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Preface Notice The company reserves the right to revise this publication or to change its contents without notice. Information contained herein is for reference only and does not constitute a commitment on the part of the manufacturer or any subsequent vendor. They assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this publication nor are they in anyway responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use (or misuse) of this publication.
Preface R&TTE Directive This device is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of the R&TTE Direc- tive 1999/5/EC. This device will be sold in the following EEA countries: Austria, Italy, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Denmark, Lux- embourg, Finland, Netherlands, France, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Iceland, Sweden, Ireland, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, Poland, Slov- enia.
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Preface CE Marking This device has been tested to and conforms to the regulatory requirements of the European Union and has at- tained CE Marking. The CE Mark is a conformity marking consisting of the letters “CE”. The CE Mark applies to products regulated by certain European health, safety and environmental protection legislation.
Preface FCC Statement (Federal Communications Commission) You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible 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 of the FCC Rules.
Preface FCC RF Radiation Exposure Statement: This Transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. This equipment complies with FCC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with a minimum distance of 20 centimeters between the radiator and your body.
Preface IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Follow basic safety precautions, including those listed below, to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and injury to persons when using any electrical equipment: Do not use this product near water, for example near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink or laundry tub, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool.
Preface Instructions for Care and Operation The notebook computer is quite rugged, but it can be damaged. To prevent this, follow these suggestions: Don’t drop it, or expose it to shock. If the computer falls, the case and the components could be damaged. Do not expose the computer Do not place it on an unstable Do not place anything heavy...
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Preface Avoid interference. Keep the computer away from high capacity transformers, electric motors, and other strong magnetic fields. These can hinder proper performance and damage your data. Follow the proper working procedures for the computer. Shut the computer down properly and don’t forget to save your work.
Preface Power Safety The computer has specific power requirements: • Only use a power adapter approved for use with this computer. • Your AC/DC adapter may be designed for international travel but it still requires a Power Safety steady, uninterrupted power supply. If you are unsure of your local power specifications, Warning consult your service representative or local power company.
Preface Polymer Battery Precautions Note the following information which is specific to polymer batteries only, and where applicable, this overrides the general battery precaution information overleaf. • Polymer batteries may experience a slight expansion or swelling, however this is part of the battery’s safety mecha- nism and is not a cause for concern.
Preface General Battery Precautions • Only use batteries designed for this computer. The wrong battery type may explode, leak or damage the computer. • Do not remove any batteries from the computer while it is powered on. • Do not continue to use a battery that has been dropped, or that appears damaged (e.g. bent or twisted) in any way. Even if the computer continues to work with a damaged battery in place, it may cause circuit damage, which may possibly result in fire.
Preface Cleaning Do not apply cleaner directly to the computer; use a soft clean cloth. Do not use volatile (petroleum distillates) or abrasive cleaners on any part of the computer. Servicing Do not attempt to service the computer yourself. Doing so may violate your warranty and expose you and the computer to electric shock.
Preface Travel Considerations Packing As you get ready for your trip, run through this list to make sure the system is ready to go: Check that the battery pack and any spares are fully charged. Power off the computer and peripherals. Close the display panel and make sure it’s latched.
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Preface On the Road In addition to the general safety and maintenance suggestions in this preface, and Chapter 8: Troubleshooting, keep these points in mind: Hand-carry the notebook - For security, don’t let it out of your sight. In some areas, computer theft is very common.
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Preface Developing Good Work Habits Developing good work habits is important if you need to work in front of the computer for long periods of time. Improper work habits can result in discomfort or serious injury from repetitive strain to your hands, wrists or other joints.
Preface Lighting Proper lighting and a comfortable viewing angle can reduce eye strain and shoulder and neck muscle fatigue. • Position the display to avoid glare or reflections from overhead lighting or outside sources of light. • Keep the display screen clean and set the brightness and contrast to levels that allow you to see the screen clearly. •...
Preface Contents Notice ................................I EuP-Standby and Off Mode Power Consumption Statement: ..............II FCC Statement ............................IV FCC RF Radiation Exposure Statement: ..................... V Instructions for Care and Operation ......................VII Power Safety ...............................IX Polymer Battery Precautions ........................X General Battery Precautions ........................XI Cleaning ..............................
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Preface LED Indicators ............................1-7 Hot Key Buttons & Keyboard ........................1-9 Keyboard ..............................1-10 Function Keys & Visual Indicators ......................1-11 Control Center ............................1-12 System Map: Front & Left Views ......................1-13 System Map: Right & Rear Views ......................1-14 System Map: Bottom View ........................1-15 Video Features ............................1-17 NVIDIA®...
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Preface TouchPad and Buttons/Mouse ........................2-9 One-Finger ...............................2-13 Multi-Finger .............................2-15 Additional ..............................2-18 Power Management Overview ..............................3-1 The Power Sources ............................3-2 AC/DC Adapter ............................3-2 Battery ................................3-2 Turning On the Computer ..........................3-3 Power Plans ...............................3-4 Power-Saving States ..........................3-6 Sleep ................................3-6 Hibernate ..............................3-7 Shut down ..............................3-7 Configuring the Power Buttons .........................3-8 Resuming Operation ..........................3-9 Power Conservation Modes ........................3-10...
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Preface New Battery .............................3-13 Recharging the Battery with the AC/DC Adapter ...................3-13 Proper handling of the Battery Pack ......................3-14 Battery FAQ .............................3-15 Drivers & Utilities What to Install ............................4-1 Module Driver Installation ........................4-1 Driver Installation ............................4-2 Manual Driver Installation .........................4-4 Updating/Reinstalling Individual Drivers ....................4-4 User Account Control ..........................4-5 Windows Security Message ........................4-5...
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Preface USB 3.0 ..............................4-7 MEI Driver ..............................4-7 Audio .................................4-7 Windows Experience Index ........................4-8 Optional Drivers ............................4-9 BIOS Utilities Overview ..............................5-1 The Power-On Self Test (POST) .......................5-2 Failing the POST ............................5-3 Fatal Errors ..............................5-3 Non-Fatal Errors ............................5-3 The Setup Utility ............................5-4 Entering Setup ............................5-4 Setup Screens .............................5-5 Main Menu ..............................5-6...
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Preface Bluetooth Power Setting (Advanced Menu > Advanced Chipset Control) ..........5-9 Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology (Advanced Menu) .................5-9 Intel Anti-Theft Technology (Advanced Menu ) ..................5-9 SATA Mode (Advanced Menu) ......................5-10 Boot Logo (Advanced Menu) ........................5-10 Power On Boot Beep (Advanced Menu) ....................5-10 Battery Low Alarm Beep (Advanced Menu) ...................5-10 Security Menu ............................5-11 Set Supervisor Password (Security Menu) ....................5-11...
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Preface Upgrading the System Memory (RAM) ....................6-13 Modules Overview ..............................7-1 Setting Up SATA RAID or AHCI Mode ....................7-2 AHCI Mode ...............................7-2 RAID ................................7-2 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Application ..................7-2 SATA RAID Setup Procedure (BIOS) ......................7-5 RAID Setup (Intel Matrix) .........................7-6 Intel Rapid Storage Technology ........................7-9 IRST Driver Installation ..........................7-9 RAID Volume Data Verification and Repair ..................7-12...
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Preface Connecting to a Wireless Network Using Intel® PROSet Wireless ............7-32 Intel® My WiFi Configuration ........................7-34 Windows Mobility Center ........................7-43 Intel® Wireless Display Application .......................7-44 Intel® WiDi Application Installation ......................7-45 Intel® Wireless Music Driver Installation ....................7-45 Intel® WiDi Application Configuration ....................7-46 Bluetooth Module ............................7-49 3rd Party Bluetooth (V4.0) Combo Driver Installation ................7-50 Intel Bluetooth Combo Driver Installation ....................7-51...
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Preface Troubleshooting Overview ..............................8-1 Basic Hints and Tips ..........................8-2 Backup and General Maintenance ......................8-3 Viruses ...............................8-4 Upgrading and Adding New Hardware/Software ..................8-5 Problems & Possible Solutions ........................8-7 Bluetooth Connection Problems ......................8-15 Intel® WLAN & Bluetooth Combo Modules ..................8-19 Installing Windows 7 (pre Service Pack 1) for RAID Systems with Advanced Format Disks ....8-20 Interface (Ports &...
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Preface S/PDIF-Out Jack ............................A-3 Security Lock Slot ............................A-3 USB 2.0/1.1 Ports .............................A-4 USB 3.0 Port .............................A-4 Control Center Overview ..............................B-1 Video Driver Controls Video Driver Installation ..........................C-1 Video (VGA) ............................C-1 NVIDIA Video (VGA) ..........................C-1 NVIDIA® Optimus™ Technology ......................C-2 Intel® Graphics & Media Control Panel ....................C-5 Display Devices &...
