Kensington M Series manuale d’uso

User'sManual TM A SCENTIA ® P ersonalNotebook M[...]

User'sManual TM A SCENTIA ® P ersonalNotebook M 003754-001A July1997[...]

First edition (July 1997) Copyright  1997 AST Research, Inc. All rights are reserved, including those to reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form without permission in writing from AST Research, Inc. AST Research periodically chan ges the information in th is manual; changes are incorpo rated into new editions. AST Research reserves the [...]

CAUTION Users should not attempt to make elec tric al gro un d co nn ec tio ns the m selv e s but shou ld co ntact the appropriate electric insp ection auth ority or ele ctrician. WARRANTY AND REPAIR SERVICE IN CANADA: AST Canada, Inc. 255 Matheson Bo ulevard West Mississauga, Ontario, L5R 3G3 Telephone: 90 5-5 07 - 32 78 Warning: Replace the batte[...]

Signed Declaration of Conformity Documents Signed Declaration of Conformity documents for AST products are on fil e at the AST Ireland facility located at: National Te chnology Pa rk Plassey Limerick Ireland This product contains a Cla ss 1 lase r product with a Class 1 laser so urce employing a laser diode that emits invisible laser radiation at 5[...]

Contents i Contents Using Your Documentation ........................................................... 1 Opening the Online Manual ................................................................. 1 Getting Around in the Online Manual .................................................. 2 Using Hypertext Links in the Online Manual .................[...]

ii Ascentia M Series User’s Ma nual Using the Touchpad ....................... ................................................ 19 Reading the System Status Lights ........................................... 21 Connecting Peripheral Devices ................................................. 23 Connecting the Floppy Drive to the Floppy Connector ..[...]

Contents iii Using System Security .................................................................. 57 Creating a Password ......................................................................... 57 Deleting a Password ......................................................................... 58 Requiring a Password When the Computer Starts .....[...]

iv Ascentia M Series User’s Manu al Troubleshooting ............................................................................... 80 Operating Problems .......................................................................... 80 Infrared Problems .............................. ................................................ 83 Using Options .[...]

Using Your Docume nta tion 1 Using Your Documentation Congratulations on your purchase of an AST ® Ascentia™ M Series computer! Whether you are new to using a portable computer or are an experience d user, your Ascentia M Series documentation can help you get the most from your computer. To get up and running quickly, see your Ascentia M Series [...]

2 Ascentia M Series User’s Manu al Getting Around in the Online Manual Go to the Acrobat Reader He lp for tips on using the Reader toolbar buttons to ge t around in the online manual. To open the Help: 1. Click Help on the Acrobat Reader menu b ar. 2. Click Reader Online Guide . Using Hypertext Links in the Online Manual Hypertext links a re buil[...]

Using Your Docume nta tion 3 Special Features of the User’s Manual Three types of messages with icons appear in the manual: A note informs you of special circumstances. A caution warns you of possible damage to equipment. A warning indicates the possibility of personal injury. Keys that you need to press to perform certain functions are shown in [...]

4 Ascentia M Series User’s Manu al Using the Software User Documentation Your computer shipped from the factory with several software programs installed. The software may include its own online or printed documentation. Refer to the docu mentation or the Help options in the software for more information. Visiting the AST Web Site If you have an i[...]

Introducing Your Compu ter 5 Introducing Your Computer Your Ascentia M computer is a lightweight portable compu ter that includes features to meet your computing needs at home or on the road. Figures 1 through 3 show you the features of your computer. Figure 1. Front View of Computer LCD latch LCD Power button AC adapter connector Fan vent Hard dri[...]

6 Ascentia M Series User’s Manu al Figure 2. Back View of Computer Figure 3. Bottom View of Computer Infrared port Parallel port Docking connector PS/2™ mouse and keyboard port Microphone and audio-line-in jack Video port Serial port Floppy connector USB port PC Card compartment Volume control Audio-line-out jack Memory module compartment Smart[...]

Using Your Computer for the First Time 7 Using Your Computer for the First Time This section gives you detailed information on using your computer for the first time. Attaching the AC Adapter Your computer runs on power from the battery that came installed in the computer or from an electrical outlet. The first time that you use your c omputer, ful[...]

8 Ascentia M Series User’s Manu al Figure 4. Connecting the AC Adapter The battery starts charging as soon as you plug the AC adapter into an electrical outlet. The b attery charges faster if the computer is turned off during charging. If the battery is fully depleted and the computer is turned off, the battery charges in about 3 hours. If the co[...]

Using Your Computer for the First Time 9 Turning On the Computer To turn on the computer’s power for th e first time: 1. Slide the LCD cover latch to the right and hold it. 2. Lift up the LCD cover. 3. Press and then release the power button (Figure 5). The power light is on when the computer’s power is on. Figure 5. Turning On the Computer’s[...]

