Micron Technology MERIDIAN 850 manual

The ROADSIDE PORT ABLE GUIDE T O MOBILE COMPUTING WITH YOUR MERIDIAN 850 NOTEBOOK User ’ s Guide Meridian 850[...]

2 700-0219-00 M850 This document may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine readable form without prior consent, in writing, from the vendor . W ith this document the vendor makes no warranties or representations, either expressed, or implied, with respect to the produ[...]

3 Customer Assurance Program Thirty (30) Day Money-Back Guarantee on Most Products. Any product (except for software, software disks, related documentation and consumables) purchased from our company may be returned within thirty days from the date it was shipped to the customer for a full refund of the purchase price excluding original shipping ch[...]

4 Meridian 850 One Y ear Limited W arranty All new Merdian 850 computer systems come with a One Y ear Limited W arranty which provides that the products we manufacture or assemble, other than items such as software, disks and related documentation, will remain in good working condition, free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use[...]

5 FCC Compliance Statement For US and Canadian Users W arning! Changes or modifications to this unit not expr essly appr oved by the party r esponsible for compliance could void the user ’ s authority to operate the equipment. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15, Sub[...]

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7 Contents W elcome! ....................................................................................... 9 1. Unpacking Y our System ......................................................... 1 1 Do I Have Everything? ............................................................. 1 1 What's in the Box? .......................................[...]

8 Contents External Video Monitor ............................................................. 48 External Keyboard ................................................................... 48 Floppy Disks ............................................................................ 49 Dual PCMCIA Card Slot ...............................................[...]

9 W elcome! W elcome to the Meridian 850 User ’ s Guide ! This guide is designed to help you get the most out of your system and keep it running trouble free, year after year . The User ’ s Guide is divided into seven chapters. Chapter 1, Unpacking Y our System, explains how to safely open and set up your new system. Chapter 2, The Big Picture [...]

10 System Specifications lists technical details about your system. The Handy Cheat Sheet gives a short summary of some of the most needed or most forgotten commands. The Glossary gives definitions of common computer terms. W elcome![...]

11 1. Unpacking Y our System Obviously , the first step towards using your new Meridian is getting it safely to your door and unpacked. Do I Have Everything? The packing slip is one of the last items sealed into your computer box. It lists everything we shipped you. As you unpack the box, check the contents against the packing slip. If an item is l[...]

12 What's in the Box? Y our box contains the packing slip, this manual, a plastic bag full of cables and other manuals, a battery pack and AC adapter , and your W indows & DOS manual. This book shows you how to set up your system and keep it running. Y our W indows for W orkgr oups and/or your MS-DOS User's Guide has introductory chap[...]

13 Le t Y our Computer Acclimate Itself Although your computer system can easily stand temperature extremes, it doesn’t much like rapid changes in temperature, especially going from a cold front stoop to a warm and comfy office, or from a steamy jungle mail drop to an air-conditioned villa. Rapid changes in temperature can cause condensation insi[...]

14 Where to W ork Y our Meridian 850 is a tough, rugged machine. Generally it will be comfortable and run well wherever you are comfortable. Extremes of heat, cold, and humidity can be challenging to your system's parts, but usually if you can take it, so can the computer . There are, however , some things you take very easily that the compute[...]

15 2. The Big Picture Chapter 1 - Unpacking Y our System Y our Meridian 850 is designed to give you the speed and power of a desktop system in a lightweight, portable package. System Features Every Meridian 850 includes: • Intel Pentium microprocessor running at 75 or 90MHz • 256K external (L2) system cache • RAM expandable to 32MB • 8 or 1[...]

16 Front View Mouse Buttons The two square buttons on top of the palm rest work just like the buttons of a conventional PC mouse. Y our right thumb clicks the buttons while a finger moves the cursor with the T ruePoint pointing device. T ruePoint™ Pointing Device The T ruePoint pointing device works much like a joystick. The onscreen cursor moves[...]

17 LED indicator lights Mouse Buttons T ruePoint™ Pointing Device Reset Switch Power Switch Suspend/Resume Button Display Latches Meridian 850, Front View Chapter 2 - The Big Picture Security Cable Slot[...]