Quick Start Guide Chapter 1: Quick Start Guide Overview This Quick Start Guide is a brief introduction to the basic features of your computer, to navigating around the computer and to getting your system started. The remainder of the manual covers the following: •...
Quick Start Guide Advanced Users If you are an advanced user you may skip over most of this Quick Start Guide. However you may find it useful to refer to “Drivers & Utilities” on page 4 - “BIOS Utilities” on page 5 - 1 “Upgrading The Computer”...
Quick Start Guide Not Included Operating Systems (e.g. Windows 7) and applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet and database programs) have their own manuals, so please consult the appropriate manuals. Drivers If you are installing new system software, or are re-configuring your computer for a different system, you will need to install the appropriate drivers.
Quick Start Guide System Software Your computer may already come with system software pre-installed. Where this is not the case, or where you are re-configuring your computer for a different system, you will find that this manual refers to the Windows 7 operating system.
Quick Start Guide System Startup Remove all packing materials and place the computer on a stable surface. Securely attach any peripherals you want to use with the notebook (e.g. keyboard and mouse) to their ports. Attach the AC/DC adapter to the DC-In jack at the rear of the computer, then plug the AC power cord into an outlet, and connect the AC power cord to the AC/DC adapter.
Quick Start Guide System Map: LCD Panel Open Figure 1 - 2 LCD Panel Open Built-In PC Camera (Optional) Wireless Device Operation Aboard Power Button Aircraft GPU Button Speakers The use of any portable elec- Top Case LED tronic transmission devices Indicators) aboard aircraft is usually pro- hibited.
Quick Start Guide LED Indicators The LED indicators on the computer display helpful information about the current status of the computer. Icon Color Description Icon Color Description Number Lock is Activated Orange AC/DC Power is Plugged In Green Caps Lock is Activated Green The Computer is On Green...
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Quick Start Guide Icon Color Description Green UMA Mode Activated (GPU Button) Orange Optimus Mode Activated (GPU Button) Orange NVIDIA Discrete GPU (dGPU) Activated Green Intel Integrated GPU (iGPU) Activated White Hard Disk Activity The (optional) WLAN Module is Green Powered On The (optional) Bluetooth Module is Orange...
Quick Start Guide Hot Key Buttons & Keyboard Press the hot key buttons on the computer to toggle the appropriate function on/off. Other Keyboards Icon Color Description If your keyboard is dam- aged or you just want to Green UMA Mode Activated (GPU Button) make a change, you can use any standard USB...
Quick Start Guide Keyboard The keyboard has an embedded numerical keypad for easy numeric data input, and features function keys to al- low you to change operational features instantly. See Table 1 - 4, on page 1 - 11 for full function key combina- tion details.
Quick Start Guide Function Keys & Visual Indicators The function keys (F1 - F12 etc.) will act as hot keys when pressed while the Fn key is held down. Visual in- dicators (see the table below) are available when the Hot Key driver is installed. Keys Function/Visual Indicators Keys...
Quick Start Guide Control Center Press the Fn + Esc key combination, or double-click the icon in the notification area of the taskbar to toggle the Control Center on/off. The Control Center gives quick access to frequently used controls and en- ables you to quickly turn modules on/off.
Quick Start Guide System Map: Front & Left Views Figure 1 - 4 Front & Left Views 1. LED Indicators 2. Security Lock Slot 3. USB 2.0 Port 4. S/PDIF-Out Jack 5. Microphone-In Jack 6. Headphone-Out Jack 7. Optical Device ...
Quick Start Guide System Map: Right & Rear Views Figure 1 - 5 Right & Rear Views 1. Multi-In-1 Card Reader 2. 2 * USB 3.0 Ports 3. Combined eSATA/ USB 3.0 Port 4. HDMI-Out Port 5. RJ-45 LAN Jack 6.
Quick Start Guide System Map: Bottom View Figure 1 - 6 Bottom View Component Bay Cover Battery Primary HDD Bay Fan Outlet/Intake Battery Information Always completely dis- charge, then fully charge, a new battery before using it. Com- pletely discharge and ...
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Quick Start Guide Windows 7 Start Menu & Control Panel Most of the control panels, utilities and programs within Windows 7 (and most other Windows versions) are ac- cessed from the Start menu. When you install programs and utilities they will be installed on your hard disk drive, and a shortcut will usually be placed in the Start menu and/or the desktop.
Quick Start Guide Video Features ® NVIDIA Optimus Technology ™ NVIDIA Optimus technology is a seamless technology designed to get best performance from the graphics ® ™ system while allowing longer battery life, without having to manually change settings. When the computer is in Optimus Mode it will automatically switch between the integrated UMA (Unified Memory Architecture) GPU (iGPU) and the discrete GPU (dGPU) when required by the applications in use.
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Quick Start Guide To access Display (Control Panel) and Screen Resolution in Windows: Click Start and click Control Panel. Click Display (icon) - In the Appearances and Personalization category. Click Adjust Screen Resolution/Adjust resolution. Alternatively you can right-click the desktop and select Screen resolution. Use the dropbox to select the screen Resolution (Figure 1 - Click Advanced settings...
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Quick Start Guide To access the Intel(R) Graphics and Media Control Panel: Click Advanced settings (Figure 1 - 8 on page 1 - 18) in the Display Settings control panel in Windows. Click Graphics Properties (button) (Figure 1 - 9) in the Intel Graphics & Media Control Panel tab. Right-click the desktop and select Graphics Properties from the menu.
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Quick Start Guide To access the NVIDIA Control Panel: Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel (Figure 1 - 10). Double-click the icon (Figure 1 - 10) in the Windows control panel. Figure 1 - 10 - NVIDIA Control Panel 1 - 20 Video Features...
Quick Start Guide Power Options The Power Options (Hardware and Sound menu) control panel icon in Windows (see page 15) allows you to configure power management features for your computer. You can conserve power by means of power plans and configure the options for the power button, sleep button, computer lid (when closed), display and sleep mode from the left menu.
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Chapter 2: Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Overview Read this chapter to learn more about the following main features and components of the computer: • Hard Disk Drive • Optical Device • Multi-in-1 Card Reader •...
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Hard Disk Drive The hard disk drive(s) is(are) used to store your data in the computer. The hard Power Safety disk(s) can be taken out to accommodate other 2.5" serial (SATA) hard disk drives with a height of 9.5 mm.
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Optical Device There is a bay for a 5.25" optical (CD/DVD) device (12.7mm height). The actual de- Sound Volume vice will depend on the model you purchased (see “Storage” on page D - 4). The Adjustment optical device is usually labeled “Drive D:”...
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Handling CDs or DVDs Proper handling of your CDs/DVDs will prevent them from being damaged. Please follow the advice below to make sure that the data stored on your CDs/DVDs can be CD Emergency Eject accessed.
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse DVD Regional Codes To change the DVD regional codes: DVD Region Note Go to the Control Panel Double-click Device Manager (Hardware and Sound), then click the + next to DVD region detection is DVD/CD-ROM drives. device dependent, not Double-click on the DVD-ROM device to bring up the Properties dialog box, and OS-dependent.
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Multi-in-1 Card Reader The card reader allows you to use some of the latest digital storage cards. Push the Card Reader Cover card into the slot and it will appear as a removable device, and can be accessed in the same way as your hard disk (s).
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Audio Features You can configure the audio options on your computer from the Sound control THX TruStudio Audio panel in Windows, or from the Realtek HD Audio Manager icon in the notifi- Note that you will need to cation area/control panel (right-click the taskbar notification area icon to bring up install the THX TruStudio...
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Setup for Audio Recording To record audio sources on your computer at optimum quality follow the instruc- tions below: Click Start, and click Control Panel (or point to Settings and click Control Panel) and make sure you are in Classic View. Click Realtek HD Audio Manager (or right-click the taskbar icon and select Sound Manager).
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse TouchPad and Buttons/Mouse The TouchPad is an alternative to the mouse; however, you can also add a mouse to Mouse Driver your computer through one of the USB ports. The TouchPad buttons function in much the same way as a two-button mouse.
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Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Elan TouchPad Once you have installed the TouchPad driver (see “TouchPad” on page 4 - 7) you can configure the functions by double-clicking the TouchPad driver icon in the Mouse Driver notification area of the taskbar (or from Options in the ELAN tab in the Mouse If you are using an ex- control panel in Windows).
