Manuals / Alienware / Computer Equipment / Laptop

Alienware user manual Chapter One Getting To Know The Basics, m5550-04-2007-techref.indd

Models: m5550

1 92

Download 92 pages 27.07 Kb

Page 9

Image 9

Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference

CHAPTER ONE

GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICS

This chapter introduces the features and components of the computer.

m5550-04-2007-techref.indd 9

4/6/2007 12:29:45 PM

Page 9

Image 9

Alienware Chapter One Getting To Know The Basics, Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference, 4/6/2007 122945 PM

Contents

Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference PREFACE TABLE OF CONTENTS1. 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 APPENDIX A Product Specification APPENDIX B Agency Regulatory Notices 5. TROUBLESHOOTING4. UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTER Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceSymbols and Conventions Using This ManualPreface 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 3 Battery Power & Power Management Chapter 2 BIOS Setup / SecurityChapter 5 Trouble-Shooting Appendix A Product SpecificationThis chapter introduces the features and components of the computer CHAPTER ONE GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICSAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.inddHigh Performance Processor with Calistoga Chipset Performance FeaturesAdvanced Graphic Engine LCD DisplayWireless LAN Firewire IEEE1394 / 1394a and USB2.0 PortsEthernet Port Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceTop View 1. LCD Latch System At A Glance2. LCD Display Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference8. LED Status Indicator 6. Touch Pad Disable / Enable Button9. Power / Suspend Button 3. Keyboard11. Outlook Express Quick Key 10. Silent Mode Button12. Internet Explorer Quick Key 13. Windows Media Player Quick Key2. Power Jack DC-in 1. Wireless On/Off Switch4. Battery Pack Front and Rear View5. Ventilation Grill 6. Kensington Lock Key HoleAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Side Views 1. Audio Volume Dial2. Stereo Headphone / SPDIF-out Jack 3. Microphone Jack5. USB2.0 Port 10. Firewire / IEEE1394 / 1394a Port6. DVI-I Port 7. TV S-Video PortAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 12. ExpressCard Slotm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122946 PMBottom View 1. Battery Pack and Battery Latch2. 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 AC Adapter 1. DC-out Connector2. 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 1. Start Key Windows Keys2. Application Menu Key Embedded Numeric KeypadTips on Using the Touch Pad Touch PadAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Graphics Subsystem Adjusting the Display BrightnessExtending the Life of the TFT Display Device Opening and Closing the Display PanelAdjusting the Audio Volume in Windows Adjusting the Volume ManuallyConnecting the Modem Audio SubsystemAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference To change the modem setting, do the followingAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference CHAPTER TWO BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY FEATUREm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122947 PMAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference The 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 settingsLeaving the BIOS Setup Screen Entering the BIOS Setup ScreenBIOS Action Keys Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceBoot Setup Modifying the BIOS SettingsMain Setup Boot Settings Configurationthe 1st drive BIOS attempts Boot Agent is selected, theAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Using Password Protection Security SetupBoot Settings Configuration Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferencePower Setup Exit SetupAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference CHAPTER THREE BATTERY POWER & POWER MANAGEMENTm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122948 PMLithium-Ion Battery The Battery PackBattery Low-Power Warning 1. Low Battery Warning 2. Very Low Battery WarningAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Note Press Fn+F3 to turn off the battery warning beepm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122948 PMTo Remove the Battery Pack Installing and Removing the Battery PackAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.inddCharging the Battery and Charging Time To Install the Battery PackChecking 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 Alienware 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 powerStandby Suspend Suspend ModeHibernate Suspend Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Power Button ActionAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Low Battery WarningAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Power Menu Quick AccessAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Windows’ Power PlansAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference m5550-04-2007-techref.indd4/6/2007 122950 PM Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Suspend ModeStandby Suspend Hibernate SuspendAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Power Button ActionLow 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 Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference CHAPTER FOUR UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTERm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122951 PMAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Upgrading the Hard Disk DriveAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Upgrading the Hard Disk DriveTo replace the hard disk drive, do the following 10. Put the HDD cover back and re-attach 2 Screw A’s Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Upgrading the System MemoryAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Installing a memory module DIMM into the systemthe contact edge is driven into the receiving socket Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Adding a Mini-PCI Type Wireless LAN Card Optional DeviceInstalling a Mini PCI Card into the System To install a new Mini PCI card, do the followingAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference 4. Replace the System Device Cover and 9 Screw D’s Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference CHAPTER FIVE TROUBLESHOOTINGm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122952 PMBefore taking further actions, consider the following suggestions Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceNo speaker output Audio ProblemsSound cannot be recorded Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceThe hard disk drive does not work or is not recognizable Hard Disk ProblemsThe 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 The optical drive does not work Optical Drive ProblemsThe drive does not read any disks The disk cannot be ejectedThe display panel is blank when the system is turned on Display ProblemsThe screen is difficult to read The screen flickersThe characters on the screen repeat when I type Keyboard and Mouse ProblemsThe 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 Windows crashes or freezes when you remove the PC card PC Card / PCMCIA ProblemsPC Cards do not function The PC card cannot be recognizedThe computer becomes hot Performance ProblemsThe program appears to have stopped or runs very slowly Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceThe USB device does not work Firewire IEEE1394 and USB2.0 ProblemsThe IEEE1394 port does not work Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference APPENDIX A PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONSm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122953 PMSystem Memory Processor and Core LogicDisplay AudioModem Firewire IEEE1394aLAN / Ethernet StorageBattery Pack / AC Adapter Ports and ConnectorsKeyboard & Touch pad Express Card New Card & Multiple Card ReaderBIOS Physical SpecificationAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference APPENDIX B AGENCY REGULATORY NOTICESm5550-04-2007-techref.indd 4/6/2007 122954 PMModifications Federal Communications Commission NoticeConnections to Peripheral Devices Declaration of ConformityEuropean Notice Canadian NoticeAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference U.S. and Canada Power Cord RequirementJapan Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical ReferenceAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Other CountriesBattery Pack Safety Telephone Lines RequirementAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Laser Safety Lithium Battery Warning / Bridge Battery WarningAlienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference Ethernet Connecting to the NetworkCabling Restriction for Networks Alienware Area-51 m5550 Technical Reference