HP Pavilion 8290 User manual

HP Pavilion PC
User’s Guide

The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Hewlett-Packard® Company makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but
not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
HP shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
HP assumes no responsibility for the use or reliability of its software on equipment that is not furnished
by HP.
This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved.
No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language without
the prior written consent of HP.
Hewlett-Packard Company
Home Products Division
P.O. Box 4010
Cupertino, CA 95015-4010
Printed in the USA.
© Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company, 1997. All rights reserved.
Hewlett-Packard is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company in the United States of America
and other countries.
Other brand or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.

Contents iii
Chapter 1 Setting Up Your
System ............................................. 1
Finding a Place for Your Computer............................................. 1
Putting Your Computer Together................................................ 2
Getting Comfortable....................................................................... 2
Your System is Working................................................................. 3
Chapter 2 Starting Out
with HP ............................................ 5
My Software Folder......................................................................... 6
Personal Guide................................................................................. 7
HP Support Center .......................................................................11
Chapter 3 Operating Your
Computer ...................................... 13
Learning Computer Basics.......................................................... 14
Turning Off Your Computer........................................................ 15
Suspending Your Computer .......................................................16
Using the One-Touch Multimedia Keyboard ......................... 17
Using the Fax Machine ................................................................ 23
Contents

iv HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
Chapter 4 Running Programs
and Creating Files .........................25
Running Software Programs .......................................................26
Using Documents and Folders ...................................................27
Adding New Software Programs to Your Computer.............29
Removing Programs from Your Computer..............................29
Removing Icons from the Windows 95 Desktop...................30
Running MS-DOS..........................................................................31
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting.......33
Chapter 6 Upgrading and
Servicing Your Computer.............51
Connecting Components to Your PC .......................................53
Using Headphones........................................................................54
Using Your Computer with Your Stereo System....................55
Replacing the Battery ...................................................................56
Reconfiguring Keyboard Buttons and the Display.................59
Adding More Memory..................................................................61
Installing Add-in Cards ................................................................64
Using the BIOS Setup Program .................................................66
FCC Regulatory and Safety Information..................................69
Declaration of Conformity........................................................... 72
Safety Information.........................................................................73
Products Provided with External Television Antenna
Connectors......................................................................................74
Index .............................................. 77

Chapter 1 •Setting Up Your System 1
Thank you for choosing a Hewlett-Packard
Pavilion PC. To maximize your comfort and
productivity, it is important that you set up and
use your system properly.
Finding a Place for
Your Computer
Keep these recommendations in mind when you
choose a place for your computer:
◆ Choose a room that is dry, clean, and well
ventilated.
◆ Place the computer on a strong, flat surface
with enough space to move the mouse around.
◆ Provide access to the back of the computer
and the display during setup.
◆ Use grounded, three-prong electrical outlets
for the computer and display. HP recommends
that you also use a power strip with surge
protection.
◆ Place the computer near a phone jack so that
you can connect the modem. The modem is
needed to send and receive faxes and e-mail,
and to log on to the Internet.
◆ Consider the location of the windows in the
room—if the display reflects direct sunlight,
viewing the display may be uncomfortable.
1Setting Up Your System

2HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
Putting Your
Computer Together
For step-by-step instructions on putting your
computer together, refer to the Welcome Poster
that came in your computer box. You’ll notice that
the colors of the cable plugs match the colors
of the connector labels on the back of your
computer. When in doubt, match the colors.
Getting Comfortable
Refer to the manual Working in Comfort With
Your HP Computer Equipment, which was
provided with your HP Pavilion PC, for important
ergonomic information.
Note: You should take frequent, short breaks while
using the computer; we suggest you take a break after
15 to 20 minutes on the computer. Stretch each time
you take a break. If you experience physical discomfort,
it may be alleviated by ergonomically designed
accessories such as adjustable chairs, footrests,
keyboard trays, wrist rests, and glare screens.
0-15•
50-70 cm
-(20-28 inches)-
0-15•

Chapter 1 •Setting Up Your System 3
Your System is Working
When you first turn on your computer, a series
of startup screens, including a mouse tutorial,
appears, and then you see the Microsoft®
Windows® 95 desktop. Your computer is now
set up.
Double-click the Free Game icon on the desktop.
In addition to giving you a free game, this
procedure will guide you through the steps
necessary to register. It is important to register
with HP, so that you can be notified of changes
and updates for your HP Pavilion PC.
After you register online, a roadmap points out
and describes several important icons on your
desktop. For further information on Personal
Guide and HP Support Center, see the next
chapter.
If Your System is Not Working
If one or more of your system components
are not working properly, see Chapter 5,
“Troubleshooting,” beginning on page 33.

4HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide

Chapter 2 •Starting Out with HP 5
To help you get started, HP provides simple solutions for discovering
your software, learning Windows 95, getting support, and using the
Internet. The following table describes these solutions.
Note:
Your computer is shipped
with Windows 95. Hewlett-Packard
does not support Windows NT on
the Pavilion.
Topic HP Solution What It Does
Discovering
your software
My Software
folder
This folder contains descriptions of various preinstalled applications HP provides on your PC. Look
here to learn a little about the applications before using them.
Learning
Windows 95
Personal
Guide
Personal Guide teaches you about Windows 95—folders, documents, shortcuts, and Windows
Explorer. It gives you answers to frequently asked Windows 95 questions, and also gives you quick
access to the Internet and the HP Support Center.
Getting HP
support
HP Support
Center
The HP Support Center provides you with online documentation, tutorials, diagnostics, system tools,
and answers to frequently asked questions. Check your disk for viruses, make more room on your
hard drive, recover lost or damaged HP programs, and contact technical support personnel from the
HP Support Center. An online diagnostic tool (SystemWizard) will take you through a sequence of
questions for problem identification and offer possible solutions. If you don’t solve the problem this
way, whatever you have tried so far is recorded for your support person to look at when you call.
Using the
Internet
Internet
Access
An Internet service provider has been provided. Upon registration, you will receive 50 free hours to
use the Internet with HP’s customized browser. Be sure to explore the HP At Home Web site,
designed for HP Pavilion PC owners. To access the Internet, double-click the Internet Access icon
on your Windows 95 desktop.
The following sections describe the solutions in more detail.
2Starting Out with HP

6HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
My Software Folder
Your HP Pavilion PC comes with a number of
preinstalled software programs. The programs
vary, depending on which system you purchased.
To see what programs you have and run them:
1 Double-click the My Software
folder on your Windows 95
desktop.
2 To run a program, double-click the program’s
icon in the My Software window.
Note: You can also run all of these preinstalled
programs (plus any new ones you install) from the
Windows 95 Programs list. To see this list, click
Start on the Windows 95 taskbar and then choose
Programs.
Note: Your window may show different software icons.

Chapter 2 •Starting Out with HP 7
Personal Guide
For those who are new to Windows 95, Personal
Guide provides an easy way to start using your HP
Pavilion PC. It offers easy access to a variety of
on-screen tutorials and multimedia demos that
will help you get up and running quickly with your
new computer.
Start Personal Guide by double-clicking its icon on
the Windows 95 desktop.
To explore a Personal Guide category, click its
button in the Personal Guide window.
Descriptions of the Personal Guide categories are
listed on the following page.

8HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
Personal Guide Categories
Organizing Your Files Helps you get acquainted with the Windows 95 desktop, creating folders, saving files, moving and
removing documents, finding files, creating shortcuts, and using Windows Explorer.
Managing Your Software Explains how to install and remove software, add software to the Start menu, prevent software from
starting automatically, and start a DOS session.
Changing Your Desktop Explains how to increase the size of the desktop, change Windows 95 colors, choose a screen
saver, remove icons from the desktop, format the taskbar, and use Suspend mode.
In Case of a Problem Takes you directly to the HP Support Center so that you can get any additional questions answered.
Take Me to the Internet Launches a demo summarizing the benefits of the Internet. If you sign up for a free Internet access
trial, you can access your browser directly from here.
Several of the categories (Organizing Your Files,
Managing Your Software, and Changing Your
Desktop) contain a number of topics for which
you can run tutorials. Just click a topic, read the
helpful information presented on the screen, and
then click Show Me a Step-by-Step Demo to
see and hear the multimedia tutorial.

Chapter 2 •Starting Out with HP 9
Easy Internet Access
HP has made it easy for you to explore the world
of the Internet by providing:
◆ A customized Internet browser that points
you to some of the most interesting sites on
the Web.
◆ Free Internet access for up to 50 hours. E-mail
is included and no credit card is needed!
To launch the custom browser, press the Internet
button on the keyboard or double-click the
Internet Access icon on your desktop. You can then watch an interactive demo that will
acquaint you with the Web and show you how to
use e-mail. When you’re ready, click Sign Up to
register for your free Internet access trial.

10 HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
After you sign up, you will see the HP At Home
Web site, which was created especially for HP
Pavilion PC owners. It’s filled with questions and
answers, tips, tricks, and activities for fun with
your HP Pavilion PC. The custom browser
provides direct links to popular sites on the Web,
helps you search the Web for specific topics, lets
you send and receive e-mail, and more. Even if
you already have an Internet service provider and
an e-mail address, you can still use the browser
provided. Simply select this option during the
sign-up process.
The HP At Home owners’ Web site is located at
http://www.hp-at-home.com/

Chapter 2 •Starting Out with HP 11
HP Support Center
If you are having trouble learning a new software
program or diagnosing a hardware problem,
the HP Support Center is the place to go. Your
support options, online documentation, tutorials,
and system maintenance tools have been grouped
in this one convenient location. To go to the
Support Center, choose HP Support Center in
the Start menu or double-click the icon on the
desktop.
Descriptions of HP Support Center options are
listed on the following page.