10 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Adjusting the LCD Display You may wish to adjust the LCD display when you begin using your computer. A TFT LCD does not require adjustment for contrast because the contrast is set t o remain at maximum. You can adjust both the brightness and contrast on a DS-STN LCD. To adjust the brightness of th e LCD: • Pre[...]

Using Your Computer for the First Time 11 Turning Off Your Computer If your operating system is Windows 95, turn off your computer by performing the shutdown procedure described in this section. Otherwise, you may lose data. To turn off the computer in Windows 95: 1. Click the Start button on the taskbar. A pop-up menu appears. 2. Click Shut Down .[...]

12 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual You can also perform a soft bo ot by saving your files and pressing <Ctrl+Alt+Del>. You can perform a cold (or hard) boot by pressing the power button to turn the computer off, waiting five seconds, and then pressing the power button to turn t he computer on. Tips for Using Your Computer The following info[...]

Using Your Computer for the First Time 13 • Do not remove the memory-module compartment door, or try to install a memory module when the computer is on. (See Figure 3 for the location of the door.) (For information on installing memory modules, see “Memory Modules” on page 88.) • Set up your computer work area to avoid physical strain. Sit [...]

14 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Handling Spills Do not spill anything on your computer. The best way to avoid spills is to avoid eating and drinking around your computer. If you do spill something on your compu ter, turn off your computer, unplug it imme diately, and do the following: • If you spill liquid on the keyboard, drain as much of t[...]

Using the Keyboa rd 15 Using the Keyboard Your computer has an 87/88-key keyboard (Figure 6). By pressing designated key combinations, you can have access to all the key functions of a full-sized keyboard. Figure 6. Keyboard Although the layout of the keys on your computer’s keyboard is different from that on a desktop computer’s keyboard, the [...]

16 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual The keys on the keyboard can be grouped into the following categories: • Full-sized typewriter keys are arranged like a standard typewriter keyboard and are used for text entry. • Function keys, when pressed together with the <Fn> key, enable special functions. • Cursor control keys move the cursor. [...]

Using the Keyboa rd 17 While the numeric functions are enabled, you can temporarily return a key to its normal function by press ing <Fn> and the key. For example to type the let ter m, press <Fn+m>. To turn the numeric keypad off, press <Num Lock> again. The Num Lock light turns off. Using Special Function Keys The <Fn> key[...]

18 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual When you press a function key combination, the system sound is temporarily muted. <Fn+F6> Gauge: Displays the battery gauge in the upper-right co rner of your screen. This key combination functions only when the computer is run from the battery. To disable or enable the power-management settings in Syst em[...]

Using the Touchpad 19 Using the Touchpad Your computer is equipped with the SmartPoint™ tou chpad, which is an integrated-pointing device that is used to perfo rm standard mouse functions (Figure 8). The touchpad is an advanced and reliable pointing device that works with a touch of your finger. Figure 8. Touchpad To use the touchpad: • Place y[...]

20 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual You can also use the buttons at the bott om of the touchpad in the same way you use standard mouse buttons. You can adjust the way the tou chpad operates through the Synaptics TouchPad software. To open the software, click on the icon showing a touchpad that is located in the right corner of the Windows taskbar.[...]

Reading the Syst em Status Li ghts 21 Reading the System Status Lights System Status lights show the status of computer functions. The lights appear on the left edge of the computer (Fig ure 9). Table 2 describes the meaning of the lights . Figure 9. System Status Lights 3754-1.bk : 3754-2.fm Page 21 Wednesday, July 30, 1997 2:33 PM[...]

22 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Table 2. System Status Lights Icon Function of Light Power light: Light is on when the computer’s power is on. The light blinks once every second wh en the battery is low. Th e light blinks once every three seconds when the system is in rest mode. Num Lock light: Light is on when the embedded numeric keypad is[...]

Connecting Peri pheral Devices 23 Connecting Peripheral Devices The connecto rs on your comput er enable you to attach peripheral devices to the computer (Figure 10). Turn off your computer before you connect a peripheral device. Connecting a peripheral device with your computer turned on may seriously damage the device or your computer. Figure 10.[...]

24 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Table 3. Connecting Peripheral Devices Icon Connector Audio-line-out jack: Connect stereo headphones or speakers to this jack. Speakers connected to this jack override th e onboard speakers. Microphone and audio-line-in jack: Connect an external microphone or an external audio source to this jack. A microphone c[...]