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Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse The Elan Smart-Pad control panel allows you to use a specific gesture (action) on the surface of the TouchPad to perform specific actions to manipulate documents, objects and applications. Click the menu tabs (One-finger, Multi-finger or Additional) and then the function button on the left to access the Configuration controls in the right panel.
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Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Click the Function Description button to get a detailed description of any func- tion. Click the Default button to set any of the functions to the default setting. Figure 2 - 9 Smart-Pad Control Panel with Function Description 2 - 12 TouchPad and Buttons/Mouse...
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse One-Finger Tapping The Smart-Pad supports one, two and three finger tapping, all configured from the Tapping control panel in the One-finger tab. You can configure two or three finger tapping to perform a number of different functions by selecting them from the drop- down menus provided.
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Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Drag and Drop You can select the different drag and drop methods from the menu provided. The ob- ject can be released when you lift the finger off the TouchPad, when you tap again or after a set time delay. Figure 2 - 12 Drag and Drop Edge Scroll...
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Multi-Finger Zooming Place two fingers on the TouchPad (for best results use the tips of the fingers) and slide them apart to zoom in, or closer together to zoom out. Figure 2 - 14 Zooming Scrolling The Two-Finger scrolling feature works in most scrollable windows and allows you to scroll horizontally and vertically.
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Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Rotation You can rotate objects by using a two-finger gesture. Touch and rotate using two fin- gers on the pad in the direction required. Alternatively place a finger down on the pad and rotate the other finger around it in a circular motion (clockwise or counter- clockwise).
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Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Fast Keys The Fast Keys gesture allows you to switch windows or open My Computer. Figure 2 - 18 Fast Keys My Computer (Fast Keys) Tap three fingers simultaneously on the pad and then move them up until you get to the My Computer window, you can then release the fingers from the pad.
Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Additional Palm Tracking This feature helps guard against accidental contact such as palms resting on the pad. Use the slider to adjust the sensitivity of the feature as appropriate. Figure 2 - 19 Palm Tracking Smart Motion Smart Motion makes it easier to drag objects across the screen or move the pointer across long distances.
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Storage Devices, Audio & Mouse Slow Motion Slow Motion allows you to slow down the cursor movement for more precise con- trol. Pressing and holding key (configured from the drop-down menu) will enable this feature. Figure 2 - 21 Slow Motion TouchPad and Buttons/Mouse 2 - 19...
Power Management Chapter 3: Power Management Overview OS Note Power management To conserve power, especially when using the battery, your computer power man- functions will vary slight- agement conserves power by controlling individual components of the computer ly depending on your (the monitor and hard disk drive) or the whole system.
Power Management The Power Sources The computer can be powered by either an AC/DC adapter or a battery pack. AC/DC Adapter Use only the AC/DC adapter that comes with your computer. The wrong type of AC/ DC adapter will damage the computer and its components. Attach the AC/DC adapter to the DC-In jack on the left of the computer.
Power Management Turning On the Computer Now you are ready to begin using your computer. To turn it on simply press the pow- Forced Off er button on the front panel. If the system “hangs”, When the computer is on, you can use the power button as a Stand by/Hibernate/ and the Ctrl + Alt + Del Shutdown hot-key button when it is pressed for less than 4 seconds (pressing and key combination doesn’t...
Power Management Power Plans The computer can be configured to conserve power by means of power plans. You Resuming can use (or modify) an existing power plan, or create a new one. Operation The settings may be adjusted to set the display to turn off after a specified time, and Table 3 - 1, on to send the computer into Sleep after a period of inactivity.
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Power Management Each Windows power plan will also adjust the processor performance of your ma- chine in order to save power. This is worth bearing in mind if you are experiencing any reduced performance (especially under DC/battery power). Choose High performance (you may need to click Show additional plans to view the High performance plan) for maximum performance when the computer is pow- ered from an AC power source.
Power Management Power-Saving States You can use power-saving states to stop the computer’s operation and restart where you left off. Win 7 uses the Sleep, Hibernate and Shut Down power-saving states. Sleep In Sleep all of your work, settings and preferences are saved to memory before the system sleeps.
Power Management Hibernate Hibernate uses the least amount of power of all the power-saving states and saves all of your information on a part of the hard disk before it turns the system off. If a power failure occurs the system can restore your work from the hard disk; if a power failure occurs when work is saved only to memory, then the work will be lost.
Power Management Configuring the Power Buttons The power/sleep button (Fn + F4 key combo) and closed lid may be set to send the Password computer in to a power-saving state. Click Choose what the power buttons do on Protection the left menu in Power Options to bring up the menu.
Power Management Resuming Operation You can resume operation from power-saving states by pressing the power button, or in some cases pressing the sleep button (Fn + F4 key combo). Closing the Lid If you have chosen to Power Status Icon Color To Resume...
Power Management Power Conservation Modes This system supports Energy Star power management features that place comput- ers (CPU, hard drive, etc.) into a low-power sleep modes after a designated period Power Conservation of inactivity. Adjust Power Conservation Modes from the Control Center: Modes The Energy Star setting Press the Fn + Esc key combination to toggle the Control Center on/off.
Power Management Battery Information Follow these simple guidelines to get the best use out of your battery. Low Battery Battery Power Warning Your computer’s battery power is dependent upon many factors, including the pro- When the battery is criti- grams you are running, and peripheral devices attached.
Power Management Conserving Battery Power • Use a power plan that conserves power (e.g Power saver), however note that this may have an affect on computer performance. Windows Mobility Center • Lower the brightness level of the LCD display. The system will decrease LCD The Windows Mobility brightness slightly to save power when it is not powered by the AC/DC adapter.
Power Management Battery Life Battery life may be shortened through improper maintenance. To optimize the life and improve its performance, fully discharge and recharge the battery at least once every 30 days. We recommend that you do not remove the battery yourself. If you do need to re- move the battery for any reason (e.g.
Power Management Proper handling of the Battery Pack • DO NOT disassemble the battery pack under any circumstances. • DO NOT expose the battery to fire or high temperatures, it may explode. Caution • DO NOT connect the metal terminals (+, -) to each other. Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly re- ...
Power Management Battery FAQ How do I completely discharge the battery? Use the computer with battery power until it shuts down due to a low battery. Don’t turn off the computer even if a message indicates the battery is critically low, just let the computer use up all of the battery power and shut down on its own.
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Power Management Click Change plan settings (after creating it) and click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings. Figure 3 - 9 Change Plan Settings / Change Advanced Power Settings 3 - 16 Battery Information...
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Power Management Scroll down to Battery and click + to expand the battery options. Choose the options below (click Yes if a warning appears): Figure 3 - 10 Power Options Advanced Settings - Battery • Low battery levels = 0% •...
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Power Management How do I fully charge the battery? When charging the battery, don’t stop until the LED charging indicator light changes from orange to green. How do I maintain the battery? Completely discharge and charge the battery at least once every 30 days or after about 20 partial discharges.
Drivers & Utilities Chapter 4: Drivers & Utilities Driver Installation & This chapter deals with installing the drivers and utilities essential to the operation or Power improvement of some of the computer’s subsystems. The system takes advantage of some newer hardware components for which the latest versions of most available op- When installing driv- erating systems haven’t built in drivers and utilities.
Drivers & Utilities Driver Installation Check the driver installation order from Table 4 - 1, on page 4 - 3 (the drivers must be installed in Insert the Device Drivers & Utilities + User’s Manual this order) which is the same as that listed in the disc and click Install Drivers (button), or Option Driv- Drivers Installer menu below.
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Drivers & Utilities Windows 7 SP1 Driver Page Windows 7 SP1 Driver Page Chipset Page 4 - 6 Setting Up SATA RAID or AHCI Mode Page 7 - 2 Video (VGA) Page 4 - 6 PC Camera Module Page 7 - 15 NVIDIA Video (VGA) Page 4 - 6 Wireless LAN Module...
Drivers & Utilities Manual Driver Installation Updating/Reinstalling Individual Drivers Click the Browse CD/DVD button in the Drivers In- If you wish to update/reinstall individual drivers it staller application and browse to the executable file in may be necessary to uninstall the original driver.To do the appropriate driver folder.
Drivers & Utilities User Account Control New Hardware Found If a User Account Control prompt appears as part of If you see the message “New Hardware Found” dur- the driver installation procedure, click Continue/Al- ing the installation procedure (other than when out- low, and follow the installation procedure as directed.
Drivers & Utilities Windows Experience Index After Video (VGA) driver has been installed, and the system restarted, the OS will automatically run the Windows Update "Winsat.exe" to rate the performance. If you have re- After installing all the drivers make sure you enable Win- started the system during this time then follow the in- dows Update in order to get all the latest security up- structions below to update the information.
Drivers & Utilities Optional Drivers See the pages indicated in Table 4 - 1, on page 4 - 3 for the driver installation procedures for any modules in- cluded in your purchase option. Models A & B Figure 4 - 3 - Optional Drivers Installer Screen Note that you need to install both the WLAN &...
BIOS Utilities Chapter 5: BIOS Utilities BIOS Screens Overview Note that BIOS This chapter gives a brief introduction to the computer’s built-in software: screens pictured these pages are intend- Diagnostics: The POST (Power-On Self Test) ed for guidance in set- ting up your system’s BIOS.
BIOS Utilities The Power-On Self Test (POST) If you enable the Boot-time Diagnostic Screen in the Setup Utility, each time you turn on the computer the system takes a few seconds to conduct a POST, including a quick test of the on-board RAM (memory). As the POST proceeds, the computer will tell you if there is anything wrong.
BIOS Utilities Failing the POST Errors can be detected during the POST. There are two categories, “fatal” and “non- fatal”. Fatal Errors These stop the boot process and usually indicate there is something seriously wrong with your system. Take the computer to your service representative or authorized service center as soon as possible.
BIOS Utilities The Setup Utility The Aptio Setup Utility tells the system how to configure itself and manage basic BIOS Settings features and subsystems (e.g. port configuration). Warning Entering Setup Incorrect settings can cause your system to To enter Setup, turn on the computer and press F2 (give the system a few seconds malfunction.
BIOS Utilities Setup Screens The following pages contain additional advice on portions of the Setup. Along the top of the screen is a menu bar with menu headings. When you select a heading, a Setup Menus new screen appears. Scroll through the features listed on each screen to make chang- Setup menus es to Setup.
BIOS Utilities Main Menu Figure 5 - 2 Main Menu System Time & Date (Main Menu) The hour setting uses the 24-hour system (i.e., ØØ = midnight; 13 = 1 pm). If you can change the date and time settings in your operating system, you will also change these settings.
BIOS Utilities SATA Port # (Main Menu) Pressing Enter opens the sub-menu to show the configuration of a optical Device/ HDD on the computer’s SATA Ports. System/Extended Memory (Main Menu) This item contains information on the system memory, and is not user configurable. The system will auto detect the amount of memory installed.
BIOS Utilities Advanced Menu Figure 5 - 3 Advanced Menu Advanced Chipset Control (Advanced Menu) The sub-menu here allows you to adjust the Bluetooth Power Setting . 5 - 8 Advanced Menu...
BIOS Utilities Bluetooth Power Setting (Advanced Menu > Advanced Chipset Control) You can adjust the Bluetooth module power setting to your preference. The default setting (Disabled) will see the Bluetooth module powered off when the system is started up or restarted. Enabling the power setting will have the module retain the last power status (on or off) before any restart or shut down.
BIOS Utilities SATA Mode (Advanced Menu) You can configure SATA (Serial ATA) control to operate in IDE (native/compati- ble), AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) or RAID (Redundant Array of In- SATA Mode dependent disks) modes from this menu. The SATA Mode should be set BEFORE Selection installing an operating system, and after you have backed up all necessary files and If you have installed the...
BIOS Utilities Security Menu Security Menu The changes you make here affect the access to the Setup utility itself, and also access to your machine as it boots up after you turn it on. These settings do not affect your machine or network passwords which will be set in your...
BIOS Utilities Note: To clear existing passwords press Enter and type the existing password, then press Enter for the new password (without typing any password entry) and Enter again to confirm the password clearance. Password Warning Note: You can only set the user password after you have set the supervisor pass- If you set a boot pass- word.
BIOS Utilities Boot Menu Figure 5 - 5 Boot Menu BIOS Screens Note that BIOS screens pictured these pages are intend- ed for guidance in set- ting up your system’s BIOS. BIOS versions are sub- ject to constant change and revision, therefore your computer’s actual When you turn the computer on it will look for an operating system (e.g.
BIOS Utilities Boot Option Priorities (Boot Menu) Use the arrow keys to move up and down the menu and press Enter, then select the item in the Boot Option # using the arrow keys, and press Enter again to set the item as the appropriate boot priority.
BIOS Utilities Exit Menu Figure 5 - 6 Exit Menu Click Save Changes and Reset to save all changes made. Choosing to Discard Changes, or Exit Discarding Changes, will wipe out any changes you have made to the Setup. You can also choose to restore the original Setup defaults that will re- turn the Setup to its original state, and erase any previous changes you have made in a previous session.
Upgrading The Computer Chapter 6: Upgrading The Computer Overview This chapter contains information on upgrading the computer. Follow the steps out- Warranty Warning lined to make the desired upgrades. If you have any trouble or problems you can con- tact your service representative for further help.
Upgrading The Computer When Not to Upgrade These procedures involve opening the system’s case, adding and sometimes replac- ing parts.You should not perform any of these upgrades if: Power Safety Warning Before you undertake • Your system is still under warranty or a service contract upgrade proce- •...
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Upgrading The Computer Upgrading the Processor If you want to upgrade your computer by replacing the existing processor with a fast- er/new one you will need to contact your customer service representative. We rec- ommend that you do not do this yourself, since if it is done incorrectly you may damage the processor or mainboard.
Upgrading The Computer Removing the Battery If you are confident in undertaking upgrade procedures yourself, for safety reasons Warranty Warning it is best to remove the battery. Before removing the battery disconnect the AC/ Please check with your DC adapter from the computer first. service representative Turn the computer off, remove the AC/DC adapter and turn it over.
Upgrading The Computer Removing the Component Bay Cover Turn off the computer, and turn it over and remove the battery. Locate the component bay cover and remove screws Slide the cover in the direction of arrow , until the case markers line up.
Upgrading The Computer Replacing the Component Bay Cover Reinsert the component bay cover by placing it on the bottom case assembly and sliding it on to the case in the direction of arrow Make sure the case markers line up. Replace screws (Figure 6 - 2 on page 6 - Figure 6 - 3...
Upgrading The Computer Upgrading the Hard Disk Drive(s) The hard disk Drive(s) can be taken out to accommodate up to two other 2.5" serial HDD System Warning (SATA) hard disk drives with a height of 9.5mm (h) (see “Storage” on page D - Follow your operating system’s installation instructions, and install all necessary New HDD’s are blank.
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Upgrading The Computer Removing the Hard Disk from the Primary HDD Bay Turn off the computer, and turn it over and remove the battery (see page Remove screw Slide the HDD cover in the direction of arrow until the case markers line up. Lift the HDD cover out of the computer Figure 6 - 4 Primary HDD Cover...
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Upgrading The Computer Slide the hard disk assembly forward, and remove the assembly from the computer. Remove screws & and the primary HDD insulation plate HDD Insulation Plates Reverse the process to install a new disk and do not forget to reinstall the insulation plate.
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Upgrading The Computer Removing the Hard Disk from the Secondary HDD Bay Turn off the computer, and turn it over and remove the battery and component bay cover (see pages 6 - 4 & HDD Insulation Plates Remove screws &...
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Upgrading The Computer Remove screws & and separate the case bracket and the insulation plate Figure 6 - 7 Secondary Hard Disk Case Bracket & Insulation Plate Removal Reverse the process to install a new disk (pay careful attention to the orientation of the hard disk in the case bracket before tightening the screws).
Upgrading The Computer Removing the Optical Device Drive Turn off the computer, and turn it over and remove the battery and component bay cover (see pages 6 - 4 & Remove the screw at point , and use a screwdriver to carefully push out the optical device at point Figure 6 - 8 Removing the...
Upgrading The Computer Upgrading the System Memory (RAM) The computer has two memory sockets for 204 pin Small Outline Dual In-line (SO- DIMM) DDR III (DDR3) type memory modules (see “Memory” on page D - The total memory size is automatically detected by the POST routine once you turn on your computer.
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Upgrading The Computer Turn off the computer, and turn it over and remove the battery and component bay cover (see pages 6 - 4 & The memory sockets will be visible at point on the mainboard. Figure 6 - 9 RAM Module Location ...
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Upgrading The Computer The RAM module will pop-up, and you can remove it. Figure 6 - 11 Single Memory Module RAM Module Installation Removal If your computer has a single memory module, then insert the module into the Channel 0 (JDIMM1) socket. In this ...
Modules Chapter 7: Modules Overview This chapter contains the information on the various modules (some of which are optional) which may come with your computer, depending on the configuration purchased. If you are unsure please contact your service representative. The chapter includes information on the following: •...