18 Side V iews Power Button (must be pressed for one second) Suspend/Resume Button (must be pressed for one second) Floppy Disk Drive Eject Button Reset Switch (a ball-point pen works fine) Floppy Disk Drive Slot Right side view Removable Hard Disk Drive PCMCIA Card Compartment Cover PC Card Eject Buttons Left side view Chapter 2 - The Big Pictur e[...]

19 Power Button T o turn the system on or of f, press and hold the power button for 1-2 seconds. When you turn the power on, the speaker beeps once (if sound is enabled). The Power Button will not work when the system is in suspend mode or when the computer is being powered by battery only and the display panel is closed. See Chapter 3, Battery and[...]

20 Back View Each connector at the back of the system unit is displayed below . Y ou can configure the parallel or serial ports from the SETUP menu. See Chapter 5, Using SETUP , for detailed instructions. Caution: Whenever you connect or disconnect cables, turn off all power switches. Mouse Connector Keyboard Connector Video Connector Serial Connec[...]

21 Parallel port 25-pin parallel port for printers or other devices. Configure the parallel port from the SETUP program , Ctrl + Alt + S at boot Serial port 9-pin connector for a mouse, modem, or other serial devices. Configure the serial port from the SETUP program, Ctrl + Alt + S at boot V ideo 15-pin connector for external VGA monitor . The syst[...]

22 Chapter 2 - The Big Pictur e Sound Features Y our Meridian 850 features 16-bit, Sound Blaster Pro and Microsoft Sound-compatible stereo sound. The system’ s signal output is designed for amplified stereo speakers with 6-8ohm impedance. This sound system works automatically with W indows, but when installing DOS games or applications that use D[...]

23 Indicator Lights: What they mean Power/Suspend Glowing The power is turned on. Blinking The system is in suspend mode. LOWBA TT Slow blinking The battery power level is low . If enabled in SETUP , the system beeps slowly warning you to recharge or replace the battery , or plug in the AC adapter . See chapter 3, Battery and Power Management. Fast[...]

24 Using the Keyboard Ta b Backspace Escape The keyboard is your primary means of giving your computer numbers and words, and telling it what to do with them. The keyboard works much like the keys on a typewriter , but computer keyboards have several specialty keys. Most of today’ s software packages have several standard uses for the specialty k[...]

25 What the Keys Do General Functions Alternate (Alt) - used with other keys to perform special functions defined by the application you are using. While holding down the Alt key , press the other key . Caps Lock - toggles on and of f making the typewriter letter keys appear in uppercase. Control (Ctrl) - used with other keys to perform special fun[...]

26 What the Keys Do (continued) Editing and Movement Keys Backspace - located above the Enter key . It may be labeled as Bksp or as an arrow pointing to the left. The Backspace key moves the insertion point to the left one space, erasing the characters in its path. Down Arrow - moves the insertion point down one line. End - moves the insertion poin[...]

27 Using the Embedded Numeric Keypad A numeric keypad for entering numbers is embedded within the main keyboard. T o use the numeric characters, press the Num Lock button. Keys with a number in the lower right corner will type numbers whenever Num Lock is enabled. T o return the keys to normal letters, press Num Lock again. If you install an extern[...]

28 Special Key Combinations The following key combinations let you perform special functions without exiting your application Note: Some applications may conflict with certain special key combinations. If you pr ess key combination without results, exit the application and try again. *Fn + F10 Decreases LCD display contrast *Fn + F1 1 Increases LCD[...]

29 Disk Drives Y our system comes with a 528MB (or larger), low power consumption removable hard disk drive, and a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive. Upgrades are available. Caution: • Do not touch the connector of hard disk drive pack • Protect the disk drive from jarring or strong vibrations • Only remove the disk drive when absolutely necessary ?[...]

