Alienware Area-51 m9750 User manual

Alienware Area-51 m9750 Technical Reference
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NOTICE
Specifications and information found in this manual are subject to change without
notice. Any changes therefore will be incorporated in future editions. The manufacturer
assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document.
TRADEMARKS
Windows™ XP is the trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Bluetooth® is the trademark owned by its proprietor.
This product incorporates copyright protect technology that is protected by U.S.
patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this copyright protect 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.
Other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Standards
The following standards are adopted throughout this manual:
* Notebook in boldface (with or without capitalization) refers to the notebook
computer that you have purchased.
* Boldface type is also used to highlight important information in this document.
* Whenever extra caution is called for, the information will be boxed in a dark
frame preceded by “Note:” or “Warning:”
Rev. 1.0 May 2007
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 - BEFORE YOU BEGIN, (3)
CHECKING WHAT YOU RECEIVED, (3)
EXAMINING YOUR COMPUTER, (4)
THE TWO SYSTEM LEDS, (8)
THE SEVEN STATUS LEDS, (9)
THE POWER BUTTON, (10)
THE NINE FINGER-TOUCH BUTTONS, (10)
PCI EXPRESS CARD AND MEDIA SLOTS, (12)
OPERATING TEMPERATURE, (13)
THE <FN> KEY, (14)
CHAPTER 2 - BATTERY, (16)
BATTERY PACK, (16)
RECHARGING THE BATTERY PACK, (16)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, (16)
BATTERY MAINTENANCE, (17)
POWER CONSUMPTION, (18)
REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION, (18)
REMOVING THE BATTERY PACK, (19)
CHAPTER 3 - MEMORY, (20)
REMOVING MEMORY MODULES, (21)
CHAPTER 4 - THE HDD DRIVES, (23)
THE TWO HDD SOCKETS, (23)
REMOVING THE HARD DISK DRIVES, (24)
APPENDIX A - AGENCY REGULATORY NOTICES, (25)
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Chapter 1 - Before You Begin
Please read this section before you start using your computer.
Checking What You Received
Your notebook package should contain the following items:
• The Notebook.
• AC Adapter.
• AC Power Cord.
• CD Disc (Including Drivers and User’s Guide).
• Battery Pack.
Note: You should keep the original factory carton and packing materials in case you
need to ship the unit back for servicing.
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Examining Your Computer
Before you start using your computer, you need to get acquainted with your
notebook’s main features and interfaces:
Web Cam
LCD Latch
LCD Screen
Power Button
Keyboard
Two Click Buttons
Seven System LEDs
Nine Finger-Touch Buttons
Touch Pad
ODD Drive
Two Speakers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Note: Press this key combination (Fn+F4) to power on and power off
the optional Web Cam module. After powering on the Web Cam, you
need to activate its function through Windows™.
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Front View
1. LCD Latch 4. Emergency Latch
2. Two Speakers 5. Eject Button
3. CIR Infrared Receiver Underneath 6. ODD Drive
Rear View
1. VGA Port 7. S-Video In Connector
2. S-Video Out Connector 8. DC-In Jack
3. Ventilation Holes 9. USB Connector
4. RJ11 Fax/Modem Connector 10. DVI Connector
5. Audio-In Connector 11. Ventilation Holes
6. TV-In Connector
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Left View
1. PCI Express Card Slot 5. Ventilation Holes
2. Media Card Slot 6. RJ 45 LAN Connector
3. Two USB Connectors 7. IEEE1394 Connector
4. Kensington Lock 8. Two HDD Doors
Right View
1. SPDIF-Out Connector 5. Digital Volume Dial
2. Three Audio-Out Ports 6. Ventilation Holes
(Front/ Surround/ Center speakers) 7. USB Connector
3. Microphone Jack
4. Headphone Jack
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Bottom View
1. Compartment Door 4. Woofer
2. Ventilation Holes 5. Battery Latch
3. Two HDD Doors 6. Battery Pack
Two Types of Audio Jack
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The Two System LEDs
The two System LEDs are closely knitted together to reflect the system and battery
recharge statuses as below.
Off • The system is off, or in hibernation mode, and
• The battery pack is fully charged, or battery pack
is not inserted.
Blue • The system is in full operation mode, and
• The battery pack is fully charged, or battery pack
is not inserted.