Modules Setting Up SATA RAID or AHCI Mode AHCI Mode RAID Hard Disks Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is an interface specification that allows All hard disks in a RAID the storage driver to enable advanced serial ATA features such as Native Command should be identical (the same size and brand) in Queuing (for maximum hard disk efficiency and performance).
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Modules RAID Level Description Table 7 - 1 RAID Levels Identical drives reading and writing data in parallel to increase performance. RAID 0 RAID 0 implements a striped disk array and the data is broken into blocks and each block is written to a separate disk drive.
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Modules Prepare the following before setting up your serial ATA hard disks in RAID mode: The Microsoft Windows 7 OS DVD. A hard disk installed in the Primary HDD bay. A second (identical) hard disk installed in the Secondary HDD bay. The Device Drivers &...
Modules SATA RAID Setup Procedure (BIOS) Start-up your notebook computer and press <F2> to enter the BIOS. Go to the Advanced menu, select "SATA Mode" and press Enter (see page • Select “RAID Mode”. Press Esc and go to the Boot menu. Set the DVD-ROM Drive (make sure the Microsoft Windows 7 OS DVD is inserted) as the first device in the boot order from the Boot menu (see “Boot...
Modules RAID Setup (Intel Matrix) As the computer starts up press Ctrl + i to enter RAID configuration menu. Figure 7 - 1 Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM Recovery Level When selecting disks for the Recovery RAID level you will need to use the Tab key to select a Mas- ter disk, and the Space...
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Modules Press Enter and the system will select the physical disks to use (see sidebar for Recovery Level). Press Enter and select (if applicable) the Strip Size (best set to default). Recovery Level Press Enter and select the Capacity size (best set to default). Press Enter to select Create Volume.
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Modules 12. Make sure the Windows 7 OS DVD is in the DVD drive. and as the computer starts up it will automatically boot from the Windows 7 OS DVD (you will be prompted to press a key to boot from the DVD). Win7 (pre SP1) &...
Modules Intel Rapid Storage Technology The Intel Rapid Storage Technology application provides high-performance SATA and SATA RAID capabilities. Install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology application (after installing all necessary drivers in the correct order) to support your RAID system or SATA drive if set up in AHCI mode in the BIOS (see “SATA Mode (Advanced Menu)”...
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Modules Intel® Rapid Storage Technology for RAID Systems Intel® Rapid Storage Technology application displays status information on your RAID configuration. Run the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology application from the Intel item in the All Programs menu. When the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology application is launched the system will open the Status window.
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Modules Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Help If a hard drive member of a RAID volume is reported as “Degraded” or “Failed” it may be possible to recover the volume. If the volume cannot be restored then you Help will need to recreate the RAID volume and restore the data from a back up. Click the Help menu (or press F1) for instructions on how to recover or recreate RAID Vol- Click the Help (or press F1) menu button at the...
Modules RAID Volume Data Verification and Repair The RAID volume data verification process identifies any inconsistencies or bad data on a RAID 0 or RAID 1 volume. The table outlines what occurs for each RAID level: RAID Verify Verify & Repair Level Table 7 - 2 RAID 0...
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Modules Verifying and Repairing RAID Volume Data Before verifying the volume data you will need to initialize the volume. Run the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology application from the Intel item in the Programs/All Programs menu. Click Manage and click Advanced. Click Initialize and click Yes (button) to begin the process.
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Modules Click Advanced and click Verify, then click Verify (button) to begin the process. The completion percentage will be listed under Status (verifying and repairing). Figure 7 - 6 ® Intel Rapid Storage Technology Verify 7 - 14 Intel Rapid Storage Technology...
Modules PC Camera Module Before installing the driver, make sure the PC Camera is on. Use the Fn + F10 key Latest PC Camera combination, or Control Center button, to toggle power to the to the PC Camera mod- Driver Information ule.
Modules PC Camera Audio Setup If you wish to capture video & audio with your camera, it is necessary to setup the audio recording options in Windows. Click Start, and click Control Panel (or point to Settings and click Control Panel). Click Sound (Hardware and Sound).
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Modules Figure 7 - 7 Audio Setup for PC Camera Right-click 7 - 18 PC Camera Module...
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Modules Camera Application The camera application is a video viewer for general purpose video viewing and test- ing, and for capturing video files to .avi format. Run the camera application from the desktop shortcut (it is recommended that you set the capture file before the capture process - see below). Go to the Capture menu heading (if you wish to capture audio check “PC Camera Audio Setup”...
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Modules Reducing Video File Size Note that capturing high resolution video files requires a substantial amount of disk space for each file. After recording video, check the video file size (right-click the file and select Properties) and the remaining free space on your hard disk (go to My Computer, right-click the hard disk, and select Properties).
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Modules Eliminating Screen Flicker If you find that the video screen in the camera program is flickering, you can try to adjust the setting in the Video Capture Filter options. Latest PC Camera Driver Information Run the camera application from the desktop shortcut. Go to Options and scroll down to select Video Capture Filter..
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Modules Taking Still Pictures The camera application allows you to take still pictures. Snapshot Folder Run the camera application from the desktop shortcut. Go to Options and select Take Picture. The Snapshot folder’s The picture (in JPEG format) will be placed in the Snapshot folder on the default location is on the desktop.
Modules Wireless LAN Module If you have included an Intel® or 3rd Party Wireless LAN (or WLAN & Bluetooth Wireless Device combo) module in your purchase option, make sure that the WLAN module is on be- Operation Aboard fore installing the driver. Aircraft The use of any portable Use the Fn + F11 key combination, Control Center button or WLAN hot key button...
Modules 3rd Party WLAN Driver Installation (for WLAN Module) This information applies to 3rd party WLAN modules only. See over for informa- tion on installing the drivers for the 3rd party WLAN & Bluetooth combo modules. If you see the message “Found New Hardware” click Cancel to close the window. 1.
Modules 3rd Party WLAN Driver Installation (for Combo Module) This information applies to 3rd party WLAN & Bluetooth combo modules only. If you see the message “Found New Hardware” click Cancel to close the window. 1. Make sure the module is powered on, and then insert the Device Drivers &...
Modules Intel® WLAN Driver Installation For a standard Intel® WLAN driver installation and configuration choose the Typ- ical Installation below and use the Windows OS for Wireless LAN control (see overleaf). If you want to use Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection Utility as your WLAN interface, and/or add Intel®...
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Modules Custom Installation (for Intel® ProSet and/or Intel® MyWiFi Technology): Note that if you wish to install Intel® MyWiFi you will need to install Micro- soft.net Framework 4.0 (or later version) before installing the driver as per the procedure below. To get the Microsoft.net Framework file go to the Microsoft website, search for the file, Download it and then install it.
Modules Connecting to a Wireless Network in Windows 7 Make sure the Wireless LAN module is turned on. Network and Click the taskbar wireless icon , and then double-click an access point to con- Sharing Center nect to or click to Open Network and Sharing Center if you do not see a network you want to connect to in the taskbar menu (a list of options will appear allowing You can also use the Net- setting changes, and creating a new network).
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Modules You may need to enter a security key for any access point to which you are trying to connect. Click to select a network location (e.g. Home, Work or Public). Click “View or change settings in Network and Sharing Center” to access further options for the connection.
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Modules Click the taskbar icon to see any currently connected networks. To disconnect from the wireless network you can click the taskbar wireless icon click the active connection and then click Disconnect (button). Security Enabled Networks You should try to make sure that any network you are connecting to is a se- cure network.
Modules Intel Connecting to a Wireless Network Using ® PROSet Wireless (For Intel® WLAN Modules Only) Make sure the Wireless LAN module is on. Access the Intel® WiFi Connection Utility from the Start menu (Start > All Programs > Intel PROSet Wireless > WiFi Connection Utility). Click to select a network from the found list WiFi network access points, or click Refresh to update the list.
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Modules Click Connect to connect to the select WiFi network access point. If the access point is encrypted then you will need to enter the password and click Figure 7 - 14 Intel® PROSet/ Wireless WiFi Connection Utility (Connecting & Connected) You can turn WiFi On/WiFi Off from the button at the bottom of the Utility.
Modules Intel My WiFi Configuration ® (For Intel® WLAN Modules Only) Intel® My WiFi Technology (Intel® MWT) uses your WLAN to transform your Intel® My WiFi Help system into a WiFi Personal Area Network, and enables you wirelessly share your To get help on Intel®...
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Modules Intel® My WiFi Configuration You can configure the My WiFi settings as follows. Make sure the Wireless LAN module is on. Access the Intel® WiFi Connection Utility from the Start menu (Start > All Programs > Intel PROSet Wireless > Intel(R) My WiFi Dashboard), or click the icon in the notification area of the taskbar (or right-click and select Open Dashboard).
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Modules Intel® My WiFi Interface Help Wireless ON/OFF Configuration Options & Preferences Figure 7 - 16 Intel® My WiFi Utility - Interface Your Computer 7 - 36 Wireless LAN Module...
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Modules Intel® My WiFi Help Click the Help icon in the dashboard to bring up the Help menu and select and item from the Contents menu to obtain the help information. Help Figure 7 - 17 Intel® My WiFi Utility - Help Your Wireless LAN Module 7 - 37...
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Modules Preferences Click the Options icon and select Preferences to configure the options. Help Figure 7 - 18 Intel® My WiFi Utility - Preferences Your Computer 7 - 38 Wireless LAN Module...
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Modules Hotspot You can turn the computer into a hotspot to allow other devices to connect to it (and any locally connected devices), and also (if available) the internet. Click the Hotspot icon to turn the Hotspot on. The Hotspot settings tab shows the SSID and password (you will need to enter this information when accessing the hotspot from the client computer/device).
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Modules Finding Devices You can find any Nearby Devices by clicking the Refresh button in the main window. Click again at any time to update the list. If a lot of devices are found they will be listed on multiple pages and you can use the left or right buttons to turn the pages.
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Modules Favorite Devices The Favorite Devices tab is where you keep devices to which you connect most of- ten, and this is particularly useful in environments where many devices are listed nearby. A favorite device will display the icon To make any device a favorite just click to select it and select Add Favorite. Figure 7 - 20 Intel®...
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Modules Connect to a Device Click the device you want to connect to, and click the connect icon An invitation will be sent to the target device. The user must then accept the invitation. After the invitation is accepted the connection will be made. Use the Windows Network and Sharing Center to set permissions for viewing and sharing the resources on your computer with another connected computer.
Modules Windows Mobility Center The Windows Mobility Center control panel provides an easy point of access for information on battery status, power plans used and wireless device status etc. To access the Windows Mobility Center: Click Start, and click Control Panel (or point to Settings and click Control Panel).
Modules Intel Wireless Display Application ® The Intel ® Wireless Display Application (requires Intel® Centrino WLAN/ Compatible Combo module), in conjunction with a compatible video adapter (purchased sep- Adapters arately), allows you to display the contents of the notebook display on another dis- play (e.g.
Modules Intel WiDi Application Configuration ® Click Start > All Programs > Intel Corporation > Intel(R) Wireless Display > Intel(R) Wireless Display, or double click the icon on the desktop. Click I agree to the terms of this license (button). The application will scan for any connected compatible adapters (or you can click the Scan for available adapters button to enable Intel My WiFi Technology).
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Modules Click to select any detected adapters, and click Connect. The system will then prompt you to enter the 4-digit security code which will be displayed on the external TV Screen (or press the connect button on the wireless speaker adapter). Enter the code for the video adapter and click Continue.
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Modules You will then be prompted to enter a name for the video adapter and click Continue. Click Finished to complete the setup. Test Audio Adapter To verify a successful audio connection (for In- tel® Wireless Music), select the “Test your audio connection”...
Modules Bluetooth Module If your purchase option includes the Combination Wireless LAN & Bluetooth Wireless Device module (either Intel® or 3rd Party) then install the driver as instructed overleaf. Operation Aboard Use the Fn + F12 key combination (see Table 1 - 4, on page 1 - 11) or Control Cen- Aircraft...
Modules 3rd Party Bluetooth (V4.0) Combo Driver Installation Note this driver is only required for the 3rd Party combo Bluetooth and WLAN module version 2 (Bluetooth V4.0). 1. Before installing the driver make sure the Bluetooth module is powered on (use Fn + F12 key combination), then insert the Device Drivers & Utili- ties + User’s Manual disc into the CD/DVD drive.
Modules Intel Bluetooth Combo Driver Installation Note this driver is required only for the Intel combo Bluetooth and WLAN module only. High Speed Bluetooth Data Transfer 1. Before installing the driver make sure the Bluetooth module is powered The Combination Wire- on (use Fn + F12 key combination), then insert the Device Drivers &...
Modules Standard Bluetooth Configuration in Windows 7 For Intel and 3rd Party Driver Version 2 (Bluetooth V4.0) modules only. Setup your Bluetooth Device so the Computer Can Find it Add a Device Turn your Bluetooth device (e.g. PDA, mobile phone etc.) on. Click Start, and click Con- Make the device discoverable (to do this check your device documentation).
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Modules To Add a Bluetooth Device Access the Bluetooth Devices control panel and click Add a device. Double-click the device you want to pair with the computer. Pairing Options If a device has been pre- viously connected then the pairing option menu will appear when you at- tempt subsequent con- nections.
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Modules Enter the code into your Bluetooth enabled device and follow any on-screen instructions to complete the pairing. Figure 7 - 27 Pairing Codes Pairing Code Example The example outlined here shows a connection to a mobile device. Other devices e.g. computers, may have a slightly different connection proce- dure, and may require you to confirm a pairing code is correct on both devices.
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Modules To Change Settings for the Bluetooth Device Click the notification area icon and select Show Bluetooth Devices. Right-click on the device you want to change and click Properties to: Bluetooth Help • Change the name of the device (click Bluetooth, type a new name and click OK). •...
Modules THX TruStudio Pro Audio Note that you will need to install the THX TruStudio audio application in order to THX TruStudio & get maximum audio performance. The THX TruStudio AP to allows you to config- Speaker ure the audio settings to your requirements for the best performance in games, music Configuration and movies.
Modules THX TruStudio Pro Activation On the first run of THX TruStudio Pro you will need to activate the application. THX Audio & HDMI To activate the application you will need to be connected to the internet. Double-click the THX Activate icon on the desktop and click the Activate Note that the THX audio effects do not apply to...
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Modules THX Control Panel Each control has an On/Off button to allow you to enable/disable the control, and most controls feature a slider to adjust the levels (the subwoofer may be turned on/ off). Figure 7 - 31 Menu THX TruStudio Pro Controls •...
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Modules THX TruStudio Pro Headphone Settings THX TruStudio selects the built-in speakers by default and this setting may cause some sound quality issues when using headphones. To adjust the settings for head- phones do the following: Run the THX TruStudio Pro application. Select Settings from the menu.
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Modules THX TruStudio Pro & HDMI When you connect an HDMI display to the HDMI-Out port, the THX Tru Studio Pro controls will be disabled. A warning box will pop-up and will prompt “Do you want to select another audio device now?”.
Modules Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver ® Install the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology to support your SATA drive if set up in AHCI mode in the BIOS (see “SATA Mode (Advanced Menu)” on page 5 - or if you have set up your hard disks in a RAID configuration (see“Setting Up SATA RAID or AHCI Mode”...
Modules Intel® Smart Response Technology Intel® Smart Response Technology is an Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (RST) caching feature that accelerates computer system performance by using the SSD as cache memory between the hard disk drive and system memory. System Requirements to support Intel® Smart Response Technology: •...
Modules Enabling Intel Smart Response Technology Run the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology application from the All Programs menu. Click Enable acceleration either under Status or Accelerate. Figure 7 - 35 Enable Acceleration Select the SSD to be used as a cache device. Select the size from the SSD to be allocated for the cache memory (any remaining space on the SSD can be used for data storage using the simple data single-disk RAID 0 volume that is automatically created).
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Modules Select the HDD (or RAID volume) to be accelerated (it is highly recommended that you accelerate the system volume or system disk for maximum performance). Select the acceleration mode, and then click OK (Enhanced mode is selected by default). Note: Enhanced mode (default): Acceleration optimized for data protection.
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Modules The page will refresh and report the new configuration in Acceleration. Figure 7 - 37 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Accelerate Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver 7 - 65...
Modules Intel Rapid Start Technology Driver ® Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology can resume power from Hibernation within 5 to 6 seconds and can remember your computer's previous state with zero power. System Requirements to support Intel® Rapid Start Technology: • Rapid Start Technology should be enabled in the BIOS (see ““Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology (Advanced Menu)”...
Modules Intel® Rapid Start Technology Configuration Enable/disable Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology from the BIOS (see “Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology (Advanced Menu)” on page 5 - Go the Windows control panel and double-click Administrative Tools (System and Security)> Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management Right-click the SSD and select Shrink Volume from the menu.
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Modules Enter the figure, which should be equal to amount of system memory (RAM) in your computer, in “Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB”. Figure 7 - 39 Shrink Volume Size Click Shrink (any unallocated file space may be formatted for storage use). ...