12 HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
HP Support Center Options
Software Help Each software package shipped with your computer is listed here, along with its manual (if there is
one), online Help, and a support phone number.
Hardware Help Exactly what hardware makes up your system? What do you do when something isn’t working? How
do you diagnose a problem? What is SystemWizard? Who do you call? This selection answers these
questions and more.
Pavilion Library Online manuals are found here. Software manuals (also found under Software Help) and your modem
guide are found here.
Tutorials Learn skills that range from creating software shortcuts to changing the color of your screen
background by taking the short lessons found here.
Common Questions Common questions that HP Support Center personnel are frequently asked are listed and answered
here. Subjects range from modems to the Internet to MS-DOS and more. Check here if you have a
question about your computer.
System Maintenance Here you find system tools to clean up your hard disk, get rid of viruses, and run the SystemWizard
online diagnostic tool.
Technical Support When you need help, who do you call? Where do you call?

Chapter 3 •Operating Your Computer 13
The basics of operating your HP Pavilion PC are
covered in this chapter:
◆ Learning computer basics
◆ Turning off your computer
◆ Suspending your computer
◆ Using the one-touch multimedia keyboard
◆ Using the Intel Connect™ phone and
answering machine
◆ Using the fax machine
3Operating Your Computer

14 HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
Learning Computer Basics
General computer skills are not covered in this book. To learn computer basics, try the suggestions listed.
What You May Want
to Learn Where You Can Find It
What your computer
can do
To see a demo, press the keyboard key with the Demo sticker on it. The key is Shortcut 3.
How to get more
practice using a mouse
Solitaire or any of the games that came with your computer are a great way to practice pointing and
clicking.
How Windows 95 works An online manual called ABCs of Windows 95 covers the basics of this operating system.
To see ABCs of Windows 95:
1Double-click the HP Support Center icon on the desktop.
2Click HP Pavilion Library.
3Click Online Books.
4Click ABCs of Windows 95.
Common computer
terms
An online manual called Pocket PC User’s Guide can also be found in the Pavilion library. Read other
manuals provided in the library for additional information.

Chapter 3 •Operating Your Computer 15
Tips
◆ When you aren’t using them, return diskettes,
CDs, and DVDs to their protective cases.
◆ Be careful not to spill liquids on the keyboard.
◆ Keep magnetic material away from your
computer and disks.
◆ Remove diskettes only after the indicator light
on the diskette drive goes off.
Turning Off Your
Computer
There is only one way to turn off your computer
correctly. To turn off the computer:
1 Exit all software programs. (To close
programs, click Xin the upper-right corner
of each window.)
2 Click Start on the Windows 95 taskbar.
3 Click Shut Down (last item on the menu).
4 Click Yes.
5 Turn off your display.
Caution: Pressing the computer’s power button when
software is running could corrupt your files.
Note: If your system is “frozen” and won’t respond to
the mouse or keyboard, you can’t use Shut Down.In this
case, reset the computer by pressing the power button.
Turning off your computer this way does not protect your
programs and files as well as Shut Down does. The next
time you turn on the computer, the hard disk may be
scanned for errors. (When you turn off the computer this
way, wait a few seconds before you turn it back on.)

16 HP Pavilion PC User’s Guide
Suspending Your
Computer
As an alternative to shutting down your computer,
you can put your PC in Suspend mode. When you
suspend your computer, it goes into a low-power
state and your display is blank as if it’s turned
off. The next time you use your computer, any
applications, folders, and documents that were
open before you suspended the computer will be
ready and waiting for you. With Suspend, you can
save electricity without having to wait for your PC
to go through the normal startup routine when you
turn on the computer.
Suspend also allows faxes to come through
to your computer, and enables your PC to
automatically retrieve your e-mail messages and
download information from the World Wide Web
(if you have programmed your computer to do so).
To suspend the computer:
1 Press the Suspend button on the front of the
computer. The screen goes dark, and the
computer goes into Suspend mode.
2 When you want to use your computer again,
just start to use the keyboard or mouse, or
press the Suspend button. The screen display
will reappear just as you left it.
Another way to suspend your computer is to
choose Suspend on the Windows 95 Start menu.
Note: If you use an application that wakes your
computer when it is suspended (such as when a fax
program receives an incoming fax), the computer will not
go back into Suspend mode automatically, unless you
configure your PC to use the Auto Suspend feature. For
information on enabling Auto Suspend, see “Setting Auto
Suspend in the BIOS” on page 68.