Alienware Area-51m 766 User manual

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Notice
The informationinthisuser’smanualissubjecttochangewithoutnotice.
THEMANUFACTURERORRESELLERSHALLNOT BELIABLEFORERRORS
OROMISSIONSCONTAINEDINTHISMANUALAND SHALLNOTBE LIABLE
FORANYCONSEQUENTIALDAMAGES, WHICH MAYRESULT FROMTHE
PERFORMANCEORUSEOFTHISMANUAL.
The informationinthisuser’smanualisprotected bycopyright laws.Nopartofthis
manualmaybephotocopied orreproducedinanyformwithoutpriorwritten
authorization fromthecopyrightowners.
Copyright July,2003
All rightsreserved.
MicrosoftandWindowsareregistered trademarksof Microsoft Corporation. DOS,
Windows95/98/ME/2000/NT/XParetrademarksof Microsoft Corporation.
Productnamesmentioned hereinmaybetrademarksand/orregistered trademarks
oftheirrespectiveowners/companies.
The softwaredescribed in thismanual isdelivered underalicenseagreement.The
softwaremaybeused orcopied onlyinaccordancewiththetermsoftheagreement.
Thisproductincorporatescopyright protection technologythatisprotectedby
method claimsofcertain U.S. patentsand otherintellectualpropertyrightsowned by
Macrovision Corporation andotherrightsowners. Useof thiscopyrightprotection
technologymust beauthorized byMacrovisionCorporation,andisintended for
homeand otherlimited viewingusesonlyunless otherwiseauthorized by
Macrovision Corporation.Reverseengineeringordisassemblyisprohibited.
Rev1.0

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TABLEOFCONTENTS
PREFACE
SymbolsandConventions
Protecting YourComputer-AvoidAbusiveHandlingandAdverse
Environment
ChapterSummaries
1.GETTINGTO KNOWTHEBASICS
PerformanceFeatures(1-2,3)
SystemataGlance(1-4)
FrontView(1-4,5,6,7,8)
RearView(1-9,10,11)
BottomView(1-12,13)
ACAdapter(1-14)
TVTuner/ VideoCapturingModuleandVideo/AudioInput
BreakoutCable(OptionalDevice)(1-15)
RemoteControl(OptionalDevice)(1-16)
HowtoUsetheRemote,WatchTVandRecordVideoClips
(1-17,18,19)
LEDStatusIndicators(1-20,21)
KeyboardFeatures(1-22)
Function(Quick)Keys (1-22)
WindowsKeys(1-23)
EmbeddedNumericKeypad (1-23)
TouchPad withPageUp/ PageDownFunction(1-24)
GraphicSubsystem(1-25)
Adjusting theDisplayBrightness (1-25)
Extending theLifeoftheTFTDisplayPanel(1-25)
OpeningandClosing theDisplayPanel(1-26)
AudioSubsystem(1-27)
Adjusting theVolumeManually(1-27)
Adjusting theVolumeinWindows(1-27)
Adjusting theAudioVolumeviatheVolumeDial(1-27)

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VoiceRecording(1-27)
ModemandModemSetting(1-28)
EthernetAdapter(1-29)
2.BIOSSETUPAND SECURITY
EnteringtheBIOSSetupScreen(2-3)
Leaving theBIOSSetup Screen(2-3)
BIOSAction Keys(2-3)
ModifyingtheBIOSSettings(2-4)
MainSetup(2-4)
AdvanceSetup (2-4,5)
AboutHardDiskDriveParameters(2-5,6)
Boot Setup(2-6,7)
SecuritySetup(2-7,8)
PowerSetup (2-8,9)
Exit Setup(2-9)
3.BATTERYPOWER&POWERMANAGEMENT
TheBatteryPack(3-2)
Lithium-IonBatteryTechnology(3-2)
BatteryLow-PowerWarning(3-3)
InstallingandRemovingtheBatteryPack (3-4,5)
Charging theBatteryandChargingTime(3-5)
Checking theBatteryLevel(3-6)
Prolonging theBattery’sLifeand UsageCycles(3-6)
UsingWindowsPowerOptions(3-7)
Windows’PowerSchemes(3-7,8)
Suspend Modes(3-9,10)
PowerButtonAction(3-11)
LowBatteryWarning(3-12)
PowerManualQuickAccess (3-13)
4.UPGRADINGYOUR COMPUTER
UpgradingtheHardDiskDrive(4-2,3,4)
UpgradingtheSystemMemory(4-5, 6,7,8)
InstallingaMiniPCICardtotheSystem(4-9,10,11)
5.TROUBLE-SHOOTING

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FirstStep(5-2,3)
AudioProblems(5-4)
HardDiskProblems(5-5,6)
CD-ROM,DVD-ROM, CD-RW,orComboDriveProblems(5-7)
DisplayProblems(5-8)
KeyboardandMouseProblems(5-9)
CMOSBatteryProblems(5-10)
MemoryProblems(5-11)
ModemProblems(5-12)
NetworkAdapter/ Ethernet Problems(5-13)
PCCard/PCMCIAProblems(5-14)
PerformanceProblems(5-15)
PrinterProblems(5-16)
Firewire(IEEE1394)andUSB2.0Problems(5-17)
APPENDIXAProductSpecification
APPENDIXBAgencyRegulatoryNotices

