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Alienware user manual Chapter Five Troubleshooting, Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference

Models: m5550

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Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference

CHAPTER FIVE

TROUBLESHOOTING

In this chapter, you will learn how to solve common hardware and software problems.

m5550-04-2007-techref.indd 66

4/6/2007 12:29:52 PM

Page 66

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Alienware Chapter Five Troubleshooting, Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference, m5550-04-2007-techref.indd

Contents

Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 1. GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICS TABLE OF CONTENTSPREFACE Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference2. BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY 3. BATTERY POWER & POWER MANAGEMENTAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4. UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTER 5. TROUBLESHOOTINGAPPENDIX A Product Specification APPENDIX B Agency Regulatory Notices Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferencePreface Using This ManualSymbols and Conventions 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 5 Trouble-Shooting Chapter 2 BIOS Setup / SecurityChapter 3 Battery Power & Power Management Appendix A Product SpecificationAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference CHAPTER ONE GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICSThis chapter introduces the features and components of the computer m5550-04-2007-techref.inddAdvanced Graphic Engine Performance FeaturesHigh Performance Processor with Calistoga Chipset LCD DisplayEthernet Port Firewire IEEE1394 / 1394a and USB2.0 PortsWireless LAN Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference2. LCD Display System At A GlanceTop View 1. LCD Latch Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference9. Power / Suspend Button 6. Touch Pad Disable / Enable Button8. LED Status Indicator 3. Keyboard12. Internet Explorer Quick Key 10. Silent Mode Button11. Outlook Express Quick Key 13. Windows Media Player Quick Key4. Battery Pack 1. Wireless On/Off Switch2. Power Jack DC-in Front and Rear View5. Ventilation Grill 6. Kensington Lock Key HoleAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 2. Stereo Headphone / SPDIF-out Jack 1. Audio Volume DialSide Views 3. Microphone Jack6. DVI-I Port 10. Firewire / IEEE1394 / 1394a Port5. USB2.0 Port 7. TV S-Video Portm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 12. ExpressCard SlotAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4/6/2007 122946 PM2. Hard Disk Drive Cover 1. Battery Pack and Battery LatchBottom View 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 2. Adapter 1. DC-out ConnectorAC 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 2. Application Menu Key Windows Keys1. Start Key Embedded Numeric KeypadTips on Using the Touch Pad Touch PadAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Extending the Life of the TFT Display Device Adjusting the Display BrightnessGraphics Subsystem Opening and Closing the Display PanelConnecting the Modem Adjusting the Volume ManuallyAdjusting the Audio Volume in Windows Audio SubsystemTo change the modem setting, do the following Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd CHAPTER TWO BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY FEATUREAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 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 ReferenceBIOS Action Keys Entering the BIOS Setup ScreenLeaving the BIOS Setup Screen Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceMain Setup Modifying the BIOS SettingsBoot Setup Boot Settings Configurationthe 1st drive BIOS attempts Boot Agent is selected, theAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Boot Settings Configuration Security SetupUsing Password Protection Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferencePower Setup Exit SetupAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.indd CHAPTER THREE BATTERY POWER & POWER MANAGEMENTAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4/6/2007 122948 PMBattery Low-Power Warning 1. Low Battery Warning The Battery PackLithium-Ion Battery 2. Very Low Battery Warningm5550-04-2007-techref.indd Note Press Fn+F3 to turn off the battery warning beepAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4/6/2007 122948 PMAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Installing and Removing the Battery PackTo Remove the Battery Pack m5550-04-2007-techref.inddChecking the Battery Level To Install the Battery PackCharging the Battery and Charging Time 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 ReferenceHibernate Suspend Suspend ModeStandby 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 Standby Suspend Suspend ModeAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 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 m5550-04-2007-techref.indd CHAPTER FOUR UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTERAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 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’sm5550-04-2007-techref.indd CHAPTER FIVE TROUBLESHOOTINGAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4/6/2007 122952 PMAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Before taking further actions, consider the following suggestionsSound cannot be recorded Audio ProblemsNo speaker output Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceThe hard drive is making abnormal whining noises Hard Disk ProblemsThe hard disk drive does not work or is not recognizable 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 The drive does not read any disks Optical Drive ProblemsThe optical drive does not work The disk cannot be ejectedThe screen is difficult to read Display ProblemsThe display panel is blank when the system is turned on The screen flickersThe built-in touch pad performs erratically Keyboard and Mouse ProblemsThe characters on the screen repeat when I type 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 Cards do not function PC Card / PCMCIA ProblemsWindows crashes or freezes when you remove the PC card The PC card cannot be recognizedThe program appears to have stopped or runs very slowly Performance ProblemsThe computer becomes hot Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceThe IEEE1394 port does not work Firewire IEEE1394 and USB2.0 ProblemsThe USB device does not work Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Referencem5550-04-2007-techref.indd APPENDIX A PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONSAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4/6/2007 122953 PMDisplay Processor and Core LogicSystem Memory AudioLAN / Ethernet Firewire IEEE1394aModem StorageKeyboard & Touch pad Ports and ConnectorsBattery Pack / AC Adapter Express Card New Card & Multiple Card ReaderBIOS Physical SpecificationAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.indd APPENDIX B AGENCY REGULATORY NOTICESAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4/6/2007 122954 PMConnections to Peripheral Devices Federal Communications Commission NoticeModifications Declaration of ConformityEuropean Notice Canadian NoticeAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Japan Power Cord RequirementU.S. and Canada 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 Cabling Restriction for Networks Connecting to the NetworkEthernet Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference