@Xi Computer Corporation MTower User Manual Download Page 1

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@Xi

Computer Corporation

User’s Guide

October 2010

Summary of Contents for MTower

Page 1: ...Xi Computer Corporation User s Guide October 2010...

Page 2: ...ent to update or keep current the information in this User s Guide and reserves the right to make changes to this User s Guide and or product without notice No part of this User s Guide may be reprodu...

Page 3: ...npacking the Boxes 7 Selecting the Proper Environment 8 Location Considerations for the System Unit 8 Workspace Considerations 9 Power Outlet 9 Checking Out Your Computer Connections 10 Connecting the...

Page 4: ...r During Electrical Storms 23 Taking Precautions Against Computer Viruses 23 Backing Up Your Data 24 Using ScanDisk 24 Using the Disk Defragmenter Utility 26 Cleaning Your Computer System 27 Cleaning...

Page 5: ...6 Telnet 36 Internet Access 37 Selecting an Internet Service Provider 37 Local or Toll Free Access Numbers 38 Speed 38 Pricing and Software 38 Service Issues 39 Endorsements 39 Free Trial Period 39 Re...

Page 6: ...6 Installing and Removing RAM 48 Installing a Hard Drive 49 Replacing the Microprocessor 50 Installing Expansion Cards 51 Installing a PnP Expansion Card 51 Installing a Legacy Expansion Card 52 Chapt...

Page 7: ...ork Environment 66 Seating Arrangement 67 Work Surface 67 Keyboard 68 Pointing Devices 69 Monitor 69 Lighting 70 Safety Guidelines 71 Handling Your Computer Equipment 72 Power Supply 72 Chapter 8 Freq...

Page 8: ...78 CMOS Messages 78 Connecting PCs 79 What is a Cookie 79 Switching to and from Daylight Savings Time 79 Chapter 9 Contact Information Sales Department 81 Technical Support 81 24 hour Fax Number 82 24...

Page 9: ...detail guarantees your complete satisfaction Like your new computer this User s Guide has been designed with you in mind The information in the guide is organized so you can get your new computer up a...

Page 10: ...y defines the technical terms in this User s Guide For your convenience an Index appears at the end of the User s Guide Navigating Through the User s Guide To assist you in navigating through this man...

Page 11: ...ying a task Caution A caution note warns you about actions that might be harmful to you or your new computer WARNING When you see a warning indicator in the margin pay special attention to the informa...

Page 12: ...Chapter 1 Welcome Page 4...

Page 13: ...omputer Connections on page 10 Checking Out Your Computer on page 16 Turning Your Computer On and Off on page 18 Unpacking the Boxes The first thing you need to do when you get your new Xi Computer is...

Page 14: ...iles at a later date The warranty information and documentation from the vendors whose software and hardware components are installed in your computer also come in the system box Monitor box If you or...

Page 15: ...to protect it during shipping Follow these steps to unpack the computer system unit 1 Make sure the open computer box situated flat on the floor 2 Place one foot on each side of the system unit box to...

Page 16: ...exposed to static electricity extreme temperatures or magnetic fields such as those generated by stereo systems microwave ovens air conditioners fans and radios The area should not be subject to vibra...

Page 17: ...or telephone are within easy reach The location should have sufficient lighting However make sure that the light does not reflect on the monitor screen so that it makes viewing difficult The area sho...

Page 18: ...ons that follow the figures explain how to connect peripheral devices to your computer NOTE On computers that contain an Intel microprocessor the back panel connectors are color coded as follows The k...

Page 19: ...Xi MTower NTower NetRAIDer Page 11 Figure 2 1 Back of AT Computer Systems Keyboard Mouse Printer Monitor Line Phone Speakers Joystick Power...

Page 20: ...igure 2 2 above 1 Verify that the monitor power switch is turned off 2 Connect the monitor cable to the monitor If you need assistance consult the monitor manual supplied with your computer Skip this...

Page 21: ...ur computer the sound card is installed in one of the computer s expansion slots Figure 2 1 on page 11 and Figure 2 2 on page 12 show examples of a sound card installed in an expansion slot Note that...

Page 22: ...the power connector on the back of the system unit Refer to Figure 2 1 on page 11 or Figure 2 2 on page 12 2 Connect the pronged end to a grounded 3 pronged AC outlet power strip surge protector or un...

Page 23: ...applications installed on the server The connectors on the back of the NIC are different depending on the type of card Some NICs provide RJ 45 connectors which are slightly wider than the RJ 11 modul...

Page 24: ...ections explain the controls found on all computer systems POWER and RESET Buttons You use the POWER button to turn your computer on and off When the computer is off press the button to turn it on To...

Page 25: ...r details about using the volume control refer to the sound card manual supplied with your computer Headphone jack You can plug headphones into this jack for listening to a CD DVD that is in the CD RO...

Page 26: ...Turn on your monitor 5 Press the POWER button on the front panel of the system unit to turn on your computer 6 Turn on any other peripherals attached to your computer such as a printer speakers and ex...

Page 27: ...shut down your computer 1 Click the Start button in the Microsoft Windows taskbar 2 Click Shut Down option 3 When the Shut Down Windows dialog box appears click the Shut down the computer option to se...

Page 28: ...Chapter 2 Getting Started Page 20...

Page 29: ...System on page 27 Transporting Your Computer on page 30 Protecting Your Computer from Electrical Anomalies Spikes surges brownouts and blackouts are types of electrical anomalies that can disrupt the...

Page 30: ...defeat surges induced through telephone lines and networks With all of these devices available how do you decide which one you need At a minimum we recommend that you obtain a power line conditioner...

Page 31: ...ing Precautions Against Computer Viruses A computer virus consists of software that enters your computer and runs without your knowledge As the term virus implies this type of software causes unwanted...

Page 32: ...irst method in the list works for all systems but is time consuming because each diskette hold a relatively small amount of data NOTE The Microsoft Windows operating system includes its own backup pro...

Page 33: ...ive is in danger of failing Having the ScanDisk Thorough test uncover a few anomalies up to 10 is considered normal by most hard drive manufacturers The important thing is to determine whether the num...

Page 34: ...rosoft Windows taskbar 2 When the Start menu appears click the following options in each successive popup menu Programs Accessories System Tools and Disk Defragmenter 3 When the Select Drive dialog bo...

Page 35: ...message and run ScanDisk Cleaning Your Computer System Occasionally your computer system needs cleaning The following sections describe the steps to take to clean various components of your computer...

Page 36: ...o clean the mouse s roller ball Follow these steps 1 Close any applications and windows that appear on the screen 2 Power down the computer 3 Turn the mouse upside down 4 Using both thumbs turn the pl...

Page 37: ...your keyboard becomes dirty use an aerosol can of air with a strawlike extension to blow dust lint and trapped particles from under the keyboard surface and from under the keys If you spill a liquid o...

Page 38: ...m each other 4 Repack the computer system in its original packing materials and boxes If the original packing materials and boxes are not available pack all components in as much packing material as p...

Page 39: ...ephone facsimile machine and photocopier People of all ages find the Internet to be a forum for exchanging messages playing games sharing conversations in chat rooms accessing information on all sorts...

Page 40: ...ch provided a communications standard that enables different types of computers to communicate with each other Once there was a common method for computer to talk to on another the Internet started to...

Page 41: ...gest users of the Internet but Europe is catching up fast as access becomes available to more countries on that continent Asian countries particularly India and Japan account for increasing amounts of...

Page 42: ...the world The group s intent was to create a service that would allow anyone to easily access and display documents that were stored on any computer connected to the Internet To accomplish this object...

Page 43: ...essages or send pictures along with your letter Many e mail programs let you create mailing lists so that you can send the same message to a group of people Mailing lists are a convenient way to quick...

Page 44: ...rch engines that returns 10 000 hits quickly may not be as effective as a slow one that returns only 25 meaningful hits A few of the popular search engines are HotBot Lycos Yahoo Alta Vista and Infose...

Page 45: ...ge by specifying a Uniform Resource Locator URL A URL represents a link to a Web page or resource The following example shows the URL for Xi Computer Corporation http www xicomputer com This URL refer...

