HP OmniBook XE User manual

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Tips for Using the OmniBook XE and XE2
Configuring and Testing Your OmniBook
•Configuring the OmniBook with the BIOS Setup Utility
•Updating the OmniBook BIOS
•Testing the OmniBook with HP Diag Tools
•Using Power Management in Windows 95
•Using Enhanced Video and Dual Monitors (Windows 95 and Windows 98)
•Expanding the Hibernate Partition When Adding RAM
Recovering and Reinstalling Software
•Recovering Software
•Reinstalling the Online User’s Guide on an OmniBook XE
•Reinstalling Service Pack 4a (Windows NT 4.0)
Modem Information
•Modem Dialing in France, Belgium, and Spain (OmniBook XE)
•Modem Dialing in Spain (OmniBook XE2)
•Modem Specifications
Troubleshooting
•Audio Problems
•CD-ROM Drive Problems
•Display Problems
•Hard Disk Drive Problems
•Heat Problems
•Keyboard, Touch Pad, and Mouse Problems
•Infrared Problems
•Memory Problems
•Modem Problems
•PC Card (PCMCIA) Problems
•Performance Problems
•Port Replicator Problems
•Power and Battery Problems
•Printing Problems
•Serial, Parallel, and USB Problems
•Startup Problems

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Specifications
•OmniBook XE Hardware Specifications
•OmniBook XE2 Hardware Specifications
•Software System Resources

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Configuring the OmniBook with the BIOS Setup
Utility
The BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) Setup utility is a menu-driven utility that enables you
to make changes to the system configuration and tailor the operation of your OmniBook to your
individual work needs.
The settings made in the BIOS Setup utility control the hardware and therefore have a
fundamental effect on how the OmniBook operates.
This page describes the BIOS Setup utility menus and options in detail.
To run the BIOS Setup utility
1. Close all applications, then shut down Windows and restart the OmniBook.
2. When you see the HP logo, press F2 to enter the BIOS Setup utility.
3. The pointing devices are not active in the BIOS Setup utility. Press the RIGHT and LEFT
arrow keys to move among menus. Press the DOWN and UP arrow keys to move among
options in a menu. Press F5 or F6 to move through values for the current option or press
ENTER to display a list of choices. See the tables below for more information.
4. After you select the options you want, press F10 or use the Exit menu to exit the BIOS Setup
utility.
If the settings cause a conflict between devices during reboot, the system prompts you to run
BIOS Setup, and the conflicting settings are marked.
Main Menu Default
BIOS Revision Shows the current BIOS version. Detected
automatically.
System Time Sets the time using 24-hour format. Values set
take effect immediately.
System Date Sets the date using mm/dd/yyyy format.
Diskette A Sets the floppy drive type. Floppy disk drive
type detected and
set automatically.
Primary Master Sets the hard disk drive type and various
parameters.
Hard disk drive
detected and set
automatically.
Secondary Master Sets the CD-ROM drive type and various
parameters.
CD-ROM drive
detected and set
automatically.
Display Device Switches between the built-in display (LCD), an
external display (CRT) if attached, and both.
LCD/CRT
PS/2 Mouse Enables or disables the pointing devices. Enabled
ZV Port Sets whether zoomed video function is enabled,
to connect from a PC card to a VGA controller.
Enabled

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Quiet Boot When enabled, hides summary of
power-on self-test and messages during boot.
Enabled
System Memory Shows the system memory size. 640KB
Extended Memory Shows the extended memory size. Detected
automatically.
Advanced Menu Default
Serial port Sets how the serial port is configured by the
BIOS (specified or automatic).
Enabled
Base I/O address Sets the I/O address and interrupt. 3F8 IRQ4
IrDA port Sets how the infrared port is configured by the
BIOS (specified or automatic).
Disabled
Mode When IrDA port is enabled, sets the hardware to
support SIR (Standard IR) or FIR (Fast IR) infrared
communications. (Driver installation is required.)
SIR
Base I/O address When IrDA port is enabled, sets the I/O address
and interrupt.
2F8 IRQ3
DMA channel When Fast IR mode is enabled, sets the DMA
channel.
DMA 3
Parallel Port Sets how the parallel port is configured by the
BIOS (specified or automatic).
Enabled
Mode Sets the port to output only, bi-directional, ECP
mode, or EPP mode.
Bi-directional
Base I/O address Sets the I/O address. 378 IRQ7
DMA channel When ECP mode is enabled, sets the DMA
channel.
DMA 1
Local Bus IDE Adapter Enables the primary (hard drive) and secondary
(CD-ROM drive) controllers.
Both
Floppy disk controller Enables the floppy disk drive. Enabled
Security Menu Default
User Password Is Shows if a user password is set. Clear
Supervisor Password Is Shows if a supervisor password is set. Clear
Set User Password Press ENTER to set, change, or clear user
password. Password length can be no longer
than 8 characters, 0-9, A-Z.
Set Supervisor
Password
Press ENTER to set, change, or clear supervisor
password. This password protects BIOS Setup
settings.
Password on boot Sets whether a user password is required when
the computer boots.
Enabled
Power (APM)
Menu* Default
PM Control Disables power management, or enables it Battery Powered

