Nec VERSA LXI Brochure

Proprietary Notice and Liability Disclaimer

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

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

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

As an ENERGY STAR partner, NEC Computers Inc. has determined that this product meets the ENERGY

STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

NEC is a registered trademark, Versa is a U.S. registered trademark, VersaBay, VersaGlide, and PortBar are

trademarks, and UltraCare is a U.S . registered service mark of NEC Corporati on , and/or one or more of its

subsidiaries, used unde r licens e .
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark.
All other product, brand, or trade names used in this publication are the trademarks or registered trademarks of

their respective trademark owners.

First Printing — October 2000

Copyright 2000

NEC Computers Inc.

15 Business Park Way

Sacramento, CA 95828

All Rights Reserved

Contents

Using This Guide

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

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

1 Introducing Your NEC Versa

Before you Begin............................................................................................................... 1-2

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

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

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

Base Unit.....................................................................................................................1-5

Operating Status LEDs ............................................................................................... 1-6

Power Button.......................................................................................................1-7

Keyboard.....................................................................................................................1-8

Front Features...........................................................................................................1-10

Around the Back of the System........................................................................................1-11

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

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

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

2 Getting Started

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

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

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

Power Sources for Your NEC Versa..................................................................................2-3

AC Adapter........................................................................................................................ 2-4

Connecting the AC Adapter........................................................................................2-4

Powering On Your System .........................................................................................2-5

Main Battery Pack..............................................................................................................2-6

Determining Battery Status......................................................................................... 2-6

Battery Gauge LEDs...................................................................................................2-7

Low Battery Status......................................................................................................2-8

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

Extending Battery Life................................................................................................2-8

Conserving Battery Power.......................................................................................... 2-8

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

Replacing the Battery..................................................................................................2-9

Battery Precautions................................................................................................... 2-13

Precautions for Recharging the Battery....................................................................2-13

System Batteries...............................................................................................................2-14

Main Battery.............................................................................................................2-14

CMOS Battery .......................................................................................................... 2-14

Bridge Battery........................................................................................................... 2-14

Contents iii

Optional Battery........................................................................................................2-14

System Care......................................................................................................................2-15

Precautions for System Use.......................................................................................2-15

Storage Requirements ...............................................................................................2-16

Routine Cleaning.......................................................................................................2-16

3 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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

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

Pausing the Screen ......................................................................................................3-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Establishing System Passwords.................................................................................3-10

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

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

Changing Hard Disk Drive Passwords...............................................................3-11

Using Hard Disk Drive Password Protection.....................................................3-11

Moving the Hard Disk Drive..............................................................................3-12

Power Management Setup.........................................................................................3-12

Boot Device Setup.....................................................................................................3-15

Peripheral Setup........................................................................................................3-17

Other BIOS Setup Options........................................................................................ 3-18

Managing System Power..................................................................................................3-18

Windows 2000 Power Options Properties.................................................................3-19

Windows 2000 Power Schemes................................................................................3-19

Windows 2000 Alarms..............................................................................................3-20

Windows 2000 Power Meter.....................................................................................3-21

Windows 2000 Advanced.........................................................................................3-21

Windows 2000 Hibernate..........................................................................................3-22

Windows 98 Power Management Properties............................................................3-22

Windows 98 Power Schemes....................................................................................3-23

Windows 98 Alarms..................................................................................................3-24

Windows 98 Power Meter.........................................................................................3-24

Windows 98 Advanced.............................................................................................3-25

Windows 98 Hibernate..............................................................................................3-25

Intel SpeedStep Technology......................................................................................3-26

Advanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Options................................................3-27

Windows 2000/98 Power Management States..........................................................3-27

Recognizing the Windows 2000/98 Power Management States...............................3-28

Windows NT Power Management States..................................................................3-28

iv Contents

Recognizing the Windows NT Power Management States.......................................3-29

Updating the BIOS...........................................................................................................3-30

Obtaining the BIOS Update......................................................................................3-30

Preparing the BIOS Update Diskette........................................................................3-30

Identifying the Switch Settings.................................................................................3-31

Enabling the BIOS Flash Switch .............................................................................. 3-32

Performing the BIOS Update.................................................................................... 3-35

4 Using the Operating System and Utilities

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

Windows 2000............................................................................................................ 4-2

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

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

Windows 98 Second Edition.......................................................................................4-3

Desktop Icons......................................................................................................4-3

Taskbar Icons.......................................................................................................4-5

Windows NT............................................................................................................... 4-6

NEC Utilities...................................................................................................................... 4-6

NEC Customize Utility...............................................................................................4-6

NEC Customize Utility Screen............................................................................ 4-7

Using the NEC Customize Utility........................................................................4-7

HDPREPEZ Utility.....................................................................................................4-7

Using HDPREPEZ with Windows 98 .................................................................4-8

Using HDPREPEZ with Windows NT................................................................4-8

SpeedStep Applet............................................................................................................... 4-8

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

Launching the CD with Windows 98..........................................................................4-9

Launching the CD with Windows 2000/NT...............................................................4-9

Application and Driver CD Dialog Box......................................................................4-9

Installing the A&D Software ....................................................................................4-10

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

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

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

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

Product Recovery CD ......................................................................................................4-11

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

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

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

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

5 Using the System Drives and Bays

NEC Versa File Bay...........................................................................................................5-2

SuperDisk Drive.................................................................................................................5-2

Formatting Diskettes in the SuperDisk Drive............................................................. 5-3

NEC VersaBay III.............................................................................................................. 5-3

NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility.........................................................................................5-4

Contents v

Installing the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility............................................................5-4

Using the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility..................................................................5-5

Removing a Device from the NEC VersaBay III........................................................5-6

Installing a Device in the NEC VersaBay III..............................................................5-7

Other NEC VersaBay III Devices...............................................................................5-8

24X CD-ROM Drive..........................................................................................................5-9

CD Loading...............................................................................................................5-10

CD Care.....................................................................................................................5-10

Changing the Auto Play Setting................................................................................5-10

CD Read/Write Drive .......................................................................................................5-11

8X DVD-ROM Drive.......................................................................................................5-12

Hard Disk Drive...............................................................................................................5-13

Memory Modules.............................................................................................................5-18

6 Communicating with Your NEC Versa

PC Cards.............................................................................................................................6-2

Type II Cards ..............................................................................................................6-2

Type II Extended Cards...............................................................................................6-2

Type III Cards.............................................................................................................6-2

Communication Cards.................................................................................................6-2

Storage Cards..............................................................................................................6-3

Other Cards.................................................................................................................6-3

PC Card Slots..............................................................................................................6-3

Using the PC Card Slots..............................................................................................6-4

Inserting a PC Card.....................................................................................................6-4

Removing a Card.........................................................................................................6-5

PC Card Modems........................................................................................................6-6

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

Mini-PCI LAN ...................................................................................................................6-7

Mini-PCI LAN/Modem......................................................................................................6-7

Installing the Online LAN/Modem Guides.................................................................6-8

Internet Connections...........................................................................................................6-8

Connecting to the Internet in Windows 2000..............................................................6-8

Connecting to the Internet in Windows 98..................................................................6-9

Connecting to the Internet in Windows NT ................................................................6-9

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

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

Enabling the IR Serial Port in the System BIOS.......................................................6-10

Enabling the IR Port with Windows 2000.................................................................6-10

Transferring Files Using the IR Port with Windows 2000........................................6-11

Enabling the IR Port with Windows 98.....................................................................6-11

Transferring Files Using the IR port with Windows 98............................................6-11

vi Contents

7 Traveling Tips

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

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

Using Power Sources.........................................................................................................7-3

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

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

8 Using Peripheral Devices

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

Printer.................................................................................................................................8-3

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

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

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

External Television Connections .......................................................................................8-6

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

USB Devices......................................................................................................................8-9

NEC Versa Dock..............................................................................................................8-10

NEC Versa PortBar .......................................................................................................... 8-11

PortBar Ports............................................................................................................. 8-11

9 Using Multimedia

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

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

Playing Back...............................................................................................................9-3

Optimizing the Sound Quality....................................................................................9-3

Line-In ........................................................................................................................ 9-4

CD-ROM Input...........................................................................................................9-4

Microphone................................................................................................................. 9-4

Mixing.........................................................................................................................9-5

Using Headphones...................................................................................................... 9-5

Using External Stereo Speakers.................................................................................. 9-5

Using the Built-In Speakers........................................................................................9-5

Digital Audio Output..................................................................................................9-5

MIDI Files...................................................................................................................9-6

Video..................................................................................................................................9-6

Using Digital Video Files ........................................................................................... 9-6

Using Animation Files................................................................................................ 9-6

Multimedia Applications....................................................................................................9-7

10 Solving System Problems

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

Start-Up Problems............................................................................................................ 10-3

Post Error Messages..................................................................................................10-4

Beep Codes...............................................................................................................10-6

If You Need Assistance....................................................................................................10-7

Contents vii

11 Getting Service and Support

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

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

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

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

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

A Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment

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

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

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

Adjust Your Input Devices................................................................................................A-3

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

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

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

B Specifications

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

Memory Map..................................................................................................................... B-9

Interrupt Controllers........................................................................................................B-10

C Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

Diskette Drive ...................................................................................................................C-5

Booting..............................................................................................................................C-7

Power Management........................................................................................................... C-7

Miscellaneous.................................................................................................................. C-10

Glossary
Index
Regulatory Statements

viii Contents

Using This Guide

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

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

hardware.

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

for your system.

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

parameters and power management.

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

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

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

VersaBay III devices, upgrading the hard disk drive and installing memory
modules.

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

using PC cards, optional mini-PCI modems or LANs, and other communication
features of the system.

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

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

! Chapter 8, “Using Peripheral Devices,” to master procedures for connecting

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

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

impressive presentations.

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

that may arise while operating your notebook.

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

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

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

promote a healthy work setting.

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

Using This Guide ix

Text Setup

! Appendix C, “Frequently Asked Que stio n s,” (FAQs) for a look at questions that

users commonly ask and the answers to those questions.

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

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

Warnings alert you to situations that could result in serious

personal injury or loss of life.

Cautions indicate situations that can dam age the sy ste m

hardware or software.

Note

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

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

Notes give particularly important information about whatever is being described.

Ctrl, Alt

Enter

.

example, type

dir

and press

Enter

.

, or

x Using This Guide

Related Documents

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

! The NEC Versa LXi Quick Setup sheet helps get your system up and running.
! The NEC Versa LXi Quick Reference card provides an easy-to-carry reference to

LED meanings, controls, function key combina t ions, and NECC help numbers.
(The quick reference card does not ship with some systems purchased outside of the
United States and Canada.)

! The NEC Info Center is a fully navigational, pdf document containing multime dia

elements, a full search capability, and important information about your NEC
Versa.

Using This Guide xi

Introducing Your NEC Versa

!

Before You Begin

!

About Your NEC Versa LXi Notebook

!

Around the Front of the System

!

Around the Back of the System

!

Around the Left Side of the System

!

Around the Right Side of the System

!

