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Alienware Aurora mALX Technical Reference

AP-Key Buttons 

These buttons power on/off the optional PC Camera and Bluetooth modules, access 
the internet and e-mail, and enable/disable high performance video. 

Table 1 - 3 -AP-Key Buttons

AP-Key

Function

Enable/Disable High Performance Video

Enable/Disable the optional 

PC Camera Module 

Enable/Disable the optional 

Bluetooth Module 

Activate the Default E-mail Program

Activate the Default Internet Browser

D Ap-Key Button 

Use this button to enable/disable high performance video when powered by the 
AC/DC adapter (the 3D Ap-Key button will be illuminated in blue when in high 
performance video mode). 

If you switch from AC Power to battery power the sys¬tem will automatically change to 
a lower performance video mode setting. High Performance Video can not be enabled 
when the system is battery powered. 

The system will retain in memory the last known video performance setting if you 
switch back from battery to AC power. 

Summary of Contents for Aurora mALX

Page 1: ...for copies kept by the user for backup purposes Brand and product names mentioned in this publication may or may not be copyrights and or registered trade marks of their respective companies They are...

Page 2: ...a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try t...

Page 3: ...torm There may be a remote risk of electrical shock from lightning 3 Do not use the telephone to report a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak 4 Use only the power cord and batteries indicated in this...

Page 4: ...performance and damage your data 4 Follow the proper working procedures for the computer Shut the computer down properly and don t forget to save your work Remember to periodically save your data as d...

Page 5: ...a qualified electrician install one When you want to unplug the power cord be sure to disconnect it by the plug head not by its wire Make sure the socket and any extension cord s you use can support...

Page 6: ...ispose of a damaged battery Always dispose of batteries carefully Batteries may explode or leak if exposed to fire or improperly handled or discarded Keep the battery away from metal appliances Affix...

Page 7: ...power supply Then refer servicing to qualified service personnel under any of the following conditions When the power cord or AC DC adapter is damaged or frayed If the computer has been exposed to rai...

Page 8: ...y socket adapters 6 Put the notebook in its carrying bag and secure it with the bag s straps 7 If you re taking any peripherals e g a printer mouse or digital camera pack them and those devices adapte...

Page 9: ...oy any stored data Pass your computer and disks around the devices Ask security officials to hand inspect them you may be asked to turn it on Note Some airports also scan luggage with these devices Fl...

Page 10: ...ortably Sit straight so that your knees hips and elbows form approximately 90 degree angles when you are working Take periodic breaks if you are using the computer for long periods of time Remember to...

Page 11: ...Startup 20 System Map Top View with LCD Panel Open 21 LED Indicators 23 AP Key Buttons 24 3D Ap Key Button 24 Function Keys Numeric Keypad 25 System Map Front Rear Views 27 System Map Left View 29 Sys...

Page 12: ...ions 50 Hibernate Mode vs Shutdown 50 Stand by Mode vs Hibernate Mode 50 Stand by 50 Hibernate 50 Configuring the Power Button 52 Battery Information 53 New Battery 53 Battery Life 53 Recharging the B...

Page 13: ...ATA Port 3 4 Main Menu 72 System Extended Memory Main Menu 72 Advanced Menu 73 Advanced Chipset Control Advanced Menu 73 I O Device Configuration Advanced Menu 73 Reset Configuration Data Advanced Men...

Page 14: ...Power DVD Software 97 Digital TV Broadcast Signal 98 RAID Setup 99 RAID Mode Setup 100 The NVIDIA NVRAID Management Utility 107 Troubleshooting 110 Overview 110 Basic Hints and Tips 110 Backup and Ge...

Page 15: ...Alienware Aurora mALX Technical Reference 15 Specifications 131 Latest Specification Information 131...

Page 16: ...Alienware Aurora mALX Technical Reference 16...

Page 17: ...he drivers and utilities essential to the operation or improvement of some of the computer s subsystems Chapter 5 An outline of the computer s built in software or BIOS Basic Input Output System Chapt...

Page 18: ...useful to refer to the notes marked with a as indicated in the margin For a more detailed description of any of the interface ports and jacks see Interface Ports Jacks on page A 1 Warning Boxes No mat...

Page 19: ...description of the interface ports jacks which allow your computer to communicate with external devices connect to the internet etc System Software Your computer may already come with system software...

