Compaq 370698-001 manual Taking Care of Your Notebook, To Protect Your Hard Drive

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Basic Operation

Taking Care of Your Notebook

Follow these recommendations to maintain your notebook during everyday use and prevent potential physical damage or data loss.

To Protect Your Hard Drive

Hard drives, as well as other internal components, are not indestructible and can be damaged by inappropriate handling and operation.

Avoid bumps or jolts.

Do not operate the notebook while traveling over bumpy terrain.

Put the notebook in Standby or shut it down before transporting it. This turns off the hard drive. A drop of a few inches onto a rigid surface while the hard drive is operating could destroy data or damage the drive.

Carry the notebook in a padded case to protect against bumps and jolts.

Set down the notebook gently.

To Maintain Your Notebook

Provide adequate ventilation around the notebook. Always set the notebook on a flat surface, so that air can flow freely around and underneath it.

Always shut down the notebook or put it in Hibernation mode before putting it into a carrying case or other enclosed space.

Do not pick up or carry the notebook by its display.

Do not use the notebook outside in the rain or snow (inclement weather). If the notebook is cold, warm it gradually to avoid condensation.

Maintain your battery pack for best performance. See the “Battery Packs and Power Management” chapter.

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Reference Guide

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Contents Reference Guide Page Page Page Contents Battery Packs and Power Management Modem and Network Connections Add-On DevicesTroubleshooting IndexGetting Started with Your Notebook Identifying Parts of the NotebookFront Panel and Right Panel Components Left Panel and Back Panel Components Bottom Panel Components Status Lights Getting Started with Your Notebook Setting Up Your Notebook Insert the Battery PackConnect AC Power Connect a Phone Line Turn On the Notebook Set Up Windows Getting Started with Your Notebook Basic Operation Operating Your NotebookDefault Power Settings Power mode To enter this mode FunctionTo Reset the Notebook To Change the Boot DeviceTouchPad on-off button and indicator light To Use the TouchPadTo Use the Tap to Click Function of the TouchPad To Use the Function Hot Keys This hot key Does thisTo Use the One-Touch Buttons To Use the Windows and Applications Keys This key combination Does thisTo Type Alternate Graphics Using the ALT GR Key Using CDs or DVDs To Insert or Remove a CD or DVDTo Play DVD Movies To Create or Copy CDs To Write to DVD Media Select Models OnlyTo Set Up Password Protection Securing Your NotebookTo Lock Your Notebook To Attach an Optional Security Cable To Protect Against Viruses To Lock the Hard DriveTaking Care of Your Notebook To Protect Your Hard DriveTo Maintain Your Notebook To Safeguard Your Data To Clean Your NotebookTo Extend the Life of the Display Basic Operation Battery Packs and Power Management Managing Power ConsumptionHow the Notebook Manages Power Automatically When this occurs Result is To resumeTo Change Timeout Settings and Create Power Schemes Using Battery Power To Check Battery StatusTo Respond to a Low-Battery Warning To Recharge the Battery PackTo Get the Most from Your Battery Packs Battery Packs and Power Management Disposing of a Used Battery Pack Using the Modem Modem and Network ConnectionsTo Connect the Modem Special Restrictions in Certain Countries To Change Your Modem Settings Connecting to a Local Area Network LAN Using a Wireless LAN Adapter Select Models Only Making Wireless Network Connections Select Models Only To Turn Wireless Communication On and Off Turning On Communication and Making a ConnectionTurning Off Communication and Ending a Connection Modem and Network Connections Connecting External Devices To Insert or Remove a PC CardInserting a PC Card Removing a PC Card To Connect an Audio Device Adjusting Monitor Resolution and Other Settings To Connect a TV to Your Notebook Select Models OnlyUsing Dual Display Mode To Connect a 1394 Device Select Models Only Installing Additional RAM Memory To Install a RAM Expansion ModuleAdd-On Devices To Remove a RAM Expansion Module Add-On Devices Replacing the Hard Drive To Replace the Hard DriveTo Replace the Hard Drive Holder To Prepare a New Hard Drive Add-On Devices Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Your NotebookAudio Problems If No Sound Is AudibleIf Sound Does Not Record If You Hear Loud, High-Pitched Feedback from the SpeakersCD-ROM and DVD Problems If You Cannot Boot from a CD or DVDIf You Get a Region Code Error When Playing a DVD Movie If a DVD Plays ErraticallyDisplay Problems If the Notebook Cannot Read a CD or DVDIf a DVD Movie Does Not Fill the Screen If the Notebook Is On, But the Screen Is BlankHard Drive Problems If an External Display Does Not WorkIf the Notebook Hard Drive Does Not Spin If the Hard Drive Makes a Buzzing or Whining NoiseHeat Problems If Files Are CorruptedIf the Notebook Gets Abnormally Hot Keyboard and Pointing Device Problems If the Pointer Is Difficult to ControlIf the TouchPad Does Not Work If the TouchPad Moves the Pointer or Cursor While You TypeLocal Area Network LAN Problems If the Built-In Network Adapter Does Not Connect to the LANIf You Cannot Log In to Netware Servers If a Network Connection Responds SlowlyMemory Problems If a Message Reports That You Are Out of MemoryIf Memory Does Not Increase After Adding RAM If the Notebook Beeps But Does Not Start After Adding RAMModem Problems If the Modem Seems SlowIf the Modem Does Not Dial or No Dial Tone Is Detected If the Modem Dials Incorrectly If the Modem Dials, But Does Not ConnectIf the Modem Is Not Detected If the Modem Causes an Error Message If the Modem Dials, But You Cannot Hear ItIf the Modem Connects, But Transferred Data Is Bad If the Modem Does Not FaxPC Card Pcmcia Problems If the Modem Clicks Repeatedly, But Does Not ConnectIf the Notebook Does Not Recognize a PC Card If a Network PC Card Stops Communicating ProperlyPerformance Problems If a PC Card Modem Is Not WorkingIf the Notebook Pauses or Runs Sluggishly Power and Battery Pack Problems If the Notebook Stops RespondingIf the Notebook Turns Off Immediately After It Turns On If the Time Remaining for the Battery Pack Is Not Correct If the Notebook Has a Short Operating TimePrinting Problems If the Notebook Does Not Enter Standby Mode as ExpectedIf the Notebook Does Not Enter Hibernation as Expected If a Serial or Parallel Printer Does Not PrintSerial, Parallel and USB Problems If a Serial Mouse Does Not WorkIf a Serial Modem Does Not Work Properly Startup Problems If the Notebook Does Not Respond When You Turn It OnIf the Notebook Will Not Boot from Battery Power If the Serial or Parallel Port Is Not WorkingIf the Notebook Will Not Boot from the Diskette Drive If the Notebook Stops Responding After BootingWireless Problems If You Have Problems with Wireless 802.11 CommunicationIf You Can Connect, But the Network Is Slow Configuring Your Notebook To Run the Bios Setup UtilityMain Menu System Devices Menu Security Menu Boot Menu Using System Recovery Features Updating Software and Drivers from the WebSafeguarding Your Data Operating System OS CD Repair OS CD Reinstall Reinstalling Drivers Restoring Software ApplicationsIndex Index Reference Guide Index-3 Index-4 Reference Guide Index-5 Index-6