Around the Bottom of the System

1

Before you Begin

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

After completing the steps in the Quick Setup sheet that comes with your computer,
your NEC Versa LXi notebook computer is ready to go! To get started, do the
following:

! Read Appendix A, “Setting Up a Healthy Work Environment,” for guidelines that

help you use your compute r productively and safely. Informat ion includes how to
set up and use your computer to reduce your risk of developing nerve , muscle, or
tendon disorders.

! Take the online Tour to get acquainted with the NEC Versa’s infor mation

resources. The Tour is part of the NEC Info Center. Use the Application and Driver
CD that ships with your NEC Versa LXi syste m to install the NEC Info Center.

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

Prolonged or improper use of a computer workstation may

1-2 Introducing Your NEC Versa

About Your NEC Versa LXi Notebook

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

®

Intel

Pentium III 650-MHz, 700-MHz, 750-MHz, 800 MHz or 850 MHz with
Speedstep™ microprocessor and AGP (advanced graphics port). Intel’s SpeedStep
technology allows you to customize high-performance computing on your notebook
system to optimize performance speed and conserve battery life. The 14.1-inch or

15.0-inch TFT XGA LCD panel provides high-resolution display for sharp, effective
visuals.

In addition, your system provides a high-performance hard disk drive, a diskette drive
or SuperDisk™ drive, PC card support, and a 24X CD-ROM drive, a CD Read/Write
drive or an 8X DVD-ROM drive. To optimize your connectivity options, some models
ship with an internal mini-PCI modem, internal mini-PCI LAN, or co mbination internal
mini-PCI LAN/modem. As a multimedia system, your NEC Versa also provides the
tools needed to create and present impressive images using video clips and sound.

NEC Versa LXi notebook computer

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

Introducing Your NEC Versa 1-3

Around the Front of the System

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

LCD Panel

Your NEC Versa LXi comes with a 1024x768, 16M color LCD panel that you can
adjust for a comfortable viewing position. To adjust the viewing angle, gently tilt the
LCD panel into position. Depending on the model, your system is equipped with a:

! 14.1-inch color Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Extended Graphics Array (XGA) panel,

or a

! 15.0-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Extended Graphics Array (XGA) panel.

To adjust the LCD panel brightness press the
more details about using the system’s function keys, see the section, “Keyboard,” later
in this chapter.

Fn-F8

and

Fn-F9

functions ke ys. For

1-4 Introducing Your NEC Versa

Base Unit

The base unit of your NEC Versa offers the following features, which are described
after the figure.

LCD panel and base unit

A – Stereo Speakers D – Operating Status LEDs
B – Keyboard E – Power Button
C – LCD Panel F – NEC VersaGlide

! Stereo Speakers — Provide stereo sound for your multimedia presentations or

listening pleasure. The built-in sound system also supports 3D sound, which
simulates the latest surround-sound technology.

! Keyboard — 85 keys with the standard QWERTY-key layout. (Models purchased

outside of the U.S. and Canada ship with country-specific keyboard layouts.)

! LCD Panel — Provides a high-resolution display for sharp, e ffective visuals on

your NEC Versa.

! Operating Status LEDs — Keeps you informed of your NEC Versa's current

operating status. See the following section for details about the operating status
LEDs.

! Power Button — Press the Power button to power on, power off, and to resume

from Suspend (Windows NT) or Standby (Windows 2000/98) mode.

Introducing Your NEC Versa 1-5

! NEC VersaGlide — The NEC VersaGlide works like a standard computer mouse.

Simply move your fingertip over the VersaGlide to control the position of the
mouse pointer. Use the selection buttons below the VersaGlide to select menu
items. VersaGlide settings and features are described in detail in Chapter 2.

Operating Status LEDs

Operating status LEDs

A – IDE/VBIII Devices E – Num Lock
B – Diskette Drive F – Microphone
C – Caps Lock G – Power Button
D – Scroll Lock

! IDE/VBIII devices — lights when the NEC Versa writes data to or retrieves data

from the internal hard disk drive, a SuperDisk drive in the file bay, or a device in
the VersaBay III.

! Diskette Drive — lights when the NEC Versa accesses the floppy diskette drive.
! Caps Lock — li ghts when Caps Lock is in effect.
! Scroll Lock — lights when Scroll Lock is in effect.
! Num Lock — lights when Num Lock mode is active.
! Microphone — A strategically positioned built-in microphone allows you to record

monophonic sound directly into your notebook computer. See Chapter 9, “Using
Multimedia,” for details about recording.

1-6 Introducing Your NEC Versa

Power Button

The Power button is a “smart” switch, meaning that it recognize s when the system is in
Suspend mode in Windows NT*, or in Standby mode in Windows 2000/98**. If in
Suspend or Standby mode, you cannot power off until you press the Power button to
resume operation.

Put the unit in Suspend or Standby mode when you need to be away from your system
for a short period of time and want to return to where you left off. Suspend mode in
Windows NT and Standby mode in Windows 2000/98 shuts down all devices in the
system while retaining data and system status.

! In Windows NT, press the Power button for less tha n 4 seconds to put your system

! In Windows 2000/98, go to Start, Shutdown, Standby to put your system into

! Use the Power button in the following ways:

* The BIOS parameter “System Switch” must be set to “Sleep.”
** The Advanced Power Management setting, “When I press the power button on

my computer,” must be set to Standby.

into Suspend mode. The BIOS parameter “System Switch” must be set to “Sleep.”

Standby mode.

— Press the Power button to power on.
— Press the Power button to resume from Suspend (Windows NT) or Standby

(Windows 2000/98) mode and proceed with normal operation.

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

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

Introducing Your NEC Versa 1-7

Keyboard

The NEC Versa keyboard offers the following features, which are described after the
figure.

Keyboard

A – Function Keys D – Windows Keys
B – Numeric Keys E – Control Key
C – Cursor Control Keys F – Control Keys

! Function keys — Twelve functio n keys,

Versa keyboard. These keys work together with the
functions. Several keys ar e preprogr ammed with dual functions, some of which are
printed in blue on the key.

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 functio n key combina t ions are preprogrammed for the NEC Versa
LXi computer.

Fn-F3

— Toggles between four video modes; LCD, CRT, both (LCD and CRT) or

TV out.

Fn-F4

— Sets Standby power management mode on, in Windows NT.

— In Windows NT, press any key to resume from Standby mode.
— No function in Windows 2000/98. In Windows 2000/98, Standby is equivalent

to Windows NT Suspend mode. To resume from Windows 2000/98 Standby
mode, press the Power button.

1-8 Introducing Your NEC Versa

F1

through

F12

, are available on the NEC

Fn

key to activate special

Fn-F6

— Sets the beeper volume to low, medium, high, or mute.

Fn-F8

— Increases the LCD panel brightness.

Fn-F9

— Decreases the LCD panel brightness.

Fn-F10

— Toggles LCD expansion mode (DOS only).

Fn-F12

— Toggles the scroll lock off and on.

Fn-ESC —

Initiates a Save-to-Ram, in Windows NT. Saves your working

environment to memory.

Fn-Power

— Initiates a Save-to-File on demand, in Windows NT. Saves your

working environment to a reserved area on the hard drive.

An additional preprogrammed function key,

Fn-Left Ctrl

, simulates pressing the right

control key for support of IBM 327x connections.

! Numeric keypad — Pressing NumLock on the keyboard activates the numeric

keypad numbers and functions printed in blue on 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 NumLock again, the keys revert to their normal functions as

typewriter keys.

! Cursor Contr ol 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
line depending on the application. The cursor indicates where the next text typed is
inserted.

! Windows keys — In the Windows environment, you can use the following two

keys to facilitate your work.

Quick access to shortcut menus

Displays the Start menu

Introducing Your NEC Versa 1-9

! Control keys —

keys to change their functions. To use c ontrol keys, press and hold the control key
while pressing another key. For example, “press

Ctrl

application you are running.

! Typewriter ke ys — The typewriter keys (also called alphanumeric keys) are used to

enter text and characters. Keys with blue printing on them behave differently when
combined with control keys or the

Front Features

The front features of your NEC Versa are described after the following figure.

A – NEC VersaBay III C – Battery Charging LED
B – Power Status LED D – LCD Lid Latch

Ctrl, Alt, Fn

, and

Shift

are controls used in conjunction with other

Ctrl c

” means to hold down the

key and type the letter c. How the key combination works depends on the

Fn

key.

Features on the front of the system

! NEC VersaBay III™ — A 24X CD-ROM drive, a CD Read/Write drive, a

SuperDisk drive, or an 8X DVD-ROM drive comes installed in the NEC VersaBay
III on the front of your system.

The VersaBay III lets you add options, including an optional second Li-Ion battery,
or an additional hard disk drive. See “Other NEC VersaBay III Devices,”
in Chapter 5.

! Power Status LED — lights green when the syst em is under AC power. When the

system is under battery power, this LED lights to indicate the following:

— Lights gre en when the system power is on.
— Blinks green when the system is in Suspend (Windows NT) or Standby

(Windows 2000/98) mode.

— Lights yellow (blinks when in Windows NT Suspend mode or Windows

2000/98 Standby mode) to indicate that battery power is at 8% capacity or less.

— Lights amber (blinks when in Windows NT Suspend mode or Windows 2000/98

Standby mode) to indicate that battery power is at 3% capacity or less.

1-10 Introducing Your NEC Versa

Note

status LED indicates the total (primary plus secondary) battery status.

! Battery Char gi ng LE D — lights to indicate battery charging activity.

When both the primary and a secondary battery are installed, the power

— Lights amber when the primary battery is charging. Blinks amber to indicate an

error. The primary battery is installed in the battery bay.

— Lights green when the secondary battery is charging. Blinks green to indicate an

error. The secondary (optional) battery is installed in the VersaBay III.

! LCD Lid Latch — Secures the LCD panel when closed.

Around the Back of the System

You'll find system ports for connecting optional devices (like a printer, a docking
station, or an external monitor) on the back of your NEC Versa. These ports are
described after the figure.

Ports on the back of the system

A – PortBar Notches E – External Monitor Port
B – PS/2 Port F – Expansion Port
C – Serial Port G – AC Power Port
D – Parallel Port

! PortBar Notches — Secure the PortBar to the back of the system.
! PS/2 Port — Connects an external PS/2-style mouse or a PS/2 -style keyboard to the

system. With an optional Y-cable adapter, you can connect both a mouse and a
keyboard at the same time.

! Serial Port — Connects an external modem or other serial device.
! Parallel Port — Connects a parallel printer or other p ar a llel device. The port is an

Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP). The ECP standar d provides you with a greater
processing speed than the conventional parallel port. It also supports Enhanced
Parallel Port (EPP), bi-directional and uni-directio nal p rotocols.

Introducing Your NEC Versa 1-11

! External Monitor (Video) Port — Attaches an external monitor to your NEC Versa.

You can run the LCD display and the external monitor simultaneously or run either
alone.

! Expansion Port — This port (also called the Docking port) p r ovides a connection

for NEC Versa LXi options including the NEC Versa Dock and the NEC Versa
PortBar.

Only dock the NEC Versa LXi system on the NEC Versa Dock.
The cover of the NEC Versa Dock is specially designed to allow for proper system
cooling.