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Preface
UsingThisManual
ThisUser’sManualcontainsgeneralinformation aboutyour
computer, hardwareand softwaresetup information,
troubleshooting, and technical specifications.
SymbolsandConventions
The following conventionsand symbolsareused inthismanual:
nWhenkeysaretobe pressed at the sametime, aplus(+)
symbolisused. Forinstance, Fn+F7meansholding Fnand
F7keysatthe sametime.
nWhenaseriesofclicking actionsisneeded inWindowsO/S,[]
and >symbolsareused. Forinstance, [Start>Settings>
ControlPanel>Display]meansclickingthe Starticon first,
then the Settings,then the ControlPanel,then the Display
icon.
nWhenyou need tomakeaselection withthe touchpad (or
mouse), you willbe asked to’select’or‘click’or‘double-click’,
‘right-click’the item.
Note: Textinthisformatandsymbol meansspecificinstructions, commentary,
sidelights,oranyadditional information ornotesthatyou shouldbeawareof.
Warning: Text isthisformatandsymbolmeansthat failurestocomplywiththe
giveninstructionsorinformationcouldresultindamagetoyourcomputerorcould
causebodilyharmorloss of life.

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ProtectingYourComputer -Avoid Abusive Handling and
Adverse Environment
Followthe advicebelowwillhelpensurethatyou getthe most out
of yourInvestment.
Yourcomputerwill serveyou wellif you takegood careofit.
nDo not exposethe computertodirect sunlight orplaceit near
sourcesofheat.
nDo not subjectittotemperaturesbelow0oC (32oF)orabove
50oC (122oF).
nDo not exposethe computertomagneticfields.
nDo not exposethe computertomoistureorrain.
nDo not spillwaterorliquidonthe computer.
nDo not subjectthe computertoadverseshock and vibration.
nDo not exposethe computertodust and dirt.
nDo notplaceobjectson top ofthe computertoavoiddamaging
the computer.
nDo not placethe computeron rockysurfaces.
Herearesomewaysoftaking careof yourACadapter.
nDo not connectthe adaptertoanydevicesotherthan your
computer.
nDo not let watergetintothe adapter.
nDo not blockthe ventilation airwayof the adapter.
nKeep the adapterinacooland ventilated place.
nDo notstep on the powercordorplaceheavyobjectson top of
it.
nCarefullytuckawaythe powercordand anycablesawayfrom
pedestrian traffic.
nWhenunplugging the powercord, do not pull on the corditself
but pullon the plug.

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nKeep the adapterawayfromchildren.
nThe total ampereratingsofthe equipmentplugged inshould
not exceed the ampererating ofthe cordif you areusingan
extension cord.
nThe total currentrating of allequipment plugged intoasingle
wall outlet shouldnot exceed the fuserating.
nDo not connect otherACadaptertoyournotebook.This
Notebookusesexclusivelythe ACadapter LITE-ONPA-1161-02
(160W).
Whencleaning the computer,observethesesteps:
1.Poweroffthe computerand removethe battery pack.
2.Disconnect the ACadapter.
3.Useasoft clothdampened withwater. Do notuseliquid or
aerosolcleaners.
Contact yourdealerorsee yourservicetechnician ifanyofthe
following occurs:
nComputerhasbeen dropped orthe bodyhasbeen damaged.
nLiquidhasbeen spilledintothe product.
nThe computerdoesnot operatenormally.

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ChapterSummaries
The following isasummaryofthe availablechaptersand
appendicesinthismanual.
Chapter1: Getting toKnowthe Basics
Inthischapter,you willlearnthe basicoperationsand features
of yourcomputer.Itgivesyou ageneralunderstanding of the
componentsof yourcomputer.
Chapter2: BIOSSetup / Security
Inthischapter,you willlearnhowtochange variousfirmware
settingsand what the settingsmean.Also, youwilllearnhowto
takeadvantage ofthe built-insecurityfeatureprovided bythe
BIOS.
Chapter3: Battery Power&PowerManagement
Inthischapter,you willlearnthe fundamentalsofpower
management and howtousethemtoachievelongerbattery life.
Chapter4: Upgrading YourComputer
Inthischapter,you willlearnhowtoupgrade the system
memory,the harddiskdrive, and toinstallwireless miniPCIcard.
Chapter5:Trouble-Shooting
Inthischapter,you willlearnhowtosolvecommonhardware
and softwareproblems.
AppendixA: ProductSpecification
Inthissection, you willfind alist of the computer’ssystem
specifications.
AppendixB:AgencyRegulatory Notices
Inthissection, you willfind the generalelectro-magneticand
safetyregulatory information.

chapter1getting toknow thebasics
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CHAPTER▼ONE
GETTINGTOKNOWTHE BASICS
Thischapterintroducesthe featuresand
componentsof the computer.