Connecting Peri pheral Devices 25 Connecting the Floppy Drive to the Floppy Connector Some Ascentia M computers ship from the factory with both a floppy drive and a CD-ROM drive included. These systems also ship with a floppy cable. Turn off your computer before you install or remove devices from the SmartBay or connect or disconnect the floppy cab[...]

26 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual The floppy cable must be inserted as shown in Figure 11. To insert the cable correctly, make sure that • The arrows printed on the cable connectors are both facing upward. • The cable bead is close to the computer, not the floppy drive. If the cable does not fit easily, do not force it. Make sure you have th[...]

Using the SmartBay 27 Using the SmartBay Your computer includes the SmartBay™, a peripheral bay t hat can hold one of the following devices: • Floppy drive: shipped installed in your computer. • CD-ROM drive: shipped with some Ascentia M computers. • Optional secondary hard drive: available as an option for your computer . Make sure that th[...]

28 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual To install a device in the SmartBay: 1. Turn the computer’s power off. 2. Place the device into the b ay. 3. Push the device in until it is flush with the chassis. 4. Push down on the SmartBay latch until the lat ch snaps into place. Your computer’s operating system automatically recognizes the device in the[...]

Using the Flop py Drive 29 Using the Floppy Drive The computer comes with a removable 1.44-MB, 3.5-inch, high- density floppy drive, which can read, write to, and format the following disks: • A high-density, 3.5-inch disk, which stores 1.44 MB of data. • A double-density, 3.5-inch disk, which stores 720 KB of data. The floppy drive in your por[...]

30 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual To remove a floppy disk, press the eject button on the floppy drive. The drive light on the computer is amber when the computer writes to or reads from a floppy disk. Do not remove a disk when this light is on. To protect the data on your floppy disks, follow these guidelines: • Keep disks away from excessive [...]

Using the CD-ROM Drive 31 Using the CD-ROM Drive Some Ascentia M computers ship from the factory with a CD-ROM drive included. The CD-ROM drive fits into the computer’s SmartBay. For informati on on installing the CD-ROM drive, see “Using the SmartBay” on page 27. Compact discs are designed so that you can easily insert one into the computer [...]

32 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual The name of the CD-ROM drive is the letter following the letter assigned to your last hard drive. For instance, if you have o ne hard drive with only one hard drive partition, the hard dr ive is drive C and the CD- ROM drive is drive D. If necessary, you can use the emergency eject button to open the CD-ROM driv[...]

Using the CD-ROM Drive 33 To remove the CD: 1. Click the CD Player button on the Windows taskbar t o open the CD Player windo w (Figure 15). Figure 15. CD Player Window 2. Click the Stop button in the CD Pl ayer Window. 3. Click the Eject button on the CD Player window or press the button on your CD-ROM driv e. The drive tray opens and you can remo[...]

34 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Using the Hard Drive Your computer includes a removable IDE hard drive. The IDE hard drive can store the data and programs your computer uses. The drive plugs into a connector on the system board. Although the storage capacity of hard drives varies according to model, any hard drive holds much more than a floppy[...]

Using the Hard Drive 35 Removing the Hard Drive To prevent loss of data and damage to the disk, do not remove the hard drive while the computer’s power is on and do not drop or jar the hard drive. To remove the hard drive from the computer: 1. If you are installing a new hard dri ve, backup the application and data files on the old hard drive bef[...]

36 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Installing a Hard Drive To install a hard drive: 1. Remove the old hard drive from the computer as described in the previous sect ion. 2. Slide the new drive into the hard drive compartment. Make sure the drive is pushed back as far as it will go. 3. Install the screw that holds the hard drive in place. 4. If yo[...]

Using the Battery 37 Using the Battery Your computer uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack for power when the AC adapter is not attached to an electrical outlet. Charging the Battery Your computer’s battery starts charging automatically when you connect the AC adapter to t he computer. If the compu ter is off, the batter y charges faster t[...]

38 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual All batteries eventually wear out and lose the ability to hold a charge. You may need to replace your battery pack after a year of average usage. Safely Using the AC Adapter and Batteries Follow these guidelines to safely use the AC adapter and batteries: • Turn your equipment off and unplug the AC adapter if [...]

Using the Battery 39 2. Close the LCD pane l, and turn the comput er over s o that the bottom of the unit faces up. 3. Slide the battery compartment cover straight up and off the computer (Figure 17). Figure 17. Removing the Battery Pack 4. Grasp the plastic tab on the b attery and pull the battery out of the compartment. To reinstall the battery p[...]

40 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Monitoring the Battery Charge Battery life is affected b y factors such as the power-mana gement settings in System Setup, the applications you use, and the brightness and contrast settings of the LCD. Under normal usage, the battery charge lasts approximately 2 hours. Battery life estimates are subject to varia[...]