30 Removable Hard Disk Drive Location 2. Remove the retaining screw with a Phillips screwdriver . This frees the drive. 3. T urn the computer over , then place your fingers in the groove on the disk drive and pull the drive out of the socket. continued from last page Removing the retaining screw Chapter 2 - The Big Pictur e Removable Hard Disk Driv[...]

31 PCMCIA Card Slot Y our system comes with a versatile card slot which can hold one T ype-III or two T ype-II expansion cards (stacked). The slot is on the left side of the computer . T o insert a PC card, align the card so the label is up and the connector is toward the computer . Care- fully slide the card into the slot. T o remove a card, push [...]

32 Installing the Battery for the First Time Y our system operates on a rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack. T o prevent possible damage during shipment the battery pack has not been installed in your system. Before turning on the system for the first time, remove the battery pack from its package and install it. Once the battery [...]

33 Installing the Battery Pack T o install the battery pack: 1. Insert the battery pack into the battery compartment. 2. Push the battery into the compartment until you hear a click. Inserting the battery pack Chapter 3 - Battery and Power Management[...]

34 Removing the Battery Pack T o remove the battery pack: 1. Locate the battery pack and battery pack release locks. 2. Slide the battery pack release locks. Releasing the battery pack locks. The battery pack will pop up slightly . 3. Pull the battery pack out of the compartment. Battery Release Locks Chapter 3 - Battery and Power Management[...]

35 Battery Endurance Tips How long can you run on a single charge? This varies greatly with how you use your system and how you configure its power-conserving features. Y our Meridian can run a lot longer if you do one or more of the following: • Use the AC adapter whenever possible • Operate in cooler temperatures • Store the battery in low [...]

36 Low Battery Conditions T wo warnings alert you when your system’ s battery is low and needs charging. The first warning is the orange battery indicator light blinking slowly . The system speaker will also beep (if system sound is enabled). The first warning gives you about five minutes to quit working, save your data, or connect the AC adapter[...]

37 If an extra fully charged battery is available: 1. Save all necessary files. 2. Exit the application. 3. T urn off the system. 4. Remove the battery pack and replace it with a fully charged battery pack. If no AC adapter , power outlet or extra charged battery is available: 1. Save all necessary files. 2. Exit the application. 3. T urn off the s[...]

38 Charging the Battery T o charge the battery , plug the AC adapter into the system and an electrical outlet. The AC adapter converts alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). When the power switch is turned on, the AC adapter supplies power to the system and recharges the battery pack only when the system in suspend mode. Otherwise, to r[...]

39 Battery T emperature Sensor The AC adapter will not char ge a battery when it is too hot or too cold. If the battery is outside normal operating temperature, the adapter will wait for the battery to warm up or cool down before it begins charging. While the system unit waits for the battery to return to normal operating temperature, the CHARGE LE[...]

40 Power Management Y our Meridian 850 can operate in four different power modes, depending on how you’d like to use your computer . The four power modes--Normal, Power Saving, Battery Only , and Suspend--allow you to get the most performance under a variety of conditions (See Chapter 5, Using SETUP for more details). In addition, you can select [...]

41 Suspend Mode Deactivates one or more of Meridian’ s internal components, letting you conserve power (battery or AC). Y ou can customize Suspend Mode to save power in several ways, letting you choose what shuts down as well as when. The Meridian 850 has four settings for Suspend Mode: CPU, V ideo, Disk, and Global. Y our system can deactivate a[...]

42 Power Savings Settings These four options let you tailor the T imeouts for your system components. Low Power Savings gives you maximum performance but shortest battery life; Medium Power Saveings gives you moderate performance and moderate battery life; High Power Savings gives you minimum performance but longest battery life, and Custom Power S[...]

43 Battery Precautions 1. Do not expose the battery to fire, which can cause explosion, or allow it to become dented or deformed. 2. Do not run your system on battery power for a long time at temperatures over 95 degrees F (35C). Also, do not store the battery at high temperatures. This can significantly reduce battery life. 3. T emperature extreme[...]

44 AC Adapter Precautions 1. It is extremely dangerous to use the AC adapter when it is wet. If it should become wet or damaged, immediately unplug the adapter from the power outlet and the computer . 2. Do not subject the adapter to strong vibration or shocks. Be careful not to drop it. 3. Do not expose the adapter to direct sunlight for prolonged[...]

