power is connected to your NEC Versa
system, power management is usually disabled. If you
enable this parameter, the system automatically activates
the power management features even when AC power is
used.



Power Savings Level — Lets you choose one of four
levels of power management.

 High Perform provides the greatest system perform-

ance with only minimal power conservation.

 Longest Life provides the maximum amount of

power savings and extends battery life.

 Off disables power management and all device time-

outs.

 Custom lets you define your own power manage-

ment configuration by selecting values for specific
device timeouts. Custom lets you set the following
timeouts.

– Hard Disk Timeout — Allows you to select the

amount of time before your hard disk shuts
down.

– Video Timeout — Allows you to select the

amount of time before your video shuts down.

Using Setup and Power Management 3-9

– Peripheral Timeout — Lets you enable/on or dis-

able/off power management for onboard serial,
parallel, and floppy devices.

– Audio Device Timeout — Selects the amount of

time before your audio device shuts down.

– Standby Timeout — Allows you to select the

system standby timeout period.

– Auto Suspend Timeout — Defines how much

time elapses before the system automatically
enters the Suspend Mode.



Suspend Option — Allows you to specify either
Suspend or Save to File (STF) as the default power
management mode. In Suspend, after a specified amount
of inactivity, your NEC Versa shuts down all devices
and saves the machine state to memory. All your data is
automatically recovered from where you left off when
you Resume.

In automatic STF — After 30 minutes in Suspend mode
the current environment is automatically saved to a spe­cial file on the hard disk and the system shuts down. To
resume, you must press the power button. The system
reads the saved file and sets up your system automati­cally.

NOTE

If your CD-ROM is set to Auto Pl ay, the sys­tem cont inuously checks the CD-RO M reader. T his
keeps the system from using the Automatic STF
feature. See “Changing the Auto Play Setting” in
Chapter 4 for information about disabling Auto Play.

3-10 Using Setup and Power Management

If HDPREPEZ is present, press the
combination or the Suspend/Resume button to put the
system into Save to File mode.



Panel Backlight — Lets you select the LCD screen
backlight intensity.

Suspend Warning Tone — Specifies whether the system



warning tone sounds when Suspend mode starts. It is
best to keep this option enabled.

Modem Ring Resume — Lets you choose whether the



system resumes automatically when an external modem
receives a ring signal.



Wake Up from Suspend Alarm/Resume Alarm Time —
Lets you set a resume time from Suspend mode.

Peripherals Setup

The Peripherals Setup menu allows you to specify different
port assignments for a variety of system ports.

enable or assign it using the Windows 95 device
manager. The device is not listed in the W indows
95 devi ce list. To control t he devi ce using the W in­dows 95 device manager, select any setting other
than “Disable” in Setup.

Fn-Suspend

NOTE

If you di sable a device i n Setup, you cannot

key



Serial Port — Allows you to disable the port or change
its address assignment.



Parallel Port/Parallel Mode — Allows you to disable or
reassign the parallel port and select a parallel mode.

IR Serial Port — Allows you to disable or reassign the



IR Serial port.

Using Setup and Power Management 3-11

Sound/Sound IRQ/SB-Compatible DMA/Full Duplex



DMA — Allows you to configure the system to assign a
conflict free resource to this device.



PortBar Joystick — Allows you to enable or disable the
joystick port on the PortBar 2700.

Other Setup Options

Setup offers other options, including the following:

Change User Password — Lets you set a user password



once a Supervisor password is set.
Change Supervisor Password — Sets a Supervisor



password at system startup.
Auto Configuration with Defaults — Loads default set-



tings.



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



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

USING SETUP TO SET POWER MANAGEMENT

Setup allows you to use the factory-defined power savings
level (Longest Life), or choose between High Perform,
Custom, or Off. Each provides a special environment for
your current work effort. These power management levels
were designed with you in mind. For example, you can use
them under the following circumstances:



Longest Life — provides best battery life and good per­formance. Use while traveling long distances.



High Perform — Provides best performance and good
battery life. Use while connected to AC power or travel­ing short distances.

3-12 Using Setup and Power Management

Custom — Lets you decide! Set power management



levels according to your own needs and present envi­ronment.



Off — Works well in an office environment while pow­ering your NEC Versa with AC power.

Using the Save to File (STF) Feature

STF protects the integrity of your working environment.
For example, if you are called away from your NEC Versa
and Suspend mode is selected with auto Save to File active,
your system automatically goes into Suspend mode. After
30 minutes, if you don’t return, your working environment
is saved to a special file on your hard disk.

