Compaq Personal Computer User guide

b
Startup Guide
Compaq Notebook Series
Document Part Number: 370700-001
June 2004
This guide explains how to set up your notebook and begin
using it. It also provides battery pack, power management, and
troubleshooting information.

© Copyright 2004 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems
Incorporated.
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The
only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express
warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing
herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall
not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Startup Guide
Compaq Notebook Series
First Edition June 2004
Reference Number: 2200
Document Part Number: 370700-001

Startup Guide iii
Contents
1 Getting Started with Your Notebook
Important Safety Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–1
Identifying Parts of the Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2
Front Panel and Right Panel Components. . . . . . . . . 1–3
Left Panel and Back Panel Components . . . . . . . . . . 1–4
Bottom Panel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5
Status Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–6
Setting Up Your Notebook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–8
Step 1: Insert the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–8
Step 2: Connect AC Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–9
Step 3: Connect a Phone Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–10
Step 4: Turn On the Notebook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–11
Step 5: Set Up Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–12
Using the Documentation CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–12
2BasicOperation
Operating Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1
Default Power Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2
To Reset the Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3
To Change the Boot Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3
To Use the TouchPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4
To Use the Tap to Click Function of the
TouchPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–5
To Use the Function Hot Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–6

iv Startup Guide
Contents
Using CDs or DVDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–7
To Play DVD Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–7
To Write to DVD Media (Select Models Only) . . . . 2–7
To Connect a TV to Your Notebook
(Select Models Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–8
3 Battery Packs and Power Management
Using Battery Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–1
To Respond to a Low-Battery Warning . . . . . . . . . . 3–3
To Recharge the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–3
To Get the Most from Your Battery Packs . . . . . . . . 3–4
Disposing of a Used Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–6
4Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–1
Display Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–2
Hard Drive Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
Performance Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–4
Power and Battery Pack Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5
Startup Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–6
Configuring Your Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–7
To Run the BIOS Setup Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–7
Updating Software and Drivers from the Web . . . . . . . . 4–9
Using System Recovery Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–9
Safeguarding Your Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–10
Operating System (OS) CD Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–11
OS CD Reinstall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–12
Reinstalling Drivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–13
Restoring Software Applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–13
Index

Startup Guide 1–1
1
Getting Started with
Your Notebook
Important Safety Information
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. For more information, refer to the Reference Guide
on the Documentation CD provided with your product.
ÅWARNING: To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to your
equipment:
■Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet that is easily accessible
at all times.
■Disconnect power from the product by unplugging the power cord
from the electrical outlet.
■If provided with a three-pin attachment plug on your power cable,
plug the cable into a grounded (earthed) three-pin outlet. Do not
disable the power cord grounding pin. The grounding pin is an
important safety feature.
ÅWARNING: To reduce the risk of serious injury, read the Safety &
Comfort Guide. It describes proper workstation setup, posture, and
health and work habits for computer users, and provides important
electrical and mechanical safety information. This guide is located on
the Web at http://www.compaq.com/ergo and on the hard drive or
on the Documentation CD that is included with the product.

1–2 Startup Guide
Getting Started with Your Notebook
ÄCAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire, use only No. 26 AWG or larger
telecommunications line cord to connect a modem to the telephone wall
jack. In Australia, the notebook must be connected to the
Telecommunication Network through a line cord that meets the
requirements of ACA Technical Standard TS008.
When using your notebook with a telephone connection, always
follow basic safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electrical
shock, and injury to persons.
■Do not use this product with a telephone connection near
water (for example, near a bathtub, sink, or swimming pool,
or in a wet basement).
■Avoid using a telephone connection (other than a cordless
type) during an electrical storm. There may be a remote risk
of electrical shock from lightning.
■Do not use a telephone connection to report a gas leak in the
vicinity of the leak.
■Use only the power cord and battery packs indicated in this
guide. Do not dispose of battery packs in a fire. They may
explode. Check with local codes for possible special disposal
instructions.
■Disconnect the modem cable before opening the notebook
case or touching an uninsulated modem cable, jack, or
internal component.
■Do not plug a modem cable or telephone cable into the
network (LAN) receptacle.
Identifying Parts of the Notebook
Components included with the notebook may vary by
geographical region and the features you selected. The following
tables identify the standard external components included with
most notebook models.