Page 20: ...outlet and connect the AC power cord to the AC DC adapter 5 Move and hold the LCD latches in the direction of the arrows to release the top cover 6 Raise the lid LCD to a comfortable viewing angle DO...

Page 21: ...LCD 3 LED Power Communication Indicators 4 Speakers 5 AP Key Buttons Power Button 6 Built In Microphone 7 LED Status Indicators 8 Keyboard 9 TouchPad and Buttons 10 Consumer Infrared Transceiver Enabl...

Page 22: ...n Number Lock Activated Green Caps Lock Activated Green Scroll Lock Activated to activate press Fn Scr Lk Orange DC Power is Plugged In Table 1 1 LED Status Indicators Icon Color Description Green The...

Page 23: ...te the Default E mail Program Activate the Default Internet Browser 3D Ap Key Button Use this button to enable disable high performance video when powered by the AC DC adapter the 3D Ap Key button wil...

Page 24: ...ht of the keyboard You may check if Number Lock is enabled or not by looking at the LED status indicators Table 1 4 Function Keys Keys Description Fn Function Key Fn 1 Touchpad Toggle Fn F2 SRS WOW Su...

Page 25: ...oard Other Keyboards If your keyboard is damaged or you jsut want to make a change you can use any standard USB keyboard The system will detect and enable it automatically However special functions ho...

Page 26: ...Views 1 LCD Latches 2 Consumer Infrared Transceiver 3 7 Pin S Video Out Jack 4 DVI Out Port 5 DC In Jack 6 Vent Fan Intake 7 RJ 11 Phone Jack 8 2 USB 2 0 Ports 9 Serial Port 10 S Video In Jack 11 Secu...

Page 27: ...ference 27 7 Pin S Video Out Jack The 7 pin S Video requires an adapter cable 7 pin S Video plug to 4 pin S Video jack adapter in order to connect to a standard S Video cable the y cable pictured incl...

Page 28: ...t try to remove a floppy disk CD DVD while the system is accessing it This may cause the system to crash Changing DVD Regional Codes Go to the Control Panel and double click System Hardware tab click...

Page 29: ...ver see page 2 10 7 RJ 45 LAN Jack Enabled with Optional Mini PCI TV Tuner Only 4 in 1 Card Reader The card reader allows you to use the most popular digital storage card formats MMC MultiMedia Card S...

Page 30: ...nent Bay Cover 8 Speakers CPU The CPU is not a user serviceable part Opening this compartment or accessing the CPU in any way may violate your warranty Battery Information Always completely discharge...

Page 31: ...ick the Start menu icon and then select Properties if you want to customize the appearance of the Start menu In many instances throughout this manual you will see an instruction to open the Control Pa...

Page 32: ...ck Adjust screen resolution under the Appearance and Personalization menu or double click Personalization Display Settings 3 Move the slider to the preferred setting in Resolution Figure 1 10 on page...

Page 33: ...Alienware Aurora mALX Technical Reference 33 Figure 1 8 Display Properties Desktop...

Page 34: ...ter performance Click to select one of the existing plans or click Create a power plan in the left menu and select the options to create a new plan Click Change Plan Settings and click Change advanced...

Page 35: ...e Audio Features Configuring the Infrared Settings for FIR Adding a Printer Hard Disk Drive The hard disk drive is used to store your data in the computer The hard disk can be taken out to accommodate...

Page 36: ...acing up use just enough force for the disc to click onto the tray s spindle Gently push the CD DVD tray in until its lock clicks and you are ready to start The busy indicator 2 will light up while da...

Page 37: ...her materials to the surface of the disc Do not store or place the CD or DVD in high temperature areas Do not use benzene thinner or other cleaners to clean the CD or DVD Do not bend the CD or DVD Do...

Page 38: ...ional Coding Region Geographical Location 1 USA Canada 2 Western Europe Japan South Africa Middle East Egypt 3 South East Asia Taiwan South Korea The Philippines Indonesia Hong Kong 4 South Central Am...

Page 39: ...h the card into the slot and it will appear as a removable device MMC MultiMedia Card SD Secure Digital MS Memory Stick MS Pro Memory Stick Pro Figure 2 4 Right View 1 Card Reader Card Reader Cover Ma...

Page 40: ...uter is equipped with a PCMCIA 3 3V 5V slot for one type II PC Card Inserting and Removing PC Cards Align the PC Card with the slot and push it in until it locks into place To remove a PC Card simply...