NOTE

If your CD-ROM reader is set to Auto Play,
the system checks the reader at regular intervals.
This action prevents the system from entering STF.

See “Changi ng the Auto Play Set ting” in Chapter 4
for details about disabling the Auto Play feature.

There are two ways to set your NEC Versa STF features.
One method is via the setup utility. Select Power Manage­ment from the Setup Main Menu. Move the cursor down
and highlight Suspend mode. Press the

key and select

PgUp

STF. Save the settings and exit Setup.
The second method is to press the

Fn-Suspend

combination before you leave your NEC Versa. This
function initiates STF on demand.

Using Setup and Power Management 3-13

STF Benefits

NOTE

When the status bar reads that there i s only
4% power remaining in the system , the NEC Versa
automatically performs a Save to File.

Using STF can benefit you in the following ways.



When in STF, there is minimum battery drain.
Preserves the life of your NEC Versa.



Saves you time. When you return from that urgent call



or meeting, you don’t have to reboot, simply slide the
On/Off switch to resume system operation.

3-14 Using Setup and Power Management

Using Your

4

NEC Versa

The more you use your NEC Versa 2700 Series system, the
more proficient you become at everything — from using
function keys to setting up presentations.

This chapter gives concise information on these and other
important tasks, including how to use the:

LCD panel



keyboard



NEC VersaGlide





integrated drives



16X or 20X CD-ROM reader



internal modem



PC Card slots
USB Port



LCD PANEL



IR port.

In addition, this chapter focuses on expanding memory
capacity and installing options.

The LCD panel on your NEC Versa 2700 Series system is
fully adjustable to provide comfortable viewing. To adjust
the viewing angle, gently tilt the LCD panel into position.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-1

KEYBOARD

The NEC Versa keyboard is equipped with many features.
These include:

Function keys



Windows 95 keys



Cursor control keys




Typewriter keys
Numeric keypad



Control keys.



Key features and operations are described after the figure.

Function Keys

Control Keys



Function Keys — Twelve function keys, F1 through

F12

keys work together with the
functions. Eight keys are preprogrammed with dual
functions, six of which are printed in blue on the key.
(

Fn-F4

Standby mode.)

4-2 Using Your NEC Versa

Control Key

Windows 95
Shortcut Key

Windows 95
Start Menu Key

Cursor
Control Keys

Keyboard

, are available on the NEC Versa keyboard. These

key to activate special

Fn

is unmarked; it immediately puts the system into

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 pre­programmed for the NEC Versa.

Fn-F2

Highlight toggles character highlighting on

—

and off (DOS display only).

— Display toggles between three video modes,

Fn-F3

LCD, CRT, or simultaneous display on both.

Standby sets standby power management

Fn-F4

—

mode to on. Press any key to turn off standby mode.

Fn-F5

— Backlight toggles the LCD display from full to

standard lighting intensity.

Fn-F6 —

System Speaker Volume sets the volume of the

built-in speakers to low, medium, high, or mute.

— Power Management Level sets the power

Fn-F7

saving mode. Beeps indicate the level chosen as follows:

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

— LCD Expansion expands 640 x 480

Fn-F8

applications to fill the LCD panel (DOS mode only).

Fn-F12

— Scroll Lock On/Off sets the state of scroll

lock feature on your system.

Fn-LeftCtrl

simulates the right

— Pressing the Fn key and the left

key.

Ctrl

key

Ctrl

Using Your NEC Versa 4-3

Fn-Suspend

— Save to File on Demand immediately
saves your system working state to a reserved area on
the hard disk drive.

The following key combinations are available with some



applications.

Fn-SysReq

— System request is used in terminal

emulation applications.

Fn-Break



External Keyboard Function keys — When you connect

— Break sends a break command.

an external keyboard to your NEC Versa, the following
hot key combinations are available on the external
keyboard.



Ctrl-Alt-F2

— In DOS display only, toggles text

highlighting on and off.



Ctrl-Alt-F3

— Toggles the display through three
video modes: LCD, CRT, or simultaneous display
on both.



Ctrl-Alt-F5

— Toggles the LCD panel backlight
between full and standard intensity lighting.





4-4 Using Your NEC Versa

Ctrl-Alt-F6

— Sets speaker volume to low, medium,
high, or mute.