Getting Started with Your Notebook
Startup Guide 1–3
Front Panel and Right Panel Components
1Main status lights (left to right):
power mode, hard drive activity,
and battery
6Notebook open/close latch
2TouchPad, scroll pad, Click
buttons, and an on-off button
7CD-ROM, DVD, or other drive
3Power button: turns the notebook
on and off
8Battery pack
4Keyboard status lights 9Wireless on-off button and
indicator light (select
models only)
5One-Touch buttons -Hard drive

1–4 Startup Guide
Getting Started with Your Notebook
Left Panel and Back Panel Components
1AC adapter jack 7RJ-11 jack: connects the modem
cable
2Universal serial bus (USB) ports 8PC Card and CardBus slot and
button (select models only;
location varies by model)
3RJ-45 jack: connects a network
cable
9IEEE 1394 port
(select models only)
4S-Video out jack
(select models only)
-Audio jacks (left to right): external
microphone, audio out
(headphones)
5External monitor port qVolume control
6Cable lock slot (security
connector)
wAudio mute button and audio
mute light

Getting Started with Your Notebook
Startup Guide 1–5
Bottom Panel Components
ÄCAUTION: To prevent an unresponsive system and the display of a
warning message, install only a Mini PCI device authorized for use in
your notebook by the governmental agency that regulates wireless
devicesgin your country. If you install a device and then receive a warning
message, remove the device to restore notebook functionality. Then contact
Customer Care.
1Hard drive 4Reset button
2Battery latch 5Mini PCI cover (no user parts
inside)
3RAM (memory) cover

1–6 Startup Guide
Getting Started with Your Notebook
Status Lights
The notebook includes a number of status lights that report power
and battery status, drive activity, and keyboard functions such as
Caps Lock and Num Lock.
The following diagram shows the main status lights on the front
of the notebook.
1Power mode
■On: Notebook is on (even if the display is off).
■Blinking: Notebook is in Standby.
■Off: Notebook is off or in Hibernation.
2Hard drive activity
On: Notebook is accessing the hard drive.
3Battery status
■Green: AC adapter is connected and the battery pack is fully
charged.
■Amber: AC adapter is connected and the battery pack is
charging.
■Blinking: AC adapter is connected and the battery pack is
missing or has a fault.
■Off: AC adapter is not connected.

Getting Started with Your Notebook
Startup Guide 1–7
The keyboard status lights, located above the keyboard, indicate
the states of the keyboard locks.
1Caps Lock On: Caps Lock is active.
2Num Lock On: Num Lock is active. (The Keypad Lock must also be
on to use the embedded keypad.)
3Keypad Lock On: The embedded keypad is active (Fn+F8). Num
Lock must also be on to activate the numeric keys. Otherwise, cursor
control is active (as marked on an external keyboard).

1–8 Startup Guide
Getting Started with Your Notebook
Setting Up Your Notebook
ÅWARNING: To reduce the risk of serious injury, read the Safety &
Comfort Guide. It describes proper workstation setup, posture, and
health and work habits for computer users, and provides important
electrical and mechanical safety information. This guide is located on
the Web at http://www.compaq.com/ergo and on the hard drive or
on the Documentation CD that is included with the product.
When you set up your notebook for the first time, you will
connect the AC adapter, charge the battery pack, turn on the
notebook, and run the Microsoft® Windows® Setup program.
Step 1: Insert the Battery Pack
ÅWARNING: Do not mutilate or puncture battery packs. Do not dispose
of battery packs in fire, or they can burst or explode, releasing
hazardous chemicals. Rechargeable battery packs must be recycled or
disposed of properly.
To install the battery pack:
1. Turn the notebook upside down.
2. Insert the connector end of the battery pack into the battery
pack compartment, then slide the battery pack in until it
latches.

Getting Started with Your Notebook
Startup Guide 1–9
Step 2: Connect AC Power
ÄCAUTION: Use only the AC adapter included with your notebook
(or other approved adapter that meets the power requirements of the
notebook). Using the wrong AC adapter could damage the notebook
or adapter, cause data loss, and may void your warranty.
1. Plug the AC adapter into the notebook.
2. Connect the power cord to the AC adapter.
3. Plug the power cord into a wall outlet. The notebook battery
starts charging.
✎When unplugging the power cord, unplug it from the outlet
before unplugging it from the AC adapter.
While the battery pack is charging, you can continue with the
section “Step 3: Connect a Phone Line.”

1–10 Startup Guide
Getting Started with Your Notebook
Step 3: Connect a Phone Line
1. Make sure the telephone line is an analog line, sometimes
called a data line. (Do not use a digital line.)
2. Connect the telephone cord (RJ-11) into a telephone jack.
3. Plug the other end of the telephone cord into the RJ-11
modem jack on the notebook.
For details about using the modem, including AT commands, see
the Documentation CD included with your notebook.