! AC Power Port — Use the power jack to attach the NEC Versa to a DC power

source, such as the AC adapter or the optional DC auto adapter.

Around the Left Side of the System

The left side of your NEC Versa offers the following features, which are described after
the figure.

Left side features

A – TV Out (S-video) E – LAN Port (optional)
B – TV Out (RCA) F – USB Ports
C – Fan G – PC Card Slots
D – Modem Port (optional)

! TV Out (S-video)Port — Lets you use a television set equipped with an S-video

input jack as an external monitor. This port supports both NTSC and PAL signals.

! TV Out (RCA) Port — Lets you use a television set equipped with a standard RCA

jack as an external monitor. This port supports both NTSC and PAL signals.

The TV Out ports do not support the SECAM signal used in some countries.

Note

1-12 Introducing Your NEC Versa

! Fan — Allows your system to cool properly and maintain a safe oper ating

temperature.

Always keep the fan vents unobstructed to allow proper

system cooling.

! Modem Port — Uses an RJ-11 cable to connect your internal modem to an analog

telephone line. (Available if optional mini-PCI modem or mini-PCI LAN/modem
combo installed.)

! LAN Port — Uses an RJ-45 cable to connect your system to a local area network.

(Available if optional mini-PCI LAN or mini-PCI LAN/modem combo installed.)

! USB Ports — Each Universal Serial Bus (USB) po r t allows you to connect up to

127 USB-equipped peripheral devices (printers, monitors, scanners, etc.) to your
NEC Versa.

! PC Card slots — Provide two slots for inserting two Type II PC cards or one Type

III PC card.

Around the Right Side of the System

The right side of the NEC Versa offers the following features, which are described after
the figure.

Right side features

A – Volume Control E – IR port
B – Headphones/External Speakers F – Kensington Lock
C – Line-In G – File Bay
D – External Microphone H – Battery Bay

! Volume Control — Allows you to control the speaker and headphone volume.

Introducing Your NEC Versa 1-13

! Audio ports

— Headphones/External Speakers — Connects external headphones or speakers to

your NEC Versa. Plugging in headphones disables the built-in system speakers.
The headphone/speaker port supports SP/DIF.

— Line-In — Uses 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 in stereo.

— External Microphone (MIC) — Connects an external microphone for

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

! IR Port — Use this infrared (IR) port to transfer files between your NEC Versa and

an IR-equipped desktop or notebook computer or to print to an IR-capable printer.

Note

on how to enable the IR port, see Chapter 6, “Communicating with Your NEC Versa.”

! Kensington Lo c k — Provides added security by installing an optional Kensington

Your NEC Versa LXi ships with the IR port disabled. For detailed instructions

Lock.

! File Bay — Your NEC Versa ships with a 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive or the

SuperDisk drive installed in the file bay.

! Battery Bay — Contains the system's main, twelve-cell, Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)

battery.

1-14 Introducing Your NEC Versa

Around the Bottom of the System

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

Bottom features

A – Height Adjustment Feet E – NEC VersaBay III
B – Memory Module Bay F – NEC VersaBay III Release Latch
C – Battery Bay Release Latch G – Main Battery Bay
D – NEC VersaBay III Release Lock H – Vents

! Height Adjustment Feet — Modifies the angle of the NEC Versa for easier viewing

and typing.

! Memory Module Bay — Stores the system’s memory modules.
! Battery Bay Release Latch — Releases and removes the system’s main battery.
! NEC VersaBay III Release Lock — Unlocks the VersaBay III for device removal.
! NEC VersaBay III — A 24X CD-ROM drive, a SuperDisk drive, a CD Read/Write

drive, or an 8X DVD-ROM drive comes installed in the NEC VersaBay III on the
front of your system.

Introducing Your NEC Versa 1-15

The NEC VersaBay III lets you add options, including an optional second Li-Ion
battery, or an additional hard disk drive. See the section, “Other NEC VersaBay III
Devices,” in Chapter 5 for details about NEC VersaBay III options.

! NEC VersaBay III Release Latch — Releases a device from the NEC VersaBay III.

! Battery Bay — Contains the system's main, twelve-cell, Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)

battery.

! Vents — Allows your system to cool properly and maintain a safe operating

environment.

1-16 Introducing Your NEC Versa

Getting Started

!

NEC VersaGlide

!

Power Sources for Your NEC Versa

!

AC Adapter

!

Main Battery Pack

!

System Batteries

!

System Care

2

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. The NEC
VersaGlide provides standard mouse functionality, plus more. VersaGlide features
include:

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

!

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

!

button.
Click and hold, then drag your finger across the VersaGlide touchpad, equivalent

!

to a click and drag of the primary mouse button.
Slide your finger along the right side of the touchpad to scroll your document or

!

screen.

VersaGlide features

A – Touchpad C – Right Button
B – Left (primary) Button

Try all of the features and decide which you prefer. If you find the double tap or any of
the other features difficult to use, go to the next section for general directions about
adjusting the touchpad properties.

2-2 Getting Started

Making VersaGlide Adjustments

The NEC VersaGlide offers a number of options that let you customize how it
functions. The options let you control the cursor speed, select button orientation, enable
or disable tapping, define auto jumps, enable easy- scrolling, and configure gestures to
initiate selected functions by tapping in a designated area of the touchpad.

To access these options, locate the Control Panel and double click on the mouse icon.
Use the context-sensitive help to learn more about each option. Select the option, then

F1

press

to access context sensitive help.

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.

Power Sources for Your NEC Versa

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

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

! the AC adapter connected to an electrical wall outlet (using AC power)
! the battery pack or an optional second battery pack
! the optional Auto adapter (For details about its use, refer to the accessory sheet that

ships with this option.)

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

Getting Started 2-3

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.

Keep the adapter connected whenever possible. The AC adapter charges the battery
when it is connected, whether the NEC Versa is powered on or off.

A – AC Adapter C – Power Cable
B – AC Adapter Cable

adapter has no user-replaceable or serviceable parts inside. Dangerous voltage in the
AC adapter can cause serious personal injury or death. The AC adapter is intended for
use with a computer and must meet EN609050 standards.

AC Adapter

Do not attempt to disassemble the AC adapter. The AC

Connecting the AC Adapter

Note

where you are using it. Contact the local dealer to purchase the correct power cable.

Connect the AC adapter as follows:

1.

2.

2-4 Getting Started

The AC power cable type that your system uses depends on the country

Connect the AC adapter cable to the power port on the back of your NEC Versa.
Plug one end of the AC power cable into the AC adapter and the other end into a

properly grounded 120- or 240-volt wall outlet.

Connecting the AC Adapter

A – AC Adapter B – AC Power Port

Do not cover or place objects on the AC adapter. Keeping the

adapter clear of objects lets the adapter cool properly during use.
Only use the AC adapter that comes with your NEC Versa LXi. Although other adapters

look similar, using them can damage your system.

Powering On Your System

Power on the system as follows:

1.

Locate the latch on the front of the LCD panel, slide it to the right, and raise the
panel.

2.

Locate and press the Power button to turn on system power. For additional
information about Power control buttons and power LEDs, refer to Chapter 1,
“Introducing the NEC Versa.”

Getting Started 2-5

Main Battery Pack

The NEC Versa comes with a rechargeable Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery pack that’s
easy to install and remove.

the following:

Keep the battery away from extreme heat.

!

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

!

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

!

Read the precautions printed on the battery.

!

Determining Battery Status

Your NEC Versa system provides tools to help you keep track of the main (and an
optional) battery's power level. If your system is configured (d efault setting) to display
the power icon on the taskbar in the Windows environments, an electrical plug appears
when the system is connected to an AC power source. A battery icon displays when the
system is not connected to an AC power source.

Use the system’s power meter to determine battery status. Access the system’s power
meter in the following ways:

! Move the cursor over the power icon on the taskbar to display the remaining battery

power for the system’s main battery.

To prevent accidental battery ignition or explosion, adhere to

! Right click the power icon on the taskbar to open the power meter or to adjust

power properties.

! Double click the power icon on the taskbar to display the remaining power for bo th

the main and optional (if attached) battery.

! Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double click the Power Management icon

and select the Power Meter tab.

In addition to the system’s power meter, you can determine battery status via the
battery gauge LEDs on the front of the Lithium-Ion battery that ships with your NEC
Versa LXi computer. For details about the battery gauge LEDs, refer to the next
section, “Battery Gauge LEDs.”

Systems runn ing the Window NT operating system use SystemSoft’s PowerProfiler™
to determine battery status. Simply click the battery icon on the taskbar to launch the
PowerProfiler battery page.

2-6 Getting Started

A – Battery Gauge LEDs C – LED Status Button
B – Alignment Grooves

Battery Gauge LEDs

To check battery status, press the LED status button to illuminate the LEDs. The
battery gauge LEDs indicate the following:

Lithium-Ion battery

Battery Gauge LEDs

Note

the illustration, recharge the battery overnight. If the problem still persists, contact NECC
Support Services.

If the battery gauge LEDs display a combination other than those depicted in

Getting Started 2-7

Low Battery Status

When battery power is low (8% or less), the power LED lights yellow. When battery
power is very low (3% or less) the power LED lights amber. When your system is in a
low battery status, do one of the following:

! Power off the system, remove the battery pack and replace it with a fully charged

battery.

! Leave the battery pack in the system and connect your NEC Versa to the AC

adapter and a wall outlet. If you connect the system to AC power and keep the
system within standard operating temperatures, the battery recharges in
approximately 2–3 hours whether or not you use your system.

Returning the Battery to its Normal State

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

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

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. One way is to keep the brightness setting low. Use
the

Fn+F8

and

Fn+F9

function keys to control t he brightness.

Conserving Battery Power

The power management state referred to as Hibernate or Save-To-File (STF) saves the
system's current working environment to the system's hard drive, then powers down the
system to conserve battery power. You can configure your power management settings
to enter hibernation when your system reaches a critical low battery state.

In the Windows 2000 environment, the default setting for a critical low battery state is
Standby. The power management state of Standby does not power down your system to
conserve battery power. NECC recommends that you modify this default setting to
prevent data loss.

management setting for a critical battery state to Hibernate, to prevent data loss during
battery-powered operation.

2-8 Getting Started

Change the Windows 2000 Standby default power

Follow these steps to modify the default setting for a critical low battery state:

1.

Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel.

2.

Double click Power Options and select the Alarms tab.

3.

Click the Alarm Action button in the 'Critical Battery Alarm' section.

4.

Use the drop-down box labeled, 'When the alarm goes off, the computer will' to
change the default setting to Hibernate.

5.

Click OK to exit Alarm Actions.

6.

Click OK to exit Power Options.

7.

Close the Control Panel.

Battery Handling

Keep the fol lowing in mind when removing or replacing a battery.

! Use only the battery designed for your system in the NEC Versa. Mixing other

manufacturers’ batteries, or using a combination of very old and new batteries can
deteriorate battery and equipment performance.

! Turn off power to the system after use. Keeping system power on can degrade

battery performance and shorten battery life.

! Clean the battery terminals with a dry cloth when they get dirty.
! Keep the battery out of the reach of children.

