Everex StepNote VA4100M User manual

User Manual
*Covers Models VA4100M, VA4200M, VA4300M
Do it All with the Everex® StepNote® VA Series Notebook Computer.
Preinstalled with Windows® XP Media Center Edition and running on the power
of an Intel® Celeron® Processor, the latest PCs from Everex lets you view the
latest DVDs, create your own CDs, surf the Internet or email friends and family, all
on a 15.4” widescreen display.
StepNote®
VA Series
Notebooks*
15.4” WXGA+
Widescreen
Display
Microsoft®
Windows® XP
Media Center
Edition
Intel®
Celeron®
Processor
Lithium-Ion
Battery
* All Trademarks and Tradenames are the Sole Property of their Respective Owners. All Rights Reserved.

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Copyright©2006
All Rights Reserved - Printed in Taiwan
Notebook Computer User Guide
Original Issue: 2006/11
This manual guides you in setting up and using your new notebook computer.
Information in this manual has been carefully checked for its accuracy and is
subject to change without notice.
No part of this manual may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy,
recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission.
Trademarks
Product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be the
trademarks of their respective companies.
Microsoft, Windows XP, Windows MCE, and Windows Sound System are
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Intel ®, Intel ® Celeron ® M are registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro are trademarks of Creative Technology.
All other brands or product names mentioned in this manual are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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FCC Information to User
Safety and Care Instructions
No matter what your level of experience with computers, please make sure you
read the safety and care instructions. This information can help protect you
and your computer from possible harm.
Radio and television interference
Warning: Use the specified shielded power cord and shielded signal cables
with this computer, so as not to interfere with radio and television reception. If
you use other cables, it may cause interference with radio and television
reception.
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. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does not cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encourage to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
•Increase the separation between the device and receiver
•Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

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You may find helpful the following booklet, prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission: Interference Handbook (stock number 004-
000-00345-4). This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC20402
Warning: The user must not modify or change this computer without
approval. Modification could void authority to this equipment.
FCC RF Exposure
FCC RF Radiation Exposure Statement:
This Transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any
other antenna or transmitter.
This equipment complies with FCC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for
an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated
with a minimum distance of 20 centimeters between the radiator and your
body.
15.247 (b)(4), the EUT meets the requirement that it be operated in a manner
that ensures the public is not exposed to radio frequency energy levels in
excess of the Commission’s guidelines (1.1307, 1.1310, 2.1091 and 2.1093)
Canadian Department of Communications Compliance
Statement
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirement of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Shielded Cables Notice
All connections to other computing devices must be made using shielded
cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations.

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Peripheral Devices Notice
Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc) certified to
comply with Class B limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation with
non-certified peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV
reception.
Optical Disk Drive Notice
The optical disk drive is Class 1 Laser Product.
Caution
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer may
void the user’s authority, which is granted by the Federal Communications
Commission, to operate this computer.
Use Conditions
This part complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
European Notice
For the following equipment: Notebook PC
Is herewith confirmed to comply with the requirements set out in the
Council Directive on the Approximation of the Laws of the Member
States relating to Electromagnetic Compatibility (89/336/EEC), Lowvoltage
Directive (73/23/EEC) and the Amendment Directive

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(93/68/EEC), the procedures given in European Council Directive
99/5/EC and 89/3360EEC.
The equipment was passed. The test was performed according to the
following European standards:
EN 300 328-2 V.1.2.1 (2001-12)
EN 301 489-1 V.1.3.1 (2001-09) / EN 301 489-17 V.1.1.1 (2000-09)
EN 50371: 2002
EN 55022: 2001
EN 55024: 2001
EN 60950: 2000
EN 61000-3-2: 2000
EN 61000-3-3: 1995 + A1: 2001
802.11b Restrictions:
- European standards dictate maximum radiated transmit power of 100mW
EIRP and frequency range 2.400-2.4835GHz;
- In France, the equipment must be restricted to the 2.4465-2.4835GHz
frequency range and must be restricted to indoor use."
For DVD Players with both 525p and 625p progressive
scan outputs:
‘CONSUMERS SHOULD NOTE THAT NOT ALL HIGH DEFINITION
TELEVISION SETS ARE FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH THIS
PRODUCT AND MAY CAUSE ARTIFACTS TO BE DISPLAYED IN
THE PICTURE. IN CASE OF 525 OR 625 PROGRESSIVE SCAN