Blue blinking once
per 1.5 seconds
• The system is in standby mode.
Amber • The battery pack is being recharged (fast-charge
or pre-charge).
Purple • The system is in full operation mode, and
• The battery pack fails to be recharged.
Purple blinking
once per second
• The system is in standby mode, and
• The battery pack fails to be recharged.
Amber blinking
once per 3 seconds
• The battery pack is under discharge, and
• The battery power is more than 10% level.
Amber blinking
once per second
• The system is in full operation mode, and
• The battery power is less than 10% level.
Amber blinking five
times per second
• The system is off, or in hibernation mode, and
• The battery power is less than 5% level.
Note: The two System LEDs are located at the rear bottom side of the LCD display screen.
For more details on Standby and Hibernate, please refer to Power Options in the
Control Panel of your Microsoft Windows operating system.
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The Num Lock LED
The LED will be lit when the keyboard is in Num Lock mode. In
this mode, the embedded numeric keypads can be used.
The Caps Lock LED
The LED will be lit when the keyboard is in Caps Lock mode. In
this mode, all characters you type are in uppercase.
The Touch Pad LED
The LED will be lit when the touch pad function is activated.
You can press the (Fn+F5) key combination to switch off and to switch
on the touch pad function.
The HDD/ODD LED
The LED will be lit when the system is accessing the hard disk
drive and/or optical drive.
The AC Adapter LED
The LED will be lit when the system is connected to an AC adapter.
The Wireless LED
The LED will be lit when the wireless function is powered on.
The Finger-Touch Button LED
The LED will temporarily be lit when any of the finger-touch
buttons is pressed. For details on finger-touch buttons, please refer to
Chapter 1.6.
The Seven Status LEDs
Note: The seven Status LEDs are located near the topside of the keyboard. For the
exact location, please refer to the Panoramic View diagram in Chapter 1.2.
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The Power Button
Power Button
This Power Button is programmable by user. For details on how to program
this button, please refer to Power Options in the Control Panel of Windows.
Note: The Power Button is located near the right side of the keyboard. For the exact
location, please refer to the Panoramic View diagram in Chapter 1.2.
The Nine Finger-Touch Buttons
TV Button (Optional)
Press this button to run the TV Program.
DVD Button (Optional)
Press this button to run the DVD Program.
Music Button (Optional)
Press this button to run the Music Program.
Next Track Button
Press this button to skip to the next track/chapter of media playback.
Previous Track Button
Press this button to skip to the previous track/chapter of media
playback.
Stop Button
Press this button to stop media playback.
Play/Pause Button
Press this button to play or pause media playback.
Email Button
Press this button to activate the email function.
Internet Button
Press this button to activate the Internet function.
Note: The nine Finger-Touch Buttons are “finger-touch sensitive” and are located near
the top of the keyboard. For the exact location, please refer to the Panoramic View
diagram in Chapter 1.2.
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Note: The system supports Windows™ MCE and Windows™ XP operating systems.
Windows™ MCE supports full media center features.
In order to take full advantage of the three buttons (TV Button, DVD Button, Music
Button), you are requested to install the Function Key Controller program as supplied
in the system driver CD. Without installing this program, you will not be able to
activate these functions (through these three buttons) unless you have entered into
the main menu of the media center software. By installing this program, you will be
able to activate these functions (through these three buttons) whether you have
entered into the main menu of the media center software or not.
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PCI Express Card And Media Slots
Please observe the safety measures below:
When the PCI Express Card is not inserted into the PCI Express Card slot, make sure
this slot is covered by the “PCI Express Card slot door” as supplied together with this
notebook. The purpose of this “PCI Express Card slot door” is to prevent foreign matter
from entering into the system unit through this slot when the PCI Express Card is not
inserted. When inserting this “PCI Express Card slot door”, please make sure the arrow
is on the topside as shown above. Inserting this door upside down may cause damage
to your notebook.
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When no card (SD/MMC/MS Cards) is inserted into the media slot, make sure this
slot is covered by the “media slot door” as supplied together with this notebook. The
purpose of this “media slot door” is to prevent foreign matter from entering into the
system unit through this slot, when no card is inserted. When inserting this “media
slot door”, please make sure the arrow is on the topside as shown above. Inserting
this door upside down may cause damage to your notebook.