Replacing the Battery

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

! Shorter work times.
! Discolorati on, warp i ng.
! Hot to the touch.
! Strange odor.

Getting Started 2-9

Replace the battery pack installed in your NEC Versa system as follows.

Note

Installing another manufacturer’s battery, or using a combination of very old and new
batteries can deteriorate battery and equipment performance.

1.

Use the batteries in the NEC Versa computer for which they are designed.

Save your files, exit Windows, and put your system into Suspend mode (Windows
NT), Standby mode (Windows 2000/98) or turn off system power.

2.

Close the LCD and turn the system over.

3.

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

Locating the Battery bay release latch

2-10 Getting Started

A – Battery Release Latch

4.

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

Removing the battery

5.

Insert the new battery as follows:

! Locate the alignment groove on the edge of the battery.
! Locate the alignment groove inside the battery bay.
! Align the grooves on the battery with the grooves in the bay.
! Slide the battery into the bay until securely locked into place.

Getting Started 2-11

6.

Turn over the system.

Inserting the battery pack

2-12 Getting Started

Battery Precautions

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

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

To avoid personal injury and property damage, read these battery precautions on
handling, charging, and disposing Li-Ion batteries.

Keep the battery away from heat sources including direct sunlight, open fires,

!

microwave ovens, and high-voltage containers. Temperatures over 140º F
(60ºC) may cause damage.

Do not drop or impact the battery.

!

Do not disassemble the battery.

!

Do not solder the battery.

!

Do not puncture the battery.

!

Do not use a battery that appears damaged or deformed, has any rust on its

!

casing, is discolored, overheats, or emits a foul odor.
Keep the battery dry and away from water.

!

Keep metal objects away from battery terminals. Metal objects in contact with

!

the terminals can cause a short circuit and damage.

If the battery leaks:

If the battery leaks onto skin or clothing, wash the area immediately with

!

clean water. Battery fluid can cause a skin rash and damage fabric.
If battery fluid gets into eyes, DO NOT rub; rinse with clear water immediately

!

and consult a doctor.
Take extra precautions to keep a leaking battery away from fire. There is a

!

danger of ignition or explosion.

There is a danger of explosion if the battery is

Precautions for Recharging the Battery

Adhere to the following precautions when recharging the primary or secondary battery.

! Use only the NEC battery charger designed for your NEC Versa battery type.

Different NEC Versa models require different batteries and battery chargers.

! Charge the battery for the specified charge time only.
! During charging, keep the environmental temperature between 41°F and 95°F (5°C

to 35°C).

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

Getting Started 2-13

System Batteries

Your NEC Versa is equipped with a main, Lithium-Ion battery and two backup
batteries that help to prevent data loss. In addition, your system pro vides the option to
install a second Lithium-Ion battery in the VersaBay III, extending battery life when
away from an AC power source.

Main Battery

The twelve-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery provides the main power source in your
NEC Versa LXi computer. See Appendix B for a list of battery specifications. In
addition to this battery, the CMOS battery and bridge batter y also provide system
power.

CMOS Battery

This lithium 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 memor y.
The CMOS battery charges when your NEC Versa is connected to AC power. The
CMOS battery may discharge completely if the NEC Versa notebook remains unused
for an extended period of time.

Bridge Battery

The bridge battery saves your system status in Suspend (Windows NT) or Standby
(Windows 2000/98) mode, giving you time to install a fully charged battery or plug in
AC power when your battery charge becomes low.

The bridge battery should be replaced only by an authorized NECC technician.

hours before using it on battery power for the first time. Doing so insures that the bridge
battery is fully charged and that no data is lost during a battery change.

Optional Battery

The NEC VersaBay III Battery Pack provides a optional, second Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
battery to use in your NEC Versa computer. Inserting a second fully charged battery
increases battery life for your notebook computer.

2-14 Getting Started

Connect your NEC Versa system to AC power for a full 24

System Care

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

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.

!

Precautions for System Use

Follow these precautions when using your NEC Versa LXi computer, AC adapter, and
VersaBay III.

! 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 VersaBay III device 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.
! Do not push any foreign objects into the NEC Versa bays, connectors, and slots.
! Do not set the computer on top of a magnetized area. Doing so can destroy the data

on your hard disk drive. (Some airline tray tables are magnetic.)

! Avoid using the computer or AC adapter for extended periods in direct sunlight.
! Do not use the system in humid or dusty environments.
! Turn computer power off before cleaning it.
! Avoid exposing the NEC Versa or AC adapter to extreme 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.
! Keep the AC adapter away from the IR ports.

Immediately turn off and unplug the NEC Versa under the

Getting Started 2-15

Storage Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

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

cleaners can cause the plastic surface to crack or discolor.

! LCD screen — Carefully wipe the LCD screen with a soft cloth or a screen wipe

designed for that purpose. Special screen wipes are available through your local
computer dealer.

! System case — NECC recommends that you carefully wipe the case with a slightly

damp, almost dry cloth.

2-16 Getting Started

Never use harsh solutions, household cleaners, or spray

Using the BIOS Setup Utility

!

Introducing BIOS Setup

!

Entering BIOS Setup

!

Checking/Setting System Parameters

!

Managing System Power

!

Updating the BIOS

3

Introducing BIOS Setup

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

Use BIOS Setup to:

! set the current time and date
! customize your operating system to reflect your computer hardware
! secure your system with a password
! balance your performance needs with power conservation.

Entering BIOS Setup

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

Press <F2> to enter Setup.

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

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

F1

, the system enters BIOS Setup

F2

. You will see this message if

Pausing the Screen

To pause the screen during POST to view the BIOS revision number and other POST
messages, press and hold the Insert key while using the Power button to power on the
system. The message “<Ins> presse d, Press
BIOS Setup.
Pause key duri ng POST. Once paused, press any key to contin ue.

3-2 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

T

o pause the screen without entering the BIOS setup, simply press the

F1

to run setup” appe ars. Press F1 to enter

BIOS Setup Main Menu

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

BIOS Setup Main Menu

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

Enter

to activate a selection.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-3

Looking at Screens

BIOS setup screens have three areas as shown next.

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

current settings.

Advanced CMOS Setup

! Available Options and Help — The right side of the screen. This area lists alternate

settings and Help text for each parameter.

! Key Legend — The bottom right corner of the screen. These lines display the keys

that move the cursor and select parameters.

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

3-4 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Using Keys

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

BIOS Setup Key Functions

Key Function

↑ ↓

Moves the cursor between the displayed parameters.

PgUp/PgDn Toggles through the current parameter settings.
Tab

For some parameter settings, moves the cursor between the
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.
Enter Activates a selection.
ESC Exits the current screen and returns to the Main Menu screen. From

the Main Menu screen, displays the prompt, “Quit without saving.”
F3/F4 Changes the screen color.
F10 Saves and exits the BIOS Setup utility.

Checking/Setting System Parameters

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

The BIOS Setup Utility is broken down as follows:

! Standard CMOS Setup
! Advanced CMO S Setup
! System Security Setup
! Power Management Setup
! Boot Device Setup
! Peripheral Setup
! Change Lan guage Setting
! Refresh Battery
! Auto Configuration with Defaults
! Save Settings and Exit
! Exit Without Saving

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-5

Resetting System Parameters

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

Standard CMOS Setup

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

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Date mm/dd/yyyy
System Memory (automatically detected)
Time hh/mm/ss
Diskette Drive A 1.44 MB, 3.5 Not installed, 1.44 MB
Diskette Drive B
Internal Auto User Defined, CD/DVD

32-Bit Mode On Off

1

Yes

and press

Standard CMOS Setup

Not installed 1.2 MB, 5.25; 1.44 MB, 3.5

SuperDsk, Not installed

Enter

.

VersaBay Auto CDROM User Defined, CD/DVD

32-Bit Mode On Off
Boot Sector Virus

Protection
DS VersaBay

Docking Station IDE

1

These setup items are only visible when system is docked

! Date — Sets your NEC Versa's calendar month, day and year. The calendar clock is

1

1

year 2000-compliant. These settings remain in memory even after you turn off
system power.

To set the date use the

PgDn

or

key to change the numbers within each field.

3-6 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

SuperDsk, Not installed

Disabled Enabled

Auto User defined, CD/DVD

SuperDsk, Not installed

Auto User defined, CD/DVD

SuperDsk, Not installed

.

Tab

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

PgUp

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

your system.

! Time — Sets the time, enter the current hour, minute, and second in hr/min/sec,

24-hour format.
To set the time use the

PgDn

or

! Diskette Drives — Designates the drive type for your diskette drives.
! Internal Drives — Assigns devices to the internal drives, file bay and VersaBay, in

key to change the numbers within each field.

your system.

! Boot Sector Virus Protection — Write protects the boot sector of the hard disk drive

to avoid infection by some virus types.

! Docking Station Drives — Enables or disables the drives installed in a docking

station. (These options are only available when the NEC Versa is docked.)

Advanced CMOS Setup

Use the Advanced CMOS Setup to set the followi ng f unct ions.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Video Out Type NTSC PAL
LCD Panel View

Expansion
PS/2 Port Warm Swap Enabled Disabled

Tab

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

Advanced CMOS Setup

On Off

PgUp

Internal Mouse Enabled Disabled
Graphics Aperture Size 256 MB 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 MB

! Video Out Type — Specifies the signal type used by the video device connected to

the TV Out Port.

! LCD Panel View Expansion — Specifies whether the panel view is reduced/off or

expanded/on.

! PS/2 Port Warm Swap — Specifies whether or not you can swap a PS/2 device

during system operation.

! Internal Mouse — Specifies whether or not you can use both the internal and the

external mouse.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-7

! Graphics Aperture Size — Selects the graphics aperture size used by the AGP video

device, a memory window that optimizes access to accelerated graphics memory.

System Security Setup

Use the System Security Setup to establish system passwords.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Security Mode Password SmartCard, FingerPrint
Assign Supervisor Password Press Enter
Assign User Password Press Enter
Boot Password Required No Yes
Resume Password Required No Yes

Assign Supervisor SmartCard Press Enter
Assign User SmartCard Press Enter
Clear Supervisor SmartCard Press Enter
Clear User SmartCard Press Enter
Assign Supervisor FingerPrint Press Enter

System Security Setup

Assign User FingerPrint Press Enter
Clear Supervisor FingerPrint Press Enter
Clear User FingerPrint Press Enter
Assign HDD Password Press Enter

Internal HDD Password Disabled Enabled
VersaBay HDD Password Disabled Enabled
DS Internal HDD Password
DS VersaBay HDD Password

1

These setup items are only visible when system is docked

! Security Mode — Allows you to choose Password, SmartCard, or FingerPrint

security mode access.

3-8 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

1

Disabled Enabled

1

Disabled Enabled

.

! Assign Supervisor Password — Establishes password protection for entering the

BIOS Setup Utility, booting the system, and resuming from Standby. (Resume from
Standby, not applicable in Windows 2000/98 with ACPI.)

! Assign User Password — Establishes a user password once a supervisor password

is set.

! Boot Password Required — Indicates whether or not a password is required during

system boot.

! Resume Password required — Indicates whether or not a password is required

during system resume. Boot Password must be defined to activate this parameter.