Using the Battery 41 The gauge has three sections: • The top section shows you whether or not power management is turned on. An icon of a water faucet that is dripping water indicates that power management is enabled and the computer is using minimum battery power. An icon of a water faucet with a full stream o f water indicates that power manage[...]

42 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Battery Warnings Your computer gives you the following low-ba ttery warnings (Table 4). Table 4. Battery Warnings If you cannot run your computer from the bat tery and the battery will not charge when you attach the AC adapter, the problem may be that • The battery temperature is over 95° F (35° C) or below [...]

Using System Setup 43 Using System Setup The System Setup program enables you to configure your computer hardware and set security and power-savings options. The settings you choose are stored in battery- maintained memory (CMOS memory) that saves the information even when the computer’s powe r is turned off. When your computer is turned back on,[...]

44 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Starting System Setup To start System Setup, turn on your computer and then press <F2> when prompted. The System Setup screen appears. The top of the System Setu p screen has a menu bar with the selections listed in Table 5. Table 5. System Setup Menus To open a menu, use the left or right arrow k eys to s[...]

Using System Setup 45 A pointer symbol appearing to the left of a field indicates that you can open a submenu from this fiel d. A submenu contains additional options for a field. To open a submenu, highlight the field and press <Enter> . Use the same keys to enter values and move from field to field within submenus as you use with in menus. W[...]

46 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Press <Home> to display the first page, or press <End> to go to the last page. To exit the help window, press <Enter> or < Esc > . If your computer will not boot after you have changed settings in System Setup and exited the program, reboot a nd press <F2> to reenter System Setup. O[...]

Using System Setup 47 To configure a replacement or upgrade hard drive, move the cursor to select the IDE Adapter 0 field in the System Setup Main menu, and then press the <Enter> key. The IDE Adapte r submenu appears. Normally, you can use the Autotype Fixed Disk field in the submenu to automatically set the values f or the other fields in t[...]

48 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual user documentation or look on the drive to obtain this information. If no drive is installed or if you are removing a d rive and not replacing it, select None . Cylinders: C onfigures the number of cylinders f or the hard drive. Refer to your drive’s user documentation or look on the drive to obtain this infor[...]

Using System Setup 49 Ultra DMA Transfer Mode: Enables the h ard drive to use ultra DMA transfer mode to transf er data between the drive and system memory. The default setting is Disabled . Transfer Mode : Selects the me thod for transfe rring data between the h ard drive and system m emory. Refer to your drive’s user documentation to specify th[...]

50 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual System Memory: Displays the amount of conventional memory detected by your computer during startup. This field is for reference only. Extended Memory: Displays the amount of extended memory detected by your computer during startup. This field is for reference only. Advanced Menu Selecting Advanced from the menu [...]

Using System Setup 51 COM2 Mode: Sets the mode for the COM 2 port. You can use the COM2 port for the internal in frared device. Options are FIR (fast infrared) (default) and Disabled . If you choose the option FIR , you can set an additional field, FIR Channel, to DMA 0, DMA 1, or DMA 3 (default) . LPT port: Sets the base address and IRQ line for t[...]

52 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Plug & Play O/S: Enables you to set the parameters for peripheral ports. Set this field t o No if your computer uses an operating system that is not plug and play compliant, such as Windows NT. With an operating system that is not plug and play compliant, you manually change the settings for the COM1, COM2, [...]

Using System Setup 53 System backup reminder: Enables the computer to prompt you to backup your files. The prompt appears each time you start your computer or reboot u ntil you respond with Y (yes). The options for this field are • Daily : Every day when you start your computer for the first time, the prompt appe ars. • Weekly: When you start y[...]

54 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual field to Turbo, the microprocessor and hard drive run at full speed, unless affected by other power-savings settings. If you set this field to Non-Turbo, the microprocessor and the hard drive run at slow speed, unless there is user input or devi ce activity. Standby Timeout: Sets the pe riod of computer inactivi[...]

Using System Setup 55 Resume On Time: Enables the computer to resume oper ation from rest mode at a scheduled time. The computer will resume only if the Rest Mode field is set to Power On Suspend, not Save To Disk. If you set this field to On , you must set the Resume Time field as well. The default setting is Off. Resume Time: Specifies the time f[...]

56 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Exit Menu Select Exit from the menu bar to display the Exit menu. Pressing <Esc> does not exit this menu. You must select one of the options from this menu or a menu bar item to exit this menu. Discard Changes & Exit: Exits System Setup without saving your changes. When you select this item and press &[...]

Using System Securit y 57 Using System Security This section describes the security options provided with your computer. Creating a Password The computer password prevents unaut horized access to the computer. You can set security fields in System Setup so that a password is needed at startup or to a ccess the hard disk boot sector. If you have set[...]