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Modules Click the Start menu and type “CMD” in the search box. Click CMD from the found list. Figure 7 - 40 Search for CMD Prompt Type “DISKPART”. At the DISKPART command type “list disk”. Figure 7 - 41 Diskpart - List Disk Intel®...
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Modules 10. Type “select disk #” (# is disk number where you want to create the store partition, so refer to the results obtained from "list disk" for exact disk number). 11. The message “Disk # is now the selected disk.” will appear. Figure 7 - 42 Diskpart - Select Disk #...
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Modules 14. Type “detail disk”. Figure 7 - 44 Diskpart - Detail Disk 15. Type “select Volume #” (# is volume of your storage partition so refer to results obtained from "detail disk" for the exact volume number). 16. The message “Volume # is now the selected volume.” will appear. Figure 7 - 45 Diskpart - Select Volume #...
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Modules 17. Type “set id=84 override” (the id must be set to 84). Figure 7 - 46 Diskpart - Set id=84 Override 18. The message “DiskPart successfully set the partition ID.” will appear. 19. Close the CMD window. 20. Go the Windows control panel and double-click Administrative Tools (System and Security)>...
Troubleshooting Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Overview Should you have any problems with your computer, before consulting your service representative, you may want to try to solve the problem yourself. This chapter lists some common problems and their possible solutions. This can’t anticipate every problem, but you should check here before you panic. If you don’t find the answer in these pages, make sure you have followed the instructions carefully and observed the safety precautions in the preface.
Troubleshooting Basic Hints and Tips Many of the following may seem obvious but they are often the solution to a problem when your computer ap- pears not to be working. • Power - Is the computer actually plugged into a working electrical outlet? If plugged into a power strip, make sure it is actually working.
Troubleshooting Backup and General Maintenance • Always backup your important data, and keep copies of your OS and programs safe, but close to hand. Don’t forget to note the serial numbers if you are storing them out of their original cases, e.g. in a CD wal- let.
Troubleshooting Viruses • Install an Anti-Virus program and keep the definitions file (the file which tells your program which viruses to look for) up to date. New computer viruses are discovered daily, and some of them may seriously harm your computer and cause you to lose data. Anti-Virus programs are commercially available and the defini- tions file updates are usually downloadable directly from the internet.
Troubleshooting Upgrading and Adding New Hardware/Software • Do not be tempted to make changes to your Windows Registry unless you are very sure of what you are doing, otherwise you will risk severely damaging your system. • Don’t open your computer or undertake any repair or upgrade work if you are not comfortable with what you are doing.
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Troubleshooting • Don’t over complicate things. The less you have to deal with then the easier the source of the problem may be found; Example - if your computer has many devices plugged into its ports, and a number of programs running, then it will be difficult to determine the cause of a problem.
Troubleshooting Problems & Possible Solutions Problem Possible Cause - Solution You turned the power on Battery missing / incorrectly installed. Check the battery bay, make sure the battery is present and but it doesn’t work. seated properly (the design of the battery only allows it to go in one way). Make sure there’s nothing interfering with the battery contacts.
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Troubleshooting Problem Possible Cause - Solution The computer feels too Make sure the computer is properly ventilated and the vents/fan intakes are not blocked. If this hot. doesn’t cool it down, put the system into Hibernate mode or turn it off for an hour. Make sure the computer isn’t sitting on a thermal surface (see “Overheating”...
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Troubleshooting Problem Possible Cause - Solution forget boot If you forget the password, you may have to discharge the battery of the CMOS. Contact your password. service representative for help. Password Warning If you choose to set a boot password, NEVER forget your password. The consequences of this could be serious. If you cannot remember your boot password you must contact your vendor and you may lose all of the information on your hard disk.
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Troubleshooting Problem Possible Cause - Solution The TouchPad doesn’t The Touchpad has been disabled. Press the Touchpad toggle (Fn + F1) key combination (make work. sure you have installed the Touchpad driver. I am sliding my finger up There are different TouchPad versions available on this computer, and this version requires and down on the right tapping/holding to scroll.
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Troubleshooting Problem Possible Cause - Solution When a DVD is played in This is an issue with Windows Media Player/Media Center and audio output through the S/PDIF- Windows Media Player/ Out Jack. We recommend that you use the Power DVD application to play DVDs. Media Center, the audio track in other languages (commentaries etc.) is...
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Troubleshooting Problem Possible Cause - Solution audio system You haven’t installed the THX TruStudio Audio application. Install the THX TruStudio application performance is below which helps to get maximum audio performance. See “THX TruStudio Pro Audio” on page 7 - expectation.
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Troubleshooting Problem Possible Cause - Solution The Bluetooth module experiencing problems/ 2 Bluetooth adapters appear in the Device Manager under Bluetooth Radios. There is a conflict between an existing Bluetooth module and a Bluetooth & WLAN combination module. You should have only one Bluetooth module installed in order to prevent any conflicts (this includes the Bluetooth element of any combination WLAN &...
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Troubleshooting Problem Possible Cause - Solution cannot obtain high To obtain high speed Bluetooth data transfer take into account the following: speed Bluetooth data transfer. • Only the combination Wireless LAN & Bluetooth module supports high speed (data transfer. • To achieve high speed transfer speeds, both devices must support high speed data transfer (i.e both the computer and the Bluetooth compatible device you are connecting to).
Troubleshooting Bluetooth Connection Problems If you are experiencing problems connecting to some Bluetooth devices (in particular certain mobile phones and headsets) it maybe necessary to download and install the Windows Mobile Device Center software (for Win- dows Vista and Windows 7). Go to the Microsoft website and search for the Microsoft Windows Device Center Driver for Windows Vista (64-bit or 32-bit) and Windows 7 (64-bit or 32-bit), and then download the driver.
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Troubleshooting Right-click Bluetooth Peripheral Device and click on Update Driver Software. Click Browse my computer for driver software. Click Let Me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer. Figure 8 - 2 - Browse my computer.../Let me pick from... Select Bluetooth Radios from the list.
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Troubleshooting 10. A list of drivers will appear with Manufacturer on one side and Model in the other. 11. Choose Microsoft Corporation (make sure you choose the full name Microsoft Corporation and do not choose Microsoft - Note that you must have installed the Microsoft Windows Device Center Driver for Microsoft Corporation to appear in the list).
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Troubleshooting 15. The Device Manager should now display the Windows Mobile-based device support under Bluetooth Radios. 16. You will need to repeat the process for any other Bluetooth Peripheral Devices listed under Other Devices. Figure 8 - 5 - Device Manager - Bluetooth Radio 8 - 18 Bluetooth Connection Problems...
Troubleshooting Intel® WLAN & Bluetooth Combo Modules Note that, at the time of going to press, Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 2230 and Intel® Centrino Advanced 6235 WLAN & Bluetooth combo modules use the standard Bluetooth configuration in Windows 7 (see “Intel Bluetooth Combo Driver Installation”...
Troubleshooting Installing Windows 7 (pre Service Pack 1) for RAID Systems with Advanced Format Disks The following information is only applicable under the following conditions: • You are configuring your SATA hard disks in a RAID. • You are using Advanced Format hard disks that have a 4KB physical sector size. •...
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Troubleshooting Press a key at system startup to begin installing Windows from your Microsoft Windows 7 disc (make sure the DVD device is set at the top of the Boot Sequence in the BIOS - see “Boot Option Priorities (Boot Menu)”...
Interface (Ports & Jacks) Appendix A: Interface (Ports & Jacks) Overview The following chapter will give a quick description of the ports & jacks which allow your computer to commu- nicate with external devices, connect to the internet etc. Interface (Ports & Jacks) A - 1...
Interface (Ports & Jacks) Ports and Jacks Item Description Card Reader The card reader allows you to use the following digital storage cards: MMC (MultiMedia Card) / RSMMC SD (Secure Digital) / Mini SD / SDHC / SDXC MS (Memory Stick) / MS Pro / MS Duo Push the card into the slot and it will appear as a removable device.
Interface (Ports & Jacks) Item Description HDMI-Out Port The HDMI-Out (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port is an audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. This allows you to connect an external monitor, TV or Flat Panel Display etc. as a display device (see “Attaching Other Displays”...
Interface (Ports & Jacks) Item Description USB 2.0/1.1 Ports These USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 compatible ports (USB 2.0 is fully USB 1.1 compliant) are for low-speed peripherals such as keyboards, mice or scanners, and for high-speed peripherals such as external HDDs, digital video cameras or high-speed scanners etc. Devices can be USB 3.0 Port plugged into the computer, and unplugged from the computer, without the need to turn the system off (if the power rating of your USB device is 500mA or above, make sure you use the power...