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either always or when on battery power only. Only
or Only
When Battery
Exists
Power Savings Sets the combination of power management
features for your usage. (Choose Customize if
you want to set any of the Timeout options.)
Maximum Battery
Life
Standby Timeout Sets the period of inactivity after which the
computer goes from On to Standby power mode.
2 minutes
Suspend Timeout Sets the period of inactivity after which the
computer goes from Standby to Suspend power
mode.
2 minutes
Hibernate Timeout Sets whether the computer goes from Suspend
to Hibernate power mode after the indicated
period of inactivity.
2 hours
Hard Disk Timeout Sets the period of inactivity after which the hard
disk stops spinning.
1 minute
Video Timeout Sets the period of hard disk inactivity after which
the screen is turned off.
Off
Power Button Mode Sets the action (Suspend or Off) of the blue
power button when pressed for less than 4
seconds.
Suspend
Resume on Modem Ring Sets whether the system resumes from Suspend
if a ring signal is received.
Off
Resume on Time Sets whether the system resumes from Suspend
at a defined time of day.
Off
Resume Time Sets the 24-hour time when the system resumes
from Suspend if enabled.
Cooling Control Sets mode for reduction of CPU temperature to
Silence (less cooling) or Performance (more
cooling).
Performance
Boot Menu Default
Removable Devices
Hard Drive
ATAPI CD-ROM Drive
Shows the order of boot devices. Move the
entries to change the order. Removable Devices
include the floppy disk drive.
1. Removable
Devices
2. Hard Drive
3. ATAPI
CD-ROM Drive
Exit Menu
Exit Saving Changes Saves Setup changes to CMOS, exits, and
reboots.
Exit Discarding Changes Discards Setup changes since last save, exits,
and reboots. Does not affect security, date, or
time changes.
Load Setup Defaults Restores default settings, stays in Setup. Does
not affect security, date, or time changes.
Discard Changes Discards Setup changes since last save, stays in
Setup. Does not affect security, date, or time

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changes.
Save Changes Saves Setup changes to CMOS and stays in
Setup. Security settings are saved when
changed.

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Updating the OmniBook BIOS
Hewlett-Packard may provide updates to the BIOS to enhance the capabilities of the OmniBook.
Updates will be available from HP Customer Care. Visit the Support website at
http://www.hp.com/omnibook. Download the BIOS update to a floppy disk.
CAUTION: Because a BIOS update replaces the previous version, it is
important you follow these instructions exactly. Otherwise, the OmniBook
may be damaged. The BIOS update process resets the configuration
settings in the BIOS Setup utility, and it erases any BIOS passwords.
To update the BIOS
1. Remove any PC Cards.
2. If the OmniBook is docked, undock it.
3. Connect the AC adapter to the OmniBook.
4. Insert the BIOS Update disk in the floppy disk drive.
5. Restart the computer.
6. Follow the onscreen instructions. This starts a process that takes approximately 1 minute.
Once the update process begins, do not interrupt it.
7. When the process is completed, reboot the computer again.

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Testing the OmniBook with HP Diag Tools
The OmniBook HP Diag Tools provide two levels of system hardware testing:
•Automated testing using the basic hardware test.
•Advanced testing using the individual hardware tests.
The tests are designed to run after the system reboots. This ensures that the computer will be in a
predictable state, so the diagnostic program can properly test the hardware components. The tests
are non-destructive and are designed to preserve the state of the computer. The OmniBook
reboots when you exit the program so drivers can be loaded.
To create a diagnostic floppy disk
You will need to create a diagnostic floppy disk to run the diagnostic tests on an OmniBook XE.
NOTE: If you have an OmniBook XE2, you do not need to run the diagnostics
from a floppy disk; however, it’s a good idea to create a diagnostic disk
in case something happens to your hard drive.
After inserting a formatted floppy disk in the floppy drive, do one of the following to create a
diagnostic floppy disk:
•On an OmniBook with a factory software installation, run diaginst from the \Dmi\Hpdiags
directory on the hard disk.
•On any computer with World Wide Web access, download the diagnostic software package
from the OmniBook website (http://www.hp.com/omnibook), run this file to unpack the files,
then run diaginst to create the diagnostic disk.
To run the diagnostic test
1. If you have an OmniBook XE or XE2, insert the diagnostic disk in the floppy drive and
restart the computer.
or
If you have an OmniBook XE2, restart the computer; when you see the HP logo, press F10 to
start the diagnostics utility.
2. When you see the initial diagnostics screen, press F2 twice to continue.
In case the initial diagnostics screen does not appear:
•If you ran the diagnostics from a floppy disk, run scandisk on the floppy disk. If you
discover errors on the disk, create a new diagnostic disk, using a different floppy disk,
before running the test again.
•If you ran the diagnostics from the hard disk, create a diagnostics floppy disk (according
to the procedure above) and then follow step 1 above.
3. When the hardware detection finishes, check the list of detected hardware.
If a device is not detected or fails its test below, it may be configured incorrectly in the BIOS
Setup utility. You can confirm the problem by running BIOS Setup and checking the settings.
4. Run the basic test. Press F2 twice to start the basic hardware test.

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5. Wait until the test has finished.
6. If you intend to exit without running advanced tests, press F4 twice to save system and test
information in the Support Ticket log file, HPSUPPT.TXT. Then remove the diagnostic disk
(if you used one) and press F3 twice to exit.
7. Optional: Run the advanced tests. Press F2 twice to open the advanced test screen.
8. Select and run the appropriate tests. Tests are not listed if no such hardware is detected. Press
the following keys to run tests:
ENTER Runs the highlighted test.
F5 or SPACE Marks or unmarks the highlighted test.
F6 Marks or unmarks all tests in the current menu.
F7 Marks or unmarks all tests in all menus.
F10 Runs all marked tests.
9. When you have finished running tests, press ESC to exit the advanced tests.
10. Optional: Save system and test information. Press F4 to create the Support Ticket log file,
HPSUPPT.TXT.
NOTE: If you ran the diagnostics from a floppy disk, the log file is stored on the
diskette. If you ran the diagnostics from the hard disk (by pressing F10),
the log file is stored on a hidden partition on the hard disk.
11. To exit, remove the diagnostic disk (if you used one), and press F3 twice to exit and reboot.
12. Optional: Check the Support Ticket log. The Support Ticket log file contains a list of all
test results and errors. If you ran the diagnostics from a floppy disk, you can open the
HPSUPPT.TXT file with a text editor, such as Notepad. To open a log file that was stored on
your hard disk, go to the C:\DMI\DiagTools directory and double-click HPSUPPT.EXE; this
displays the log file in Notepad.

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Using Power Management in Windows 95
Several power management features are built directly into the Windows 95 operating system. For
example, there is a battery meter, you can put the IDE disk drive into low power mode, and you
can manually suspend the system from the taskbar. You set these features using the Power applet
in the Windows 95 control panel.
In addition to these Windows 95 features, the OmniBook BIOS provides additional capabilities.
Through the BIOS Setup utility, you can:
•Enable or disable the power management feature.
•Specify the amount of time before the computer goes into Standby, Suspend, or Hibernate
mode.
•Automatically turn off the hard disk or monitor after a period of inactivity.
•Set the action of the blue power button.
•Set options for resuming from Suspend mode.
To customize the system power management settings
1. Close all applications, then shut down Windows and restart the OmniBook.
2. When you see the HP logo, press F2 to enter the BIOS Setup utility.
3. Press the RIGHT arrow key to point to the Power menu.
4. Press the DOWN arrow key to go to the option you wish to change. (See the Power (APM)
Menu table for descriptions of the various options).
NOTE: In order to change any of the timeout settings, you must first set the
Power Savings option to Customize.
5. Press F5 or F6 until you have selected the desired value.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to change other power settings
7. When you’re finished, press F10 or use the Exit menu to exit the BIOS Setup utility.