Operating Temperature
Operating Temperature: 10ºC to 35ºC.
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The <Fn> Key
The <Fn> Function Key is located near the bottom-left corner of the keyboard. This key
is used together with other keys to activate certain pre-defined functions. To activate
these functions, press and hold down <Fn> together with the keys described below:
Sleep Switch
Press this key combination (Fn+F1) to enter sleep mode. In sleep
mode, the LCD display and selected devices will be switched off
for less energy consumption.
Wireless LAN Switch
Press this key combination (Fn+F2) to power on and power off
the Wireless LAN module. Powering on the Wireless LAN by
pressing this key combination (Fn+F2) does not automatically
activate the Wireless LAN function. After powering on, you need
to activate the Wireless LAN function through Windows™. The
main purpose of this key combination (Fn+F2) is to provide you
with a quick way to turn off the power of Wireless LAN when
entering venues like airplanes, airports, and hospitals where the
usage of Wireless LAN is prohibited or not advisable.
LCD/CRT/TV Switch
Press this key combination (Fn+F3) to switch between
LCD only, CRT only, TV only, LCD/CRT simultaneously, and LCD/TV
simultaneously.
Web Cam Switch (Optional)
Press this key combination (Fn+F4) to power on and power off
the Web Cam module. After powering on the Web Cam, you need
to activate its function through Windows™. In addition, if you
have Windows XP, you can also use Windows Movie Maker to
create, edit and share video.
Touch Pad Switch
Press this key combination (Fn+F5) to switch off and to switch
on the touch pad function. When the touch pad function is
switched off, the touch pad device still can work temporarily for
three to five seconds during system reboots into the Windows™
operating system, or resumes from standby or hibernation.
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Mute/Un-mute Switch
Press this key combination (Fn+F6) to mute and to un-mute
audio volume.
Decreasing Brightness
Press this key combination (Fn+F7) to decrease the brightness of
the LCD display.
Increasing Brightness
Press this key combination (Fn+F8) to increase the brightness of
the LCD display.
Bluetooth Switch (Optional)
Press this key combination (Fn+F9) to power on and power
off the Bluetooth® module. Powering on the Bluetooth® by
pressing this key combination (Fn+F9) does not automatically
activate the Bluetooth® function. After powering on, you need
to activate the Bluetooth® function through Windows™. The
main purpose of this key combination (Fn+F9) is to provide
you with a quick way to turn off the power of Bluetooth® when
entering venues like airplanes, airports, and hospitals where the
usage of Bluetooth® is prohibited or not advisable.
Alien Head LED On/Off Switch
Press this key combination (FN+F10) to turn the Alien Head LED
on and off.
Touch Capacitance Disable Switch
Press this key combination (Fn+F11) to disable the touch
capacitive keys.
Note: The proper way to activate Wireless LAN and Bluetooth® is described below:
1) Press this key combination (Fn+F2) to power on Wireless LAN.
2) Press this key combination (Fn+F9) to power on Bluetooth®.
3) Activate the application programs in Windows™.
The effective range of the Bluetooth® system is 10 meters.
Note: Depending on the configuration of the notebook computer you have purchased,
some of the function keys may have no function.
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Chapter 2 - Battery
Battery Pack
Your notebook is equipped with a high-energy rechargeable Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)
battery pack. Battery life will vary depending on the product configuration, product
model, applications loaded on the product, power management settings of the
product, and product features used by the customer. As with all batteries, the
maximum capacity of this battery will decrease with time and usage.
Recharging The Battery Pack
Your notebook supports both on-line and off-line recharge. Follow the procedure
below to recharge battery:
• Make sure the battery pack is installed in the notebook.
• Connect the AC adapter to the notebook and to an electrical outlet.
The two System LEDs are available to reflect the system status as well as the battery
status. For details on the System LEDs, please refer to Chapter 1.3. When the
notebook is OFF, a depleted Li-Ion battery will take three hours to recharge.
Questions and Answers:
Q: I can feel a mild heat next to the battery pack. Is this normal?
A: The battery will generate heat during recharging and discharging. There is a
protection circuit inside the notebook to prevent overheating. You do
not need to worry.
Q: My battery operation time is not as long as it should be. Why?
