Chapter

Getting Started

This chapter introduces the features and components of the notebook and tells you how to get the notebook up and running.

Congratulations on purchasing the notebook. Your notebook incorporates desktop computer capabilities into a compact notebook-sized package.

Among the distinguished features are:

Intel Celeron 300A/333/366/400 series microprocessor
Your notebook is equipped with one of the most advanced central processors for excellent ability of code execution.

Built-in PCI audio system
With your notebooks audio capabilities, you can experience fantastic 3D audio sensations and realistic acoustic effects.

PCMCIA slots with CardBus and ZV port support
CardBus and ZV port standards satisfy the need for high-speed data transmission, such as required by full-motion video, video capture, and networking.

IR port support
With the IR port, wireless communications are possible between your notebook and an IR device.

USB port support
The Universal Serial Bus standard gives you the benefits of having one single interface for multiple interfaces when low-to-medium speed peripherals are concerned.

Power Management
You can conserve power automatically and manually by setting up the Power Management capabilities of your notebook.

Fax/Modem/Voice Card (optional)
This option allows your notebook to transmit data over the phone lines.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) that supports the years beyond 2000

Other basic components of your notebook system are:

3.5-inch, 1.44MB (Megabytes) floppy disk drive

ATA3 IDE hard disk drive, Ultra DMA/33 supported

CD-ROM drive (or DVD-ROM drive as an option)

32MB SDRAM on board, one SO-DIMM socket supported, providing up to 160MB SDRAM upgrade capability (with 32MB on board)

128KB on-die L2 cache memory

4MB video RAM

TFT LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) with XGA/SVGA resolution

Notebook keyboard

Touchpad pointing device

Microphone and stereo speaker set

I/O connectors for external expansion

AC adapter

NiMH or Li-ion rechargeable battery pack

Figure 1-1. Right-Side View

1. Hard Disk Drive
Inside is the hard disk drive of your notebook, referred to as. (See Hard Disk Drive in Chapter 2 for more information.)

2. IR Port
This infrared port complies with IrDA 1.0, IrDA 1.1 (FIR), and ASK standards, which allow you to connect your notebook to an IR device wirelessly. (See Connecting an IR Device in Chapter 4 for important notes.)

3. CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive
This is the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive of your notebook, often configured as drive D. (See CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive in Chapter 2 for more information.)

4. Volume Control ( )
This controls the volume of the sound coming from the notebook.

Figure 1-2. Left-Side View

1. Kensington Lock Anchor ( )
This rectangular hole can be used as an anchor point for a Kensington-type security cable. You can use this cable to lock your notebook to an appropriate location for security.

2. Power Button ( )
Pressing this button turns the notebook power ON or OFF.

3. Phone Line Connector () (optional)
This option allows you to transfer data over the telephone line.

4. PC Card Slots
Open the cover to access the slots. Each of the two PC card slots is for installing a PC card, or called PCMCIA card. (See Installing a PC Card in Chapter 4 for more information.)

5. Battery Pack
Inside is the battery pack, which supplies power to your notebook when external power is not connected. (See Chapter 3 for more information.)

Figure 1-3. Rear View

1. Microphone Connector ( )
This can be connected to an external microphone for use in place of the notebook's built-in microphone.

2. Audio Output Connector ( )
This can be connected to a set of headphones, external speakers with amplifier or an audio recording device.

3. USB Port ()
The 4-pin Universal Serial Bus port is for connecting an USB device. (See Connecting an USB Device in Chapter 4 for more information.)

4. Parallel Port ( )
This 25-pin port is for connecting a parallel device such as a parallel printer or pocket LAN. (See Connecting a Serial or Parallel Device in Chapter 4 for more information.)

5. Serial Port ( )
This 9-pin port is for connecting a serial device such as a serial mouse, modem, or printer. (See Connecting a Serial or Parallel Device in Chapter 4 for more information.)

6. VGA Port ( )
This 15-pin analog port is for connecting an external monitor.

7. PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port ( )
This 6-pin mini-DIN port is for connecting a PS/2 keyboard or mouse.

8. Power Connector ( )
This is for connecting the AC adapter.

Figure 1-4. Front View

1. Top Cover Latch
This cover latch keeps the top cover firmly closed.

2. Floppy Disk Drive
This is the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive of your notebook, often referred as drive A. (See Floppy Disk Drive in Chapter 2 for more information.)

To open the cover, press the cover latch toward the right and then lift the cover.

Figure 1-5. Opening the Cover

Figure 1-6. Top-Open View

1. LCD Display
This is the liquid crystal display of your notebook.

2. Indicators Panel
These are the indicators that show the status of your notebook.

3. Stereo Speaker Set
This is the built-in speaker set of your notebook.

4. Keyboard
This keyboard provides all the functions of a full-size 101/102-key keyboard. (See Keyboard in Chapter 2 for information.)

5. Touchpad
This is the pointing device of your notebook. (See Touchpad in Chapter 2 for information.)

6. Microphone
This is the built-in microphone of your notebook.

1. Plug the DC cord of the AC adapter to the power connector on the rear of the notebook.

2. Plug the female end of the AC cord to the AC adapter and the male end an electrical outlet.

Figure 1-7. Connecting the AC Adapter

When the AC adapter is connected, the indicator on the AC adapter lights up, indicating that power is being supplied from the electrical outlet to the AC adapter and onto your notebook. When the Battery Charge Indicator ( ) on the notebook glows orange, it means that the AC adapter is charging the battery.

3. To fully charge the battery, leave the notebook power off, and wait until the Battery Charge Indicator glows green.

When the AC adapter is not connected, you can operate the notebook using battery power only.

When the AC adapter is not connected, you can use battery power. To assure optimum battery life, fully charge and discharge the battery at least once and then fully charge the battery before you first use battery power. (For more information on using battery power, see Chapter 3.)

A computer starts up with an operating system existing on the hard disk, a CD, or a diskette. The computer will automatically load the operating system after you turn it on. This process is called booting.

The notebook comes to you ready for use. This means the hard disk is pre-formatted and contains the files necessary for booting.

1. Open the top cover by sliding the cover latch toward the right and lifting up the cover.

2. Turn on the notebook by pressing the Power Button (Figure 1-2 #2) on the left side of the notebook.

3. Tilt the cover forward or backward to a comfortable viewing position.

You can also adjust the brightness of the display to attain display clarity. To
adjust brightness, press [Fn]+[F6] or [Fn]+[F7].

4. Each time the notebook is turned on, it performs a Power-On Self Test (POST). This checks the status of major computer devices including the system board, memory, video, keyboard, and disk drive. Some status messages from POST will appear on the screen.

If the POST has detected a mismatch between the actual hardware configuration and the configuration information stored in CMOS RAM, you will see error message(s) telling you to run the SCU program. (See Chapter 5 for instructions on running SCU.)

5. When POST successfully completes its check, the notebook first tries to boot from drive A, C, or CD-ROM depending on the Boot Sequence setting in the SCU program.

A CD is supplied with your notebook that contains software drivers you need to install for using the special features of your notebook. (See Chapter 6 for information on the drivers.)

1. If you are using a program, save your data and exit the program.

2. First make sure all disk drive in-use indicators are off, then remove any diskette or CD from the drive.

3. If you are using an operating system such as Windows 95 and OS/2 that has the Shut Down command, simply select the command and the computer will turn off automatically.

Otherwise, turn off the notebook by pressing the Power Button.

4. Turn off the power of any connected external devices.

5. To close the top cover, tilt down the cover until the cover latch clicks into place.

6. To disconnect the AC adapter, unplug from the electrical outlet first; then unplug from the notebook.