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PICTURE PROBLEMS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE USER
SWITCH THE CONNECTION TO THE ‘STANDARD DEFINITION’
OUTPUT. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR TV SET
COMPATIBILITY WITH THIS MODEL 525p AND 625p DVD PLAYER,
PLEASE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.’
“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.”
“U.S. Patent Nos. 4,631,603; 4,819,098; 4,907,093; 5,315,448; and 6,516,132.”

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About Your Notebook Computer
Congratulation for having purchased your new Everex
StepNote. This notebook incorporates the newest features to
serve all your computing needs.

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About Your User Guide
Welcome to your Everex StepNote User Guide. This manual
introduces you to the basic concepts of your new computer.
This manual is divided into eight chapters.
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Getting Started
Chapter 3 Using Your Notebook Computer
Chapter 4 Multimedia Setup
Chapter 5 Connecting External devices
Chapter 6 System BIOS Setup
Chapter 7 Upgrade Options
Chapter 8 Care and Maintenance
Appendix A System Specifications
Appendix B System Recovery and Driver Installation

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Table of Contents
ABOUT YOUR NOTEBOOK COMPUTER.......................................... 8
ABOUT YOUR USER GUIDE................................................................. 9
1INTRODUCTION............................................................................. 15
1.1 FEATURE HIGHLIGHT .................................................................... 16
1.2 UNPACKING THE COMPUTER ......................................................... 18
1.3 THE INSIDE OF THE NOTEBOOK ..................................................... 18
Notebook Status Icons.................................................................. 21
1.4 THE FRONT SIDE OF THE NOTEBOOK............................................. 23
1.5 THE REAR SIDE OF THE NOTEBOOK............................................... 23
1.6 THE LEFT SIDE OF THE NOTEBOOK................................................ 25
1.7 THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NOTEBOOK ............................................. 26
1.8 THE UNDERSIDE OF THE NOTEBOOK ............................................. 27
1.9 NOTEBOOK ACCESSORIES.............................................................. 29
1.10 NOTEBOOK OPTIONS ..................................................................... 30
2GETTING STARTED...................................................................... 31
2.1 USING THE BATTERY PACK ........................................................... 32
Extending Battery Life.................................................................. 34
2.2 CONNECTING THE AC POWER SOURCE.......................................... 35
2.3 STARTING YOUR COMPUTER......................................................... 36
2.4 ADJUSTING THE DISPLAY CONTROLS ............................................ 37
2.5 TURNING OFF YOUR COMPUTER.................................................... 37
3USING YOUR NOTEBOOK........................................................... 39
3.1 STARTING YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM .......................................... 40
3.2 UNDERSTANDING THE KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS ............................. 40
Basic Keyboard Functions ........................................................... 42

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Cursor Control Keys.....................................................................43
Screen Control Keys.....................................................................44
Windows Hot Keys........................................................................44
Special Function Keys..................................................................45
3.3 USING THE TOUCHPAD POINTING DEVICE ....................................... 46
3.4 CONFIGURING YOUR SCREEN DISPLAY .........................................48
Possible Display Configurations..................................................48
Changing the Display Properties under Windows..................................49
3.5 KNOWING THE POWER SAVING FEATURES .................................... 50
3.6 WORKING WITH THE BUILT-IN HDD...............................................51
3.7 HOW TO ACCESS THE OPTICAL DRIVE...........................................52
4MICROSOFT MEDIA CENTER....................................................55
4.1 WHAT IS WINDOWS XP MEDIA CENTER EDITION 2005?............... 56
4.2 STARTING THE WINDOWS XP MEDIA CENTER
FOR THE FIRST TIME ......................................................................56
4.3 ENJOY YOUR MEDIA CENTER........................................................63
5CONNECTING TO PERIPHERALS.............................................69
5.1 USING THE USB PORT................................................................... 70
5.2 USING AN EXTERNAL MONITOR PORT .................................................. 71
5.3 USING THE EXTERNAL AUDIO SYSTEM..........................................72
5.4 USING THE LAN PORT...................................................................73
5.5 USING THE WIRELESS LAN........................................................... 74
5.6 USING THE MODEM PORT..............................................................74
6CUSTOMIZINGYOURNOTEBOOK..............................................77
6.1 RUNNING THE BIOS SETUP PROGRAM ..........................................78
6.2 USING THE MAIN MENU SETUP .....................................................80
6.2.1 Internal HDD Sub-Menu...................................................82
6.2.2 Internal Optical Drive Sub-Menu ...................................... 82