45 4. Using Y our Meridian 850 Opening the Lid Display Latches LED indicator lights T ruePoint Pointing Device Mouse Buttons Interior Features (Front view) T o open the display , pull the latches at the both sides of the system backward and lift the display carefully , as illustrated. Examining the Interior Features The suspend/resume button, LED i[...]

46 T ruePoint™ Pointing Device The red button, called the T ruePoint™ embedded pointing device, works like a joystick. Simply put a finger on it and tilt it the direction you want the cursor on the screen to go. The harder you tilt, the faster it moves. When you need to click on something, use the rectangular mouse buttons (on top of the wrist [...]

47 PS/2 Style Mouse Before you can use an external mouse, you must first install its device driver . This software enables your mouse to communicate with the system. See your mouse documentation for instructions how to install the mouse and mouse driver . Y our system automatically switches to a PS/2 mouse if one is connected to the PS/2 Mouse port[...]

48 External V ideo Monitor If you attach an external monitor to your Meridian, the computer will detect it on power up, initially sending send its video signal to the external monitor only . However , if you connect an external monitor during use, the LCD screen initially will remain on. Y ou can toggle screen modes by pressing the F1 key while hol[...]

49 Chapter 4 - How to Use Y our Meridian 850 Floppy Disks Floppy disks are used to: • transfer information from one computer to another • install software on your system’ s hard drive • make backup copies of your software and data When you insert a floppy disk into the system’ s floppy disk drive, you can read the information stored on th[...]

50 Chapter 4 - How to Use Y our Meridian 850 Care and Handling A few things to remember when handling floppy disks: • Handle disks carefully . • Don’ t remove a disk from a drive while its platter is spinning. • Don’ t touch or scratch any exposed portion of the disk’ s shiny surface, or allow dust or moisture to collect on the disk. ?[...]

51 Chapter 4 - How to Use Y our Meridian 850 Dual PCMCIA Card Slot Caution: Don’ t install another vendor ’ s car d and socket services over the pre- installed SystemSoft services. Y our Car d & Socket Services will accomodate SRAM car ds, a modem on COM2, and A T A T ype III har d drives. Y our system comes with a versatile expansion slot,[...]

52 Chapter 4 - How to Use Y our Meridian 850 T ype II PCMCIA cards can provide your computer with: • Flash Memory •L A N • Fax/Modem • External Cache Memory • SCSI • Sound system T ype III PCMCIA cards can provide your computer with: • A T A Hard Drives Note: Befor e you can use certain PCMCIA car ds, you will need to install a client[...]

53 5. Using SETUP Y our computer has a SETUP utility program that allows you to observe or change the following system settings: System time and date Floppy disk drive type Hard disk drive type V ideo display Selection Fast Boot Mode Color Scheme Sound Chip Number lock on or off Boot Device Cache Serial and parallel port status Internal Mouse LCD B[...]

54 Running SETUP Important: Befor e entering SETUP , save your files and exit any applications you ar e running. Once you enter SETUP , you will lose all unsaved data because the system reboots when you exit SETUP . T o run SETUP , press Ctrl+Alt+S either while the system is booting up or at the DOS prompt. The SETUP main screen has five menus: Sta[...]

55 Startup Both your mouse and your keyboard can operate the SETUP program. W ith your mouse (T ruePoint or external) you move the pointer to the desired menu, then single-click on the left mouse button to drop the menu down. Single-click on the options presented to see the present values or make changes. The right mouse button will let you cancel [...]

56 Date and T ime Provides a single window for setting the system date and time. The Date and Time window lets you specify the date, month, and year as well as the Hour , Minute, and Second. Fast Boot Initializes and quickly boots the system in a few seconds by bypassing certain diagnostic tests. T o fully test the system at power-on time, turn off[...]