A: The battery is heat sensitive and can only be charged to its maximum if the
battery and its environmental temperature remain within 15-25°C (59-77°F).
The more the temperature deviates from this range during recharging, the
less chance there is for the battery to be fully charged. In order to recharge
the pack to its full capacity, users are requested to cool down the unit
by unplugging the AC Adapter. Wait until it is cooled down. Then plug
in the AC Adapter to start recharging again.
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Q: I did not use my spare battery for a few days. Even though it was fully
recharged, there wasn’t as much power left as a newly charged one. Why?
A: The batteries will self-discharge (1% per day for Li-Ion) when they are not
being recharged. To make sure a battery pack is fully charged, recharge before
use. Always keep the battery inside the notebook and have the AC adapter
connected whenever possible.
Q: I did not use my spare battery for months. I am having a problem recharging it.
A: If you happen to leave your battery pack to go through an extended period
of self-discharge, say more than three months, the battery voltage level will
become too low and needs to be Pre-Charged (to bring the battery voltage
level high enough) before it automatically (for Li-Ion only) resumes its
normal Fast Charge. Pre-Charge may take 30 minutes. Fast Charge
usually takes 2-3 hours.
Battery Maintenance
To maintain the battery pack’s maximum capacity, you should occasionally let the
notebook deplete its battery power completely before recharging.
To carry out a complete depletion of the battery, disconnect the AC adapter and let
your notebook consume the remaining battery power. To speed up the depletion, use
the HDD as much as possible and set the LCD as bright as possible. When the battery
is empty, wait for the notebook to cool down (especially the battery). The temperature
should be within 15-25°C (59-77°F). Then insert the AC adapter to recharge the battery.
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Power Consumption
Windows™ XP, the latest Windows operating system, has incorporated the latest
state-of-the-art ACPI (Advanced Configuration Power Interface) power management
methodology. In order to fully utilize the power of your battery packs, it would be a
good idea for you to spend some time acquiring a basic understanding of the power
management concept from your operating system.
In Windows™ Operating Systems, you can go through Power Options of the Control
Panel according to the version of the Windows™ Operating System the notebook uses.
We shall not describe them in detail. The Power Options in Windows™ XP are further
divided into the categories below:
• Power Schemes
• Alarms
• Power Meter
• Advanced
• Hibernate
Windows™ Vista’s Power Options include three preferred power plans to choose from:
• Balanced
• Power Saver
• High Performance
Reducing Power Consumption
Although your notebook (together with the operating system) is capable of power
conservation, there are measures you can take to reduce the power consumption:•
Use the AC power whenever possible.
• Lower the intensity of the LCD backlight. A very bright screen translates to
higher power usage.
• Try to use the HDD or the PCMCIA drive to read and write files, instead of
using the external USB FDD.
Note: The battery pack should be locked in the battery compartment all the time.
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Removing The Battery Pack
This battery pack can easily be removed and replaced. Make sure that the computer
is properly shutdown before changing the battery pack. If you would like to change the
battery pack while the power is on, make sure this battery pack is not the only electrical
source to the system unit. Follow the steps below to remove the battery pack.
• Have the system properly shutdown.
• Flip the system upside down as shown.
• Push the battery latch to unlock the position as shown by #1.
• The battery pack will pop up as shown by #2.
• Remove the battery pack as shown by #3.
To insert the battery pack, reverse the steps above.
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Chapter 3 - Memory
Your notebook is equipped with a configurable memory unit. The industry standard
JEDEC PC2700 (DDR2-333) S.O.DIMM memory module sockets are available for
memory upgrade to 2048MB. The table below illustrates all the possible ways system
memory can be configured.
Total Memory Socket#1 Socket#2
256MB 0MB 256MB
256MB 256MB 0MB
512MB 0MB 512MB
512MB 256MB 256MB
512MB 512MB 0MB
768MB 256MB 512MB
768MB 512MB 256MB
1024MB 0MB 1024MB
1024MB 512MB 512MB
1024MB 1024MB 0MB
1280MB 256MB 1024MB
1280MB 1024MB 256MB
1536MB 512MB 1024MB
1536MB 1024MB 512MB
2048MB 1024MB 1024MB
4GB 2048MB 2048MB
DDR2 S.O. DIMM Memory Module
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