58 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Deleting a Password To delete the password: 1. At startup, press <F2> to open System Setup. 2. Type your password when prompted and press <Enter>. 3. Use the <Right Arrow> key to select the Security menu. 4. Press <Enter> at the Set Password field. The Set Password dialog box appears. 5. [...]

Using System Securit y 59 Locking the Hard Drive Boot Sector After you set a password, you can lo ck the hard drive boot sector to protect against viruses or alterations. To lock the hard drive boo t sector, select the option Write protect in the Fixed disk boot sector field in System Setup. For more information about the Fixed disk boot sector fie[...]

60 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Using Power Management Options Your computer includes power-management options that can help the battery charge last longer and extend the life of the battery, LCD panel, and other components. Power-management options slow down or shut off system components when the components ar e not bein g used. Power managem[...]

Using Power Manag ement Options 61 Standby Mode The Standby Timeout field in System Se tup enables you to specify the time period that the compu ter can remain idle (no user input or disk activity) before the computer ente rs standby mode. You can disable this option by selecting Off , or you can specify a Standby Timeout delay time of from 1 to 16[...]

62 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual some power while in this mode. If you leave your computer in power on suspend for several days without the AC adapter attached, the computer’s battery will discharge. • Save To Disk : This mode provides the grea test power- saving capabilities by essentially turning off your computer. In this mode, all syste[...]

Using Power Manag ement Options 63 • Do not try to resume to full-power mode using battery power if the battery charge is low. If the battery charge is too low, the system may not be able to resume fully. Plug in the AC adapter if your computer cannot resume normal operation because of a low battery charge. When your computer is in power on suspe[...]

64 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Creating a Save to Disk Partition The hard drive shipped in your computer has a save to disk partition in which data from system and video memory is stored during save to disk mode. The partition is the maximum size needed for your computer and supports system memor y of 128 MB. You can add memory modules to you[...]

Creating a Save to Di sk Pa rtition 65 After you complete the ab ove procedures, use PHDI SK to create a save to disk partition: 1. Turn off the computer, remove your old hard drive, and insert the new one into your compute r. (See “Using the Hard Drive” on page 34 for instructions.) 2. If you have a CD-ROM dr ive, install the CD-ROM dr ive in [...]

66 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual 10. Do one of the following to reinstall your applications: • If you have a CD-ROM drive, insert your Restore CD in the CD-ROM drive and sta rt the computer. Follow the directions included with the restore CD to restore your operating system and factory- installed programs. • If you do not have a CD-ROM driv[...]

Changing the Vide o Configuration 67 Changing the Video Configuration Your computer includes either a DS-STN screen or a TFT screen. DS-STN screens use less energy than TFT screens but are not as sharp or bright. TFT screens, or active-matrix displays, consume more power but create sharper and brighter images. The capabilities of the screen plu s t[...]

68 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Table 7 lists the basic video mo de capabilities and maximum colors supported by your computer. Table 7. Video Driver Capabilities All these video modes can be displayed on an external monitor. However, if you disconnect an external monitor that was attached to your comp uter and then star t the computer , the L[...]

Changing the Vide o Configuration 69 4. Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties window appears. 5. Click the Settings tab. The Settings screen appears. 6. Click the Advanced Properties butt on. The Advanced Properties screen appe ars. 7. Click the Monitor tab. 8. Click the Change button. Th e Select Device screen appears. 9. Select a [...]

70 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Working with PC Cards By installing PC Cards, you can add functions to your portable computer similar to those found on add-in boards for desktop computers. Available PC Cards incl ude: • Input/output, su ch as modem, network, pag er, video capture, and SCSI cards. • Storage, such as hard drive cards. • Co[...]

Working with PC Cards 71 • Keep dust, magnets, and static electricity away from PC Cards. • When a card is not in use, carry it in its protective carrying case. • Some PC Cards include cables that e xtend from the back of the cards. Be careful not to bend or put excessiv e strain on these cables. Using PC Cards You can install PC Cards while [...]

72 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual configuring a PC Card in Windows 95, see the index entry PC card in the Windows Help. Windows 95 also handles power management for PC Cards. To remove a PC Card from your computer if your operating system is Wi ndows 95: Use the following procedures to remove PC Cards, or you may lose data that is being stored t[...]

Watching Vide o 73 Watching Video The SoftPEG™ MPEG software on your computer enables you to run full-motion video movies or games that are formatted under MPEG-1, Video CD, and CD-I standards. To start a video compact disc: 1. Insert a compact disc into the CD-ROM drive. (See “U sing the CD-ROM Drive” on page 31 for more information.) 2. Ope[...]