Page 46: ...t ex perience slow and frustrating ISP dial up connection to you Your connection to the ISP will only be as fast as the maximum speed sup ported by your modem and the ISP s modem In addition there are...

Page 47: ...Endorsements Consider recommendations from friends colleagues businesses and reviews in publications Free Trial Period If you are not sure about committing to an ISP choose one that offers a free tri...

Page 48: ...your computer and have an account set up you are ready to connect to the Internet through your ISP Dial the ISP s telephone number and or perform the appropriate selection steps on your computer When...

Page 49: ...and remove expansion cards This chapter provides information that you need when you want to upgrade your Xi Computer Corporation computer and procedures for performing several types of upgrades The m...

Page 50: ...ystem cables are connected before connecting the computer to its power source Antistatic Grounding Your computer contains many sensitive components that are prone to damage from static electricity A s...

Page 51: ...e case Computers equipped with an AMD microprocessor have a white and blue case To access the interior of computers equipped with an AMD microprocessor perform the following procedure 1 With the syste...

Page 52: ...de of the back panel 2 Using a straightedge screwdriver remove the three screws on the right panel 3 Pull the panel toward you and pull it away from the computer You should now have access to the inte...

Page 53: ...em is gained by removing the right panel 1 Facing the front of the system insert the supplied key into the lock on the right panel and turn clockwise 2 Pull the key toward you The right panel releases...

Page 54: ...tains most of the important parts of your com puter such as the microprocessor memory and expansion slots Power Supply The power supply is cube shaped and is located at the back of the system unit The...

Page 55: ...bays Bay 4 contains the factory installed hard drive Bay 5 is usually empty You can install additional hard drives in the empty bays For information see the section Installing a Hard Drive on page 49...

Page 56: ...ions in the section Precautions to Follow Before Upgrading on page 42 2 Remove the system unit cover see Accessing the Interior of Your Computer on page 43 3 Hold the DIMM above the socket 4 Gently pr...

Page 57: ...ic drive cover where you want to install the drive Set the plastic cover aside for now You will need it later after you install the new drive 5 A metal plate appears behind the plastic drive cover Thi...

Page 58: ...motherboards are configured so you can upgrade the microprocessor Check the manual that comes with your system board to see whether your computer s microprocessor is replaceable If it is obtain an up...

Page 59: ...at a new device has been installed or attached The next time you turn on your computer it automatically assigns the appropriate system resources such as interrupt requests IRQs and direct memory acces...

Page 60: ...te the installation procedure Installing a Legacy Expansion Card A PnP computer can use devices that were designed before the Plug and Play standard was developed However the configuration of these le...

Page 61: ...u removed in step 5 to secure the expansion card to the back panel 9 Attach any cables to the expansion card according to the instructions in the manual that comes with the expansion card 10 Replace t...

Page 62: ...Chapter 5 Upgrading Your Computer Page 54...

Page 63: ...o Work on page 58 Monitor Flickers on page 59 Keyboard Fails to Work on page 59 Mouse Fails to Work on page 60 CD ROM or DVD ROM Fails to Work on page 60 Cannot Play DVD Movies under Microsoft Windows...

Page 64: ...damage If you notice damage contact Xi Computer Corpo ration immediately If you do not notice any damage proceed with the next step 5 Face the back of the unit and listen for the power supply fan If...

Page 65: ...a Turn off your computer remove all attached peripherals from the com puter and remove the computer from its AC connection b Remove the computer cover as described in the section Accessing the Interio...

Page 66: ...nd resolve the problem 1 Be sure the monitor cable is attached to the appropriate connector on the back of the system unit 2 Turn the contrast and brightness control knobs on the monitor to their high...

Page 67: ...esh rate of at least 70Hz if both the monitor and video card will support that combination at the selected resolution Keyboard Fails to Work If your keyboard fails to work perform the following steps...

Page 68: ...computer Contact Xi Computer Cor poration technical support see Technical Support on page 81 CD ROM or DVD ROM Fails to Work If your CD ROM or DVD ROM fails to work perform the following steps to iden...

Page 69: ...rental control has been enabled in the DVD player software To correct this problem 1 Click the Start button in the Microsoft Windows 98 taskbar and then click Settings option and the Control Panel opt...