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6.3 USING THE ADVANCED CMOS SETUP........................................... 84
6.4 SECURITY MENU SETUP ................................................................ 86
6.5 USING THE BOOT SETUP................................................................ 88
6.6 HOW TO EXIT THE SETUP PROGRAM.............................................. 89
6.7 HOW TO UPGRADE THE BIOS........................................................ 90
7USING OPTIONS............................................................................. 91
SYSTEM UPGRADE................................................................................... 92
7.1 MEMORY UPGRADE....................................................................... 92
Installing Memory Module........................................................... 93
7.2 HARD DISK UPGRADE ................................................................... 94
7.3 WIRELESS MODULE INSTALLATION............................................... 96
8CARING FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK.............................................. 99
8.1 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ............................................ 100
8.2 CLEANING YOUR COMPUTER ...................................................... 102
8.3 MAINTAINING THE LCD QUALITY .............................................. 103
8.4 MAINTAINING YOUR HARD DISK ................................................ 103
8.5 BATTERY CARE GUIDELINES....................................................... 104
8.6 WHEN YOU TRAVEL.................................................................... 105
APPENDIX A SYSTEM SPECIFICATION...................................... 107
SYSTEM SPECIFICATION ........................................................................ 108
Processor Unit............................................................................ 108
System Memory........................................................................... 108
LCD Display............................................................................... 108
VGA System................................................................................ 108
Storage........................................................................................ 109
Audio System .............................................................................. 109
Touchpad.................................................................................... 109
Keyboard.................................................................................... 109

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Flash BIOS .................................................................................110
I/O Ports..................................................................................... 110
Wireless devices.......................................................................... 110
AC/DC Power Supply Adapter...................................................110
Battery ........................................................................................110
Weight and Dimension ...............................................................110
APPENDIX B SYSTEM RECOVERY AND DRIVER
INSTALLATION...................................................................................111
B.1 SYSTEM RECOVERY..................................................................... 112
Using Recovery Disk ..................................................................112
B.2 DEVICE DRIVERS INSTALLATION................................................. 132
Installing Windows XP from Optical Disk Drive....................... 132
driver installation note:.............................................................. 132
Installing the Chipset Driver...................................................... 132
Installing the VGA Device Driver .............................................. 133
Installing the Audio Device Driver.............................................134
Installing the Modem Device Driver.......................................... 134
Installing the Wireless LAN Device Driver................................ 135
Installing the LAN Device Driver............................................... 135
Installing the TouchPad Device Driver...................................... 135
Installing the Hotkey Utility ....................................................... 136
Technical Support.......................................................................137

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Introduction1
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1 Introduction
Your Everex Computer is a fully Windows®
compatible portable computer. With the latest
features in mobile computing and multimedia
technology, this notebook is a natural choice for uses
seeking portability and performance.
Your Everex StepNote VA Series Notebook runs a
wide variety of business, personal productivity,
entertainment and professional applications and is
ideal for use in the office, home and on the road.

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1.1 Feature Highlight
Before we identify each part of your Everex StepNote Notebook, we will first
introduce you to other notable features of your computer.
Processing Unit
•Your notebook runs on Intel® Celeron® M microprocessor that is
integrated with 1MB L2 Cache. Check with your dealer on the CPU type
and speed.
•Fully compatible with an entire library of PC software based on operating
systems such as Windows MCE.
Memory
This notebook provides two memory slots for installing DDRII SDRAM 200-
pin SODIMM modules up to 2GB using 256MB, 512MB or 1024MB DDRII
SDRAM modules.
Wide Screen LCD Display
Provides extraordinary 15.4"1440 x 900 (16:10) wide screen LCD display. It is
the best choice for you to watch DVD movie.
Wireless LAN
IEEE 802.11b/g, Mini PCI Module.
Optical Disk Drive
Provides the DVD/CD-RW Combo.