Ctrl-Alt-F7

— Toggles between four power man­agement levels. Beeps sound as follows to indicate
the level chosen.

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



Power-Suspend

— This button combination powers
off your system in emergencies. Only use this button
combination if the NEC Versa does not respond to key­board input, VersaGlide action, or the power button.

Windows 95 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 Start menu.
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 the next text typed is inserted.



Typewriter keys — Typewriter keys (also called alpha­numeric keys) are used to enter text and characters.

Keys with blue print on them behave differently when
combined with control keys or the

Fn

key.



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

their normal functions as typewriter keys.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-5



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





Control keys —

Ctrl, Alt, Fn

, and

Shift

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

” means to hold down the

Ctrl c

letter

. Key combinations work specific to the applica-

c

key and type the

Ctrl

tion you are running.

Double tap your finger on the VersaGlide (emulates the
left mouse button).

Double click the left button (this is the primary button).

4-6 Using Your NEC Versa

VersaGlide features

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 touchpad properties.

NOTE

If you install another mouse driver over the
shipping default, the double-tap capability may be
lost.

Making VersaGlide Adjustments

The NEC VersaGlide offers a number of options that let
you customize 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 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.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-7

INTEGRATED DRIVES

The NEC Versa comes with three integrated drives — one
in the front of the system, one on the right side of the sys­tem, and one inside of the system. The drives are as follows:

CD-ROM Drive — Your system ships with a 16X or



20X CD-ROM reader already installed in the front of
the system.

Diskette Drive — Your system ships with a standard



3.5-inch 1.44-MB diskette drive already installed in the
right side of the system.

Hard Disk Drive — Depending upon the model, your



system ships with a 1.44-GB or 2.1-GB hard disk drive
already installed under the base unit cover, in front of
the keyboard.

16X or 20X CD-ROM Reader

Use the CD-ROM reader to load and start programs from a
compact disc (CD). You can also use the CD-ROM reader
to play your audio CDs. The 16X and 20X CD-ROM
readers are compatible with industry data and audio CDs.

The CD-ROM reader operates at different speeds depending
on whether the CD you are using contains data or music.
This allows you to get your data faster and to see smoother
animation and video.

NOTE

Product.

CD-ROM reader features include the following:

Release Button — ejects the CD tray. Press this button



when power is on to insert a CD into or remove a CD
from the reader.

4-8 Using Your NEC Versa

The CD-ROM reader is a Class 1 Laser

CD Loading

Emergency Eject Hole — allows you to manually re-



move a CD from the reader if the eject function is dis­abled by software or a power failure occurs.

To remove a CD, insert the end of a paper clip into the
eject hole, and push in until you hear a click. Now you
can manually open the drawer.

Status LED — lights during data read operations. Do



not eject the CD or turn off the NEC Versa when the
indicator is lit.

To insert a CD into the CD-ROM reader, follow these
steps.

Press the Release button and pull the CD tray out from

1.

the reader door.
Put your CD, printed side up, into the circular impres-

2.

sion in the tray.

CD Care

Push the CD tray in until it clicks shut.

3.

NOTE

Some CDs vibrate when playing. This does
not affect CD-ROM reader functioning.

When handling CDs, keep the following guidelines in mind.



Always pick up the CD by its edges.



Avoid scratching or soiling the side of the CD that has
no printing or writing on it.



Do not write on or apply labels to either side of the CD.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-9

Keep the CD away from direct sunlight or high



temperatures.
Clean fingerprints or dust from the CD by wiping it with



a soft cloth.

Changing the Auto Play Setting

Your system ships so that a CD inserted into the reader will
automatically start playing. The system periodically checks
the reader to see if a CD was inserted. Although this feature
makes using your CDs very convenient, it interferes with
the system’s automatic Save to File feature.

To disable the Auto Play feature or re-enable it, follow
these instructions:

From the Windows 95 Start menu, select Settings and

1.

Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, highlight and double click on the

2.

System icon to show system properties.
Go to the Device Manager tab.

3.

Locate and open the CD-ROM folder.

4.

Highlight the TEAC CD-316E line for the 16X CD-

5.

ROM reader or the TEAC CD-220E line for the 20X
CD-ROM reader.

Press the Properties button at the bottom of the window

6.

and select the Settings tab.
Proceed as follows:

7.





4-10 Using Your NEC Versa

To disable Auto Play, click to remove the check mark
next to the line “Auto insert notification.”