Page 70: ...se so you can place a disk in it or remove the disk that is there Press the eject button to slide the tray back into the machine Occasionally pressing the eject button does not work properly If you ar...

Page 71: ...Modem Does Not Work If your modem does not work perform the following steps to identify and resolve the problem 1 Be sure that the modem s line jack is connected to the telephone line Most modems have...

Page 72: ...he COM1 port make sure your communications software is also configured for the COM1 port 8 Be sure no other communications software is loaded that might conflict with the present application 9 Your mo...

Page 73: ...prevent them from happening It makes good sense to examine your work area and then identify and correct problem areas that can lead to injury Many of these changes can be achieved easily and with lit...

Page 74: ...nd back pain to name but a few side effects It has been reported in Human Factors that modern advanced workstation design complete with the high tech furniture chairs wrist pads copy holders etc when...

Page 75: ...high enough to support your forearms but not so high as to raise your shoulders Arm rests should also be positioned directly under your arms and should not bump against your work surface as you move c...

Page 76: ...quire more than minimal force to activate but not so much that they are hard to press The keys should provide some auditory or tactile feedback You can test this by watching the display as you type Ca...

Page 77: ...mb and middle finger on your right hand Another possibility is to switch the mouse to the left side of the keyboard and use it with your left hand You should not reprogram the mouse buttons if you use...

Page 78: ...vailable from independent suppliers user groups and the Internet Make sure that the ventilation openings on the monitor are clear and unobstructed If there is interference on the monitor screen or on...

Page 79: ...Cleaning the System Unit Case on page 27 Be sure that you always Keep your computer away from sources of liquids such as wash basins bathtubs and shower stalls Protect your computer from dampness or w...

Page 80: ...your equipment For additional safeguards refer to Precautions to Follow Before Upgrading on page 42 Never force a connector into a port Make sure the connector matches the port and that you have posi...

Page 81: ...Drive Smaller Than What was Ordered on page 74 56 Kbps Modem Speeds on page 75 Disabling Call Waiting for Data Calls on page 75 Fending off Computer Viruses from the Internet on page 76 Checking Avai...

Page 82: ...ave a pick or green tint The monitor may not be securely connected to the video card in the system unit Try reconnecting the video cable to the video card in the system unit Why is my hard disk is a s...

Page 83: ...diminished when doing international dialing which uses a signalling method that reduces speeds to a maximum of 33 600 bps Another factor affecting connection speeds is the quality of the telephone li...

Page 84: ...e This procedure is described in the operating system manual that came with your computer For more information about running DOS games refer to the manuals that came with the games or visit the game m...

Page 85: ...x 4 Select the Performance tab in the System Properties dialog box 5 Check the Memory and System Resources values to determine the available memory RAM for your computer How can I check the available...

Page 86: ...al input output card inside your computer to add a second parallel port and connect a second to the extra parallel port Alternatively you can connect both parallel devices to an external manual switch...

Page 87: ...some Web pages to be used by other Web pages Cookies are sometimes used by advertisers to keep track of the Web sites you visit Although some people do not like having anything added to their hard dr...

Page 88: ...Appendix A Frequently Asked Questions Page 80...

Page 89: ...8 Response time may vary If a technical support representative is not immediately available please provide a telephone number where we can contact you NOTE For additional information about technical s...

Page 90: ...currently on line click the URL above to go directly to our Web site On our Web site you can find the latest information about our leading edge computer solutions You can also find software for vario...

Page 91: ...act a qualified computer technician Xi Technical Support Information In order to reach the Xi Technical Support team the customer has to produce the serial number of the Xi system about which he she i...

Page 92: ...Appendix B Contact Information Page 84...

Page 93: ...eir warranties NINETY DAYS REPLACEMENT REPAIR PARTS LIMITED WARRANTY Replacement parts for Xi systems repair are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for ninety 90 days from the date...

Page 94: ...ion with parts not manufactured or sold by Xi C Modification scratching defacing labeling or markings of any kind D Service or modifications by anyone other than Xi or an authorized Xi third party ser...