Getting Started with Your Notebook
Startup Guide 1–11
Step 4: Turn On the Notebook
Press the power button above the left side of the keyboard. The
notebook boots up, and Windows starts automatically.
✎If your notebook does not turn on when operating on
battery power, the battery pack may be out of power. Plug
in the AC adapter, then press the power button again. Leave
the AC adapter plugged in for several hours to fully charge the
battery pack. Charge times will vary.
ÅWARNING: This notebook is designed to run demanding applications
at full power. As a result of increased power consumption, it is normal
for the notebook to feel warm or hot when used continuously. To avoid
potential discomfort or burns, do not block the air vents or use the
notebook on your lap for extended periods. The notebook complies with
the user-accessible surface temperature limits defined by the
International Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment
(IEC 60950).

1–12 Startup Guide
Getting Started with Your Notebook
Step 5: Set Up Windows
Your notebook has the Microsoft Windows operating system
preinstalled on its hard drive. The first time you turn on your
notebook, the Windows Setup program runs automatically and
includes opportunities to customize your setup.
1. Follow the Setup program instructions on the screen. If the
program prompts you to enter the Product ID code, locate the
code on the bottom of the notebook.
2. Check the modem country or region settings. Select Start >
Control Panel > Printers and Other Hardware > Phone and
Modem Options, then select your country/region.
Using the Documentation CD
Information about using the notebook can be found on the
Documentation CD included with the notebook. To view a guide:
1. Insert the Documentation CD into a CD or DVD drive. If
autorun is enabled, the reference library menu is displayed on
the screen (this may take a few seconds).
2. Select the guide you want to read from the reference
library menu.
3. If prompted, accept the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader license
agreement or install Acrobat Reader by following the
instructions on the screen.

Startup Guide 2–1
2
Basic Operation
Operating Your Notebook
You can start and stop your notebook by using the power button.
However, alternative methods may be required, depending on
power considerations, types of active connections, and startup
time. This chapter describes several of these methods.

2–2 Startup Guide
Basic Operation
Default Power Settings
You can also customize how these power modes work. See the
“Battery Packs and Power Management” chapter in the Reference
Guide on the Documentation CD included with your notebook.
Power mode To enter this mode Function
ON—Power status
light is on.
Briefly press the power
button.
Powers on the notebook.
OFF—Power status
light is off.
Select Start > Turn Off
Computer > Turn Off. If the
system has stopped
responding and Windows
shutdown procedures cannot
be used, press and hold the
power button for 4 seconds to
turn off the notebook.
Powers off the notebook.
Standby—Power
status light blinks.
Select Start > Turn Off
Computer > Standby.
-or-
Allow the system to time out.
■Saves significant
power.
■Turns off the display
and other
components.
■Maintains current
session in RAM.
■Restarts quickly.
■Restores network
connections.
Hibernation—Power
status light is off.
If the notebook is already on,
briefly press the power
button.
-or-
Press Fn+F12.
-or-
Allow the system to time out.
■Saves maximum
power.
■Saves current
session to disk, then
shuts down.
■Restores network
connections.

Basic Operation
Startup Guide 2–3
To Reset the Notebook
Occasionally, Windows or the notebook may stop responding and
you will not be able to turn off the notebook. If this happens, try
the following procedures in the order listed:
■If possible, shut down Windows. Press ctrl+alt+del, then select
Shut Down > Restart.
-or-
■Press the power button for at least 4 seconds until the display
shuts down. Unsaved data will be lost. Press the power button
again to restart.
-or-
■Insert the tip of a paper clip into the reset button on the
bottom of the notebook, then press the power button to
restart.
To Change the Boot Device
The notebook normally boots from its internal hard drive. You
can also boot the notebook from a diskette drive, a CD-ROM
drive, or an internal network interface card.
1. Select Start > Turn Off Computer > Restart.
2. When the logo screen appears, press esc to display the
Boot menu.
3. Use the arrow keys to select the boot device, then press enter.
If you want to boot from a specific device whenever it is present,
change the boot order using the BIOS Setup utility. See
“Configuring Your Notebook” in the “Troubleshooting” chapter
in this guide.

2–4 Startup Guide
Basic Operation
To Use the TouchPad
The TouchPad includes an on-off button so you can turn off the
TouchPad to avoid moving the pointer accidentally when you are
typing. The indicator light turns off when you turn off the
TouchPad.
1Click buttons. The Click buttons work like the left and right buttons on
a standard mouse.
2TouchPad (touch-sensitive pointing device).
3TouchPad on-off button and indicator light.
4Scroll pad. The scroll pad causes the contents of the active window
to scroll vertically.