Control Center Appendix B: Control Center Overview The following chapter will give a quick description of the functions of the Control Center. The Control Center gives quick access to frequently used controls, power management features and enables you to quickly turn mod- ules on/off.
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Control Center Power Modes You can set a Power Mode by clicking the appropriate icon at the top of the Control Center. Each power mode will affect the power status of modules (e.g. WLAN, Bluetooth, 3G or Camera), screen brightness, TouchPad power and Silent Mode.
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Control Center User Modes Power Saving Flight Entertainment Quiet Performance Defined Icon Power Plan Power Saver Balanced Power Saving Power Saving High Performance Power Conservation Mode Energy Star BIOS Default Energy Star Energy Star Performance Brightness WLAN Bluetooth BIOS Default PC Camera TouchPad Table B - 1- Power Modes...
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Control Center Power Status The Power Status icon will show whether you are currently powered by the battery, or by the AC/DC adapter plugged in to a working power outlet. The power status bar will show the current battery charge state. Brightness The Brightness icon will show the current screen brightness level.
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Control Center Sleep Click the Sleep button to bring up the Hibernate or Sleep buttons, and click either button to have the computer enter the appropriate power-saving mode (see “Power-Saving States” on page 3 - 6). Click in a blank area of the icon or press a key on the keyboard to exit Power Conservation Mode without making any changes Display Switch Click the Display Switch button to access the menu (or use the...
Video Driver Controls Appendix C: Video Driver Controls The basic settings for configuring the LCD are outlined in “Video Features” on page 1 - Video Driver Installation Video Card Options Note that card types, Make sure you install the drivers in the order indicated in Table 4 - 1, on page 4 - specifications and driv- Insert the Device Drivers &...
Video Driver Controls NVIDIA Optimus Technology ® ™ Most notebook computers come with either a discrete or integrated graphics solu- iGPU or dGPU tion. Note the NVIDIA control Discrete graphics solutions feature a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) panel refers to High- performance NVIDIA which are capable of playing games, watching HD video or running GPU-based ap-...
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Video Driver Controls How Optimus Technology works When the system is powered up and is displaying just the desktop, the dGPU will be powered off. In this case the system is running in the same way as a system without Customization a discrete graphics solution.
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Video Driver Controls GPU Button This computer also features a button that allows the user to switch between Op- timus Mode and UMA Mode (Unified Memory Architecture). UMA Mode will use only the integrated GPU; Optimus Mode will allow the system to automatically de- termine whether the dGPU or iGPU is used.
Video Driver Controls Intel Graphics & Media Control Panel ® Advanced video configuration options are provided by the Intel Graphics and ® Application Mode Media Control Panel. To access the control panel: Note that all figures pic- Click Advanced settings in the Screen Resolution control panel in Windows. tured, and instructions Click the Intel(R)...
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Video Driver Controls You may make changes to any of the graphics properties by clicking the appropriate menu tab on the left of the menu and adjusting the settings on the right. Options & Support Click Options & Sup- port and select an item from the sub-menu to bring up the help and...
Video Driver Controls Display Devices & Options Note that you can use an external display connected to the HDMI-Out port or exter- nal monitor port. See your display device manual to see which formats are support- Function Key Combination You can use the Fn + F7 ...
Video Driver Controls Attaching Other Displays If you prefer to use a monitor or flat panel display, connect it to the external monitor Multiple Display port or HDMI-Out port. At least one other dis- To Clone Displays: play must be attached in Attach your display to the external monitor port or HDMI-Out port, and turn it on.
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Video Driver Controls To Enable Extended Desktop: Attach your display to the external monitor port or HDMI-Out port, and turn it on. Go to the Intel(R) G&M control panel and click Display > Multiple Displays. Display Settings Click Operating Mode and select Extended Desktop from the menu. Extended Desktop Click Apply, and OK to confirm the settings change.
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Video Driver Controls Display Profiles You can save display settings to be loaded at any time. Go to the Intel(R) G&M control panel and click Display. Configure the General Settings, Multiple Displays, Color Enhancement, Custom Resolution & Monitor/TV Settings to your preferences. Click Apply, and OK to confirm the settings change.
Video Driver Controls Configuring an External Display in Windows 7 You can also use the Screen Resolution control panel in Windows 7 to configure an Function Key external display. Combination Attach your display to the external monitor port or HDMI-Out port, and turn it on. You can use the Fn + Go to the Screen resolution control panel (see page 18).
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Video Driver Controls You can configure the displays from the Multiple Displays menu. Figure C - 7 Screen Resolution Multiple Display Options (Win 7) • Duplicate these displays - Shows an exact copy of the main display desktop on the other display(s) •...
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Video Driver Controls Using the Windows Logo Key + P Key Combination to Switch Displays You can also use the + P key combination to quickly change display configura- tion and modes (this is particularly useful when attaching a projector) in Windows 7. Attach your display to the external monitor port or HDMI-Out port, and turn it on.
Video Driver Controls NVIDIA Control Panel More advanced video configuration options are provided in the NVIDIA Control NVIDIA Control Panel tab. Panel Click Start, and click Control Panel (or point to Settings and click Control Panel). To access the Ge- Double-click NVIDIA Control Panel (click "Classic View"...
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Video Driver Controls The NVIDIA Control Panel provides additional video configuration controls and tools which allow quick access to features such as image settings, 3D Settings and video configuration. Navigating the Control Panel Navigate through the control panels in much the same way as you would a web page.
Video Driver Controls Optimus Customization Options ™ One of the most important aspects of Nvidia Optimus technology is that it will ® ™ Display GPU switch between the integrated GPU and discrete GPU seamlessly and automatically, Activity Icon and does not require any input from the user. However customization options are of- fered for users who prefer to set their own parameters for GPU usage.
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Video Driver Controls Close the NVIDIA Control Panel. Find the executable file icon of the application you want to run. Right-click the icon and select Run with graphics processor from the context iGPU or dGPU menu. Select either High-performance NVIDIA processor (dGPU) or Integrated Note the NVIDIA con- graphics (iGPU) to run the program with the selected GPU.
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Video Driver Controls Global Settings Global settings allows you to set the preferred graphics processor for overall use. Ideally this would be the iGPU for battery life, but this can be set to the dGPU if pre- ferred. Run the NVIDIA Control Panel (see page 14).
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Video Driver Controls Program Settings Program settings allows you to make specific adjustments for installed applications. Run the NVIDIA Control Panel (see page 14). Click Manage 3D Settings (3D Settings) and select Program Settings (tab). Select a program to customize from the drop-down menu, or click Add to add any program that does not appear in the menu.
Video Driver Controls Set PhysX Configuration ® NVIDIA PhysX is a physics engine that can use the GPU to accelerate game and ® ® 3D application performance. You can select the GeForce video card or CPU as a PhysX processor, or configure the computer to auto-select a PhysX processor ®...
Video Driver Controls Video Settings Click the sub-menus under Video to adjust the video color or image settings. Figure C - 16 Video Settings Video Settings C - 21...
Video Driver Controls HDMI Audio Configuration HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) carries both audio and video signals. Volume Indicator In some cases it will be necessary to go to the Sound control panel and manually Click the taskbar volume configure the HDMI audio output as per the instructions below. indicator when an Click Start, and click Control Panel (or point to Settings and click Control Panel).
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Video Driver Controls Adjust the HDMI settings from the control panel tabs. Click OK to close the Sound control panel. Figure C - 18 HDMI Device Properties HDMI Audio Configuration C - 23...
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Video Driver Controls HDMI Notes • Connect a device with HDMI support to the HDMI-Out port BEFORE attempt- ing to play audio/video sources through the device. Other Applications • To play audio sources through your external display’s (TV or LCD) speakers If you are using a third you will need to go to the audio configuration control panel on the display and party...
Specifications Appendix D:Specifications Latest Specification Information The specifications listed in this Appendix are correct at the time of going to press. Certain items (particularly processor types/ speeds and CD/DVD device types) may be changed, updated or delayed due to the manufacturer's release schedule. Check with your service center for details.
Specifications Video Adapter Options Storage Keyboard & Pointing Device Intel® Integrated GPU and NVIDIA® One 12.7 mm Super Multi/Blu-Ray Full Size Isolated Winkey Keyboard with GeForce Video: Combo/Blu-Ray Writer SATA Optical Numeric Keypad Device Drive (Factory Option) Supports NVIDIA® Optimus Built-In TouchPad (with Multi Gesture Switchable GPU Technology between Functionality)
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