! Assign Supervisor SmartCard — Accessible when the optional SmartCard

accessory is installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the
accessory.

! Assign User SmartCard — Accessible when the optional SmartCard accessory is

installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the accessory.

! Clear Supervisor SmartCard — Accessible when the optional SmartCard accessory

is installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the accessory.

! Clear User SmartCard — Accessible when the optional SmartCard accessory is

installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the accessory.

! Assign Supervisor FingerPrint — Accessible when the optional FingerPrint

accessory is installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the
accessory.

! Assign User FingerPrint — Accessible when the optional FingerPrint accessory is

installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the accessory.

! Clear Supervisor FingerPrint — Accessible when the optional FingerPrint accessory

is installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the accessory.

! Clear User FingerPrint — Accessible when the optional FingerPrint accessory is

installed. For details, refer to the documentation that ships with the accessory.

! Assign HDD Password — Allows you to assign a password to allow or restrict

access to the hard disk drive contents.

! Internal HDD Password — Enables or disables the HDD password.
! VersaBay HDD password — Enables or disables the VersaBay III password.
! DS Internal HDD Password — Enables or disables the HDD password for the

docking statio n’s internal hard disk drive.

! DS VersaBay HDD password — Enables or disables the docking station’s

VersaBay III password.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-9

Establishing System Passwords

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

! To enter a password simply select Assign Supervisor Password, enter the password,

re-enter the password to confirm, and press any key to continue. Repeat the
procedure to set the user password.

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

Ctrl, Alt, Backspace

. The Caps lock and Scroll lock LEDs alternately flash

indicating that you must enter a password to resume operation.

In Windows 2000/98, to establish password protection for resuming from Standby or
Hibernation modes you must do the following:

! Set a Windows password in Control Panel, Password Properties, Change

Passwords.

! Enable the option “Prompt for password when the computer goes off standby,” in

Control Panel, Power Ma nagement Properties, Advanced.

Hard Disk Drive Passwords

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

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

Establishing Hard Disk Drive Passwords

To establish password protection for your system’s hard disk drive you must establi sh a
master password, establish a user password, and enable the established passwords for
the internal HDD and for an HDD installed in the NEC VersaBay III. Follow these
steps to establish HDD passwords and to enable HDD password pr o tection.

1.

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

2.

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

3.

Enter a master HDD password and press

3-10 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Enter

Enter

.

.

The system prompts you to enter the password again to verify.

4.

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

a user password.

5.

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

6.

Enter the user password and press

7.

Highlight and select Internal HDD Password and use the
enable the selection. (Follow this step to enable pass word pr otection for the
internal HDD.)

8.

Highlight and select VersaBay HDD Password and use the
enable the selection. (Follow this step to enable password protection for an HDD
installed in the NEC VersaBay III.)

Changing Hard Disk Drive Passwords

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

Enter

Enter

Enter

.

.

.

PgUp/PgDn

PgUp/PgDn

Esc

instead of

keys to

keys to

Using Hard Disk Drive Password Protection

To facilitate the transfer of one or more HDDs between systems, establish a single
master password (and store the password in a secure place). Forgetting your master
password results in the inability to access the data on your hard drive. Establish
different user passwords to limit access to specific systems.

If you set the master and user password on a hard drive, the
passwords can never be removed. They can be changed. If the master password is
forgotten and the drive is installed in another system, you cannot access the data on the
hard drive.

If the hard drive is installed in another NEC Versa system with hard disk drive security
enabled, the password must be entered to allow access to the hard drive. If this NEC

Versa system does not support hard disk drive security, you cannot access the
data on the hard drive.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-11

With hard disk drive security enabled on the original NEC Versa system, the system
boots normally.

If the hard drive is installed in another NEC Versa system with sec urity enabled, you
must enter the master password to access the hard disk drive. If the hard drive is
installed in another NEC Versa system with security disabled, you are prompted to
enter the master password and then a new user password.

Moving the Hard Disk Drive

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

If you wish to move an HDD from one system to another, follow steps 1 through 6 in
the section, “Establishing Hard Disk Drive Passwords,” before installing the HDD in a
different system. Install the HDD in the desired system, then follow steps 7 and 8, as
desired, to establish HDD protection.

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

Power Management Setup

If your Versa LXi system ships with the Windows 2000/98 operating system, the
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) controls most power management
functions through the Power Management Properties screen in Windows. For details
about ACPI power management, see the section, “Managing System P ower,” later in
this chapter. The BIOS Power Management Setup screen is described next. Please note
that some of the following definitions do not apply under Windows 2000/98 with
ACPI, as noted.

Use SystemSoft’s Po werProfiler to manage power in the Windows NT environme nt.
Access the PowerProfiler icon on the Windows NT taskbar.

3-12 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

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

Power Management Setup

Parameter Default

Alternate Setting(s)

Setting

System Switch Power Button Sleep Button
Power Management

Off On

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

1

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

Off

Video Timeout

1

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

Off
Peripheral Timeout
Audio Device Timeout
Standby Timeout
Auto Suspend Timeout

1

1

On Off

1

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

1

10 minutes Off/5/15/20/25/30 min.
LCD Suspend Disabled Enabled
Suspend Option Suspend STF
Auto Save-to-File Enabled Disabled
Panel Brightness Auto User Defined
Suspend Warning Tone Enabled Disabled
Remote Power On Disabled Enabled
Wake Up Alarm Disabled Enabled
Resume Alarm Time

2

Off Set time in 5 min. increments when

Wake Up Alarm is set.

Intel® SpeedStep™

Automatic Disabled, Battery Optimized
Technology

1

Available when power savings is set to Custom

2

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

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

.

.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-13

! Power Mana gement Under AC — Specifies whether to enable power management

features when AC power is in use. When AC power is connected to your NEC
Versa syste m, power management is disabled (default setting). If you enable thi s
parameter, the system automatically activates the power management profile you
set, even when AC power is used.

! Power Savings Level — Spec i fies one of four levels of power management.

— High Performance — provides good battery life and best performance with only

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

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

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

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

office environment while powering your NEC Versa with AC power.

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

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

Custom Timeout Options

Option Definition

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

down.
Video Timeout Sets the time delay before your video powers off.
Peripheral Timeout Sets the time delay before your peripherals are

Audio Device
Timeout

Standby Timeout Selects the system standby timeout period.
Auto Suspend

Timeout

! LCD Susp end — Allows you to suspend/resume when the LCD panel is closed.
! Suspend Option — Specifies either Suspend or Save to File (STF) when the LCD

Suspend parameter is enabled. For more details ab out using this parameter, see the
section, “Managing System Power,” later in this chapter.

3-14 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

controlle d by power management.

Sets the time delay before your audio device powers

off.

Defines how much time elapses from the time the

system enters Standby mode to the time the system

automatically enters Suspend mode.

! Automatic STF — Enables the system, after 30 minutes in Suspend mode, to save

the current working environment to a special file on the hard disk and to power
down the system.

Pressing the
(Windows NT, only). For more details about using this parameter, see t he sect ion,
“Managing System Power,” later in this chapter. For details about creating the save­to-file area, see the section, “HDPREPEZ Utility,” in Chapter 4.

! Panel Brightness — Selects the LCD screen brightness.
! Suspend War ni ng Tone — Specifies whether the system warning tone sounds when

Suspend mode starts. It is best to keep this option enabled.

! Remote Power On — Allows the serial port modem or LAN board to wake the

system on a ring si gnal.

! Wake Up from Suspend Alarm/Resume Alarm Time — Allows the alarm to resume

the system from suspend. Designates the time parameter in five minutes increments.
(Not applicable in Windows 2000/98 with ACPI.)

! Intel

®

SpeedStep™ — Optimizes CPU performance when the system is powered

under AC or by battery.

Boot Device Setup

Boot Device Setup allows you to define the following functions.

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Fn-Power

key combination also puts the system into Save to File mode

Boot Device Setup

Quick Boot Enabled Disabled
Silent Boot Enabled Disabled, Black
Boot Display Device Simul. Mode CRT only, LCD only
Docking Station Video

1

Dock Stn. Portable
BootUp NumLock Auto On, Off
1st Boot Device

2

SuperDsk Disabled/1st Fnd IDE/Floppy

CD/DVD/SCSI/Network

2nd Boot Device

2

CD/DVD Disabled/1st Fnd

IDE/Floppy/SuperDsk

3rd Boot Device

2

Floppy Disabled/1st Fnd IDE/SuperDsk

CD/DVD

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-15

Boot Device Setup

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

4th Boot Device

2

1st Fnd IDE Disabled/Floppy/SuperDsk

CD/DVD

Try Other Boot Devices Yes No

st

IDE Hard Drive Internal VersaBay/DS Internal/

1

DS VersaBay

nd

IDE Hard Drive VersaBay VersaBay/DS Internal/

2

DS VersaBay

rd

IDE Hard Drive DS Internal Internal/VersaBay DS/VersaBay

3

th

IDE Hard Drive DS VersaBay Internal/VersaBay/DS Internal

4

1

These setup items are only visible when system is docked

2

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

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

.

.

boot.

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

boot.

! Boot Display Device — Specifies the display device(s) for system boot messages.
! Docking Station Video — Selects whether or not a video card installed in the

Docking Station is enabled at system boot.

! BootUp NumLock — Specifies whether NumLock is On or Off at system startup.
! Boot Devices — Specifies the sequence of boot devices and whether or not the

system attempts to boot from a device other than those specified.

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

3-16 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Peripheral Setup

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

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

USB Controller Disabled Enabled
Internal Hard Drive Both Enabled/Disabled

Serial Port Auto Disabled

Parallel Port Auto Disabled/LPT1/LPT2
Parallel Mode Bi-Dir Uni-Directional/ECP/EPP

IR Serial Port Disa bled Auto

Peripheral Setup

Primary/Secondary

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

COM2,IRQ3/COM3,IRQ4/
COM4,IRQ3

Note

using the Windows device manager. The device will not be listed in the Windows device
list. To control the device using the Windows device manager, select any setting other
than Disabled in Peripheral Setup.

If you disable a device in Peripheral Setup, you cannot enable or assign it

Peripheral Setup allows you to define the following functions.

! USB Controller — Enables or disables the USB controller.
! Internal Hard Drive — Selects which IDE controller is enabled.
! Serial Port — Disables the port or changes its IRQ and COM port assignment.
! Parallel Port/Parallel Mode — Disables or reassigns the parallel port and selects a

parallel port mode.

! IR Serial Port — Enables, disables or rea ssigns the IR serial port.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-17

Other BIOS Setup Options

BIOS Setup offers other options, including the following:

! Change Lan guage Setting — Controls the BIOS setup la nguage display. English,

Japanese, and French are the available options.

! Refresh Battery — Launches the Refresh Battery Utility. Once launched, the utility

fully discharges your battery to eliminate any residual memory effect. Once
refreshed, your battery is conditioned to recharge to its full capacity. To recharge
the battery, connect your NEC Versa to AC power. This process may take up to
four hours to complete.

! Auto Configuration with Defaults — Loads de fault settings.
! Save Settings and Exit — Accepts changes made to current settings, saves to

CMOS, and exits BIOS Setup.