Page 95: ...RENDERED DEFECTIVE IN ANY WAY BY BUT NOT LIMITED TO A ACCIDENTS MISUSE OR ABUSE INCLUDING HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATION OR EXCEEDING Xi SPECIFICATIONS OR SHIPPING B INTERNAL CONNECTION WITH PARTS...

Page 96: ...EARTHQUAKES LIGHT ING IMMERSION SPILLED LIQUIDS FALLS WINDS OR IMPACT WITH OTHER OBJECTS F DAMAGES OR LOSS OF ANY KIND CAUSED BY THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE G DAMAGES CAUSE BY FAILURE TO PROVIDE...

Page 97: ...duct s back to the address stated on the CRMA form Ship freight prepaid and insured by you using the original Packing materials including any accessories originally supplied with the Xi system manuals...

Page 98: ...l be applied to part s provided at the site of customer to be installed by the On Site service provider staff Xi reserve the right to replace part s with equally functional parts new or refurbished Su...

Page 99: ...E YEARS The purchaser has to be able to show the original purchase invoice from Xi with a shipping date that is within one year or three years if warranty so purchased from the date of requested warra...

Page 100: ...s to pay for all collection costs which may include attorney s fees and litigation costs Any dishonored checks will face a 20 00 service charge Unless otherwise stated by the seller the prices given d...

Page 101: ...on over this agreement and that any and all disputes that arise shall be settled in California County of Orange These written agreements supersede and replace any prior or contemporaneous agreements I...

Page 102: ...re designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and us...

Page 103: ...ent of Communications Operation in a residential area may cause unacceptable interference to radio and TV reception requiring the owner or operator to take whatever steps are necessary to correct the...

Page 104: ...Appendix C Warranty FCC Information Page 96...

Page 105: ...ur computer and how your computer behaves during periods of inactivity when the Suspend button is pressed BIOS settings are programmed onto integrated circuits chips that hold Random Access Memory Bit...

Page 106: ...e Cache A special high speed memory subsystem pronounced cash in which frequently used data values are duplicated for quick access Cache memory is faster than RAM CD R A drive similar to a CD ROM driv...

Page 107: ...a with a capacity of 8 5 GB per diskette Ergonomics The study of the problems of people in adjusting to their environment Ergonomics is a science that seeks to adapt work or working conditions to suit...

Page 108: ...osed wires on an expansion card Jumpers typically are used to configure legacy expansion cards KB An abbreviation for kilobytes A kilobyte equals 1 024 bytes Legacy The term applied to pre PnP ISA exp...

Page 109: ...CPU RAM is extremely fast but does not retain information once its power is removed RAM is measured in megabytes MB Screen saver A program that automatically displays moving images on the monitor aft...

Page 110: ...n intense increase decrease in voltage Spikes are more extreme than a surge and of shorter duration Spikes can scramble a computer s memory causing odd things to occur In extreme cases spikes can actu...

Page 111: ...a mouse is that it doesn t require the space for the pad on which to run Uninterruptible power supply A device designed to provide back up power when power from the AC outlet is interrupted An uninte...

Page 112: ...Appendix D Glossary Page 104...

Page 113: ...computer FAQ 79 controls front panel 17 data backing up 24 Disk Defragmenter utility running 26 disk space available checking FAQ 77 diskette drive 16 drives 16 failure to restart 58 failure to start...

Page 114: ...ailure to play on Microsoft Windows 98 system 61 DVD ROM See also entries at CD ROM DVD ROM failure to eject 62 failure to work 60 E eject button CD ROM DVD ROM drive 17 diskette drive 17 electrical p...

Page 115: ...ry Standard Architecture ISA expansion slot 47 Internet accessing 33 content 33 overview 32 searching 36 viruses FAQ 76 Internet service provider ISP 33 account with 40 changing 40 selecting 37 K keyb...

Page 116: ...g to system unit 14 power LED computer system unit 17 power line conditioner 21 power outlet 9 power supply 46 safety considerations 72 powering off the computer 19 powering on the computer 18 preinst...

Page 117: ...guidelines for purchasing 22 unpacking the computer 7 upgrading precautions 42 URL Uniform Resource Locator 37 accessing from User s Guide 2 User s Guide blue text 3 contents 1 documentation conventi...

Page 118: ...Index Page 110...

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