To enable Auto Play, click to add a check mark next
to the line “Auto insert notification.”

Select OK twice to accept the settings in the Settings tab

8.

and exit the Properties window.
To activate the new setting, reboot the system when

9.

prompted.

56K INTERNAL MODEM

The NEC Versa comes equipped with a 56K capable inter­nal voice/fax/data modem that allows you to communicate
with others via fax, email, or connect to an online service or
bulletin board. (The modem is only available on some
models.)

NOTE

Due to FCC regulations in ef fect at the ti me
that this document was printed, the 56K internal
modem transmits at a maximum speed of 52K.

The speed of data t ransmi ssion i s dependent on the
quality of telephone l ines. Digit ally t erminated lines
improve the speed of data transmission. Contact
your service provider for more information.

Be sure to check the NEC Bull etin Board (978-635-

4706) for the latest firmware enhancements to the
56K internal modem.

To find out more about your modem capabilities and uses,
refer to the online modem user’s guide that is available on
your NEC Versa system.

Connecting the Internal Modem

The built-in voice/fax/data modem provides one standard
phone connector. NEC provides one analog cable for your
convenience.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-11

Use the following steps to connect the analog phone cable to
your modem.

Locate the analog phone cable in the accessories box in

1.

the NEC Versa computer shipping carton. Each end of
the cable has an RJ-11 connector that plugs into a stan­dard wall outlet.

NOTE

The analog phone cable is an industry
standard cable. Longer c ables are avai lable at your
local electronics store.

Connect one end of the cable into a standard telephone

2.

wall outlet.
Connect the other end of the cable into the computer’s

3.

modem port.

NOTE

Depending on your operati onal requirem ents,
you may need to di sable the m odem i n order to en­able the IR port for wireless data transfer.

For information about enabling and disabling de­vi ces on your NEC Versa, see “Enabli ng and Disa­bling Devices,” later in this chapter.

QuickLink Message Center III

You can send and receive facsimiles, transfer and receive
data files, customize your voice mailbox, and route
incoming calls on your NEC Versa system using QuickLink
Message Center III.

4-12 Using Your NEC Versa

PC CARDS

Type II Cards

To find out more about QuickLink Message Center III, re­fer to the online help that is available when you open
QuickLink.

PC cards are all approximately the same size and vary only
in thickness. All have a standard 68-pin connector. There
are three types of cards, which vary in thickness.

You can install up to two Type II cards or one Type III card
in the bottom slot of your NEC Versa system.

Type II cards have a thickness of 5.0 millimeters (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 added features such as multimode
cards (cards with more than one function such as a com­bined modem and LAN card) and small hard drive cards.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-13

Communication Cards

You can use both fax/modem and network PC cards with
your NEC Versa. Here are some suggestions to help you get
the best system performance.

NOTE

If you are using this unit out side of t he United
States or Canada, contact a local dealer f or avail­ability information.

If you purchased this system outside of the United
States or Canada, see the booklet , “Get ting S erv ice
and Support in Asia, A ustrali a, and Europe” to find
out how to contact the local office in your country.

Network Cards —You can use a network card with your



system to gain access to a local area network (LAN).



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.

NOTE

need a modem and t elephone adapter approv ed f or
the local telephone system. Check with your local
dealer for details about purchasing the equipment.

You can insert a fax/modem in either slot. Always insert
the fax/modem card before using your fax/modem soft­ware application. If you start the application before in­serting the fax/modem card, the application typically
does not find the card.

4-14 Using Your NEC Versa

Outside of the U.S. and Canada, you might

Storage Cards

Other Cards

When you insert a storage card or small hard drive card in
an NEC notebook computer, it appears as a unique drive
depending on the type of card and the slot you are using.

The following table provides sample drive designations.

Sample Drive Designations

DRIVE LETTER LOCATION/DEVICE

C: Internal hard disk
D: Internal hard disk, 2nd partition
E: CD-ROM reader
F: Slot 1, IDE/ATA hard drive
G: Slot 0, high-speed memory card
H: Slot 1, high-speed memory card

Many other kinds of PC cards are available to notebook
computer users. They include the following cards:



Global Positioning System (GPS) − to enable the track­ing of remote units (for example, delivery trucks)



Paging − for receiving remote paging messages
Serial − for adding an extra serial communications port




Multimedia − for combining animation and sound



Video − for recording, displaying, and capturing full­motion video (NEC VersaVideo™)



Audio − to enable the use of sound.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-15

Card Bus/PC Card Slots

Your NEC Versa offers two PC card slots for inserting two
Type II PC cards or one Type III PC card. The 32-bit card
bus also has zoomed video support in the bottom slot only.