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USB 2.0
Provides three USB2.0 ports for fastest I/O data transmission.
Graphic System
VIA Chrome9TM HC IGP provides blazing graphics embedded in the VIA
VN896 chipset
PCI Local Bus Architecture
•32-bit PCI Enhanced IDE optimizes the data transfer between the CPU
and SATA hard disk drives. Support ultra DMA ATA-150 PIO Mode up
to PIO Mode 4, bus mastering for LBA Scheme.
Audio System
Full-duplex 16-bit stereo audio system output. Sound Blaster compatible.
Flash BIOS
Flash BIOS allows you to easily upgrade the System BIOS using the Phoenix
Flash utility program.
Power and System Management
•Integrated SMM (System Management Mode) on system chipset that shuts
down components not in use to reduce power consumption. To execute
power management, you can set up the parameter in Power Options
properties by pointing your mouse to Control Panel of Windows.
•Closing the Notebook computer (lowering the cover) allows you to
suspend the system operation instantly and resume at the press of the
power button.
•System Password for User and Supervisor included on the BIOS SETUP
Program to protect unauthorized use of your computer.

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1.2 Unpacking the Computer
Your computer comes securely packaged in a sturdy cardboard shipping
carton. Upon receiving your computer, open the carton and carefully remove
the contents. In addition to this User Guide, the shipping carton should also
contain the following items:
;The Notebook Computer
;An AC Adapter and AC Power Cord
;Li-Ion Battery Pack
;DVD with Recovery, AP, Driver Utility and Manual
Carefully inspect each component to make sure that nothing is missing and/or
damaged. If any of these items is missing or damaged, contact Everex (see
Page 135). Be sure to save the shipping materials and the carton in case you
need to ship the computer or store for an extended period of time.
1.3 The Inside of the Notebook
The notebook computer is compact with features on every side. First, look
at the inside of the system. The following sections describe inside features.

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1. Color Widescreen LCD Display 2. Built-in Speaker
3. Keyboard 4. Touchpad Pointing Device
5. Power On/Resume Button 6. LED Indicators
•Color Widescreen LCD Display
The notebook computer comes with a color LCD that you can adjust for a
comfortable viewing position. The LCD is 15.4” TFT color LCD with
1440x900 (Wide XGA with ratio 16:10) resolution panels. The features of
the Color LCD Display are summarized as follows:
⇓TFT color LCD with Widescreen 15.4” 1440x900 (Wide XGA)
resolution panels.
⇓Capable of displaying 16M colors (32-bit true color)
⇓LCD display control hot-keys allow you to adjust the brightness of
the LCD.

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⇓Simultaneous display capability for LCD and external desktop
computer monitor.
•Built-in Speaker
Integrated mini speaker provides sound and audio output for your
multimedia presentations or listening pleasure.
•Keyboard
⇓Standard QWERTY-key layout and full-sized 87 keys keyboard with
Windows system hot-keys, embedded numeric keypad, 6 hot keys,
inverted "T" cursor arrow keys, and separate page screen control
keys.
⇓Wide extra space below the keyboard panel for your wrist or palm to
sit-on comfortably during typing.
•Touchpad Pointing Device
Microsoft mouse compatible with two Touchpad click buttons. The two
select buttons located at each side support tapping selection and dragging
functions. These buttons work like a standard computer mouse. Simply
move your fingertip over the Touchpad to control the position of the
cursor. Use the selection buttons below the Touchpad to select menu
items.
•Power On/Resume Button
Switches the computer power on and off, or resumes whenever it is in
Suspend mode.
•LED Indicators
Keeps you informed of your notebook computer’s current operating
status. Description of the status icons appears in the latter part of this
section.