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

Managing System Power

In the Windows 2000/98 environment, your NEC Versa manages its power resources
using the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) while the system is
powered on using AC or DC (battery) power. ACPI enables the operating system to
manage the power given to each attached device and to turn off a device when not in
use.

In the Windows NT environment, use SystemSoft’s PowerProfiler to manage power
resources and to balance performance with battery conservation. Access PowerProfiler
via its taskbar icon or via the Programs menu.

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

! Minimize battery drain.
! Preserve the life of your NEC Versa.
! Save time. W hen you return from that urgent call or meeting, you don’t have to

reboot, just press the Power button to resume system operation.

3-18 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Windows 2000 Power Options Properties

In Windows 2000, most ACPI power management settings are controlled through
Windows Power Options Properties, not through the BIOS Setup utility. To access
Windows 2000 Power Options Properties, go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, and
double click Power Options.

The Power Options Properties features are broken down as follows:

! Power Schemes
! Alarms
! Power Meter
! Advanced
! Hibernate

Windows 2000 Power Schemes

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

Power Schemes

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Power Schemes Portable/Laptop Home/Office Desk,

Presentation, Always On,
Minimal Power
Management, Max Battery

Turn off monitor
(Plugged In)

Turn off monitor
(Running on batteries)

Turn off hard disks
(Plugged In)

Turn off hard disks
(Running on batteries)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-19

Power Schemes

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

System Standby
(Plugged In)

System Standby
(Running on batteries)

! Power Schemes — Defines the most appropriate power scheme for your computer.
! Turn off monitor — Selects the ti me dela y be for e your LCD panel turns off.
! Turn off hard disks — Selects the time delay before your hard disk(s) power down.
! System standby — Selects the system standby timeout period for your system when

running under AC or DC power.

Windows 2000 Alarms

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

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

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

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

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

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

Alarms

Low battery alarm 10% 0-100%
Alarm Action Notification Display message Sound alarm
Alarm Action Power level none Standby, Power Off
Critical battery alarm 3% 0-100%
Alarm Action Notification Display message Sound alarm
Alarm Action Power level Standby Power Off

Run a program none

! Low battery alarm — Allows you to define a low battery alarm percentage,

notification, and system action.

3-20 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

When the alarm occurs,
run this program.

! Critical battery alarm — Allows you to define a critical battery alarm percentage,

notification, and system action.

! Run a program — Allows you to run a specific program when an alarm occurs.

Windows 2000 Power Meter

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

Windows 2000 Advanced

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

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Advanced

Always show icon on

unchecked checked

taskbar
Prompt for password

checked unchecked
when computer goes off
standby

When I close the lid on my

None

1

Standby, Power Off
computer
When I press the Power

Power Off Standby

button on my computer

1

When None is selected, LCD panel turns off when closed.

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

icon displays on the taskbar.

! Prompt for password when computer goes off standby — Determines whether or

not the system prompts for your Windows password when resuming from Standby.

! When I close the lid of my computer — Defines the system action when the LCD

panel is closed.

! When I press the Power button on my computer — Defines the system action when

the Power button is used.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-21

Windows 2000 Hibernate

Use the Hibernate window to enable hibernate support, see the amount of free disk
space, and the amount of disk space required to hibernate. When your system
hibernates, it performs a save-to-disk or save-to-file (STF). Your current working
environment is saved to the hard disk. Use the Power button to r e sume from
hibernation and your system returns to its previo us state.

To enable hibernate support, go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double click the
Power Management Properties icon. Select the Hibernate tab and place a check mark in
the box labeled ‘Enable hibernate support.’ Click Apply, click OK, and close the
Control Panel.

Note

system, you may encounter a warning message suggesting that a problem exists with
the hibernation file on your system. The warning message is inaccurate. To disable this
message, simply follow the instructions in the previous paragraph to enable hibernate
support.

When powering on your NEC Versa running the Windows 2000 operating

Windows 98 Power Management Properties

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

The Power Management Properties features are broken down as follows:

! Power Schemes
! Alarms
! Power Meter
! Advanced
! Hibernate
! Intel SpeedStep Technology

3-22 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Windows 98 Power Schemes

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

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Power Schemes Portable/Laptop Home/Office Desk,

Power Schemes

Always On
System Standby

(Plugged In)

System Standby
(Running on batteries)

Turn off monitor
(Plugged In)

Turn off monitor
(Running on batteries)

Turn off hard disks
(Plugged In)

Turn off hard disks
(Running on batteries)

! Power Schemes — Defines the most appropriate power scheme for your computer.
! System standby — Selects the system standby timeout period for your system when

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

30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4,

5 hours; Never

After 5 Minutes

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

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

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

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

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

30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4,

5 hours; Never

30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4,

5 hours; Never

30, 45 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4,

5 hours; Never

minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

hours; Never

minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

hours; Never

running under AC or DC power.

! Turn off monitor — Selects the ti me dela y be for e your LCD panel turns off.
! Turn off hard disks — Selects the time delay before your hard disk(s) power down.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-23

Windows 98 Alarms

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

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

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

Critical battery alarm 3% 0-100%
Alarm Action Notification Display message Sound alarm

Alarms

Shutdown

Alarm Action Power level Standby

! Low battery alarm — Defines a low battery alarm percentage, notification, and

system action.

! Critical battery alarm — Defines a critical battery alarm percentage, notification,

and system action.

Windows 98 Power Meter

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

Hibernate, Shutdown,
none

3-24 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Windows 98 Advanced

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

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Advanced

Always show icon on
taskbar

Prompt for password
when computer goes off
standby

When I close the lid on my
computer

When I press the Power
button on my computer

1

When None selected, LCD panel turns off when closed.

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

checked unchecked

unchecked checked

Hibernate, Shutdown,

Standby

Shutdown

1

None

Standby, Hibernate

icon displays on the taskbar.

! Prompt for password when computer goes off standby — Determines whether or

not the system prompts for your Windows password when resuming from Standby.

! When I close the lid of my computer — Defines the system action when the LCD

panel is closed.

! When I press the Power button on my computer — Defines the system action when

the Power button is used.

Windows 98 Hibernate

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

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-25

Intel SpeedStep Technology

The Intel Spe edStep Technology windo w allows you to modify your system’s
performance settings while running on batteries or when connected to an AC power
source.

Intel SpeedStep Technology Options

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Automatically change
performance when the
power source changes.

Ask me before
automatically changing
performance.

When computer is running
on batteries.

When computer is
plugged in.

! Automatically change performance when the power source changes — Determines

checked unchecked

unchecked checked

Battery Optimized
Perfomance
(Recommended)

Maximum Performance
(Recommended)

N/A

Battery Optimized
Performance

whether performance is automatically changed to match your preferences when the
power source changes.

! Ask me before automatically changing performance — Determines whether you

will be asked for permission to change performance when the power source
changes.

! When computer is running on batteries — Defines the system’s performance setting

when running on batteries.

! When computer is plugged in — Defines the system’s performance setting when

connected to an AC power source.

3-26 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Advanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Options

The Advanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Options include the following settings.

Intel SpeedStep Technology Options (advanced)

Parameter Default Setting Alternate Setting(s)

Disable Intel SpeedStep
technology control.

Remove icon from
taskbar.

Disable audio notification
when performance
changes.

! Disable Intel SpeedStep technology control — Controls whether the Intel

unchecked checked

unchecked checked

unchecked checked

SpeedStep technology application is enabled.

! Remove icon from taskbar — Controls whether the Intel SpeedStep technology

application icon is displayed on the taskbar.

! Disable audio notification when performance changes — Controls whether you will

hear a system beep when the performance changes.

Windows 2000/98 Power Management States

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

The Windows 2000/98 ACPI power management states include:

! LCD timeout — manages power at the lowest level by shutting down the LCD.
! Standby — also known as Save-to-RAM (STR), Standby manages power by saving

your curren t working environment to memory and shutting down most system
devices. Conserves more power than an LCD timeout.

! Hibernate — also known as Save-to-Disk, or Save-to-File (STF) manages power by

saving the current working environment to an area on your hard disk, then powering
off your system. Conserves the most bat tery power.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-27

Recognizing the Windows 2000/98 Power Management States

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

Windows 2000/98 Power Management Behavior

LCD Timeout Standby (STR) Hibernate (STF)

Default

2 Minutes, DC power

5 Minutes, DC power

30 minutes after Standby.

Setting

Manually
Invoke

System
Behavior

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

LCD panel is blank.
Status LED lights

green.

20 minutes, AC power

Standby.

LCD panel is blank.
Status LED blinks green.

Close LCD panel.
Press Power button.

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

current working
environment saved to hard
disk.

Resume

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

Progress bar appears
during process.

1

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

2

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

3

Only when set in Advanced Windows Power Management Properties.

Windows NT Power Management States

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

The Windows NT power management states include:

1,2

3

3

! Standby — manages power at the lowest level by shutting down the LCD, hard disk

drive, and CPU.

! Suspend — also known as Save-to-RAM (STR), Suspend mode manages power by

saving your current working environment to memor y and shutting d own most
system devices. Conserves more power than Standby mode.

3-28 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

! Save-to-file (STF) — also known as Save-to-Disk, STF mode manages power by

saving the current working environment to an area on your hard disk, then powering
off your system. Conserves the most bat tery power.

Recognizing the Windows NT Power Management States

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

Windows NT Power Management Behavior

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

Default

4 Minutes 10 minutes after Standby. 30 minutes after Suspend.

Setting
Manually

Invoke

Fn-F4

Press Power button for less
than 4 seconds

2

or

Click Start, Suspend.

System
Behavior

LCD panel is blank.
Status LED lights

green.

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

current working environment
is saved to memory.

Resume

Press any key Press Power button.

Progress bar appears during
process.

1.

Must configure Suspend Option in BIOS as STF.

2.

Must configure System Switch in BIOS as Sleep button.

3.

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

For additional power management control when running Windows NT, use
SystemSoft’s PowerProfiler.

1,3

Fn-Power

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

current working environment
is saved to hard disk.

Press Power button.
Progress bar appears during

process.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-29

Updating the BIOS

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

Note

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

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

To update the system BIOS you must:

! Obtain the BIOS Update
! Prepare the BIOS Update Diskette
! Enable the BIOS Flash Switch Setting
! Perform the BIOS Update
! Disable the BIOS Flash Setting

Obtaining the BIOS Update

If you are informed that the default BIOS needs an update contact Support Services at
[phone], Fax [phone], or access the web site, www.nec-computers.com
to obtain a copy of the BIOS update.

Note

please contact a local NECC or dealer in your country.

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

Preparing the BIOS Update Diskette

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

Follow these instructions to prepare the BIOS Update Diskette.

1.

Scan your hard drive for any computer viruses.

2.

Unlock the write protect notch on the diskette, if necessary.

3.

Insert the diskette into the file bay drive.

3-30 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

4.

Type a:install (where a: is the floppy diskette drive) at the DOS prompt and follow
the on-screen instructions.

Install.bat copies the DOS system files from your hard drive onto the BIOS Update
Diskette to make it BIOS flash ready.

