Compaq 370698-002 Performance Problems

6–14 Reference Guide

Troubleshooting

If a PC Card Modem Is Not Working

Disable the internal modem:

1. Open the hardware Device Manager. Select Start > Control

Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System.

2. Select Modem to list the current modem devices.

3. Select the internal modem, then select the option to disable

the modem.

Performance Problems

If the Notebook Pauses or Runs Sluggishly

■This may be normal Windows behavior. Background

processing can affect response time.

■Certain background operations (such as a virus-scanning

program) can affect performance.

■Press ctrl+alt+del and use Task Manager to see if an application

is not responding.

■Restart the notebook by selecting Start > Turn Off

Computer > Restart.

■Some file browsers respond slowly while processing graphics

or waiting for broken network connections to time out.

■If the notebook hard drive frequently runs (as indicated by

the hard drive light on the front of the notebook) while the

notebook appears to be paused or running slowly, Windows is

likely spending excess time writing to its swap file on the

notebook hard disk. If this occurs frequently, consider

installing additional memory.

■Check the amount of available free disk space. Delete

temporary and unneeded files.

Contents

Main b Reference Guide Compaq Notebook Series Page Contents 1 Getting Started with Your Notebook 2 Basic Operation 3 Battery Packs and Power Management 4 Modem and Network Connections 5 Add-On Devices 6 Troubleshooting Index Page Front Panel and Right Panel Components Left Pa nel and Ba ck Panel Com ponents Bottom Panel Components Status Lights Page Setting Up Your Notebook Step 1: Insert the Battery Pack Step 2: Connect AC Power Page Step 4: Turn On the Notebook Step 5: Set Up Windows Page Default Power Settings Power mode To enter this mode Function To Reset the Notebook To Change the Boot Device To Use the Touch Pad Page To Use the Function Hot Keys To Use the One -Touch Bu ttons To Use the Windows and Applications Keys To Type Alternate Graphics Using the ALT GR Key Using CDs or DVDs To Insert or Remove a CD or DVD To Play DVD Movies To Crea te or Cop y CDs To Write to DVD Media (Select Models Only) Securing Your Notebook To Set Up Password Protection To Loc k Your Note book Taking Care of Your Notebook To Prot ect Your H ard Drive To Maintain Your Notebook To Safeguard Your Data To Extend the Life of the Display To Clean Your Notebook Page How the Notebook Manages Power Automatically When this occurs The result is To resume To Change Timeout Settings and Create Power Sc hemes Using Battery Power To Check Battery Status To Respond to a Low-Battery Warning To Recharge the Battery Pack To Get the Most from Your Battery Packs Page Disposing of a Used Battery Pack Modem and Network Connections Using the Modem To Con nect the Modem Special Restrictions in Certain Countries To Cha nge Your Mo dem Set tings 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 an d Off Turning On Communication and Making a Connection Page Add-On Devices Connecting External Devices To Insert or Remove a PC Card Inserting a PC Card Using Dual Display Mode To Con nect a 1394 D evice (Select Models Only) Installing Additional RAM (Memory) To Install a RAM Expansion Module Page To Remove a RAM Expansion Module Page Replacing the Hard Drive To Rep lace the Hard Dri ve To Replace the Hard Drive Holder Page Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Your Notebook Audio Problems If No Sound Is Audible If Sound Does Not Record If You Hear Loud, High-Pitched Feedback from the Speakers CD-ROM and DVD Problems If You Cannot Boot from a CD or DVD If a DVD Plays Erratically If You Get a Region Code Error When Playing a DVD Movie If the Notebook Cannot Read a CD or DVD Display Problems If the Notebook Is On, But the Screen Is Blank If the Screen Is Difficult to Read If an External Display Does Not Work Hard Drive Problems If the Notebook Hard Drive Does Not Spin If the Hard Drive Makes a Buzzing or Whining Noise If Files Are Corrupted Heat Problems If the Notebook Gets Abnormally Hot Keyboard and Pointing Device Problems If the Pointer Is Difficult to Control If the TouchPad Does Not Work Local Area Network (LAN) Problems Memory Problems Modem Problems If the Modem Seems Slow If the Modem Does Not Dial or No Dial Tone Is Detected If the Modem Dials Incorrectly If the Modem Dials, But Does Not Connect If the Modem Is Not Detected If the Modem Dials, But You Cannot Hear It If the Modem Connects, But Transferred Data Is Bad If the Modem Causes an ERROR Message If the Modem Does Not Fax If Excessive Line Current Is Detected PC Card (PCMCIA) Problems If the Notebook Does Not Recognize a PC Card If a Network PC Card Stops Communicating Properly If a PC Card Modem Is Not Working Performance Problems If the Notebook Pauses or Runs Sluggishly If the Notebook Stops Responding Power an d Batter y Pack Pr oblems If the Notebook Turns Off Immediately After It Turns On If the Notebook Keeps Beeping If the Battery Pack Does Not Charge If the Notebook Has a Short Operating Time If the Time Remaining for the Battery Pack Is Not Correct If the Notebook Does Not Enter Standby Mode as Expected If the Notebook Does Not Enter Hibernation as Expected Printing Problems Serial, Parallel and USB Problems If a Serial Mouse Does Not Work If a Serial Modem Does Not Work Properly If the Serial or Parallel Port Is Not Working If the USB Port Is Not Working Startup Problems If the Notebook Does Not Respond When You Turn It On If the Notebook Will Not Boot from Battery Power Page Wireless Problems If You Have Problems with Wireless 802.11 Communication Page Configuring Your Notebook To Run the BIOS Setup Utility Page System Devices Menu Security Menu Boot Menu Exit Menu Updating Software and Drivers from the Web Using System Recovery Features Safeguarding Your Data Operating System (OS) CD Repair OS CD Reinstall Reinstalling Drivers Restoring Software Applications Index