57 Password Creates passwords at bootup for accessing SETUP values or disabling current passwords. There are two kinds of password, the bootup password and SCU (SETUP) password. T o create or change these passwords, run SETUP and select Passwor d under the Startup menu. The following dialog box appears: Boot Password Creates a password to access to[...]

58 SCU (SETUP) Password Lets you create or disable the current SETUP password. T o create or change the password, enter 4 to 8 characters in the text box. Characters will be shown as asterisks ‘ * ‘. W ith the <T ab> key , highlight Enable passwor d for SCU changes . When the spacebar is pressed, [X] appears. Press <Enter> when fini[...]

59 Memory L1 Cache Enable Enables or disables the Pentium processor ’ s internal cache. When enabled, system performance increases. L1 Cache W riteback Sets cache to either writeback mode (faster) or write-through mode. L2 Cache Enable Enables or disables the onboard external L2 cache. The computer is typi- cally faster with L2 cache enabled. Cha[...]

60 Disks Diskette Drive Configures the diskette drive. Settings: 1.44MB or Disabled. Fast Diskette Reduces ISA bus wait states, making the diskette drive quicker . Chapter 5 - Using SETUP[...]

61 Hard Disk Configures the Hard Disk Drive 1 (DOS drive C:). Options: [Disabled] If no hard drive is installed. [Standard] T o select a drive type from a standard list of drives. (44 pre-defined drive types are listed). [Custom] T o configure a drive not in the standard list. When selected, you must manually enter the values for cylinders, heads, [...]

62 Components COM Ports Configures the I/O address for the serial (COM) port. A vailable settings: COM1 (3F8), COM2 (2F8), COM3 (3E8), COM4 (2E8), or Disable. LPT Port Designates the port and the IRQ assignment for the LPT (printer) port. A vailable I/O addresses: LPT1 (378h) , LPT2 (278h), or Disabled. Note: When you enable an LPT Port, it will us[...]

63 Keyboard Numlock Specifies whether Num Lock is on or off at system bootup. Options: Enabled or disabled. Keyboard Repeat Determines how fast a character repeats when a key is held down. Also specifies the amount of time that will pass after a key is depressed before repeating begins. Options: 2, 6, 10, 15, 20, and 30 cps. Key delay selections: 1[...]

64 Power Enable Power Saving Enables or disables selected power-saving features. When enabled, your specific set of features are activated. When disabled, all power-saving features are deactivated. Battery Only Enables power savings only while running on the battery . When disabled, power saving strategies will operate even while using AC power . L[...]

65 High Power Saving Sets power-savings to its highest level. Result: minimum system perfor- mance, longest battery life. Custom Power Saving Lets you choose the T imeout interval for the CPU, V ideo, Disk, and Global (all components turned off except memory). Y ou can also have the system monitor V ideo Activity . Custom settings override any pres[...]

66 Exit Save and Exit Saves the current SETUP values and exits the program. The new settings will not take effect until after the system is rebooted. Save and Reboot Saves the new values and reboots the system so they can take effect. Exit (No Save) Exits SETUP without saving any changes. Default Settings Restores the default settings (the original[...]

67 Chapter 5 - Using SETUP Restore Settings Restores the previous set of SETUP values. V ersion Info Displays the current BIOS version information, including version number and date.[...]

68 Chapter 6 - How to Install Options 6. How to Install Options Right out of the box, your Meridian helps you do your work faster and easier . And as your needs change, it's easy to add new components to improve the performance, power , and flexibility of your system. This section explains how to install some of the most popular computer acces[...]

69 Chapter 6 - How to Install Options Installing More RAM System memory is often called RAM, for Random Access Memory . RAM is the “thinking space” available to your applications. Usually , the more system RAM you have, the faster your system will run. Many software applications simply run much faster and more efficiently when more RAM is avail[...]

70 Installing the RAM Board The RAM board slot is located under the memory board cover , as illustrated in the figure. Caution: Whenever you work inside the computer , electr ostatic dischar ge can permanently damage your equipment. Always ground yourself by touching the metal portion of the r ear panel befor e beginning these pr ocedur es. W e str[...]