The system prompts you when the process is complete.

5.

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

6.

Follow the instructions later in this chapter, “Enabling the BIOS Flash Switch.”

Identifying the Switch Settings

A six-position dip switch is located underneath the keyboard. The following list
identifies each switch setting and its function.

! Switch 1, Password Override Switch — The default setting is “OFF.” If you forget

your password and cannot access the data on your NEC Versa, change the setting to
“ON” and your current password is erased.

! Switch 2 — Keyboard select; Default is “ON” for U.S. 85 key keyboa rd.
! Switch 3 — Reserved for factory use; Default is “ON.”
! Switch 4 — Keyboard select; Default is “ON” for U.S. 85 key keyboa rd.
! Switch 5 — BIOS flash enable; Default is “OFF” (disable). Before updating your

BIOS, change the setting to “ON.”

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

Default switch settings

Dip switches 2, 3, and 4 set to “On.”

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-31

Enabling the BIOS Flash Switch

Before performing the BIOS update, be sure to enable the BIOS flash switch. Set
switch 5 to “ON” before performing the BIOS update.

Follow these steps to enable the BIOS flash switch.

1.

Make sure the system is powered off and that no peripheral devices are attached.

2.

Open the LCD panel.

3.

Locate the two keyboard retainers, press on and slide each one towards the outside
edge of the system, and remove them.

Removing the keyboard retainers

3-32 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

4.

Gently lift up the edge of the keyboard nearest the LCD and slide the keyboard
toward the LCD screen to release the tabs that secure it.

Lifting the keyboard

Be careful not to disconnect the keyboard or keyboard cable

entirely from the system.

5.

Gently rest the keyboard on top of the base unit to view and access the dip switch
block. Be careful not to twist or disconnect the keyboard cable.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-33

6.

Locate the dip switch block. Using a fine-tipped object, change switch 5 to “ON”
to enable the BIOS flash.

Never use a pencil to change switch settings. Residue from

the pencil can damage the system.

BIOS flash switch enabled

Dip switches 2, 3, 4, and 5 set to “On.”

3-34 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

7.

Reassemble the system as follows:

! Lift up the keyboard and align the tabs on the front of it with the grooves in the

system.

! Reseat the keyboard in its original position.
! Slide the keyboard retainers back onto the system.

Reassembling the system

8.

Follow the instructions later in this chapter, “Performing the BIOS Update.”

Performing the BIOS Update

Follow these steps to perform the BIOS update. Before you begin, be sure to:

! Connect the computer to AC power, undock and power off the computer.
! Configure the Boot Device Setup to boot from a floppy diskette.
! Remove any bootable CDs from the CD-ROM drive.
! Document all customized BIOS settings.

1.

Insert the BIOS Update diskette into the file bay drive.

Using the BIOS Setup Utility 3-35

2.

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

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

3. Press

Enter

to continue.

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

4.

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

Press any key to return to the Main menu.

5.

Highlight t he “Install New BIOS” option and press

6.

Press Y and then press

Enter

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

Enter

.

remove the diskette from the file bay drive.

7.

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

have the latest NEC Versa LXi computer BIOS revision level.

8.

Power on your computer. A CMOS Checksum error message appears and prompts
you to press

9.

Press F1 to enter Setup and restore the default parameter settings.

10.

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

11.

Disable the BIOS flash switch. Change switch 5 back to “OFF” after completing

F1

to enter Setup.

the BIOS update. For details about enabling and disabling the BIOS flash switch,
see the section earlier in this chapter, “Enabling the BIOS Flash Switch.”

3-36 Using the BIOS Setup Utility

Using the Operating System and Utilities

!

Windows Introduction

!

NEC Utilities

!

SpeedStep Applet

!

Application and Driver CD

!

NEC Info Center

!

Partition Magic

!

Product Recovery CD

4

Windows Introduction

Your NEC Versa comes pre-installed with either the Windows 2000, Windows 98
Second Edition (SE), or Windows NT operating system. These Microsoft
systems pro vide a means of running appli cations, navigating through your file
structure, and using your notebook computer. Each operating system offers its own
look and employs its own tools through an easy-to-use graphical interface.

Windows 2000

Windows 2000 gives you the newest features offered by Microsoft, including a
Desktop with room to maneuver, taskbar icons for quick access to installed
applications, a system performance and monitoring manager, enhanced entertainment
features, and a fully integrated Internet experience.

Desktop Icons

With Windows 2000, the following icons are installed on your desktop:

! My Computer — Provides access to drives, printers, the control panel, network

features, and scheduled tasks.

! Recycle Bin — Gives you a trash container in which to put and discard unwanted

files or allows you to restore those same files back to their original location.

! My Network Places — When on a network, provides access to network printers and

other computers on your network. Use my network places to browse through the
computers in your workgroup and the computers in the entire network.

®

operating

! My Documents — Provides you with a convenient place to store documents,

graphics, and other files for quick access.

! Connect to the Internet — Runs the Internet Connectio n wizard that helps you to set

up your computer to access the Internet.

Note

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

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

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

4-2 Using the Operating System and Utilities

Note

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

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

! NEC Customize — Gives you the option to launch the Application and Driver CD.
! Internet Explorer — Provides your default internet program. Also access Internet

Taskbar Icons

With Windows 2000, three icons appear on the taskbar. Use the cursor to hover over
the icon and display its function, right click the icon to display its menu options, or
double click the icon to launch it.

The following icons normally appear on the left side of the Windows 2000 taskbar.

! Internet Explorer — Allows you to browse the internet or view local HTML files.

! Outlook Express — Provides your default email program with secure and

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

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

Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer.

Also access Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer.

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

Windows 98 Second Edition

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

Desktop Icons

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

! My Computer — Provides access to drives, printers, the control panel, network

features, and scheduled tasks.

! Recycle Bin — Gives you a trash contai ner in which to put and discard unwanted

files or allows you to restore those same files back to their original location.

! Internet Explorer — Allows you to browse the Internet or view local HTML files.

Also access Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer.

Using the Operating System and Utilities 4-3

! Set Up the Microsoft Network — Provides a setup program that allows you to sign-

up for the Microsoft Network. If you already have an account, use this interface to
sign-on to the Microsoft Network.

! Network Neighborhood — Appears when your computer is connected to a network.

Use the network neighborhood to browse through the computers in your workgroup
and the computers in the entire network.

! My Briefcase — Provides a mechanism for file synchronization between the NEC

Versa and another system.

! My Documents — Provides you with a convenient place to store documents,

graphics, and other files for quick access.

! Connect to the Internet — Runs the Internet Connection wizard that helps you to set

up your computer to access the Internet.

Note

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

! Online Services — Includes setup icons for a variety of online services.

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

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

Note

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

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

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

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

or install the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility.

! Outlook Express — Provides your default email program with secure and

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

4-4 Using the Operating System and Utilities

Taskbar Icons

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

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

! Internet Explorer — Allows you to browse the Internet or view local HTML files.

! Outlook Express — Provides your default email program with secure and

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

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

! Task Scheduler — Enables you to schedule tasks, such as Disk Defragmenter, to

! Power Management Pro perties — Displays your curre nt power source and total

! Infrared Monitor — Allows you to enable, disable, and control the infrared

Also access Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer.

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

run regularly. Also access Task Scheduler under Start, Programs, Accessories,
System Tools, Scheduled Tasks.

remaining battery power. Access Power Management Properties under Start,
Settings, Cont rol Panel, Power Management.

communication on your notebook computer.

! NEC VersaGlide — Allows you to ad just your VersaGlide (mouse) properties. Also

access NEC VersaGlide under Start, Settings, Control Panel, Mouse.

! SpeedStep Applet — Allows you to customize high-performance computing on

your notebook computer. Only appears on systems with a SpeedStep equipped
processor.

! Volume Control — Adjusts the volume and speaker balance when you play audio

files. Also access Volume Control under Start, Programs, Accessories,
Entertainment, Volume Control.

! Time Clock — Allows you to adjust the time and date, rearrange active windows on

your desktop, create a new toolbar or customize your existing toolbar.

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

Using the Operating System and Utilities 4-5

Windows NT

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

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

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

features.

! Network Neighborhood — Appears when your computer is connected to a network.

Use the network neighborhood to browse through the computers in your workgroup
and the computers in the entire network.

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

Also access Internet Explorer under Start, Programs, Internet Explorer.

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

or install the NEC-supplied mouse driver.

! My Briefcase — Provides a mechanism for file synchronization between the NEC

Versa and another system.

! Recycle Bin — Gives you a trash contai ner in which to put and discard unwanted

files or allows you to restore those same files back to their original location.

NEC Utilities

®

.

NECC provides several programs and routines designed to make your NEC Versa run
more efficiently.

The NEC utilities include:

! NEC Customize Utility
! HDPREPEZ Utility

NEC Customize Utility

In Windows 2000, Windows 98 or Windows NT systems, the NEC Customize Utility
gives you the option to install or launch:

! NEC custom wallpaper (Windows 2000, only)— Use this option to install

wallpaper displaying the NEC logo.

! Application and Driver CD — You must use this option to install software

applications, drivers, etc.

4-6 Using the Operating System and Utilities

! NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility (Windows 98, only) — You must use this option to

take advantage of warm swapping your VersaBay III devices.

! NEC-supplied mouse driver (Windows NT, only) — Use this option to take

advantage of the VersaGlide features described in Chapter 2 of your user’s guide.

NEC Customize Utility Screen

The NEC Customize Utility screen consists of the following.

! A window at the top half of the screen lists the available options.
! The window below the options list displays a description of eac h option when the

option is highlighted.

! The Launch button initiates a selected option when clicked.
! The More Info button provides an overview of the NEC Custo mize Utilit y.
! The Exit button closes the NEC Customize Utility.

Using the NEC Customize Utility

Follow these steps to use the NEC Customize Utility.

1.

Double click the NEC Customize icon.

2.

From the display window, select the desired op tion.

3.

Click Launch to initiate the selected option.

4.

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

5.

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

HDPREPEZ Utility

The power management state referred to as Save-To-File (STF) saves the system’s
current working environment to the system’s hard drive, then powers down the system
to conserve battery power. The HDPREPEZ function creates a file large enough (256
MB) to accommodate the entire memory contents of your system. The STF file is
created the first time that you run your system’s setup program.

Note

the NECUTILS/HDPREP directory.

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

Using the Operating System and Utilities 4-7

Using HDPREPEZ with Windows 98

In Windows 98, run the HDPREPEZ Utility if you increase the memory capacity i n
your NEC Versa beyond the factory installed base memory or if you install a generic
Windows 98 operating system.

Follow these steps to run the HDPREPEZ Utilit y.

1.

Power off and restart your NEC Versa.

2.

At the statement “Starting Wi ndows 98,” pr ess F8.

3.

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

4.

Enter MS-DOS. At the c: prompt, type
change to the \necutils\hdprep directory.

5.

6.

HDPREPEZ

Type
Versa for the newly installed memory.