74 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual The SoftPEG contro ller appears (Figure 20). Figure 20. SoftPEG Controller 3. Press the Load button (butto n 4 in Figure 20) on the controller. The video begins to play. 4. Use the other buttons on the controller as needed while watching the video. Table 8 lists the bu ttons that are numbered in Figure 20 and gi[...]

Watching Vide o 75 Table 8. SoftPEG Controller Buttons When you place the cursor over a button, the name of the button appears followed by a key that you can use to activate the button instead of using the touchpad. For more information on the Soft PEG video player, see the README file in the SoftPEG folder. Number in Figure Function of Button 1 Po[...]

76 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Updating the System BIOS Your computer uses flash BIOS, which enables you to update the BIOS easily from a floppy disk. If AST releases a BIOS update for your computer, copy the disk image to your hard drive from • The AST Online! BBS: See the customer service reference that accompanied your computer for infor[...]

Updating the System BIOS 77 To perform the BIOS update: 1. Attach the AC adapter to your computer, plug the adapter into an electrical outlet, and turn on the computer. 2. Copy the BIOS disk image from the BB S or the AST Web site onto your computer’s hard drive. 3. Insert a formatted floppy disk in the floppy drive. 4. Click the Start button on [...]

78 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual About Drivers and System Resources This section gives you basic information about drivers and system IRQs. Drivers A driver is a program that enables the ope rating system to work with a hardware device. Your computer includes drivers for the audio, video, infrared, touchpad, keyboard, CD-ROM drive, hard drive, [...]

About Drivers and System Resources 79 The IRQs that are used by your computer are listed in Table 9. Table 9. Ascentia M Series IRQs In Windows 95, you can configure a device so that the device is disabled when you connect your computer to a docki ng station but enabled when the com puter is not connected to t he docking station. With this configur[...]

80 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Troubleshooting If you ever have difficulty running your computer, follow these steps: 1. Consult the following sections for advice on how to handle system problems. 2. If you have an int ernet connection, visit the AST Web si te: http://www.ast.com Updates on your system and other AST products are periodically [...]

Troubleshootin g 81 the External Cache setting in the Memory Cache field of System Setup. Nothing appears on the LCD panel when you turn on the computer. Adjust the brightness and contrast on an DS-STN LCD or the brightness on a TFT LCD. Are you using an external monitor? If so, press <Fn+F5> to return to the LCD panel. Nothing appears on the[...]

82 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Certain software programs “hang” during operations when there is no interaction with the keyboard or peripheral devices. Your computer may be in st andby or rest mode. Tap the touchpad to res ume from standby or press the power butt on to resume from rest. A serial or parallel device attached to a serial or [...]

Troubleshootin g 83 Infrared Problems If you are unable to transfer files with the infrared port, check the following: • The receiving device must b e positioned properly. There must be no more than three feet of distance between th e computer’s infrared port and the receiving infrared device. • The sending and receiving de vices need to be o[...]

84 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Using Options You can order the following options for your Ascentia M computer from your authorized AST resel ler: • An extra AC adapter. • An auto/airline adapter that enables you to charge the computer’s battery and operate the computer wh ile in an automobile or an airplane. • An extra batter y pack. [...]

Using Options 85 Auto/Airline Adapter The auto/airline adapter enables you to power your computer and charge the computer battery • In an automobile, through the +12 vo lt cigarette lighter socket. • In an airplane that is equipped with a port able computer connector (Figure 21). Figure 21. Auto/Airline Adapter Portable computer connectors on a[...]

86 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Contact your airline for information on using an airline adapter on your flight. To use the adapter: 1. Plug the adapter cable into the AC adapter connector on the computer. 2. Connect the adapte r to the cigarette lighter socket or the portable computer connector on the airplane. The light on the adapter is gre[...]

Using Options 87 When you connect the adapter to the cigarette lighter or the airplane connector, the bat tery starts charging immediately. To prevent loss of data and possible damage to the computer, unplug the auto/airline adapter when starting and stopping th e automobile engine. Battery Pack You can order another lithium-ion battery pack for yo[...]

88 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Memory Modules You can increase system memory by installing optional memory modules. You can install 8, 16, 32, or 64 MB modules. Install memory modules in any combination of sizes. To avoid possible system problems, use only AST-approved memory modules in your computer. Before You Install Memory To prevent pers[...]

Using Options 89 Figure 22. Removing the Memory Module Compartment Door 3. Grasp the edge of the door and pull the door o ff the chassis. 4. Remove installed modules if necessary: When removing modules, pull on the plastic portion of the connector slots tabs only. Do not pull on the metal part of the tabs, or you may damage the tabs. a. Pull the ta[...]

