Alienware Area-51 m5500 User manual

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Notice
The information in this user’s manual is subject to change without notice.
THE MANUFACTURER OR RESELLER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ERRORS OR
OMISSIONS CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE PERFORMANCE
OR USE OF THIS MANUAL.
The information in this user’s manual is protected by copyright laws. No part of this
manual may be photocopied or reproduced in any form without prior written authorization
from the copyright owners.
Copyright 10/2005
All rights reserved.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. DOS and
Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP/VISTA are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of
their respective owners/companies.
The software described in this manual is delivered under a license agreement. The
software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U.S.
patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this copyright protection
technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other
limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse
engineering or disassembly is prohibited.
Rev 1.0

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
Symbols and Conventions
Protecting Your Computer - Avoid Abusive Handling and Adverse
Environment
Chapter Summaries
1. GETTING TO KNOW THE BASICS
Performance Features (1-2,3)
System at a Glance (1-4)
Top View (1-4,5,6,7)
Front and Rear Views (1-8,9)
Side Views (1-10,11)
Bottom View (1-12,13)
AC Adapter (1-14)
LED Status Indicators (1-15)
Keyboard Features (1-16)
Function (Quick) Keys (1-16)
Windows Keys (1-17)
Embedded Numeric Keypad (1-17)
Touchpad (1-18)
Graphics Subsystem (1-19)
Adjusting the Display Brightness (1-19)
Extending the Life of the TFT Display Panel (1-19)
Opening and Closing the Display Panel (1-20)
Audio Subsystem (1-21)
Adjusting the Volume in Windows (1-21)
Voice Recording (1-21)
Modem and Modem Settings (1-22)
Ethernet Adapter (1-23)
2. BIOS SETUP AND SECURITY
Entering the BIOS Setup Screen (2-3)
Leaving the BIOS Setup Screen (2-3)
BIOS Action Keys (2-3)

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Modifying the BIOS Settings (2-4)
Main Setup (2-4)
Advance Setup (2-4,5)
Security Setup (2-5,6)
Power Setup (2-6,7)
Boot Setup (2-7,8)
Exit Setup (2-8)
3. BATTERY POWER & POWER MANAGEMENT
The Battery Pack (3-2)
Lithium-Ion Battery Technology (3-2)
Battery Low-Power Warning (3-3)
Installing and Removing the Battery Pack (3-4,5)
Charging the Battery and Charging Time (3-5)
Checking the Battery Level (3-6)
Prolonging the Battery’s Life and Usage Cycles (3-6)
Using Windows Power Options (3-7)
Windows’ Power Schemes (3-7,8)
Suspend Modes (3-9,10)
Power Button Action (3-11)
Low Battery Warning (3-12)
Power Manual Quick Access (3-13)
4. UPGRADING YOUR COMPUTER
Upgrading the Hard Disk Drive (4-2,3,4,5)
Upgrading the System Memory (4-6,7,8,9,10)
Installing a Mini PCI Card to the System (4-11,12,13)
5. TROUBLE-SHOOTING2
First Step (5-2,3)
Audio Problems (5-4)
Hard Disk Problems (5-5,6)
Optical Drive Problems (5-7)
Display Problems (5-8)
Keyboard and Mouse Problems (5-9)
CMOS Battery Problems (5-10)
Memory Problems (5-11)

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Modem Problems (5-12)
Network Adapter/Ethernet Problems (5-13)
PC Card/PCMCIA Problems (5-14)
Performance Problems (5-15)
Firewire (IEEE1394) and USB2.0 Problems (5-16)
APPENDIX A Product Specification
APPENDIX B Agency Regulatory Notices

Preface
Using This Manual
This user’s manual contains general information about the hardware
and software setup, troubleshooting, and technical specifications of
the notebook computer.
Symbols and Conventions
The following conventions and symbols are used in this manual:
When keys are to be pressed at the same time, a plus (+)
symbol is used. For instance, Fn+F7 means holding Fn and F7
keys at the same time.
When a series of clicking actions is needed in a Windows O/S,
the [ ] and > symbols are used. For instance, [Start > Settings >
Control Panel > Display] means clicking the Start icon first, then
the Settings, then the Control Panel, then the Display icon.
When you need to make a selection with the touchpad (or
mouse), you will be asked to ’select’, ‘click’, ‘double-click’, or
‘right-click’ the item.
Note: Text in this format and symbol indicates specific instructions, commentary,
sidelights, or any additional information or notes that you should be aware of.
Warning: Text in this format and symbol means that failure to comply with the given
instructions or information could result in damage to your computer or could cause bodily
harm or loss of life.
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Protecting Your Computer - Avoid Abusive Handling and
Adverse Environment
Following the advice below will help ensure that you get the most out of
your investment.
Your computer will serve you well if you take good care of it:
Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight or place it near
sources of heat.
Do not subject it to temperatures below 0oC (32oF) or above
30oC (86oF).
Do not expose the computer to magnetic fields.
Do not expose the computer to moisture or rain.
Do not spill water or liquid on the computer.
Do not subject the computer to adverse shock and vibration.
Do not expose the computer to dust and dirt.
Do not place objects on top of the computer in order to avoid
damaging the computer.
Do not place the computer on rocky surfaces.
Here are some ways of taking care of your AC adapter.
Do not connect the adapter to any devices other than your
computer.
Do not let water get into the adapter.
Do not block the ventilation airway of the adapter.
Keep the adapter in a cool and ventilated place.
Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it.
Carefully tuck away the power cord and any cables away from
pedestrian traffic.
When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself;
pull on the plug instead.
Keep the adapter away from children.

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The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not
exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension
cord.
The total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single
wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating.
Do not connect another AC adapter to your notebook. This
notebook uses exclusively the AC adapter: Lishin 0202A2090 (90W),
Liteon PA-1900-05 (90W),
When cleaning the computer, observe these steps:
1. Power off the computer and remove the battery pack.
2. Disconnect the AC adapter.
3. Use a soft cloth dampened with water. Do not use liquid or
aerosol cleaners.
Contact tech support or see your service technician if any of the
following occurs:
The computer has been dropped or the body has been
damaged.
Liquid has been spilled into the product.
The computer does not operate normally.
Cleaning the Ventilation Grills:
It is suggested that you clean the ventilation grills regularly to maintain
optimal thermal regulation of the notebook. To do this, you may use a
soft brush or a vacuum cleaner (with appropriate head adapter) to
remove the dust buildup on the ventilation grills.

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Chapter Summaries
The following is a summary of the available chapters and appendices
in this manual.
Chapter 1: Getting to Know the Basics
In this chapter, you will learn the basic operations and features of your
computer. It gives you a general understanding of the components of
your computer.
Chapter 2: BIOS Setup / Security
In this chapter, you will learn how to change various firmware settings
and what the settings mean. Also, you will learn how to take
advantage of the built-in security feature provided by the BIOS.
Chapter 3: Battery Power & Power Management
In this chapter, you will learn the fundamentals of power management
and how to use them to achieve longer battery life.
Chapter 4: Upgrading Your Computer
In this chapter, you will learn how to upgrade the system memory and
the hard disk drive, as well as how to install a wireless mini PCI card.
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting
In this chapter, you will learn how to solve common hardware and
software problems.
Appendix A: Product Specification
In this section, you will find a list of the computer’s system
specifications.
Appendix B: Agency Regulatory Notices
In this section, you will find the general electro-magnetic and safety
regulatory information.