71 7. How to Maintain Y our System Y our system is designed for years of rugged, portable use. Y ou’ll get even more service out of your Meridian by taking good care of your equipment. T ravel Precautions Follow these steps to prepare the system for travel: 1. Back up important data onto floppy disks. 2. T urn off the power to the system and all [...]

72 System Hardware Precautions • Do not expose the system to rain, liquid, or moisture. • Do not clean the system with liquid or aerosol cleaners. W ipe the system with a damp, soft cloth. • Do not place the system near sources of heat. • Do not expose the system to extreme temperatures. • Do not place objects on top of the system. This c[...]

73 Chapter 7 - How to Maintain Y our System AC Adapter Precautions • Do not connect to any other device. • Connect the adapter power cord into a grounded power outlet only . • Contact an electrician if the adapter power cord does not fit into your outlet. • Do not set anything on the power cord. Carefully route the power cord and cables. Ba[...]

74 System Specifications System Specifications Environmental Specifications Operating T emperature 10°C to 35°C Storage T emperature -10°C to 50°C Operating Humidity 40%RH to 80%RH (no condensation) Storage Humidity 40% RH to 80% RH (no condensation) CPU Intel Pentium running at 75 or 90MHz Cache 256K external Memory ROM: 128KB for system/video[...]

75 Dimensions W eight DSTN/TFT Color: 6.8 lbs. with battery Case DSTN/TFT : 1 1.7 (w) X 8.9 (d) X 1.9 (h) inch 259 (w) X 198 (d) X 42 (h) mm System Specifications Battery Pack Specifications T y pe 6-cell rechargeable nickel-metal hydride V oltage 7.2V DC Capacity 2600 mAh Ambient temperature -10 to 40C short term -10 to 30C long term Dimensions 10[...]

76 Handy Cheat Sheet Here are some of the most often needed (and forgotten) notes. CTRL + AL T + DEL ....................................................... W arm Reboot Reset button, or Power button ...................................................................... Cold Reboot CTRL + AL T + S ...................................................[...]

77 Handy Cheat Sheet Windows Shortcuts Ctrl-C .......................................................................... copy to clipboard Ctrl-V .................................................. paste or copy from the clipboard Ctrl-X ......................................................... delete and copy to clipboard Alt-T ab .................[...]

78 Glossary This glossary provides general definitions of key terms. For an expanded list look in standard reference books on computers. Active Matrix - Flat screen technology that controls each pixel with an individual transistor . Address (Physical) - A specific location in memory where a unit record, or sector, of data is stored. Application Pro[...]

79 more files than floppy disks. IDE - Integrated Drive Electronics. An IDE drive has the controller electronics built into the drive itself and is connected directly to the mainboard or to an adapter card. Insertion point - A blinking vertical marker which shows where you can type words or numbers. Also called T ext Cursor . See Cursor . Jumper - [...]

80 K Key Combinations 28 Keyboard 24 Keypad, numeric 27 L LCD Display 46 Low Battery W arnings 36 M Memory 59 Mouse Buttons 16 how to use 47 N Numeric Keypad 27 O Options how to install 68 P Packing Slip 1 1 PCMCIA Card Eject Buttons 19 Slot 31, 51 Power Button 19 Management Parameters 64 Saving 41 PS/2 Style Mouse 47 Index Index A AC Adapter Preca[...]

81 Index 700-0219-00 M850 Index R RAM how to install 69 Removable Hard Disk Drive 29 Reset Switch 19 S Serial Mouse 47 SETUP how to run 54 Power Management Parameters 64 SETUP Utility 53 Sound Chip 63 Sound Features 22 Speaker V olume 28 Suspend/Resume Button 16 System how to maintain 71 how to open 45 System Specifications 74 T T ravel Precautions[...]

Late Changes Following is a list of changes that arrived too late for printing. p.2: Copyright now Micron Electronics. p.7-8: Updated T able of Contents. p.15: Mainboard Features now shows 75 and 90MHz for CPU; Hard disk drives now available in 1.3GB; Now W indows NT certified. p.22: Updated instructions for setting sound system parameters for game[...]