90 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Figure 23. Removing a Memory Module b. Hold the memory module by the edges and pull it forward out of the compartment . 5. Align the connector on the memory module with the connector of the sl ot. 6. Push the memory module into th e slot at a slight angle until the connectors are fully engaged (Figure 24). 7. Pu[...]

Using Options 91 Figure 24. Installing a Memory Module 8. Align the memory module compartment door with the compartment and push the door down until it snaps into place. 9. Reinstall the screw you removed in step 2. 10. Turn on the computer and perform a comple te POST to check the memory integrity. 3754-1.bk : 3754-3.fm Page 91 Wednesday, July 30,[...]

92 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Battery Cradle The external battery cradle enables you to charge the computer battery outside of the computer. To charge a battery in the bat tery cradle: 1. Insert the batter y into the cradle, contact end first (Figure 27): Figure 25. Battery Cradle 2. Attach the comp uter AC adapter to the conn ector at the b[...]

Using Options 93 Do not leave the battery cradle plugged into an electrical outlet for a long time if the battery cradle will not be used. Also do not store batteries in the battery cradle for a long time. Otherwise the battery or the battery cradle may be damaged. External Numeric Keypad The external numeric keypad has the same features as the int[...]

94 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Specifications Table 10 gives the specifications for your computer. Table 10. System Specifications Dimension System with 12.1 DS-STN LCD Width 12.2 in (30.9 cm) Height 1.7 in (4.2 cm) Length 9.5 in (24.1 cm) Weight (with floppy drive and battery installed) 6.4 lb (2,920 g) LCD viewing area (12.1 DS-STN) 9.8 x 7[...]

Specifica tions 95 Relative humidity (nonconde nsing), storage 15–95% Altitude, operating 0 to 8,000 ft (0 to 2,348 m) Altitude, storage 0 to 40,000 ft (0 to 12,192 m) Shock, operating 10 G for 11 ms half sine Shock, nonoperating 60 G for 11 ms half sine Lithium-Ion Battery Weight 0.925 lb (420 g) Nominal open circuit voltage 10.8 Vcc Capacity, t[...]

96 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual Abbreviations Your Ascentia M documentation uses the following abbreviations: A . . . . . . . . . . Amperes AC . . . . . . . . Alternating current APM . . . . . . . Advanced Power Management ATA . . . . . . . AT attachment (refers to the hard-drive interface in an AT-compatible compu ter) BBS . . . . . . . Bulle[...]

Abbreviation s 97 hr . . . . . . . . . hour Hz . . . . . . . . . Hertz IDE . . . . . . . . Integrated drive electronics in . . . . . . . . . Inches I/O . . . . . . . . Input/Output IrDA . . . . . . . Infrared Data Association IRQ . . . . . . . Interrupt request line Kb/sec . . . . . Kilobits per second KB . . . . . . . . Kilobytes kg . . . . . . . [...]

98 Ascentia M Series User’s Manual SVGA . . . . . Super video graphics array TFT . . . . . . . . Thin-film transistor USB . . . . . . . Universal serial bus V . . . . . . . . . . Volt VAC . . . . . . . Voltage alternating current VCC . . . . . . . Voltage collector current VDC . . . . . . . Voltage direct current VGA . . . . . . . Video graphics [...]

Glossary 99 Glossary AC adapter The AC (or alternating current) adapter regulates current coming into your computer from the wall outlet. The current at the wall outlet is alternating current and needs to be changed by the adapter to DC ( direct current) befor e your computer can use it for power. BIOS BIOS stands for basic input/output s ystem. Th[...]

100 Ascenti a M Series User’s Ma nual average time required for the microprocessor to get t he data it needs from the main memory by storing recently accessed data in the cache. CardBus CardBus technology enables the compute r to use 32-bit PC Cards. Hardware in the computer and the Windows 95 operating system provid e support for the 32-bit card[...]

Glossary 101 A cache is a buffer for transferring disk sectors in and out of RAM. Data stored in a disk cache is a copy of data already stored on the physical disk. DMA (direct memory access) A method of transferring data from a device to memory without having the data pass throu gh the microprocessor. Using DMA can speed up system pe rformance. DS[...]

102 Ascenti a M Series User’s Ma nual services. The number of IRQs is limite d by industry standards. LCD (liquid-crystal display) The LCD screen on your computer differs from the display screen of a desktop monitor. Most desktop monitors use CRT (cathode-ray tube) displays, which work by moving an electron beam across phosphor dots on the back o[...]

Glossary 103 though they are connected. An LCD screen displ ays thousands or millions of pixels. Plug and Play A plug and play operating system automatically configures computer components to work with your system. With this type of operating system, you normally do not need to set jumpers on devices or set memory addres ses or IRQs. POST POST stan[...]