Page 41: ...ed the TouchPad driver see page 4 10 you can configure the functions by double clicking the TouchPad driver icon in the taskbar You may then configure the TouchPad tapping buttons scrolling pointer mo...

Page 42: ...options on your computer from the Sound control panel in Windows Figure 2 7 AC97 Audio Configuration Menus Sound Volume Adjustment How high the sound volume can be set depends on the setting of the v...

Page 43: ...n ON the printer 4 Connect the printer s USB cable to one of the USB ports on the computer 5 Windows will identify the printer and either load one of its own drivers or ask you to supply one Follow th...

Page 44: ...tem Power Options Configuring the Power Button Battery Information The computer uses enhanced power saving techniques to give the operating system OS direct control over the power and thermal states o...

Page 45: ...en connect the AC power cord to the AC DC adapter 3 Raise the lid LCD to a comfortable viewing angle 4 Press the power button to turn On Battery The battery allows you to use your computer while you a...

Page 46: ...ature Forced Off If the system hangs and the Ctrl Alt Del key combination doesn t work press the power button for 4 seconds or longer to force the system to turn itself off Power Button Sleep Sleep is...

Page 47: ...an existing power plan or create a new one The settings may be adjusted to set the display to turn off after a specified time and to send the computer into Sleep after a period of inactivity Click Ch...

Page 48: ...f you are experiencing any reduced performance especially under DC battery power Choose High performance for maximum performance when the computer is powered from an AC power source Choose the Power s...

Page 49: ...ress the power button to turn it on Their main difference is When you come back from hibernation you can return to where you last left off what was on your desktop without reopening the application s...

Page 50: ...em it will enter Sleep mode to save power Sleep Mode Mobile PC Battery A mobile PC in Sleep uses very little battery power After an extended period of time the computer will save any open documents an...

Page 51: ...off battery or orange AC DC adapter If the only the display is turned off the LED will remain green Password Protection It is recommended that you enable a password on wake up in order to protect you...

Page 52: ...n set actions to be taken e g Shut down Hibernate etc and set critical and low battery levels from power plan Advanced Settings see Figure 3 1 on page 3 4 Click the battery icon in the taskbar to see...

Page 53: ...ower when it is not powered by the AC DC adapter Reduce the amount of time before the display is turned off Close wireless Bluetooth modem or communication applications when they are not being used Di...

Page 54: ...h the AC DC Adapter The battery pack automatically recharges when the AC DC adapter is attached and plugged into an electrical outlet If the computer is powered on and in use it will take several hour...

Page 55: ...ice any physical defects e g the battery is bent out of shape after being dropped or any unusual smells emanating from the notebook battery shut your computer down immediately and contact your service...

Page 56: ...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 1 Save and close all files and applications 2 Crea...

Page 57: ...attery Low battery levels 0 Critical battery Levels 0 Low battery action Do Nothing Critical battery action On battery Shut Down Critical battery action Plugged in Do Nothing Battery life may be short...

Page 58: ...er is powered on and in use it will take several hours to fully recharge the battery When the computer is turned off but plugged into an electrical outlet battery charge time is less Refer to LED Indi...

Page 59: ...iginal settings found in Setup Even if you are a beginner keep a record of the settings you find and any changes you make This information could be useful if your system ever needs servicing There is...

Page 60: ...ong If there is a problem that prevents the system from booting it will display a system summary and prompt you to run Setup If there are no problems the Setup prompt will disappear and the system wil...

Page 61: ...authorized service center as soon as possible Non Fatal Errors This kind of error still allows you to boot You will get a message identifying the problem make a note of this message followed by the p...

Page 62: ...portions of the Setup Along the top of the screen is a menu bar with five 5 menu headings When you select a heading a new screen appears Scroll through the features listed on each screen to make chang...

Page 63: ...ect these changes Primary Master SATA Port 3 4 Main Menu Pressing Enter here opens the sub menu to show the configuration of hard disks and CD DVD device s on the computer s SATA Channels Use the Auto...

Page 64: ...enable disable the Serial port A Serial Mouse and FIR Infrared transceiver Reset Configuration Data Advanced Menu This item is set to No as default You can change the setting to Yes if you have in sta...

Page 65: ...Password on Boot see over Password on boot Security Menu Specify whether or not a password should be entered to boot the computer If Enabled is selected only users who enter a correct password can boo...

Page 66: ...ning If you set a boot password Password on boot is Enabled NEVER forget your password The consequences of this could be serious If you cannot remember your boot password you must contact your vendor...

Page 67: ...ating system e g WindowsXP from the devices listed in this menu and in this priority order If it cannot find the operating system on that device it will try to load it from the next device in the orde...

Page 68: ...osing 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 return the Setup to its or...

Page 69: ...o ground yourself because static electricity may damage the components The chapter includes Removing the Battery Upgrading the Hard Disk Drive s Upgrading the System Memory RAM Upgrading the Optical C...

Page 70: ...this yourself since if it is done incorrectly you may damage the processor or mainboard Removing the Battery If you are confident in undertaking upgrade procedures yourself for safety reasons it is be...

Page 71: ...uctions and install all necessary drivers and utilities when setting up a new hard disk HDD System Warning New HDD s are blank Before you begin make sure You have backed up any data you want to keep f...

Page 72: ...hard disk bay cover and remove screws 3 Remove the bay cover Figure 6 2 HDD Bay Cover Removal 4 Slide the hard disk assembly in the direction of the arrow 5 Remove the hard disk assembly 6 Remove scr...

Page 73: ...SO DIMM DDR type memory modules see Memory on page C 2 The total mem ory size is automatically detected by the POST routine once you turn on your com puter 1 Turn off the computer and turn it over an...

Page 74: ...ce 74 4 Gently pull the release latches 15 16 on the sides of the memory socket in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 6 6 Figure 6 6 RAM Module Release 5 The RAM module will pop up and yo...

Page 75: ...et as it will go DO NOT FORCE the module it should fit without much pressure 9 Press the module in and down towards the mainboard until the socket levers click into place to secure the module 10 Repla...

Page 76: ...ng the Optical CD DVD Device s 1 Turn the computer off turn it over and remove the battery 2 Slide the latch towards the unlock symbol and hold it in place 3 Slide the optical device out of the comput...

Page 77: ...gure 6 9 Bay Cover Removal 4 Remove screws 5 Carefully a cable is still connected grip the plastic tag and lift the video card up 6 Disconnect cable and lift the video card off the computer Single Vid...

Page 78: ...es information on the following PC Camera Module Mini PCI Wireless LAN Module PC Camera Module If your purchase includes the optional PC Camera you will need to install the device driver for it as ind...

Page 79: ...wer Toggle for the Wireless LAN and Bluetooth Modules You will need to enable power to the modules by using the following key combinations Fn F11 Wireless LAN Module Power Toggle When the Wireless LAN...

Page 80: ...Hints and Tips Many of the following may seem obvious but they are often the solution to a problem when your computer appears not to be working Power Is the computer actually plugged into a working el...

Page 81: ...ram 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...

Page 82: ...ses you will need to restart the computer Always check that all the cables are correctly connected Make sure you have installed the drivers for any new hardware you have installed latest driver files...

Page 83: ...feels too hot Make sure the computer is properly ventilated and the vents fan intakes are not blocked If this doesn t cool it down put the system into Hibernate mode or turn if off for an hour Make su...

Page 84: ...ve timed out Use the AC DCadapter press a key on the keyboard or press the sleep Fn F4 key combination or press the power button if no LEDs are lit The system never goes into a power saving mode Power...

Page 85: ...dapter into this jack to power your computer DVI Out Port The DVI Out Digital Visual Interface Port allows you to connect an external monitor or at Panel Display to allow dual video or simultaneous di...

Page 86: ...Security Lock Slot To prevent possible theft a Kensington type lock can be attached to this slot Locks can be purchased at any computer store Serial Port Connect a serial type mouse to this port S Vi...

Page 87: ...the computer s speakers Note that audio input through Line in will default to the mute setting To set up your audio sources to play through the Line in jack go to the Sounds and Audio Devices Windows...

Page 88: ...LI Chipset LCD 19 WSXGA 1680 1050 TFT LCD Security Security Kensington Type Lock Slot BIOS Password Memory Two 64 bit wide DDR Data Channels Two 200 Pin DDR SODIMM Sockets Supporting DDR 400 333 MHz E...

Page 89: ...n board PCIe Interface Integrated 56k AC 97 Modem V 92 Compliant 802 11a b g Mini PCI Wireless LAN Module BluetoothTM ClassII V1 2 USB2 0 Module 1 3MPixel USB2 0Video Camera Module Factory Option TV T...

Page 90: ...Alienware Aurora mALX Technical Reference 90...

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