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

and press

Enter

Using HDPREPEZ with Windows NT

If you increase the memory capacity of your NEC Versa beyond 256 MB or you install
a generic Windows NT ope rating system on your NEC Vers a LXi, use the Application
and Driver (A&D) CD to load the HDPREPEZ utility to increase the size of or to create
the STF file. Follow the instructions on the A&D CD to run the HDP REPEZ utility.

SpeedStep Applet

Your NEC Versa LXi notebook computer includes Intel’s SpeedStep technology that
allows you to customize high-performance computing on your NEC Versa to optimize
processing speed and to conserve battery life.

If your processor is equipped with SpeedStep technology, an icon appears on your
taskbar allowing you to adjust processing properties. However, the default settings are
recommended for optimal performance and battery conservation.

cd \necutils\hdprep

. The utility automatically prepares your NEC

and press

Enter

to

Application and Driver CD

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

4-8 Using the Operating System and Utilities

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

Launching the CD with Windows 98

Follow these procedures to launch the Application and Driver CD using NEC
Customize with Windows 98.

1.

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

2.

Double click the NEC Customize icon, if necessary.

3.

Highlight Launch Application and Driver CD.

4.

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

Launching the CD with Windows 2000/NT

Follow these procedures to launch the Application and Driver CD using NEC
Customize with Windows 2000/NT.

1.

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

2.

Double click the NEC Customize icon.

3.

Select Launch Application and Driver CD.

4.

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

Application and Driver CD Dialog Box

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

! Selection Tabs — Located just below the title bar, each tab represents a software

category. The selection tabs include applications, drivers, utilities, internet
browsers, and the NEC Info Center.

! Description — Located in the bottom portion of the dialog box, the text describes

the selected or highlighted software category or application, driver, etc.

! Install — Clicking the Install button installs the selected software.
! Exit — Clicking the Exit button closes the Application and Driver CD dialog box.

Using the Operating System and Utilities 4-9

Installing the A&D Software

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

1.

Click the selection tab of your choice.

2.

Click the desired application, driver, or utility.

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

NEC Info Center

The Application and Driver CD contains the NEC Info Center, a fully navigational
online document that provides a multimedia tour, information for the traveling
professional, a description of the system’s features, and power management tips.

Installing the NEC Info Center

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

Uninstalling the NEC Info Center

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

1.

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

! Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double click Add/Remove P r ograms.
! Use the scroll bar, if necessary, to display the NEC Info Ce nter item.
! Highlight N EC Info Center and click the Add/Remo ve button.
! Select Automatic as the uninstall method and click Next.
! Click Finish to complete the uninstall.
! When the uninstall is complete, click OK and close the Control Panel window.

4-10 Using the Operating System and Utilities

2.

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

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

associated with the NEC Info Center.

Partition Magic

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

Your NEC Versa with Windows 98, ships with an internal hard disk drive consisting of
a single FAT 32 partition, drive C:. Use Partition Magic if you want to create multiple
partitions and convert your hard disk drive to FAT 16 partitions.

For systems running Windows NT, use the Disk Administrator utility in the
Administrative Tools menu to repartition your hard drive.

For systems running Windows 2000, use the Disk Management utility to repartition
your hard drive. Right click My Computer, highlight and select Manage, and double
click Disk Management.

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

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

unwise.exe

Before using Partition Magic, refer to the associated cautionary

file or icon to remove all files and directories

Product Recovery CD

The Product Recovery CD contains the NEC Product Recovery Utility that allows you
to restore your system to its initial installatio ns state.

If you determine that you need to restore your system to its initial ins tallation state
follow the instructions provided here.

Using the Operating System and Utilities 4-11

Note

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

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

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

Before using the Product Recovery CD, enter the BIOS Setup

Guidelines for Using the Product Recovery CD

Follow these guidelines when using the Product Recovery CD.

! Use AC po we r .
! Remove all optional hardware such as PC cards, USB devices, printers, and

monitors.

Product Recovery CD Options

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

! Restore System — Select this o ption if you wish to restore your hard disk drive to

its initial installation state. Restore System allows you to restore your system in one
of the following ways.

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

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

Note

partition (drive).

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

4-12 Using the Operating System and Utilities

— Partition Only — Lets you preserve your exi sting hard disk drive partition

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

Note

more partitions (drives).

! Exit — Exits the NEC Product Recovery Utility.

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

Full Disk Drive Restore

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

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

Use the Product Recovery Utility to perform a Full Disk Drive resto re as follows:

1.

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

2.

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

The Full Disk Drive restore option deletes

all

files on the hard

3.

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

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

4.

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

Using the Operating System and Utilities 4-13

Choose your restore option carefully to prevent losing data and

applications installed on your system.

5.

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

6.

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

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

progress of the recovery.

Do not turn off or disturb the system during the recovery

process.

7.

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

8.

Press

Enter

, click Reboot, or press

Alt-R

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

You are required to reenter your Microsoft license number.

4-14 Using the Operating System and Utilities

to reboot your system.

Partition Only Restore

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

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

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

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

Use the Product Recovery Utility to perform a Partition Only restore as follows:

1.

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

2.

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

Use the Partition Only restore option only if your hard disk

3.

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

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

4.

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

Choose your restore option carefully to prevent losing data and

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

reinstall some software to restore configuration settings and shared files.

Using the Operating System and Utilities 4-15

5.

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

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

6.

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

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

progress of the recovery.

Do not turn off or disturb the system during the recovery

process.

7.

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

8.

Press

Enter

, click Reboot, or press

Alt-R

to reboot your system.

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

You are required to reenter your Microsoft license number.

4-16 Using the Operating System and Utilities

Using the System Drives and Bays

!

NEC Versa File Bay

!

SuperDisk Drive

!

NEC VersaBay III

!

NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility

!

24X CD-ROM Drive

!

CD Read/Write Drive

!

8X DVD-ROM Drive

!

Hard Disk Drive

!

Memory Modules

5

NEC Versa File Bay

The NEC Versa File Bay is the bay located at the rear of the system’s right side. Your
NEC Versa ships with a standard 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive or a SuperDisk™
drive installed in the bay.

Use the file bay to install applications, create a BIOS update diskette, or to simply copy
files to and from your NEC Versa LXi notebook computer.

SuperDisk Drive

The SuperDisk drive offers many improvements on the standard diskette drive
technology, including faster data access, greater reliability, and higher recording
capacities. The drive uses the latest laser-servo (LS) technology, which writes to and
reads from specially designed 120-MB diskettes as well as standard 720-KB and

1.44-MB diskettes.

Locating the file bay

A – NEC Versa File Bay

The SuperDisk drive offers the following features which are described after the figure.

SuperDisk drive

A – Emergency Eject Hole C – Status LED
B – Release Button

5-2 Using the System Drives and Bays

! Emergency Eject Hole — allows you to manually remove a disk from the

SuperDisk drive if the eject function is disabled by software or a power failure.
To remove a disk, insert the end of a paper clip into the eject hole and push in. The

SuperDisk ejects.

! Release Button — ejects the SuperDisk. Press this button when power is on to insert

a SuperDisk into or remove a SuperDisk from the drive.

! Status LED — lights during data read operations. Do not eject the SuperDisk or

turn off the NEC Versa when the indicator is lit.

Formatting Diskettes in the SuperDisk Drive

When formatting a diskette in the SuperDisk drive while in DOS mode, you may
encounter the following error messages:

! For 720-KB and 1.44-MB diskettes the error message states

“Invalid media or Track 0 bad – disk unusable,”
“Extended Error 1g - format terminated.”

! For a 120-MB SuperDisk the error message states

“Parameters not supported by drive.”

When in DOS mode, the message text may vary. These error messages indicate that the
diskette you are attempting to format is write-protected. Simply write-enable the
diskette before formatting.

NEC VersaBay III

The NEC VersaBay III is the drive bay located below the VersaGlide at the front left
side of the system. Your NEC Versa ships with a 24X CD-ROM drive, CD Read/Write
drive, SuperDisk drive, or 8X DVD-ROM drive installed in the bay. The NEC
VersaBay III supports warm swapping which allows you to remove and replace a
device while your NEC Versa is in a sleep state. For details about using the warm swap
utility, refer to the section, “NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility,” later in this chapter.

Using the System Drives and Bays 5-3

Locating the NEC VersaBay III

A – NEC VersaBay III

In addition to the CD-ROM drive, CD Read/Write drive, SuperDis k drive, or
DVD-ROM drive, the NEC VersaBay III accepts the following options:

! a second battery pack
! a second hard disk drive.

Contact your NECC dealer to purchase options and accessories for your NEC Versa
notebook computer.

NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility

The NEC VersaBay III supports warm swapping of some bay devices. Warm swapping
extends the power of Plug-and-Play technology to your NEC VersaBay III devices by
allowing you to swap a CD-ROM drive, CD Read/Write drive, SuperDisk drive,
DVD-ROM drive, or NEC VersaBay III Battery Pack in the NEC VersaBay III while
your system is in a sleep state. Use the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility to put your
system into a sleep state before swapping a device in the Windows 98 environment.
This dynamic solution further increases the flexibilit y of your already versatile
notebook computer.

Installing the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility

Use the NEC Customize Utility to install the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility. For
details about using the NEC Customize Utility, see Chapter 4 “Using the Operating
System and Utilities.”

5-4 Using the System Drives and Bays

Once the swap utility is installed on your system, a small icon appears in the lower
right hand c orner of the Wi ndows taskbar. Moving your cursor over t he icon displays
information about the NEC VersaBay III. The balloon message that appears indicates if
the bay is empty or if a device is installed. Because warm swapping is only supported
for the CD-ROM drive, CD Read/Write drive, SuperDisk drive, DVD-ROM drive, and
the NEC VersaBay III Battery Pack, the balloon message may not be accurate if you
install a hard disk drive. Your system must be powered off before installing a hard disk
drive in the NEC VersaBay III.

Using the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility

With the NEC VersaBay III Swap Utility running on your notebook computer, you can
warm swap a CD-ROM drive, CD Read/Write drive, SuperDisk drive, DVD-ROM
drive, or NEC VersaBay III Battery Pack in the NEC VersaBay III. Please note the
following when using the swap utility:

! Windows 98 Power Management must be enabled to use the swap utility.
! Warm swapping is not supported under Windows 2000 or Windows NT.
! Warm swapping is not supported on the NEC Versa Dock.
! The swap utility only supports the warm swapping of a CD-ROM drive, CD

Read/Write drive, SuperDisk drive, DVD-ROM drive, or NEC VersaBay III Battery
Pack. Other devices installed in the VersaBay will work properly. However, warm
swapping other devices is not supported.

Warm swapping other devices can damage the device, the

system, or both.

Swap devices in the NEC VersaBay III as follows:

1.

If you have fil es open on the device you are plannin g t o remove, close them.

2.

Right click on the swap utility taskbar icon to display the menu.

3.

Highlight and click on the Swap Device option.

4.

A dialog box appears and lets you know that your system must be in a sleep state
to swap the device and asks you if you want t o continue. Press

Yes

to put your

system into a sleep state.

5.

Once your system is in a sleep state, remove the device from your computer. Insert
the new device while your system is still in a sleep state.

6.

To resume your system after removing and/or installing a device, press the Power
button.

Using the System Drives and Bays 5-5