104 Ascenti a M Series User’s Ma nual Sector Also known as disk sector . The portion of a track that is numbered and can hold a specified number of characters (usually 512 KB). Shadow RAM A write-protected area of RAM that contains a copy of the BIOS. As the computer boots, the BI OS is copied from its permanent location in ROM t o RAM. The BIOS [...]

Recording the Comp uter Hardware Configura tion 105 Recording the Computer Hardware Configuration In the spaces provided, write the Syst em Setup program settings. If your computer ever loses configuration information, you can enter the information from this section into System Setup to restore it. MAIN MENU Diskette A: Not Installed 1.44 MB 3 1/2?[...]

106 Ascenti a M Series User’s Ma nual IDE Adapter 1: Type:__________Cylinders:_______ ___ Heads:__________Sectors/Track:__________ Write Precomp:________Multi-Sector Transfers:_____ LBA Mode Control: Enabled Disab led 32 Bit I/O: Enabled Disabled Ultra DMA Transfer Mode: Enabled Disabled Transfer Mode: Standard Fast PIO 1 Fast PIO 2 Fast PIO 3 Fa[...]

Recording the Comp uter Hardware Configura tion 107 ADVANCED MENU INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS SUBMENU COM1 port: Disabled Auto 2E8, IRQ 3 3E8, IRQ 4 2F8, IRQ 3 3F8, IRQ 4 COM2 port: Disabled Auto 2E8, IRQ 3 3E8, IRQ 4 2F8, IRQ 3 3F8, IRQ 4 COM2 Mode: FIR Disabled FIR Channel: DMA 0 DMA 1 DMA 3 LPT port: Disabled Auto 378, IRQ 7 278, IRQ 7 298, IRQ 7 378[...]

108 Ascenti a M Series User’s Ma nual SECURITY MENU Password is: Disabled Enabled Password on boot: Enabled Di sabled Fixed disk boot sector: Normal Write Prot ect System backup reminder: Daily Weekly Monthly Disabled Virus check remind er: Daily Weekly Monthly Disabled POWER SAVINGS MENU Battery Power Saving Mode: Turbo Non-Turbo Standby Timeout[...]

Index 109 Numerics 16-bit PC Card 70 32 Bit I/O field 48 32-bit PC Card 70 A Abbreviations used in documentation 96 AC adapter 99 optional 84 using 7 Adjusting brightness 10 , 18 contrast 10 , 18 display 10 Advanced menu , System Setup 50 AST Web site 4 , 80 Autotype Fixed Disk field 47 Auto/airline adapter 85 B Backing up software 10 Backlight key[...]

110 Ascenti a M Series User’s Manual Color depth 69 COM port 100 COM1 port fiel d 50 COM2 Mode fiel d 51 COM2 port fiel d 50 Compact discs, playing 32 Configuring computer 43 video features 68 Connecting peripheral devices 23 Contrast adjustment keys 10 , 18 Contrast, adjusting 10 , 18 Conventional memory 100 Creating password 57 save to disk par[...]

Index 111 G Get Default Value s field 56 Glossary 99 H Hard drive 101 configuring 46 installing 36 locking the boot sector 59 optional drive for SmartBay 87 partitions 34 removing 35 using 34 Hardware specifications 94 Heads field 48 I Icons port 24 status lights 21 IDE Adapter 0 field 46 IDE Adapter 1 field 46 Infrared, troubleshooting 83 Installi[...]

112 Ascenti a M Series User’s Manual O Online manual, accessing 1 Operating system 102 Options 84 P Passive matrix LCD 101 Password creating 57 deleting 58 Password is field 52 Password on boot field 52 PC Card 16-bit 70 32-bit 70 CardBus 70 , 100 definition 10 2 installing 71 maintaining 70 removing 71 slot 102 troubleshooting 82 types 70 using [...]

Index 113 Screen Expansion field 51 Scroll Lock keys 18 light 22 Sector 104 Sectors/Track field 48 Security features 57 Security menu, System Setup 52 Set Password field 52 Shadow RAM (random access memory) 104 Shutting down the computer 11 SmartBay, using 27 SoftPEG MPEG video player 73 Software backing up 10 documentation 4 Speed keys 17 Spills, [...]

114 Ascenti a M Series User’s Manual keys 16 Microsoft Backup utility 64 Microsoft Crea te System Disks Utility 35 PC Card 72 playing compact discs 32 shutdown procedure 11 Write Precomp field 48 Z Zoomed video 70 , 104 62 3754-1.bk : 3754-1.ix Page 114 Wednesday, July 30, 1997 2:33 PM[...]

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