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Alienware m5550 System At A Glance, Top View 1. LCD Latch, LCD Display, 4/6/2007 122945 PM

Models: m5550

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Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference

System At A Glance

Top View

1. LCD Latch

The LCD latches lock / unlock the LCD panel.

2. LCD Display

The panel is where the system content is displayed.

m5550-04-2007-techref.indd 12

4/6/2007 12:29:45 PM

Page 12

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Alienware System At A Glance, Top View 1. LCD Latch, LCD Display, Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference

Contents

Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE1. GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICS Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference2. BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY 3. BATTERY POWER & POWER MANAGEMENTAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 5. TROUBLESHOOTING APPENDIX A Product Specification APPENDIX B Agency Regulatory Notices4. UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTER Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceUsing This Manual Symbols and ConventionsPreface Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceYour computer will serve you well if you take good care of it Here are some ways of taking care of your AC adapterAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference When cleaning the computer, observe these steps Cleaning the Ventilation GrillsAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Chapter 2 BIOS Setup / Security Chapter 3 Battery Power & Power ManagementChapter 5 Trouble-Shooting Appendix A Product SpecificationCHAPTER ONE GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICS This chapter introduces the features and components of the computerAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.inddPerformance Features High Performance Processor with Calistoga ChipsetAdvanced Graphic Engine LCD DisplayFirewire IEEE1394 / 1394a and USB2.0 Ports Wireless LANEthernet Port Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceSystem At A Glance Top View 1. LCD Latch2. LCD Display Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference6. Touch Pad Disable / Enable Button 8. LED Status Indicator9. Power / Suspend Button 3. Keyboard10. Silent Mode Button 11. Outlook Express Quick Key12. Internet Explorer Quick Key 13. Windows Media Player Quick Key1. Wireless On/Off Switch 2. Power Jack DC-in4. Battery Pack Front and Rear View5. Ventilation Grill 6. Kensington Lock Key HoleAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 1. Audio Volume Dial Side Views2. Stereo Headphone / SPDIF-out Jack 3. Microphone Jack10. Firewire / IEEE1394 / 1394a Port 5. USB2.0 Port6. DVI-I Port 7. TV S-Video Port12. ExpressCard Slot Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122946 PM1. Battery Pack and Battery Latch Bottom View2. Hard Disk Drive Cover Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.indd4/6/2007 122946 PM 3. System Device Cover 4. Ventilation GrillAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 1. DC-out Connector AC Adapter2. Adapter 3. AC PlugLED Status Indicator System & Power Status IndicatorsAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Keyboard Features Function Keys Quick KeysAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Windows Keys 1. Start Key2. Application Menu Key Embedded Numeric KeypadTips on Using the Touch Pad Touch PadAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Adjusting the Display Brightness Graphics SubsystemExtending the Life of the TFT Display Device Opening and Closing the Display PanelAdjusting the Volume Manually Adjusting the Audio Volume in WindowsConnecting the Modem Audio SubsystemTo change the modem setting, do the following Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceCHAPTER TWO BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY FEATURE Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122947 PMThe Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into your computer’s BIOS Basic Input/Output System. It runs and maintains a variety of hardware functions. It is a menu-driven software, which allows you to easily configure and change the settings Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceEntering the BIOS Setup Screen Leaving the BIOS Setup ScreenBIOS Action Keys Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceModifying the BIOS Settings Boot SetupMain Setup Boot Settings Configurationthe 1st drive BIOS attempts Boot Agent is selected, theAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Security Setup Using Password ProtectionBoot Settings Configuration Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferencePower Setup Exit SetupAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference CHAPTER THREE BATTERY POWER & POWER MANAGEMENT Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122948 PMThe Battery Pack Lithium-Ion BatteryBattery Low-Power Warning 1. Low Battery Warning 2. Very Low Battery WarningNote Press Fn+F3 to turn off the battery warning beep Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122948 PMInstalling and Removing the Battery Pack To Remove the Battery PackAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.inddTo Install the Battery Pack Charging the Battery and Charging TimeChecking the Battery Level Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceProlonging the Battery’s Life and Usage Cycles There are things you can do to prolong the use of the batteryAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Using Windows Power Options Windows’ Power SchemesAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference In this dialog box, you can manually set the LCD and hard drive’s time-out values in the Plugged In column and in the Running On Batteries column. Lower time-out values will save more battery power Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceSuspend Mode Standby SuspendHibernate Suspend Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferencePower Button Action Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceLow Battery Warning Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferencePower Menu Quick Access Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceWindows’ Power Plans Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.indd4/6/2007 122950 PM Suspend Mode Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceStandby Suspend Hibernate SuspendPower Button Action Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceLow Battery Warning Click the “Change plan settings” underneath the currently active Power Plan in the Power Options Properties box. Next, click on “Change advance power settings” and go the the battery section and expand it to change the battery notifications and alarmsAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Power Menu Quick Access Instead of making specific selections in the Power Options Properties box, you can quickly and easily specify which pre-set power saving function you desire by clicking on the Battery icon at the lower right-hand corner of the task bar. If you do not see a battery or AC-in icon, go to Power Options Properties box and click on the Advanced tab. Check off ``Always show icon on the task bar``. Select “Power Saver” if you want the system to enter Suspend Mode more often. Or, select “High Performance” if your notebook PC is plugged into an AC power sourceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference CHAPTER FOUR UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTER Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122951 PMUpgrading the Hard Disk Drive Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Upgrading the Hard Disk DriveTo replace the hard disk drive, do the following Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 10. Put the HDD cover back and re-attach 2 Screw A’sUpgrading the System Memory Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceInstalling a memory module DIMM into the system Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference the contact edge is driven into the receiving socketAdding a Mini-PCI Type Wireless LAN Card Optional Device Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceInstalling a Mini PCI Card into the System To install a new Mini PCI card, do the followingAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4. Replace the System Device Cover and 9 Screw D’sCHAPTER FIVE TROUBLESHOOTING Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122952 PMAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Before taking further actions, consider the following suggestionsAudio Problems No speaker outputSound cannot be recorded Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceHard Disk Problems The hard disk drive does not work or is not recognizableThe hard drive is making abnormal whining noises The hard disk drive has reached its capacityThe hard disk takes longer to read a file The files are corruptedAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Optical Drive Problems The optical drive does not workThe drive does not read any disks The disk cannot be ejectedDisplay Problems The display panel is blank when the system is turned onThe screen is difficult to read The screen flickersKeyboard and Mouse Problems The characters on the screen repeat when I typeThe built-in touch pad performs erratically The built-in keyboard accepts no inputCMOS Battery Problem Memory ProblemsAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Modem Problems The built-in modem does not respond Connection difficultiesAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Network Adapter / Ethernet Problems The Ethernet adapter does not workAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference PC Card / PCMCIA Problems Windows crashes or freezes when you remove the PC cardPC Cards do not function The PC card cannot be recognizedPerformance Problems The computer becomes hotThe program appears to have stopped or runs very slowly Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceFirewire IEEE1394 and USB2.0 Problems The USB device does not workThe IEEE1394 port does not work Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAPPENDIX A PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122953 PMProcessor and Core Logic System MemoryDisplay AudioFirewire IEEE1394a ModemLAN / Ethernet StoragePorts and Connectors Battery Pack / AC AdapterKeyboard & Touch pad Express Card New Card & Multiple Card ReaderBIOS Physical SpecificationAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference APPENDIX B AGENCY REGULATORY NOTICES Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122954 PMFederal Communications Commission Notice ModificationsConnections to Peripheral Devices Declaration of ConformityEuropean Notice Canadian NoticeAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Power Cord Requirement U.S. and CanadaJapan Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceOther Countries Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceBattery Pack Safety Telephone Lines RequirementAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Laser Safety Lithium Battery Warning / Bridge Battery WarningAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Connecting to the Network EthernetCabling Restriction for Networks Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference