Appendix A Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:My screen seems to time out too quickly. I have to constantly hit a key or move the mouse in order to bring it back. How can I adjust the screen time- out?

A:This is part of Windows Power Management. Access Power Management by clicking on Start / Settings / Control Panel / Power Management. Adjust the display time-out by selecting a time next to the Turn off monitor option. You may also select different time-out values for adapter and battery power states.

Q:I've heard that cleaning up and rearranging files on the hard drive will improve the startup speed of my programs. How do I do this?

A:Hard disk maintenance can improve the startup speed of programs. This maintenance includes deleting unnecessary files, and defragmenting, which rearranges data into more efficient groupings. Windows includes utilities for performing these maintenance tasks. In Windows XP, for example, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools. Run Disk Cleanup to remove unnecessary files and Disk Defragmenter to defragment the hard drive. For more information, refer to Windows documentation.

Q:The internal fax/modem dial tone sound is too low. How can I increase the volume?

A:There are two methods to adjust the volume of the internal fax/modem dial tone:

Method 1: Double-click the Volume Control icon on the Windows task bar. Adjusting the slide bar under PCSpkr will adjust the volume of the internal fax/modem dial tone.

Method 2: Use the volume control button on the front of the computer.

Q:What kind of external microphone can I use with my notebook computer?

A:You will need to use a self-amplifying microphone.

Q:There is feedback noise coming from my speakers. What can I do?

A:Double click on the Speaker icon on the task bar. Then, under Microphone Balance, check the Mute box.

Q:Because of a software problem, I was unable to shut down power normally. I pressed the power button to force a power off, but it didn't work. How can I force a power off?

A:Make sure you press the power button for at least 4 seconds. Normally, this will force a power off. If this does not work, you can shut down the computer by