NOTE

This 32-bit structure i s backward com patible,
but also accepts new cards.

Using the system’s PC card slots, you can add optional PC
cards and connect external devices to your NEC Versa.
These devices include peripheral devices, such as modems,
LAN cards, and storage cards. For details on how to obtain
these devices, see the online NEC Versa Tools Catalog.

Inserting a PC Card

Follow these steps to insert a PC card in your system.

Some PC cards require additional system re­sources. Before inserting a PC card you may have
to disable either the IR port, USB port, or the 56K
internal modem. Check the Windows 95 device
manager to ensure that one of these dev i ces i s dis­abled before inserting a PC card.

For information about enabling and disabling de­vi ces on your NEC Versa, see “Enabli ng and Disa­bling Devices,” later in this chapter.

4-16 Using Your NEC Versa

!

CAUTION

Align the card so that the 68-pin connector points to-

1.

wards the slot and the arrow on the PC card faces up.

Inserting a PC card

Slide the card into either slot. A low tone followed by a

2.

high tone lets you know that the card is fully inserted
and recognized. (If you turn off the sound, no sound is
emitted.)

!

Other two-tone sequences such as high, then low
tones indicat e that the c ard is i nserted, but t he card
type is unknown.

NOTE

When you insert a PC c ard, a but ton pops out
of the PC card bay. Pivot the button towards the
front of the system until it fits into the recessed
space next to the slot.

CAUTION

Using Your NEC Versa 4-17

3.

Removing a Card

Remove PC cards as follows.

space before beginning the following procedure.

1.

2.

3.

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 95 Control
Panel. It shows which slot contains a PC card and which
is empty.

NOTE

Piv ot the PC card button out of the recessed

From the screen, select “My Computer,” then “Control
Panel.” (You can also double click on the PC Card icon
in the lower right side of the toolbar on your desktop.)

Select the PC Card icon.
Select the PC card to remove and select “Stop.”

Windows 95 alerts you if any applications are still using
the card. If all applications using that card are closed,
services for that card are shut down, and you get a
message telling you it is safe to remove the card.

Press the button beside the PC card slot.

4.

When the card pops out slightly, pull it out of the slot.

5.

NOTE

To save energy , press the button to disconnect the
card when it is not i n use. You can l eave the card i n
the slot while it is disconnected for easy storage.

4-18 Using Your NEC Versa

PC cards draw power even when not in use.

IR Port

The IR port on the left side of your system lets your NEC
Versa communicate with other devices that also use infrared
technology. The IR port is Infrared Data Association
(IrDA) compatible. You can easily transfer files between
your NEC Versa and an IR-equipped desktop, or print to an
IR-equipped printer without using cables.

There are three transfer rates for the IR port on your NEC
Versa. The transfer rates are FIR (Fast Infrared - 4.0
Mbit/sec), MIR (Medium Infrared - 1.152 Mbit/sec), and
SIR (Serial Infrared Standard - 2.4 Kbit/sec).

Your NEC Versa transfers data at the speed compatible
with the receiving device. If the receiving device is also FIR
equipped, your NEC Versa recognizes this capability and
transfers data at the FIR rate.

!

Your NEC Versa ships with the IR port disabled.
The fi rst ti me that you use the IR port you must en­able the device through the setup utility.

CAUTION

Once the IR port is enabled in setup, use the
Wi ndows 95 device m anager to enable and disable
devices.

For information about enabling and disabling de­vi ces on your NEC Versa, see “Enabli ng and Disa­bling Devices,” later in this chapter.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-19

Follow these steps to enable the IR port using the setup
utility.

Enter the setup utility as indicated in Chapter 3, “Using

1.

Setup and Power Management.”
Select Peripherals Setup.

2.

Use the

3.

Press

4.

5.

Esc

Save settings and exit.

NOTE

To use the IR port to communicate with an
external device when a PC card i s instal l ed, use t he
Windows 95 device manager to disable either the
USB port or the 56K inter nal modem (m odem only
avai lable on some m odels). Ensure that the IR port
has been enabled through the setup utility.

To tak e advantage of the FIR transf er rate, disable
the 56K internal modem.

For information about enabling and disabling de­vi ces on your NEC Versa, see “Enabli ng and Disa­bling Devices,” later in this chapter.

feature to set the IR port to AUTO.

PgDn

to exit Peripherals Setup.

For the infrared technology to work, follow these guidelines:



position the NEC Versa no more than three feet way
from the IR peripheral device you are using, and

keep the IR ports between the computer and the device



parallel.

The LapLink software that ships with your NEC Versa
system provides ways for you to use the IR port. Read the
instructions “How to Use LapLink” in Chapter 2.

4-20 Using Your NEC Versa

USB Port

The USB Port on the left side of your system allows you to
connect up to 127 USB equipped peripheral devices to your
NEC Versa notebook computer. These peripherals may in­clude digital cameras, scanners, printers, CD-ROM drives,
modems, keyboards, telephones, and games devices.

USB devices called USB hubs can serve as connection ports
for other USB peripherals. Only one device needs to be
plugged into your NEC Versa. Additional peripherals can
be connected in a daisy chain configuration where one
device is connected to another in a series. Up to 127 USB
devices can be connected together in this way.

NOTE

Connect the USB device to the port on your

NEC Versa that displays the USB icon.
Depending on your operational requirements, you

may need to disable the USB port in order release
system resources to use other devices.

For information about enabling and disabling
devices on your NEC Versa, see “Enabling and
Disabling Devices,” later in this chapter.

ENABLING AND DISABLING DEVICES

Depending on your operational requirements you may need
to enable and disable devices on your NEC Versa to opti­mize system resources.

Follow these steps to enable or disable a device on your
NEC Versa:

Press Start, slide the cursor to Settings, and locate the

1.

Control Panel.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-21

Double click the System icon and select Device

2.

Manager.
Double click the appropriate device (for example, the In-

3.

frared Port), then double click the device name (NEC
Versa Fast Infrared Port).

Enable or disable a device as follows:

4.



To enable a device, click to remove the check mark
beside “Disable in this hardware profile” in the de­vice usage portion of the screen.

To disable a device, click to add the check mark be-



side “Disable in this hardware profile” in the device
usage portion of the screen.

Click OK and follow the on-screen instructions, as ap-

5.

propriate.

NOTE

When a device is disabled, a red X appears
beside the device name in the device manager
device list.

Reboot your system after enabling or disabling a
devi ce to im plement the modi ficat ion to the system
configuration.

4-22 Using Your NEC Versa

!

CAUTION

INCREASING SYSTEM STORAGE AND MEMORY

As your needs grow and change, you may need to add an
optional hard disk drive with a greater capacity or addi­tional memory. Read the following sections to learn how to
install an optional hard disk drive or a memory module.

Hard Disk Drive

You can increase the system’s storage capacity by replacing
the standard hard disk drive with a drive with greater stor­age capacity.

NOTE

If you wish to replace your hard disk, c ontact
your local dealer for more information about this
dealer-installable device.

If you purchased this system outside of the United
States or Canada, see the booklet , “Get ting S erv ice
and Support in Asi a, Australi a, and Europe,” to f ind
out how to contact the local office in your country.

Memory Module Installation

Your NEC Versa comes standard with 16 megabytes (MB)
of Extended Data Out (EDO) memory. This new technology
gives your system higher performance. You can increase
system memory to a maximum of 128 MB by installing two
small outline double inline memory modules (SO-DIMMs)
in the system.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-23

NOTE

If you increase your system m emory to m ore
than 48 MB, you must run the HDPREPEZ utility.
The HDPREPEZ utility increases the amount of
space reserved on the har d drive f or use when the
system goes into the Save to File state. (See
Chapter 2, “Understandi ng the Sof tware,” f or detail s
about running HDPREPEZ.

The following module capacities are available:

16-MB memory module



32-MB memory module.





64-MB memory module.

Install DIMMs as follows.

Make sure the system is powered off and that no periph-

1.

eral devices are attached.
Turn the system over and locate the two screws that se-

2.

cure the palm rest.

4-24 Using Your NEC Versa

Locating the palm rest screws

Remove the screws and turn the system over.

3.

Open the LCD panel.

4.

Slide the palm rest about a half inch towards the front of

5.

the system and tilt it back towards the keyboard.
Locate the alignment notch on the module.

6.

Using Your NEC Versa 4-25

DIMM features